Letter from Luther Bruen, Camp near Bealeton, VA to Augusta Bruen, 1863-12-21
Near Bealeton Dec. 21 1863 My Dear Wife: I wonder if you have rec'd any letter from me yet. The last from you was dated the 13th, eight days ago. This is a good while to be without any thing from you, and it is the more annoying because there are some things which I write especially to hear from you about. Have you got my pay account cashed? Have you rec'd that check for $80 which I sent from *Peola Mills*, just before we crossed the Rapidan? I ought to have heard about the check long ago, but if you received it, you neglected to say anything about it, and I am afraid it never reached you. Hereafter, I hope you will acknowledge the receipt immediately, and also in another letter, so that if one should miscarry, I should still not be left in uncertainty as to its having got safely to you. I have seen or heard nothing from Robert yet. Gen Sutler who went to Washington on Saturday was to bring up the package. If Robert is not at *Mackhanis*, however, he will not get it. You have never had a description of my tent from me I believe, so, as I have nothing to write about this morning, I will give you an idea of the way I live, this cold weather. My tent is about ten feet square. In one corner, right by the door I have a fire-place in which I burn a good deal of wood + by keeping the door closely tied up, I manage to keep tolerably comfortable, altho' I find it too cold to write at the back part of my tent. On one side of the tent, four *split* slabs are laid, these serve both as a floor and bed + cover nearly one half the tent. On the slabs are spread some pine twigs, upon these I place my india-rubber blanket, my buffalo robe + blankets, and there I have managed to sleep, more or less comfortably, since we have been in this camp. Sometimes the lumbago wakes me up before daylight; yesterday + this morning, it got me up about half past four. I made up a good fire, sat by it awhile + then went back to bed and slept till morning. At the back part of the tent three stakes are driven into the ground and a piece of board nailed on to them make my table. A forked stake driven into the ground, answers for a hat rack +c + my two valises open on the ground in a corner of the tent do the duty of a wardrobe. The regimental colors, my chair + wash-basin + saddle used for a pillow, complete the inventory of the contents of the tent. You see there is no great effort to be luxurious in my quarters. At our mess we have breakfasted, dined and supped heartily, until Stacey came off of *tin* plates + cups. He brought a half dozen stone china plates, cups and saucers. Not more than one third of these have yet been broken, so we still continue to make some pretensions to style. I spend most of my time in my tent, the weather being either too cold or the ground too muddy to make running around very pleasant. I went over to see Capt Lay last night He said his wife had rec'd your letter #I got no news of any importance from him. - I wonder if this mail will bring me a letter tonight from you, if it doesn't I shall be very cross + you need think I'll write another letter tomorrow. So good bye dear one + write often if you want to keep me in a good humor Love to you all LBB#
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December 21, 1863
Bruen, Luther Barnett
Bealeton, 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.6.262
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http://repository.wellesley.edu/mitchill/262
