GILMORE, Charles D. (1816-1884). Autograph letter signed ("Chas. D. Gilmore"). "Near Cedar Mountain Va," 17 September 1863.

2 pages, 5 1/4 x 8 1/4 in., creased, with very minor separation/holes to certain creases with occasional staining.

Colonel Gilmore writes to a female friend he calls "Miss Paine," from his position with the "Army of the Potomac, 20th Maine Vols. 3d Bgd. 1st Div, 5th Corps, near Cedar Mountain Va.," in part: "We are now in line of battle, with our artillery in position, expecting to be engaged in a fight soon, one[?] between the city of Culpepper & The Rapidan river near Cedar mountain, where General Pope commenced his fight Aug 29, 1862...and on a field where General Pleasanton had a skirmish last Sunday. The relics of a battlefield are strewed round in abundance one of my men having taken some rebel bills from an old grey jacket, seeing which reminded me of you and that accounts for this letter." Perhaps Miss Paine had requested Gilmore collect a souvenir from battle, as he continues, "I do not wiss you to think I have forgotten my promise to you."

Gilmore goes on to describe marching through Culpepper: "When I marched my regiment through Culpepper this morning I ordered the band to play Yankee Doodle & Oh! how cross & sour the daughters of the 'F.F.V's' looked but the littled colored folks showed their white teeth and seemed to be the only human beings that were glad to see us..."

Charles D. Gilmore, a resident of Bangor, ME, enlisted in the Union Army as a captain in August of 1861, and was immediately commissioned into Company C of the 7th Maine Infantry Regiment. The following August, he was discharged for promotion and commissioned a major of the 20th Maine Infantry Regiment. He was promoted twice within that regiment, to a lieutenant colonel in May of 1863, and a colonel in June of 1864.

The 20th Maine Infantry Regiment is most famous for its crucial involvement in the Battle of Gettysburg, at which it defended Little Round Top, heroically charging downhill with bayonets fixed to repulse and quash further Confederate attempts to attack the hill and flank the federal position.