Ship Island      Gulf of Mexico

Steamer Constitution March 13^th 1862

 

            Dear Sister Deb

                                                You are perhaps looking for some intelligence from your soldier Brother Well here it is We left camp at New Port News on Tuesday & left the pier Wednesday and came down to Fort Monroe and Thursday 10 Oclock AM we left for this place We had a very pleasant trip as to weather It blew some when we were off Hatterass made many of us sea sick. We arrived here yesterday PM 2 Oclock. Thare were three Regt on board the 4^th Wisconsin 6^th Michigan & 21^st Indianna thare were 3000 men besides some 300 boat hands You may judge of the amount of teritory we had to spare These men all had to sleep & eat and they all wanted to enjoy the priveledge at once To say that it resembled crowding a lot of hoggs or cattle togather dont convey any idea of it Every body dissatisfied / some because they did not get enough to eat Many of the men laid down on the wet deck some on the upper deck some on barrel heads. it was next to impossible to to get around Much resembling the entry at Church when Church is out except thare were no hoops!

 

Saturday 14^th Ship Island       

We have had a sweet and interesting time Our stores were all mixed up and yesterday the wind blew so we could not land stores and the water blew over the landing and we had to move goods No teams to get anything hawled

 

I came to camp at night the wind blew a gale, and rained and blew our tent down and we got gloriously wet and slept or tried to sleep the night through. This morning was very cool—and we had noting to eat—

 

Thare is a mail boat going out in the morning and I must send this as it is without rewriting 

 

            My health is good whare we are destined for we know not. Thare are 40 or 50 vessels in the harbour I shall write as soon as convenient. I am sitting on a cot out in the sun coat off. Just send this to Father as their may not be a mail out soon again Ship Island is all white sand perfectly bare                                           

 

Your Brother

R H Crist

 

 

Joliet March 31/62

Dear Father

                        You need not stare when you first commence this but I got the letter this morning & I had not got through with it so I have copied it verbatim It was written with a lead pencil so you have it now in ink Poor fellow he will see harder times than he did at Balltimore I received a letter from Harvey this morning also he was well & fealing well I guess soldiering seemes to agree with him well I am glad of it I am all well but some tired as it has been washing day & I / dident get done till about 4 Oclock I have the work to do now in the morning when Grand Mother is gone so so I do not get comenced till late But never mind I shant always wash for a living I dont know whether I shall go east this summer yet or not I mean to write back to some one that knows to see wheather it is best to go or not If it killes me, Why then, I shant have so long to live George Fraser was here last week he wants me to go up to his house to tend Bobby I suppose Well when I go let me know I have not been to Plainfield to stop any since the first of Jan But intend to go soon I have not heard from Uncle Sams folks since they left Bethel well if they dont want to write they can let it alone I dont owe them any thing Well I guess I will close for I have not any news to write & I dont owe you any letter But I suppose it is no matter whether you write me or not If I go east again you wont be troubled that way

 

So Good night

Your Daughter D A Crist

 

excuse this writing for I see it

is quite bad but I am in a hurry to go

            to the office to night & it is late

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