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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 Aug 3d 62

Dear Brother

I Recd yours of the 27th and
Samuels last Friday morning.  I have delayed
writeing you a little longer than I should but
I got out of paper and Envelopes.  Soon after
receiveing our Mail Friday morning our company left
camp for 24 hours Picket duty.  On our return
yesterday about noon we were glad to learn
that the pay master was here ready to pay us
off.  I have now bought a few sheets of paper and
Envelopes enough I think to last until the Box
comes.  I was glad to see the Postage Stamps.
Luke Recd a letter from his folks this morning
telling him that our Box started Thursday morning.
I hope we can soon tell you that it is in our
possession although but one Box has been Recd in our
camp yet and that a very small one and many
of them have been on the road 3 weeks but I think
arrangements have been made within the past week
to forward them quicker.  I have some hopes of seeing
ours by next Saturday night if we remain here.
It seems to be the impression of some of the Boys
that we shall not remain here much longer.
I think we shall not though.  I am hardly prepared
to give you my reasons for thinking so. No one


[Pg2]

dares to venture an opinion as to where we
shall go.  Perhaps it is necessary to reinforce
Pope or will be soon.   if that is the case and
troops are to be drawn from here for that
purpose before we receive aide from the new
enlistments shall we be strong enough to hold and
present position especialy if as has been reported
some of Englands Subjects have provided
                                which
[Seush?] with Iron Clad gunboats and[crossed out] are
already floating in the James River.  I am yet
hopefull that our cause will in the end be
prosperous.  I am far from being discouraged
but I must confess that things are looking
a little dark to me just now.  The South
are alive in their work up and doing and what
they do they mean but the question will come
to my mind what have the North been doing
all this time.  I think they have been too
slow.  I think we have had men enough in the field
to have crushed the Rebelion by this time.  We have
wated too long - moved too slow.  The South have
taken great advantage of the time we have
given them and I fear they will give us
great trouble in return.  It is always darkest
just before day.  So is the old saying.  So I will
wate a little and think what I may do instead
of what might have been done.  Perhaps Father will


[Pg3]

give me his idea of things when he writes
again.  I will say in ans to Fathers question
that it has seemed strange to me that our
Col has not taken notice of the Prices our
Sutler has charged us for things but I believe
one reason is he is not a high liver himself
consequently thinks that Hard Bread and Salt
[Horse?] is good enough for us.  I think Col
Davis would have been a better man in
that respect.  We have had plenty of Potatoes
and onions within the last ten days and
cabbage once.  I can perceive that the
change of diet has had a good affect on
on me.  I am glad you sent Dr Halls
[adim?]. I think much of it.  I should like to have
that Bushell of currants but I think when the Box
comes I shall have as much as I can take care
of.  If we move the Box will find us and I
think most of the stuff you send will keep
quite a while.  I think your invention Henry
is a great thing.  I think much of it.  I think it
would be a good Idea to mention it to
some of the [Agricultureal?] papers it is no less
usefull because it is simple.  I love to hear
about the trees.  I can see evry one as you
speak of them.  I take great pleasure in
talking with Issac Chamberlain about trees


[Pg4]

and fruit.  He worked at Bryants
nursey 5 year has seen us there buying
trees he knows all the different kinds of
fruit I have spent hours talking with him
on that subject after we had gone to Bed
The Red [?] and Sweet Bough are
not [great..?] favorirites with you and
I take with him.  I have not told him
of your invention yet but shall the
first opportunity.  Johny Bouldree
is in our company he showed me a
Horse yesterday that he thinks looks almost
exactly like ours all the difference he could
see was in the color which was not quite
dark enough not quite fat enough and
tail not quite long enough  So I think I
have got a pretty good idea of him Not
very Beautifull but in harness looks well
enough.  Mother has not told me anything
about her tomato plant [laterty?] nor of any
of the flouers  I donot see many now here
in the woods  Tell Samuel I feel greatly
[...liyed?] to him for his letter I shall
ans soon.  My health is good.  It is [wo..t?]
meeting time so I will close
Yours Truly Rufus


[Pg5]

