Mitchell’s Station, Va.
January 4th 1864
Dear Aunt [Mary P. Brown]
I received your letter three weeks ago yesterday. We broke up camp the next day or two and I have had no convenient chance to answer it till now.
It was rather hard for us to leave our quarters after we had got them fixed up so well but we had to do it. We came to a place called Mitchell’s Station about three miles from Culpeper and twelve or fifteen miles from where we were encamped. It is near the place where we found the regiment when we first came out here. We have got orders to build our winter [quarters] here and I guess they intend to stop here this winter.
The weather has been very disagreeable here for the last week. It has been raining most of the time and we have had any quantity of Virginia mud to contend with. This morning about daylight it commenced snowing and it is coming down now in a regular down east fashion. I say let it snow as it is preferable to rain anytime.
I got a letter from Edwin last evening. The folks were all well. He and Frank have both commenced their schools and are very much pleased with them. They had had but very little snow there at the date of his letter—only about three inches in the ground at the time. I suppose snow has fallen there while it has been raining here lately.
The papers you have sent have all arrived safely and I find them very agreeable companions in my leisure moments.
Edwin writes me that tomorrow is the day set for the next draft to come off in that vicinity. I hope he and Frank will be lucky enough to escape it but they will have to take their chance with the rest.
I don’t know as I can think of much more to write this time. I must try and get time to answer Edwin’s letter today if I can. Give my love to all hands and accept a good share yourself. From your nephew, — Albert C. Brown
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