"KISS EACH OTHER FOR ME"

THE

CIVIL WAR LETTERS

OF

RUFUS ANDREWS

1861 - 1863



MID-PENINSULA LIBRARY COOPERATIVE

IRON MOUNTAIN, MICHIGAN 49801
1979

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT


       Special thanks to Mrs. Kate Rice Chiesa of Kingsford, Michigan for permission to reproduce her great-grandfather's letters.

 

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FOREWORD



        Rufus Andrews was born in Cuyahoga, Ohio on August 9, 1828. He was the son of Ezra Andrews 1788 - 1868 and Mary Louise Langdon Andrews 1801 - 1884, who moved westward from Connecticut to the Western Reserve in Ohio and later to Iowa.

        Rufus became a farmer and lumberman. On April 29, 1854, he married Agnes Volk and they settled in Stiles, Oconto County, Wisconsin. In 1861 Rufus was in business with Agnes's father. When Volk's oldest son John was drafted, Mr. Volk could not bear to part with him, so Rufus volunteered in his place. He was mustered into Company H, 4th Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment, "The Oconto River Drivers" on October 25, 1861. Later the 4th Wisconsin became a Cavalry unit which captured many horses.

Rufus joined his regiment on November 14, 1861, in Newtown, Maryland. In February and March of 1862, he was sick and confined in the General Hospital near Baltimore, Maryland. Again in January 1863, he became ill and hospitalized in Alexandria, Virginia. Rufus was a deeply religious man and occasionally served as chaplain in the army. On March 27, 1863, he was promoted to Corporal and shortly after the Regiment entered combat. Rufus participated in battles at Fort Bisland, Louisiana and Port Hudson, Louisiana in April and May of 1863.


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         Mrs. Kate Rice Chiesa remembers her grandmother, Florence Andrews Rice, crying over her father's letters. The precious letters were kept in an old trunk with a flat top that smelled of dried flowers, orange peel and mints. Besides the pressed flowers, books and handkerchiefs, the trunk contained not only the letters but such treasures as a Confederate $5.00 bill and a shell from Louisiana that Rufus had made into a pin for Agnes. Also among the mementoes were the peacock feathers mentioned in Rufus' letters of May 12, 1863.

        Grandmother Florence often read the letters to Kate and her sister and brothers. The children never tired of watching their grandmother carefully unwrap the little bundle of letters tied with a narrow blue ribbon, nor did they tire of hearing them. Sometimes for effect, the grandfather would pull Rufus' sword from under the bed and draw it from the scabbard. This thoroughly delighted the children and made the letters and their great-grandfather more memorable. The sword is now in the Oconto Falls, Wisconsin Historical Museum.

        Mrs. Chiesa also has the photographs Rufus asked Agnes to have made of the children, including one in a case he was carrying over his heart when he died.

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        The letters cover the period from December 15, 1861 to May 12, 1863. They provide a poignant insight into the life and times of a patriotic young man from our area and his wife Agnes and children Florence, Almira, and John.

        Rufus Andrews volunteered and served his country with self-sacrifice and devotion. On June 3, 1863, in a cavalry action near Clinton, Louisiana he was killed in action.

        In the few brief letters that follow you'll feel much love and compassion for Rufus and his regular admonition to his wife and children to write often and "kiss each other for me".

                    Ralph W. Secord
                    Director
                    Mid-Peninsula Library Cooperative
                    Iron Mountain, Michigan

 

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Book Page 1

Camp Paine Baltimore
December 15, 1861

 

Dear Wife
        I take this opportunity to write a few lines to you. I am well and hope this will find you all the same. We are still in Baltimore. It is getting rather cold for tents. If we are to stop here this winter we will have Barracks built for us. I hear some talk that we are to go to the Relay House to stay this winter. I got a pass yesterday and went down and had my likeness taken. It is without a case. I got it that way to save Postage. I had one taken the other day with a case and I did not like it. Dr. Bents is going home in a few days and I will send the one with the case by him. The other I will send in this letter. I have not received any letter from you since I wrote to you before, but I thought I would write a few lines today and then when I get a letter from you I will write again. I suppose it is cold weather in Oconto now. It is not very cold here yet. We had some days as cold before I left as we have had here. We are encamped in a Park called Patterson Park. It is on a high hill overlooking the City. We can see Fort McHenry and two new Forts built lately. Baltimore is a splendid place but there is a great many disloyal citizens in it but they have to keep still now. Write as soon as you get this and let

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me know all about how you and the children get along. Captain Loy will send the necessary papers to Madison tomorrow so that you and Youngs Wife can draw the $5 a month from the State. Tell Allie & Flora & Johnny to be good Children & Pa will come home as soon as he can. Kiss each other for me and take good care of yourselves. I have not written to Father yet but will try to write to him soon. Be sure to write often. I remain your loving Husband.


Rufus


Our uniforms are Dark Blue but they show different in the likeness. Send your likenesses as soon as you can.

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Baltimore
February 23, 1862


Dear Wife
        I write a few lines today to let you know how I am getting along. I was quite sick yesterday and the day before but I am a great deal better today. I think I will be able to go to the Regiment in a week or so. I don't get any more letters since the Regiment left. I have not heard from the Regiment since they left here. I am in hopes that I will be with them soon. They had a great time in Baltimore yesterday celebrating Washington's Birthday. I did not see it but I was told about it and I heard the Bells a ringing and the Music a playing most all day and in the evening the Hospital here was illumenated and a band of music came here and played for an hour or so. Dear Wife you must not worry because I am sick for I am getting better and I have good care here. How do you get along for clothes. You must not want for anything as long as you have money. Have you got any thing from the State yet? I think the prospects for the close of the war is better now than it has been for some time: But it is hard telling. I hope so any how. I don't know as you can read this. I had to write with a pencil because I have no ink. You must excuse the length of these letters. I will write often and

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I will write long letters when I get about again. I shall be very carefull and get about as soon as I can. You must be careful of you & the childrens health and put your trust in the lord for protection. My love to you. Hoping this will find you all well. I remain your loving Husband.


Rufus

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Baltimore
March 4, 1862

Dear Wife
        I take this opportunity of writing a few lines to you. I am a little better than I have been. I received 2 letters from you the other day. They went to the Regiment and Youngs remailed them to me. I was very glad to get them and to hear that you were all well. Tell Allie and Flora I got their little letter and I will come home as soon as I can and then I will never leave them any more. Captain Loy was back here the other day. He took what men were here belonging to our Regiment that was able to go. There is a good many here yet that belongs to our Regiment. There is two besides me of Company H. One by the name of Holmes and the other is Sandy McIntyre. John and Henry know him. I have not written to no one but you and Martin since I have been sick. Tell Allie and Flora I will send them some more of them little papers as soon as I can get out to get some. There is no war news to write about. I suppose you get all the news in the Clipper. I thought it would be warm weather here by this time but it is about the same as it has been all winter. I think of you and the children nearly all of the time since I have been sick. You must be careful and not get sick. Write good long letters

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and I will write long letters as soon as I get well.
I am in hopes I will be about in a few days. May the Lord have mercy on you and the children and keep you from all harm is my earnest prayer. Direct your letter to Rufus Andrews, National Hospital, Baltimore. I will have to stop for this time. I remain your loving husband.