Harrison Landing Va Aug 4th 62

Dear Mother

This mornings mail brought me
your letter.  I find enclosed the Envelope [bill?] of
the Box and articles.  I have just finished my
Breakfast and as there is nothing to prevent my
writeing I thought it best to improve the earliest
opportunity.  Perhaps you will like to know what
we had for Breakfast so I will tell you what I eat
Hard Bread and apple sauce.  We had three kinds
of meat Salt and fresh Beef and Boiled Pork.  I
cut a very small piece of the latter which was lean
I have nothing to say in praise of the sauce the
apples, dried, were sweet to begin with Boiled in an
old Iron Kettle without being picked over Badly cooked
with bad water.  Some one is to blame for all this
or at least a part of it.  Some of the companies
have sunk wells 25 ft and have got good water
I think there are as many good working men in
our comp as in any other.  I have [hinted?] but my
chief objection doing so is to let you know that
                      is not
such is state of things ^ of necessity.  I go to a good
spring twice a day.  It is a long walk but it is
usualy about all the exersize I have and I think
it does me good  What I have written in relation


[Pg6]

to the cooking of the apple is an exception though
they use bad water all the time.  We do not perceive
it in our Potato and onion soup or in Beans
Baked a stued.  It is the exception when these
dishes are not well cooked.  I will be very
carefull about eating when the Box comes.
If I am not a good cook I am a neat and
carefull one.  I shall cook my apples both dried
and green in good spring water in such
quantities as I shall want for the day perhaps
you will think in my present circumstances
where luxuries are few that a good thing would
be quickly swallowed.  This is not so much the
case with me now as when I was at home
a little there is much here and very naturealy
have I fallen into the habit of (mineing, as the
Boy call it when they notice how long I am at
my meals.  I find nothing at the suttlers that
I am so fond of as Molasses cookies.  I can get
15 now for 25 cts.  I can easily exchange the Pickles
for something else or sell them if I dont like
them. Our sutler sells large quantities of what
I call copper Pickles.   My white shirts are wollen
If it is so I can I shall send home for some
shirts and under shirts in season for winter.
I have no fears but the jell will be good.


[Pg7]

I have forgotten the language I used when
speaking of Luke.  I only meant to say that he
was lyeing in his tent with his shoes and stockings
off and appeared to be takeing great comfort.
I could only see his feet from where I was
seated when writeing.  I think he never enjoyed
better health than at present and I can say
the same of myself.  I must draw my letter to
a close now for I must write to Edwin today.
I have owed him a letter a long while.
I shall write you often now that I have plenty
of paper and envelopes

Your Affecionate Son
Rufus


[Pg8]

10th/62
Harrison Landing Aug
Dear Brother
I have but little time to write this morning
our knapsacks are packed for another
move.  We donot know where we
are going.  The Teams take our
knapsacks along for us and we
are orderd to take 3 days rations
in our Haversacks.  We have spent
five days out of camp since I
last wrote you but this time
we break camp for good.

I hear this morning that Edwin
has enlisted.  The news didnot
affect me as I thought it would.
I thought such news would make
me tremble from Head to Foot.
I have been selfish and feared
that I should hear such news
of you or Edwin though I have


[Pg9]

always thought you would mention
it to me if you thought of doing
so.  You may be drafted but I hope
not I want you to stay at home
with Father and Mother.  You can
be a patriot there as well as here
and such I believe you are and
ever will be.  I would that Edwins
term of enlist could be added to
mine that I might serve out
both and he remain at home
but he is in Gods keeping and
there I am not afraid to leave
him.  He will care for him now
and always.  A few Boxes arrived
here yesterday for our company
but mine has not come.  I have
no idea when or where I shall
see it though I expect to at
some time.  I Recd a letter from
you and Father last Saturday
morning whilst out of camp on
duty and the traveller this


[Pg10]

this morning.  I think the papers
and letters which you send all
reach me.  It is very warm
weather here now but most of our
marching has been done nights.

In your next letter I want you
to send me a little cyanne
pepper.  I have tried it and
think it does me good but I
cannot easily get it here

My health continues good.
I cannot write more now but
I will write you again
soon

Yours Truly Rufus


[Pg11]

Harrison Landing Aug 13 / 62
Dear Brother
Whilst Luke has
been writeing to his folks I
have been writeing a few lines
to Ruth.  It is almost 8 weeks
since I have written to her
before today.  I have not heard
from her since about that time.
She hadnot Recd my letter
when she wrote.  We have been
                            w
ready to march since I last ^
rote you
day before yesterday but are
not off yet.  Dont know where
we are going any better now
but expect to know that we
are somewhere soon.  I am
well as usual with the
exception of a slight Head-
ache.  I have a pretty good
appetite.  Luke and I took
Dinner together today.  We had


[Pg12]

Boiled onions and Potatoes.

