Camp Chase                                 Mary I would give a thousand dollars to see

                                                    you this morning

 

(you & mother must prepare for winter

we are not going to have any out here)                                  Washington D.C. Sept 18

 

Dear Wife & Dearest Mary—

Just as I closed my last letter we received orders to be ready to march immediately after dinner it being then about 11 oclock. But we did not march untill the next morning There were many rumors as to where we were going some were quite disapointed to think they should not know where they were going as well as the officers but they did not know untill they arrived at the place we now occupy Not knowing as the men never do some men foolish enough to think we were going up where they are fighting/up near Harpers Ferry & in Maryland I tell you they are fighting hard up there and we are whipping the Damned Rebels. But we shall see none of this fight nor of any as I know of. But about our moving we packed our knapsacks took 1 Day’s rations in our haversacks filled our canteens with cold water (which by the way is the only Stimulant I use now) & stood ready to strike our tents & leave But we had to wait till morning when we fell into line & started we marched down by the Capitol on to Pennsylvania Avenue through the city over long Bridge on to the sacred soil of Virginia A member of the/Company gave out by the way I tell you our old knapsacks pulled down before we got over here but it is all on account of not being used to carrying them Mike the miller was taken sick just as we were leaving camp to come here. The Doctor said he must die but he did not he is now in one of the hospitals near Washington and getting better we lost three men coming here they probably deserted we are now in a Brigade under Brig. Gen. Briggs the Brigade consists of 20 & 21 Conn. Vols 1 N.H. Vols. 7 RI Vols & what other Reg. I do not know The whole is under Gen Casey as division Gen Acting Major General—/We are encamped on Arlington Heights about 3 miles from the Capitol on the direct road from Washington to Richmond just above us the road is fortified a line of Breastwork extends for miles across our front They occasionaly send in a Rebel taken by our Pickets one was shot yesterday as a spy—We occupy the camp site occupied by an Ohio Reg. but a few days ago they were ordered to the Battle field without time to take their stuff which we found here when we came here—I cant tell you any more now any more now if you pick out all of this before I write again you will do well but you must allowences consider our conveniences we have to lie on the ground out here but do not get any colds if you do not have every thing to suit your taste remember me & my privations you cant imagine them but still we get along comfortably Dear Mary write often you cant write to often I hope to receive your first before you receive this John Brown & Geo. Dennison have received letters

 

Direct to                      C G Stanton

                                                Company G

                        21 Reg Conn. Vols.

                                    Washington D.C.

 

[margins:         I will write again soon I have not time to read this over & see to the mistakes  (Tell mother I do not forget her)        (I see many fellows out here that I know)    I will write a better letter some time, but it seems to me as if every moment was occupied I have been washing today wash 1 pr drawers [?] 4 handkerchiefs &c]

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