.MzUxOA.NTA1OQ
Washington D.C. Feb 2d / 62
Dear Brother
Since I last wrote you I have been a little unwell but today I am much better. I could say quite well but I feel a little weak yet from the effects of a diarrhe and physic which I have taken. I will give you an account of my sickness from the commencement and how I think it was brought on. Last Thursday morning I had to go on guard and at the same time we were haveing a cold N.[E?] Rain strm, and mud, as it has been since the 1st of Jany, most of the time, from 2 to 6 inches deep. I donot think I took much cold though my feet were wet and cold most
[Pg2]
of the time dureing the 24 hours, but the fatique of walking 8 hours in the mud and water when I was on duty, (as I was obliged to if for no other reason to keep warm) is enough to endanger the health of anyone. Then the Hard Bread which was all we could have for supper (as the ovens had given out so that they couldnt bake Bread for us) I think was another cause as I have never eaten of it without feeling bad effects. I was taken with diarrhe Friday morning which lasted me through the day. The doctor came in about 11 oclock to see how things were looking in our mess, whilst I was lain down I told him I was sick. He wanted to know what the trouble was
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so I told him (Headache, sick at the stomach, pain in the Back and Diarrahe. Well says he trouble enough for a stormy day, come down and I will give you a doste of salts. But I didnt go for them but took a good doste of my Rhubarb Root which I think is the best physic I ever took. I had a good operation from it and with that my Diarrahe left me and I felt much better. I didnot eat anything until yesterday morning when I went to the store and bought a little Flour and made some gruel. I couldnt get milk there so I had to take it without, but it ans very well as I eat it with a good relish
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and I could think of nothing else that I could. About noon I bought some Milk a pint for 5 cts and made some milk porridge. I didnt but much water in as I was very sure it was ¼ water when I bought it. Perhaps you may think that I am a bungler at makeing porridge but it is not so. My first attempt was a success, and I have had some experience at the business as I have nursed several sick ones since I have been in the army. Well I am makeing a long story but I am bound to tell the whole of it. m[crossed out] so I must tell you what I had last night for supper and all the particulars of how the Pudding was made and Baked may occupy another
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sheet of paper.
Receipt for the Pudding made by Charles Knott of Situate
Crumb Bakers Bread into a 2 qt pan until it is filled add 1/2 [pint?] of Milk, three Eggs rest water because there wasnt any more milk. A good lot of Raisins. Do Sugar Spice and Salt to suit[e][crossed out] the taste. Now take the old fashion Bake Kettle borrowed[crossed out] such as we used at the Barn to water the hens (Ours was borrowed of an old Negro woman who lives near our camp) set your pan in containing the pudding and Bake in the fireplace until it is done. 1/4 of it was my
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share which cost 6 cts though from the whole cost there must [bee?] deduction of 3 Eggs as there was not so many needed as was at first supposed but we are to have a Rice pudding for supper and they will be used for that. I didnt eat any of the raisins as I was afraid they would hurt me and not all of my share of the Pudding so gave some to Luke. I slept well last night and when I arose this morning went to the Doctors to get excused from inspection reminding him of my condition yesterday. he excused me and ordered 2 pills for me one to be taken this morning and
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one to night but I have not taken either of them and think I shall not. Whilst the company were out on inspection I gave my neck and head a good washing then went to work getting my Breakfast. I made a [toaste?] Took a little flour and Butter and Boiled in water the same the same that[crossed out] as I make Porridge with the exception of the Butter and I made a good breakfast. It is now nearly four o clock and I have eaten my share of the Rice Pudding. I had a good appetite as I had eaten nothing since morning and it was very good and I think I feel as well
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as [?][crossed out] ever. I dreamed of being at home last night and mother told me that I looked as lean as a crow. I could not help looking in the glass this morning to see it it was so. I think she would not say so if she could see me, and it was also a reality to me for a while that our new Horse was guilty of runing and breaking the carriage. We are haveing a fine day the first one for more than 3 weeks. A few of them will make a great improvement in our camp. I hear that Edwin has got a Daughter and I am very much pleased as I suppose he is. Write soon and let me know if I have been dreaming Rufus.