Rufus

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Baltimore
March 21, 1862

Dear Wife
        I received your letter of the 7th instant the first of the week, but I had sent one off the day before so I waited until today. I am still improving in health. My rheumatism seems to be a going away and my cough is getting some better. The Dr. says I won't get over the cough until it gets warm weather. So I suppose I shall be here some time yet. I was out yesterday and the day before and walked arround some. It rains this morning. If it clears off I will walk out this afternoon. I bought three little books yesterday and sent them to the children. Write whether you get them or not and if you get them write whether they were soiled much. I have not heard from the Regiment yet. There is a number here that is going to the Regiment, the first of next week, and there is several that is going to be discharged from service. There is nothing new to write about from here. There is very few deaths in the Hospitals according to the number sick. I never got either of the letters you sent to Baltimore Post Office. I have been there several times. I was there yesterday. You must not worry so about me for it is no use. Besides I am out of danger. You say you would come

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here if you could. If you was here all you could do would be to come in and see me between the hours of one and three P. M. There is men in here belonging to the Maryland Regiments whose families live here in the city and when they get sick they are not allowed to go home to stay but are sent to the Hospital. So much for army discipline. It seems as though there was no use of their being so strict but perhap there is. There was one Regiment passed here en route for Washington yesterday. It was the New York 97th. The New York 108th went through several days ago so it seems that they don't go through according to numbers. I will stop writing until evening and perhaps I will get a letter from you. Evening and I have not received any letter from you today so I will finish this and send it off. I was out and walked arround some this afternoon. I got a letter from your father about the time that I was taken sick, and I have been waiting to get well before answering it. I have not got any letters from John or Henry since I wrote to them in the winter. You say John has written. I suppose it has gone to the Regiment. Why don't Henry write. Dear Agnes it is more lonesome here in the hospital than it was in the Regiment and the time passes very slow. I think of you most of the time and I look at your likeness very often. You must write long letters and tell me

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all about how you get along and all about everything. Your letters are very short lately. Tell Allie and Flora to learn to read and I will bring them some bigger books when I come home. I suppose Johnny won't know me when I come home. I can't think of any thing more now so I will have to stop. Give my love to all. Kiss each other for me. Hoping this will find you all well. I remain your loving husband.


Rufus

P.S. I sent you one of Harpers Weeklies the other day. It had a piece about a little incident that happened here in Baltimore. Write whether you got it or not.


Rufus

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Patterson Park
April 22, 1862

Dear Wife
        I received your letter No 4 of the 12th instant today and was glad to hear that you were all well. I am about the same as when I wrote last. We had orders yesterday to get ready to go to our Regiments at Ship Island, so all that belonged to the 4th Wisconsin, the 21st Indiana, and the 6th Michigan got our knapsacks packed and got ready for a start. We went over to the Surgeons quarters and he took the names of those that he thought was able to do duty and they went on the cars to New York last night. They are to take steam boat from there. He ordered me and about 15 others to remain until we got stronger. I told him if I was not able to go now after being in the hospital over two months that they had better send me home. He said I would do to go next time and I could help take care of the sick here until that time. I suppose that I can be as useful here as any where but I would rather be in the Regiment. But perhaps it is all for the best so I will do my duty to the poor sick soldiers and be contented with my lot. I am glad to hear that old Brind gives such a nice mess of milk. I think she is the best cow that I ever saw. You ought

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to feed her well. I am glad you will have plenty of milk and butter and eggs this summer. We are looking for important news from Yorktown every hour, but it may be some time before the great Battle is fought. Some think if the Union forces are victorious in that Battle that the war will soon end. I will stop writing for the present and write some more tomorrow.


April 24, 1862

Dear Agnes
        I was busy yesterday so I will finish this letter today. There is nothing new to write about. I went down to the Ladies Relief Association yesterday and got somethings for the sick. I got some eggs and some butter and some black berries and some crackers. I guess the men in charge of the Hospital are a going to starve us for a while and see what effect it will have on us. I heard one of the boys say we were a going to have pickled eels feet for dinner after this. I can't think of much more to write, so I will stop for this time. My love to you and all the rest. Hoping this will find you all well, I remain your loving husband.


Rufus

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Patterson Park Hospital
April 27, 1862


Dear Wife
        I received your letter No 5 yesterday and was glad to hear that you were all well. I am so as to be about, but my health is not very good. I cough a good deal yet and am troubled with a pain in my side. I took a walk out into the country about two miles today. It was the first time that I have been outside of the city limits since we came back here last fall. It seemed good to get out where one could get the pure air and see the works of nature. The fruit trees are in full bloom and the gardens begin to look green with onions and other vegetables. There was a lot of ladies visited us yesterday with eatables for the Soldiers. They brought ham, eggs, dried apples, dried peaches, pies, biscuit, and preserves of all kinds. One of them asked me where I was from and told me whenever I got lonesome that I must come to their house. She gave me their number and made me promise to come. She was quite an old woman and she seemed to be a real lady. I think I will go there the next time I go out, and then I will write more about them. The Union folks of Baltimore are doing a good deal for the Soldiers; that is those that are able to.

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It is getting quite warm here in the day time; but we have cool nights. I don't like this climate it is too changable. General Dix and staff was here the other day inspecting our quarters. There is no news to write about so I will have to stop soon. I don't know as you can read this, I am very nervous this after noon after walking. I am in hopes I will see you all before long. My love to you all. Kiss each other for me. Be careful of your healths. Hoping this will find you all well, I remain your Affectionate Husband.


Rufus

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Baltimore
May 18, 1862

Dear Wife
        I received your letter dated the 10th today. I was very glad to get it and to hear that you were all well. I had made up my mind that you was sick, as it was ten days since I had got one from you. One of your letters is lost or miscarried. The one that I got before was No 9 and this is No 11. I got a letter from Yongs yesterday written the 16th of April. He sent 3 letters that you wrote me and one that John wrote and one that Linzy wrote and his own in the same envelope. He did not write much. He said he was well. I got the money you sent. You no need to of sent it for I could get along some way till pay day. My health is getting better but I have a pain in my left side all of the time. We had preaching here in the barracks today for the first time since we have been here. Did you get that money from the State. Dear Agnes I think of you most of the time and I hope I shall see you and the children soon. It is very warm here now. It must be awful hot down at Ship Island. Do you get the Clipper regular now. If you do I suppose you get all of the news from here. I went out in the country about a mile today. I

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got a nice boquet of flowers. The peach trees
are full of peaches and there will be a large crop if nothing hapens to them. The winter wheat looks well and it is begining to head out. I want to get this off by the mail tonight so I have not got time to write much; but I will write again in two or three days. Kiss each other for me. My love to you all. Hoping this will find you all well I remain your loving Husband. Continue to write often. Good Bye My Dear for this time.


Rufus

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Philadelphia
May 27, 1862


My Dear Wife
        I take this opportunity of writing a few lines to let you know where I am. I got 3 letters from you via Baltimore yesterday. I was glad to hear that you were all well. I am on the gain. There is about 40 soldiers here belonging to different Regiments at New Orleans. The General commanding here says it is out of the question to send us to our Regiments at present. One of the Corporals belonging to our Regiment and myself went up to see the General yesterday. He said he would try and send us to the capitol of our states soon and then the state authorities could send us to our homes until we could be got to our Regiments. If he sends us to Madison he will send us soon. So you need not write after you get this until you hear from me again. I won't write much this time hoping that I will see you soon. If I don't go, I will write again in a short time. My love to you all. Good Bye Dear for this time. I remain your affectionate Husband.


