1861 Civil War Letter — 1st Massachusetts —Colonel Cowdin Promotion to Brigadier

Description

In this October 1861 letter to his brother, Private Edwin Y. Brown of the 1st Massachusetts Infantry predicts that his regiment’s colonel will soon be promoted to brigadier general. The 1st Massachusetts, which was the first regiment from the state to enlist for three years rather than just ninety days, had fought at Bull Run and was then in the defenses around Washington. After thanking Charles for a long letter received, Brown writes about a marching order he had evidently written about in a previous letter. “I have found out why [we] were called upon to be ready to march,” he writes. “A large battle was expected, and as we are a reserve we were wanted to back the other forces up, but as no fight took place, we did not have to go.”
Brown continues, “Colonel Cowdin is now in command of the Brigade, and I presume he will be promoted to Brigadier General, though I think he had much rather remained Colonel of this regiment.” Toward the end of the letter Brown writes that his father could “draw some [money] from the state,” and that “the Colonel told me he could if he tried, and that it would be no more than right.” He closes the letter insisting that “Mother must not worry, for I shall not have any fighting to do without our grand army gets beat.”
The letter was written on three pages of a four-page bifolium letter sheet measuring about 5” x 8”. Excellent condition with light foxing and toning. Creased at the original folds.
Colonel Robert Cowdin was noted for bravery at Blackburn’s Ford, where he reportedly stood out in white shirt sleeves and is quoted as having said “The bullet is not yet cast that will kill me today.” He commanded a brigade until February 1862, when he returned to command of the 1st Massachusetts, which he led through the Peninsula Campaign. He was made a brigadier general in September 1862, but his appointment expired in March 1863 when the Senate adjourned without having approved the commission and Cowdin returned to Massachusetts.
The letter was written to Brown’s eldest brother, Charles E. Brown, Jr. (b. 1828), who was not enlisted during the war. Another older brother, Private James Lufkin Brown (b. 1830) enlisted in the 38th Massachusetts in the summer of 1862. James died of disease at New Orleans following the Port Hudson campaign. Brown’s youngest brother, Private Wilbur P. Brown (b. 1848), was not old enough to serve until 1864, when he enlisted in the 42nd Massachusetts (100-days). The brothers’ maternal grandfather, Moses Lufkin III, had served in the American Revolution as a drummer at the siege of Boston and had wintered with Washington at Valley Forge.
The full transcript follows:
Camp Union
Bladensburg Oct 16, 61
Dear brother
As I wrote to Charles that we were expecting to march every moment, I suppose you will be quite anxious to hear from me. I received your letter Monday and was very glad to get so long a letter. It was much longer than you generally write. I hope you will write another one soon. I should like to know if you received a letter written at Prince Frederick, because I sent it without an envelope, and I want to know if the person that I sent it by took the trouble to mail it. I have found out why [we] were called upon to be ready to march. A large battle was expected, and as we are a reserve we were wanted to back the other forces up, but as no fight took place, we did not have to go. Colonel Cowdin is now in command of the Brigade, and I presume he will be promoted to Brigadier General, though I think he had much rather remained Colonel of this regiment.
I guess that money will be along before a great while. If it does not, never mind. It will be pay day again the first of the month, and I shall send some more home. I hope father will draw some from the state. The Colonel told me he could if he tried, and that it would be no more than right. I was glad to hear that you had got smart again. Whitaker wrote me that you was not well. I send a letter to Joe Briggs with this, as he wrote to me. You can read it, and then stick it up and carry it down to him. If I write any more I shall not get this in the mail bag this morning. Mother must not worry, for I shall not have any fighting to do without our grand army gets beat. Your loving brother in haste
E.Y. Brown
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