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This transcription has not been verified by Special Collection Research Center Staff.  Please also consult images of the document.

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


[Pg2]

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


[Pg3]

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


[Pg4]

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.


[Pg5]

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


[Pg6]

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


[Pg7]

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


[Pg8]

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


[Pg9]

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


[Pg10]

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.


[Pg11]

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


[Pg12]

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


[Pg13]

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.


[Pg14]

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.


[Pg15]

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?]


[Pg16]

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