.MzUxMw.NTA1Mw

Washington D.C. Sept 1 Dear Mother I can hardly realize that this is the first day of Sept for the summer has seemed to me very short. It is a fine day and I enjoy it very much. It seems just like the September weather we have at home. The sky is very clear and the sun scolds a little but it is cool in the shade. It is now about 5 o clock P.M. I have just returned from meeting which was held in the grove near by. I did not like the sermon very well today so i will not say much about it but I could not help thinking what a contrast there must be betwixt the one I was hearing and the one you had heard today. Oh how I should kike to have spent the day with you and heard Bro [Crehore?] preach. I am afraid he will not be with you when I get back you must

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do all you can to make him stay. I think of him very often and I wish to send him my best Respects. I like to have you tell me where the Text was. Our company were

                  duty

detailed for guard ^ yesterday. I wrote you last Sunday that I thought we should be detailed the next day and so we were for Picket not the camp guard of which I am now speaking and as I expected. I like the Picket the best for it is a good opportunity to see the country about us but I had quite an easy time of it yesterday and this morning. I was detailed out of the Regular guard as an orderly for the colonel. This is quite an easy duty all I have to do was to remain by the Colonels tent and carry orders for him. The orders were so few that I will communicate most of them. this was the first one Orderly go and

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tell the Sergeant major I want to see him. Go and tell the capts of the companies that their men will come out for inspection this afternoon without their knapsacks. I spent most of

                               ed

the day in reading. I was dismiss last night at 9 had a good nights rest and was with him again this morning from 5 until 9 all I had to do this morning was to call the old[crossed out] sergeant and Buy the Col a News paper. I had almost forgotten to mention that I got a choice bit from the Cols Table last night and this morning after the Col had eaten his Breakfast the cook invited me to take a seat at the table with him it was a good breakfast and I had a good appetite. After I was dismissed I went down to the

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stream and had a good wash put on my clean shirt and drawers. I hear News tonight of a great victory achie ved by Gen [Butler?] but I will not give you any of the particulars for you will get them in Ne[crossed out] the papers before this will reach you. Now it is Monday morning and I must mail this very soon. It is a very fine morning and I feel first rate. Now good morning Yours Affectionately Rufus

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Edwin I am glad you Dear Brother sent it As I can send this in Fathers letter I thought I would write you a few lines just to let you know that we are all well. I am going in tomorrow I have four besides myself at work. I will second Fathers request that you should write all the particulars about your affairs if you have time

I re’cd your letter Friday Eve. I am going to write you a long letter soon

It is so dark that I cannot see the lines Edwin

Washington D.C. Sept 4

Father

I have just Recd your letter and feel anxious to write you a few lines before I have to go to work at the Trenches again. I am a little Short of Paper just now so I improve the blank which I find in Eds letter and it will be as much as I shall have time to fill this

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this time. There has been considerable fiting around us during the last few days and we are expecting to march at any time. Should not think strange if we should have orders to march tonight but I cannot tell you where. I dont know who will ocupy this Forts which we have built. I dont think we shall. we have finished

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one and the guns are mounted ten^ in number. We shall have another 2/3 done to night. We are puting it along as fast as we can. Our officers are not very communiative . We dont know anything more than 10 minutes before it [p?]crossed out hapns. My health is good and I feel ready to march at a moments warning and think I can do good execution. I think the Rebels are anxious to attact Washington but I cant make up my mind that they will. I think it will be a dangerous operation for them. I must close now. write often

                                          pect

it does me good to have a letter. Two in pros now. Mothers and Edwins. I will write again tomorrow if I have time. Yours Affectionly Rufus

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[marginalia at top]

[?] sons letter was written with a pencil and was difficult to read are mine so

Washington Sept 5

Henry

I will try to write you a few lines today although it will be under rather unfavourable sercumstances as we are on Picket today and it is raining quite hard. I am out about 1 1/2 miles from camp seated on my knapsack in a shanty by the side of the Road built of Rails and Brush wood. We have managed to keep pretty dry so far by means of a large Rubber Blanket which we have spread over the top of our Shanty but it drops pretty fast all arround where the Blanket dont cover. I feel quite anxious to write you a few lines today as the one I wrote yesterday will lead you to suppose that we marched last night. Indeed there was a strong probability that we should. the cooks were at work 1/2 of the night cooking

