Camp near Hampton Va.

Apr 2 1862

 

Dear father and mother.

                                    I am about to commence a letter, but I cant tell when I shall send it for there are poor mail privileges here. We left Bolivar Heights Mar 25 and marched to Sandy Hook, and stopped there till 11 oclock at night, and then we took the cars for Washington via the Relay house. We arrived there at 3 oclock the next day and went into the soldiers barracks and stopped there until the next day when we went up onto Capitol Hill and pitched our tents. While we stopped there I got a pass from the Colonel to go for my box, and I went to all the Express /

 

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Offices in the City but could find no track of it. The day after we struck pitched tents we struck them again and marched down to the Navy Yard and embarked on board the steamer North America and at 7 oclock the following morning we started for Fort Monroe. We sailed down to Alexandria and there took to schooners in tow loaded with horses. we then sailed down the river until we reached the head of Chesapeake bay (at 9 oclock at night, when the bay got so rough that we were obliged to drop the schooners and put back up the bay to Point Lookout we laid to there until morning when we landed to cook rations. Point Lookout  appears to be a summer watering place there are quite 

 

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a lot of houses a hotel with a large hall, a bakery and a saloon all unoccupied and all their furniture in a large store house. there is a light house here and the man that takes care of it also takes care of these buildings in the winter. It must be a splendid place in the summer time so cool and near the water We quartered in the hotel and I found a card there which I shall send in this, and I want you to save it. The next day we reembarked and again taking the transports in tow steamed down the bay for Fort Munroe and the next morning at 9 oclock we arrived there. We laid off the wharf for about an hour before landing. The /

 

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harbor was full of gunboats men of war steamers schooners and so forth. The Rip Raps where Nick is serving out his time is about 3 miles from the fort, it looks like a large pile of rocks with a house on it. Sewalls point at the mouth of the James river is about 7 miles from the point fort and the rebels batteries can be plainly seen. The Monitor that wonder of the age was in the harbor and I had the pleasure of seeing her, as near as I can I will draw a picture of her. you will see that all her motive power is below water. the part marked X is her turret which revolves around. she covered 

 

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with polished steel. in her fight with the Merrimac they were so near together that she was boarded by the rebels but they could find no place to get below and had to get back again double quick. We landed about noon and marched through Hampton to where we now are camped. The fort mounts about 400 guns and there is a ditch full of water 30 feet wide. The town of hampton was entirely destroyed by the rebels and there is nothing but a few standing chimneys and piles of bricks. We marched out to where we are now encamped and I slept with the heavens for my coverlid and when I shut my eyes it seemed as if I was in the boat and 

 

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rocking to and fro. And as I lay there I thought how much I had been through for the last 3 weeks. From Muddy Branch to Harpers Ferry to Charlestown to Berryville back to Bolivar to Sandy hook to Washington to Point Lookout to Fort Monroe. Whether I shall ever live to go back to my own home or not I cannot tell, but if ever I do I shall look back upon my journey as the most usefull days of my life. I have a piece of a bolt which I got out the John Brown Engine House, and a stone from Point Lookout to and a piece of Fortress Munroe every thing that I send home I 

 

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want you to save for me.

 

The 16 regt is round here and if I can I shall go and see Joe Butterfield. There is 2 whole divisions here and as soon as the supply train gets regulated we expect to move. There is 30,000 rebels at Yorktown a distance of 18 miles from here. To morrow is Fast Day, I wonder what you will be doing. we have roll call at 5 oclock in the morning and Company drill until breakfast Battalion drill from 11 till one and Brigade drill from 3 till 5 then Dress parade. I liked the steamboat ride first rate when it was rough the boat rocked considerable it made some of them seasick, but it rocked me to sleep and I liked it. 

 

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            The weather here is quite plesant but rather cold nights but I suppose that it will be warm enough pretty soon. We dont have very good grub since we came here for we have not got settled yet and cant expect. When we was at Bolivar Heights a week ago last Sunday I got 4 letters 3 from you and one from Belle Johnson. And when we was at Washington I got another. But I must bring this to a close now and send it when I get a chance so good night. from your

affect son

George. H. Patch.

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