Camp of the 16th Me. Vols.
Near Petersburg, Va.
July 22nd 1864
Dear Aunt,
I have just received your letter together with the papers and you may be sure that I was very glad to hear from you. I don’t know as you will care about having any more letters from me as you have now got another young gentleman correspondent. ha! ha! ha! However, I will run the risk of writing this time and if you are indignant about it, you may let me know next time you write.
I suppose the girls had a fine old giggle over your letter, did they? I can think of only one way how that fellow could have got hold of an envelope belonging to me. In going in on a charge of the 8th of May, I with the most of the men threw away my knapsack and everything it contained and never saw it afterwards. I don’t recollect whether there was an envelope in it backed to you or not but think it very likely there was and the only way I can imagine it was done is that he picked up my knapsack and in that way got hold of the envelopes. As we belong to the same corps, I shall probably run afoul of him before long and I will have some fun with him. If I do, I will let you know.
Well we are still lying in the same old spot as you see by the heading of this letter. We are kept pretty busy with working on forts and entrenchments, picketing and guarding, but it is not hard at all. I enjoy myself better and feel better too while at work than when lying still all of the time. I came out on picket last night and have got to stay forty-eight hours. We have nothing to do in the day time at all, In the night we have to keep awake and on the lookout one third of the time. The Reb pickets are a little farther from us than it is from where you live to the depot. As you see, we are in pretty close quarters to each other along our line. They have come to a sort of treaty not to fire at each other so we do not have to keep concealed at all. Our boys meet them half way and trade with them for tobacco and corn meal giving hard tack, sugar and coffee &c. in exchange.
We had quite a little rain in Tuesday—the most we have had for two months. The sun is getting pretty high and it is getting a little too hot to write with any comfort and I guess I will close this letter. Give my love to all hands and accept a good share yourself. My health is very good. I have all the money I need at present, thank you. I haven’t received my letter from Edwin or Frank for a long time. I don’t see why they don’t write oftener but I suppose they think they don’t get time.
From your nephew, — Albert C. Brown
Spared & Shared 21 