Camp Sickles D C. M^d. July 26^th 1861

 

Dear Sister, & Mother

                        Once again in camp. We left Camp Scott Tuesday morning at 10. oclk marched two miles to the boat. 1040 men strong, escorted by the 2^nd Regament, it was terribly dusty. we could not see fifty feet. by the time we got to the boat, we were coated with dust, perfectly grey hair, beard & clothes. we looked as though we had been traveling for a week. the boat took us to Elizabethport, 13 miles distant, where we took the cars, 35 of which we occupied, our baggage cars included. we went to Harrisburg via Reeding from there to Washington via Baltimore. We left Elizabethtown 8 oclock in the evening, got to where the whole city was out to see us I bid good by and shook hands with about 20 Ladies. they passed along the cars, biding good by to all who were at the windows, some of them laughed, some cried, some stood back looking on, the scene affecting different ones differently. wherever we stoped the same scene was reacted, every house we passed, every person we passed waved handkerchiefs & hats. we past through Baltimore night before last, between 10 & 12 O'clk. not a hiss ever was given, quite a number waving and wishing us good luck. we got to Washington yesterday morning. our camp is about three miles north of the city. several of regiments that were in the battle at Bull Creek are camped close to us I talk to some of them every day. their retreat (and every one tells the same) was an alarm that the amunition had run out, which was false, onley two rounds having been fired. this gave the rebles an advantage / which they held. none are disheartend by the defeat, all of them seem eager to have another chance at the traitors. the 69^th NY started for home yesterday. they lost 120 or 125 men, many of them had their arms bandaged others their heads, some limped along, and many had their cloths torn in rags. they say that the tent which contained the wounded and dying was fired at by the cursed traitors, and when our troops were forced back, the infernal demons burnt the tent, and those who outlived the flames, and their wounds, they murderd. Great God who would be merciful to such savages. News came this afternoon that General M^cCleland has taken Richmond. I hope it is so. if so, we can surround them at Manassas and have a nice little fight. Above 20 Regaments are camped here about nothing but camp after camp from here to Washington, 75 Regaments beside what are here (all 3 year men) have been accepted. all will be here in twenty days. the 2^nd Regt of our Brigade arrived today, the other will follow as soon as possible. several springs have been poisend here, doing no particular damage. the springs are now guarded.

 

Saturday morning . We have orders to hold ourselves ready to march at any time at ½ an hours notice. this scrap I found in an old newspaper this morning. The Richmond news is false.

                                                                                   

Your Affectionate Brother.

S W Croft

 

Address                                                                                   

Co E, Capt Jacob Brunn

            1^st Regt Col. Dwight Sickles Brigade

                        Camp Sickles, Washington, D.C.

SOURCES