Camp near Stafford Court House, Va.

Dear Mary,-

This is a beautiful morning and everything seems to be rejoicing at the return of Spring. This is only the second pleasant day since my return to Camp. There are plenty of robin redbreast songsters and southern sparrows here to make the air musical with their joyful notes that make me think of home. The trees are putting forth their buds and are looking quite green. I think the spring is very backward as there have been several light snowstorms and cold rains. I do not think the season is a month earlier than at home. Everything is so different here from there. With you, every one has his different work to do. The farmer goes to prepare his ground for the seeds, the mechanic to his shop, and the clerk to his desk, each doing his accustomed work. But here we hear the same, we see the same, we do the same day after day. We are preparing for we know not what. We have the noise and bustle of Camp, the measured tramp of soldiers' feet, the shrill notes of the fife and beat and roll of the drum, the drill, the parade, and the clash of arms in the practice charge. Everything we see and hear is warlike. The men have become accustomed to the change and are now more at ease and have not that homesick feeling that they at first had. It left them with the winter and now that spring has come they will enjoy themselves better and the health of the Regiment will be better. Our Company is very small,- we have but 55 men now. We expect to have 30 to 50 new men. I understand that Regiments in the field are to be filled by draft. The report that Captain Crary has resigned or was going to is without foundation as he has no notion of it, He says he is going to stay with the Company as D< long as there are any left and expects to have more men so that it will not be as hard for them to do the duty required. He has been very careful of me since I returned, so has Lieutenant Culver. The men like him very much. Brother Will is trusted by the officers anywhere or with anything, he has such good judgment. Henry J. Cleveland is better but has not left the hospital yet. It is only a quarter mile from Camp. Mitchell McFarland is well. Peter McNossor has had trouble with his lungs but is better. Geo. K. Wells is in good health. There is no mustering officer in our Division now so I have not been mustered into the United States Service yet. I received my discharge the 30th of March, a copy of which I give below:

Army of the Potomac,

Special Orders

No. 77 Extract

IV " " " Sergeant Robert Cruikshank, 123rd New York Volunteers is honorably discharged from said Regiment in order to enable him to accept promotion, he having received a Commission from the Governor of the State of New York.

By Command of Major General Slocum

(signed) H. C. Rodgers

Official Asst. Adjt. Gen'l Wm. D. Wilkins

Capt. & A. A. Gen'l.

You can see by the above that I am not a soldier now. I do not say anything about it as perhaps some of the men might think I had no authority. I must close this long letter, with love,

Your affectionate husband,

R. Cruikshank.