Thomas Pimer ALS to his father, Norfolk, VA, June 2, 1864
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of letters of Thomas Pimer to his father John during his service in the Civil War. From the week after he joined the 21st in September of 1862 to the week before he was finally mustered out of the regiment in June of 1865, Thomas wrote twenty-two letters home to his father. The letters trace Pimer's progress through the war. His first glimpse of combat comes at Fredericksburg, where the 21st is ordered to charge the Confederate batteries, but is then ordered to retreat before the attack can take place. The scene of the battle leads to a loss of Pimer's idealism and confidence in the necessity of the war. In this and the following letters there are disturbing descriptions, not only of the battle, but of Pimer's and his fellow soldiers' callous disregard for both the local population and for the enslaved African-Americans.
Dates
- Creation: 1864
Creator
- From the Collection: Pimer, Thomas Kingsbury, 1839-1921 (Person)
Extent
From the Collection: 0.25 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Repository Details
Part of the Linda Lear Center for Special Collections and Archives Repository
Connecticut College
270 Mohegan Ave
New London CT 06320 United States
860-439-2654
860-439-2686
learcenter@conncoll.edu