Camp Grove MdDec 18th 1862My dear Wife

Page 1

I have just read your letter of the 14th inst. You have probably learned that my health is all right again by my last letter. It gives me much pain to learn that your primary matters are in so bad a condition and was in hopes that I could have relieved you of your embaresmints before this time. But the sky hightens we are to be paid off on Monday next then you shall have enough to pay all your debts. I do not feel very much like paying out my hard earned money for debts contracted by myself when there is enough due me at home to pay them. If one hand cant work

the other I think it is high time something should be did.

So long as I am in the army they cant seem to make anything out of. We are exempt from all such processes. They have no claim on what I earn here. I have left home and friends to fight the battles of our country while there thriving cheating casses stay at home to cheat men and mine out of our just dues. Therefore hang on to your money to take care of yourself and children while I am away.

If money is so very learn that people cant pay what is owing to us just make your money of more value. that is make it buy more staff for the dollar. That is the way other do. why not you. Play sharp on them. I do not find fault for what you have

done, but drop them hints for your future ar, I am very glad yes very glad you have sold that horse and what is more you got a good price for him. It takes you to make a good trade. You ask if I have a warm plan for "Lady Light foot"? I just have, on that John built for me, and you cant imagine what a nice horse she is. There is not much another beast in the whole Brigade, and she is just as fat as she can be. I can sell her any day in Washington for 200$ She is a races - can trot a mile in less than 3 minutes. I could not be indend to see her.

I will make some of there A - C [     ] when I can I tell you for my pay I will have or I will have it out of their hides.

I am sorry to hear of the ill health of Mrs Hirman. Go and see her as often as you can.

I appreciate your fears concerning myself, but I feel that my position is not one of much danger. If there was no danger there would be no honor. I will keep out of harms way if for nothing more than for your sake, and I have no particular fancy for having a hole band through my body even to please the Rebs

I think there is very little fears of our being sent to the front as we are in the defences of Washington and am on the out port at that. We are expecting a Rebel raid to night six miles from here and our Brigade commander have not made the slightest effort to prevent it. and you cannot imagine how worthy our boys are. I ahve 2 sick men there. I was bound to go and get them, but the Col would

not let me and you cant think how uneasy I feel about them not a soul there to defend them. He says that I am enough to be gobbled up without my ruining such a chance. He would send men out and get there but he cannot get here. We are all mad clear through. I am maning the machine all alone again both the other Drs being away - It is a little harder work, but it is a good school and prepares me for a better port. I have got (and I say "I" because it is all my own arrangement) the best field Hospital in the any. evry body says so who has had experience, I feel proud of my position, I want to have you see Mr Newcomb, he will tell you more than would be modest for me to, He promised to go and see you.

Page 6

You are anxious to know about my winter quarters, a very natural anxiety. You can judge for yourself all the protection as to a house is one thickness of [      ] cloth sides, roof, and gable ends. Yet this heaks off the wind and weather. But you must bear in mind that we are not having such weather as you are. The coldest nights water freezes about 1/2 inch think the days are quite comfortable. I have a good floor in my tent, and a "right smart" little sheet inn store, and plenty of wood to keep it a [        ].

I have 4 heavy woolen blankets bridle the tack you sent me which is realy worth 2 woolen blankets. I have a straw tick, to lay on-and when I get carled down in my rest. I am all [      ]. John comes in before day light evry

morning and [      ] me a good fire since my "[    ]" has been sick and does lots of little jobs that tends to my comfort. So you see that I am not in a way to suffer much, and I have got things fixed so that if we have to march on short notice I can camp down any when and be comfortbable I have a little tent that I can carry on my horse with my other traps. So [  ] seen my bed is not one of down, or my comforts equal if thou of home not did I expect such. Still it not a bed of thorns. You may not assend that my inginity will divine means to make myself comparatively comfortable. I feel proud that I have such a good dear heart of home to feel anxious for my body by [      ]. My coming out here is restoring my hole constitution. I am growing strong and

Page 8

fat under the treatment. I wish I could be here with you Christmas But as that cannot be let us both offer up thanks to the give of all good that or an apend to one another to see another anaversary of our wedded life. And that he has blessed us with such dear good children. Tell Jacob that I am sorry he got heart, and he must be [       ] not to [      ] his Mother again, I am sorry for Helen to, she must have suffered very much, she is a noble little girl and Father feel proud of her. Tell Kitt she shall have lots of kisses when I come home. Give my love to Jeny and Miss Fort. It is now very late and I have got 70 patients to visit in morning all alone. This may look like a large list but or have got the healthiest Regt in the whole army. The other 3 Regts that lay beside us have between 20

Page 9

and 300 sick each, and a great many dying. But our turn may come next but not if I can help it by taking care of the men.

C. Robinson has sent me that letter Murk sent home, and wont he catch it on its evidence? My kind is him to send it too.

Tell Mr Page that Lewis Wood is very sick with Typhoid fever but is getting better. He is one of the best soldiers or have. He was made sick by that Murk who was abusing Lewis one day and L-s would not stand it and gave him as good as he sent, and Murk put him in the guard house where he took cold and came down with this fever. Remember me to Mrs Parker and Mrs Sargent, &c &c

Your affectionate husbandJ. C. Rutherford

Page 10

Dec 19th All quiet no raid cart night. Day is heaking in the east in the beautiful warm tent of July. The crows are very noisy and evry thing is life and animation.

But the greatest [        ] we have is the haying of [      ]. There are about 300 of them within hearing and where they set up their noise it is trouble. It is more like the howlings of the informal negroes than any [         ] earthly noise.

My breakfast is ready now so ill close this -

Yours Ever
Lester