Private Osborne, Massachusetts 23rd Volunteers: Burnside Expedition, Roanoke Island, Second Front Against Richmond

By Frederick M. Osborne and Osborne Frederick M.

Fred Osborne was only sixteen when he left his home in Salem, Massachusetts
to fight in the Civil War. In this remarkable collection of letters, he
describes the privations and hardships of camp life, as well as its excitement
and camaraderie. As a member of the Massachusetts 23rd Volunteers, young Osborne
saw action at New Bern, Charleston, and Petersburg. His first-hand accounts of
the Burnside Expedition, Roanoke Island, and the Second Front against Richmond
are particularly enlightening.

Private Osborne 1/2s letters were discovered, after 130 years, in the house
his daughter built in Sugar Hill, New Hampshire. Editor Frank B. Marcotte 1/2s
commentary places these letters in the correct historical context. It is
especially interesting to note that Osborne, who fought against the South as a
Union soldier, was a product of Salem, a leading port for the early slave trade.
By referencing newspapers, census reports, and other historical documents,
Marcotte also follows Fred Osborne 1/2s life beyond the Civil War until his death
in 1923.

About the Editor

Dr. Frank B. Marcotte grew up on a family farm in New Hampshire, where he was
educated in a one-room schoolhouse. After receiving a Fulbright Scholarship, he
earned a doctorate in physical chemistry. Retired from his career as a research
director, Marcotte now lives in Summit, New Jersey.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1565549651
• ISBN13: 9781565549654
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"