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62 Camp near Downsville Oct 6th Dear Father Yours of Sept 28th reached me this morning. I have a letter from home evry weeke though the mail has not come so regularly of late as usual but I have been very negligent of late about writing home. I wrote home Sept 5th from Chane Bridge and not again until week ago last Saturday to Henry. That was my first oppertunity after writeing from chane Bridge. When I last wrote to Henry and Mother I thought I should have written again twice before this time but Gen Couch thought we should be better for haveing two drills aday then I have traveled some
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miles for Potatoes and Apple thinking I would have a good time today and write tomorrow. Then washing clothes guard duty cooking as we have had to do [until?] within a few days and a review by the President all these things have occupied much of the time. For a few days past, I have not been very well. I think I have eaten too many apples which gave me the diarahe. I am better today and think I shall soon be entirely well. I took 2 of Soules Pills as I thought my stomach was a little out of order and they helped me. Thomas Sherman gave them to me and I told him I would make them good to him again. He thinks they are a very good Pill and I have no doubt they are as good
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as any so if you will send me a Box of them Luke will take ½ of them or you may keep a part of them to try and then we shall probably have enough. Thomas thinks they are better than [Ayers?] because they donot gripe perhaps Mother will like them better. We are haveing very pleasant weather. I gives me great pleasure to hear about the fine lot of Fruit we are haveing this year. You dont write too much of things about home. Of your selves the House and the Barn and of evrything about home I love to hear. I must write you a short letter this time because I am afraid the Mail will leave very soon. I hear this morning with deep regret that another member of our company
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has gone to his long home Frank Hutchingson. I was not prepared to hear it. I thought when he left us he would recover.
I have not got any Papers since I left Chane Bridge. When you send another put in a Roll of peperment Lozenges. You will find good ones at [Nat?] Dyers if you happen to go that way. I am out of money and I dont know how long before we shall be payed off again please send me $200 of the postage stamp currency if [convenient?]. I must close now while there is a chance to send this today
Yours Affectionately Rufus PS Tell Samuel his turn will come soon.
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Oct 15th 62 Camp near Downsville Md Dear Brother The long looked for Box has finaly come. We opened it yesterday morning. I was happily disappointed to find so much in it that was not spoiled especialy after removeing the cover and finding such a heap of roten apples. There was not a particle of sound Potato or apple. I didnot expect there would be. Of course you know everything
ed
eatible must be more or less damag- The cheese was badly hurt but not mouldy. I dont realy dislike it and yet I can get along with very little of it we have sold ½ of it at 11 cts per lb probably shall sell the rest of it some like it first rate. The Fish is what father would call done Fish. It is as red as sammon and not so bad the air has improved it very
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much. The Raisins and Dates I must put down worthless though we have picked them over a little and found a few good ones. The Raisins look as well as ever but they got wet with the apple juice and soured. The jell in my Pail is very good what there is left of it about 2/3ds of it leaked out. It is very much better than
and
that in the Box. The Pan ^ Pail are just what I wanted. Tobacco a little mouldy but not hurt much. Lozenges rather moist but eatible. Handkerchief comb, Brush, soap, and suspenders all dry and good as new. Nutmegs, Pepper both kinds and mustard not
sugar
damaged. White ^ a little moist but not hurt. Tea as good as when you put it up and I am glad it is. Pickles came through in good shape and I think they are very good.
Holland Noyes sent us some writing
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paper Envelopes and stamps. The Envelopes and stamps were good, paper worthless. Perhaps I have forgotten to mention some things that
nt
were good but nothing of any amou I am writing with the pencil which Charlie sent me it is a good one but it is better to know that Charlie thinks of me.
Now for something else. Since I last wrote you I have been quite unwell with diahrea and cold. Yesterday was my first well day and this morning my Breakfast was eaten with a good appetite. I had soft Bread and Butter and a slice of fried stake which was very tender and good. I have Recd many kindnesses from members of our company and some from
Co A
other companies. Willard Lincoln ^ gave me some medicine which
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helped me very much and day before yesterday I took 2 of ayers pills which he gave me which did me good. I went to the Dr twice whilst I was sick. He excused me from one drill the first day and gave a doste of salts the next day he put me on duty though my duties have been light all through. Major Harlow came to see me whilst I was sick and enquired how long I had been sick and what the matter was with me he also wanted to know if there was any think I wanted. I told him straw to put in my tent. He was not slow to understand that I was without money. He lent me 75 Cts. I could have had more if I had wanted it. I feel perfectly well now and have got a good
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appetite. Jacob Harding and I sleep together now and with our straw and blankets we make a good warm Bed in our tent and I think that is one of the most esential things to sleep warm. I have not Recd my undershirt yet though I have Recd your letter stateing that you Mailed it the day before and two papers at the same time commenceing a new
er
story (late ones) There is a numb in the rear yet. Our Mail is very irregular yet. You didnot
hs
say anything about the Photergrap in your letter. Perhaps you forgot it I hope you will send them. S.W.S Howard N [Bredy-?] water takes them about an inch square for 8 cts. I dont know
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how much longer we shall stay here. It may be a month but I dont think it best to risk sending the Boots at present. There would be no harm in your geting up a pr and if it should look favour- able to send them by mail you will have them ready perhaps there may be some other way. Take your[e][crossed out] time for it for my shoes are good at present and I have got my name on the list for another pr. Weascots calf I think is best with a large Heel not too high. Bottoms about the same as you sent last winter. I must close now hopeing to hear from you soon. You have got a long dist- ance to walk this winter but pretty good pay Yours Truly Rufus.
