Campbell Hospital
Oct 5th 1864
Dear Parents I will say Your Letter dated of the 3d is this Eve duley at hand and I now hasten to Reply to it.
I was verry much pleased and highly interested with it altho it wants 5 or 6 men and a dozen little boot blacks to hunt it out. But never the less I have found it all. yes I know the couldent be any more.
I am glad Uncle John came up and made the visit. tell him for me he is a regular Old Sardeen. also tell him I went to the Citty the next day but one which was on Monday and I couldent find a thing of his box.
They told me then that I must stand a chance to find them at Elaxanderia amongst the storage there for there was the place the storage was taken last spring and if I can get over there I am agoing soon as possible.
But it is hard getting a pass to be absent from here over 12 hours and I cant get over there and do any thing and get back in the expired time. Shall do the best I can.
will now change the Program and say that I havent got Docks back pay yet and think it doubtful about getting it it's rather a hard [?] for one but it all comes in a mans Lifetime.
Mother I am verry much delited on reading your letter & find that you are so well pleased in thos pictures as you manifest to be you know I told you I had saved the nicest one for you.
if I had onley thought I would made a nice one & got it rigged in time for the Fair but it is to late now and I will wait till next then mayby it will come round all right
I guess you will have to keep those and when I get home I will GrandMother one and Sophia is agoing to get hers one of these days then she can take the one [?] in France. But it isent my make.
Well I will now say I was sorry to hear that Ed had enlisted again but he may go on and come out all right now at least I hope so. I wrote him a letter some time ago when I heard he was to Elmira.
And Em has gone off how do you all get along without him. I spose he is doing good Buisness or he wouldent stay. /
How did Dock fare fore money did he have any left when he got through I gave him all I had but a Dollar and that I have kept for spending money as I am so hard on it and youse so much.
I will now say I want to hear from Em soon as possible and know how much of a chance there is there for Business. I am bound to get into some some where so to make it pay.
I have about made up my mind to put up here in this City untill spring any how. Mr Manley says he will do what he can about getting me a posish which I think will work.
But I dont you to say any thing about it for fear something could turn up that I would make a slip upon it. how much is the next payment on that piece of land. write in your next missive.
if you see Steph Rogers and he has the money I would like to have you get it & pay Uncle Albert and then send the rest to me for I am intirely out of chink and need a little for stamps and paper once in a while.
Steph will know how much it is he owed me a little over $11.00 and I got one Dollar and then I was on his expenc in the City one day
Mother How did you like the Captain in the big frame the man you all thought was Dock I sposed you all had more sense and knew more about military affairs than all of that came to.
I will now say I think GrandFather had got a quer th Idea in his head which is verry strange to me. I think he must have quite an opinion of me. Perhaps more than the Gals have.
Well I intend now to see old Otto again betwixt now and the 10th Dec. well 2 long months must after while roll away I will say I was verry much seprised to hear that Charley Prat was there what sent him way down there.
Well there was something that I wanted to put down but I have forgotten what it is so will put a word of something if it isent quite so cunning. If you see N.H.S. tell the same N.H.S. I would like that letter and picture which was is indebted to me I think some of going to her frank.
But shant unless I get som signs of yet being out before my time is up. I have got down about a sufficiant quantity. Please give my regards to all inquiring especily Grandfathers people tell Dock to take hold and help as well as he can & get the Falls work done. I am Your Most Obedeant Son Serg E. E. Brown To Parents
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Father I will make you a preseant of that gun do what you are a mind to with it