13th New Hampshire Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER Written at Camp Colby, Concord, NH

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13th New Hampshire Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER Written at Camp Colby, Concord, NH:
$56.55

CIVIL WAR LETTER

This Civil War letter was written by Rufus Putnam Staniels (1833-1890), the son of Charles Herbert Staniels (1810-1879) and Elizabeth N. Johnson (1810-1834)of Chichester, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. He wrote the letters to Selina Aiken Cook (1839-1915) of Portland, Cumberland County, Maine, whom he would later marry in November 1865. Selina was the daughter of George Henry Cook and Susan A. Aiken.

Advertisement for sewing machines sold by Staniels in 1860

In the 1860 Census, Rufus is enumerated in Concord, New Hampshire, in the household of Augustus H. Wiggin where his occupation was recorded as “sewing machine agent.” Indeed, an advertisement in theNew Hampshire Patriot and State Gazettepublished in Concord during the summer of 1860 tells us he was an agent for Williams & Orvis’s Family Sewing Machine. This letter was written in January 1862 — some seven months prior to Rufus’ acceptance of a commission as the 2d Lieutenant in Co. C, 13th New Hampshire Infantry. He remained in the service until June 1865, rising to the rank of Captain (Co. H) in the same regiment.

The obituary notice for Rufus was published in the Springfield Republican on 6 January 1890:

Col. Rufus P. Staniels, who died at Concord Saturday, was born at Chichester in 1833 and enlisted in the 13th New Hampshire regiment at the beginning of the war. He rose to the rank of major, and afterward became assistant adjutant-general on Gen. [Edward Hastings] Ripley’s staff, whose troops were among the first to enter Richmond after the evacuation. He was dangerously wounded at Cold Harbor. He returned to Concord [after the war] and began a mercantile career, but later became secretary of the Concord mutual fire insurance company and also of the state fire underwriters’ association. His wife, who survives him, is the president of the women’s relief corps.

TRANSCRIPT

13th New Hampshire
Camp Colby
Concord [New Hampshire]
September 24, 1862

My Dearest Selina,

As I suppose you will feel a little anxious to know if I received the chain or not, I sit down this morning to pen a line or two. And I am happy to inform you that I last eve received the letter containing the chain — all in good order. Also the one you sent the next day. They were both postmarked September 20th but did not arrive until last night. They were some time coming but weresplendidwhen they did come — particularly the last one. It seemed almost like seeing you — it seemed so natural — just as you would talk — which you know is just the kind I like. And besides, it was a good, long one.

Think I did pretty well yesterday for besides your two letters, I received one from “poor Fuller” and another from Mr. Richardson enclosing his card de visite. Mr. Fuller expects the hounds will be after him and is taking all the precaution he can in order to be ready to meet them. Says he has sold four machines since he has been there so I presume he has done about enough to meet his daily expenses. He knew all the circumstances of the case before he bought me out. Mr. Richardson says he has been away for two weeks past — says business looks small enough. He enclosed five dollars ($5.00) to me, that being the first monthly payment of Mr. Waldron. There are three more payments to be made of $5.00 each month which he will pay to you. Also the sums due of Mrs. Humphrey & Mrs. Hanson which is all there is due me in P., I believe.

I notice by yours that you are still agitating the question of keeping house and hope you may be successful in your endeavors and have a chance to try it. There is one thing about it — if you move on to Hampshire St., you will be nearer Mrs. Tolman’s and you will then be more neighborly, I presume. I do not wonder that they thought it strange that you had not called for so long a time. I trust you explained to them the reason why we did not call on them before I came away and convinced them that it was not from want of inclination that we did not do so — but that the reason was that we “did not have time.”

And now, Selma, in regard to those letters, I think you ask a little too much when you ask me to burn them. I can’t do it, but will leave them all together done up and marked or if you insist upon it, I will send or bring them to you before going away on condition that you shall preserve them. In regard to the notes, I wish you to keep them until I return from the war — if ever I do — and I trust I shall. But in case I never should return, I wish them to be presented to the one whose name is signed to them and the amount will be paid to you and will be forever yours. And please do not let it worry you a bit for I assure you, it will not cause anything but kind feelings for was there any prospect of its being otherwise, I would not ask you to keep them.

In regard to myself, I am getting along very well. Our company is now mustered in & are nearly uniformed and are expecting a furlough the last of this week over Sunday and I am not quite sure that I cannot come to Portland. I tell you I want to see you again before leaving very much & think I must. I think it is queer that Fannie has not written to you yet, but we know how she is in such matters. I presume she thinks most every day that she will write but keeps putting it off. If you should conclude to go to Lawrence or Woburn or anywhere else, please let me know as soon as possible. And if I can get away a day in advance of the day I have a furlough, I will drop you a line if I can possibly do so. I now think I will see you somewhere either Saturday or the first of next week. I wish you could come up here the last of this week and stay until I go away. Why can’t you? And we will spend the Sabbath over home. Do you not think the Dr. would allow it? Please let me hear from you immediately if you can.

I have not donned my uniform yet but have the undress suit here in my tent all ready & shall put it on tomorrow if nothing happens. Then I guess you’d like to see me. I guess I am about as black as a real contraband already. My health is very good so far & I feel in hopes camp life will agree with me but can hardly tell yet, I suppose. If my scribbling is somewhat disconnected, you must not think strange for I am the only commissioned officer of our company on the ground. They keep coming to me for permission to skedaddle &c. &c. and I tell you, it is a little hard to say no but it has to be said in some instances.We have dress parade nearly every afternoon at five o’clock but think we shall have none today.

But no more now. My regards to all enquiring friends, and a great deal of love to you. Yours as ever, — R. P. S.

P. S. I want you to come to Concord — will you!

TERMS

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