Kennersville La.

February 1^st '65.

 

Friend Nevyus—

                                    Your kind letter came to hand some time since but owing to our having to move and finding a very poor place for writing I've neglected it. You have doubtless heard from Wilson ere this of the accident which happened to our boat while coming down from White River and I will only add that I hope I may never see another such a scene. I am having a rather comfortable time soldiering yet, though it must be confessed that there are many disagreeabilities to be met / with in the life of a soldier.

 

Our term of enlistment is fast drawing to a close, and to look back upon the past two years it seems a short time indeed but that brief period has been fraught with many eventful changes to the soldier boys who left friend and home at that time and also to the friends which we left. This is my first winter in "Dixie" and I never saw such another one. In fact it dont seem as if there had been any winter for us. When we got here the frogs were out the same as in April at the North with oranges growing on the trees and robins and mocking birds to enliven the scene.

 

The 161^st are encamped here on a plantation with only our shelter tents for houses the same / as we use in the summer but these with the few boards and pieces of fence which a soldier will find make us quite houses so that we are living comfortably. Ours is the only N.Y. Regt. that I know of in this department consequently we are Brigaded with western troops. The 20^th & 23^rd Iowa are in the 4^th the same Brigade with us. Good fellows to soldier with too They dont put on quite as much style as the generality of Eastern troops. Where we shall go from here is a matter of conjecture of course and as a soldier is not supposed to know anything I shall have to wait for events to transpire. We get all sorts of reports as to Mobile's being captured, peace commissioners from J Davis to Washington / &c. but believe as much as we please of them. Of our old acquaintances in the Elmira Hospital what few are with the Regt are all right I believe. Ed. Preston is detailed as nurse in the Brigade Hospital here The health of our Regt. is very good with the exception of a few cases of measles I believe there are but few sick. I'm "fat as a bear" myself. Wilson is with his C^o at Head Quarters so that I dont see him every day as usual but he was down here the other day looking tough as ever. And now good night for its 'most time for "Tattoo". Write when convenient and I'll not be so neglectful in future. Respects to Mrs Nevyus and believe me as ever in friendship

 

A U Brown

C^o F 161 N.Y.V.

Memphis, Tenn

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