The following letter was written by George Foster Brown (1833-1863) who on 29 June 1861 mustered into Co. H, 16 Massachusetts Infantry, and was KIA on 2 July 1863 at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He wrote the letter to his widowed mother, Lydia (Sawtelle) Brown (1797-1885) of Waltham, Massachusetts. His father, Aaron Brown, died in 1853. Serving with George in the same company was his brother, CharlesL. Brown (1840-1863).

The Massachusetts brothers, George and Charles Brown, were both mortally wounded at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. “On July 21, 1863, residents of the town of Waltham, Massachusetts gathered at the First Methodist Society to comfort a widowed mother of two local young men who had perished on a distant battlefield in Pennsylvania. It was an impressive and touching service, conducted by members of the Masonic order, augmented by a solemn organ and choir. George F. Brown had enlisted at the same time with his brother, and was also mustered into Company H, but at the rank of sergeant. It was something of a miracle that the body of Lieutenant George F. Brown had been found. Lieutenant George F. Brown of Company B, had been shot through the brain and foot. Charles found himself posted at the Daniel Klingle place on the Emmitsburg road. It was nearly 7 p.m. on July 2, 1863 and the enemy was closing in from two directions at once, the 18th Mississippi approaching from the south, and the 10th and 11th Alabama from the west. In the merciless crossfire Charles was struck in the shoulder and in two other unspecified spots. While Mr. Greene was busy making arrangements for the recovery of George’s body, Charles unexpectedly took a sudden turn for the worse. He succumbed on the morning of July 11. Now Mr. Greene stayed on to ensure both men were embalmed and transported to Waltham, where they could be properly honored and mourned. Both local heroes had rendered their “last full measure of devotion” to their country.”
[Sources: Waltham Sentinel, July 24 and 31, 1863; Diary of Charles L. Brown, Massachusetts Historical Society, uncovered by author Greg Coco, whose collection resides at the Gettysburg National Military Park, Box B-10.]

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Camp near Fort Worth
Alexandria, Virginia
September 19, 1862

Dear Mother,

We are still here. Don’t know how long we shall stay but I hope during the war. They are digging rifle pits around these hills. Charley has been sick ever since he come back. He is better this morning. The Dr. told him he should give him something to give him an appetite in the morning.

I received my box last Tuesday. Everything in it was spoilt except the sugar and what was in the bottles. The cork was out of that bottle of wine so I didn’t get so much as a smell of it. Those boxes that Mr. Scott sent came last night. That handkerchief and shirt came very acceptable. The rest you had better kept at home.

I wrote [sister] Mandana for a handkerchief. Don’t send it now. I don’t know what you think we are made of if you think we can lug as much clothing as we should have at home. I had three good pairs of stockings before these came. Two is enough. We have to throw away what we can’t carry.

We have a tent, one rubber and one woolen blanket and overcoat to carry. That is load enough fora jackass. It is enough to make a minister swear to have you keep sending stuff and writing to know if I don’t want something more to lug when I have wrote you time and again that when I wanted anything, I would let you know. Now I hope you will not send anymore clothes to me until I send for them.

Our boys that was wounded are doing well. Savage was taken prisoner [and[ is at Annapolis. I received a letter from him Wednesday. I let Howard have a paper of sugar that came in that box for Greene. He will pay George off some of them for it if they will let him know how much it is. — G. F. B.