Civil War Letters: Wife Writes of Missing Husband

Through out the years I have come across Civil War letters that I thought were excellent content wise, but just never fell in with the research I was doing. Therefore I want to start sharing these letters with you here, from time to time. The first one:

Albert P. Wright was a 44 year old carpenter when he enlisted as a private on May 13, 1864. He was mustered into Co. I of the 58th Massachusetts Infantry. Albert was captured less than a month later, on June 7, 1864, at Cold Harbor, Va., and was sent to Andersonville Prison, Ga., on June 21, 1864. There is no further information known about Private Wright other than he never returned home from the war. Wright undoubtedly died at Andersonville and is one of many unknown Union soldiers who died there, a fact unknown to his wife Nancy at the time she wrote this letter.

Gilsum, June 23, 1865

Dear Sir,

I beg leave to address you hoping to obtain some advice and council from you in regard to my state aid to which the city of Roxbury talks of discontinuing on account of not being able to learn anything of my husband who was taken prisoner one year ago this month. When he wrote me on the 19 of June/64 he was well but was a prisoner of war and have been able to learn nothing of him since. In case that he should not be living at this present time should I not be entitled to state aid for one year according to the new law? If so, will not the government stand by and defend and maintain the laws she makes? If not, I do not see the use of making laws. A lawyer in Keene told me the other day that I should be entitled to one year’s state aid together with a pension should he not be living. I wish you would be so kind as to tell me whether this is so and if true inform me what can be done to make the Treasurer of Roxbury do his duty. My state aid for Feb. I never rec’d at all. He says he sent it to me by mail and as he did not have it registered I must lose it. I wish you would tell me whether I can recover it of him or not, and if so I wish you would compel him to do his duty in that respect. I have a family of small children to maintain and by his aid is all I have to depend upon. I am unable to earn anything for my health is not good and I want all the law will allow me, and if he is not honest he ought to be looked after. I wrote to my husband’s Captain in May. He wrote me he had not been able to learn anything of him as yet but would inform me as soon as he did. He may be so emaciated that he is not able to come home quite yet and I think it not right to stop my aid until something definite is known at least. I suppose you have no means of ascertaining anything of him at any rate. I will tell you his name and Co., and Regt. He enlisted last May in Readville, Mass. in the Army of the Potomac, belonged in the 58 Regt., Co. I, Mass. Vols., his name Albert P. Wright of Gilsum, N.H. I hope you will excuse the liberty I take in writing you for I think Mr. Dudley not acting according to the laws of the state. Someone ought to apprise you of it. I hope you will be so kind as to favor me with a reply soon.

Yours with respect,

Mrs. Nancy Wright