.MzUxNA.NTA1NA
Washington D.C. Thursday Oct 3d Dear Mother I received your letter yesterday afternoon about 3 o clock the Mail was about 2 hours later than usual so 2 anxious hours were part betwixt fear and hope. It is now about 9 A.M. and very fine morning warm and pleasant. My health is g[crossed out] very good. this cool weather makes me feel strong and hearty. Last monday was a day of unusual excitement with
ts
us. we were expecting to march at a momen notice through the whole day. Orders were given and countermanded in quick succession. About 1 o clock P.M. we were orderd to be in readiness at a
warning
moments ^ to sling our knapsacks as the
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assembly Roll would beat in a few minutes. just at that time letters were plased in my had from Hannah and [Almira?] I opened them but didnot expect to have time to finish reading them but the Roll didnt beat. Our company were on guard that day. We were ordered to our posts again and remained on duty until 6 when we were again drawn in company formed with knapsacks slung expecting to march at 7. I dont know what the reason of all this was but I think there must have been skirmishing somewhere and Gen Couch meant to have us ready. We shall march when the time comes but when that will be we donot know. I have not heard from Hiram yet. I wrote to Ruth Tuesday the 9th
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[Mame?] Rey is encampt within 2 miles of us. As soon as I had finished reading your letter yesterday I went to the capt and asked leave to visit it. He said he was willing but knew the Col would not give me a pass as
[hed?]
he had just refused Lieut May I am going to write to him perhaps his Col will let him come to me. It seems rather hard when his is so near and I cant go and see him. The Box which the [De?] sent Lukes things in came yesterday about 2 hours after I recd your letter. It was Directed to Jacob Harding he had some cakes come in it which he has given me some of I have concluded not to have the Boots or shoes sent
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s[crossed out] at present as I drew a good pair of service Bgs last monday. When we were expecting to march I did’nt dare to risk the old ones on a long march but perhaps can ware them 2 or three weeks longer in camp and save the new ones until we do march. The weather will not be such as to need Boots before the first of Dec and I shall want another Box by that time. tell Henry I will give him some instructions about them soon enough so that he can have them ready as soon as I shall want time. I want the shirts and a tooth Brush 2 quarts of Doughnuts that is all I can think of. I have just Recd a leter from [Amatell?] Hannah and Almerea. I will ans as soon as possible. I have written in such a hurry I dont know as you can read it. I want to write another today. We are having quite an easy time now sleep warm evry night and enough to eat. I will try to write to James soon. Where is Sam tell me something of him when you write again. From Your Affectionate Son Rufus
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Washington D.C. Sunday Oct 13
Henry I Recd yours and Mothers letters last Wednesday and they gave me a very comfortable feeling which has not left me yet. My desire to see my home again and share the labours with you has not abated in the least but I can wate with patience and feel very contented so long as I can hear that all is well at home. I have no news in particular to write this time. we remain yet at the Old encampment but have frequent orders to get ready to march. Yesterday afternoon 2 days rations were given to us with the expectation that we should have orders to march but there was but little excitement about it and by this time
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it has about bloun over. It was a shure thing that I did not want to go this time or at least I was not quite ready. I wanted my clothes to dry which I have just wased and I wanted to see the Box before we started. I expected it yesterday but shall not be much disappointed if I dont see it until Tuesday as it has taken 8 days for some of them to come through. When I get my new shirts and Boots I shall have clothing enough for any weather that my come and by the way you have not made a very fatal mistake in sending the Boots. Those Boots which I had of Jacob were
ed
very good ones but as soon as I commenc to ware them I found that one of them was too large over the instep and slipt
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badly at the heel so I have disposed of them at cost but I wish you would If it will not be too much trouble get that Pr up for Jake as I wish to adhere to the Bargain which I made with him. follow the directions as near as you can which I gave you last week and let me know as soon as you get this how soon they will be ready. I would get John Maloy to make time and leave them with th [Dev?] until called for. I am not going to write much more so I will commence to tell you what little news I have Rec Mr Edwards made his appearance amongst us last Tuesday night. We were very glad to see him. My health continues good. My weight is now 137 lbs
