Spruce Shades, Charles Co. Md.

Camp Farnham, Dec 9^th, 1861.

 

Dear Sister.

                        I recieved yours of the 2^nd this evening, and seeing that the forged letter, on Lieutenant Denniston, has come to your hands, I seat myself to answer immediately. That letter was written by some rascal, who deserves a bullet for his pains. There has been no death in the Friend Rifles, there are at presant sixteen on the sick list, some of them were very low, but now all are fast recovering. Matthew M^cGraw, the first on the list of the dead, is in the same / tent with me. in a week he will be fit for duty. he has been sick for two weeks months, having two backsets. There has been but seven deaths in the whole Reg^t, although the number of sick is pretty large. I am much obliged for the stamps, and would prefer them alone, as envelopes are brought from Washington by pedlers. I wrote you a letter a few days ago which I presume you have recieved by this time. The weather for the last five days has been quite warm, like spring in old Penn^a. I have but little news, but yet a little is better than none. On Saturday night the George Page came over to our shore, and threw three shell, meant for some of our camps. one fell in the woods, two fell on the Parade ground of the 3^rd Reg^t, tearing up the ground as / though they meant destruction. To-day there was considerable firing on the Virginia side, boath on the river, and back in the country. they tried to throw into our batteries, but did not succeed. our batterie (which are all temporary) returned the fire, with three shots, one of which took effect on a large barn, and burnt it to the ground. About ¼ of an hour afterwards to of our gun boats attacted the batterie at the mouth of Quantico Creek. the Rebels did not fire a single gun, but made a precipitate retreat back into their camp, like a flock of frightend deer. They certainly must be drawing us on, or else they are a most insignificant set. More of our men landed from the gun boats, their force was not sufficient. I understand that some of our troops have crossed at Liverpool point, some / distance below, but of this I am not positive. Three of Co B 1^st Reg^t, and two of the 5^th Reg^t, got pretty well drunk this forenoon, secured a skiff, and succeeded in getting out into the river. they ventured to close to the Rebel shore, and were taken prisoners. A deserter from the Rebels, since I wrote last, states their force on the Potomac to be 60,000. I do not believe it, if it is so, it makes up their grand Army. We have prospects of the war being carried to Mexico, the goverment seems inclined to assist her. I read Mothers few lines with pleasure. Give her my love. I got a letter from Ben a few days ago. you need not expect to see him this winter, and lay aside all expectations of seeing me either. My love to Mother, yourself, M^c and the children. Kiss Harry for me. I wish you all a Merry Christmas & N Year.                                     

 

Your Affectionate Brother

Sam W Croft

 

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Dec 10^th, Morning. The rebels fired three shots, doing no damage, when our batterie opend on them, which had the effect to silence them if nothing more. I think the Mississippi Expedition is all right.

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