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+//New York (NY) Morning Express//, May 16, 1861
+Our War Correspondence.
+—
+Letter from a Member of Company E, 8th Regiment, N. Y. S. M., to his Brother in This City - The Butcher Regiment of New York City in Camp.
+RELAY HOUSE, ELKRIDGE, MD., May 10, 1861.
+Our quarters here could not be better, We are all in excellent health and spirits and ready for action. Our only cause of complaint in the quality of food dispensed. It is almost intolerable, the only merit the beef has, it renders the use of umbrellas and overcoats superfluous, for we are always dry. No fear of the enemy now, for we've salt enough to preserve us. Our officers are capital fellows, and are very kind to the men. Col. Lyons is universally beloved, and his ambition seems to be to merit the good will of his command. He visits the sentinels every night, and if it proves stormy, he always has a little whiskey for them. Captain Griffin drills us pretty hard; he is an excellent soldier, and nothing is too good for his men. He drained his private purse for our benefit while at Annapolis. G. L. Fox, of the New Bowery Theatre, is a lieutenant in this company, and is very popular with the whole regiment. As the Fire Zouaves passed him, en route to Washington, they gave him three rousing cheers. I like a soldier's life very much. It is so novel to me. Our encampment is very picturesque, and hundreds visit us daily from Baltimore, and are profuse to their compliments as to the general appearance of things. Occasionally we have a little trouble with mounted rebels, some of whom are very bold and fire upon our "pickets"; but the sentiment of the respectable portion of the Batimoreans seems to be decidedly in favor of the Union. I trust we may soon have a chance to pass through Baltimore, for I wish to test the loyalty of its citizens. The march would prove beneficial anyhow. If we wore attacked it would afford us an opportunity to fight, (and I think we know how to do it) and if we passed peaceably through it would set the question at rest and prove wonderfully favorable to the Union cause throughout the country. Ben, brother of Florence, the Irish Comedian, and I are cooks this week for our mess. The mess consists of 12 men. We tried our hands at baked beans yesterday, and wore in hopes of securing for ourselves the title of the "Delmenicos" of the Eighth Regiment," and would have done so only we unfortunately happened to get a large piece of brown soap in the beans, The boys made a great time about it, just as if we could help it. The regiment being composed mostly of butchers, you can imagine their opinion of the beef furnished us. One of them, the "dismal man" of our mess, exclaims, "Here we are fighting for the public weal and yet only get such beef. Here our lives are at at steak, and still we only have salt junk." Never mind, all will be right soon. I hate to complain, but I must give the crackers a dash. They are tough as leather doughnuts, Lieut. Fox says he has sent home for another set of teeth. I think about hiring a darkey to masticate mine for me. The toughest work we have had yet is eating the army biscuit. Still we have plenty of fun in camp. As I write, numbers are playing quoits; a me are scupping; some singing patriotic songs; some reading the papers (the Express and Herald generally); but the majority are at a flag raising. When we march up Broadway, on our return to New York, we will open the eyes of the people. We have proved wonderfully, and the regiment moves like a piece of machinery.
+Our Captain has just come running up and tells us to be prepared to move at a moment's notice. There is great bustle in the camp, and we are all in high glee at the prospect of a row. You'll hear stunning news of the doings of the "old Eighth" yet.\\
+Your affectionate brother,\\
+S. C. T., Co, E, Eighth, N. Y. S. M.
+{{:8th_nysm:new_york_ny_morning_express_1861_05_16.jpg?linkonly|}}

Howard County, MD in the Civil War

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