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

Harrison Landing Va july 21st 62

Dear Brother

I am now ready to tell
you my wants and they are so many I am
afraid I shall have room to write but little
else.  I will say in the first place that I am
feeling firstrate this morning.  The weather has
been a little cooler since I last wrote you
and this morning in one of the finest.
I begin to feel that I am haveing too easy a time
in this more pleasant grove though it was not
quite so pleasant when we first came in to it
but many hands make light work and now
it is very much improved.  It seems to be the
opinion of the folks here that we shall not
have much of anything to do again before the
last of August thoug some of our wise ones
here have come to the conclusion that
doubtfull things are very uncertain but
never the less Luke and I have held a
council this morning and conclude that
it will do to venture the Box.  I will now
give you a memoranda of the articles which
I want and the one which Luke is is writing
to his folks this morning is like it in the mane


[Pg2]

1 Doz Lemons                          2 lbs indian meal
1 “ Oranges                            a few Rolls Lozenges (cheek [& sass?])
1 drum Figs, 5 lbs,                  2 [...tmeys?] 4 lbs cheese
3 lbs Dates                             Pickles
1 lb Raisons                                    1 Pr suspenders
3 lbs Dried Apples                          Tooth Brush & Soap
Box of Mustured and Black Peper    Paper & Envelopes
Molasses Sugar a few lbs                 1 lb Navy Tobacco
Salt Fish                                         Fine comb (not very fine)
1 Cotton Handkerchief

Now there may be some things which I have
named in my list which it may be very
inconvenient for you to get.  If so leave[underlined] them[underlined]
out[underlined] as I donot expect you to be govenerd
altogether by my list.  I had much rather you
would use your own judgement both in
regard to the things which you will send
and the quanitity.  I think Oranges and
Lemons will be hard to get and Molasses
Sugar also.  If so send a few lbs of white
instead.  The fish I would trim so as to
send the best.  If you have room for a
few potatoes I will have one [?] Dinner.
Send a little Bag of meal and what a
graious [Johnny?] I will have.  I want a tin


[Pg3]

Plate to Bake it in.  Tell Mr. Repley you
want a French Tin Plate that will hold
                   and
about a quart ^ I think you will get one
that will stand fire and I want a
small Tin Pail (double tin) that will hold
a small quart.  The plate or pan will not
be soddered but pressed into the form. The tin
about 1 ½ inches deep perhaps 2 inches but not
very large round.  I am afraid I shall
perplex you a greatdeal.  Perhaps you
will not know how to send pickels if
you have them, then don bother with
them.  I want mother to send me a few
ginger snaps.  I think the Box will be
from 4 to 6 days coming to me so I dont
think it will be safe to send
any cooked vituals.  I dont think of
anything more that I want.  I have
got a good supply of clothing 3 shirts
2 white ones 2 prs drawers & pr stockings.
If I have more it would be too much
left to carry in my knapsack.  The Needles
and thread which you sent me will
last me 6 months.  A qure of Paper


[Pg4]

will be sufficient and ½ doz Envelopes
for I like the way you send them in your
letters best.  A few Pens. I dont want any
medicine of any kind.  I dont know how
soon I may need some but I have taken
so little since I left home and feel
so well now that I dont think it will
be worth while to send any one thing
more.  The Bigest Red [Astri..an?] you
can find if they are any were near
grown.                      Landing Va
           Direct to Westover ^ Adams
                                Express
           Couches Div 7 Mass Vols Co K

[Written upside down]
[John Bouldra arrived here yesterday morning]


        Landing
Westover ^ is on james River Adams
Express have opened an office there
within a few weeks.  I want you to
send me a Bill of every article.
Tell Whitmarsh or Whoever you send to Adams
express by to take a Receipt from adams ex
    you
and ^ send it to me immediately.
I think my Bill will ammount to
$5.84 say nothing of the Express


[Pg5]

                       62
Harrison Landing July 26th

Dear Brother

I Recd your letter
yesterday morning and one from
Edwin.  I am sorry you have the

tooth ache for more than one
reason.  It is hard to bear if not
dangerous.  I think you had better
have it [?].  I like long letters.
My Ink is nearly out and pens
rather poor so I conclude to
write this time with my Pencil.
This is a letter sheet that
Mother sent me a month ago
or more when I was at Seven
Pines.  I have just returned from
a Pond about ¾ of a mile from
our camp where I had a good
wash.  It is the first time I have
been there [?] [?] Cole and I went


[Pg6]

together.  I was happily disappointed
in findind so large and nice
a pond.  It is the first I have
seen that deserved the name
since I left home.  It was an
excellent place to try my swiming
pouers again but I met with no
better success.  I Recd the 2 Trumpets
last Wednesday morning.  They were very
interesting.  I like Thayers Reasoning
on the justice of God.  What it
demands It is the best I have
ever seen on that subject.
I dont think of anything new
to write. We are [liveing?] for the
present a very quiet and
easy life.  We have left war out
or our camp.  We dont know how
soon we may have to go out
and face the enimy again.  I [?]
no trouble on that account.  Strength


[Pg7]

has been given me thus far
to do my duty.  I believe and
I trust the same help will
continue with me to the end.
I have just eaten my dinner.
We had stued Beans.  We have
had Baked Beans twice since
we have been here and they
were very good.  I have a good
appetite though not quite so
craveing as it was a while ago
when the weather was cooler and
we had more work to do.
We are [haveing?] very fine
weather now though I find
it pretty warm when I go out
into the open field.  It is very
pleasant in our camp.  Sunshine
and Shade about equal.  I should
have written to you yesterday
but I was detailed fo[crossed out] for


