Camp Good Hope. August 12^th 1861

 

Dear Sister.

                        I recieved yours of the third 9^th yesterday, and will write you a few lines on Brother Bens 25^th birthday. I wrote to him from camp Scott, and I suppose he directed to that place. I have recieved no answer yet. let him know of my whereabouts, when you write to him, writing is a decided job. I wish to do as little as possible. it is almost a impossibility to get paper and envelopes, and when we get this far for want of a chair we sit on the ground, for want of a table we write on our knees. try it, sit on the floor, take a bit of board, a book, a plate, any thing that will suit, place it on your knees. when you get tired in one position, strech out, and place your writing desk on the ground, put yourself in any in all easy position. I believe your paitence would fizzle out, before finishing the letter. you'd resume the good chair and table. I am using a knap sack, with a dispach which John sent me, under my paper, when a drum is available I use one for a stand. We are eight miles from Camp M^cClellan, left there the morning of the 8^th at 9 o'clk. we were reviewd in Washington by Lincoln & Scott. I did not see Scott he kept in the back ground. Old Abe was all smiles. The day review was in front of the White house, which stands about a mile and a half from the Capitol. The day was intensly warm being 111 one hundred and eleven degrees in the shade. we halted in the grove in front of the Capitol four hours. numbers of the / men gave out, two died. the hospital contains some fifteen who have not recoverd yet. Three of our co left the ranks, and came stragling in several hours after we reached our destination. It was the hotest day I ever experienced with our coats buttond up to the chin, knapsack, haversack, canteen, body belt, shoulder belt & gun. We have our new uniform, dark blue pants, frock coats the same color, caps the same color, with oil cloth cover, and a blouse for fatigue jacket. We still have our grey uniform, mine has not a hole in it yet. It is supposed by all that we will not move from this place untill the grand move is made, which I do not expect untill Octobre. The Barbarism of the Southrons to our troops have not been exagerated. so late as to day the Washington papers contain reliable reports of the same. We are ½ a mile from Maryland, 12 miles bee line from Bulls Runn, a secession flag can be seen with a spy glass from here. The people living here say they could distinctly hear the cannon on the 21^st July. I was on guard last night. it rained from dark untill day light. today it is cool and pleasant. the guard is supplied with cartrage, and orderd to shoot any one who refuses to halt when challenged. All the objections I have to Lieutenant Denison is that he is to excitable, not cool enough. Capt Brunn the same. in all other respects I would exchange them for no one. I was in the Capitol I went in at the center door, and came out as I thought a little to right of it, but very soon discoverd that I was ½ a mile to the left. it is the grandest sight I ever saw. My love to Mother yourself & all the rest. Respects to M^c, when he gets his fortune out of that old celler send me $50

 

Kiss Harry for me

 

Your Affectionate Brother

 S W Crost

 

Direct to                                                             

C of Capt Jacob Brunn                                                      

            1^st Reg^t Excelsior Brigade

                        Col Dwight Commanding

                                    Washington DC

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