The following letter was written by George Mickle Brown (1843-1927), the son of Clayton Brown (1813-1887) and Sarah Jane Hildreth (1819-1878). In mid-July 1861, George enlisted in Co. A, 34th Pennsylvania Infantry, also known as the 5th Pennsylvania Reserves. Company A, or The Jersey Shore Rifles, were recruited from Lycoming county, Pennsylvania and commanded by Capt. H. C. Ulman. He was wounded at Mechanicsville on 26 June 1862 in the Seven Days Battles before Richmond and was later transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps in November 1863.

The letter was datelined from the Georgetown Hospital on 11 August 1861 shortly after the regiment’s arrival in the District of Columbia.

Transcription

Georgetown Hospital  District of Columbia
August 11, 1861

Dear Parents,

Having got our tents pitched and nothing else to do, I take the pleasure of writing you a few lines to let you know that I am well and would like to hear of your enjoying the same blessing. We are all well that left Cedar Run together and like soldiering better than I expected first. I saw a good many at Harrisburg that I was acquainted with in the Wellsboro company. They are one day ahead of us and we heard they were somewhere in this vicinity. The artillery left Camp Curtin last Thursday. They had some 30 odd cannons and all had horses.

The troops are concentrating here very fast. We are about 5 miles from Washington. We started for here Friday about noon and got to Baltimore about 3 o’clock yesterday morning and staid there until daylight and then started for Washington and got there about 11 o’clock yesterday. While there, Daniel Foster and myself got a chance to go and see our National Capitol. We went through a large portion of the capitol and was up on top where we could see the whole city and miles around. We could see Georgetown, Alexandria, Arlington Heights, and no doubt where a 100 thousand troops were encamped in circle of miles around  the city. It was the most magnificent scenes I ever saw. And the capitol and grounds around are the best laid out and the best ornamented of anything I ever saw. The capitol building and sights to be seen therein—the statues of Washington and others—would make any patriotic young man volunteer in our country’s  service.

We marched out here last night. It is about 5 miles from Washington and on the road to Manassas Junction. How long we will stay here is not known but it’s rumored that the rebels have a large force within 20 miles of here and an attack is soon expected.

The country here is very uneven. The hills are not high but there is the least level land of any country I was ever in. Back from the city, it is not settled and cleared up near as much as it is around the cities in upper Pennsylvania and the crops are not near as good through Maryland as they are up in our country. From the looks of this place I should judge  the people were not very enterprising. The timber is pretty  much oak woods and other hard timber. I have seen no hemlocks but plenty of cedar.

We have got a pretty good company and good officers. Our colonel [Seneca G. Simmons] is a very nice, plain, and a first rate officer. Yesterday when we came to Washington they wanted him to march us right out here after riding all night. “No sir,” says he. “My men shall rest and get something to eat before they stir from here,” and so they did. He served the Mexican War and is called one of the best military men in the field and every man in the regiment likes him. We have a plenty to eat, drink, and wear. The water is better here than we expected and we hope the time will soon come around when this inhuman rebellion shall cease and we can return to our loved homes in triumph.

Charley Dodge ¹ sends his best respects to all who may inquire & may God bless my dear parents, brothers, and sisters who are remembered by your obedient son & brother, — G. M. Brown

Direct your letter to Washington, D. C., Care of Captain H. C. Ulman, Co. A, 5 Regiment P. V. R. C.

P. S. I would have answered your letter sooner but we were under marching orders & I thought I would wait until we got to camp again. My love to all.

¹ Charles B. Dodge survived the war but lost a leg. Discharged 17 March 1863.