1864 Civil war letter-Lt. addressed to Fred C. Low

Hello,
This letter was posted on ebay. I did not purchase the letter but copied the information as followed. Thanks!!!!!!


An 1864 Civil War envelope & letter addressed to Lt. Fred C. Low of Co B. 1st Maine Heavy Artillery.
In and of itself, this is a good 1864 1st Maine Heavy Artillery stamp cover.
The 1st Maine Heavy Artillery was one of Maine's most important regiments suffering perhaps the biggest mortality rate of any Civil War Regiment
In addition though, the letter written by E. Low ( Head of the Provost Marshall Office in Bangor, Maine) to his son Lieut. Fred C Low of Co B 1st Maine Heavy Artillery provides an interesting and unique perspective..
E. Low - Head of Provost Marshall Office District 4 - in his letter to his son Lt Fred Low gives an account of Bounties in Maine from the standpoint of the Maine Board of Enrollment. Also there is considerable space devoted to the process of company promotions and what a political process that entails. There are also personal family references.
Fred Low was 25 years old when he enlisted. He was promoted to Captain 7/27/64 and wounded 4/6/65 and breveted Major at that time. He was discharged 5/18/65.
tThe transcribed letter follows:
Bangor Feb 28th 1864
Dear Fred,
Your letter of the 24th was received last night and I embrace? the first moment to answer it - as the time for big bounties expires tomorrow we are much drove and we are ordered and are now making the preliminary preparation for the Draft which we hope to avoid by enlistments as we run very near our quota - probably we don't lack more than 2 or 300 of it now. We are however making up the quotas of the towns preparatory. I see the House has passed a bill to continue the time to April1st. If it becomes law, we shall avoid a draft- under the last call.
You say things work queer here so we think. We have furnished 455 men for your Regiment from this office. We thought we were doing you a good turn as anybody here says a finer set of men never entered the service. We expected some acknowledgement from the Officers of the Regiment as our assistance to other Regiments was very thankfully acknowledged, but not a word was said from your Officers altho we had furnished 10 times as many men as any other. But it came at last - with a vengence in shape of two reports highly censoring the the board of enrollment of this District for passing two men who the board ( consisting of Col. Chaplin, Lt Col. Talbot, Major Shepherd and Capt Clark) considered unfit for the service.
One Daniel Clifford who deceived us with hair dye and his discharge papers he proved himself a Veteran by showing he served his whole time and was 44 years old last year and the Adj. Genl's Report corroborated it. The board called him 65 and says he was unfit for even the Invalid Corps by reason of old age. Unfit for the Invalid Corps! Bright!
The other was John A Ellis of Charleston - same report varicose veins, unfit for the Invalid Corps. I should like to see where they find varicose veins unfit for for the Invalid Corps. We have just sent to Washington the sworn Affidavits of the Selectmen of Charleston and also of Dr. Jared Gullen and Soloman Dunning and could get any number of men to prove the man a tough hardworking man up to the time of his enlistment and that he told many men ( of which we did not know ) that he would play sick and get out of the service in a short time.
We have forwarded our reports to Col Gage. They will show we have acted in good faith and have sent 455 men to the Regiment and if only 2 out of 455 has deceived us, we beg leave to differ from the Hon Officers of the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery in considering ourselves "Highly Culpable" (that's the word) for this deception. If you was out of my way, I should show them how this Board appreciated it.
Mr. Rice understands it. The same day the Colonel's son applied to me for assistance to get an appointment as cadet. I gave him the desired assistance. So you see things work queer in your Regiment in more ways than one.
Capt Daggett has not and I fear will not succeed in his efforts to get a position. Upon his arrival he called & I went with him to Major Dale and got a letter from him to Mr Rice and Hamlin. I also drew up a paper to Col McGilroy for a position as Major. I showed him a letter from Gov. Cony I had just received in which he wrote me that Col Varny was Col. & Capt Hight -Lt Col and your Adjt Talbot -Major. The Capt went to Augusta, saw the Gov. who told him the same he had written me. The thing was fixed.
There is some doubt about Col McGilroy raising his new batteries. I hear it is all up as the Quota of Maine will be full without them, but he is at work hard and I have introduced him to the Colonel's friends here and assisted him all I can but Capt Daggett leaves for the Regiment tomorrow morning and things will have to work a while.
I carried Hattie out to ride yesterday and she seemed to enjoy it much. The bell is ringing and I must postpone finishing till after meeting.
There is a Mr. Adams in Co M late 3 Battery who has a son in your Company. The fathjer wants to get into Co B with his son. Can you obtain the transfer. Ask Capt Daggett for me if he can do it- better that I want the transfer of the Father to your company. I am well acquainted with the family and at the earnest request of the Daughter, I promised to try to get the transfer.
Your Uncle Martin Lemont arrived last night on his way to Boston. He will probably stop here till Tuesday. he looks very grey- yet appears as well as usual. Our spring examinations are going on- Annie & Abbie did first rate. Friday I have had 6 to examine and more have Master Littlefield and Girls High School only remaining. I have to jump- the Green House looks better. I sent Hattie a Hyacinth in bloom and the Girls made her a bouquet of Mayflowers yesterday.
I have lots more I cannot think of now to write but after this closed I will probably think of it. We took a meetinghouse yesterday to raise in Bucksport (the Methodist) and estimated in moving another at North Bucksport. Ed Turner is still with me. Fred Cobb of Bath and Emily and Annie Soule took tea with us last evening. Annie & Abbie are doing well with their music. Our streets are most bare and we have got our wood most out. Sent Hattie one load green hard wood and shall haul another from my house if the snow is gone.
Your Mother has done better since she returned from the County. She is trying to get along without a girl, but I have to eat at Wallace's too often to make it much ???. Write as often as you can- not neglecting your other duties of course. Good night Fred. From your affectionate Father. E.