Year: 1861

ny next TO US were STILL l am seated oD
a stool,-of my own making-before a.
table, which is better than some have
seen, on which is two boxes, one of which
contains pipes and tobacco, the other,
pens, lax, paper and other ct csteras.-I
Our ktt-at present-consisto Of satchel
and knapsack for each of US, one blanket
apiece, though three of US have The good
fortune to possess two blankets, making
nine in the tent Our old coats and
overcoats, our new oyercoats, canteens
and haversatks. On top of this pile six
Jolly boys and crowd them all into six
feet by eight and you can imagine the
close proximity into which We are
thrown.


But perhaps you would like to hear
how we pass the time. To so over the
routine of every day-and it is as bad as
printing for that-would seem to you
very tiresome, for We have to get up at
6. gun or cannon being fred at that
time. hang out the blankets, sweep up,
and wash and dress then at 7 roll call
and drill till s, then the guard is sent to
headquarters at 10! drill till u; then
dinner then from p to 4 drill and at 4
dress parade which occupies till 5; then
supper; and at 8 roll call and "ights
out" We ought, by obeying Govern
ment orders, 90 to sleep at st, but we
seldom do, though We never complain
when 9 o'clock comes, for we are gener-
ally pretty tired by that time. | suppose
sleeping accommodations come under the
next head, but as they are simple they are
easily disposed Of They consistof blanket
in which we roll after taking off our coat,
pants and shoes, and pine board, or floor.
Thoug gh we have camped but two weeks
there is not hardly any Of US who would
trade this fare for that which we have
left. We are fast getting spoiled for a
bed.


As for eating, the only thing We can
complain Of Is that We hardly know what
to do with the surplus, and stuff ourselves
to prevent waste And we Get good food
too, fresh bread, meat-fresh and salt,
beef and pork, crackers, coffee, beans,
potatoes, sugar, vinegar. salt aud pepper
you see l put in all the Condiments
If a person, situated rs re are, should
complain of that fare, he ought to be pnt
in the guard-house and fed fol couple
Of months on bread and water. We have
not only kept ourselves up on this fare,
but we are growing fat very fast on it
."Oh who wouldn't be soldier" Then
we have great deal of the time to our
selves in which we can do what we please,
and at such time not one dares show a
sober face for he is surrounded and COM
PEELED to laugh in spite of himself. We
the boys from c.: A B., G. R., NJ. NJ,
C. G., B. s., aud myselt-are nicknamed
the "Butties," and We go by that name
almost exclusive of our other names. We
are always together and always call each
other "Butty" SO if l mention the name
hereafter in any of my letters you will
know who | mean.


Our captain looks splendid IN his new
uniform aud We all think you would have
to look quite a while before you could find
better or a fner looking captain i'll the
army; he possess the entire confidence of
the whole company. [ am glad to say
that the LieuteGants are nearly as much
thought of. The other officers | Go not
know go much about, for they do not ex-
press their feelings very freely about,
them. The men themselves are as good
natured as any family you every heard of.
We have not had single disturbance IN
the company as yet and from present ap-
pearance | feel able to say there never
will be- They help each ether all the
time; if one doesn't feel able to stand
guard he will find plenty of volunteers to
do duty for him; but woe TO the man
who takes advantage of that kindness aud
tries to shirk from duty and is found
out. He will suffer in this company.


Camp Curtin is a dry place for those
who have nothing to do, for they cannot
watch others working, it being even tire
some. Sometimes during the day you
cannot see more than two or three per
sons out besides the guard, then suddenly
the streets are alive with them. Some
times the streets are croWdeQ anu the cry
"pickets" is raised in less than FIVE min
utes from that time the streets are solita-
ry, and so it goes from morning till night.
But for all that we enjoy ourselves for We
try to make each other feel comfortable.
Then we all have our duties to go through


with which takes considerable part OF
our time, still we will laugh and grow


fat"


1t rained hard and blew hard yester-


day and last night, and the wet came
through the cIofh of the tents a little


though not enough to drop down on US,


but we slept just as sound as though we
were in the tightest house we ever yet
slept in. To n:ght promises to be pretty