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No. 4
Camp Old Colony Washington Aug 1

Dear Father I Recd your letter
today at 12 o clock.  I want to
forward you a few lines
to day but have but little
time to write as it is now
nearly 4 o clock.  In ans to th
last question which you ask
I have not met with any change
which Brings doubts to my mind
of the truth of the Doctering of Uni
versalism on the contrary I imp
rove evry opportunity to express it
in word and deed.  Our fare
is very good now .  I will not
attempt to ans your letter now
for tomorrow I shall have time
enough.  But have you recd all
the letters I have written home.
this is the fourth as you will
see I have numbered it at the
top and have written Edwin


[Pg2]

once.  My health is very
good.  I was very glad to
hear from you.  Write
again as soon as you
get this.  I do not know
about our going to Was
[?][crossed out]hington but there is some
talk about it.  Inspection
of arms now.  So good
afternoon
Rufus


[Pg3]

Aug 2d / 61
Camp Old Colony Washington

I Penciled you a few
hasty lines yesterday and to day as I have
more time I will try to give your
questions a more definite Ans.
                                       ton
1st as to our going to the City of Washing
yesterday I could not say any thing very
definite but this morning I hear talk
that make me believe that we shall go
there as a City guard.  Capt or rather
Major Harlow (as he was promoted to
that office last Wednesday) says we are
having a new uniform makeing at
the city and another report which I
consider quite a good says we
shall go there within 7 days.  I hope it
will be so as it is considered a post
of honor and no doubt our duties
will be much easier.  The Pay Master
was here last Wednesday and we
recd Five Dollars and 46 cts each


[Pg4]

he says our Regiment is composed
of the most inteligent men he has
yet payed off and the Colonl told
us a few days since that we had
the name of being the best behaved
                                ton
of any Reg that has come to Washing
                                on our
Now as to the efect of the Battle ^ men I do not
know much of the feeling outhere but
with us the feeling is you will katch it
so much the harder when we have an
opportunity to engage you.  I dont
suppose the defeat has had a [tending?]
to discourage our troops much because
as we understand it we engaged
them at great disadvantage.  I think
you have had more correct news
conserning the Battle than I have as
I have not often seen the papers.  I see
Charlie Shaw almost evry day he is not
much unwell aside from the hurt
which he Recd before he left home.  I
suppose he will be discharged.
                                 e
Hinkley was kept in the guard Hous


[Pg5]

about a week and then discharged
without trial.  I do not know that
                                    ed
there are any that are not well dispos
towards our company.  I think he was a
little guilty.  Our fare is very good
                                  eme
now.   there has been a great improv
within the last few days although it
has not been very bad except the first
2 or 3 days we were here.  We have
good Fresh Beef and Salt Beef Pork and
Bacon.  This we can have cooked in evry
variety of form we choose sometimes
fried stake with New Potatoes and
Onions Fresh Beef Soup, [..o?],salt,
Rice and Sugar or Molassess
Pea soup today for dinner, 2
slices of cucumber and a little
molassess on my Bread.  the two
last named articles not in Uncle
Sams Bill of fare to day but a
treat from a friend.  We have
got a firstrate cook now.  We agree
to give him 10 cts a month each


[Pg6]

he is very [saving?] too.  He has not
been cook but four days and has
now a surplus of of provision
worth $12.  this will go to Bye knick-
knacks.  There is almost evry thing
to sell on the ground in the shape
of edibles.  Now in ans to the last
questin Whilst I was at Taunton
I attended Prayer meetings almost
evry evening I was one of 3 or 4 that
started them.  The Chaplain came
in with us the second evening.
I used genally to take some post
in the meeting.  I was often reques
ted to Read a chapter in the Bible
at the commencement.  I did not
expect when I helped start the
meetings that the sentiments [which?]
I should have would be in
accordance with my own but
I thought they would do me good
and others.  the next Sabath
afternoon after you visited me
at Taunton I spent an hour
with the chaplain and a few
others most of whom I was acqu
anited with.  The subject of conve
rsation was the difference of opinion
betwixt them and myself


[Pg7]

I gave them many good reasons why
I was a Universalist all seemed to
listen with respect and none
censured me for my belief.  I cannot
think how such a report could go
from there.  When I left home it was
with the resolve that I would
take good care of my morals
                               do
and Religous life and ^ all that I
could to persuade others in the
way which I believe is good.  There
is need enough of it here.  You do
not know how depraved many
of the men are even of our own
company.  There is much more
that I should like to write but
I must close now.  My health
is good

I am going to enclose
Six Dollars to you 5 in Bank
note and send one gold
dollar 1/2 of it belongs to
Wm Howland.  Please give


[Pg8]

it to his wife.  he has not
written yet but is well.
                           rs
I want you to use the 3 dolla
I send as you have need.  I
have enough left to stand me
until I get more.  I enclosed
a flour in my letter yester
day to Mother.  I hope she has
got it

Rufus


[Pg9]

Jul[crossed out]
Aug 4
Camp Old Colony Washington D.C.

