.MzUyNA.NTA2NQ
Harrison Landing Va Aug 3d 62
Dear Brother
I Recd yours of the 27th and Samuels last Friday morning. I have delayed writeing you a little longer than I should but I got out of paper and Envelopes. Soon after receiveing our Mail Friday morning our company left camp for 24 hours Picket duty. On our return yesterday about noon we were glad to learn that the pay master was here ready to pay us off. I have now bought a few sheets of paper and Envelopes enough I think to last until the Box comes. I was glad to see the Postage Stamps. Luke Recd a letter from his folks this morning telling him that our Box started Thursday morning. I hope we can soon tell you that it is in our possession although but one Box has been Recd in our camp yet and that a very small one and many of them have been on the road 3 weeks but I think arrangements have been made within the past week to forward them quicker. I have some hopes of seeing ours by next Saturday night if we remain here. It seems to be the impression of some of the Boys that we shall not remain here much longer. I think we shall not though. I am hardly prepared to give you my reasons for thinking so. No one
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dares to venture an opinion as to where we shall go. Perhaps it is necessary to reinforce Pope or will be soon. if that is the case and troops are to be drawn from here for that purpose before we receive aide from the new enlistments shall we be strong enough to hold and present position especialy if as has been reported some of Englands Subjects have provided
which
[Seush?] with Iron Clad gunboats and[crossed out] are already floating in the James River. I am yet hopefull that our cause will in the end be prosperous. I am far from being discouraged but I must confess that things are looking a little dark to me just now. The South are alive in their work up and doing and what they do they mean but the question will come to my mind what have the North been doing all this time. I think they have been too slow. I think we have had men enough in the field to have crushed the Rebelion by this time. We have wated too long - moved too slow. The South have taken great advantage of the time we have given them and I fear they will give us great trouble in return. It is always darkest just before day. So is the old saying. So I will wate a little and think what I may do instead of what might have been done. Perhaps Father will
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give me his idea of things when he writes again. I will say in ans to Fathers question that it has seemed strange to me that our Col has not taken notice of the Prices our Sutler has charged us for things but I believe one reason is he is not a high liver himself consequently thinks that Hard Bread and Salt [Horse?] is good enough for us. I think Col Davis would have been a better man in that respect. We have had plenty of Potatoes and onions within the last ten days and cabbage once. I can perceive that the change of diet has had a good affect on on me. I am glad you sent Dr Halls [adim?]. I think much of it. I should like to have that Bushell of currants but I think when the Box comes I shall have as much as I can take care of. If we move the Box will find us and I think most of the stuff you send will keep quite a while. I think your invention Henry is a great thing. I think much of it. I think it would be a good Idea to mention it to some of the [Agricultureal?] papers it is no less usefull because it is simple. I love to hear about the trees. I can see evry one as you speak of them. I take great pleasure in talking with Issac Chamberlain about trees
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and fruit. He worked at Bryants nursey 5 year has seen us there buying trees he knows all the different kinds of fruit I have spent hours talking with him on that subject after we had gone to Bed The Red [?] and Sweet Bough are not [great..?] favorirites with you and I take with him. I have not told him of your invention yet but shall the first opportunity. Johny Bouldree is in our company he showed me a Horse yesterday that he thinks looks almost exactly like ours all the difference he could see was in the color which was not quite dark enough not quite fat enough and tail not quite long enough So I think I have got a pretty good idea of him Not very Beautifull but in harness looks well enough. Mother has not told me anything about her tomato plant [laterty?] nor of any of the flouers I donot see many now here in the woods Tell Samuel I feel greatly [...liyed?] to him for his letter I shall ans soon. My health is good. It is [wo..t?] meeting time so I will close Yours Truly Rufus
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Harrison Landing Va Aug 4th 62
Dear Mother
