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No. 4 Camp Old Colony Washington Aug 1
Dear Father I Recd your letter today at 12 o clock. I want to forward you a few lines to day but have but little time to write as it is now nearly 4 o clock. In ans to th last question which you ask I have not met with any change which Brings doubts to my mind of the truth of the Doctering of Uni versalism on the contrary I imp rove evry opportunity to express it in word and deed. Our fare is very good now . I will not attempt to ans your letter now for tomorrow I shall have time enough. But have you recd all the letters I have written home. this is the fourth as you will see I have numbered it at the top and have written Edwin
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once. My health is very good. I was very glad to hear from you. Write again as soon as you get this. I do not know about our going to Was [?][crossed out]hington but there is some talk about it. Inspection of arms now. So good afternoon Rufus
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Aug 2d / 61 Camp Old Colony Washington
I Penciled you a few hasty lines yesterday and to day as I have more time I will try to give your questions a more definite Ans.
ton
1st as to our going to the City of Washing yesterday I could not say any thing very definite but this morning I hear talk that make me believe that we shall go there as a City guard. Capt or rather Major Harlow (as he was promoted to that office last Wednesday) says we are having a new uniform makeing at the city and another report which I consider quite a good says we shall go there within 7 days. I hope it will be so as it is considered a post of honor and no doubt our duties will be much easier. The Pay Master was here last Wednesday and we recd Five Dollars and 46 cts each
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he says our Regiment is composed of the most inteligent men he has yet payed off and the Colonl told us a few days since that we had the name of being the best behaved
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of any Reg that has come to Washing
on our
Now as to the efect of the Battle ^ men I do not know much of the feeling outhere but with us the feeling is you will katch it so much the harder when we have an opportunity to engage you. I dont suppose the defeat has had a [tending?] to discourage our troops much because as we understand it we engaged them at great disadvantage. I think you have had more correct news conserning the Battle than I have as I have not often seen the papers. I see Charlie Shaw almost evry day he is not much unwell aside from the hurt which he Recd before he left home. I suppose he will be discharged.
e
Hinkley was kept in the guard Hous
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about a week and then discharged without trial. I do not know that
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there are any that are not well dispos towards our company. I think he was a little guilty. Our fare is very good
eme
now. there has been a great improv within the last few days although it has not been very bad except the first 2 or 3 days we were here. We have good Fresh Beef and Salt Beef Pork and Bacon. This we can have cooked in evry variety of form we choose sometimes fried stake with New Potatoes and Onions Fresh Beef Soup, [..o?],salt, Rice and Sugar or Molassess Pea soup today for dinner, 2 slices of cucumber and a little molassess on my Bread. the two last named articles not in Uncle Sams Bill of fare to day but a treat from a friend. We have got a firstrate cook now. We agree to give him 10 cts a month each
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he is very [saving?] too. He has not been cook but four days and has now a surplus of of provision worth $12. this will go to Bye knick- knacks. There is almost evry thing to sell on the ground in the shape of edibles. Now in ans to the last questin Whilst I was at Taunton I attended Prayer meetings almost evry evening I was one of 3 or 4 that started them. The Chaplain came in with us the second evening. I used genally to take some post in the meeting. I was often reques ted to Read a chapter in the Bible at the commencement. I did not expect when I helped start the meetings that the sentiments [which?] I should have would be in accordance with my own but I thought they would do me good and others. the next Sabath afternoon after you visited me at Taunton I spent an hour with the chaplain and a few others most of whom I was acqu anited with. The subject of conve rsation was the difference of opinion betwixt them and myself
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I gave them many good reasons why I was a Universalist all seemed to listen with respect and none censured me for my belief. I cannot think how such a report could go from there. When I left home it was with the resolve that I would take good care of my morals
do
and Religous life and ^ all that I could to persuade others in the way which I believe is good. There is need enough of it here. You do not know how depraved many of the men are even of our own company. There is much more that I should like to write but I must close now. My health is good
I am going to enclose Six Dollars to you 5 in Bank note and send one gold dollar 1/2 of it belongs to Wm Howland. Please give
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it to his wife. he has not written yet but is well.
rs
I want you to use the 3 dolla I send as you have need. I have enough left to stand me until I get more. I enclosed a flour in my letter yester day to Mother. I hope she has got it
Rufus
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Jul[crossed out] Aug 4 Camp Old Colony Washington D.C.