E M Bane gave me some
dried apples which came in
his Box so we topt off our
Dinner with Hard Bread and
apple sauce.  Luke thought it
was the Best Sauce he had seen
and I know it was much
better than that furnished us
by the cooks.  Our Box has not
come yet I dont expect to
see it here.  I am very anxious
to hear from home.  I dont
know for a certainty that Edwin
has enlisted though Wm John
Noyes says in a letter to
[?] [Berbe?] that he came into
Hollands store whilet he was
writeing for that purpose.  I


[Pg13]

suppose it is too late
now but when he enlisted
if he has done so he could
have had his choice as to
what Regt he would join.
If he must be a soldier
I should like to have had
him with me.  I think I
could be of great help to
him.  I dont think of any-
thing more to write at
present but shall write
you often.  Jes one
thing more I want
one of those little Sabbath
School Question Books
if you can get it for me
without too much trouble.
I have forgotten the
title of it but you will


[Pg14]

know that one I mean
when I tell you it was
the one I used in my
class before I left home.
I think it was [scripturead?] lessons.
Not easy lessons on the Life of
Christ.  I think I shall have
time to get a good long
lesson.  I you send it Roll it
up in a News Paper.

Yours Affectionately
Rufus



[Bottom of Page]

R
Henry H Robbins
Harrison Landing
Aug 13-62


[Pg15]

Sept 5th 62

Camp near Chane Bridge Va

Dear Brother

This fine morning
finds me in possession of 5 letters
4 Papers 1 Handkerchief and package of
Pepper all of which I Recd by last
nights mail.  And one thing
more [wh..ich?] came not by the mail
though it might have had something
to do with it.  Good health and spri-
its.  This comes of the kind Providence
which has ever been so near me.

I Recd a letter from you last Friday
week ago this morning just as we
were about leaving Yorktown dated
Aug 24th.  Fathers of Aug 19th and yours
Aug 31st came last night.  Edwins Aug
20 from Lynnfield.  I also Recd one
from Ruth and one from Hiram
and I am happy to say that neither
of my letters reported to me any illness
but all seemed in good spirits.


[Pg16]

We left our camp near Yorktown on
the morning of Aug 29th and arrived at
Yorktown about noon.  At 5 oclock
we went aboard a ferry boat which took
us to the Steamer Knickerbocker.  In this
Boat we expected to make our trip
                                    ation
and felt well pleasure with our accommod
but in this we were disappointed.  At
10 oclock that night we found ourselves
along side a Barque to which we
were transferred.  Here our accommo
dations were very poor Huddled
together like sheep.  We were towed
down the York River [....t?] the chessepeak
Bay up the Potomac to Alexandria
landing on Monday morning about
10 oclock almost as weary as if we
had marched the whole of the way.
That afternoon we marched 3 miles
from Alexandria towards Fairfax
where we halted and threw off our
knapsacks expecting to rest for the


[Pg17]

night but we hadnot rested
ten minutes when we were ordered
to [Sling Knapsacks][crossed out] Fairfax Courthouse.
We left our knapsacks takeing only
our Rubber Blankets with us.  At 12 oclo
ck that night we arrived to within 3
miles of the courthouse where we
halted for the rest of the night
and built fires of Rails to warm
and dry ourselves for it was very cool
and we had marched most of the
way through a drenching rain.  Early
in the morning we were ordered
back to where we left our knapsacks
but not to rest for at night our
Col has got to report us near Chane
                                  ia
Bridge.  The distance from Alexandr
to Fairfax where we stopt Monday
night and back to this place
is not less than 42 miles.  Some have
called it the hardest march we have
ever had and I dont know but it


[Pg18]

is considering the disadvantages with
which we undertook it.  I have never
before heard so much complaint
of Blistered feet and lame legs.
Sure mine never were so lame
before but my feet didnot suffer
very badly.  But we have had a
good rest since we came here
fine weather and a good creek
to Bathe in and plenty to eat.
I never felt better in my life than
at this moment.  It will be useless
for me to attempt to give you any
news concerning the late Batles.  I am
not ported I have scarcely seen a
paper since we left Harrison Landing
and camp News is worse than nothing.
I have no idea how long we are to remain
here or what will turn up next.  I shall write
you again soon if I can.  Your letter was very
interesting.  How I long to see my home
again at his season it would be more
than joy.  I saw Mother last night in my dreams
that is all I can remember.