This mornings mail brought me your letter. I find enclosed the Envelope [bill?] of the Box and articles. I have just finished my Breakfast and as there is nothing to prevent my writeing I thought it best to improve the earliest opportunity. Perhaps you will like to know what we had for Breakfast so I will tell you what I eat Hard Bread and apple sauce. We had three kinds of meat Salt and fresh Beef and Boiled Pork. I cut a very small piece of the latter which was lean I have nothing to say in praise of the sauce the apples, dried, were sweet to begin with Boiled in an old Iron Kettle without being picked over Badly cooked with bad water. Some one is to blame for all this or at least a part of it. Some of the companies have sunk wells 25 ft and have got good water I think there are as many good working men in our comp as in any other. I have [hinted?] but my chief objection doing so is to let you know that
is not
such is state of things ^ of necessity. I go to a good spring twice a day. It is a long walk but it is usualy about all the exersize I have and I think it does me good What I have written in relation
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to the cooking of the apple is an exception though they use bad water all the time. We do not perceive it in our Potato and onion soup or in Beans Baked a stued. It is the exception when these dishes are not well cooked. I will be very carefull about eating when the Box comes. If I am not a good cook I am a neat and carefull one. I shall cook my apples both dried and green in good spring water in such quantities as I shall want for the day perhaps you will think in my present circumstances where luxuries are few that a good thing would be quickly swallowed. This is not so much the case with me now as when I was at home a little there is much here and very naturealy have I fallen into the habit of (mineing, as the Boy call it when they notice how long I am at my meals. I find nothing at the suttlers that I am so fond of as Molasses cookies. I can get 15 now for 25 cts. I can easily exchange the Pickles for something else or sell them if I dont like them. Our sutler sells large quantities of what I call copper Pickles. My white shirts are wollen If it is so I can I shall send home for some shirts and under shirts in season for winter. I have no fears but the jell will be good.
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I have forgotten the language I used when speaking of Luke. I only meant to say that he was lyeing in his tent with his shoes and stockings off and appeared to be takeing great comfort. I could only see his feet from where I was seated when writeing. I think he never enjoyed better health than at present and I can say the same of myself. I must draw my letter to a close now for I must write to Edwin today. I have owed him a letter a long while. I shall write you often now that I have plenty of paper and envelopes
Your Affecionate Son Rufus
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10th/62 Harrison Landing Aug Dear Brother I have but little time to write this morning our knapsacks are packed for another move. We donot know where we are going. The Teams take our knapsacks along for us and we are orderd to take 3 days rations in our Haversacks. We have spent five days out of camp since I last wrote you but this time we break camp for good.
I hear this morning that Edwin has enlisted. The news didnot affect me as I thought it would. I thought such news would make me tremble from Head to Foot. I have been selfish and feared that I should hear such news of you or Edwin though I have
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always thought you would mention it to me if you thought of doing so. You may be drafted but I hope not I want you to stay at home with Father and Mother. You can be a patriot there as well as here and such I believe you are and ever will be. I would that Edwins term of enlist could be added to mine that I might serve out both and he remain at home but he is in Gods keeping and there I am not afraid to leave him. He will care for him now and always. A few Boxes arrived here yesterday for our company but mine has not come. I have no idea when or where I shall see it though I expect to at some time. I Recd a letter from you and Father last Saturday morning whilst out of camp on duty and the traveller this
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this morning. I think the papers and letters which you send all reach me. It is very warm weather here now but most of our marching has been done nights.
In your next letter I want you to send me a little cyanne pepper. I have tried it and think it does me good but I cannot easily get it here
My health continues good. I cannot write more now but I will write you again soon
Yours Truly Rufus
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Harrison Landing Aug 13 / 62 Dear Brother Whilst Luke has been writeing to his folks I have been writeing a few lines to Ruth. It is almost 8 weeks since I have written to her before today. I have not heard from her since about that time. She hadnot Recd my letter when she wrote. We have been
w
ready to march since I last ^ rote you day before yesterday but are not off yet. Dont know where we are going any better now but expect to know that we are somewhere soon. I am well as usual with the exception of a slight Head- ache. I have a pretty good appetite. Luke and I took Dinner together today. We had
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Boiled onions and Potatoes.