Rufus

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Madison
June 30, 1862


Dear Wife
        I arrived here safe Saturday morning and have been waiting to find out what they are going to do with us before I wrote. The Adjutant General says he thinks he will get us off some time next week. We are stopping at Camp Randall. I hope he will start us for our Regiment as soon as possible. I want you to be sure and write to me as soon as you get this and direct it to Madison. I think I will get it before I leave here. Write all about your health, etc. I suppose it will be the last time I will have a chance to get a letter from you until I get to the Regiment. I have nothing much to write about so I will have to write a short letter this time. Kenedy has got his discharge and he will have to stay here until he gets his pay. I got the Draft and put it in the letter for Mrs. Youngs. I had to pay 40 cents for it. It was the least I could get it for. She can pay you the 40 cents. I send you the receipt to give to her. I will write again before I leave here. I found the Boys all here except one that came here with me from Philadelphia. Good Bye Dear for this time. I remain your Loving Husband.


Rufus

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Madison
July 19, 1862


Dear Wife
        I received your letter of the 6th instant today. It was mailed the 11th. I was very glad to get it and to hear that you were all well. I had begun to think there was something the matter it was so long before I got an answer to my letter. We have had some very hot weather here but it has rained hard yesterday and last night and it is quite cool today. The winter wheat harvest has just commenced here. Men are very scarce here for harvesting, and wages are very high. I don't know how much longer we will have to stay here. I will keep this letter until Monday and perhaps by that time I shall hear something about it. I will stop for today.

Monday Morning
July 21, 1862

 

Dear Wife
    I will write a few lines today. I expected to hear something about going away by this morning; but I don't hear anything about it yet. I wrote to Martin since I came here and got an answer from him. They were all well. I will write to your father and mother as soon as I get to the

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Regiment. You had better get those certificates of Bacon, if he has not sold them, and sell them for something before winter sets in. Tell the Boys they had better get them Deer Skins tanned pretty soon or else the moths will eat them full of holes. It is very hot here today. I shall look for a letter from you today in answer to my second from here. Be sure and write all about your health. You need not be afraid anybody else will see your letters. The 20th Regiment is filling up very slow. There is not over 250 in camp yet. I sent you a paper the other day and I will send you another today. Let me know in your next what Father wrote in his letter, you can send the letter in yours. How does your garden and potatoes look. Tell the children that I want them to be good and mind you and I will try and bring them something nice when I come home. I can't think of any more at present. Write soon and direct it to Madison. Good Bye Dear Agnes for this time. Hoping this will find you all well as it leaves me. I remain your Loving Husband.


Rufus

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Monday Noon

Dear Wife
        I have just got orders to leave here for the Regiment to night a 9 o'clock. There is 8 of us going. Direct your letter to the Regiment. I will write again at Cairo. So Good Bye Dear Wife for this time. I opened this letter at the end to put this in so you need not think anybody else opened it. I am your Loving Husband.


Rufus

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Helena Arkansas
August 1, 1862


Dear Wife
        I am still in this place and have about made up my mind that I shall never get to the Regiment. We are quartered with the 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry. We will have to stay in this Regiment and do duty here till they are a mind to send us to our own Regiment. I don't know but we are as useful here as we would be in our own Regiment, but I would rather be in the Fourth where I could get my pay. The Cavalry have to do most of the scouting and Picket Guard. There was a large fleet came up from Vicksburg last night in the night and they have kept up steam all day. There is 16 transports and Gunboats. We can't find out what they are here for; but probably General Curtis knows. I found one of your Cousins here in the 13th Illinois Regiment. His name is John Olinger.  Jesse Betts belongs to the same Company.  Your cousin seems to be a very steady nice young man. He sends his love to you and the rest of the folks. He says Ruth Ann's husband is in the Army in Virginia. We have very poor water here and awful hot weather. I can get along better with poor living than poor water but we have to make the best of it. It seems

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like a long time to wait to hear from you. You had better direct your next letter to this place to the 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry, Company I. If we don't stay here long enough so that I can get it, I can leave word to have it forwarded. Write as soon as you get this and write all of the news that you have written in the other letters before. Write whether you have got any money from the State yet. Write all about how you get along and everything. Write whether you have been able to sell them tax certificates or not. Has any of the boys killed any more Deer yet. There is lots of peaches here but the Army is so large that it is pretty hard to get many. The troops here subsist off the Rebels as much as they can. They have taken most of the corn in this state and left them nothing. It was a good thing for us that they planted corn instead of cotton. I will stop writing for tonight and write a little tomorrow.

 

August 2, 1862

 

I saw a man this morning that just came from Vicksburg. He says the Fourth Wisconsin has gone back to Baton Rogue. He says they have given up taking Vicksburg till it gets cooler.

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He says there is a good deal of sickness in the Regiment. I think if the people of the North want the South Conquered they had better turn out and help do it and not stay at home and talk. If they would turn out like the South we could whip them in one month. I will stop for this time. Kiss each other for me. Hoping this will find you all well I remain your loving Husband.


Rufus

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Helena

August 7, 1862

 

Dear Wife
        I again take the opportunity of writing to you. They have abandoned Vicksburg and the army that was there has gone back to Baton Rogue. So we may not get to our Regiment for two months. I have been on guard once since I have been in this Regiment. The first Wisconsin Cavalry was surprised by a Regiment of Rebels the other day and they lost about three hundred in killed, wounded and prisnors. It was about 40 miles from here. The balance of the Regiment got here yesterday. I think if the North can't whip out the South by next spring that they had better let them go. It has been awful hot here. Today it is some cooler. There is a large amount of sickness in the army here. I don't know how long this army is going to stop here. I don't see what need there is of staying here any longer. I am getting sick of this inactivity. Write all about how you get along. I told you in my last to direct your letters here. I don't suppose I shall get a letter from you for two weeks yet. Write whether Mrs. Youngs has had any letters from Youngs lately and what he says about the health

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of the Regiment. We heard here that there was only about a hundred men in the Regiment that was able for duty. I am in hopes they will adopt some Policy to bring this war to a close soon, for it is causing a great deal of suffering. If I was with you I could find plenty to say but I can't think of much to write today. Dear Wife keep up good courage and take care of your health. Dear Allie and Flora and Johny be good Children and when Pa comes home again he won't leave you any more. Agnes you must excuse my short letter for this time. I have written this very poor and made a good many mistakes. Write often. Kiss each other and Pray for me. Good Bye my love for this time. I remain your loving Husband.


Rufus

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Helena
August 12, 1862

Dear Wife
        I take this opportunity of writing once more to let you know how I am getting along. I have had bad Diorhea for a few days but am getting better now. There was a scouting party went out from here the other day and were surprised and nearly all killed. They brought in two dead last night belonging to this company. They are murdering our men every time they can catch a small squad by themselves. This army is not doing any thing except guarding the camp and scouting some. I shall begin to look for a letter from you in a day or two. It is very hot here and will be until about the first of October. We don't get much news here from the North. How are they getting along enlisting in Wisconsin. I hope they will get men enough this time so they can finish the thing up at once. I don't think General Curtis is fit to have command of this army. He is not half strict enough and he has got too much sympathy for the Rebels. There is not one man in twenty that likes him. Dear Agnes you must write long letters and not take pattern by mine, for it never seemed so hard to think of anything to write as it does now. If I was with you I could find lots to say. I hope

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we shall soon meet again and then we will be happy. I hope I shall be able to get to the Regiment soon for I would rather be there than here: but we can't get there til Vicksburg is taken. Direct your letters to this place, same as I ordered you before. Do you have any new potatoes yet. Dear Agnes I will have to stop for this time. Kiss each other for me and pray for me. Hoping this will find you all well I remain your loving Husband.


