Dear Parents,

I received your letter today and was very glad to hear from you but did not much expect to hear what I did.   Poor Electa is gone.  I was in hopes to get home to see her before she died but I knew she could not live long.  I am glad to hear the rest are well.  I hope Freddy is not going to be very sick. 

There is a good deal of talk of this regiment going home this winter to recruit.  If so, I shall be home soon.  We do not credit the report much although the Mass. papers say so as well. I am well.

We are encamped about three miles from Harpers Ferry, about a mile and a half from the railroad.  We are between two mountains in Pleasant Valley.  There is a village about a mile and a half to the northeast called Brownsville.  It is the greatest place for nuts that I ever saw.  We have very strict orders not to leave camp without a pass.  Cavalry patrols were sent out on all the roads to pick up soldiers that strayed away from the camp and were sent to Harpers Ferry to work upon the entrenchments.  It scared the boys so they are very shy about leaving camp but I have been out most every day.   I get apples, butternuts, chestnuts and black walnuts.  There are sites of pigeon grapes.  They are very nice and sweet.  The valley is composed of small farms of very fertile soil.

We are having a pretty good time here.  If we could get paid off, we could live pretty high and pretty cheap.   There is a flour mill close by.  I hope we shall get paid off soon.  There is nearly four months pay due to us.  The nights are getting pretty cold now.  The days are warm and pleasant.

I think your likeness looked pretty natural, except for the eyes.  I will get my likeness taken at the first opportunity.  I should like very much to have the Bible here but I could not carry it very well without it getting soiled.  I should like a very small one that I could carry in my pocket.  I got Ashley Mills letter but have not got Nats.  Ask big Nat Mills to send me something to read.  Most any kind will be acceptable.

I will try and write oftener after this.  It has been hard to get materials but I have got some now.  I don’t think of much more to write.  We are under a fair way to prosper for the present.  I send you my love to you all.

Goodbye for this time,

Henry W. Brown

Dear Sister Ada,

I got your letter yesterday.  I was very glad to hear from you.  I was very sorry to hear that Electa was dead but her sufferings are at an end.

I am always glad to hear from home.  There is nothing that will make a soldier’s face brighter so quick as the cry of mail.  Everyone crowds around to see if there is anything for him but some are disappointed and go away muttering.  They don’t see why their folks don’t write.

I should like to be at home to go to a meeting with you but I look forward, with pleasure, to the time comes.  It may come and it may not;  just as God wills.  Some of our forces are fighting in Virginia now.

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Pvt. Henry Brown,  Pleasant Valley,  Oct. 20, 1862

I can’t tell how quick we shall be called into action.  The drum is beating for brigade drill so I must close.  Good bye.  This from your brother,