E M Bane gave me some dried apples which came in his Box so we topt off our Dinner with Hard Bread and apple sauce. Luke thought it was the Best Sauce he had seen and I know it was much better than that furnished us by the cooks. Our Box has not come yet I dont expect to see it here. I am very anxious to hear from home. I dont know for a certainty that Edwin has enlisted though Wm John Noyes says in a letter to [?] [Berbe?] that he came into Hollands store whilet he was writeing for that purpose. I
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suppose it is too late now but when he enlisted if he has done so he could have had his choice as to what Regt he would join. If he must be a soldier I should like to have had him with me. I think I could be of great help to him. I dont think of any- thing more to write at present but shall write you often. Jes one thing more I want one of those little Sabbath School Question Books if you can get it for me without too much trouble. I have forgotten the title of it but you will
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know that one I mean when I tell you it was the one I used in my class before I left home. I think it was [scripturead?] lessons. Not easy lessons on the Life of Christ. I think I shall have time to get a good long lesson. I you send it Roll it up in a News Paper.
Yours Affectionately Rufus
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R Henry H Robbins Harrison Landing Aug 13-62
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Sept 5th 62
Camp near Chane Bridge Va
Dear Brother
This fine morning finds me in possession of 5 letters 4 Papers 1 Handkerchief and package of Pepper all of which I Recd by last nights mail. And one thing more [wh..ich?] came not by the mail though it might have had something to do with it. Good health and spri- its. This comes of the kind Providence which has ever been so near me.
I Recd a letter from you last Friday week ago this morning just as we were about leaving Yorktown dated Aug 24th. Fathers of Aug 19th and yours Aug 31st came last night. Edwins Aug 20 from Lynnfield. I also Recd one from Ruth and one from Hiram and I am happy to say that neither of my letters reported to me any illness but all seemed in good spirits.
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We left our camp near Yorktown on the morning of Aug 29th and arrived at Yorktown about noon. At 5 oclock we went aboard a ferry boat which took us to the Steamer Knickerbocker. In this Boat we expected to make our trip
ation
and felt well pleasure with our accommod but in this we were disappointed. At 10 oclock that night we found ourselves along side a Barque to which we were transferred. Here our accommo dations were very poor Huddled together like sheep. We were towed down the York River [....t?] the chessepeak Bay up the Potomac to Alexandria landing on Monday morning about 10 oclock almost as weary as if we had marched the whole of the way. That afternoon we marched 3 miles from Alexandria towards Fairfax where we halted and threw off our knapsacks expecting to rest for the
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night but we hadnot rested ten minutes when we were ordered to [Sling Knapsacks][crossed out] Fairfax Courthouse. We left our knapsacks takeing only our Rubber Blankets with us. At 12 oclo ck that night we arrived to within 3 miles of the courthouse where we halted for the rest of the night and built fires of Rails to warm and dry ourselves for it was very cool and we had marched most of the way through a drenching rain. Early in the morning we were ordered back to where we left our knapsacks but not to rest for at night our Col has got to report us near Chane
ia
Bridge. The distance from Alexandr to Fairfax where we stopt Monday night and back to this place is not less than 42 miles. Some have called it the hardest march we have ever had and I dont know but it
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is considering the disadvantages with which we undertook it. I have never before heard so much complaint of Blistered feet and lame legs. Sure mine never were so lame before but my feet didnot suffer very badly. But we have had a good rest since we came here fine weather and a good creek to Bathe in and plenty to eat. I never felt better in my life than at this moment. It will be useless for me to attempt to give you any news concerning the late Batles. I am not ported I have scarcely seen a paper since we left Harrison Landing and camp News is worse than nothing. I have no idea how long we are to remain here or what will turn up next. I shall write you again soon if I can. Your letter was very interesting. How I long to see my home again at his season it would be more than joy. I saw Mother last night in my dreams that is all I can remember.