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Washington D.C. Feb 5th
Dear Brother
Your letter has not reached me today but I will write you a few lines this evening as I think you will expect to hear from me next Saturday eve My health is now as good as ever. I was quite well last monday and notwith- standing the thick snowstorm we were haveing engaged in a speculation which net me clear profit 12 1/2 cts. since we have lived in Barracks it has been quite fashionable for one and another to cook messes of various kinks to suite the tastes of their companions for
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the sake of the profits. for instance Andrew Hinkley fries Buck Wheat cakes which he sells for 5 cts a piece. Others peddle kniknacks such as combs, pencils, paper, pamphlets, and News papers. I felt that day like doing something for my country so I proposed to Charlie Knott to Hull some corn. So we went acrost the[s][crossed out] Road to a Mr Kings and bought 14 ears of corn for which we paid him 14 cts then bought 3 cts worth of [?] borrowed a Kettle at the cook stand and went at it. We had very good luck considering it was our first attempt and it sold very quick at from 5 to 10 cts according
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to the amount we put upon a plate and the demand was greater than the supply. We sold 42 cts worth and had one plate left to divide
have
between us. We ^ now about 4 inches of snow and yesterday and today very fine weather. I did y[crossed out] my washing yesterday the 2d time I have attempted it since I have been in the Barracks. I have a Barrel saued in two for a tub. I had quite
[wass?]
a large one 2 shirts one pr Drauers, Touel, Handkerchief, and one pr stockings and mittins. We had a Target Shoot this morning distance 180 yds. Target bigness
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of a[s][crossed out] man. Fired 2 rounds, a few hit but I was not among the number. This afternoon we had a Battalion drill of an hour and 1/2 and fired 10 Rounds of blank cartags I got my [Boots?] [Tapt?] yesterday. J Frank Hill Sergeant of of our mess is our cobler. He is from E Bridgewater. I had the ones which you sent me put on and a lighter pr with them. That and fixing the Heels cost 62 cts. I use a kind of Blacking which is very good for keeping out water. I go on guard again next Friday and I think I shall come off with dry feet. Now good eve Yours Affectionately Rufus
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day
A little later the same
It is now about dinner time and it is raining quite hard. We hear that Old Taggard the cook has burnt the Beans so Luke an I conclude not to go down to dinner but stay here and make a Toast so I will say good bye till after Dinner. well the toaste was pretty good Luke toasted the Bread and I made the Butter a spoon full of flour and a lump of Butter about the size of
with 3 gills of water
an Egg boiled up ^ made us a good dinner. Is that the way Mother does it. Have you heard
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the news of our success at the south. I suppose you have or will at anyrate before this reaches you so I will not attempt to tell it. I sent Father a paper last week. I think Hiram must have seen some of the fiteing. I have not heard from him or Ruth for a long while. I have just Recd Henrys letter and I feel very greatfull for it and Mothers too. The [..oues?] of [advice?] and encouragement which it contains will be a great help to me. I will say Henry that I am glad he has subscribed th six Dollars for me for I feel as willing now as ever to help the cause along and I
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am glad you could give me so good an account of our church and society affairs. Our new Col takes command today Dict Russell of Boston. We all think he will be the man for us. we are all out with Raymond. he doesnt know enough to command us as he should at least some think. It is possible that we may leave this place when the mud dries up but nothing certain; We are anxious to share the honours with our brethern in arms and all tired of staying here. as soon as you here from Ruth or Hiram let me know Yours affectiony Rufus
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Washington D. C. Feb 12 / 62
Dear Father
I feel that i owe you a much longer letter than I shall be able to write this evening but
ow
