[Brown served as a private in Co. D, 1st NC Inf. The 1860 Census lists his age as 26 and his occupation as “harness maker.” He and his wife, Elizabeth, had two small children. Brown was captured at South Mountain, Maryland on September 15, 1862. He was confined at Ft. Delaware before being exchanged on November 10. Brown deserted from hospital in May 1863, retured to duty of September 9, was wounded at Mine Run sometime between November 27 and December 5, 1863, was wounded again on May 8, 1864.]

June the 14 1863

Mr Zabuland B Vance
Dear Sir I take the presant
oppertunity of riting you a
few lines that I am a Sitizen
and Souldier of the first
Regment of North Carolina
Troops and I left the Hospital
without commision [1] to come
Home to see my Sick family
I have been in five Battles and
my in tention was to go back
to my Regment but som of
my Company rote to me if
I com Back to my Regment
theay would punish or kill
me and I want you to rite
to me if there is any Danger
of me being Hurt I have
been in cirvis Sixteen monts
I am willing to go back to my
[page 2]
company or Regment if
you will in Shore me that
I Shant be hurt or punishd
I will return back to cervis
I was Shot in my hand
my gun was Shot out of my
hand and my fouth cergant
has reported that I Shot
my Self but he is fauls
tirent and no doubt will
lie and I dont like Him
no how and i would rather
you woald Joine me to
Som other company I wold
be glad if you will in Join
me to the orange calvery
and I Hope you will send
me word as soon as you
git this letter for I never
Did like my cergeant for
I dont wanted tobe imposed
a pun by any cuch vagavond
[page 3]
and i want you if you please
to rite me word for I concider
my life in your hand and I
want you to in Join me to
the orang Calvary for myold
caption has Design if you
will rite to me I will come
and
See you but You must
rite me atrance port
I hope you will send word
to let me know for I con
cider my life in your hand
and I hope you will send me
a letter if you please and
I will com and see you
I was in the fight at chancvill
25 miles of feddrickes burg
I have been out of cervis for
A bout three weeks but I
Should have went back but
my company wrote not to
[page 4]
come
back and I dont think I
ought to go back on cuch
conditons as that I now
have fail I in doeing my
Duty all though my
family was vary sick in
Deed but theay are now on the
mend I wanted a furlough
to come and see them but theay
would not grant me one and
I concider that I have done no
crime and So I Shall Depend
on your honor and I Shall
Depend a pun you for the
presant time and I dont want
you to fail in sending me a
letter as soon as you git this
if you pleas sir
to Hillsborough post office
orange County North carolina
James M Brown