Dear Parents,

I am well.  We are still at Camp Andrews but we have been away several days and came back yesterday afternoon.

We had orders to be ready to march in a day but the order was countermanded.  We did not know where we was again but the next day the order came to go on board the Northerner.  We got ready.  We took our rubber blankets, overcoat, canteens and haversack and 60 rounds of cartridges.  We went on board at 9 o’clock and immediately set sail.  After getting aground several times, we got into deep water.  Our destination was Elizabeth City .  We got to Roanoke about 10 o’clock . A pilot came on board and piloted us through the narrows.  The channel is very narrow going past Roanoke . After we got into deep water, we anchored and waited for the rest.  The 51st Pennsylvania sailed from Newbern.  The 89th New York and 6th New Hampshire were stationed at Roanoke .  These three regiments embarked making 5 regiments, about 3000 men in all.  Our regiment numbered 505.  The sick were left in camp.

We all started together.  Owing to the fog, our pilot could not run, he not being very used to the sound.  The three regiments from Roanoke , being in smaller vessels, went ahead.  The object of the expedition was to destroy the canal from Norfolk to Elizabeth City.  The Rebels threatened to come down this canal and come to Newbern with iron clad boats and destroy our fleet and take us all prisoners.

Burnside thought he would stop their fun if he could.  There is a locks about 12 miles above the city and by destroying these, the water would run out and it would take  three months to rebuild them.   Burnside found out there was a regiment of Rebels with nine canon there to guard them and he knew they must be taken by surprise because they could get reinforcements to arrive from Suffolk in 9 hours.  We were to land and march there by night and surprise, if we could, but we did not move till morning.  Three regiments landed at 2 o’clock .  They had a nigger for a guide.  He led them about 15 miles out of their way.

We landed a short distance below the city and marched by Camden Courthouse.  This is a very pleasant place.  The courthouse is about the size of our town house.  There is a store and jail and many other beautiful houses.  There was pleasant farmhouses along the road.  The land is very low and clayey.  As we advanced, the land grew lower and more swampy.   There would be a house and land cleared around it and the rest was all swamp.

We got within two miles of the canal about noon .  The day was extremely hot.  The soldiers were giving out at every step.  A great many were sunstruck.  Soon we came to a large field, with a row of fires.  The enemy came and began to fire canon.  There canon was planted in the road and the balls struck all around us.  Some came within a rod of me.  We were laying down to rest beside the road.  The 51st Pennsylvania was ahead and we were next.  The others were behind.  The field was over a quarter of a mile long and 40 rods wide.  There was woods all around.  The road ran through them .  The Rebels were at the other end.  There was several houses on the road.  Our artillery took their positions and the 51st Pennsylvania and our regiment was on the right, the 69th New York on the left and the (Zouaves) Zoo Zoos out in front.  We kept on to the swamp.  The 51st Pennsylvania commenced.  We formed right.  The musketry commenced.  We pushed and just got in position when they fired.  As soon as the firing commenced, the Zoo charged in front clear to the end of the field.   The Rebels poured a shower of grape.  They lay down and it passed over.  They went on again; another shower and they fell like pigeons. They broke and ran into the woods.  About this time, the New York 6th gave the Rebels a splendid volley.

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Pvt. Henry Brown, Newbern, April 22, 1862

The other regiment was firing all the time.  The Rebels run.   We all rushed out of the woods.  The men swarmed acrossed the field like bees.  We immediately formed.  The Zoo Zoos stood around in groups swearing and talking.  We immediately stacked arms and lay down and rested.  It was almost night.

The regiment bivouacked in the edge of the woods.  There was nearly one third of every regiment give out before they got into battle. For two miles back the road was lined with them laying down and groaning.   The houses were took for hospitals, the wounded brought in and dressed.  We lost one killed and 11 wounded.  The Zoo Zoos lost 18 killed and 45 wounded.  The other regiment suffered a little.  Those that gave out got better.  We took two prisoners.  There was about 1000 as near as we can learn, 800 Georgians and the Louisiana Wildcats.  We found five killed and 18 or 20 wounded.  There was more wounded but they took off.  The Rebels took their canon with them.  They retreated across the canal and how much further we don’t know.

We did pride ourselves much on the victory as we had 3 to their 1 and we might have surrounded them, just as well as not, it is supposed.  They had a battery above or retreated to Suffolk .  A picket was posted around us. I should have gone on at 11 but the worse is to be told.  About 10, I was wakened and told to go on board the Northerner.  We all fell into line.  The fires were kept burning and we kept so still that if the Rebels had been around they would not have known that we were going to leave.   General Reno had got wind that they were reinforced or that they were coming back or something was the matter.  He thought it prudent to git back before morning.

