Arlington Heights Oct 1^st 1862

 

            Dear Cousin Alice

                                                I presume you will think that I have entirely forggotten you & your letter, but business must be my excuse, in fact I have written so many letters I am not really certain whether I have written to your or not. I wrote to Frank a long time ago, but have heard nothing from her as yet since I left New Haven. Perhaps she did not receive my letter. Our regiment has been in camp here, or in Washington ever since we first came on & as we are detached from any brigade for the purpose of guarding long bridge & commissary stores hereabouts, there seems/to be some probability of our remaining about here for some time. Gen’ Casey seems to have taken a fancy to us & keeps us exclusively under his control. We call ourselves Casey’s pets. Twice through his influence marching orders for us have been countermanded. Once just about the time we moved to Washington, we received orders to march to Leesburg, but some way or other Gen’ Casey managed to keep us in W. Again, we were brigaded in Gen’ Kane’s brigade & day before yesterday we were turned out in a hurry at four oclock in the morning, ordered to pack knapsacks & be ready to march as quick as possible. some time elapsed & again countermanding orders from Gen Casey, so we are still here/& are likely to stay here for all I see.

                                                                                                            Oct 2^nd

That you may know what keeps us busy, I will mention our order of exercises, when in camp. Reveille at half past five A.M. Drill from quarter to six to quarter to seven, breakfast at seven, guard mounting at half past seven, drill from nine to eleven, non commissioned officers drill from eleven to twelve, dinner at twelve, battallion drill from two to four, dress parade at half past five, supper at six, tattoo at nine, lights out at 9^1/2. Don’t you think that will keep us out of mischief?

 

Twice a week each Co takes it’s turn on long bridge, to prevent disloyalists & contraband articles from crossing. Tuesday I had/another visit from Manton. He seemed to be in good health & spirits. he spent the night with me & we enjoyed ourselves quite comfortably. Royal I suppose has to hunt squirrels alone this season. Tell him I should like to be with him, but am after larger game. Tell Frank Im not going to wait for her to answer my letter but shall write again pretty soon. I would enclose a few lines now but have not time. You can consider this a family letter if you choose to.

 

Please remember me to all inquiring friends,

 

                                                            Your Aff Cousin

                                                                        R K Woodruff

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