Camp near Kearney [or possibly “Kearns”] Va.
Aug 25
Dear Wife
I would be much pleased if
I could see you this morning
We are still in camp where we were
when I wrote you last 2 days ago
I have laid out streets & built breast
works, in front.. so that if the Johnnys
attack us they will find us well
prepared to receive them. There is
fighting about all the time an our
left about 2 miles from us & we can
hear the roar of the musketry continually
& we are liable to be called out to
support them at any hour
Rumor says that the rebs are crossing
the Potomack again at White’s ford
If so you may next hear of us from
the vicinity of Washington or Baltimore
I am feeling smart again & going Although fast, on the good decker
that we are now provided with, this
morning & dressed some apples, fried
some hard tack & pork, this with a cup
of coffee & some ginger cakes & bought
of the sutler. Made one of the best
of meals. We are now camped in a very
pleasant & healthy place, on a range
of hills that extends for a number
of miles. Maryland heights are in
plain sight with the 100 lb. guns
on the top defying the rebs.
Laying by its forage boats do not
come to us near. I am sorry that my
little girls runs away. I think that
when she gets a year or two older
she will be able to see the evil of
disobeying orders. & will be a good
girl, but it is best to keep trying
to keep her strait do you know of
any Springfield boys that are coming
into the 10 regt. I hope to see some
of them here to fill up our thin
ranks. I do not hear anything from
Wm since he went to the hospital.
Oliver has got better & he is cooking
again for the Lieutenant. E Lee ..
Roder Smith & Henry Williams yestay
from the 2d cavalry they are well.
I expect we shall get paid off again
some time about the 15th of Sept or before
if we are not on the move. & I hope to
be able to send you 10 dollars or more
which will enable you to pay up Sarah
& have a few dollars left to lay in a winter
stock of vegetables. I think I shall want
you to make me a pair of shirts by &
by, but you need not get the cloth
untill I send you some money.
I shall want some coarse dark blue
flannel. & I must also have Sarah
knit me out a pair of hole boots
Nos.. I will write just what I
want when I get ready for them. George Whitecomb is at the hospital
sick with a fever & have a grand
chance to indulge my spirit of
roving here & changing habitations
it hurts me well if it was not for
the load that is what breaks us
down & I think that I could travel
30 miles in a day without much
fatigue if I had no load.
But God is good & his mercy endureth
forever. he giveth his children rest.
I hope to live & die with his name
on my tongue. I have received the
papers & stamps you sent.
I write to Spetn that you must
not expect very long letters but you
need not follow my example when you
write for, for they are a source of
great enjoyment to me when read
down with marching you can hardly
imagine with what eagerness the boys
crowd around the mail carriers when
the mail comes in, if the people at
home realized how much the spirits of
the soldiers depended on their letters I
think they would write more.
My best love to you & love to the little
ones.
Reuben