Letter written on April 15th, 1865 by Lt. Colonel Thomas B. Rodgers of the 140th Pennsylvania Infantry while hospitalized. Two pages with postal cover bearing a “Soldiers’ Mission Massachusetts Universalist Convention” imprint and addressed in ink to “Mrs. Mr. R Rodgers, Mercer, Penna.” Please see third picture listed for scanned full transcription.

Writing to his mother, Rodgers relates that he is feeling better but that he can’t leave yet. He describes his regiment as as having suffered “more on Friday last than in all of the campaigns before” and goes into detail of officers who were reported killed or wounded.

Thomas B. Rodgers was captured at Gettysburg on July 2nd, 1863 by a flanking party of the enemy between the peach orchard and the wheat field. General. Rodgers was taken to Libby Prison where he remained for nine months before being paroled and sent to Annapolis and Washington.

When he returned to his regiment, Thomas Rodgers was advanced to Lieutenant Colonel to fill vacancies caused by the Gettysburg combat. He would serve in this capacity until the end of the war, fighting in the Mine Run Campaign, The Battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania, the Siege of Petersburg, and the final Appomattox Campaign. (Summary of service courtesy of William Griffing)