Rufus

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St. Louis
September 3, 1862

Dear Wife
     I have not heard from you since I left Madison. I stayed in Helena most 4 weeks after I wrote to you to direct your letters to that place, but did not get any letter. Some of the men got letters from Wisconsin in 14 days. We were ordered by General Curtis to our Regiment and furnished by him with transportation to this place. We reported here and the commander of the Post here says that he thinks we will have to stay here until the River is open. He says it will cost a hundred dollars a piece to send us via New York. We got here day before yesterday and I waited to see where to have you direct your letters before I wrote. We was eleven days coming from Helena. I have made up my mind to have you direct your letters to St. Louis, Missouri until I am ordered from here. I believe we are to be sent up to the prison to guard secesh prisnors. We have got a poor place to stay and poor living and we are all in a hurry to get to the Regiment. I hope you will be sure to write as soon as you get this and write all the news since I left Madison. I don't know as I will get any of the letters that you have written to me before. I have just written

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to one of the men of the 2nd Cavalry to direct my letters to this place if there is any comes there, but I was there so long after writing from there that I begun to think that there was something the matter with you or else you had not got my letters. Dear Agnes be sure and get a letter to the office as soon as you can after you get this, for you may know that I am very anxious to hear from you. We won't get any pay before we get to the Regiment. Tell Mrs. Youngs that I have got those things yet that she sent to William, but I am afraid that the cigars are broken to pieces by being knocked around so much. I have not untied them to see how they look. Be sure and write all about every thing. How does your potatoes get along, have you got any new ones yet. Did you get any hay to keep the cow on next winter. You must keep up good courage and perhaps we will see a better time some day. My health is about the same as when I was home. I hope this will find you all in good health. I am afraid you will get out of things to live on before I get any money to send you, but we must hope for the best and I will do the best I can. I can't think of any more to write now, so I will have to stop. Kiss each other for me. Hoping this will find you all well, I remain your loving Husband.


Rufus

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Benton Barracks
September 20, 1862

Dear Wife
        I received your letter of September 11th yesterday and was very glad to hear from you. I got one the day before from you via Helena dated the 3rd. I am at the transportation Office doing Guard duty and will probably have to stay here all winter, unless the river is open before. We have to stand guard nearly every day. We can't draw any pay until we get to the Regiment. We don't get our full Rations here. It is the Officers fault who have charge of the transportation office. Our duty consist in Guarding Rebel Prisnors and Comissary Stores. We can serve the country as well here as anywhere but I would rather be in our own Company. I hope you will have plenty to live on this winter and that I will be at home with you and the children by spring. Is there any danger of the Indians molesting you. If I was sure of staying here all winter I should be for having you move down here for you could live here as cheap if not cheaper than in Oconto. Have you got any hay to keep the cow on this winter. Have you got plenty of Potatoes for the winter. Write all the particulars. All about everything and how you get along. You had better sell them certificates if you can get any thing for them in provisions

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or Dry Goods. Be sure to write often and I will do the same. I should like to see you and the children very much and if we had the money I would have you come down here and see me this fall. It is very nice weather here now. Direct your letters to the Transportation Office, Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri. Dear Agnes I hope this war will soon be over, so that we can be together and enjoy each others society. You must pray for me and keep up good courage and we will hope for better days. Allie and Flora and John you must be good to Ma and kiss her every day for your Pa. When I come home again I won't go away any more. There is lots of soldiers here in this camp. It is a camp of instruction and most of the Western Regiments stop here and drill a while before they go into the field. If you was here you could see several Regiments out on Parade at one time. I wish you could come here and stay a while with me and bring the children with you. My health is about the same as it was when I left home. Has there any more men enlisted from Oconto since I was home. Does Youngs write whether there has been any deaths in Company H or not. I wish you would send me the "Pioneer" once in a while if you can. I can't think of anything more to write this time, so Good Bye love for this time. Hoping this will find you all well and that we will soon meet I remain your loving Husband.


Rufus

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St. Louis
September 25, 1862

Dear Wife
        I received your letter of the 15th today and was glad to hear that you were all well. I am well as usual. It is very warm here at present and there is lots of mosquitoes here. I suppose they are all froze to death up at the Falls. I was on guard last night at the military Prison guarding Secesh Prisnors. We have moved three times since we have been here. In the first place we was at Scofield Barracks and then we went to Benton Barracks and now we are at another place down in the heart of the City. We are near the Post Office so I guess you had better direct your letters to St. Louis Post Office and I will be more likely to get them regular. You say you are a going to dig your Potatoes yourself. I don't think you will gain anything by it you must be careful of your health and not get sick. You need not send me any money for I might not stay here long enough to get besides you need all you have. I am in hopes to get some money to send to you before long. Tell the children I will send them some nice Books when I get some money and I will send you a nice present when I get paid. I am in hopes to get to the Regiment before long and not be left behind again. It seems as if

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they was very slow in putting a stop to this war.  If they don't put them down before next spring I think that they had better treat with them and let them go. The Soldiers are all getting very much dissatisfied with the course of the war and are for pushing the Rebels and showing no quarter until they return to their Allegience. I wrote to you a few days ago and will write often as long as I stay where I can get letters from you. I can't think of much to write at a time. I wish you had some of the fruit that is in the market here. There is any quantity of peaches, apples, pears, plums and all kinds of fruit. But I don't get any except it is given to me for I have no way of buying it. Did you have any Berries this year. I guess not many for they was all burnt up. I can't think of any thing more to write this time so I will have to stop. Kiss each other and pray for me. Good Bye love for this time. I remain your loving Husband.


Rufus

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Alexandria, Va.
October 6, 1862

Dear Wife
        I left St. Louis on the first instant and arrived in Washington on the 4th and reported to the Adjutant General. He sent us to camp Ellsworth in Alexandria to wait further orders. How long we will be kept here is more than I can tell. W e are stopping in tents and are under the command of General Banks. We was ordered by General Curtis to the Regiment and furnished with transportation to Washington with orders to report to the Adjutant General for further orders. We came by Rail Road to Cincinnati and from there to Pittsburg, Harrisburg and Baltimore. There is lots of Soldiers here and it is thought that they will make a forward movement soon. If they do and we are kept here we will have a chance to fight. I don't believe we will be sent to our Regiment at all. We are going to try and be transferred to some other Regiment so as to get our pay and not have to travel arround the country anymore for nothing. I don't believe we can get transfered for it is against the regulations, but we are going to try. Write as soon as you get this Direct to Alexandria Virginia. I will write to St. Louis to have my letters sent from

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there. I think if the whole of our army should make a move at the same time that they would soon whip the Rebels out. I am in hopes they will do something before the rainy weather begins. It is nice weather here now. I have a very poor chance to write today but I am going to get some Ink and then I will write again. My love to you and the children. Kiss each other for me. Good Bye love for this time. I remain your loving Husband.

