C^o. E. 1^st Reg^t, Sickles Brigade.

Camp near Alexandria, V^a.

Wednesday, Oct 10^th, 1862.

 

Dear Sister.

                        Your welcome letter of the 28^th has just been received. I am happy indeed to hear of you all being in such good health. I am as usual "able to eat harty—" and in excellant spirits, and hope this will find you you all the same.

 

            You ask for my opinion of Gen^l M^cClellan, of whom I am always happy to speak. He is the Right Man in the Right Place. He is a splendid Gen^l, loyal, brave and true. those who speak against Gen^l M^cClellan do that which is very wrong. There are two classes who speak against him. The ignorant and the disloyal. He is a decided favo- / rite among the troops. Is there a Gen^l in our Army, who would or could have got the Army of the Potomac out of the precarious position in which it was situated, during the memorable seven days fighting before Richmond, but M^cClellan. Verily there is not. Citizens enjoying the comforts of home, ignorant of military, and reading as ignorant editorials, are very good at critisising our Gen^ls, and as I discover among the new recruits especialy Gen^l M^cClellan. But had they been with us on the Peninsula from beginning to end, they would not be so eager to critisise, the would know that Gen^l M^cClellan is no traitor neither an indifferant Gen^l. "Little M^c" is loved by his old troops, and truly do the papers state that cheer upon cheer goes up as he rides among them. Never through all our success or adversity have / we lost confidence in him, is this not sufficient to hush the critics. I will say no more. I cannot say too much in favor of "Little M^c". I have recieved one letter from Mother. We have a little fruit here. I am glad that you have a good supply laid in for the winter, for fear you might take a notion to send me some. I would say do not, because things of that kind are usualy delayd so long on the road, that by the time they reach us they are spoild, so your kindness would be lost, and my palate disappointed. Give my respects to Mrs Brunn, tell me how she is getting along. My Love to all. Kiss Harry for me, long may he wave.

                                                                                   

Your Affectionate Brother

Sam W Croft

 

P.S. Dick Rotharmel got a letter this evening bringing him news that Peter his brother was wounded in two places, a buck shot in the breast and a musket ball through the thigh at the time of writing he was doing well.

S W Croft

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