Camp of the 61^th N.Y. I.V.

                                                                                                Near Willismedville[?]

                                                                                    Near Germania Ford Virginia

                                                                                    January            31^st      /.64

 

                        Ever and Rememberd Friend mary this Sabbath eve I cannot find any thing else to do unless it is to write to you and rather than to be Idle I will catch up the pen and say a few words to you. I am in the best of health and cincerly hope this may find you and the rest of the people all in the same. Mary I received your picture but a short time ago and verry thankful am I to say it is the nicest and handsomest picture I have seen in the Regt/ or Brigade. maby you will think I am trying to brag a little but I am not ashamed of it if I am the Capt wanted to know if she was as smart as she is good looking and looks there. and what do you guess I told him. told him I never saw you. he sais look out boy what you tell me o-r I-l pull them stripes off. well sais I dont be asking so many hard questions then. and he went off laughing I said he would find out about these things but I am realy fond of the Picture whether the Original of it is of me or not. [?]/

 

now I will say I done mine up and sent it to you last week and hope you have got it before now. altho I am sorry to say it isent as good not near as good looking as yours but of course any one knows the cannot be as good Photographs or Ambrotypes taken in a cloth tent or out in the open air as can be taken in a Gallery. well guess I have said about enough about that, so will talk about something else do you ever let the Old Lady see any letters if you do tell me if she dont scold because I write so foolish & simple/ I used to think more of her than I did of any other women in town. I would like to be there long enough to take tea with you all and have a short chat with you all well if Lage goes to the W[?] he will go to some thing that we know nuthing about So tell him to be sure and be [?] when it comes off. well will close on this sheet asking you to Please except this from a true Friend who will never first Prove untrue.

 

E.E. Brown

                        To Miss M.D. Babcock

 

[margin] I will send you a motto that Betsy sent me some time ago but she has played out with me

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