Joseph Rutherford to [Hannah Rutherford]
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It is some days since I wrote to you, for the reason that we have been on the
march every day, after Lee. We are now camped on the
ground where he camped yesterday. We are following him up very closely. We did
not get a fight the day I wrote you that we expected to. When we got where he
was he wasn't there. We have seen rough times the last fortnight and expect to
see rougher, but we manage to live well most of the time. To day we had for
dinner fried chicken and blackberries and sugar. Chickens some how have a way
of getting fastened to our saddles as we go past the farm houses here
in Virginia, and once in a while a hog will follow some of the soldiers off, and
whenever a sheep bites the boys say that these Va sheep
are timiable things to bite. We dont mean to suffer much while in this part of
Va but when we get near Richmond we shall hard picking. Things are looking very
promising now for the War to close soon. I must stop to say that Lute Piper ahs
just bought me a [ ]of blackberries, and they
are the largest and sweetest I ever saw in my life. I wish you could help me eat
them. I have not heard from you for nearly two weeks, and I dont know how soon I
shall get a letter from you or any one else. We are way up in the mountains east
of the Shenandoah
Valley. I am writing this bet have not the slightest
idea when I shall even have a chance to send them.
I know you must feel anxious about me, but I am all right. I have been very well
all the time until yesterday I was attack with a bowel com-plaint, but this P.M.
I am quite well again though somewhat weak. The weather is very hot, but I stand
it well. I ware thick woollen shirts and pants and sleep many nights on the
ground without any shelter. Night before last we did not go into camp until 10
oclock. It had rained all day, and we had crossed the Potomac in the cover of
night. Col Henry and I laid down together on the ground and the blanket covered
us both. We were so wet that we could not get our boots off. In the morning when
we got up I proposed to
dress, and proceeded to put on my spurs, and
announced to the Col that I was dressed. "Well" said he "that is so", and went
to work and put on his and proclaimed that he was dressed and called for a
look-ing glass to see if he was all right. Such little papers are simple but
they relieve the dulness of our camp life. Since I command writing this letter I
have seen 10 or 15 hogs killed by the soldiers. It is fun for the boys but rough
on the pigs and their secesh owners. The officers dont see any thing of it. It
is fun to see the boys from 100 to 200 take after one hog, the one that get him
first claims him. One thing I can say with pride the 10th has not engaged in the
pig business yet, they confine themselves to the chicken trade. It would fill a
large volume to relate all the little incidents of our Camp life.
I have just been laying on my back on the ground looking at yours and the childrens pictures, and my dear you not know what a source of comfort these little things are to me. But there is one picture still lacking, and I often try with a magnifying glass to see if I can see any thing of the little fellows likeness in the Photograph of the house
Upperville Va July 21st
Here we are close upon the Enemy, but a little ahead
of here. We made a forced march yesterday of 15 miles. George and Eugene are
both here and in excelent health. They will be likely to keep with us. They both
came over from their camp last night to see me. I must be brief
as we
are tender orders to march immediately.
It is raining and will be nasty marching. George stands high as an officer has command of his company - is have and disnite.
love to the children
and your dear self
Ever thineJ.C. Rutherford
P.S. you would think we were very anxious that you should here from us if you could see how much pain we take to write. We lay on the grass with an old tin plate for a writing desk and the wind blowing our papers all round