if I delay it until tomorr you willnot receive it Saturday eve. It was nearly 5 when the Mail arrived tonight and Dress parade and supper consume the larger part of 2 hours so I am rather late. I should have informed you some time ago that I had Recd Br [Liehores?] letter but it escaped my mind. I have made
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several attempts to ans it but have not succeeded to my satisfaction but I hope to be able to soon. His was a good letter full of encouragement and good [nuse?]. He spoke of our Church affairs of the progress they had made and my desire was to be one of the number. I have seen much of the workings of evil since I have been here more than I ever dreamed of before and more than ever do I realize the necesity of a firm belief and trust in God as I have learned of him at home. I sometimes think of the little ones in our
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Sabbath School. What if they should be called in a few years to the school where I now am. Will it not be well for them if they have had fathfull Teachers and learned their lessons well. Shurely it will for the burden of a
ut
Soldiers life is enough witho the burden which sin imposes. I have but little more than time enough now to tell that I am now as well as ever and ans Mothers question conserning our fare. In my next letter I shall give you more particulars but I can say now that our fare is very good and
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we have enough of it. Our ovens are now in good repare and we have now evry day a good large [?][crossed out] Lofe of nice Bread and[crossed out]. The weather has been very fine for the last few days. I donot like to stop now as I have much more in mind that I should like to write But I shall write again soon. Yours Affectionatly Rufus
Tell Sam I donot want to see him here.
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1862
Washington D.C Wednesday Feb 19th
Dear Mother
It was my intention when I last wrote you to have written again before this time and I am afraid as I told you I should write again very soon my delay has caused you much anxiety. I must tell you that I have not been quite well, as I have had since last Friday a pretty severe head cold My [?] and Head have ached at such a rate that I couldnot think. But I am well now. I feel today like a new man, and I am glad that I can tell you so for I know it would cause you much anxiety to know that I am sick
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I dont know as I had realy ought to say that I have been sick for I have had a good appetite all the time and a plenty of good food to eat. I was on guard last Friday and since then I have had but very little to do as it has been stormy evry day since. Since th 1st of Jany we have had but very few pleasant days. Most of the time the weather has been much like our spring weather at home and I have set it down as impo sible so long as we have such weather as this to avoid colds but the folkes here tell us that we shall soon have better weather. The March winds will soon dry the mud up and we shall
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see them planking by the middle of the month. We are havening good fare as we have had most of the time since we have been here. Sometimes I think too good for there is a greatdaeal wasted. There is more bread and meat thrown into our fireplace every day than Henrys Pigs could eat. In the course of a week we have for dinners we[crossed out] Stued Beans, and soup of fresh Beef and potatoes, and fried stake, and what the cooks call smothered meat which is very good, and when the cooks dont Bake Beans often enough for us we go to the cookstand and get 3 qts of Beans and apiece of pork and Bake them ourselves
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we had some Bakeing last night for Breakfast this morning and they were very good. I little thought when i was about to become a soldier that I should have such good fare and be comfortable in so many respects. It is true there are many disagreable things about this life but the greatest trouble that I have is that Mother is feeling too anxious about me. I shall alway s tell you when I am sick so you will not need have unnecessary fears long at at a time. My companions are all good hearted fellous always ready to lend a helping hand when one is in distress and at all times cheerfull and accomodating. some rousing good times we have but all agree that it will be a joyfull day when we start for home.
