The Calvin Shedd Papers

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Date(s) of Letter(s)	Little, Henry F. W. The Seventh Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion. Concord, New Hampshire: Seventh New Hampshire Veteran Association, 1896.
Date(s) of Letter(s)	Fretwell, Jacqueline, Ed. Civil War Times in St. Augustine. St. Augustine, Florida: St. Augustine Historical Society, 1986.
October 19, 1862 February 26, 1863	"Food, or rather the lack of it, would remain a problem of paramount importance in St. Augustine throughout the war. When the Federals arrived, some in town were on the verge of starvation....The conquering Yankees saved the situation by opening their commissary and distributing food to the destitute inhabitants. Even die-hard secessionists traded with the troops for food....Nearly all of the inhabitants who remained were dependent at once upon the Federal commissary for rations, and they were not backward in making application to a government they pretended to despise; but they were obliged to take an oath of allegiance to the United States before their wants were supplied....The army commissary was the primary source of basic foodstuffs for the townspeople and soldiers alike. The army had developed a schedule of distribution for families and doled out basic staples, such as hardtack, bacon, cornmeal, peas, candles, soap, and salt to the local inhabitants." (Fretwell, p. 31-35).