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I think I have gained very fast since cool weather commenced. Before I forget it I will tell you that I Recd your letter last night. I have been thinking of having my [Degrieuotype?] taken but have been waiting until I went to the City. I can get one taken here for 50 cts but they are poor things. I like the Photographs which they take at the city. they get 6 for [150?] cts but I shall have to wait until I get paid off again which will be in about 3 weeks. We are having quite pleasant weather now but quite cool. Now I want to say a few words to Mother. I dont think your Pink will ever Blossom. I had but little hopes of it when I sent it but I am glad the others live. I have no fears but the shirts will be all right. I shall write to you as soon as I get the Box Yours Truly Rufus
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Washington D.C. Monday Oct 14
Henry I have but a few minutes to write but I want you to know as soon as possible that the Box has come. I am the happiest fellow you ever see. My shirts Mother are just right evry way. I have taken the strings off of one of them and put it on over a clean one which I put on yesterday. I hope it will be as cold to night as it was last night so I shall be better able to realize the comforts of good long warm shirt. You don know how thankfull I feel for what you have sent me. The Boots fit me exactly. They are as easy as my old shoes and dont slip at the
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Heel. I am not sorry that they are Kip. I think after I have worn them a short th[crossed out] time I can put the inner soles in . The grapes were almost spoilt. I found one Bunch that was pretty good. The Pears had commenced to rot but most of them were first rate and so were the apples. I gave one of the Potatoes to Capt [Peece?]. They are a wonder to all. The cake is in good condition. I believe I have recd all you sent. Now I must leave for comp drill. It is four o clock. Well my Boots have behaved first rate. I think they will soon learn to drill as well as my old Broyers. I shall have to put a stamp on this or it will be a day later before you reveive it as I am too late for [Bufington?] to frank it to night. Yours Truly Rufus
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Washington D.C. Sunday Oct 20
Edwin I Recd your letter last Thursday late in the evening after doing a hard afternoons work. We left camp that afternoon at 1/2 past one and marched out 2 miles towards the city to a large level field in company with 3 other Regiments. (The N.J. 27th R.J. 2d, and [Mech?] 10.) for a Brigade drill. We were commanded by Gen Buell and he kept us at it nearly as long as we could see. It was nearly eight o clock when we got back to camp and got our supper. I took my plate of Rice and Sugar to my tent so that I could have a light to eat it by. I was so busy with my supper that I had forgotten that it was possible that I
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might have a letter but some one gave it to me before I had finished it. Well I have but a short time to write so I must commence with a few of the indispencibles and leave the rest for another time. I suppose you will be glad to here about the Boots. they fit me first rate. if am very much pleased with them. they have already done me good service as we have had heavy rains and it has been very mudy. I feel very thankfull to [Sapha?] for the very nice cake which she sent me. I wish I could send her a good lot of chest
nuts
which I picked up this morning. I am on guard again Provo[underlined] as it is called. I hardly know the meaning of the word but I know what my
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duty is and I like it as it is quite easy to perform especialy today. I commenced it Friday was stationed at a house about 1/4 of a mile from camp alone to see that he didnot sell Liquor to the soldiers and that did not molest his chestnuts. Yesterday I was stationed on the Road with 3 others to stop the Market men as they returned from the city and see if they brought Liquor with them. Our orders were to take it from them unlest they showed us a permit from Gen couch to bring it. Today I am stationed acrost to road oposite our guard tents to guard a gentlemans House and the grounds around it from
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intrusions of the soulders. I am alone but my duties are not very ardious. There are plenty of chestnuts about the place and I have permision to pick up as many as I please. There is a singular fruit here which I have tasted today for the first time in its ripe state which I must give you a discription of. They are called Persimons. They are about the size of our common plumbs and about the same shape. When ripe perfectly they are very good sweet but not sickish but if not perfectly Ripe woe unto the man that sets his teeth into them for he will get his mouth puckered as it never was before. I had forgotten to ans [Saphas?] question aobut the stockings and Blanket. I do not need them now and [?]crossed out if I should have them when we move I should have to leave them behind. Now good night let me hear from you again soon Rufus
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Washington D.C. Wednesday Oct 23