[Pg8]

fatique duty.  It was very
light work but we were employed
most of the day Cleaning up.
Leaves and Brush about the
Cols quarters before going to
work in the [?].  I had my
Hair cut and my whiskers
trimed very close allover my
face.  Many in our company
didnot know me at first sight.
Noah Harding was my Barber.
He is very particular about
his work.  I recolect Mother
said when she saw him at
T what a pretty your man.
He is that. I was not acquanted
with him then but I know him
now as one of the pleasantest
                              ht
fellows in the company.  I thoug
when I begun that I wouldnot
think of enough to fill this
sheet but it is full now and


[Pg9]

I have a few more words
to write.  I am afraid the
Box which I sent home for
is agoing to make you a
great deal of trouble.  I snet
for a large quantity of Figs [..by?]
thinking that plenty of them
could be Bought for 15 or 20 cts
pr lb.  But I hear now that they
are very [scarse?] in [town?] and
are worth 20 to 30 cts.  What I
am writeing now will do
no good with respect to sending
the Box for I suppose it will
be started before you git
this but I want to tell you
as soon as possible that I
shall not be disappointed when
I open the Box if there is not
[1/2?] in it which I wrote for.
I think it will take longer


[Pg10]

than the time I set to come
through.  I set it 10 days now
at least.  They come to fortress
Monroe very quick but are
a long while on the James
River.  Some of our Boys will
have Boxes today if 10 days
is enough to Bring them
through the teames have
not got back from the land[crossed out]
Landing yet so I think I
shall not be able to tell
you the result as I shall
have to Mail my letter
soon.  Luke is well I [cant?]
much but his bare feet from
my tent but I think he
is takeing his share of comfort
I must close now My health
is very good
Yours Truely
Rufus


[Pg11]

Harrison Landing Va july 28th 62

Dear Brother

I have just finished
reading yours and Fathers letter which I Recd
by this mornings mail a little after 7 oclock.
I have not written to you so often of late as
I used to for the reason that the weather has
been very warm and I have not felt quite
well all the time.  I havent been sick
but my appetite left me for a few days
and I felt but little energy to do anything.
Luke wrote home yesterday But I concluded
to wate until this morning that I might
tell you that I had Recd your letter.  Luke is
well this morning.  My health is good now as
ever and yesterday noon I found my appetite
had fully returned.  We had Fried Stake
for Dinner and in addition to that I had a
few cookies and a pice of cheese and that
was not all.  I had a little sauce which
I made of green pears and grapes which I
found the day before when I was on picket.
It was very good.   I think Mother would
have said so if she could have seen it.
The Pears were rather small but I pealed
and cut them.  Put the grapes in with them and
boild in a small quantity of water and


[Pg12]

plenty of sugar.  My Money is almost gone
but I think we shall be paid off again
before many days.  I have been thinking for
the last few days of sending to you for a
Box.  I have not fully determined to do so
yet.  Some of our company have sent
and I am wateing to see what success
they have in getting them through.  I think
there is a prospect of our staying here
another Month and if so there will be time
enough to do it.  I have mentioned it to
Luke and he is anxious to send with me
as soon as we can feel satisfied that we
can do so with safty.  I will give you a
list of prices of some things here sold
by suttlers.  Cheese 50 cts pr lb Butter 75 cts Raisons
50 cts cookies from 2 to 3 cts apiece Figs 2 cts
apiece oranges and lemons from 12 to 20 cts
a piece and everything else in propotion.
I think if I could invest my six dollars
at home it would cover all the expense of
transportation and save me nearly 50 pr cent.
I shall make up my mind as quickly as
posible and if I conclude to send give
you all the information I can [?] to
direct.  I will tell you more of some things
that I should like to have.  Oranges.  Lemons.
Figs. Raisons. Dried Apples Molasses Sugar if it


[Pg13]

could be sent in a tight can and
some of Mothers ginger snaps.  I cannot
think of anything else that Mother would cook
that would keep until it reached me.  This
is only a part but I will make all
my wants known if I conclude to send.
I have Recd the paper containing the 2
postage stamps and one later with the Needles
and Thread.  I shall look for another Paper
tomorrow morning I donot think of any news
to write so I will say a few words about
                                       lain
the house we live in.  Frank & Isaac Chamber
continue to be my companions in the House.
We have got the best one I think in our
company though others have coppied our
style.  In the first place we raise a platform
about 2 ft from the ground about 7 ft square.
Four crocked sticks for the frame to rest
upon and for the floor we use Red Ceder
which splits very straight and even.  Then
a [...ched?] stake at each end for the Ridge
pole to rest upon and it is ready to
cover with our Tent Blankets.  The floor we
cover with ceder Boughs to make it lay soft and
cover them with a Rubber Blanket.  We find it
                                        ly
very good to be up from the ground especia
when it rains.  We have had several pretty
sever tempests since we have been here.
I think some of them rather beat anything


[Pg14]

I ever saw at home.  We have plenty of
water now in camp but it is not firstrate.
There was a while that it was difficult
to get enough clean water even to wash
my face in without going to the spring
and taking it home in a kanteen.
I am very particular about my person.
I have done a great deal of washing since
I have been in the army.  I have time
enough now to wash my clothes and
body as often as I like.  I have just
put on a new pr of trousers which
I drew today.  This makes the 3d pr since
I left home.  My bill for clothing lst
year was $28.58.  I was entitled to 45.98.
I dont think of anything more to
write of things here.  I am glad to
hear that things are looking so well
at home.  I think it will be a good
plan to brake up that piece this
fall.  I suppose it will pay better than
to let it remain in such poor
condition.  I will say to Father that
I am glad he mentioned the chickens.
There is nothing at  home that I donot
feel interested to know about.  I expected
to see a few words from Mother this time
and I was not disappointed.  I think I will
write you again soon.

Yours Truly Rufus