Dated “Camp 29^th Mass. Vet. Vols. / Near Petersburg, Va, Dec 9^th/64.” Letter is addressed to an unidentified official at the USA General Hospital Chester, PA, concerning the whereabouts of 1^st Sergt. Francis J. Cole. 2 page in ink on lined paper, 9.75 x 7.75., including a communication from hospital Surgeon Thos. Bache concerning the status of Sergt. Cole.

Text: “On the 1^st day of June 1864, 1^st Sergt. Francis J. Cole, Co. “K” 29^th Mass. V. Vols. was wounded in action and sent to hospital. On the 22^nd of July I sent as requested his descriptive list to Hospital at Chester, Penn, I have received nothing official concerning him since that date. I learn unofficially that he was at East Boston, Mass., some time since on furlough, and that he has now deserted. I can not credit it however, and much desire to learn his whereabouts as he has lately been commissioned 1^st Lt. If you will be kind enough to inform me if he is still at the hospital, or of his whereabouts you will confer a favor…John M. Deane, Capt. Co. “k”, 29^th Mass.”

Surgeon Communication, UAS Hospital, Chester Mass, Dec. 12, 1864.—"Respectfully returned—The within named Francis J. Cole, Sergt, Co. “K” 29^th Mass was furloughed Aug. 2 for 20 days and has not returned. He is a deserter from this hospital.”

Francis J. Cole’s record lists him as a 24 year-old carpenter from Boston, MA, who enlisted and was mustered as a sergt. in Co. “K”, 29^th Mass. Infantry, 5/22/1861. After serving a three year enlistment and re-enlisting as a veteran volunteer, Cole was wounded 6/3/1864 at Bethesda Church, MD, and shortly after was promoted to 1^st Lieut., 7/1/1864. He is then listed as being abruptly discharged 8/22/1864.

Inasmuch Sergt. Coles’ date of discharge corresponds with the expiration of his 20 day furlough, it seems probable that via a local physician the wounded Cole managed to arranged and negotiate a service discharge from the Adjt. General’s office in Washington, which was derelict in notifying both the hospital which had declared him a deserter, and his regiment which had already promoted him to Lieutenant.

Lieut. John Deane was a 24 year-old Freetown, MA, teacher who was commissioned as Lieut. into Co. “G”, 29^th Mass. Infantry, 6/1/1861. He was promoted to Captain, 6/8/1864, and received the Medal of Honor for action at Ft. Stedman, 3/25/1865, as well promotion to Major, 5/15/ 1865.

An unusual and highly intriguing 29^th Mass. document. Invites further research. In protective sleeve. [JP] [PH:L]

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