Camp of the 16th Regt. Me. Vols.
Munson’s Hill, Va.
May 16th 1865
Dear Aunt [Mary P. Brown],
I received your very acceptable [letter] of the 12th last evening and will answer it this morning. We arrived here a few days ago after a long and fatiguing march from beyond Richmond. We had good weather for our march until last Thursday when it commenced raining about five o’clock P. M. and [in] two hours time the road were impassable for the wagon trains and they were obliged to halt for a day and night for the water to fall in the streams and the roads to settle, but arrived here alright at last. We are now encamped about five miles from Washington City on the opposite side of the river. I think we shall remain here or near here until we are discharged and I am in hopes that that time is not far distant. It is the general opinion here that the larger portion of the Army will be discharged in the course of a month or two.
I see by the papers that Jeff Davis is in our hands. I want to see him hung before leaving the service for then I shall feel as though the work for which we came out here had been accomplished.
As you supposed I had received intelligence of an addition to our family in the shape of a little girl. That is a great circumstance to happen in our family, hadn’t it! I got a letter from Aunt Nellie a few days ago but did not get any news more than she wrote to you. I also received a letter from Frank. Wilber had arrived there and gone to work in the mill with them and liked the situation very well. They were all well and getting along finely. I am enjoying very good health and spirits at present and I hope that this will find you and the rest of the folks enjoying the same blessing. I will now draw this letter to a close hoping that I shall have the privilege of seeing you all before long. Write again as soon as convenient and direct the same as usual. Give my love to all the folks and accept a good share yourself. From your affectionate nephew, — Albert C. Brown
P. S. I should never have known that your letter was backed by a different hand than usual if you had not mentioned it.
Spared & Shared 21 