Ordnance Office,

War Department.

Washington, Feb. 18 1865

 

Dear Parents It's with pleasure that I now improve the present oppertunity of adressing you with a few lines. I am well as can be expected. But have got a hard cold. I left Elmira on Thursday eve at 5 oclock 40 minuets P.M. and ran untill 8 in the eve when the Axletree to the tender broke and inst throwing the engine off of the track and come up to a suding hault as if we wer chalanged by Reb Pickets it sat us to thinking in an inst or less moneys than that. it hurt the Conductor a little but did not inger any one in partickular we had to lay there untill the next morning before we wer able to make an advance moovement then we got our engine from Williams Port and it shoved us through a kiteing we wer 12 hours / behind time when we arrived at Baltimore. I had to lay over there untill this morn and then I took the train for Washington I hove in sight about 9 oclock this morn and have bin busy evory since. I have bearly stoped and eat dinner which cost me only 75 cts. I couldent afford onley that meal to day but shall get some supper about midnight when Sam Pease and old friend of mine and I go down to the boarding house.

 

I have got paid and settled up with the Government and soon as I find out whether I stay here or not I will send home a hundred & fifty so some of my debts can be paid up I think I should like to be quit of debt. I spose Albert has paid up the most of them he wrote that he would settle up with Aut and Chafee for me which I shall make write with him. I dont know what I shall get into yet if I had got here about the middle of the / week I could have got a posision where I could done well and got big wages now it may be some time before I can get a good posish as I would to have. I shall get in Clearkmanship some wheres if a possible thing and if not I shall work at the best I can get and if I cant get something her I am bound to go where I can Mother I recieved your letter to day and also one from Little Valley and Jim Sanders letter. I am answering all of them this eve. I would like to have you color those pants and send or get them ready to send so if I stay here you can soon as I want them. well I am in some what of a hurry to answer the rest of my letters and soon as I find out what I am agoing to do I will write again

 

Direct your letters

            Mr E E Brown            Washington D C /

 

Feb 21^st/65

I have got into business here but it dosent pay verry well. I get $30 per month & rations my business is night watch have to stand 7 hours out of 24 & have the rest of the time to myself. I shall get into some business so I can work about ½ a day daytime then it will pay better. write soon I will send uncle Albert one hundred Dollars so he can settle with Aut and Chafee and Grandfather I spose can get along for a while yet. I will now close Write about how the hay holds out I am affraid the was not 2 tons of hay there but hope the is enough to go through this winter

 

Mother color 1 pair of pants one drawers one shirt and have D[?] make me one Vest & a coat out of the blanket I will send the masure or let Dock go to Chaffee to waverly and cut it a trifle larger than he is have them made and send them right away

 

the weather is warm and pleasant here to day the isent hardly a drop of snow to be seen

 

this leaves me feeling well

 

E E Brown

Feb 25^th & March 8^th 1865

SOURCES