 

Rufus

 

 

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Alexandria, Va.
October 26, 1862

 

Dear Wife
        I take this opportunity of writing to you although this is the fourth letter I have written since I came here and have got no answer yet. I know it is no fault of yours that I don't get letters oftener from you. We have been trying hard lately to get to the fourth Regiment. I wrote to General Banks some time ago and gave him a history of our trials and tribulations for the last six months. One of our number has since written to the Secretary of War but we have heard nothing from either. I went and talked with the Colonel of this camp yesterday and he said he was going to Washington tomorrow and he would see the Secretary of War and see what he could do for us. I hope we will be sent to the Regiment or else get permanently located somewhere else. We have been working on a Fort that is being built near here for the defense of Washington. It is a line of forts as far as we can see up and down the river and back from the River as far as we can see. We have had fine weather here for the last ten days until today it is quite cold with rain. We have had one frost here but it was light. There was a grand Review of the

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troops here the other day. President Lincoln rode through our camp in the afternoon and I got a sight of him. He looks well and hearty. He was accompanied by General Banks, and Staff and several other Officers of note. The time seems long when I don't hear from home. I am thinking of you and the dear children all of the time. I am in hopes that we will soon meet again no more to part on Earth. You must keep up good courage and hope and pray for the best. Dear Agnes I hope you and the Children won't want for any of the necessaries of life this coming cold winter. It will be a happy day for me when this war is over so that I can go home to my Dear Wife and children. Tell the children to be good and learn their Book. Does Little Johnny remember his Pa. I know Allie and Flora Does. I wrote to the man that we left behind at St. Louis to forward my letters to this place if there was any there, but I have not got any yet. I think my leters are getting pretty well scattered arround the country. You can direct your letters to Alexandria, Virginia the same as I told you in my last. Write all about how you are getting along and all of the news. How does the old cow get along. Have you got plenty of hay and feed to keep her on this winter and plenty of things to

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live on. Kiss each other for me and pray for me. I remain your loving Husband.

 

Rufus


I hope this will find you all in good health as it leaves me. Good Bye, Love for this time.


Rufus

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Alexandria
November 1, 1862

Dear Wife
        I take this oportunity of writing a few lines to you. I am well and hope this will find you the same. I have just been to the Post Office
and was disappointed in not getting a letter from you as this is the fifth one that I have written from here and no answer yet. The army is on the move from here today. Sickle's Division left here yesterday for Centerville. I hear that they are fighting today at Bulls Run but perhaps it is only a rumor. We were ordered to leave here today for our Regiment and we got ready and then the order was countermanded. I am in hopes we will get to the Regiment or else be sent home. I am very anxious to hear from you but I suppose by the time we have been here long enough to begin to get our letters regular we will be ordered from here to some other place to stay for a month or so. You must take good care of yourself and not get sick. Don't expose yourself by doing outdoor work any more than you can help. I sent you three papers the other day. Write whether you got them. We are still at work on the Fort. I am in hopes this war will be over soon and then we will be happy together. There is no news of any account

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to write from here. I don't think we will be kept here a great while longer but it is hard to tell. I hope that I will be paid befor you need it. As for myself I can get along well enough as long as I have papers and stamps to write to you. I don't want you to send me any money for I can get along well enough. Besides I might not get it. The weather is pleasant here in the day time but we have pretty cold nights. We are on a high hill and we get all of the wind. We can see Washing ton and Alexandria from our camp. I was in the House where Colonel Ellsworth was killed. It is used for a Hospital. The same Flag is flying there that was put there by Ellsworth. This is a desolate looking country. All of the fences have been used for firewood. When you write tell all the news. All about how you are getting along, etc. My love to you all. I can't think of anything to write so I will stop for this time. Good Bye Dear for this time. May God bless you and the children is the earnest prayer of your loving Husband.


Rufus

P.S. Direct to Alexandria, Va. R.

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Ackamac County Virginia
November 18, 1862

Dear Wife
        I take this opportunity of writing a few lines to let you know that I am well. We left Baltimore the day that I wrote you last & arrived at a place called Newton on the Pocomoc River in Maryland & marched from there to this place yesterday a distance of 16 miles. We are in pursuit of the rebels on the Panensula lying between Chesapeke Bay & the Atlantic Ocean. We are encamped on the same ground that they were last Friday but they have retreated farther down the shore. We passed a fortification that they had erected about 2 miles back of here. They left when they heard of our approach but there is no escape for them as they are cut off from all sides and no chance to get reenforcements. We have got about 6,000 in our Brigade. One Indiana, one New York, one Maryland, one Michigan and the 4th Wisconsin besides a company of Cavalry numbering 200 and a splendid Battery consisting of 6 brass pieces. They raise lots of corn & Negroes around here, and not much else except some sweet potatoes. We had lots of sweet potatoes to eat when we got here last night. Colonel Paine went to the man that owns the land and told him he wanted some wood to burn and he told him he had

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no wood to sell. So the Colonel told the Boys to help themselves to wood from the fences and we have used up 40 or 50 rods of rail fence. We take it clean as we go. That is the way to serve the rebels. There is two Counties of Virginia on this side of the water. I don't know where we will go when we whip them out here which I am sure we will do. I expect we shall take up our line of march tomorrow but it is all guess work. We can tell what is past but no one but the head officers know anything about what we are going to do. I have no letter from you yet. Write often and tell the Boys that they must not wait for me to write to them. I will write to them as soon as I get a chance. There is no way to get my likeness taken until we get away from here. I think this war will soon be over and then I can return to the loved ones at home. Be careful of yourselves and don't get sick. I remain your loving Husband.


R Andrews

P.S. direct your letters the same as I told you before.


Rufus

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Alexandria, Va.
November 23, 1862


Dear Wife
        I received your letter of the 9th, day before yesterday and was glad to hear that you was all well. I am as well as usual. It has been raining here for several days but it has stopped now. It is quite cold today and the wind blows very hard. We are still in the same place without any prospect of getting away. There is no news from here of any importance so I don't have much to write about: but I will write often. I have just quit cooking so I shall have more leasure for a short time. There is a great deal of sickness here among the soldiers caused by lying upon the cold damp ground. It is enough to kill anyone the way we have to sleep here. There is lots of soldiers being discharged from the Hospitals in Alexandria and Washington. I did not get the paper that you spoke about sending but it may come yet. I should like to get a Wisconsin paper once in a while. I don't get any news from Wisconsin except what you write. It seems a long time since I left home last and when I think about how I have been sent about, I am almost discouraged. But then I think it is all for the best so I try to be contented. I don't know as I have any reason

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to complain when I think of the thousands that are worse off than I, so as long as I am well I think that I ought to be thankful and I will be. I think of you and the children always this cold weather and I hope you won't suffer for anything this winter. When you write give me all the news, all about how you are getting along and all about the rest of the folks. I saw a piece in a Philadelphia Paper about some trouble that they had in Ozaukee County about the Draft. Have the Drafted any in Oconto County. I will send you a Philadelphia paper once in a while if I can get any Newspaper Wrappers. It is only six miles from here to Mount Vernon and Washington's Grave. I am going down there some day this week, if I can get a pass. It is down the Potomac from here. I have not written to anyone yet but you, but I must try and write to Mother's folks before long. I am writing with cold fingers so you will have to excuse my poor writing. I am in hopes that they will send me to the Regiment where it is warmer or else send me home: the latter would be preferable. I think if I was home this winter that I could enjoy myself firstrate. I think if I should do the chores and keep the fire a going in the stove it would be about all that I should do for I am getting pretty lazy. I guess I have written nonsense

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enough for this time so I will stop. Kiss each other and pray for me. Good Bye my dear for this time and may God Bless you and the Children. Hoping this will find you all well I remain your loving Husband.

