>>I've increased the sample to show the entire page.

>>See http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~macacton/sample.jpg

>>The text I have so far is as follows:

>>                                          Washington D C April 20/61
>>           Dear Unkle     I now take this Oppitunity to
>>     write to you to Let you know that i still
>>     Live  i am now in the White house in the Gallery
>>     over the Senate Chamber  Charles & Bill & Little Bill
>>     are here we are all Prety well After So Long a Journey
>>     we arrived here Last Night 15 of 6 tired and hungry
>>     we had quite a Little Brush at Baltimore  we lost 3
>>     of our men.  they Lost 8 of the Rebels they
>>     throwed Stones into the Cars and tore up the Track
>>     But as soon as we fired they Scattered  we are
>>     now waiting for Orders whitch i do not [k]now
>>     what they will Be  i hope i Shall Live to come
>>     Back to Massachusett and see you all  tell
>>     Dan it would make him Stare to see the
>>     Folks here and the [?] of the [?]
>>     we left home Tuesday Morning 3 O Clock   Father he
>>     felt rather Bad to have us go of[f] But it is
>>     all for the Best  give my Luve to Dan & Aunt
>>     and Frank and all inquiring Friends
>>     i have not seen the Natick Co. here yet
>>     But hope i Shall See those Bold Boys  we are
>>     to stay here 3 months to go where we are
>>     Ordered   we shall See some warm work

>Given his basic literacy, it could be a misspelling of "brightness" or
>whatever. FWIW "briskness" would fit very well in the context of the
>times if he's talking about the jolly camaraderie or the efficiency of
>the army