This letter was written by 24 year-old Mahala Gray (Carver) Bryer (1837-Aft1890), the daughter of Cyrus Carver (1805-1867) and Mary A, Waterhouse (1815-1874) of LaGrange, Penobscot county, Maine. Mahala was married in September 1857 to Samuel Chase Bryer (1833-1881) but the couple did not apparently find a place of their own until just prior to the date of this letter.
Mahala had several siblings: Vesta (“Vet”) P. Carver (1836-1915), Edward Kent Carver (1841-1899), Nancy Carver (1843-1909), John H. Carver (1849-1939) and Charles W. Carver (1851-1888).
In her letter, Mahala also speaks of her brother, Leonard Dwight Carver (1840-1905) of Co. D, 2nd Maine Volunteer Militia. Leonard enlisted in late May 1861 and remained with the regiment until June 1863. He won the praise of his Colonel at the First Battle of Bull Run: “Col. Jameson, of the Second Maine Regiment, gives great credit in his report to Lieut.-Col. C.W. Roberts, Major-Gen. Varney and Adj. Reynolds for their coolness and courage on the field. Sergeant G.W. Brown, of Company F; A.J. Knowles and Leonard Carver, of Company D; A.P. Jones and Henry Wheeler, of Company A, and Peter Welch, of Company I, he mentions for their noble conduct in accompanying him to remove the dead and wounded from the field, under a very heavy fire of artillery and musketry.” [Source: New York Times, 12 August 1861]
Mahala wrote the letter to her Uncle Nathan Carver (1812-1897) and Aunt Hannah Green (Adams) Carver (1822-1879) who resided in Livermore, Androscoggin county, Maine.
[Note: The Ambrotype in the header of this page is not Mahala, though the letter is hers.]
TRANSCRIPTION
LaGrange [Penobscot County, Maine]
February 16th 1862
I had been thinking of you for a long time. How I would like to see you or even [hear] from you, but I had come to the conclusion that you was dead or had retired to private life in some quiet place but was convinced that Aunt Hannah still lives by Fathers receiving a letter. Yes, it did seem as if Aunt was talking to us herself and I really wish you was here. We would have a nice time would we not?
Our folks are quite we’ll—all but Mother. She is not able to do anything. She has been quite unwell for two weeks past. She cannot do half the work she used to do without being all tired out. She has worked very hard all her days and she needs a year or two rest now. And Father’s health is very good for him. He has done a most all of the chores this winter.
Edward worked out two months before school commenced and a most of the time since he has worked his board a goin’ to school so Father and the little boys have done the chores. Nancy goes to school and that is all she does. Vet is at home. She has to work like an old slave all the time! I think if I was in Vet’s place, I would make them lazy bones get out of bed once in awhile if they retired again soon.
I will give you a description of myself in particular but there Aunt, it has been some time since I saw you and a great many changes have taken place since them in your family as well as ours! If I could see you, I could tell you lots but one of these days we may see each other again. But I was going to tell [that] I am keeping house all alone for the first time since I was married, You may imagine how I enjoy myself now, after being freed from such a great family as I always have had. I have had four and five to work for all the time until now. Now Sam and I am all alone.
But a word from my dear brother. You cannot tell how hard it was to part with him. We know he marched as well as others at the summons of the wisest and best government on earth and against a treason more foul and wicked than ever stained the pages of history & in a cause worth living for, worth fighting for, and if need be, worth dying for, for how can a man better offer up their lives than in defense of a country like ours? The eyes and hearts of near and dear ones will ever be with them and pray[er]s fervent as ever fell from human lips will arise day and night from thousands of warm hearts for their health, comfort, and safe return of those whose liberties and honor they go forth to uphold. We get a letter from Leonard every week usually but this week we did not get any. It seems a long time to wait two weeks for a letter but we know he is well—we heard by way of one of our friends yesterday. He would be most happy to receive a letter from you both. But you see my paper is most gone and I have just begun to write, but shall have to close—“receive this with lots of love,” from Mahala
If you write to Leonard, direct to Leonard D. Carver, Co. D, 2nd Maine V. M. Care of Col. C. Roberts, Washington D. C.
Spared & Shared 21 