Beschreibung:

1862-1863; 15 war-date letters. There may have been more famous John Browns in the 19th century, but John Brown of Maine is worth noting. A volunteer with the 12th Maine Infantry during the Civil War, Brown saw service in the deepest south, taking part in occupation duty in Louisiana and surviving a series of sharp engagements. Organized at Portland in November 1861, the 12th Maine embarked for Ship Island, La., with the invasion force under Benjamin Butler, becoming one of the early regiments to enter New Orleans when it fell to Union hands on May 4, 1862, and they remained in Louisiana for two years thereafter. Like many young men from the north, Brown was fascinated with the sights and sounds of the deep south, and his letters include some nice, though not quite literary descriptions of his new experiences. At Coke Point on Sept. 31, 1862, for example, he took time from his duties in occupation to tour the neighborhood: Thare is a garden hear that is one of the most beautiful sites that I ever saw it is free for the soldares to go in when they pleas. Thare is all kinds of flowers and all kinds of beasts and birds that is in America from a bear to a cat, fish, alligators, snakes and etc. We have plenty of good water hear that is somthing new for us. I like this plase the best of aney one that I have ever been in yet...I would be glad to see you all but I do not expect to until this inglorious inserection is over and there if it is the Lords will that I should return home to thoes that I love it will be a happy day to me if I live to see that time. The 12th participated in several small scale skirmishes and expeditions in 1862 and early 1873, before being thrown into the full scale carnage of the advance, siege, and assaults on Port Hudson. On June 8, Brown described the scene at Port Hudson for the folks at home: I am well and contented. We had a smart engagement the other day with the rebels. Out of our regt we lost killed and wounded fifty one out of our company seven wounded and 3 kiled. Our regt laid under the rebels fire of muskets and artilery for 10 days and then we was relieved by a norther regt. One day we was snug up under the rebels breast works so that some of could touch thare guns with ours... Gen Banks is now planting big guns and morters he has got most ready to commence again. He thinks that after he shells them a few days they will surrender... Sixteen days later, the fight still raging, he continued: We Have lay under the Ene[m]y guns for 24 days and I Have seen a number of Boys shot dead. The cost of the battle affected Brown, but he seems not to have wavered in his commitment to the struggle. After having time to reflect on his experiences, he wrote on Aug. 25, 1863: I am in Hope that these Lines will find you are Enjoying good Health and taking all the comfort of life &c, but my dear mother I feel very proud of thinking that my life is spare up to this Present time and Have scene so many of my Co. cut down in a minit, and I am save yet... Two thirds of the 12th Maine reenlisted in March 1864. The veterans were ordered to duty in Virginia, where they took part in a string of engagements in Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Brown's correspondence, however, ends in the late summer 1863, and his subsequent fate is unknown. Good condition with expected wear and tear. A fine collection for a typical Yankee in the occupation of Louisiana.