Camp in the field near Sulphur Springs VaAug 27th 1863My dear Wife:-

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I have just received your letter dated 23d inst I must say that I am sorry for your sad condition yet I am somewhat amused that you console yourself that others are as badly afflicted. I expect that it is tender in the extreme and little sore in the same place. But I am thank ful that you are not afflicted with sickness.

I must confess that I have not answered your question with the prompness they deserve, but I think I have answered them all in my last. It is not necessary to repeat them.

We are having quite a change in the weather here, last night was very cold, and I slept what little I did sleep, very cold, and it is going to be cold again tonight. I shall manage to do better tonight. The sun is about setting and shines pleasant in my face. We get our mail at 4 P.M. and it goes out at 9 P.M. so you see that it give me a chance to reply to your letters without delay, and that is what I am doing now. There is so little change in our life here in camp that I hardly get any thing

worth relating. I had a letter this evening from Joslyn of Newport who is in the 11th Regt, he says he is sick and want me to do something for him which of course I cant do. He also says that Kendrick Richmond is sick with the Rheumatism in hospital. Joslyn is very anxious to get home. I cant say that I want Royal to come out here and rally hope he may be exempt. IF he should come as a private he would not remain so long as such men are wanted for officers and they are scarce. You feel bad about my short fare, well it was a little tough but we are sure to make it up when we do get any thing to eat, and as for my health it is first rate. When it is other wise you shall know it. You probably have got my letters about the chance for promotion, but dont preech, for if I should fail I would not like to have it known. You will have smiled to see me the other day try to hive a swarm of Bees, they lit on a blackberry bush directly in front of my tent. I got a box and placed it under them then shook them off the bush, and they began to go into the box and I began to anticipate

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a sweet lick. When to my chagrin they refused to be [        ] into my wishes, and left for more congenial quarters. I attributed there exodus to some dislike to the quarters offered them. The box by the way was a soap box and they had no idea of being soaped in such a manner. I was thinking this morning when I was suffering so with the cold how wonderful it was that I am so far from my old rheumatism. I have hardly had a twinge since I came out here, nor have I had a cold but twice and that did not amount to much. If I have not had biles I have had what is con-sidered a greater luxary, the itch, and such good times I have had a scratching, but I havent been lousy yet, but I expect every day to find some rebs or as the boys call them grey-back or on me.

Your letters are burned as soon as I answer them Wonder if there is any thing more to write? guess not.

Give my love to our dear little children and accept the love of a full heart for your

-self. I wont close this just yet as I may think of something more to say before the mail goes out.

Nothing more to write

Your loving HusbandJ.C. Rutherford