Yours Truely Rufus
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1862 Sept 25th Camp near Downsville Md
Dear Brother
It is a long while since I have written to you. My last [wast?] whilst at Chane Bridge No doubt you are feeling very anxious about me. I could not write to you before. We have been on the march most of the time since and when I could have written you a few lines my knapsack containing my paper has been a long way in the rear. We have been marched very hard but have had no fighting though we have narrowly escaped it. The Rebells have taken a pretty severe drubbing here in Md as I think the papers will tell you. I shall not attempt to give you any particulars of our march of[crossed out] or
[Marginalia at top of page]
Mother the shirts you made me last fall were not too large just right
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the Batles this time but if we stop here a few days as I hope to perhaps I will. We have marched through a very pretty country jes more than that beautifull. There has been plenty of Fruit on the road. I have eaten Peaches and Apples to my harts content and have had plenty of potatoes most of the time ([Irish?]) We have had no cooking done for us since we left Chane B. Our ration whilst on the march have been raw Pork and Hard bread but we have managed to take along with us potatoes and Apples enough to go with it. So I will tell you what I have had for Breakfast and Supper most of the time whilst on the march though I had to rise early and work quick for we
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commenced our marches generaly by ½ past 5 in the
ed
morning. So the fires were kinel at 4. 3 good sized potatoes put on to boil though cooking the apples comes first though it took but little longer to make sauce of them then it did to Boil the Potatoes as they were sour and very mellow. I pealed and sliced them very thin then put the Potatoes and coffee on. When they were nearly ½ done I I begun to frye my meat most of our Pork is as good as I every saw. When I have good luck I can git such a Breakfast as this in 35 minutes and [?][crossed out] if you could see my nice fried pork and white mealy potatoes masshed up on my plate with a little gravy on them and
[Marginalia across top of pages 20 and 21]
Luke is well Is busy today. Will probably write tomorrow
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the sauce ^ sweetened a very little you would say it was good enough for anyone. I have never lif[crossed out] lived so well in the army as since we left the Bridge. I cannot tell you of all the good things I have had tonight for I hav’nt time but I will in my next. I have Recd 2 letters from Edwin since he arrive at Md and but one from you dated Sept 9th. No papers We havenot hot the Box yet and no signes of it at present. I want Mother to send me an undershirt by mail as soon as convenient. I shall want another before a great while and the shirts. I think it will be best to send one at a time by mail as it seems to me they will come through better. I want a little more [cayane?] in the next paper and a nutmeg. Rufus
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My health is good
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Dear Mother
Your letter reached me (Aug 19th) just as I had finished my last page. I was glad to see it. O how thankfull I feel that I have a Mother to think of me and write to me.
I have not forgotten the evenings that I spent with you prepareing Apples to dry. I love to think of it now. You donot think of me oftener than I think of home. This is the season that workes up all my home feelings when the fruit is ripe. I hope to be with you by another fall though I hardly expect to before my term of enlistment is out but the time will soon pass away and I hope there will be no need of any of us longer than that.
I wrote on my other sheet for some shirts but I dont want you to hurry to much about them. I am in need of an under shirt more than anything else at present.
If you send them singly as I think will be best it will cost you about six stamps
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to each package. Please send me a pr of suspenders with the first. If I ever get the Box I can sell th pr in that at full cost. I think I shall write to you several times before you send all the packages and if there is anything else that I want I will tell you. I am glad to hear that Grandpar is so well. I have great hopes that I shall see him again. I have not thought that Father has grown careless of me I shall expect a good long letter from him next week containing a little of everything.
I want (and I had come near forgetting it for the tenth time when I was writeing to you) that you should send me your Photographs Father Mother and Henry. You can get them at N [Bregea...er?] at S.W.S Howards corner of School and Nane St for 8 cts apiece just right to send in a letter. Size about one inch square and that is as large as I could cary with me with safty. I must close now but will try to write again soon From your Affecionate son Rufus
