Co E 1^st Reg't Excelsior Brigade.

Camp near Falmouth, V^a.

Monday, June 8^th 1863.

 

            Dear Sister.

                        Your very welcome letter of the 1^st inst. came to hand yesterday. I was very glad to learn of the very good health of you, and your boy, for certainly the health of boath must be good, when you could walk to Mother's and enjoy it so highly. I wrote to Mother yesterday. she will likely receive it by the time you get this.

 

You speak of the wind being very high, and the day more like the 1^st of March than the 1^st of June. the weather here at that time was about the same as with you. we had / four days ending June 1^st of very windy weather, which made it very unpleasant from the dust and sand which it carried in clouds. We have not had rain enough to lay the dust, at any one time, since the night before we left Chancellorsville (the night of May 5^th) so the consequence is, every little gust of wind, raises a cloud of dust.

 

            Well I suppose you would like to hear something about the "Army of the Potomac". Well I can tell you a good deal, but I will tell it you, as I got it, and that is un"official reports", and suppositions of myself and others. The reports are that Gen'l Hooker has command of the "Army of the Blackwater" (the head quarters of which is at Norfolk V^a), all the troops on the Paninsula including those at Glouchester, and the "Army of the Potomac". If this be so, I think we may look for success, as there will be some prospect of the / several sepperate Armies and bodies of troops working in concert, something which they have never been guilty of yet. Another report is that Hooker in person has command of a force of Cavalry, Artillery and Infantry, with which he intends to move on Richmond in rear of Lee's Army at Fredericksburg. You will remember that while the battle of Chancellorsville was progressing, a body of our Cavalry made a curcut of the rebel army and captured prisoners within the fortifications of Richmond, so that it is not an impossibility for Hooker to get in richmond & do more than capture a few prisoners. For the last week the army has moving and yet no-body knows what is going on. I know the position of this and the 6^th Corps, but of the remainder I know nothing. Neither does the Washington Chronicle say a word about the movements of the "Army of the Potomac". the 6^th Corps is on the other side of the river two miles below Fredericksburg. This Corps is still in camp, the onley one that is I believe, but since last Friday morning, we have had three days rations on hands, and sixty rounds of ammunition with orders to hold ourselves in readiness to move at a moments notice, but here we are yet. So what it all means, I do not know. One thing certain, Hooker has discarded his predecessors communicative qualities. he keeps his plans and intentions to himself, and I believe it is very essential to the success of an army that its commander should do so. I sincerely hope Hooker will be successful. And every loyal person wishes the same. My love to all, Kiss Harry for me.

                                                                       

Your Affectionate Brother

Sam W Croft

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