George W. Brown Co. K, 68th Ohio
“Some of our boys got as far as to see Vicksburg. It is on a high hill. I hope they will soon take that place. We are about 75 miles from there now. They will keep us here until they get ready to take the place, when they will give us a call. If I must fight there, I would rather do it at once. But I don’t relish the job very much. God in his mercy has seen fit to preserve my life until the present time and he may yet bring me safe, through the contest.” George W. Brown, March the 29th, 1863
Camp Logan—Louisiana,
March the 29th, 1863
Dear Parents–
I received your kind and affectionate letter some time ago, and was prevented from answering it by sickness and by moving. When I got the letter, the fever was burning me and before I got well, we got orders to go to Vicksburg. We went there and got orders to come back again. I was sick until we got back. But I am well now and I hope you are all the same.
Some of our boys got as far as to see Vicksburg. It is on a high hill. I hope they will soon take that place. We are about 75 miles from there now. They will keep us here until they get ready to take the place, when they will give us a call. If I must fight there, I would rather do it at once. But I don’t relish the job very much. God in his mercy has seen fit to preserve my life until the present time and he may yet bring me safe, through the contest.
I have no fears of getting killed. We opened the levy of the Mississippi River at Providence and the water of the lake has backed up to this place. They say that Lake Providence is now 100 miles wide and two hundred [miles] long. It has overflowed an awful sight of land.
It is awful hot here now. It is as warm as it ever gets up north. You spoke of seeing my piece in the Messenger. I think you won’t see it there, for it is not worth publication. I will get up a piece some day that he will publish. If ever I get home, I want to go to school about six months and lean the rudiments of the English language. Then I can write to editors without being ashamed of my writing. I must quit for awhile and get some dinner and then write more.
I have had a dinner of coffee and bread and fell better. I wish I was there to help you make sugar. I would have all the taffy I could eat. Alvin don’t write to me anymore. Maybe I don’t get his letters. [Interestingly, this letter was written about a month before his brother, Alvin, would be killed at Chancellorsville.] I want more stamps. I have not got one. They say that we can get a furlough after awhile. I would come home if that is so. If it was not for the cost, we will have to bear our own expenses. I will get one if I can and go to Iowa to see Martha.
Direct to Lake Providence, Louisiana. In care of Capt. Evans, 68th Regt. O.V. I.
George B. Brown. Goodbye Parents….
Read the Brown brothers letters:
Alvin 1862 | Alvin 15 March 1863 | George 29 March 1863 | George Oct 16 1863 | George 28 Jan. 1864