Arlington Heights Oct 10^th 1862

 

My Dear Cousin Frank

                                    Tis quite a long time since wrote to you; we were then over the other side of the river in Washington, & as I have heard nothing from you since I conclude that you did not receive my letter, or that you have had so many Normal duties to attend to, that to waste time on us ragamuffin soldiers, was not to be thought of by you. Very well, I believe you stated in the letter I received from you, while in New Haven, that you were going to be heartless, so I am not surprised. One thing however I think is pretty evident, viz, that the 15^th does not contain the heart, which being gone/leaves you heartless.

 

Now with regard to myself, I’m doing nothing but drill, drill, from morning till night, with the exception of two days in the week, when we are on guard duty at long bridge. The greatest botheration is the dust. This ground has been used as a camp ever since the commencement of the war, & whatever turf or grass there might have been once, is now completely tramped out, & there has been scarcely any rain since we have been here, & the dust,—I can give you no idea of it, so I will let you imagine it. How long we are to remain here I cannot tell. We seem to be kept for the purpose of guarding long bridge & we shall stay as long as it suits officials to keep us at that business. I presume you have seen the letter/that I sent to Alice a short time since, & I have no news to write now, except that we were turned out night before last about twelve o’clock by an alarm that our pickets had been driven in. We tumbled out double quick, packed up our duds & got into line in just five minutes after the long roll sounded. The Col’ sent forward skirmishers in front & we waited patiently for a while, when he told us the alarm was a false one, & that we had turned out handsomely, he then dismissed us, & we went back to our streets & turned in again.

 

                                                Oct 11^th

Thank Fortune, this morning we have rain. But I presume we shall now have a long drizzling spell of it, & then the mud in this clay will be worse than the/dust which has so long troubled us. All right, take it as it comes, “I’ll be gay & happy still.” I tell you what I don’t fancy we shall remain here long. Five regiments went out of here last night but they are going & coming all the while. Now Frank, if you can possibly find time I want you to answer this. Direct to Washington & the letter will be forwarded to wherever the regiment is. Remember me to all the friends, tell them I am in good health & enjoying myself.

 

                                    Your Aff Cousin

                                                R K Woodruff

                                                            Co I 15^th Regt C.V.

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