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Rations for us to carry. Well it rains so now that I cant keep my paper dry and my left knee is getting a good soaking but I am not faint nor discouraged. I think I am engaged in a good cause and keeping as dry as possible. I dont know now what to tell you about our marching it may be very soon and may not be for a long time. Father says he doesnt hear much about the 7 Reg. I suppose it is becaus we have not yet had anything to do but I think I can say with truth that we are willing men and ther will be loud cheers when we have orders to march. We know that we have a work to do and are anxious to be a bout it. It is my impression that Gen Couch will not return home with his men without doing his share of his[crossed out] the work. now I

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am going to tell you what has p[crossed out] hapned since I commenced to write this letter. First I have eaten a good Dinner of Stued Beans. You know it is my favourate dish and it well that I am fond of them as we have them quite often of late. They were cooked on the Road just below me. When we are on Picket we bring our Provisions and cooking utinsels with us. I was seated on my knapsack with my plate on my knees and had nearly finished my dinner when Brown of S.A. came through with the Capts Dinner and the mail. He gave me a letter but I could not guess who it was from but when I opened it I was pleased to find that it contained 3 one from [gudson?] 1 from Ann and 1 from Hannah Ann write me rather a saucy letter but never

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the less she wrote many fine things. I think I will pay her back with the same coin. [gudson?] and Hannah were very polite and I mean to ans their letters very soon. This morning before I commenced to write this letter and before it commenced to Rain so hard I took a walk to a nabouring House and asked a young lady (The old folks were not at home) and she [?] pretty besides) if she would let me walk around under the Trees and pick up a few apples. She was very willing. I asked her if the Big Black dog which was Barkin[g?] at me would interfear and she said indeed sir. I reckon not he will on Bark at you so I Bid her good mor ning and went and filled my Haversack with good apples for

                                 st

cooking. They were all ripe but mo of them were too sour to eat in the hand. I got about 1/2 peck and they will make a good lot of sauce. I’ll have some tonight for supper. I dont think it will Rain Rufus so hard tonight the end

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Washington D.C. Sept 9th

Henry

I have time this morning to write you a few lines just to let you know that we remain at the Old camp yet and no particular prospect of leaving ammediately althoug we hold ourselves in readiness all the time for we know not the day nor the hour when the order my come to march. My health is good and we are living as well as usual and not over worked. We are to commence work on the Trenches this morning at 9 unles it should rain too hard. We have had very pleasant weather since last Wednesday until this morning it bids fair for a rainy day. I had the satisfaction of seeing my Old friend Joseph Collins yesterday afternoon. I was very much surprised to see him. He came on with the new recruits

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from S Abington. He is annexed to company [P?]. He says he was at High St week ago last Saturday. Saw you and Father at work in the Field but could’nt tell what you were doing. He says the corn[?][crossed out] looks first rate and that you have got it all Topt. You had better believe I had a great many questions to ask about you and a few more then he could ans. Willard Lineder is one of the [?] he had joined Co A. We are not paid off yet but I think we shall get it this week 2 Months Pay I think. Tell Edwin when he writes again to enclose a Thread to me such as he sews his shoes and an Aul too if he can spare one. I want to sew a top on to the toe of my shoe and I want you to send me as many Envelopes as you can evry time you write and not make your letters too heavy about the size I have been using. They cost 1 ct a piece here Now good [meshing?] It looks more like fair weather

[Marginalia – rights side]

Rufus

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Washington D.C. Sept 18

Henry I hardly know what to write you this morning as I have no news to tell you and it seems as though I have written all there is to write of things about camp. Perhaps a few words about our new Col will be as interesting as any thing I can write. He is a very smart man and I think will make better soldiers of us than we could ever have been under Couch or Lieut Col Green who was at the head of us from the time of Couches promotion until Col Davis took command of us about 2 weeks ago. We are now under the strictest military discipline evry order has to be obeyed to the letter and the slightest offence subjects us to some kind of punishment. It is quite a common thing to see men standing upon the top of Barrels from six to 12 hours for not being present at Roll call or talking in

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the ranks. We have to be very prompt when we are on drill handling the musket and

                 of our

marching to the best ^ ability. We have a company drill in the forenoon and Battalion drill in the afternoon commencing at 3 o clock. Yesterday afternoon we had the smartest Battalion drill of all. When we left camp for the large field about 1/2 mile from camp where we have our Battalion drills there was evry appearence of a shower near at hand and the Col cut his garment according to the cloth exactly.

