Camp Howard, Va. 22nd October 1861 Miss L. S. Browne, Bowdoinham, Me. Dear Sister, I think I am owing you a letter so so — feeling somewhat in a writing mood — I think I will pay the debt. I am sole occupant of our tent at present — the battalion having gone off down… Read More The usual time is now spent in drilling

Camp Howard, Va. 14th November 1861 Mary B. Browne, Bowdoinham, Me. Dear Sister, I think it would be a question for discussion whether I owe you a letter or you owe me one, for I think we both wrote last on the same day. But I will probably have more time for writing and a… Read More Peddlers are swarming around the camp

Camp Howard, Va. 8th December 1861 Miss Mary B. Browne, Bowdoinham, Me. Dear Sister, Yours of the 1st inst. was received Thursday eve and read with much interest, and as I pride myself on my punctuality, you see I am not going to procrastinate in acknowledging its receipt. I am seated on a little box… Read More A picture lovely in the extreme

Camp Howard, Va. 23rd February 1862 Miss Mary B. Browne, Bowdoinham, Maine Dear Sister, Your interesting letter of the 2nd instant, received some time since, comes up next in time for an answer, and I squat myself down with paper on my knees to requite the obligation. The weather is warm but not pleasant (as… Read More I want to have a finger in the pie too

This letter was written to Mary B. Brown by her cousin, Sgt. Edward Wiggin, Jr. of the 6th Maine Battery. “Recruited from Aroostook, Waldo, and York counties, the 6th Maine Battery mustered into service on New Year’s Day in 1862, under the command of Captain Freeman McGilvery of Stockton. George H. Smith of Hodgdon and… Read More On a stormy Sunday in camp

Head Quarters 6th Maine Battery Cape Elizabeth, Portland March 21, 1862 Dear Cousin May, I wrote a sheet full to you last Sunday to while away the lonely hours and now that we are at home again, I will scratch a few more lines and enclose with it. Did I see you yesterday or not?… Read More A regular cure for sore eyes

Head Quarters 6th Maine Battery Fort Buffalo, Va. April 17, 1862 Dear Cousin Mary, I wrote you a few lines from Washington [D. C.] last Sunday, in which I believe I complained that I had not received any answer to the letter I wrote you from Portland. But I am most happy to assure you… Read More Our whereabouts and howabouts

Head Quarters 6th Maine Battery Fort Buffalo, Va. May 4th 1862 Sunday Eve ¼ past 10 Dear Cousin Mary, I am Sergeant of the Guard tonight and have got to be up till one o’clock  so in order to pass away a part of the lonely hours, I thought I would pen a few lines to… Read More The blow crushes many fond hopes

Head Quarters 6th Maine Mounted Battery Washington D. C. Wednesday, June 4th, 1862 Dear Coz Mary, Just picture to yourself a little island fourteen feet in diameter and partly overflowed at that, and on a little partially dry knoll near the center of said island a pile of blankets, and deposited on said pile of… Read More We shall live in the saddle after this

Summit Point [West Virginia] November 26, 1864 Mother, I thought I would drop a line as I have a chance now. I come up here last Thursday where Sanford is and commenced work and like first rate. We had a rather hard time to get work but have got work at last. We was belated… Read More It made some of the boys stick out their eyes