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William H. Brown
enlisted July 24, 1861, in Indianapolis, Indiana at the
age
of eighteen. He was in Company A of the 11th Indiana Volunteer Regiment.
He was killed on April 7, 1862, at the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee.
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A 3 Butler Ave,
Camp Robinson
4 miles S. W. Indp'lis Ind.
Thursday, Apr. 23rd, 1861
Dear Brother Tom:
I received yours date the 19th about 4 hours ago and hasten to
reply for fear you may not get my letter before leaving home. I was glad
to hear from you and to know something about what you are going to do. It
did not please me much to hear that you had determined on going, but since
it is so, I am glad you are in Charley Black's Co. But I had a little
rather that you had got in the Eleventh along with me. I believe I would
rather go under Charley Black's Co. I believe I would rather go under
Charley as Capt. than any one else I know of, but your Co. cannot get in
near as good as Regiment as the 11th. Our Reg. has got its name up now and
we will be likely to be treated well wherever we go. Co. "A" is full and
overflowing. There are a great many more who want to join our Co. I think
if I could, all of us who came from Danville would go together. I mention
this merely as a possibility. I do not say I will at all. I would rather
be in some Reg. from Illinois than from Indiana. You need not say much
about this, however, for there are ten chances to one I will stay here.
Tell mother when she writes me next to send me a recipe for making
beef soup. Also for somebody to send me some stamps. Some of the new kind
if you can get them there. I cannot get stamps at the camp and besides
that, money is just now rather short with me.
I hope you will write to me often and let me know of your
movements. For it is likely we shall both go to the West somewheres and
we may get a sight of each other sometime. When we will leave here I
cannot tell any thing about., but will let the folks know when the time
comes. We will either go through Danville or by way of the Terre Haute and
Alton R.R. to St. Louis. all of the boys are well and hearty. Weather
awful muddy.
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Since you are bound to go I will say to you,
obey your officers, try always to do your duty, try to gain
all the knowledge in regard to military affairs you can, never break any
rules laid down., and in this way you will gain the respect of your
officers and of your fellow soldiers. I have seen how things work and I
tell you especially to remember these things. For if you do not, you will
soon not only lose the respect of those around you but will lose all
respect for yourself. And when you do that you will never
make a soldier in the world, never. Pay Attention when on drill
and try to learn all you can.
Not only try to do your duty to your country but to your
conscience. Do as you would if you were at home. Guard especially
against card playing. You at first may do it to pass away the time
but after a while it will grow on you and you can not quit. I have
seen enough to satisfy me of that. Read your Testament, and
practice its teachings. Remember this advice and if you carry it out I
know you will never regret it.
Your True Friend and Brother
William
P.S. Write and let me know who is in your Co. that I
know of. You had better take with you 2 hickory shirts & 2 prs. yarn
socks. Show this letter to Father.
Wm.
Give my respects to Capt. Black and his Brother Will and Ed Kingsbury.
Wm.
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Eleanor Tennis Reaves Brown
and William Heywood Brown |
Battle of Shiloh |
Willie's headstone located in Spring Hill Cemetery,
Danville, Illinois |
