Letter from Luther Bruen, Camp near New Baltimore, VA to Augusta Bruen, 1863-10-22
Camp near New Baltimore Va Oct 22. 1863 My dear Augusta: Since I wrote to you yesterday I have rec'd two letters from you the last dated the 14th. They were very welcome you know. - I supposed you would be very anxious to hear from me as soon as you learned the Army was in motion, and I have accordingly written you whenever I had an opportunity. In my letter I have given you such accounts of our marching + countermarching as I could. From present indications, it would seen that we are likely to remain in our present camp for some time. After sleeping in a tent about as large as a good size dog kennel for ten days, when I had a tent at all, I have the prospect of sleeping for a night or two at least in a comfortable tent with my Buffalo robe and plenty of blankets. For the last night or two, and indeed often, in *these* shelter tents, my feet get cold before morning + make it impossible for me to sleep. Suppose you knit me some leggings, very much like those you used to make for the children; except that the bottom should be knit like the rest. I have just seen *Dick* Lay. He told me he read yesterday a letter from *Mrs* L., dated the 18th. She was *then* pretty well but nothing had happened. He thought the present was a very critical time, and was anxious to hear from home You asked me in one of your letters what officers are with me. Of *those* you know, there are *Coats*, *Mimmack*, Sargeant, + Newberry. *Winthrop* was here as Ad. Gen. of the Brigade, but he has gone away sick and Sargeant has taken his place. *Quincy* is here but has broken down and will probably go away on sick leave. These are I think all the officers you know. Capt Putnam has been home on sick leave but will probably be back in a few days. *Quincy* has been married. Capt Dallas told me some time since that he wrote to a lady friend *of* his *&* his wife's in *Washington* and demanded that she should consent to marry him immediately *&* cancel their engagement. She did not comply with his demand and *in turn in three weeks* he was married *to* somebody else. I believe he married in Buffalo, perhaps it was *Cleveland*. It doesn't make much difference which. Of course I should have enjoyed being with you much in your *rejoicing at* the defeat of Vallandigham. It would have given me great pleasure to go home + vote against him, but under the circumstances I could not ask for a leave of absence. I shall try to be home with you during the holidays, but I may not be able to accomplish it. They are making a good many *retirements* and it is possible that I may be made a Lieut Col in some other regiment before that time. This however is hardly possible. If it should happen I think I should have little trouble in getting leave. I am *only four or five* I think from the top of the list now. Tell Howard and your Uncle John I should be glad to hear from them soon. In directing my letter it is not necessary to give any thing more than my regiment + Camp. Good bye LBB.
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October 22, 1863
Bruen, Luther Barnett
New Baltimore, VA
4 pages
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Bruen, Luther Barnett -- Correspondence
Catharine Mitchill '31 Collection of Family Letters, Wellesley College Library, Special Collections
MSS.6.240
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http://repository.wellesley.edu/mitchill/240
