.MzUxNQ.NTA1NQ
Washington D.C. Friday Nov 1st
Henry It is now about 2 P.M. I have just finished reading yours and Edwins letters which I Recd about 1/2 an hour since I had just finished my Dinner and was having a good smoke when the Mail waggon drove in. Now let me tell you what I had for Dinner for I dont like these stories about stinking meat and wormy Bread. I have never seen anything of the kind with the exception of a few times last summer and then I believe it was unintensional. We had Stued Beans for Dinner and Plenty of good Sweet Pork cooked with them and it was as good a Dinner as I want to eat. We take a loaf of good sweet white Bread evry morning which lasts us through the day. a few words will tell the
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whole story. We have enough to eat and that which is good and Luke will tell you the same story. My eyes have been sore but not very. they are not quite well now but much better. I am using a kind of medicine which I think will cure them in a short time which is the pith of sassafras wood soaked in cold water a portion of it disolves and makes a kind of gumy substance which I think will cure them in a short time. Nearly 2 weeks ago my weight was 140 and I think I am gaining yet. I do not think of any news to write now so I will close as I shall have to go on drill again soon. I have not heard anything about crossing the River lately and I dont think we shall at present. do not be over anxious about me I am taking good care of my self Rufus
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Washington D.C. Wednes Nov 6
Dear Father I have not been disappointed to day but have had the pleasure of reading a good letter from you and it makes me feel a wonderfull sight better. What new things have come to pass since I left home. You dont know Father how much I should like to be at home with you a little while a long while if the work was done but when I receive a letter it increases the desire to see Father and Mother so that I verily believe that time can never wean me from you. I suppose Grandpar will be with you before this reaches you. O how I should like to see him. Well I have a big hope that I shall
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see you all again. We have not changed our quarters yet. there are a great many stories in circulation consering our future prospects some say we are going to the city others to Virginia. I cannot give any kind of a guess now where our next quarters will be. I hope something will be done before a great while. I think there is no [? crossed out] doubt but Gen Scott has resigned. I do not learn that McCellan intends to perseu any different course. I do not see why they have kept us here this length of time. We didnot expect to remain here after the first of Oct. Our quarters are comfortable enough here. We do not expect to fare so well anywhere else but we are impatient to begin so that in process of time we may see the end. In my last
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letter to Henry I told him. I told him we should
be
probably ^ paid off a gain last Monday or next Saturday but I begin to think now that [?] will be as much as ten days after next Saturday. I am glad to hear that business is good with you . I hope it will continue a long time, but it seems curious to hear that you are making [se...d?] shoes. who would have guessed that things would have taken such a turn a few years ago. My eyes are much better almost well. The fruit which came in the Box I shared with the rest and they in turn shared their Butter Cheese and Molasses with me. We have lived high since the Box came. I shall write again soon. Rufus
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Washington D.C. Tues Nov 12
Henry
I dont think I shall have time to write you a very long letter this time but I feel anxious to write you a few lines as I learn from a letter which Luke Recd yesterday that we are soon to have another Box. I donot write now because there is anything that I am particularly in want of but more especialy if perchance you should receive this before you send the Box that you may have the satisfaction of knowing that I am not in need of anyth ing more than I have reason to think you intend to send
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with the exception of a pencil. If you get this before you send the Box and can as well as not I should like to have you send me one of Fabers No 2. you will find them at Mr Dyers and now as my time is growing short I must bring my letter to a close with you for I want to tell Mother that I shall feel very greatfull for anything that she may send me and although I shal not be permitted to take a seat at the Thanksgiving table with you this year yet my hearts thanks can go up with yours with more [fureor?] than ever before for the kind providence which has blest us with life and health. you will miss me
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I know but I hope not with [feelings?] of sadness. I would have you share with me the feeling of gratification of being engaged in so good a cause and one which I verily believe must prosper in the end. I suppose Grandpar is with you now tell him I think of him evry day and some day I am going to put them (My thoughts) on paper and send them to him. Tell Samuel he owes me a letter and I want it pretty soon. You will hear the news of the success of our fleet at S.C. befor this reaches you so I will not say anything about it. I must draw my letter to a close as it is almost
