Camp Wright, Hulton, Penn.,
Thursday, June 27, 1861.
Dear Brother E.:–
We’ve had pretty spicy times in camp for a week or ten days. Marching orders are given and immediately countermanded. It’s pack up, then unpack and make fun of it. One of the boys stuck up a picture–a courier driving at the top of his speed, shouting, “Hurrah! Marching orders;” and another following hard after, calling out, “Hold on, blast ye; they’re countermanded.” They call it, “The Erie boys’ experience,” and it is a pretty good hit.
The boys resort to all sorts of expedients to kill time. A good many of them are making clam-shell rings. It requires a good deal of work to make one, but they are the prettiest rings I ever saw. Some of them look like pearl, some are blue and some like carnelian. They take a high polish.
One of the Wildcats had a mud-turtle yesterday. He made a little seccsh flag and tied it to his hind flipper and made him trabble with it, dragging it round in the dust. It made some sport.
The Armstrong Rifles had a veritable secession flag, hanging bottom side up on their quarters, yesterday. It was captured at Philippi and sent up here. It was made of muslin, three stripes and seven stars, tin ones at that, an elegant thing.
I spend a good deal of time in the river. I am improving some in swimming. Swam across the other day at the widest place in sight. Some of our company found the body of a man in the river the other day. He appeared to have been in the water a long time. He was standing erect with his feet firmly bedded in the bottom, and his head about two feet under water. One of the feet broke off in pulling him up.
Well, I must stop. I do not know as there is anything in reach worth sending you as a curiosity. If I find anything, however, I will remember you.
Don’t fail to write again soon. I think your last is the best letter I ever saw of yours. Write often and you will improve. Direct to Camp Wright, Hulton, care of Captain D. W. Hutchinson.