Head Quarters, Sickles' Division

Falmouth, V^a.

Friday, Dec 5^th, 1862.

 

Dear Sister.

                        Your very welcome letter dated Nov 23^rd came to hand last Wednesday. I was very glad to hear from you once more. this is the first I have received from you since a week before we left Alexandria, the 23^rd or 24^th of Oct. I cannot think what the cause could have been, that your letters failed to reach me. I hope that here after they will travel the safe road. The weather here so far has been very pleasant. no cold only at night a heavy frost. We are three miles from Fredericksburg, and as far from Falmouth, lacking the breadth of the Rappahannoc, which is about the same as the Allegheny inside of Herr's Island. / Our Army at this point numbers fully one hundred and twenty five thousand. I cannot imagin what is the cause of so much delay, unless it is to give movements in other quarters a chance. We have reports that Gen^l Banks has landed on the Paninsula with his command, that the force there now numbers sixty thousand. Gen^l Dix's command, which is south of the James River, head quarters at Suffolk, numbers fifty five thousand. I think that a movement on Richmond is contemplated by way of Petersburg, and the Paninsula. Gen^l Siegel is at Farfax with one hundred thousand. All the togather will make three hundred and forty thousand, not as many as we had before the new troops came out. the large number of soldiers who are away without leave / and have deserted will make about half of the old troops. For example, in our Co there is over sixty men who are paid. we have here on duty twenty three, there are three in Pittsburg now without any leave, there on their own responsibility, what we call "French leave". One is away on sick furlough, in Pittsburg. the others are scatterd around in differant hospitals. four or five of them are sick, the rest are shirking their duty. There are five at the hospital at Fortress Monroe who never have left the Paninsula. From this you can form an idea how many men do duty of the number who are paid by the goverment. Untill punishment of the most sever caracter is brought to bear upon the delinquents, the deciplin of our army will never be better. My love to all. kiss Harry for me.

                                                                       

Your Affectionate Bro

Sam W Croft

 

Direct to:

            Head quarters, Sickles' Division.

Care Van B Bates       Washington DC

            Provost Marshall

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