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Friday Oct 24th / 62 Camp near Cherry Run Md Dear Mother I am going to write to you this time. Sometimes it is to Father and sometimes to Henry that I feel most like writeing to but this time it is to Mother. I suppose it makes but little difference so long as you hear from me.
I suppose you are feeling rather anxious about me as you know I have been sick. I am well now, have a good appetite and am gaineing flesh though I I got somewhat reduced dureing my sickness a week ago. I only weighed 122 ½ this morning. I find I have gained a pound. It has been some time since I have written home. I think my last letter was soon after we got the Box. I didnot think it would be so long but there has been much to prevent.
The last letter which I Recd from
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home was week ago last Thursday night from Father containing the Pictures and 2 papers containing the Nutmegs. I was on guard that night. It was raining quite hard and too dark to see to read a word. I felt great curiosity to know what had come in my letter so I opened it and felt very carefully thinking that it might possibly contain the $200 which I sent for. I was satisfied that the Pictures were in it but how many I didnot know. It was a long night for I wanted to see Father, Mother and Henry. My disappointment was great when I found Mothers was not there. I begun to think could it be possible that I could have lost it in the dark. I cannot think so for I was very carefull but I think I shall see it in my next letter and I hope that will come this afternoon and be as good as Fathers and Henrys. They are Perfect both of them
to
and yet Fathers seems to me ^ have a
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likeness to him which is greater than I ever saw in a Picture before. I havenot Recd the undershirt or the Money yet. It is a little singular as I have Recd letters and papers which you have mailed since but others are troubled in the same way. Last Sunday eve (The last mail we have had) I Recd 2 papers one journal and one Freeman. I found the Lozenges and Nutmegs. The Lozenges were just what I wanted. We left camp Downsville last Monday noon and are now about 20 miles from the place. Handcock and clear Spring are the nearest settlements to us now. It is about 10 from us clear spring 7 miles. Both quite smart places. I wouldnot send any more shirts until I can tell you I have get the first one. I ware my old wollen shirt now under the white. I dont see but it is about as good as ever only some.
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smaller but it keeps me very comfortable. We are expecting to be new clothed throughout by uncle Sam very soon. Some of it came today. I got a pr of shoes that I am very much pleased with. I have Booked my name for a new cap, over coat, Frock coat, Blouse Trousers Shoes and 2 pr Stockings. I am going to keep warm this winter. The folks where we are now give us lots of straw to put in our tents. Luke Jacob and I sleep together. We manage to get some little luxuary to eat almost evry day. I have had Butter [Gna?]
two
for the last ^ weeks. I sometimes swap of my rations of coffee at the Houses in the neighbourhood for Apple Pie Bread or Potatoes. I found a spool of Black thread which I swaped [?] a few mornings since for a Breakfast of Soft Bread and cider apple sauce and coffee with Milk in it. I think I am very ingenious in the maters. I must close now hopeing to hear from you again soon From your Affectionate Son Rufus.
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1862 Sunday Oct 26th Camp near Cherry Run Md Dear Father I have had a good mail this morning, 3 letters, yours Oct 19th, Henrys Oct 12th, and one from Edwin which I will send you, and a Freeman Sept 6th containing the cayenne. It is a cold stormy morning a North Easter, too cold to write a long letter but we have got a good fire of Rails in front of our tent and plenty of straw inside so I think I can keep comfortable writeing a little while. My under shirt and suspenders came this morning and I am very much pleased with them. I want to know next time you write what they cost not that I have any idea of selling but I want to know how high priced goods I am wareing on my Back. I put on my new Frock Coat which I drew this morning. It is quite a pretty one. Dark blue and pretty [fine?]
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9 Bright Buttons in front. Buttons up high in the neck and sets well. Our clothing is coming a little at a time but I think we shall get it all soon. I Recd the money today so I believe I have Recd all the things which you have sent. I think Henry had better not send the Boot at present. I will give him reasonable warning. I have just got a pr of new shoes good ones. You may send the shirts along now as soon as convenient. I am afraid Mother is working too hard this fall 50 lbs of apples is a great [?] to dry. The 3 lines from Mother in Henrys letter are worth much to me. I hope I shall see mothers Photograph soon Ed tells me he has got it. Eat all the Apples you can. They are good [liveing?] You must not worry about me now for I am well Rufus
