This letter was written by Ephraim E. Brown to his parents, John and Lucinda Brown, in Otto, Cattaraugus Co., NY.

 

Camp of the 64^th N.Y. Vols.

Near Stephens Burg Va.

January 17^th 1864

 

Parents John and L. Brown

 

this eve I take my pen in hand to inform you of my good health etc. hopeing this to find you all the same. I have nor Recieved any letter from you in some time altho I keep looking for one evory time the maile comes in and if I get no letter I of course have to stop and think what the reason is because some of the People dont write well. Something of course is up but they will write when they get readdy and have an opportunity. well I most forgot to say that Steph got an absent of Lief [Leave] for 48 hours and has gon to the 3^rd Corps with A Riche. will be back to day. Rich is from Cattaraugus Station. Bill is in not verry good health. Jud is all right. Tracey also. Phin was over to day and Drawed new coat Pants Shoes etc. etc. the Lord only knows when he is agoing to have his Trial. I don’t hope before long for it is a shame to have men lay round as they do. altho guess he has Plenty to eat and drink. Sam Ingraham has come back so will be here for to help him.

 

well will now change the Program a little and say the 2 cheese has came all sound and I have sold and eat one of them about 1/2 up. if anyone knows how much they cost I would like to have them write for I dont know how much. Uncle Rome dident write the express charges on them and only said the dairy wer selling from 12 to $13 per hundred. I don’t know as I shall make anything of them. what I sold I sold for 30cts. want to make enoughf off of them to clear my self and have enoughf to winter on. the box of butter etc is agoing to last for some time. I am eating one of Dodes Cakes. they are Bulley.

 

I am going to put my Warrent in when I do this letter.

Good Bye

Write more often to UR Son,

Sergt. Ephraim E. Brown

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