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I have just Recd your letter but havnt Read it
I write once evry week
Sometimes twice
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1862
Washington D.C. Sunday Feb 23d
Dear Brother
I dont know of any good reason why I shouldnt write you a few lines this eve as my health is quite good and am also in pretty good spirits. Somewhat better I must say than I felt at this time last night. I was detailed for guard duty yesterday morning and that as I have hinted to your before is not a very pleasant duty at this season of the year. It was something of a disappointment to me to be on guard yesterday as it was you know the anniversary of Washington’s birth day and was observed with us as a holiday. We were
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not favourd with very pleasant weather as it was cloudy all day and a part of the time raining and mud ankle deep, but all that didnot prevent the sports of the day as they had planed them. Our camp duties were all dispen- sed with except guard duty, target shoot in the morning and evening parrade. The sports of the day commenced with a foot race around the camp. There were but six enterd for this. The prizes were 2-3 and 5 dollars. They ran singely and some of them barefooted with nothing but shirt and trousers on and the mud flew right smart. I had a good viu of them at the commencement and end of the race. I was on guard at the time
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and they ran past my beat. The next was the sack race. The style of this is to place each one engaged in the contest in a Sack long enough to tie up around his neck so that he has no use of his limbs outside of the sack. Then the one that by springing (as you see it would be impossible to Run) arrives at the point first wins. This was the occasion of a great deal of merriment as some of them soon found themselves in a very helpless condition haveing fallen and not able to rise without assistance. Jumping and wrestling were other sports engaged in But the drop race next to catching the greased pig was considered the greatest feat of the day. The plan
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of this is to drop potatoes along in a straight line at regular intervals say about 6 ft apart. A box is placed at one ends[crossed out] of the line from which the Racer starts. He picks up the potato first nearest the Box puts it in and then starts for the next one returning with it to the Box the same as the first and so on to the end of the line. The distance accomplished was 1 3/4 miles and in the space of 14 minutes. Next came the race for the greased pig and with that ended the sports of the day. Much more pleasure was anticipated from this than was realized for the pig was not disposed to act well his part. The pig wouldnt run consequently there couldnt be any race but was finaly caught up by one of the part who had volunteered for the race and carried to his quart- ters. I witnessed most of the sports of the day although when I was not on my Beat I had to remain near the
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head quarters of the guard. I felt rath tired this morn- ing when I came off guard but was well and had a good appetite. Mr Taggard had a plate of good Baked Beans for me. after I had eaten them I got Frank H to cut my Hair and trim my whiskers then washed up and put on my clean shirts and drawers and a new pr of sky Blue trousers and then went to Bed feeling as comfortable as you can possibly emagine and had a firstrat nap. Awoke about 3 oclock just as the mail arrived and Recd letters from Almira and Hannah. A tells me she is very much pleased with my picture. I havnt time to write much more now Our new Col is very strick but I think we shall like him. We are heareing good
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neus evry day from our army at the South which is very encourageing. Nothing said about our leaving here at present
Yours Affectiony Rufus
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Washington D.C. Feb 26 / 62
Dear Brother
There were 20 letters Recd in our mess today and this evening nearly that number of our Boys are writeing home. those not writing are keeping remarkable still. We have some calm time but they come so seldon that they donot pass unnoticed. I suppose you have already guessed that I Recd your letter but to make you quite sure I will say that I have. We have had fair weather today or what we call fair weather nouadays for the sun has shone a part of the and no rain
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until this eve it is raining quite hard. Last monday the wind bleu furiously. a large number of trees in the grove adjoinging our camp where our cookstands are were blown over some of them falling upon the cook Houses but without doing serious damage. The coverings were bloun off from some of our Barracks which were most exposed. One of the patients in the Hospital thought he was on the water and asked if they were going home. The flaping of the canvas covering his Barrack he supposed to be sails. There was a soldier killed it they N.Y. 36 close by as a pole fell and
which
struck him on the head and [crossed out]
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caused instant death. It is reported that there were three wounded at the [a d?] R.J. camp. Buildings were unroofed at the city, one of the Generals orderlys Recd a wound there by the falling of timbers but not fatal. his Horse was injured at the same time and died a few hours after I believe. I received all the papers though they are longer on the road than the letters. Our papers say that Savannah is ours but Nashvill is not confirmed. Feb 27 The rain is over and we are haveing a very fine morning. The neus of the victories are very cheering. We think this war must
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soon close. Some think we shall march soon but nothing sure. I had my Tooth out last Tuesday morning. It ached badly Monday night and I parted with it with a good will. Dr Adams is a good Dentist. It took a strong pull but it is all over with now and no soreness I must close now or you will not got this Saturday eve. My health is very good Yours Affectionaly Rufus