Henry This is the 5th day that I have been Provo guard. In my last letter to Edwin which you have probably seen I gave slight acount of the last few days previous to writing him. I yet remain at the same place and am having quite an easy time. I am but a few steps acrost the Road from the camp ground so I have an opportunity to see all that is going on there. The House is quite a good looking one and very pleasantly located about an 100 paces back from the road and entirely surrounded by a chestnut grove but far enough apart to admit driving amongst them with ease. there are 2 gentlemen with there families occupying the House at the present time. One of them the proprietor is a master workman at the Capital a stone
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stone worker I believe though his business is not very driving just now. This is his summer residence. The other is an overseer of the place a small farm being attached to it which he carries on with the help of his 2 Black Servents one of them is a Slave and owned by some one at the City. the other is not and says he never will be. There are 2 serv ants kept in the House though the Mistresses of both families seem to be workers one of them is a N.E. woman lived in N.H. until within a few years. they all seem to be very good people at least they are very kind to me. Yesterday was quite a stormy day but it didnot trouble me much as I was provided with a small store room at the back of the House which I used as a sentry Box. Towards night as my labours were about to close I beged [leaf?] of one of the servant girls to take a seat at the stove in the cook room.
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I found I was very welcom so I pulled of my boots and gave my feet a very comfortable warming. The N.E. lady commenced Frying Doughnuts as I was about taking leave of them. She requested me to stop a few minutes longer and eat some of them. of course I accepted the invitation and I can testify that 5 of them were very good perhaps you would like to know by rules and regulations I am governed in my present circumstances. My orders are to keep the Soldiers from filling their canteens at the well and to keep them from committing depreciations about the place. at such times as I think all is quiet about the place and no need of action on my part (and that is most of the time) I devote to reading, writing, culing chestnuts and Persimmons. I am not subject to any Roll Calls. I leave camp soon after
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Breakfast to go Dinner when it is ready. My duties for the day are done at supper time and it is now about that time so I must draw my letter to a close. I Recd your letter Monday and one from Father the Wednesday before. I am sorry to hear that the Pigs are sick but I hope to hear that they are well when you write again. I will feel very thankfull even though they are not if I can hear that you are all well My health continues good. We shall look for the Box tomorrow or next day. I must close now or you will not get this this week.
Rufus
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Washington D.C. Thursday Oct 31
Henry I thought I should certainly receive the letter today which I was looking for from you yesterday but I am doomed to a second disappointment. I dont know the why so I will not complain. This is the first opportunity I have had to write you since I last wrote. We are having so many Brigade Drills which occupy the whole of the afternoon besides the 2 drills in the forenoon that I have but little time for anything else. We are having very fine weather now though rather cool but not cooler than I expected at this time of the year. I am well prepared for it as far as clothing is conserned and I like it much better than
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the warm Dog days weather which we had a month ago. My health is good it never was better I have a great appetite and eveything I eat tastes good. We did not get the Box until last Saturday it was misscarried. The Pears and apples had rotted some but not very badly they were firstrate. we found evrything in good condition and very acceptable. Jacob is very well pleased with his Boots. they are full up to his expectations. I was released from my Provo
on
duty last Friday. I was ^ 7 days and have quite a resting spell. I think we shall be paid off again next Monday or a week from next Saturday, our dues this time are
are
$26 and there 4 Dollars due me now on a pr of Boots which will make me 30 Dollars in hand on Payday. I shall send you 20
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and perhaps a little more. I have subscribed 2 dollars for the purpose of convaying the dead
our
boddies of two of ^ soldiers home. They were Embalmed at Washington. the expence was about $100 to each boddy. Their names are James Harvery of Taunton and August J. Elmes of Hanson. Both of our company. It seems now to be the general impression that we are to remain here or at the City this winter in barracks. I have not heard from Hiram since the letter I sent you from him. I am expecting to soon. It is nearly drill time again so I must close. There was 2 Brigades at our drill yesterday afternoon a bout 8 Thousand quite a sight to unacostomed eyes. Give my Respects to all the neighbours Yours affectionately Rufus
