Respected parents,

I will write a few lines only to let you know that I am well. We had a pleasant ride of 28 hours. We went to Girard and changed cars. After waiting the way to camp. We then started west and went to Cleveland and started south, went through Ohio and went to Wellsville on the Ohio river. The river is verry low and was about a third of a mild wiede, but it is nearly a mile from one bank to the other. The crops through Ohio is verry good and more forward than at home and haying is all done. We left Wellsville and went east to Pittsburg and from there to Harrisburg. I will give the particulars the next time I write. We got into camp at 2 oclock Tuesday and found about 40,000 men in camp, and they keep going and coming every day. Yesterday 3 or 4 regiments left here. There is but little sickness in camp. In a riot yesterday two men war killed, 3 or 6 men wonded, which was caused by drinking. We have elected officers, Davis 1^st Lieutenant and Montague 2^nd Lt. The Captain is as good as any in camp. He will play his part and this we was satisfied of when we was on the cars. He knows his business and he will do it, and he is far enough ahead of Carpenter. Capt. Carpenter told the boys after they go here that all more than was needed to fill up this company must go into some other company. The Colonel of the 23 rejimint was here, and he and carpenter told the boys that all that was rejected could enlist in the 88^th. Capt. Walker then told us that we had been swore into no other company than his, and that all that was rejected was at liberty to go home or enlist where they see fit. You can imagine the fealings of the company and the looks of Carpenter. General Wolf was in this place yesterday. The boys of this company have swore off eating anything but rations. Our tents are 8 feet square and seven sleeps in one tnet. There is no chance for writing for we haf to lay down and write on our sachel, and the tents have 6 or 8 in most of the time. I stand camping out well. I have not slept with any thing over me since I came from hom. I can sleep as sound on a board as I could on a bed.

When I begun to write we expected to go immediately to Washington but we cannot move immediately. The captain and officers are busy and we will not drill so I will write more. Walker is respected by every officer on the field. He is very active and we will be crouded ahead and we expect to go to Nashville, Ten'e. in a short time. There is a deficiency in the head oficers of this camp.

When we cannot think of any thing to write of we go off and find something to write. I have been to the insame asylum. It is a large and splend building, 450 feet in length and four stories high.

Secessionists are in the camp peddleing poison pies, cakes, bear etc. Nine men have died since I wrote this. None of them belongs to our company. One old ---- had his nose knocked off and one ear tore off and his old wagon knocked into slivers. All peddlers fared about the same fate and pedlar may expect the same hereafter. Some of the boys are homesick but none that lives around there. Leman say he likes this fare pretty well. Another ---- run out of camp. No pedlers in camp.

  You could hear the soldiers holw\ow two miles. We did not expect to meet secessionists here but here we are ready to meet them. I have had my likeness taken and will send it as soon as I can.

 G N Barnes

 Direct to

(in care of Capt. Delos Walker,Camp Curtin,Harrisburg, PA)

Photo of Pvt. Barnes

Discharge papers of Pvt. Barnes

History of the One Hundred
and Thirty-Seventh Regiment