Henry
This is the stilles
Sunday I have seen since I have
been in camp.  It is now 20 minutes
past 2 P.M. and pretty warm though
we are having a good breeze just now.
The weather here for the last week has
been warmer than we often see it at
home but I think it does not desagree
with me for my health continues very
good.  I am feeling rather lazy today
althoug I think I have not spent much
of the time unprofitably.  I find the
Trumpets which you sent me very
interesting.  I arrose this morning at
4 o clock 1/2 or 3/4 of an hour earlier
than I usualy rise got my face
washed and hair combed before any
of the rest got up.  The order of exercises
vary a little on Sundays they have
been today as follows Roll call at 5


[Pg10]

Breakfast at 6 Inspection at 8
Police duty at 10 Meeting at 1/2 past
10 Police duty is to clean up around
the tents and tables this we do evry
day.  I think Dress Parade is the only
remaining duty for today.  I have not
much news to write to day so I will write
just what hapns to come to mind.  We
have not got to Wash city yet though
I still think we shall soon.
I have not told you anything yet
about the soils and products of this
place and the country which I have
pased through.  When I got as far
as N.J. I expected to see the crops
very much in advance of the crops
at home but such was not the case.
The soil through N.J. and P.A.
and also here is composed of Red
clay at least along the Rail Road.
The Banks along the Road are of a
pale Brick colour.  I saw [s..?][crossed out] a
great many very large corn


[Pg11]

Fields as I came through N.J. and
P.A. but the corn does not look so
even as it does at home. Some of it
in the same field looked 3 weeks
in advance of corn at home and
some as much behind.  I saw but
few potatoes but large crops of
wheat and Oats which was mostly
harvested.  We have corn potatoes cucum
bers and tomatoes here in the mess
now though the corn is not vey [ple?]
nity yet.  New Potatoes are worth 80
cts per Bush.  They do not take so good
care of the gardens here as at home.  How
are your tomatoes geting along and
the Pears and Apples how are they
geting along.  You must write me
another.  You must write me
another farming letter soon.  Tell
Edwin I am expecting to hear
                                 es
from him soon.  I sent you 6 dollar
last Friday 3 for Wm Howland.
Please write as soon as you
get it.  dont work too hard Rufus


[Pg12]

Washinton D.C. Aug 7
Henry
We left Camp Old Colony
yesterday morning at 8 A.M.  We are
located now about as near Washington as
before although we had a march of about
5 miles.  I do not like this place so well
as the other.  I miss the shade trees and
the good water.  We are encampt on
a hill with low land all around
but have only a small stream of water
and a few springs which we have
dug but the water in the springs is very
riley and always will be.  I filter all
that I use.  This is the [7?]th letter I have
writen you since I left Taunton and
have Recd but 2.  I was very much
disappointed today. Last monday the
day before we left Camp Old Colony
I was detailed as a Provo Gurad
there are 10 of us and corporal
one sergant one private from


[Pg13]

each company.  I hapned to
be the lucky one for I call
it lucky I have a fine
opportunity to see the country.
We can go and come when
we please that is with the
Corporal or Sergent.  I saw
more of George Town last
Monday than I had ever
seen before.  Our business is
to pick up those who Run
guard Report Liquor Selling
I arrest gamblers and capture
Rebels if we can find them.
Last monday whilst we were
at George Town we had sat
dawn to rest on the corner of
a street in front of a large
House the man of the house
came to the gate and asked
us if we would like a cold
potato.  O told him no for I
was not very hungry and


[Pg14]

thought a cold Potato was not
a very great treet but the Corp
thought we had beter to in.
It was true the Potatoe was
not very warm but we had
a dish of String Beans, corn
and tomato and a slice of
port.  This was all mixed
together What is called Succota
sh.  It was very good.  I dont know
how long this duty will last but
I hope a long time for it clears
me from all other duty and I
think I heard the Colonl say
it would last during good
behavour.  I like the men they
are all good fellows.  This
morning we went out about
a mile picked a good lot of
Black and [?] berrys picked
up a few Runaways. I beged
a few Flower plants of a
lady whos House I stopt at


[Pg15]

which i am agoing to send
you one of them which
looks like pusey is commo
at home.  I send the seeds of
that kink with a few slips
and a few larger seeds which
I do not know.  the other is a
pink [Peu?] to me and very
Pretty.  I hope Mother will
make this live.  I am writ
ing very fast as I have
got to go out again soon.

Direct you letters
Washington D.C. 7 Regt
Mass M V care of Geore[crossed out]
Capt George W Reed
Rufus