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drill time again. My health continues good although my eyes are not quite well yet but they donot trouble me but very little. They seem to be entirely well until towards night they commence itching and burning though not near so bad as at first. I am going to try [plantion?] leaves with milk [bind?] them on at night do you think that will be good they dont run but very little. We are expecting the Paymaster evry day I shall write as soon as I get it yours affectionately Rufus
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Washington D.C. Thursday Nov 14
Henry I Recd your letter last night after returning from Brigade drill. It was 3 o clock yesterday before the mail got in and we left about 2 but I felt very confident when I left that I should have the pleasure of reading a letter from you when I returned and I was not disappointed with its contents. It was an interesting letter to me and I hope you will never borrow any trouble on that account. The one finger mittens are just what I want. They are quite fashionable here now the Fall River company have quite a lot of them come the other day. I suffered more the last time I was on guard from cold hands than anything else and they will be handy too at morning drills
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Our drill yesterday consisted briefly in fireing Blank cartages. We fired 7 rounds and had quite a noisy time for a little while com K and J fired the best I have just signed the Pay [roll?] a receipt for our Pay So I think we shall see the Pay master soon. Perhaps he will commence this after noon but we dont much expect him before tomorrow. the weather has been quite pleasent for the last few days but it has commenc ed raining since I commenced writeing. the drum has just Beat for the afternoon drill but I think it will be dispensed with. it is not cold today but we have some very uncomfortable ones and some that are much warmer than we get at home at this time of the year. My Eyes have not troubled but very little since last Tuesday. If they behave as well tomorrow I shall pronounce their well. I shall write again soon Rufus
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Washington D.C. Nov 20th
Dear Mother We have just lit our candle and by the light of it I must write you a few lines to let you know that our Barrel arrived here this day noon and we find everything in good condition. You have sent me more than I expected but not too much. It will last a good while and Mother will seem nearer to me whilst I am eating it. If you had had [?] cake than the Brown loaf which I found on top it would not have been more acceptable. It tastes so natural it seems almost as if I was at home. The Pies are as whole as when you took them out of the oven [the?] chicks I have only seen enough of to know that they are such. I believe
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they are in good condition and tomorrow we will have a feast of fat things. I wish you could receive this tomorrow that you might be certain that I was having Thanksgiving with you . Tell Edwin I am very much obliged to him for the cake though I dont think all the prase is due to him. When I write to Sophia I will find out more about it. We are going to have the day to our selves tomorrow and passes are to be granted to visit the Regiments about us. It think the day will be passed very pleasently. I Recd your letter tonight just before I commenced writing I should like to write a great deal more but it is not very convenient tonight I am glad you sent the
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conforter although I could have got along very well without but it will not [come?] amiss. I have slept cold but very few nights You must think of me now as sleeping as comfortable as if I was at home. My Eyes have troubled me but very little for the last week. They are always worse after being on guard but I dont think that will affect them now. I will not keep anything from you. You shall know when I am not well. I have written more than I expected to when I began but not all that I wished to. The light does not hurt my eyes at all tonight. Give my respects to all my Neighbours and
Rufus
Friends. Yours Affectionately
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Washington D.C. Nov 21st
Dear Brother I think you will be glad to know as early as possible how we have spent our Thanksgiving so whilst the day is passing I will improve a part of the time to give you an account of it. We are haveing a good time. The weather is so fine and other things being equal we cant very well help it. There is but on improvement which we can imagine that would add to our pleasure that is that we might spend the day at home with our friends. But we know that you are with us and we with you even though we are absent in body. The old yellow Tub at my elbow is evidence enough of this. It is now about 12 oclock
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so I will now commence to give you an account of the manner in which we have spent it. We were up at 1/2 past 5 Roll Call at that time at 1/2 past 6 we were seated in our tent around the [cord?] of that old yellow Tub eating of that nice chick which Mother sent to me. It was good so they all said and I should have known it if they had not. With Lukes Pies (Crandberry and Mince) and the Bread and butter it was little more than
4 of us
enough for our Breakfast ^. After Breakfast our ideas were up for going to the city. Our company officers were willing Liut Gurney was the only one not on duty he signed a pass for Luke Jacob and myself and told us to carry it to Major Harlow. he signed it and then it had to