 

Rufus

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Saturday Night
December 27, 1862

Dear Wife
        Another week is gone and finds me still in this Camp. My health is as good as usual. I got a letter from you the other day but I had just mailed a letter to you so I thought I would wait until Sunday before I wrote again, but I felt lonesome tonight so I will write a few lines tonight and finish it tomorrow. I wrote a long letter to Judge Howe at Washington yesterday and gave him the whole history of our being sent arround the country and the way we have been kept away from our Regiment without pay, etc., and asked him to try and do some thing for us. I don't know as it will amount to anything but I thought I must keep writing to some of the Big Bugs. I hope he will have us sent to the Regiment or else discharged from the service for I am getting tired of the Camp. I was in Alexandria today but I did not get any letter from you nor any news worth writing about. I suppose you see by the paper that the Wife of Secretary Smith has been getting up a great dinner for the Soldiers in the Hospitals in & arround Washington. It was a splendid affair with the exception of this camp. They did not bring stuff enough to this camp to give half of the men a taste. I

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guess they did not know the cost of feeding nine thousand men. I made up my mouth for some of the good things but I did not get a taste; but they say misery loves company and there was as much as four thousand in this Camp that did not get any of the Christmas dinner. But we done very well in our tent for we bought a few potatoes and that is quite a luxury with us. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas. I will stop writing for tonight so good night love.


Monday
December 28, 1862

Dear Agnes
        I will now try and finish this letter to you. It is very pleasant weather here today and has been for a few days past. Youngs writes that he was 6 dollars in debt on his last years Clothing account. I don't think that I drew as much as was coming to me in Clothes, but I don't know for certain for I don't know the price of all of the articles. If I thought I would have to stay here all winter I would draw another blanket for it is pretty cold some nights with only one. I am pretty well supplied with clothes at present. I have drawn two pairs of pants since I left home and one pair of shoes, 2 pairs of socks, one pair of drawers, one short and a Haversack.

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My dress coat is getting pretty well worn and my cap also and I will have to draw new ones before long. My overcoat is good yet and will last another year. Dear Wife you must be careful of your health and not work to hard so as to get sick. I am in hopes that this is the last winter that I will be away from the dear ones at home. You must write often and tell me all of your little secrets and all the news. Did you have any doings at the Falls on Christmas, and did Santa Claus bring anything for the children. How is your health this winter. Is it as good as it was when I left home. I must stop writing for this time. Kiss each other for me. Hoping that this will find you all well and that I shall soon see you all and kiss you myself. I remain your faithful and loving Husband.


Rufus

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On Board Ship Sturgis
January 8, 1863

Dear Wife
        We left Alexandria on Tuesday & arrived in Washington the same day and left there the next day for Fortress Monroe via Baltimore. I got to Fortress Monroe this morning and reported to General Dix and was sent on Board the Ship Sturgis for New Orleans. How long we will be here before we start is more than I can tell. They are waiting for other Ships from New York. The Ship Constellation has arrived from New York since we came on Board. She is loaded with troops. There is six hundred soldiers on this Ship and we have poor quarters for the reason of its being so nasty on Board. It is a sailing Vessel and it may take some time to get to New Orleans so you must not expect another letter for some time. Direct your letters to the Regiment and I guess I will get them this time. When Judge Howe got my letter he went to General Halleck and got orders for our transportation to New Orleans and sent them to me and the men was put in my charge and the papers given to me. Howe is the first man that has taken any notice of our waiting except the Adjutant General at Madison. I think Howe is a fine man. There is only five of us left out of the 4th that left Bal—

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timore last spring. There was two discharged a day or two before we left Alexandria. It is quite cold here and I have to write out on deck. It is so crowded that I can't write down cellar. We won't get any pay before the first of March, if we do then, because we was not there to be mustered in the first of this month but we will have the more when we do get it and as long as you are not in need I don't care any thing about it. I am in hopes that I shall see you and the little ones before long. I am willing to go and help fight if they will only fight the thing out and have it done with. You must excuse me for not writing a long letter for my fingers are so cold that I can hardly write and I want to send this on shore tonight so that it will go on the Baltimore Boat in the morning. May God bless you and the children and keep you from all harm is the constant prayer of your loving Husband.


Rufus

 

P.S. write as soon as you get this and write often and don't wait to hear from me for I don't suppose I will have a chance to send an other letter for some time. I am well and hope this will find you all the same.

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January 30, 1863
Ship Constellation Mouth of the Mississippi

Dear Wife
        I take this opportunity of writing a few lines to you. We left Fort Monroe on the 15th and arrived here yesterday morning and was towed on to the Bar at the mouth of the River where we got stuck in the mud. The ship is still a ground & I don't know how long it will be before we get off but I think we will get off some time today. The Pilot says we will have a chance to send letters off some time today So you see I improve the first opportunity of sending a letter to you. We have had good weather most of the time since we left Fort Monroe. We had a severe blow the second day out while off Cape Hatteras. Our fare has been as good as could be expected under the circumstances with so many crowded on board one ship. There was four men died on board since we left and were buried in the "Deep Blue Sea". I am very anxious to get on shore where I can hear from home once more. It seems like a long time since I have heard from home. It is warm and pleasant here I am sitting on the deck in the wind and it blows pretty hard and it is plenty warm enough for comfort. We went in sight of the Island of Cuba the next day after we

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passed Key West. My health is very good so far since I left Alexandria. Dear Wife you must be very careful of your health and I am in hopes we will all meet again before long. I think of you and the children constantly and when I lay down to sleep at night my prayers are for the loved ones at home. I am in hopes I shall get paid before you are in want of money. As for myself I can get along as long as I have enough to buy writing material. I lost my ink when I was on the Sturges and can't get any more on this ship, so I have to write with a pencil but I am in hopes you will be able to read it. I have not heard any news since We left Fort Monroe so I have not got much to write about, but if I was with you I could think of plenty to say. Write often and tell me all about how you are getting along and all of the news. Tell the children to be good and learn their books and I will bring them some more when I come home. I am in hopes that before hot weather begins that the war will be over and we will be on our way up the Mississippi. I will have to stop writing for this time, but I will write again the first chance I have to send a letter away. I wrote to you the day that we left Fortress Monroe & gave it to a Lieutenant that was going on shore. Good Bye love for this time. Kiss each other for me. Hoping this will find you all well I remain your loving Husband.


Rufus

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Indian Village Louisiana
February 13, 1863

Dear Wife
        I take this opportunity of writing to you. We left Baton Rouge the 7th instant at 2 o'clock A M and came down the River twenty five miles and landed on the west side of the river and marched out here the same day. A distance of nine miles from the River. We have three Regiments and one Battery of Six, twelve pound Guns besides the 4th Wisconsin in this Brigade. It is hard looking place here. The land is very low and wet and there is plenty of Alligators. The principal productions here is sugar. We have had good living since we came here. We have had Chickens and Turkies and Ducks in abundance and we get all the sugar and molasses that we can use. It is quite hot weather here now and the frogs are singing all around us. It is a great place for frogs. The Bats are flying arround in the evening and it seems like mid summer in Wisconsin. I don't think that we shall stay in this place long and I hope not for it must be very unhealthy here in the summer. The mail came last night and I was disappointed in not getting a letter from you. The last letter I got from you was the second of Jan. and told you to direct to the Regiment and I expected to get a letter when I got to the Regiment. We

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don't get any news here and so we don't know what is going on in the country. The Major went out with a scouting party day before yesterday and captured some shot guns and a Rebel Surgeon. I was on guard yesterday or I should of tried to go with them. We are situated on a Bayou that runs out of the Mississippi River 25 miles below Baton Rouge and empties into the Gulf of Mexico. There is another Bayou runs from the Red River into this Bayou so that this part of the State is navigable for Steam Boats most all over. We get our supplies by Steam Boat up the Mississippi River and this Bayou. I guess they have got Poultry enough here to last for two weeks yet and I hope we will leave here by that time. I hope they will take every thing from the Rebels and then perhaps they will get sick of the war. We have been protecting them and guarding their property long enough. The Regiment has not been paid for most four months. When they get paid I will get all of my back pay. Dear Wife I hope you won't want for anything and I will send my pay home as soon as I get it. Agnes you must take good care of your health and I am in hopes that I will be with my Dear Wife and children before next fall, if God spares our lives. My health is very good at present and I feel thankful for it. Youngs is writing to his Wife that he

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did not get any mail. I will have to stop for this time. Kiss each other for me and pray for me. Write all the news and all of your thoughts if possible, anything from you is received with pleasure. Good Bye my love for this time. May God bless you and the children and keep you from all harm is the prayer of your loving Husband. You must excuse me for writing with a pencil. I hope you can read it.


