Brandy Station VaMar 20th 1864My dear Wife,

Page 1

I was disappointed in not receiving a letter from you last evening. It has been now nearly a week since I have heard from you. I have had a visit from Misses Baker Cutting & Rand, and we had a good time. I was very much surprised to see them. I took them all over the country, and showed them all the sights. You never see more more astonished than they were, every thing was so much more gigantic than they had any idea of. They staid with me from Wednesday noon till Saturday morning. We all took pains to make this visit pleasent. It

was very little sleep any of us got while they were here. The [] regretted very much that he could not be present at the temperance meeting on tuesday last, in a hour. They will see you on this return and tell you all about the times they had.

I understand that we are to be paid off again this week, which no doubt is pleasing news to you.

Our sick list is decreasing every day so my labors are not so severe as they have been.

I am going to see the chief officer of the [] service tomorrow by his request. He has seen those specimens that I made while at home and he likes them. I was told by an officer in the S- service that our officers had great difficulty to

secret communications, and related an incident that occured the past week. While within the rebel lines he was suspected and searched. This man wore false truth, and had placed the paper between the plate and roof of his mouth. He [] they were going to search his mouth, he pulled his teeth down with his under teeth and swallowed the paper, and saved himself but lost the dispatch.

I have just received an order to make out a list of my sick preparatory to send them to Washington, which fact looks very much like a move soon. I must say that I some what dread it, but I can put it through.

I send in this a song for Helen tell her that I want her to find

a good time for it and learned to sing it for me. I also send a paper to Jacob. You look and see what Mrs Partington says about the Steam Rains. We are having splendid weather, the grass growing finely the buds starting &c. It does not seem possible that you are having snow up in Vermont.

I may get a letter from you before this goes out, so I will not finish this just now.

The mail has come in and no letter. Give my love to our dear children and kiss them all for me, and accept lots of love from

Your affectionate
HusbandJ.C. Rutherford