“Three cheers for Little Mac!” might be the theme of this letter penned by Giles Grant Berry (1842-1904), the son of Joel and Joann Berry of Passadumkeag, Penobscot county, Maine where Giles was working as a barkeeper when he was drafted in August 1863 and placed into Co. B, 17th Maine Infantry. He remained with the regiment until mustering out on 14 June 1865.
When Giles wrote this letter in September 1864, he was with his regiment in the breastworks near Petersburg. His four-page letter is devoted almost entirely to news of George McClellan’s nomination for President by the Democratic Party—his best hope for a speedy termination of the war. “If he is defeated, we know what to look for in the future as in the past—war for another four years—until every man in the North is killed or crippled,” he wrote his brother-in-law, Simon Pendleton. Simon was married to Giles’ older sister, Merriam.
Transcription
Headquarters 17th Maine Infantry
1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Corps
From breastworks near Petersburg, Va.
September 6, 1864
Dear Brother Sime & Sister Merriam,
Your kind letters I received some time ago but have not had time to answer them before. We are now laying here in the front but I do not know how long we shall stay here as military life is very uncertain.
We received the news of the nomination of Gen. Geo. B. McClellan the 3rd of this month and there was great rejoicing through the army. the army will surely go for Little Mac. Gen. Hancock, our Corp. Commander, made a speech to the troops yesterday advising them to vote for Mac. What do you think of that, when the Glorious Hancock—one of our best generals and the Republicans, one of the great lovers of the country come out for Little Mac, a man who the republicans say is a traitor—what do you think of that? Tell them to put that into their pipes and smoke it. Mac will carry the army by an overwhelming majority. Every true and loyal man who loves his country will vote for him. 1 And if he be elected, peace will be once more restored to our bleeding country. But if he is defeated, we know what to look for in the future as in the past—war for another four years—until every man in the North is killed or crippled. I hope every candid man will consider these things before he votes and if Mac is elected, there will be great rejoicing throughout the country.
Sime, I know you are a true McClellan man. I suppose your state election comes off next Monday. I wish I was at home to vote with you. As soon as you get the returns, I wish you would send me the Belfast Journal or tell Robert too, I think he takes it.
The Johnnies are very quiet on our front and very friendly too. They do not fire at each other while on picket and we meet each other half way between the line and exchange coffee for tobacco. They say they are tired of the war but if Lincoln is elected, they will fight another four years. But if any other man be elected, there will be peace.
I have not been very well for the past week but feel better today. I suppose you are having good times at home. I wish I was home with you. I think I could get enough to eat. The rations we get here now are very poor. The pork is enough to kill any man to eat and everything else is about the same way.
Well Sime, I don’t know as I have any more to write at present that will interest you. I wrote to Father some time ago but never have received any answer from him. I wish he would write for I want to hear from him and know how he is doing. Tell Mother that I am well and I should like to be at home to get some of her good biscuits. Give my best respects to all the folks. Kiss little Elden for me. Tell them I am for Mac to the hub.
When I heard from Fannie and Carrie last, they were well. They will move to Albion with father Huntoon in two or three weeks. I hope I shall not have to stay out here any longer than this winter. Well dear sister & brother, I will close by wishing you good luck and prosperity through life. Write soon. Three cheers for Little Mac!
Yours truly— Giles G. Berry, Co. B, 17th Maine Infantry
1 “The army at Petersburg awoke on the morning of Tuesday, November 8 from a rainy night. A firefight had broken out hours earlier along the 2nd Corps front when pickets from the 17th Maine cheered for Lincoln, eliciting a scattered return volley for Little Mac from the Rebels. Guided by elected judges and clerks, most regiments opened polls by 8 or 9 a.m. and used ammunition chests for ballot boxes. Soldiers lined up, presented proper paperwork if necessary, and voted with party tickets in a referendum on the army’s two competing understandings of loyalty.” [HistoryNet—The Soldier Vote] Apparently Giles had deluded himself into thinking he was in the majority.
Spared & Shared 22 