Rufus

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Algiers
February 25, 1863

Dear Wife
        Your letter of Feb first was received night before last. I was glad to hear that you was all well. I was on guard yesterday & I waited until today before answering your letter. I am well at present and hope this will find you the same. We left our Camp at Indian Village the night of the same day that I wrote you last, and marched to the River and got aboard of a steam Boat and come to this place. We are in camp at Algiers opposite New Orleans. I don't think we will stay here long for they are fitting out an Expedition for some place and we are probably going with it. We may go to Texas but I can't tell where we will go. St. Ores got a letter from home the same day that I got your letter and they said that Henry and John had got into a fight with with Jim Tourtlot, and Jim shot one of them and wounded him and then one of them shot Jim and killed him. They did not give any of the particulars and I am in hopes that it is a false report. If there is any such thing I want you to write all of the particulars. I hope John nor Henry have done anything to lay themselves liable to the law. It is very warm here now for winter. There is no news to write from here

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and so I hardly know what to write when I write so often. We have not got our pay yet but I think we will be paid before long. I am in hopes at least on your account. I have got along with less money than any other man in the Regiment but if I had my pay I should of used more. I have seen some pretty hard times when I was travelling arround for the want of a little money but I suppose I am just as well off as I would of been if I had spent half of my wages. My Dear Wife and Children I hope I shall soon be with you and then we will be happy. Allie and Flora you must mind your mother every thing that she tells you. Agnes does little John remember me, does he grow, does he wear dresses yet. My Dear you must excuse me for writing a short letter this time for it is so short a time since I wrote a long letter and perhaps you will get them both at the same time. I think of you all of the time. Write long letters and write often. Good Bye my love for this time. God Bless you all is the prayer of your faithful and loving Husband.


Rufus

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April 18, 1863

Dear Wife
        I received two letters from you on the 13th and one from John. I received your letters on the Battlefield and this is the first chance I have had to write since. Our advance guard came up to the Rebel Pickets on the 12th and they kept up skirmishing until the 13th about 12 o'clock when a general engagement commenced. They opened on us from their fortification and we fought them with our Artillery until about noon the next day and then our Brigade made an advance. We marched up to within a short distance of their works with the grape shot and shell flying all arround us. The 4th Wis. never marched in better order then they did when they was marching up to the cannons mouth. After we got up within a short distance of them so that we could reach them with our Rifles we lay down in a ditch and our artillery fired over our heads. The shot and shell flew thick over our heads but they could not have much effect on us in the ditch. Our Regiment lost 6 killed and 7 wounded in all. I don't know how much the other Regiments lost. You will see an account of the Battle in the papers better than I can give you. Dodge

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of Company H was killed with a piece of shell which struck him in the head killing him instantly. He lay in the ditch about 6 feet from me. He was the only one killed or hurt in our Company. After we got through fighting that night the Rebels evacuated and we have been following them as fast as we can ever since. We are taking prisnors every day. We have taken about 1500 prisnors now and are taking more all the time. The Rebels have burnt two of their gun boats and 3 transports to prevent them from falling into our hands. I am very thankful to think that we have been so successful in this expedition and sustained so little loss. We have marched about seventy miles since we left Brashear City and I think we are going into Texas, if we don't find more Rebels than we can whip. I don't know how soon I will have a chance to send this letter back but I will write as often as I can. I am afraid it will be hard to get letters back and forth for a while so you must not think strange if you don't hear from me as often as usual. We are waiting here this forenoon to build a bridge that the Rebels have burnt. William nor John Youngs was not in the fight. They were left behind sick. John has come up with us but William has not got here yet. My health is

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good but I am awful tired. Dear Wife I did not have any fear when I went into the Battle but my thoughts were of you and the children. I hope to be spared to meet you all soon. Tell John I will answer his letter as soon as I can. Direct your letters the same as before. Dear Agnes I must stop for this time for we will soon leave here.  Hoping this will find you all well I remain your loving Husband.

 

 

Rufus Andrews

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Opolouses
April 26, 1863

 


Dear Wife
        I received your letter of the 22nd of March day before yesterday and was glad to hear that you were all well. I have been very busy since we left Algiers and have not had a chance to write very often. We are now at Opolouses, the Rebel Capital of Louisiana. The Rebel army have scattered in every direction from here and we are completely used up for the present. The 4th Wisconsin have all got horses and we are now a Regiment of Mounted Rifles. We have taken over 1000 horses from the Rebels since we came here. Our Regiment and one Section of Artillery went out 18 miles on the Texas road the other day and Took 300 horses and quite a lot of Cotton and returned the next day. We saw a few of the Rebel Cavalry but they fled at our approach. I need not give you the particulars of this Expedition for you will no doubt see it in the Papers before you get this. We are laying on the Prairie without Tents, having left our Tents at Algiers. The water is very poor here and I often wish I had some of the water at the Falls. I hope to hear good news from our army all over the country. If they have all had as good sucess as we have, it will be apt to have a tendency of bring-

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ing the Rebels to terms. We have cut them off from their Salt works and also from their Supplies from Texas and the Red River Country. If the traitors in the North will keep still I think we will be able to whip them out before fall. The Rebels are having a hard time through here. Our army takes all the corn they have just leaving them enough for their families. Captain Peck took a Rebel Major Prisoner the other day. He was on his way home to see his Wife and he had got most home when Peck came across him. He begged leave to go home for a short time befor he was taken away but Peck told him that there was lots of us would like to go home but we did not calculate to until we put down this Rebellion. You say in this letter that you told me about getting the money and the Locket that I sent. I did not get any letter that said anything about it befor this so I suppose it must be lost. How do you like the Locket and do you think it is good gold. I am glad to hear that you have got a new milk cow, it will be a great help to you. You must give her plenty to eat if you can get it. Dear Wife I hope to soon be with you again and then we will be happy. I think of you very often and in fact most of the time. I have not heard from Youngs since he was left behind but I suppose he writes home regular from where he is. The Health of the Regiment is very good at present but most of

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us need some rest. Dear Wife you must not worry if you don't hear from me every mail for it is not often that I have a chance to send a letter from here but I shall write as often as I can & you must do the same. I will have to stop for this time for I am going to write some to John. I got a letter from Ruth and her man the other day. I will send it to you. Good Bye love for this time. Kiss each other for me. Hoping this will find you all well. I remain your loving Husband.


