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Dec 5th Carver Hospital Washington D.C. Dear Mother

Your letters of Nov 28th and 30th are Recd and I feel very sorry now that I have not ans them before. I have not been quite so well for the last four or five days is the reason why I have not. My Diarrhae has been worse and that gave me some paine in the back and weakened my knees somewhat but my Diarrhea has left me almost entirely today and I think it is altogether the best feeling day I have had since I have been in the Hospital.

I felt a better appetite for my Dinner today than usual. It was the most I have eaten at one time for a long while

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Two small Potatoes a piece of fried sasauge about 1 ½ inches in length and 2 Baked Apples. Somehow I feel today that I am realy on the mending hand My courage is good and has been all the time. My quarters are good. Much more comfortable than when I first came here. I have a good comfortable Bed Plenty of company. I have

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one acquaintance with ^ from Company [?] He came with me.

I Recd your dispatch yesterday but was too thoughtless to ans it. I cannot get a furlough at present. I shall write you again this afternoon. The Mail will leave soon so I must close. Send me a little Sage in the next Paper Yours Affectionately Rufus

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Dec 7th 62 Carver Hospital Wash D.C. Dear Brother

We are haveing a regular New England day Wind N.W. a pretty sharp air and almost snow enough for sleighing. This weather I feel is good for me. I find I am gaining strength though not very fast and appetite also improve- ing a little Diarrhae pretty bad yesterday but not much today. The Dr is giveing me Pills now to stop it. I think you was a little too sanguine that I was going to get the furlough I felt very doubtful about it so was but very little disappointed although home is as dear to me as ever and much should I like to see it. I [passed an][crossed out] was examined

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last Tues by two doctors. They decided that I was not entitled to a furlough as I had not been in the Hospital but two weeks and was no worse than when I entered but there is one consolation I dont think they will send me back to my Regt until I am quite well. And now I think of it I dont want you to come to see me unless I get a greatdeal sicker than at present. It will be too expensive and another thing I find in spite of all I can say you are boiling over with anxiety for me. Of what use is it . It will do no good and troubles me very much. I know I was to megligent about writeing to you and you know that is apt to be the

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case when I am well. Now I have given you the outlines of a scolding and I feel better and I hope you will too. I should like to to have my Boots pretty soon and I think there will be no trouble in sending them by Express. You might send them in a Small Box but the trouble is I dont know what to have sent with them though I can think of a few things that I should like to have that I think would do me good now. Cranberry sauce pretty sour is one thing. A lb of Cofe sugar is another. I think that is good for Diarrhae. A few Oranges if you can get them. I dont care if they are not

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very sweet. If you think it will do to risk me with a few Cakes and Pies a lb of Butter and a Chick and a lump of Puding you may send them. I dont feel that I could make great use of any of these things at present except the Cranberry and oranges but I have a a cool place in the back room to keep a Box but I shall have to get some better of my diarrhae and a little better appetite before I could use much of it. Mother must do as she thinks best about sending it. She can tell best how long

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such things will keep. I would send many Apples only a few kinds I have never seen as I

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can buy them pretty cheep here and a few Pears if they will keep. I wouldnt send for anything to eat at present but I want the sauce and the oranges and even now you need not be in a very great hury about sending it. The next time I write I will tell you about my journey here from Warington and what kind of a Hospital we have got. I will stop now. So good Evening Yours Truly Rufus

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I am feeling better this eve than I have before for a long while Rufus

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Thurs Dec 11th 62 Carver hospital Wash D.C. Dear Father I Recd your letter and the Dollar from Henry yesterday. I think my not writeing to you so often as I should has caused you a greatdeal of anxiety and trouble but it is hard work to begin. I put it off from one day to another thinking to feel more like it and when I am writeing I think I will write a little every day. I am not any worse than my last letter represents to you. I think I am gaining slowly. I think you Recd a letter from me last night which ans the Questions contained in the Dispatch but I will

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say now that I didnt think at the time of my examination nor do I now think it will be possible to get my Discharge or a Furlough at present but I want to come home bad enough. I think I should get well a greatdeal faster if I could. I have written to Luke for my Description Papers. I expect I should have to have that at any rate before I could get home. I suppose he will send it a soon as he can. I can then get paid off here for Four Months that would give me funds enough. about strength of Body I dont know how that would be but I think I could do it if they would let me try

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Friday Morning Dec 12th I thought when I left off writeing last night I should have time to write quite a letter this morning but I find if I send by this mornings Mail I shall only have time enough to tell you that I am quite as well as usual and appetite for Breakfast a little better than usual Yours Truly Rufus

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Dec 13th 1862 Carver Hospital Washington D.C. Dear Brother I have got a large sheet of Paper before me larger I think than I shall be able to fill this afternoon. I was presented with a few sheets of it yesterday morning by some ladies who came in to see how we were geting along. They also gave me a little gell which was the nicest thing which I ever saw of the kind but it didnt suit my taste the best. I dont know what kind it was though I know there was wine in it they told me so and the colour was almost white. I feel that I am geting better though very slowly My diarrhae is much better today and my appetite a little better but I dont feel much stronger yet but I will venture that part of it when I get entirely over my diarrhae. I will now say to Father that I have just Recd his and Mothers letter. I have been before the Board for examination for a Furlough or a Discharge. What more could I do. They wouldnt grant either. I dont know of any more

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that I could do. Mr Tafts has been to see me again today and I think he is a little hopefull that he can yet do something towards geting me home. I think I have now written all the Particulars under that head. I have Recd the writeing Paper and Envelopes. I have not a sore throat nor am I unwell in any way except as I have told you but I wanted it for a drink thinking that it would be better than clear cold water for my diarrhae. I have never had any extra Postage to pay. I Recd a letter from Luke yesterday. He thinks My Description [List?] will be along soon. I Recd $200 from him Money which was due to me in the company. I dont think of anything more to write this time so I will stop for this time Yours Truly Rufus

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1862 Carver Hospital Wash D.C. Dec 16th

Dear Brother I am hopeing to to receive a letter from home today. An Hour will tell the story as it is now nearly 2 P.M. and the Mail arrives at 3. If not today I have no doubt I shall tomorrow. I am as weak yet as that Old Rat that Father killed 20 years ago on the celler stairs at the old Arnold House but I am almost well of my diarrhae. I dont know but quite I havnt had anything pass me but once today and that was very slight. My appetite is about the same sometimes pretty good but oftener very poor. I have just Recd your letter with the Three dollars

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I am glad you have been to see the Doctor for I find that I have been very imprudent. I have eaten of almost evrything since I have been in the Hosptial. It is but a day or two since I have succeeded in finding a place where I could get [Porridde?]. At this place I can get it without money by going after it and so I could custard if Eggs could be had but they are not in the market. I wouldnt send any more Money at present. I will write you when I want more. My courage is good yet and I think if I am careful (and I mean to be) that it will not be long before i can tell you that I am entirely well Yours Affectionately Rufus

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Carver Hospital Wash D.C. Dec 17th Dear Brother I write you a few lines this morning to tell you that I am to leave here in a few hours for Phelidelphia. I am pleased with the idea evry one says that it is a better place than this. There are 3 going with me from this ward. I think the prospect of my geting home will be much greater there. I have no time to write more this morning as the Mail will leave very soon Yours Truly Rufus