The item offered here is an envelope only. There is no letter present.

Paper envelope is in good condition with a June 13^th postmark and a canceled 3 cent postage stamp. A strong period ink address reads “I SMITH BROWN, SERGEANT MAJOR, COL. BERDANS S.S. WASHINGTON, D.C.”

The envelope has some scattered ink spots and stains.

An online biography of Brown reads as follows:

Ira Smith Brown was born at Hammondsport, Steuben County, New York, in 1835. In 1855 his father moved the family to Penn Yan. Soon thereafter Brown entered Yale College, but on account of ill health he was compelled, after a few weeks, to abandon a collegiate course.

He subsequently made two trips to Europe, for his health, traveling over England, Scotland and Ireland. On his return he entered into business in St. Louis, where he remained until the breaking out of the rebellion, when he immediately threw up a lucrative position, and returning home enlisted as a private in Colonel Berdan’s United States Sharpshooters on the 27th of May, 1861.

Brown was soon promoted to Corporal, then Sergeant-Major, and acted as Adjutant of the Regiment with great efficiency and was even described as Berdan’s “agent” and “secretary.” He was discharged to accept the adjutancy of the 126th New York Regiment and was commissioned to rank from October 3rd, 1862.

Brown joined the Regiment at Chicago on November 17th, 1862. Brown rose through the ranks of the 126^th becoming its Colonel in June of 1864. He was mustered out at Alexandria, Virginia on June 3, 1865.  [ad]

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