This Confederate Civil War letter was written by Charles D. Brown, a Major in the Commissary & Subsistence department on the General Staff of Gen. Archibald Gracie, Jr.’s Brigade.
Charles received his appointment by the Secretary of War in December 1862. In the fall of 1864, in front of Petersburg, Major Brown became ill and eventually went home to Mobile, Alabama, without leave in late September—not long after this letter was written. He asked to be relieved of duty in late December 1864.
Archibald Gracie, Jr. (1832 – 1864) was a New York native and an 1854 graduate of the United States Military Academy. Working in Mobile before the war, Gracie became involved in local militia and remained with his adoptive state after the attack on Fort Sumter. Gracie would eventually lead an Alabama cavalry brigade. He was killed near Petersburg.
The letter was sent to Captain Isaac Shelby, Jr., chief of commissary stores for the Confederate Department of Western Virginia and Eastern Tennessee.
Transcription
Petersburg, [Virginia]
September 3rd 1864
Capt,
When I write you a few days ago, I was not aware that Capt. Kenneworth had received the amount due me from you. It has since come to hand all safe for which I am much obliged.
The vouchers you can take the receipt in your name inserting in my certificate that they are unpaid or I will send you the money by Express as you prefer.
I am still flat on my back so you must excuse my writing in pencil. Yours very truly, — Chas. D. Brown, Major CS
[to] Capt. Isaac Shelby, acs. Abingdon, Va.