3d Div 6th Corps HospitalJan 1st 1865My dear Wife:-

Page 1

I wish you a happy new year, and God grant you may have it. One year ago today I was with you, what changes has taken place in this brief period in our own circle, and what a change in our national prospects. When I reflect upon what I have passed through and endured in the past year. I am filled with wonder almost accounting to awe. The many hardships and trials, and the almost immeasurable and hair breadth escapes and dangers I have passed through it make me shudder. It makes me feel that there has been a kind and overruling power that has shielded me from blame, for which we cannot be too thankful. And the question naturaly arises, how will it be the year are which we have just now entered? The future is wriled in mystery and will it is so for our happiness.

We have many things to mourne for and regrets, but how many many blessings has been bestowed upon us that should lead
look on page 3

us not to mourne too heavily over our sore trials. I have had my petty trials, but my life has been spared from, disease and the bullet and my body from capture, though of the two latter I have had several very narrow escapes. How ungrateful it would be in me not to acknowledge the interposition of the power that has shielded me from all these great dangers. In taking a retrospective view of the past year. I feel that I have done my my duty to my country and my fellow soldier, and that I am as deserving of honors for it as a General who commands an army. He but does his duty and no more but how different do the people look upon us. The surgeon is the only officer who enters the service with a thorough knowledge of his business. Yet the order is landed to the skies for what he does while the latter does not even receive a passing notice There is no justice in it. But we have a [] within that surpasses all the honors or plandits which a people can give us, therefore we are suringly content. This is a reward that money nor honors could compensate us for. My relations with my fellow [] officers are very

Page 3

happy ones! I have these for commanded this respect, and they all express their regret at the prospect of my leaving them, for they firmly believe that I shall soon get []. It is pleasent to me to be thus situated. And were it not for my interest I should regret to leave them, always made and provided that I do leave them.

Today we had a short sermon preached in the hospital and after the discover which was quite interesting, one of our patients was quite interesting, one of our patients was babtized, a scene I never before witnessed in a hospital, and I must confess it was very impressive. I think if some of our, "I am holies than thou" could have witnessed it they would have hung their heads for very shame of themselves. The deep current of religious feeling that is in the hearts of our noble soldiers would put to all the good there is in this world. To know the true sentiments of a soldiers heart you must live with him as we do. I am speaking of the majority. Some are to degraded and mean to be any thing but meanness and are unfit for any society but their own, and that they are afraid of.

I did not attend the new years dinner that I wrote Helen I should. I had so much to attend to that before I got through it was late, and I thought I could spend my time better in writing a letter to you, and I have done so. I have not received a letter from you you for a long time.

I have heard nothing from the Governor yet, but am looking for something every mail. The paper has just come in I stoped to read the news, and as have nothing more of interest to write I will say God bless you and our dear children and send my love to you all.

Your loving husbandJ.C. Rutherford

I was so intent upon my subject, that I made a great blunder in writing this