Letter from the 114th Regiment - February 1863

 Oxford Times, March 18, 1863

Letter from John Brown Jr., 114t Regiment

Brasher City, La., Feb. 24th, 1863

Mr. Editor:  Dear Sir:  An absence of some months, I think sufficient excuse for addressing these few lines to you and being a resident of Chenango Co. and having an interest there, induces me to give you a short history of the 114th Regiment of N.Y. Vol. Infantry.

After leaving our homes with the good wishes and prayers of many of our neighbors we were taken by railroad to Baltimore.  Here we were joined to Gen. Bank's Expedition, and in time we arrived here, after doing great service to our country in the way of receiving green backs, partaking of rations and doing the same as other Regiments serving our country.

Our Regiment is composed of as good and patriotic men as ever took up arms in so good a cause.  Our Colonel is a fine and noble man.  He has been a father to us.  the health of the Regiment is good, and let me assure the friends of Chenango Co. that bears us in sweet memory and with many blessings carries us to the sweet place of prayer, that lives on the last words that fell from our lips at the parting, they are not forgotten by us.  The last pressure of the hands of friends that were dear to us.  the warm tears that fell from the eyes of those we loved, has made us feel that we are daily remembered at a throne of Grace, and many a warm heart awaits our return, whilst we wait to see the stars and stripes again wave o'er our land. Then the blessing of home will be ours if life should last.  If not, a glorious death, and we believe a glorious immortality beyond the grave. We are encamped on the shore of Berwick's Bay, that being the dividing waters between the two armies. the rebel pickets are on one side, and the noble sons of old Chenango on the other. What the four companies passed through that was unfortunate enough to come round Cape Hatteras on that old hulk called the Thames has made them fearless.

On our arrival here the 8th of Feb., we slept two nights with no floors in our tents.  The orders were given not to take any boards, nor to tear down any buildings.  But we failed to get the colonel's meaning and small buildings moved into our camp without the aid of Mr. Potter's rollers or screws, and the fences and some houses left in double quick time, as we have had some experience in that drill.  I think it generally believed that camp life is demoralizing, but allow me to speak in defense of the noble boys from Oxford, they are ready to do  any duty, but not suffer while rebel property can make them comfortable.  There are many associations remembered by us, many that were hard to leave and are remembered still with pleasure and we hope will be renewed soon. As the news of the day will reach you sooner through other sources, I forbear to write them. 

John Brown, Jr.