Yours Truely Rufus


[Pg19]

1862
Sept 25th
Camp near Downsville Md

Dear Brother

It is a long while
since I have written to you.  My
last [wast?] whilst at Chane Bridge
No doubt you are feeling very
anxious about me.  I could not
write to you before.  We have
been on the march most of the
time since and when I could
have written you a few lines
my knapsack containing my paper
has been a long way in the rear.
We have been marched very hard
but have had no fighting though
we have narrowly escaped it.
The Rebells have taken a pretty
severe drubbing here in Md as
I think the papers will tell you.
I shall not attempt to give you
any particulars of our march of[crossed out] or


[Marginalia at top of page]

Mother the shirts you
made me last fall
were not too large just
right


[Pg20]

the Batles this time but if
we stop here a few days as I
hope to perhaps I will.  We have
marched through a very pretty
country jes more than that beautifull.
There has been plenty of Fruit
on the road.  I have eaten
Peaches and Apples to my harts
content and have had plenty
of potatoes most of the time ([Irish?])
We have had no cooking done
for us since we left Chane B.
Our ration whilst on the march
have been raw Pork and Hard
bread but we have managed
to take along with us potatoes
and Apples enough to go with it.
So I will tell you what I have
had for Breakfast and Supper
most of the time whilst on the
march though I had to rise
early and work quick for we


[Pg21]

commenced our marches
generaly by ½ past 5 in the
                                ed
morning.  So the fires were kinel
at 4.  3 good sized potatoes put
on to boil though cooking the
apples comes first though it took
but little longer to make sauce
of them then it did to Boil
the Potatoes as they were sour
and very mellow.  I pealed and
sliced them very thin then put
the Potatoes and coffee on.  When
they were nearly ½ done I
I begun to frye my meat
most of our Pork is as good as I
every saw.  When I have good
luck I can git such a Breakfast
as this in 35 minutes and [?][crossed out] if
you could see my nice fried
pork and white mealy potatoes
masshed up on my plate with
a little gravy on them and


[Marginalia across top of pages 20 and 21]

Luke is well Is busy today.  Will probably write tomorrow


[Pg22]

the sauce
^ sweetened a very little you
would say it was good enough
for anyone.  I have never lif[crossed out]
lived so well in the army as
since we left the Bridge.  I
cannot tell you of all the good
things I have had tonight for I
hav’nt time but I will in my
next.  I have Recd 2 letters
from Edwin since he arrive
at Md and but one from
you dated Sept 9th.  No papers
We havenot hot the Box yet and no
signes of it at present.  I want Mother
to send me an undershirt by mail
as soon as convenient.  I shall want
another before a great while and
the shirts.  I think it will be best
to send one at a time by mail
as it seems to me they will come
through better.  I want a little
more [cayane?] in the next paper
and a nutmeg.  Rufus


[Marginalia at top of page]

My health is good


[Pg23]

Dear Mother

Your letter reached me (Aug 19th)
just as I had finished my last page.  I was glad
to see it.  O how thankfull I feel that I have a
Mother to think of me and write to me.

I have not forgotten the evenings that I spent
with you prepareing Apples to dry.  I love to think
of it now.  You donot think of me oftener than
I think of home.  This is the season that workes
up all my home feelings when the fruit is
ripe.  I hope to be with you by another fall
though I hardly expect to before my term of
enlistment is out but the time will soon
pass away and I hope there will be no
need of any of us longer than that.

I wrote on my other sheet for some shirts
but I dont want you to hurry to much
about them.  I am in need of an under
shirt more than anything else at present.

If you send them singly as I think will
be best it will cost you about six stamps


[Pg24]

to each package.  Please send me a
pr of suspenders with the first.  If I ever
get the Box I can sell th pr in that at full
cost.  I think I shall write to you several
times before you send all the packages
and if there is anything else that I want I
will tell you.  I am glad to hear that
Grandpar is so well.  I have great hopes that
I shall see him again.  I have not thought
that Father has grown careless of me I shall
expect a good long letter from him next
week containing a little of everything.

I want (and I had come near forgetting it
for the tenth time when I was writeing to you)
that you should send me your Photographs
Father Mother and Henry.  You can get them at
N [Bregea...er?] at S.W.S Howards corner of School and
Nane St for 8 cts apiece just right to send
in a letter.  Size about one inch square and
that is as large as I could cary with me with
safty.  I must close now but will try to write
again soon From your Affecionate son Rufus