1776.               [letterhead cut out]                  1861.

 

Murray Hill                            

Baltimore Dec 28^th 1861

 

Dear Sister Parna

                                    I dont know but that I owe you a letter, but have been waiting some time for some one to write from Durant but have recd no letter in some time. We are now enjoying the hollidays and have the nicest weather you ever saw no snow nor cold weather the days are very pleasant and warm. the nights are a little cool for tents but then we do very well with plenty of blankets. As to news I have none to write as it is the same old routine.

 

I hear to night that Mason & Slidel are to be given up I am sorry for that. There is but little prospect 

 

of the war     our Regt

have their     and several

companies    hear the fiddle

going in our     then are

bound to enjoy    while they may

 

they are not so keen to leave Baltimore since they came back from the Penensula or the Accommac war. they had a rough time down there. the Companies are all here and number about 950 enlisted men. it takes a pile of provision to last them a week Father used to get a hind quarter sometimes and made more fuss about cutting it up and getting it eat than we do over 10,000 lbs we issue 1175 lbs each day in about ½ an hour

 

I was out in the city Christmass and saw more drunken men cittizens & soldiers than I ever saw drunk in one day bloody faces the Secesh of Baltimore are getting very saucy and I shouldnt wonder if Baltimore got shelled yet before long. Baltimore is about twice as large as Chicago and the forts can burn it / or blow it to pieces in a very short time

 

I had a letter from Katy Crist this week She calls me her lousy cousin because I told her I could show her a specimen of body lice if she wanted some our camp is full of them the first I ever saw. they are not pleasant bedfellows. Burr Crist has joined a company and gone into camp Katy dont like it Uncle has sold his stone piles at last, and expects to move down towards New York. Humph in a horn he will he will go to the utter most parts of the earth to find a place to suit him, and then probaly buy a farm or [?] just like him. I hope on the girls account he will get down near New York.

 

Ann E is a smart girl. Bell is a good girl and Katy is an old maid but a good one I had a letter from Evansville a few days ago they are all well and appear in good spirits My taxes this year is $8.88 the treasurs bill 12 cents making just $9. 

 

Tell Father if the tax receipt comes to him to take care of it. tell Gee I recd his papers Bully for him. Ask him if he sings any songs now or runns any races

We are to get our pay in a few days now as they are making out the pay rolls in season this time. they are learning the ropes now. my pay is about $39. I now get $21. per month and have been in nearly two months.

 

Well I have tried hard to fill this up havn't I. Give my love to all the good folks of Durant dont you ever hear from M^cBarclay or Jim.

          

  Come Parna sit down some Sunday afternoon and write me a letter. if you want some postage stamps say so.

                                                           

Your most affct Brother

R. H. Crist. R.C.S.

21^st Regt Ind vols

Baltimore Md

 

[related fragment]

 

what one Regiment eats in ten days

12 500 lbs beef 1000 lbs coffee 1000 lbs

rice 1500 lbs sugar 25 bushels beans

72 bushels potatoes 33 gal molasses

100 gal vinegar 6 bu 8 qts salt

125 candles 10 000 loaves bread

each weighing 22 oz

SOURCES