Camp Lewis Oct 5

 

Dear Brother

                        I received an answer to the letter which I wrote to you from Camp Kalorama also the papers which were directed to Camp Curtin The letter was 14 days on the way and the papers were 20. We dont get our Mails very regular here. you ought to have seen the rush for letters last night when the mail arrived. I believe there were about 500 letters & papers for this regiment. Our Company got their full share. We waited so long for letters from home that we thought you were not going to write any more. there was a grand review of all the troops of this division at Banks head quarters near Darnestown on Tuesday last There were 25 or 30 regiments of Infantry one of Cavilry & 12 pieces of / Artillery present. I was not present my self being on guard that day & I was glad of it because it is not the best of fun to march 8 or 10 miles with a knapsack on your back for nothing but review. We are getting along pretty well with drilling. Our regiment is in the third Brigade. The Brigade is made up with one Massachusetts reg the New York 28 the 46 Penna & I think an Indianna reg. We will be the rear guard. We see but very few white folks & very few niggers here but still we are not lonely. The bands are always playing from 5 in the morning until 9 at night. On Sunday they play nothing but religious tunes & sentimental airs. We are daily expecting orders to march across the Potomac Brown is well. he got very angry about that report of which you wrote to me He thinks that the people at home have very little to do when they put out such reports as that about poor Brown. John Davis is well. I do not what is / the reason he does not write home You asked me about papers &c I have not seen a paper here with the exception of a single New York Herald & that was about a week old. a couple of papers a week would not be in the way at all we can find good use for them. We have no stamps here & but very few of the jinglers either. There was. We had a visit from a Welchman & his Wife. They have been living about 8 years in a place called Hyattstown 14 miles from here. They come here twice a week with pies, butter & cheese to the troops about here The farmers about here are making money they sell milk at 10 cents a quart, pies 15 cts apiece cheese 25 a pound & butter 40. The Welchman whose name is Williams presented us with about 3 llb of cheese for which we thank him very much. I will have this letter franked because there is not a stamp to be got. I pity the poor fellows who want to write love letters and cant because they have no stamps. They dont like / to frank because the girls might think they were hard up. all the Catasauqua boys are in good Health                     D.D

 

P.S. Give my love to my Mother, Sisters & Brothers & inquiring friends and receive the same yourself from your affectionate Brother

                                                                                    Daniel Davis

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