George W. Brown, Company K, 68th Ohio Infantry
“for it looks as though my old acquaintances have gone the way of all the world. God hath need of them and has called them to come to Eternity. Our Regiment has left. They are on an expedition somewhere to the rear of Vicksburg. Where they are a going to, I cannot tell….” George W. Brown, Company K, 68th Ohio Infantry Vicksburg, Mississsippi 1863
George Brown was a 21-year old young man when he mustered into Company “K”, 68th Ohio Infantry on December 13, 1861. He was promoted to Sergeant on May 1, 1863.
Vicksburg, Miss.
–October the 16th, 1864
Dear Father–
I received your letter of the 24th of Sept., the day before yesterday and was happy to behold your hand writing once more. I am well at the present time of writing. I have been sick with the Ague. I was sick when I got your letter. The Ague is pretty bad here. But the season for that disease is nearly past. I never was troubled with the ague as much in my life as I have been since we took Vicksburg.
I am sorry that the flu is so bad up there. I guess that if I get there again among white people as you call them, that I will have to get acquainted again, for it looks as though my old acquaintances have gone the way of all the world. God hath need of them and has called them to come to Eternity. Our Regiment has left. They are on an expedition somewhere to the rear of Vicksburg. Where they are a going to, I cannot tell. We expect them back in about 7 or 8 days. Those that were too sick to march were left back to take care of the camp.
You spoke about being here to take care of me, mother. Well, I should be sorry to see you here. We do not draw any more grub than we can manage, but we draw all we want. Sometimes we are rather short of rations. Jonas hates it yet that we could not invite you to eat with us the time that you visited us at Camp Chase. But at that time we did not have anything to eat except a few hard crackers and a little coffee.
You want to send me what I want. Well that is hard to do. I have a new pair of boots that cost $6.50 cts. I have the mittens yet that you sent me, but I have no socks. I would be glad to get a new pair of socks or two. New boots and new socks will go well together. Then if I had a couple of plugs of good white man’s tobacco, it would be good for the taste, and would help amazingly to while away the long hours of guard duty in town or on picket. In short, if I had a pound or two of good homemade butter with the bread we draw, a dozen or two of good eggs, a ham, some apple butter and a few of the dainties of your table. I could make a meal that a king would be proud of. It would savor greatly of home, and make me forget for the time being that I am a humble servant of Uncle Samuel.
But these things cannot be sent without a good deal of expense. You can send me a pair of socks by mail and the cost will be small. When I get home, we will feast on the good things of the world. I notice in the paper that Abe Brown was wounded in the battle with Rosecrans and the Rebels. I hope that William and Jesse are unhurt….
Read the Brown brothers letters:
Alvin 1862 | Alvin 15 March 1863 | George 29 March 1863 | George Oct 16 1863 | George 28 Jan. 1864