Camp near Harrisons Landing,

James River, V^a.

July 31^st 1862.

 

Dear Sister.

                        I received your very welcome letter of the 26^th yesterday, and will try to drop you a few lines in return. The weather here at presant is damp. yesterday was very warm, last night a thunderstorm came up, which cooled of the air, and made it quite pleasant. today it is trying to rain very hard, drizziling a little little, but so far nothing more.

 

            The recruiting, in response to the new call, goes on very sluggish. great impaitence is manifested by the troops about here in consequence of it. There should be some quicker method adopted for recruiting the army. the enemy is active while we are lying idle. Mass meetings are humbugs when there are no recruits forth- / coming. there is too much talk through the North and not enough of action. We want reinforcements at the present time. We have confidence in the ability of the goverment to end this Rebellion, if it wants to, but the goverment has not wanted to end it yet, and I have grave doubts whether the additional three additional hundred thousand troops will be sufficient to end crush the rebellion. A few nights ago, the Rebs boarded a schooner in James River a little above the landing, took the captain prisoner and burned the schooner, the schooner was loaded with damaged corn. Night before last the enemy enterd our lines and drove of five hundred head of cattle. Our presant position is humiliating, disgracful. who is to blame, but the officials at the head of the goverment. party strife and self interest has been / one reason for the position in which our army is placed, another is the determination and power of the Rebels has always and is yet underrated.

 

            A large number of troops are being drawn from this place. I understand that three cores are going away some where. I went over to see Sam Herr yesterday and found the camp deserted, where the troops are going to no one seems to know. By the time you get this, you will have more particulars than I can give. The piece published in the Cronicle which you sent me, by Major Glass, in which is stated that the two Pittsburgh C^o in Sickles Brigade are dissatisfied, and want an exchange to a P^a Reg^t for the Friend Rifles I can say that there are not but two men in the C^o who would leave the Brigade. of C^o A, 5^th Reg^t Cap^t Glass / not over one fourth are willing for an exchange. Cap^t Glass was fishing for the Majorship of the 5^th Reg^t. when he failed to get it he resinged, and now is endeavoring to vent his spite on Gen^l Sickles. The paragraph in CMC^s letter of our C^o in regard to the capture of Cap^t J M Oakly of C^o A. 1^st Reg^t. is every word strictly true. Lieutenant McLaughlin was in the camp at the time the Rebs enterd, he stood behind an adjoining tent to that in which Cap^t Oakly & Lieu^t Coyne was in and heard the conversation between them and the two Rebs, who first informed them that they were prisoners. Lieu^t M^cLaughlin escaped and from him the particulars were got. I am well and hope this will find you all the same. My love to yourself M^c & the children. Kiss Harry for me.                                                                 

 

Your Affectionate Sister Brother

Sam W Croft

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