The following letter was written by Lt. Charles Egbert Weeks (1839-1923) of Co. B, 7th Wisconsin Infantry (part of the Iron Brigade). Charles enlisted on 11 May 1861 and was wounded on 2 June 1864 at Bethesda Church, Virginia. He mustered out of the regiment on 3 December 1864. At the time of his enlistment, Charles was residing in York, Dane county, Wisconsin. He was married in 1864 to Harriet Marshall Mortram (1840-1870).

The 7th Wisconsin fought at Bethesda Church (part of the Battle of Totopoyomoy Creek) during the Union’s Overland Campaign. Throughout May and June, 1864, the regiment suffered numerous officer and enlisted casualties, including the loss of First Lieutenant Burns Newman and other company commanders. The intense tempo of operations was so exhausting that their commander, Colonel William Robinson, resigned the following month due to being worn out and harassed by wounds.

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

Columbus, Columbus County, Wisconsin
October 8, 1864

Friend Brown,

Dear sir, with respect I write you a line. Your father and sister was to see me today. They say you are about to be placed in the Invalid Corps which I was sorry to learn. I started to go to Regt. yesterday but when I got to Columbus, the Dr. stopped me [and] said that I could not go just yet. However, I shall be with you in course of two or three weeks. I don’t think you are obliged to go into the Invalid Corps unless you are a mind to. I think you can have a better position than you have if the will let you go back to the Regt. If you don’t, you can then go into the Invalid Corps. I will give you a sergeant’s berth if you have to be assigned to the [ ].

Enclosed you will find a letter from the Colonel to me which please read or show, if necessary, &c.

I will write the regiment on the subject if that will help you. Also I will call and see you if possible on my return.

Respectfully yours, — C. E. Weeks, 1st Lt., Co. B, 7th Regt, Wisconsin Vet, Vols.