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(CIVIL WAR). WENTWORTH, THOMAS H. Four (4) pp. 4to. ALS to ?��My Dear Abbie?�� concerning possible commission with a Black Regiment in New Orleans. May 11, 1863, Camp Coburn, Barrancas, Fla. Signed ?��Thomas H. Wentworth.?�� Ink, lightly browned, very good.        . $950.00

 

     Letter which illuminates one white Yankee soldier?��s consideration of an opportunity to head a southern Black regiment. There is a ?��call at New Orleans for 18 Regts of Negroes to be raised immediately?��, Wentworth writes to his future wife, Abbie E. Wheeler, in Maine,  ?��You asked me awhile ago to avoid going into a Black regt. I very readily assented looking at things as I did that time and under the circumstances,,,but there is a call...for 18 Regts to be armed and equipped as other Vol. troops and to be officered from the White regts. Consequently our equality is not called into question at all. It is a simple matter of business. It is to work for the Government, to over see and supply the means used  for the suppression of the Rebellion.?��

     Wentworth adds: ?�� If I can get a Captaincy I shall accept it and risk the consequences. What say you to that Abbie? I hope you will be reasonable and...not feel it is by any means degrading or humiliating. There are lots of sergts. in our Regt. that are going into it so it will not be so unpleasant as it otherwise might be...?��

     Abbie had startled him by a previous announcement that she was thinking of becoming a Spiritualist. ?��Well I will tell you, I should think instead of getting converted--I should say that you had backslidden, but I have no fear of this and will only exort you to resist the Devil and he will flee from you.?��

     Thomas Horsefield Wentworth (1837-1917) was born in Orneville, Maine, and educated at East Corinth Academy. He worked with his father as a farmer, house carpenter, and taught school during the winter. At the age of 24 he mustered in as sergeant of Co. H, 15th Maine Infantry, on 17 December 1861. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 8 November, 1863, and was discharged on 13 March,1865. He was remembered as ?��a fine looking officer, as straight as an arrow?��. After the war, he studied law, and was admitted to the bar of Penobscot County, Maine. He later settled in Bradford, and began the practice of law, having an office in Bangor until 1890. He also served as chairman of the school board, was elected a member of the State House in 1877, State Senate in 1883, and Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Game in 1893.