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https://micivilwar.com/authors/brown-john/
Regiment: 5th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp Sickles
May 20th/’63
Dear Friend
Mariette
Your kind letter came to hand three days ago but
I ware out on picket when it reached me and
I had to stay three days after I received and I
could not answer it till I returned to camp from
picket. I am well at present and hope you are the
same. We had very nice time on picket. The
weather was fine though rather warm. We ware
posted on this side of the Rappahanock River. The
water was very low so it could be forrded and one
lieutenent and one privat from the reble
Army they ware on picket duty on the opposit
of the river came acrost the river and took
dinner with us and one of our boys went over and
took dinner with them. The lieutenant talked very
farmilious and had all the apperance of being
a nice fellow and a gentleman. He said he had not
had eny coffee for a long time, so we gave him
a lot of coffee. He thanked very polite for it and
said he would come over the next day and bring us
overa lot of milk. He said there was a house over
there and he could get lots of it. He and his man
returned and our man returned and the next day the
Lieutenant came over and brought his milk. He stayed and
had a long talk. He ware their when we were
releaved and then returned to his reg’t. He
belonged to the 29
th Georga. We didn’t talk much about
the war on each side. He told us about the prices of
things in Richmond. You better believe the prices ware
very high………..He said he hoped to see us again
in the time of peace……..I wish the soldiers could all
be back to the fourth. I am afraid they won’t—if my life
is spared I will spend the next fourth
in Michigan. You said you heard that the Federal army
had taken Richmond. It is not so. They had all their
fun at Berlin for nothing. I wish it was so. The news
is pretty good from Vicksburg. If it is true it will
be a great help to us towards putting the rebellion
down. Taking that place opens the Mississippi River
and they will have to draw their force from here and
take it south or bring their army here and if we whip
wherever they concentrate their force, this war will
soon close. Bully if they get whipped.
I can’t think of much more this time. Write soon
and remember this is from John H. Brown
