Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)Marc Brodsky
Permission to publish material from the Charles L. Brown Letter must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Collection is open for research.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Charles L. Brown Letter, 4 January 1862, Ms2017-031, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
The Charles L. Brown Letter was donated to Special Collections in 2017.
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Charles L. Brown Letter commenced in August 2017 and was completed in September 2017.
The son of Aaron and Lydia Brown of Waltham, Mass. (both originally from Maine), Charles L. Brown enlisted with the 16th Massachusetts Infantry on 29 June 1861, Company H, as a corporal. The 16th was first attached to Fort Monroe, Va. before moving to Suffolk and then seeing action at Malvern Hill, Bull Run (2nd), Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, prior to the engagement at Gettysburg. Having been promoted to first sergeant, Brown died on 4 July 1863 at Gettysburg at the age of 23, a day following the death of his older brother, George F. Brown, a first lieutenant, also of the 16th Massachusetts.
This collection consists of a single letter and envelope dated 4 January 1862 and written by Charles L. Brown, a corporal in the 16th Mass. Infantry, from Hampton, Va. to his mother in Waltham, Mass. He thanks the folks at home for the "drawers" and "eatables," also mentioning, specifically, the pies, cakes, mittens, shirts, and gloves. He says that he is "as safe here as if we were in Boston," saying that the Confederate commander, [General John B.] Magruder is "more fond of whiskey than fighting."