The following letter was written by Benjamin Hughson Brown (1844-1916), the son of English emigrant John Brown (1803-1865) and Catharine Van Nosdall (1812-1861) of Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, New York. Benjamin was described as a 5′ 2″ tall sandy-haired, 18 year-old farmer when he enlisted in August 1862 as a private in Co. C, 128th New York Infantry. For some reason, perhaps suffering some illness, Benjamin was sent to a General Hospital in Baltimore on 5 November 1862 and he was subsequently taken on as a hospital steward. It was not uncommon for a physician to take a liking to a soldier and offer him duty away from his regiment—particularly if the regiment was far away. As we learn from the letter, the 128th New York Infantry had been sent to New Orleans in December 1862 to join Gen. Banks’ Department of the Gulf. He was fortunate not to have gone with them as many of his comrades died of disease in Louisiana.

Benjamin remained in Baltimore for the balance of his term of service and then subsequently volunteered to transfer into the regular army as a hospital steward.

Benjamin’s letter was datelined from Steuart’s Mansion located (at the time) on the western outskirts of Baltimore, Maryland. It was the property of George H. Steuart but since he had resigned a commission to join the Confederate army, the US Government confiscated the mansion and property to create a hospital for wounded solders. Various temporary barracks were built around the mansion for the wounded men’s quarters and the mansion itself was used as headquarters.

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

Steuart’s Mansion
Baltimore, Maryland
March 18, 1863

Dear Friend George,

Your long expected letter I received on the 15th. Of course you are excuseable for not writing sooner if you thought you had answered my last but I hope you will not make a mistake this time. I was sorry to hear of the sickness of your folks. I hope by the time this reaches you, they may be all well. you must have had a very mild winter but not half so mild as it has been here, I don’t suppose. We have had no sleighing here at all. We have had quite a number of snow storms but they did not amount to anything. This has been the first winter that I have not had some skating and sleigh rides in a long while. I enjoy very good health and like it very much here. I have not much to do, plenty to eat, and a good bed to sleep on. So don’t you think I am pretty well off for a soldier? I wish you could come down here and stay awhile. I think we could have some gay old times.

I was over to the camp of the 150th [New York] Regiment about two weeks ago. It is about two miles from here. I did not make a very long visit for I could not have a pass longer than from 2 o’clock till 5. I saw A[mos] T. Lillie, A[bram] Schultz, Benjamin Hevenor, and others [in Co. K]. They have a splendid camp ground [called Camp Belger] and comfortable barracks and enjoy the fun of soldiering very much. A[bram] Schultz said he was agoing to try to get a furlough to come home in a short time but I don’t much believe he will. get one. For my part, I would not take a furlough if I could get one. I don’t see what’s the use of going home when he has only been out so little while. I’d rather stay as long as I have to be in the service and then come home for good.

I have not had a letter from the Boys in New Orleans in quite a while but expect one every day. I have heard though of the death of two of my company—one by the name of [William A.] Noxon of Rhinebeck, and the other E[vert] Traver. This makes five that we have lost by [disease]. It is undoubtedly so. I have not much hopes of seeing my regiment for some time. I did not think when I enlisted that I would be separated from it so long. I have been here over four months and how much longer I will stay, I can’t tell. I have not received any Valentines this year and only sent one.

Well, George, I believe I have told you all the news so I will close. Give my best respects to all your folks and remember me your friend, — Benjamin H. Brown

P. S. Please write soon.