Friday, December 14, 2012

1862 December 14 near Waynesboro

Camp Near Waynesboro
December 14th 1862
Dear Harriot
Your letter dated 20th of November has just
been received this morning having been sent to the 6th Va
Infantry through a mistake it is the first I have
received from you for a long time although I have
frequently written, once since we have been here which
has been two weeks  Capt Gibson handed me a note
which he received when we were at New Town from Fanny
We are here now doing no duty but that of camp but all
order has just come for our horses to be inspec-
ted by the Brigade Inspector which means I suppose
that we are to relieve some of the other regiments  We
heard last night of the fighting at Fredericksburg
and also that Gen Jones had evacuated Winchester
and gone to Front Royal and that the yankees are
now as far up the Valley as Middletown so I
suppose that we will not be able to be idle much
longer- I am very glad to hear of Lewis' success
and I hope that he will get along with Genl. B.H.
better than Genl B.H. got along with our Brigade
We are encamped on the very spot that we were on
last summer when we were here, then there was
plenty of water within twenty yards of the camp
now those springs are dry and we have to

[page 2]
go over half a mile and this is my day
for carrying water it is now about 10 oclock and
I have been twice to the springs--My over coat
will be done about the end of this week it cost me
thirty three dollars as for shoes I am very well off
I had a pair of boots made in Loudon they cost me $20
I should like to have some of those socks and
my blanket but there is no way of sending them
to me do not try unless you see some one com
ing right to the regiment--Has Willy gotten well
yet and did he come home--What regiment
is Willy Tabb Colonel of I thought his health
was too bad to be in the service--Uncle Ned was
at home when I heard from home him which
was when I was at home and had not taken
the oath--Tell Mary that I am very sorry
that they killed her colt they had better have let
me broken it when I was there I think I could have
done it.--I am very sorry to hear from that Cousin
Emily has been so sick I hope that she has quite recov-
ered from her attack--I have not seen Cousin William
for a long time but suppose that he is still at Brigade
Head Quarters, send my love to all of them in Richmond
How is aunt Clara going to Baltimore I think it is
a very strange [?]  We have had several colder days
tan we had at all last winter and every body are filling
their ice houses, we have had three or four falls of snow
the last was about five inches thick, but it has mod-

[page 3]
erated a great deal and today is like Spring it did
not even freeze last night.  Splendid weather on the
poor wounded--We have a regular race course and
any horse in the regiment can enter that wants to your
regiment is turned into quite a Jockey Club the major
heads the list there is racing every day or two
yesterday I suppose there was fifty horses run, since
Col Flournoy left us our regiment has been rapidly going
down the hill- I understand that the old Col is
again a candidate for Governor of the State, if it is
so I hope that he will be elected--Tell  cousins Sarah
Marie and patty that their love is reciprocated and give
my love to all of the family, does little Sarah talk yet
I suppose cousin Marie is very proud of her-I should
like very much to hear that new piano. I went to see
some girls at New Town and asked one of them to play for me
after playing some time I asked her to play her favour
ite and she commenced the negro melodie "Ole  [Happin?]
if we stay about here I should not be surprised if I
took Willies plan and get married there are a good many
fat dutch girls about here with as outlandish names
as any in Holland but  wether they are worth mil-
lions or not I do not know if they do they are very
clsoe with them--I wish this war was over I am
getting very tired of it, one has to keep so dirty, and be
so irregular in his habits, we have to pay 18 and 25
cents for every piece of clothing we get washed now
and it is very hard to get it done for that.

[page 4]
Tis the still hour of the night the busy camp sleeps as
quiet as death even the bright camp fires of the enemy
are growing dim, the lonely sentinel sits on a log pencil
ing lines & the flickering lights of a fire on his beat, for
the eyes of those who occupy often his thoughts, Home, whose
happy thoughts are aroused by that little word, what
interesting recollections are stirred up, home how sweet
the sound, truly appreciated only when seperated by
distance from it,  at the sound what happy visions of
familiar forms and faces dearer than life, of the pleasant
days and hours of childhood and youth
and the endearments of parental influence-
But alas what sad thoughts are also associated with
our home how ruthlessly has it been invaded
that happy circle broken up, & those dear faces
separated, & some of these loved ones subjected to
privations and insults, and we thank God for those kind
relatives and friends who have done so much for us
and look forward for happier days when all will
again be united.--Give my love to all a Fighting
Creek and DyKeland and write soon direct to
Harrisonburg-  God bless you my dear Sister
                                  is the prayer of your aff
                                         brother
                                              Frank


Francis G. Ruffin

MSS 5533-d


No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.