Camp Pennington Washington June 15/61

Virginia

 

[margin] I wrote to Frank see if he got it.

write soon

G—

           

Dear Sisters

                                    I received your letter last Saturday 12^th it was very good of you to answer so quick for you don't know how eagerly we watch the mails and how disappointed we turn away if there is none for us you seem very anxious that I should answer the many questions you put to me. well I have forgotten to bring your letter along with me so that I wont know what to answer. I told you in my last that I stood we were under marching orders. well we understood last Friday that we were going the next morning at sunrise so we packed all up excepting our blankets which we had to lie on and stood in readiness at any moment but we didn't get of till Sunday afternoon. it was the fault of the wagons which did not come. the 3^rd left Sat. afn the 25^th sat. night and finally when our wagons hove in sight you ought to have heard the cheering. then there was a busy scene, shouting of the teamsters, neighing of the noble horses which Uncle Samuel provides for that purpose four to each wagon. the shouting of the officers & men running to and fro then at the word down came all the tents, rolled up neatly put in the wagon with the other equipage our knapsacks &c. which didn't have to carry. all done in less than half an hour and there was no camp there all had disappeared as if by magic / the order was then given to fall in. each Co formed in its Co St. the wagon fell in line on the road twenty five in all the Band struck up a splendid piece of music and after forming a Regimental line we marched of so goodbye to Washington Oh! it was such a beautiful cool Sabbath morning. About the time you was getting to church. everything was so quiet that we marched out of Washington. I thought of you all, our different occupations at the moment. the Band played some soul stirring music on the march. that and our being relieved from knapsacks made the march very easy the distance being only eight miles. we went by the way of long bridge past the works of the 1^st and their encampment. About two miles further on as soon as they became aware of our approach you ought to have seen them running out to meet us long before we got to their camp. you would have thought we had not met for years. then as we marched by their camp the whole Regt almost was out cheering and shouting. the night before that they expected us so they had bonfires but it was the 3^rd instead of us but as we are all dressed alike they didn't know it and when they came up they set fire to them all and found out their mistake to late. it is a beautiful place round here we couldn't have struck upon a finer place it being shady and plenty of spring water, but no place to bathe within a mile. we are encamped right down among the hills. it looks quite romantic to see the tents just peeping above the and among / the bushes and trees. and another thing about it is we are encamped on what was formerly a Seccesion camp ground a thing which adds a great interest to it. you ought to hear the Bands of the different Regts round us. it sounds so beautiful echoing among hills. our band is playing just at this moment and from my position on the slope of a hill it sounds so wildly grand coming up the river between the hills. Oh! I can't describe it to you. we were very busy last night putting up tents chopping down trees and brush &c. so I feel rather tired and after I get through this I shall just lie down & take a good snooze. the night before we left I had such a good sing. some six of us got together Smith got out his Festival Glee Book then a candle and we sung till tattoo. it was the only good sing I had while we was there. you see we had so much guard duty being on every third night that we were generally to tired and sleepy to enjoy it much. I expect we shall have more guards yet for we shall have the Picket "which goes 5 or 6 miles from camp" very soon if not tonight. Oh! I wish you could hear our Band it is just done playing Auld Lang Sine I feel as if I could not stop writing about them. you must make allowances for me as you know I am so passionately fond of music. you want to know what kind of food we have well sometimes it is not actually fit for a hog to eat being / hard crackers and a miserable apology for meat being nothing but nasty soft greasy meat to sickening to look at much less to eat if it had not been for our money I don't know what we should have done for we could not stomack some of the food which they set before us. at other times it is very good but the worst of it is, we can't get enough of it sometimes to satisfy our hunger. I tell you there will be a big mus round there if they don't give us better provisions. you had your picnic after all I'm glad you enjoyed yourself so much. I wish I could have been there I would willingly have given up my trip Alexandria for it, but I am sorry for poor Geo Baker why I'm thinking you won't be able to get him to go again if it costs him so much. Oh dont I think of our sail that night didn't we enjoy ourselves I think I shall remember that sail all the days of my life and those short three days I was home. but I must think of closing. I forgot to say we are in the region of cows & blackberries so that if we dont have our berries & cream its our own fault. I want you to send me those camphor bags and I wish you would get me a couple of those pencils lik the kind Miss Shaw uses I can't get ink very well and those are almost as good. I think they they call them Indellable Pencils but you can ask her and if you have one of those linnen hornbooks you can send that along. you can get a pattern at the Custom House. After you have made a little parcell take it round to N^o 35 Meckanic St. to Mr Black have them there in a few days he has kindly offered to bring them to us. Give my love to all kind friends. Ask Charles Cousin Charles why he don't write answer my letter Give love to Ann and all the children and with my sincere love I remain Your

                                                                       

Affectionate Son and Brother

George

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