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go to the Gen for his signature. he was not at his office but had given his aid instructions how many to sign. he had not commenced to sign them when we got there but there was a greed crowd about his House and we were not among the fortunate ones. it was something of a disappointment to me as I was very anxious to go and get my ambrotype taken but I am not agoing to give it up so I shall stick now for a pass until I get one. I saw hime give passes to some this morning that had been [stored?] on a Barrell for running away. Now I will rest a while as I have given you the substance of our forenoon work. Well it is now nearly 4 oclock and I have been having Thanksgiving about
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after the old fashion. Jacobs Box came today about noon. We dined at 2 a piece of Roast pig came in it which with some of his Pies and cakes we had a good dinner. We had some Plumb Puding but we forgot all about it until after we had finished our dinner. I have been kicking foot Ball a while this after noon no lack of numbers and a merry time after getting tired of that Luke and I took a walk a short distance out of camp. Went up as far as Fort Mass the one which we made first when we came back. We stopt [? crossed out] at Brightwood store and weighed ourselves. my weight is 145 and 1/4. Lukes I believe was 132. We are to
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have an oister supper tonight for the whole company the expence to come out of our company fund. I have eaten quite a hearty dinner but I think i can do my part at the oysters. I believe I should have been as happy today as it is oft the lot of man to be if I could have had my Brother Henry with me. How I should like to have shown you about the camp my cup would have been full. But I have had a good time and I am thankfull. I will now write a few lines which I omited in my letter last night to Mother. I shall not part with the stockings which she sent me although I have now on hand
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with them 3 prs of new ones and 2 prs that I brought from Taunton with me that are worth something more One pr of my new ones I Recd of [U.S.?] 2 weeks ago they are very large and pretty good. the charge for them is 24 cts. A Box came to us last Tuesday from the Ladies of Centre Abington of which Mrs Dennis Powers is at the head containing stockings and handkerchiefs. they were distributed after the fashion of the grub Box at our [?]. I paid 4 cts for a ticket which went towards paying the transportation and drew a pr of first rate stockings. Great care was taken in knitting them and the Heels are Run. they are not quite so soft as
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Mothers but they are good ones. I have got a good pr of cotton Drawers furnished by uncle Sam and am going to have another pr soon. they are [?] than the wollen ones. I hire my washing done since the weather has become cooler. I gave a Negro woman a pr of my old wollen Drawers that had grown too small for me for washing 2 shirts and a pr of draws and stockings they charge 5 cts a piece. It is a long while since I have heard from Ruth or Hiram. I think I sent you the last letter I Recd from them. I have not written to Ruth as often as I ought to. Is Ann at home now. I owe her a
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a letter and have for a long while and also to Hannah [Almirer?] and [..dson?]. I have not had time to ans them. give them my best Respects and tell them how it is I shall try to soon. My Eyes have not troubled me any today. My health was never better. I have tried some of the Pears. the yellow ones are very good. I am afraid I have got more than my share I must close now although I leave a great deal unwritten. Let me hear from you soon and send the trumpets Your Affectionately Rufus
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Washington D.C. Nov 30th
Dear Brother
I have finaly succeeded in getting a pass signed to go to the city. I saw a great many wonders there but I cant tell you much about my visit this time as I am writing by candle light and our evenings are rather short as we have Roll call at 8 and taps at 1/2 past. I went to the city last Tuesday started a bout 9 with Sergt Brown. Our pass was written to be in camp again at 1/2 past 4. I did not expect to go that morning consequently I had but little time for preperation so I hope you will excuse.
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[all][written over] my imperfections which you may discover in my appearence that morning. I had 6 Photographs taken at the cost of $2.00. I couldnt have a smaller number of that kind taken and I thought they would be the most convenient kind to send. I am going to send on to Ruth and one to [uncle?] [?] folks to Admirer or Hannah. I forgot which it was that requested it. I can tell when I refer to their letters and one to Ann if she is not at home. You will tell me if she is when you write. One to Edwin and on to Uncle Sam and one to Mother.
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I received a letter from Ruth a few days ago. She and the children were well. It contained about the same news from Hiram that your last did which I Recd Tues [?] after returning from the city. I should have delayed writeing until tomorrow but I shall be on guard and shall not have an opportunity, Henry [Beckes] box has come. I have got my [?] they are good ones and the Pencil and [Exe?] [...ter?]. My Eyes are well now and I hope I shall not have any use for it. I shall write you again soon and tell you something of my visit. Yours [...fuly?] Rufus
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P.S. I should have written before but didnt receive them until to day Mother must take her choise of the 3 They are the Best ones. I want you to take particular notice of my Boots.