Rufus

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Opolouses
May 3, 1863

Dear Wife
        The mail has just come and brought me 6 letters from you. I was very glad to get them and to hear that you were all well. Your letters that I have just received were dated March 15th, 19th, 24th, 29th and April the first and 5th. You see how irregular the mail comes and goes. We have been very busy since we left Algiers. Today is the first day we have got to rest since we left. You want to know what the men think of the affair between the Boys and Tourtlott and what I think of it. As for the others I never have heard them say much about it and for my part I don't blame John or Henry in the least. I have heard some of the men say it was a wonder that Tourtlott had not been killed long ago. You ask what I have to eat. I have plenty to eat most of the time such as it is. Our rations consists of hard bread and beef or pork and coffee. Some times we get some potatoes and beans. We help ourselves to any thing that we can find in the country but we don't find many chicken fixings. We get all of the sugar and molasses that we want. Everytime we pass a sugar house we get the best we can find in the house. We went out 18 miles from here on the road towards the Red River. We

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came up with a force of Rebel Cavalry and had a fight with them. We dismounted and followed them up and left our horses behind. We had about 500 of our Regiment and 100 of the First Louisiana and the 2nd Rhode Island Cavalry and 2 guns of the 4th Massachusetts Battery. In all about 1500 on our side against over 2000 of the Rebels. It was a light moon shiney night and we followed them up until 2 o'clock in the morning. The Rebels fought us a little while and then they would fall back and make another stand. They fired so high that they did not kill a man on our side. We could not tell what their loss was but we know that they lost quite a number. They finally left in a great hurry and we started back after making and drinking some coffee. We got back here about 9 o'clock yesterday after being up all of the night and riding all of the day before. I think we will soon leave here and follow the Rebels up as far as Red River. The Rebels are pretty well used up in this part of the state. Dear Wife I hope they will do as well in other portions of our army and the war will soon end. You say that you have earned 10 dollars this winter. You have done first-rate. One of the letters that I got last was the one that you told about getting the package. I got a letter from Ann and James and have just answered it. You

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say that Maria and Mary's family will number one more soon and that we will have to hurry to catch up when I come back. I don't know as we can catch up anyhow, but we can try as the man said about swallowing the table. I am in hopes that we will soon be where we can tell one another what we want to without the pen. Agnes I wish you would send me a few stamps in your next letter. There is no way for me to get any short of New Orleans and I don't know as I will have a chance to send for any. If you will send them I will pay you for them when I get home. I hope you will have plenty of garden stuff when I get home next fall. You ask if I have had any trouble with any of the Boys. No, I am on the best of terms with all of the Boys. I Never said any thing to Albert Tourtlott about the fuss nor he to me. We are on good terms. I will have to stop for this time. I will write as often as I get a chance to send a letter off. Good Bye love for this time. Kiss each other for me. I remain your loving Husband.


Rufus

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Alexandria, Louisiana
May 9, 1863

Dear Wife
        I will write a few lines to you this morning hoping that I may have a chance to send it away. We left Opolouses the 4th and have been on the march all of the time since. We arrived here night before last 11 o'clock in the night. Alexandria is on Red River 156 miles from its mouth and 100 miles from Opolouses. When we got here we found 5 of our gunboats here and the Rebels have left and gone up the River with their GunBoats and transports. We are a going to follow them up and expect orders to go every minute so I can't write much. I am well and hope this will find you all the same. It is a good thing for our Regiment that we have got horses for we have got a great deal of marching to do. The Rebels have got an awful whipping in this Department and if they get as badly whipped in other places, I think they will be used up. We will either capture their Boats up the River or compel them to destroy them. Our Regiment was in the advance from Opolouses here and we had several skirmishes with the rear guard of the rebels and killed several and took several prisnors without any loss on our side. Dear Agnes I have got a good deal to write about since

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we started from Opolouses but have not got time to write now. As soon as I get where I can have a chance I will make up for it. I have not had a letter from you since I wrote before and it seems like a long time, but I am in hopes we will soon meet and then we can say what we want to without writing. You must not think there is anything the matter with me if you don't hear from me as often as usual for it will be hard to send letters until we get over this march. Keep up good courage and I hope the happy day will soon come when we will be together again. Kiss each other for me. Good Bye dear Wife for this time.


Rufus

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May 12, 1863

Dear Wife
        The mail came to us yesterday and I got 3 letters from you, one of the 12th, one of the 15th, and one of the 18th of April. I am glad to hear from you and to hear that you are all well. I am well and have been since we started on this campaign. Since my last letter to you we have been up the Red River 50 miles. We followed close to the Rebels until we came to Cane River. We took their rear guard prisnors amounting to 40 or 50. The balance of their army had crossed the ferry and they threw a few shells at us from the other side but without hurting anyone. Our forces withdrew the next morning after they had destroyed all of their ferry Boats. I guess our General thought that there was not enough of them left-to-be worth following. I don't know how many prisnors we have taken in all but we are taking them every day. This is the best country that I have seen in the south and the folks are in the worst condition. They have no clothes, no groceries, and no salt and in fact nothing but corn and cotton and cattle and we are using up their corn and cattle & shipping their cotton to New Orleans. I understand this campaign has been the means of reducing the price of cotton 25 cents per lb. in New Orleans. Every man in this country has got his pockets

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full of confederate money but it takes a pile of it to buy any thing. For example the regular price for a paper of pins in Alexandria is three dollars and everything about the same proportion. The land here is mostly planted to corn this year, but the slaves are leaving and the crops are begining to suffer for the want of cultivating. I can't see for my part how they are a going to hold out much longer. I could write a volume about what I have seen and experienced since we left Algiers if I had the ability and the chance, but I have neither so I will have lots to tell you when I get home which I am in hopes will be before many months. We are camped in the woods 6 miles above Alexandria on the Red River but I understand we are to leave here tomorrow morning for some other place. General Banks is fast growing into favor with the soldiers of this Department. As for myself I think the same as I did at first that he is a smart General and is a good man. The Rebels have never had such a driving since the war as they have had here. We have chased them nearly 300 miles in their own country. Our Regiment has been in the advance the most of the time. The men are in good spirits over our success. If you hear any one say that the soldiers are in favor of peace in any other way than by the Rebels returning

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to their allegiance you may tell them for the soldiers that they lie. What right have they got to slander us in that way! I am going to tell you something and you must not mention it to anyone for I would not have it get out that I had written any thing about any of the men for any thing. It is that ____________ is very home sick and is constantly complaining about the way the war is carried on and finding fault with the Government. He is just about another such a man as his mother and he has got the name of the grumbler. You were right in guessing that he was home sick. I know you won't let any one know what I have written about this. It is nothing much but then I don't want it to get back here. Al Tourtlot is here yet. If it was not for the copperheads of the north such as the Chicago Times and lots of others this war would have been at an end long before now. Verily they shall have their reward. We have some copperheads here of the serpent kind which I concider the most honorable kind of the two. In answer to your question whether a Corporal gets any more pay than a private. He don't get any more: but he stands a better chance in several respects. Tell the children that I can't get any more of those peacock feathers here but if I get where I can get some I will send some

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in a paper. You ask how much I got when I was paid. I got $156 which was one years pay. We probably won't be paid again for some time. I get along very well for money so you need not have any concern on my account. I would like to put my arm arround your neck and kiss you and I live in hopes of the happy day. I shall do my duty and hope for the best. You must be careful of your self and not work too hard so as to get sick. Tell the children as soon as I get where I can I will send them some present. I am in hopes to be able to find some nice present to send to you dear Agnes. I have not heard from Wm Youngs since I wrote before, but I suppose Mrs Youngs gets letters from him regular. He was getting better when I last heard from him. We have plenty to live on here and we have plenty of corn for our horses. We have got pretty good horses and whenever we see a better horse than any of ours we take it. Dear Wife it is most a year since I saw you but I am in hopes it won't be much longer before I will be with you. You must pray for me and learn the children to be good which I have no fears but you will do. Kiss each other for me. Write often and tell all the news. If you don't get letters often from me you may know it is because I am where I can't send them. I think you may have done first rate in writing so often & so much. I think I will stop for

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this time. I will write often. Good Bye my dear Wife for this time. I remain your faithful and loving Husband.

 

Rufus

 

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