Washington Sept 12^th 1862

 

            Dear Cousin Frank,

                                                Perhaps you are wondering why I have not written to you long ere this, but the fact is nearly every moment of spare time I have had since I got into this region I have spent in writing. I haven’t written all round yet by any means. Not that you are any less important than any other one [?] but you know first of all father & aunt Lib must be informed of my whereabouts & then there were some other cousins who had not heard of my enlistment & to whom I owed letters & to whom of course I was obliged to write. I have not had much spare time either, for when we are not drilling we are doing guard duty on long bridge or some where, so that we do not have/a very lazy time of it.

 

When we first came on here we encamped on Arlington Heights some five or six miles from the depot at Washington I should judge. As we marched out towards the heights the roar of the cannon at the last battle between Pope & the rebels was plainly audible & I tell you what, it made me as well as the rest of us feel considerably warlike & we only regretted that our discipline was not sufficient to allow us to push on & take part in the contest.

 

When we reached our camp ground our tents had not arrived, so after devouring what we had of an eatable character we rolled up in our blankets & went to sleep, woke up in the morning & found the rain pouring down pretty copiously. However my rubber blanket proved a sufficient protection for me & I rolled over & took another snooze. The 14^th were encamped near us when we/first went there but before I had time to visit them they were ordered off I know not where. While we were there I had an opportunity to see quite a number of the troops that were in that battle that I spoke of & who should I see coming into camp one morning but Manton. You may judge that I was both surprised and glad to see him. We had quite a chat about matters & things in general. He told me that he had been fighting & on the march for about 15 days without intermission & that his Co had been sent on there to get their horses shod & recruited somewhat. He said he had not seen the inside of a tent in a long time but I never saw him looking heartier & better in my life. Where he gone now I do not know. We remained in our camp there—called Camp Chase—but about a week & here we are, where it is said there/is some probability of our remaining some time acting as a guard to the city &c. I do not think there is any certainty about it however, I should not be surprised to be ordered into the field at any time. I believe I spoke to you about a Normal that was going to enlist in this Co. He has gone some where else I think as there is no such person here. at any rate I do not think you are acquainted with him as he had not been near the Normal school for three or four years.

 

                                                                                                So far I have enjoyed myself pretty well. We are encamped just above long bridge right on the bank of the Potomac where we have all the opportunities for bathing we desire, which is an advantage not possessed by every Regt. I must hurry through for it is time for me to go on duty. My address is R K Woodruff Co I 15^th Regt. CV Washington DC. Now hurry up & write to me as soon as you can for I want to hear from you very much. Remember me to all the friends. tell Alice I shall write to her next

 

                                                                        Your Cousin

                                                                                    R K Woodruff

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