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1 Camp Old Colony Washington D.C. July 18 Henry This is the foruth day that I have been here and I am going to give you a little memorandia of each day. I am on general duty today am on the second relief it is now about 1/2 past 3 P.M. and our squa d will have to relieve the first in 1 1/2 hour. It is a nice day and I feel first rate. I am seated at the foot of a large White Oak tree my kna psack resting upon the roots upon which I am writing. The same root also furnishes me with a good seet it being raised some 2 1/2 ft above the ground. I think the dianater of this tree must be near four ft. I wish I could continue to describe to you this beautiful place but time is short and I want to begin with the first day here. Monday. It was

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2 rather a busy day as we had the ground to clear and tents to pitch but I managed to get a little leisure in the afternoon which I improved to good advantage. I had just taken my Pencil and Paper to write you a few lines when some one proposed that we should go over to George Toun. A streem of water about 40 ft wide on the west side of our camp ground forms the Boundary between us and George Toun. We have to go down a steep but short hill before we come to the streem then follow a well beaten path for a short distance until we came to a road then turn to the left and cross the Bridge and we are in George Toun. George Toun Hights are but a short distance from the Bridge form this plass we had a pretty god view of the city of Washington. I only went through a few steets of the toun

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3 as I could stop there but a short time they are not very pretty but quite thickly settled. I saw about as many Blacks as Whites. The little darkie children are very pretty. Mostly free Pigs Big and Little run in the streets. I counted 10 with one old sow. I didnot have to go far to see the Pot omac River. I went within ¼ of a mile of it. It is a very prety streem. Now I must say a few words of Tuesday. Went down to the streem before Break fast and had a good Bathe was on Police duty that day helped remove the Tents again to a more convinient place didnot rest well the night before sliped out of bed 3 or four times but not a very serious fall as we sleep quite near the ground We Pitched them at first on the side of a hill. We do not

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4 have our sacks now as we did at Taunton nothing but the bare ground make your Bed with such as you have so I find my Rubber Blanket very convin ient I spread it upon the ground first, then ½ my Woo len Blanket under me and the other over. my Over coat I use for a pillow, rather a hard Bed but I dont know but I rest as well as I ever did. Wednesday went off of the ground before Brakfast about ¼ of a mile for a Regim ental drill took Brakfast about 7 then went out for a target shoot shot twice a piece. I hit it Both times distance 75 yds. Went to Bathe in the afternoon. Picked a few ripe Black Burries. Of today Thurs day I have but little to say except I am on guard duty I have to keep myself near the

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5 Generel House all the time when I am off duty I do not object to it as you will see from what I have already writen that I am very pleasantly locat ed. I have to stand 4 watches out of the 24 each 2 Hours 2 on and 4 off as there are 3 reliefs this keeps one on all the time. Each consists of about 33 men. My duty commenced today at 11 A.M. so I was relieved at 1 and now as it is nearly 5 I will take my leave of you until another convinient time for I shall soon hear the call. Well now it is Saturd day and I have taken a longer leave of you than I intended but duty pleasure and conv inience are the only reasons So I will go back to where I

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I[crossed out] 6. left off. My duty Thursday night was not [a?][crossed out] very pleasant one as it rained some but I got through with it without it[crossed out] taking and cold and had rested well since so I feel quite well now. Whilst I was on guard from 5 to 7 the President, Old Abe, visited our camp. I couldnot see him. I was very much disap ointed. Franks post was near mine he had just a look at him. Andrew Hink ley was taken prisnor whilst sleeping on his post between 11 and 1 A.M. He is a member of our company a South Abiny Boy. His post was not far from mine. He wouldnot have slept if he had not sat down. I dont know what his sentence will be. I hope not very severe. I would rather

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Taunton guly 11 7 a Bull would pierce my Hart than to be found sleeping on my post. I would not make mention of this for the present. Friday morning after the new guard was mounted, we the old guard went out to to[crossed out] discharge our guns th target was placed at the distance of 25 yds. Of the 100 [guardes?] that shot I was the last and but 8 shots beter than mine and some of those but very little. After that a few of us with Lient M went to Bathe. Charles Sumner made us a visit in the afternoon was here at dres parade. Today The[crossed out] Saturday a short drill before Brakfast after

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Brakfast went out to shoot Blank cartages by company after that went out with capt H to Bathe picked quite a lot of Blackberries. Had a first rate Dinner fired Stake and Bakers Bread. We have not fared so well here as we did at Taunton the men are geting cross and there are signs of better things. My health continues very good. I do not see a great difference in the weather here from th weather at home. I have ma ny things in mind that I want to write but I must close now. You must ask questions if you want information. Luke is Well is seated Beside me writing. Tell Edwin that I have not forgot him will write to him soon (To be continued) Rufus