                                       in

I believe he got as much work out of us ^ 1 hour and 15 min as we usually do in 2 hours he marched us back to our camp and dismissed us just as the shower struck and it was a Right Smart one as the folks say out here. Well it is nearly 9 o clock now and I shall have to go to digging soon but I go with a light heart for I am expecting a letter from you when I get back. Well I have returned from digging Read your letter and eaten my dinner

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Wednesday is the day I get all your letters and papers. Your letter was the right kind I always want to know what you are doing anything no mater how trifling in or about the House is a sweet [churub?] to me now But I dont want you to work too hard on those shoes just for the sake of braging about it. How I should like to be at home this fall and help you husk the corn perhaps some day when you are Husking it I shall be at work poping the Rebels. I feel well and strong and as though I would like to do some of that work for my country [?][crossed out] before I come home. Now I must stop again for the Colonel orders us to move our tents. We have only got to arrange the differently on the same field to avoid the low places which some of the companies now ocupy Sept 19th

                We are not detailed 

for fatique duty today (that means Digging) so we shall take part in the drills

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I didnt [?][crossed out] receive Eds letter yesterday so I shall look for it today. That letter which I Recd from Ruth and set to you I ans amediately and advised Hiram not to inlist if he had not. I am expecting to hear from him soon. I shall not mail this until tomorrow morning so I will tell you if I have any mail to day. I hear a little something almost evry day that inclines me to think that we shall not remain here a great while longer though nothing very definite. I sent Father a paper last Sunday. I mailed a letter with my check last Friday mornin[crossed out] evening. I think you have Recd it about this time Three hours later Since writing the above we have had our company drill and eaten our dinner. no mail for me today. Luke and I Booked our names this morning to go to the City, of us 2 from each company are permited to go daily. there are 16 ahead of us now. I think it will be the only chance I shall have to see Hiram and I doubt if I do then. I must close now. So good bye Yours Affectiontely Rufus

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[photo of United States Capital]

Headquarters 7 Reg’t Camp Brightwood Sept 22 1861

Dear Father

I received your letter yesterday also on from Edwin about noon. I should have written an ans to yours so as to have mailed it this morning but we were permited to go Bathing yesterday afternoon and I dont like to let such opportunities to wash my Body and clothes pass unimproved. Rock Creek is the name of the stream where we go it is the same stream which ran near us at [Keiloruma?]. It is about 1/2 mile from us now and as we approach it is a wild looking place down down a very steep hill through a

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thick woods. It is a wild gloomy looking place but I love to stop there a while and see the water tumbling and foaming among the Rocks. Just before we arive at the Creek we pass a large Spring of water called Crystall Spring it is beautifull water and I never can drink of it without looking or at least thinking up with gratitude to the kind Father who placed it there. I am cooks mate today, my duty consist in drawing water and cuting wood. There are two of us besides the head cooks so I am not obliged to work near all of the time. I was detailed this morning but did not commence the duty until about noon as Sunday morning inspection usualy lasts until about that time. We were on guard Friday and it was a very plesant day and night. I like these plesant moon light nights when I am dong duty. I was on the 3d Relief so my wach came from 7 to 9 P.M and

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from 1 to 3 A.M. giving me the four hours from 9 to 1 to sleep and from 3 to 5. I like the 3d Relief best because we are not called up but once in the night. Yesterday morning after we came off duty we commenced pitching our new Tents. They are very small but I like the [?] on the Old ones leaked when it rained very hard. There is not much spare room in the new ones but as there are only four of us to a Tent I like the company much beter. Luke Henry Beebe and Jacob Harden and my self ocupy one. We have Bought straw enough at the cost of 5 cts a piece to cover the floor with a good thickness and we four are so well agreed that we can have things in good shape. Now about the clothing. I am not particularly in need of anything now but I dont know how soon I may be. If the weather should continue a month

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longer about as it is now. I shall have clothing enough to keep me warm. The two shirts which were given me at Taunton are all that I have Recd. I dont see but they are about as good now as ever except they are geting rather short. They are not much longer then the under shirts I wore at home.

