Dear Mary,-

I received your letter of the 18th inst. and was pleased to hear that Ella had recovered and that all were well. I also received the "Salem Press" in the same mail. You cannot imagine what pleasure it gives me to hear from home. I enjoyed your first letter with Ella's scrawls, trying to write Papa. You ask what I sleep on and what we have to eat. I have given you a description of our tents in a former letter in which I said two occupied one tent. We spread one blanket on the ground, crawl under the tent and draw the other over us as each man has a blanket. We have plenty to eat. We have good fresh baker's bread, fresh and salt beef, pork, nice beans, coffee, sugar, salt and vinegar; desicated vegetables for soups, soap and candles. We don't have to eat the soap and candles yet. We have coffee for breakfast, water for dinner and tea for supper. I am gaining flesh on this fare and so are the men of the Company. Our drill master, A. Laughlin, has been very sick but is now improving. Your brother Alex. H. is well. Captain Crary has not been well, but is now better. Lieutenant Elliot is well. They are very kind to their men and are much respected by them. They have each received a beautiful sword presented by the citizens of Salem and I feel they are worthy to receive them, and that they will never be tarnished by any dishonorable act. Wives and mothers of Salem Company need not fear but that their husbands and sons will be well taken care of by such officers. Lieutenant Culver is young but a good officer. If any of the men are sick they are seen looking after them and trying to relieve them. I wish all our friends could know this. It would relieve their anxiety. Lieutenant Geo. R. Hall is a good officer. He is one of my associates here and I enjoy his company very much. We expect to relish our supper tonight as I have bought some good butter which is a luxury. I spend most of my spare time in writing to you. You must write as often as you can. Will is well and is writing to our parents. Remember me to friends and kiss Ella for her father.

Footnote. We broke Camp on Capitol Hill Sept. 17th, marched through Pennsylvania Avenue, across the Potomac River over the Long Bridge and went into Camp on Arlington Heights at two o'clock P. M. We remained in this Camp until Sept. 29th.