Henry This is the stilles Sunday I have seen since I have been in camp. It is now 20 minutes past 2 P.M. and pretty warm though we are having a good breeze just now. The weather here for the last week has been warmer than we often see it at home but I think it does not desagree with me for my health continues very good. I am feeling rather lazy today althoug I think I have not spent much of the time unprofitably. I find the Trumpets which you sent me very interesting. I arrose this morning at 4 o clock 1/2 or 3/4 of an hour earlier than I usualy rise got my face washed and hair combed before any of the rest got up. The order of exercises vary a little on Sundays they have been today as follows Roll call at 5
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Breakfast at 6 Inspection at 8 Police duty at 10 Meeting at 1/2 past 10 Police duty is to clean up around the tents and tables this we do evry day. I think Dress Parade is the only remaining duty for today. I have not much news to write to day so I will write just what hapns to come to mind. We have not got to Wash city yet though I still think we shall soon. I have not told you anything yet about the soils and products of this place and the country which I have pased through. When I got as far as N.J. I expected to see the crops very much in advance of the crops at home but such was not the case. The soil through N.J. and P.A. and also here is composed of Red clay at least along the Rail Road. The Banks along the Road are of a pale Brick colour. I saw [s..?][crossed out] a great many very large corn
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Fields as I came through N.J. and P.A. but the corn does not look so even as it does at home. Some of it in the same field looked 3 weeks in advance of corn at home and some as much behind. I saw but few potatoes but large crops of wheat and Oats which was mostly harvested. We have corn potatoes cucum bers and tomatoes here in the mess now though the corn is not vey [ple?] nity yet. New Potatoes are worth 80 cts per Bush. They do not take so good care of the gardens here as at home. How are your tomatoes geting along and the Pears and Apples how are they geting along. You must write me another. You must write me another farming letter soon. Tell Edwin I am expecting to hear
es
from him soon. I sent you 6 dollar last Friday 3 for Wm Howland. Please write as soon as you get it. dont work too hard Rufus
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Washinton D.C. Aug 7 Henry We left Camp Old Colony yesterday morning at 8 A.M. We are located now about as near Washington as before although we had a march of about 5 miles. I do not like this place so well as the other. I miss the shade trees and the good water. We are encampt on a hill with low land all around but have only a small stream of water and a few springs which we have dug but the water in the springs is very riley and always will be. I filter all that I use. This is the [7?]th letter I have writen you since I left Taunton and have Recd but 2. I was very much disappointed today. Last monday the day before we left Camp Old Colony I was detailed as a Provo Gurad there are 10 of us and corporal one sergant one private from
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each company. I hapned to be the lucky one for I call it lucky I have a fine opportunity to see the country. We can go and come when we please that is with the Corporal or Sergent. I saw more of George Town last Monday than I had ever seen before. Our business is to pick up those who Run guard Report Liquor Selling I arrest gamblers and capture Rebels if we can find them. Last monday whilst we were at George Town we had sat dawn to rest on the corner of a street in front of a large House the man of the house came to the gate and asked us if we would like a cold potato. O told him no for I was not very hungry and
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thought a cold Potato was not a very great treet but the Corp thought we had beter to in. It was true the Potatoe was not very warm but we had a dish of String Beans, corn and tomato and a slice of port. This was all mixed together What is called Succota sh. It was very good. I dont know how long this duty will last but I hope a long time for it clears me from all other duty and I think I heard the Colonl say it would last during good behavour. I like the men they are all good fellows. This morning we went out about a mile picked a good lot of Black and [?] berrys picked up a few Runaways. I beged a few Flower plants of a lady whos House I stopt at
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which i am agoing to send you one of them which looks like pusey is commo at home. I send the seeds of that kink with a few slips and a few larger seeds which I do not know. the other is a pink [Peu?] to me and very Pretty. I hope Mother will make this live. I am writ ing very fast as I have got to go out again soon.
Direct you letters Washington D.C. 7 Regt Mass M V care of Geore[crossed out] Capt George W Reed Rufus