The whole division started; our regiment behind.  There was 2 canon behind us.   After the battle there was a thunderstorm and as soon as we started it began to rain again.  The soil being clayey, a little rain made it awful muddy.  There was great holes and it was very slippery.  One could hardly stand up.  We went very slow for the first 3 or 4 miles and then the road grew a little better and then we went pretty fast.  The ranks were kept well dressed till they began to lay behind.  Some were slipping down and some would give out.  We had to rest every little ways.  I kept up with the regiment.   Those that were dangerously wounded had to be left on the battlefield.  The surgeons drew lots and it fell on our surgeon.   He was left and is probably a prisoner. There was four of our regiments left.

Before we got to Camden Courthouse, the boys were nearly all exhausted.  There was more than one hundred behind.  We had a rear guard with the canon and ten men behind them.  They made them most all come till within a little ways of the drawbridge.  Here they left some men and went back with the wagons to pick up those that could not walk. It was hard to see some lay beside the road groaning.  Some stayed to the bridge till they thought they were most all over.  They then cut the bridge at the courthouse.  They broke open the jail and let out the prisoners and locked the jailer up and took the key and broke open the store.  There was not much in it, except a little clothing and tobacco.

It was about 1 and a half miles to the landing.  The regiments got all mixed up.  When we got to the landing, the 8th were most all behind and the road was lined back as far as the courthouse.  By reading this you will get no idea of the sufferings of the troops.  It seemed as though every step would be the last and I stood as well as any of them.

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Pvt. Henry Brown, Newbern-Camden Hill,  April 22, 1862

Our clothes were completely covered with mud. It was pleasing to see them go flop in the mud.  I did not fall but partly down twice.   I waded into the water and washed my britches and shoes.  When we got aboard the Northerner I went up and laid down beside the smokestack and got all dry and put on a dry pair of stockings and had a good sleep.  Stragglers kept arriving all the forenoon.  We left about noon and got here yesterday afternoon.  There is some probably taken prisoner as the Rebels were probably around the next day.  Many are unwell now but I am as well as ever.

I haven’t wrote half of what I want to, but perhaps as much as you will want to read.   The place where the battle was fought was called Camden Hill but there was  not a rise of ten feet after all.   I don’t think it was a very profitable expedition.  I don’t think we accomplished what was expected.  The gunboats run up the canal and destroyed the bridge.  There appears to be three canals run into one.  The nearest I can find out  is the Rebels had sunk a schooner in the one below the locks and we sank one in another and there is not but four or five feet of water, so the locks are not destroyed but the Rebels cannot come down right off.

The calvary was seen by some of the stragglers about noon the next day.   They escaped to the gunboats.  I don’t think there were many taken prisoners, except the wounded.  I think this was as hard a march as any during the war; marching nearly forty miles in 24 hours and fighting a battle.   It would not have been so hard if the road had not been so muddy and the soldiers had not all been exhausted.   We shall have something to remember April 19 by.

April 23, 1862 .

I received you letter last night before I closed this.   I was very glad to hear from you.  I received your other letter and answered it  and wrote another and sent some money.  I should like to see you all but it will be some time before the war closes.  I think father cannot get my discharge as long as I am well, nor could I get a furlough.  The wounded cannot all get one.

I hope McClellan will do something soon.  We think that our movement was to embarrass the enemy at Norfolk .  We thought McClellan might be attacking on the other side.

I am glad you are better.  Direct your letters the same as you did this.  I hope Electa will be better this summer.  The weather is about like July to home.  It is very pleasant.  The bombardment of Fort Macon commenced yesterday.  I send my love to you all.

Goodbye,

Henry Brown

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Pvt. Henry Brown, Newbern-Camden Hill, April 22,1862

Dear Sister Ada,

I was very glad to hear from you.   I always feel better to hear from home.  I am glad you have got a good place to work.  I would be satisfied to live on bread and milk for 2 months if I could get it.

Fred Aldredge is a married man and Bill Draper is so nasty I would not have you do anything with him, but there is a little red headed drummer boy that would suit you, from Charleston .  There is not many pretty girls here.  There is no danger of our falling in love with any one out here.

I have wrote about enough so I must close and get up and make some biscuits.  Goodbye to you and all the rest.

Henry