The Brothers Rand
Letters written by brothers Charles, Erastus and Granville Rand to the folks at home on the farm in Maine offer no hint of the tragedy that would befall the family in the coming time. In the beginning the brothers are still in Sate at Camp Coburn in Augusta where the 2nd Cavalry prepares for the journey South and military service. The letters reflect a sense of adventure and eagerness to move. Once that occurs, letters describing the nearly constant sea sickness on voyage to the seat of War, express an all too typical hardship for members of the 2nd Cavalry (see earlier: Sgt. Mjr. Charles Wilson’s journal account). The Mainers quickly learn that maintenance of good health while living in close quarters in the heat and humidity of the deep south will take a heavy toll on the Yankee Cavalrymen. Fully a third of the Regiment would be lost to disease before it returned to the Pine Tree State. The Rand brothers of Standish would be included in that number with the youngest,

Granville, succumbing to typhoid on June 25, 1864. Erastus Rand, now serving as bugler would pass from the same cause just two weeks later on July 9, 1864. On August 3, 1864 Charles would fall to typhoid.

Two of the three brothers rest in Monument Cemetery, New Orleans. (It is more than likely that Granville is interred there as well but we have not been able to verify that.) Now more commonly known as the Chalmette National Cemetery, this ground is located on the site of the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.