Camp Near Falmouth Va

Jan 16^th 1863

 

Dear Parents.

onc more I sit down to direct you a few lines as we now stand under marching orders we expect to leave here to morrow [paper hole] & maby be fore morning but if we go I hope we will come out all right we hear we have got to cross the river about 6 miles above here & try to flank the Rebs. But my oppinion is the Rebs will be there ready for us they are well posted & know our business full as well as we do. the 154 has bin up the river making rodes &c &c for the pontoons. we all dread leaving here now but the rising sun s orders has got to be filled if possible. I was on Picket day befor yesterday & Gen Burnside was out on the line viewing the Rebs side. the Boys all say bring back old Mack & I say so to But maby the next fight will prove a better deed in [paper hole] &c &c

 

But the Boys is getting rather down hearted &c &c it is enoughf to to throw a mans heart into his mouth to hear the Commander say Pack up Boys another march on hand. well if we march up the river & cross I think the is / Another big Fight on hand but if the is let her come ofcourse Some of us has got to fall at our Countrys cause & one stands the same chance of the other. but it is hard for a moment to march up at the point of the Enamys Bayonet & Perhaps at the Enamys Cannon.s mouth which is a rather Resque piece of business. but we get them in as tight a place as we had them at Antietam then hold them up to the rack. untill I have a cause to lay [paper hole] But my chance is with the rest & hoping we will all come out right in the end. I can say our company left home with a grand set of fine Boys & can say that the is 4 of us Otto Boys left & we will stand by each other untill the last falls then will be an end to the Brave Old Boys. But God have mercy on us & deliver us safe through the many large battles which we perhaps will haft to go through & endure if we are yet spared to see the end of the Terrible War. I begin to think it will never end & if we moove again I shall consider it perfect Winters Campaign all winter &c &c. well Mother the candle is getting short so I shall haft to bring this to a close for to night & if we do not moove to morrow I will finish & if we moove I shall have no more time to write but Mother you must not keep worring about me all the time. Perhaps I shall be spared to return safe home. the is Bill, Rogers, Crane & myself, all in one tent here enjoing our selvs tiptop. but perhaps if you should look into our shanty you would say it isent fit for the hogs & I dont believe hogs would stay in it long if they couldent get out. but we should actually take comfort. but if we haft to rip up & leave we will be as [paper hole] as the other way. we hop we will not leave yet the orders sais 60 rounds of cartridges 3 day rations & hold our selvs in readiness &c &c. I am so glad Bill has got back for I have bin so lonesom all the time since he was gone & couldent hardly content myself But the next heavy battle which Perhaps we will have to stand to now lies on our mind Oh, Lord who is to fall next seams as ough the is but a few of us left & I well know the is but a few of the Otto Boys 

 

Gust Shipy is verry sick & perhaps will not stand it long he is out of his head some most evory day for a nomber of days if nuthing happens contrary to orders we will leave to morrow at 7 oclock Bill is agoing to direct a few lines to you &c &c. Frank Mackhanely is here he was took prisenor at Fair Oaks & has bin down to North Carolina & is parolled & now with the Company. I shall haft to stop for this time so good Bye write often From Ur Son Ephraim

Ephraim E. Brown to his Dear

Father Mother Brother & Sister Brown

Good Bye once more But I

Pray not for Ever

 

                                                                        we have no orders yet

                                                                        Perhaps will not

                                                                        go to day

                                                                                    Good Bye

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