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July 24

Camp Old Colony Washington D.C. Henry I have sat down to write you a few lines beneath the shade of some of the noble trees which surround our camp ground. I am waiting as patiently as I can for the mail to arrive for I have hopes of hearing from you this morning. I am going to give you a little description of our camp ground. In the first place I will say we are located upon a hill which contains some where from 10 to 15 Acrs which is entirely surrounded by a forest of large trees. We have an uneven plain upon the top of the hill of from 5 to 7 Acrs which does very well for a parade ground. I am seeted on the west side of the ground about 30 paces down from the plain where we drill 50 paces more down a very steep

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pitch would bring me to the edge of the streen which I mentioned in my last. I can see it from where I am seted and up a steep hill which is coverd with corn on the oposite side I can see 2 Houses one of Brick the other of wood. The whole camp ground is surrounded by a publick Road out side of the Forrest. I am very anxious that you should know how it looks here but I dont suppose that it will be possible for me to discribe it so that you will. I Mailed a letter for you last Sunday morning. Saturday night I was on guard again though I was not detailed but took Pat Reeds place as he was not well. It was a very pleasant night. I was stationed on the East Side of th ground near the colonels quarters. The Moon shone out so brightly among the trees that I could not help enjoying my seituation alt

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hough I was alone and no one to speak to in the still hours from 2 till 4 but i could think of the pleasant home that I had left of you all as you were quietly sleping in your beds and not a spot did I neglect to visit. [up?][crossed out] Now the orderly is coming with the Mail I will to and see if he has one for me. Well there were many names called before mine and I had begun to dispare, but I am satisfied now for I have Recd 2 very interesting letters. I was glad to learn that you were all well and geting along so well with the work I was going to say (dont work too hard) but that will not make any difference I know that you do. I wish you could have as many leisure hours as I do. We have more time here than we had at Tuanton but do not know how to improve it so well because our

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exurcises are not so regular. We do not drill but twice a day but have more Police and Guard duty to do. Many of our men have been sick since we had been here so it makes it a little hardor for the well ones, diarrhe is the most common complaint. I have not seen a sick day since I have been here in fact I have felt better than I did while at Taun I have been rather costive but I am in better [conerision?] now 7 tomatoes and a piece of Bro an bread which I Bought [t][crossed out] here on the [ground?] set me all right. They are ripe and very good cost 1 ct a piece. We have fine weather here cooler than I expected. I am glad you have got your clothes. I have not Recd any Money yet but expect a littel soon 1/2 months pay. I want you to write as often as you can if it is but little. Is is now morning of 25 and I shall not mail this until tom[m][ crossed out]orrow On my next sheet I shall comm ence my memorandee with Sunday last

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July 28 Camp Old Colony Washington Dear Mother I have taken a very comfortable seat at the Captains table which he has loaned me under cover of an auing which projects from the back of his tent. I have as many different places to write as you recieve letters. I wrote a letter of 4 pages to Ruth this morning and finished it just in season to go to meeting which commenced at 1/2 past 10. The weather is vey fine to day as it is almost evry day. It is now about 2 P.M. and pretty warm out in the sun. this morning it was quite cool and a good air. I enjoyed the meeting very much this morning not because the sentiments were in unison with my own so much but because it was the place where I

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could go with a grateful heart and acknouledge the many blessings which continualy surround me. It seemed quite home like to hear the Bells over in George Town ringing for the morning services. My heath is very good to day and I think that I enjoy my self about as well as I ever have in my life not that I do not miss my home. I cannot think of any thing that would give me 1/2 the pleasure that it would to spend a day with you but I feel that I am engaged in a good cause and being in the company of many kind friends and nothing to weigh heavily on my mind. I do not know why I should not enjoy my new life and I think it has thus far proved benificial to my health. I like this place much better than I did Taun. I think we had a few day there as warm as any I have seen here

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thoug I think when I first arrived here that I noticed a difference in the air that I had never before. One thing I enjoy very much is our good chance for washing our clothes and Bathing. Luke and I start off about evry other morning along the stream to a water fall where there is a first rate chance. I meant to have said the Roll call is at 5 o clock. We start imm ediately after that are not gone more than 15 or 20 minutes for we have company drill of 15 or 20 minutes and then Breakfast. We make a little improvement in our diet lately. We take a stick and run it through a slice of Bread and hold it over the coles and tost it and when we have butter with it as has been the case a few times of late we think we were never so well fed before. We had a surplus of

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of coffee which our orderly swaped for the Butter. The worst trouble we have now is the cooking but that I think will be remedied soon Mother It is now Monday morning I was call to duty last eve before I could finish my letter and I have not time now. So good bye you will hear from me again soon. Yours Affectinly Rufus