                                el

Now if I can have 2 good long Flan shirts to put on By an By and take the ones I ware now for under shirts I think it will be the Best arrangement. If you can have the color about the same as I ware now I shall like it. I should like to have my army [Broyens?] sent on or a pare of Boots. I the Broyes are in good condition I wouldnt go to the trouble of geting up boots. My kipers would slip at the heel too much. I dont think of anything else that I am in need of If]I get shorts of money I can tell you of it and you can send me a dollar. I dont like to have to much about me at a time. My health is good. I will write you again soon but must close now for supper is ready and I must help the cooks Yours Truly Rufus

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Washington D.C. Sept 28th

Henry This is a very fine day I had almost said October day for it seems so much like it. Yesterday was a stormy day. It commenced with a north easter which lasted about 8 hours and then about 9 oclcok A.M. turned into a South Easter a real squarly day. It didnot rain very hard at any time but the clouds were black and heavy and the wind blew a gale. Some of the tents were blown over but ours stood it like a Major. Our drills were dispensed with though the day so we had quite an easy time. I felt very lazy all day and about all I did was to write a letter to Ed. We have been at work on the Fort today commenced at 10 and returned at 1 with a good appetite. We had Beef Soup for Dinner. it was very good but I didnt

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feel quite satisfied so I finished up with 2 Molasses cookies and a piece of cheese which cost me 3 cts and a good slice of Frosted Plum Cake which Jacob Harden Recd from his folks today. The Fort which we are at work on now is the same one which we have commenced. I thought when we commenced it it would have been finished before this time but we have not worked on it so steadily as at first. We are at work on the Magazine now and have almost completed it. When that is finished it will take but a few days to complete the rest. The Magazine is in the centre of the Fort is about 75 ft long about 20 wide. the way it is constructed a trench is dug the

                    Magazine

length and width the fort[crossed out] is intended to be to the debth of about 4 ft then haved logs about 12 ft in length are stood up close together around the edge of the trench the top is covered with heavy haved logs the

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top is then covered with sand to the debth of about 4 ft. It is banked up to the sides and ends with the same debth of earth with the exception of the doorways which are 3 in number and all on one side. Sods are then lain from the bottom to the top all around it as you would lay flat stones in building a wall. The trenches around the fort are about 12 ft wide and 6 deep the earth is thrown up on the inside so that we are surrounded by a thick high wall. Sunday Sept 29th

The afternoon[crossed out] drill overtook me yesterday afternoon before I had time to finish my letter. The weather is very fine today about as it was yesterday. Last night was very clear and still and the coldest one we have had yet. We spread our Rubber Blankets on a good lot of straw and slept with our jackets Blouse and over coats on. The Blouse is a long loos garment resembling both jacket and shirt. I drew my cotton stockings on over

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4 my wollen ones rolled up in my blanket and slept as warm as a pig. A little before 12 o clock the cooks were called up to make coffee for us it was said that we were agoing to march right off. I got up a few minutes after and went down to the cook stand to hear about it. I asked but few questions consequently learned but little but as much probably as I should if I had asked more as I was satisfied no one there know much more about it than I did so I came back and went to bed again. I arose this morning a little before 5 folded my Blanket and put my things to rights in the Tent Washed my face and had a few minutes to spare before roll call so I went down to the cook stand again to see what progress they were making there. found them boiling the same coffee but they did not know why any better than when they commenced.

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5 At Roll call we learned that our troops had made an attack on Munsons hill and retaken it. This was the cause of the alarm. Inspection commenced this morning at 1/2 past 8 and lasted until 20 minutes of 12. most of my time before that was employed in cleaning my gun and equipments. Since that time I have had nothing to do but to attend to my own wants I have eaten my dinner of stued Beans been down to the stream Washed myself and exchanged my clothes. It is now a[crossed out] 5 o clock and supper will soon be ready. Dress parade soon after so my time to write will soon be at an end. We are hearing guns and are ordered to remain near our tents and be in readiness to march but I dont think we shall this time. I have not heard from [Hiram?] or Ruth since the letter I sent home. I think I shall write to Ruth tomorrow. I am writing

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now by candle light. Supper and dress parade are over. We had Hominy and Molasses. We have that with Sugar or Molasses for Breakfast or supper almost evry day. We are having as good Bread now as I want to eat. I buy a small piece of Cheese almost evry day to eat with it. It tastes the best of anything I eat and it just offsets the Hominy which is very [loosniny?]. I am well clothed now so I dont want Mother to feel to much in a hurry about geting my shirts ready. those and the Army Broynes are all I want. Your last letter gave good satisfaction. I think buying the Pigs is a good idea. Dont be in too much of a hurry about geting into the slop. It will take some time to do all your harvesting. Tell Augusta I should be very glad to walk in perhaps I may some time very unexpe ctedly I think it was 3 months last Wednesday since I left home. Now good night Rufus