122nd New York Infantry | Spared & Shared 23

These letters were written by Philo E. Ruggles (1843-1863), the son of Noble O. Ruggles (1807-1892) and Sarah Shoens (1824-1890) of Syracuse, Onondaga county, New York.. Philo and his younger brother William Eugene Ruggles (1844-1907) served in Co. B, 122nd New York Infantry. Philo was a sergeant and William was a private. In the Battle of Rappahannock Station, on 7 November 1863, Sgt. Philo Ruggles was killed instantly by a shell fragment that hit him in the head when it exploded in the ranks.

*Philo’s letter was written on stationery with a song published by James D. Gay entitled, “When This Cruel War is Over.”*

Letter 1

Camp on Picket near Warrington, Va.
August 28, 1862

Dear Father and Mother,

We received your letter yesterday morning and it found us all well and in good cheer. We have been on picket six days now. I do not know how long we shall stay here. I had rather be here on picket than in camp and if we were in camp we would have to drill this warm weather. Now we do not have to drill—only stand guard nights and keep watch for guerrillas and if we can catch them, bring them into headquarters. We are driving them out the way pretty fast. We send out a patrol guard everyday for to pick them up. We have bread and milk most every meal. We have [to] pay twenty-five cents a canteen full of two quarts. It is pretty dear but we have it when we can get it. We draw rations of soft bread two or three times a week, dried apples, beans, rice, molasses, black tea, once in a while. I must close. I cannot think of any more to write about this time so I shall have to close. With my love and best respects to all inquiring friends. From Sergt. Philo E. Ruggles.

Dear Father & Mother,

I now take my pencil in hand to write too. We are all well and kicking. We have fun halting the big officers. We make them show their passes all the time they go through our lines. It is 3 o’clock, The drums is beating for church. I am growing so fast that you won’t hardly know me. Tell the folks to write to me. I don’t hear half of the news. Tell Tom Shoens to write and John Shoens to write. Give my love to all. — William E. Ruggles

Letter 2

Camp near Williamsport
October 8, 1862

Dear Father and Mother,

I received your letter yesterday just after we had go through drilling. It found us all well and tough as a knot and fat as a hog. We are learning fast in drilling. There is a Major from one of the old regiments learning us. He understands his business. He is a smart fellow. I wish that I understood drill as well as him. We had a fine drill this forenoon. He was learning us how to form into line of battle. I was acting as First Sergeant of my company, the Orderly being sick and not fit for duty. The 2nd and 3rd Sergeant did not know the Orderly’s duty so the Orderly called on me to act in his place so I did. The Orderly hinted to me that there is a ggoing to be a change of officers in our company [and] he thought that I stood a chance to raise a step or two.

Just after I had got through drilling, I had some washing to do so I went to the place where all the men go to wash their clothes. If you had been here you would laugh yourself almost to death to see them washing. I should think there was about 50 men washing their clothes. Such a time I never see. There is a stream of water that runs from a large spring which the boys were washing in. They took hold of it so awkward that it was fun to see them—one making fun of another to see them wash. The boys keep their clothes pretty clean. They wash their clothes once a week. I have my week’s washing done and out a drying on my tent. I can beat any lady washing without a wash board. My clothes look as clean and white as snow. Will has been washing too. He has got his drying too.

Wil is a writing a letter to Aunt Mary I. Raynor. I have received a letter from Luther Merrick. I was glad to hear from him.

I don’t want you to let anybody know what I am a going to tell you for maybe that the friend that I am a going to write about would not like it and it may make his folks feel bad. Well, here it comes. Judson Webb was seriously wounded yesterday morning by an accident of his own carelessness. He had been acting as Officer of the Guard the day before and just came on duty. He sat and went to work to clean his revolver. While he was cleaning it, he discharged one of the barrels and one of the balls went through the calf of his right leg. It was a glancing shot so it did not hit the bone. It is only a flesh wound. It will probably lay him up about six weeks before he will be fit for duty. He is the same old six pence. The wound does not make him feel down. He is full of fun. I went to see him after he was wounded and the first thing he said [was], “Oh Ruggles, wouldn’t you like to have someone carry you and have someone to wait on you?”

You wanted I should write and let you know what we had to eat and if we had any poor meat. Well, I will tell you last week on Wednesday we went on picket for 24 hours [and] while we were on picket, there was some fresh beef brought for our company. There was no one that would attend to it and so it got fly blood and when we came off [picket] the meat was given out and when they come to look at it, it was alive and running away, it being too hot here that fresh meat, unless it is taken care of right after being killed, it will spoil. We have salt pork, corned beef, beans, rice, pilot bread, coffee and tea and sugar of the best kind or none at all. If we have anything that does not suit us, all we have to do is to go to the commissary sergeant of the regiment and tell him of it and then he will take it away and bring us [something] that is good. My love to all, — Philo E. Ruggles

This letter was written by William Eugene Ruggles (1846-1907), the son of Noble O. Ruggles (1807-1892) and Sarah Shoens (1824-1890) of Syracuse, Onondaga county, New York. Nothing is known of William life until he enlisted with Co. B, 122 Regiment of New York Volunteers in 1862, at which time he described himself as a carpenter. He was clearly unhappy in the army, however, and deserted several times. In 1865, after one such desertion, he was court martialled and dishonourably discharged, after which he returned to Syracuse where he remained until his death. There he married Alida Alexander a year or two after his discharge, with whom he had one daughter, Reba. During his time in the army Ruggles had contracted chronic diarrhea which left him permanently weakened. After the war he worked in a meat market, and when this became too much for him, as a cigar maker. He died in 1907, after which his wife and daughter moved to Prescott Ontario. Some time after her mother’s death in 1927, Reba moved to Scotland. She died in Angus in 1958.

William is credited with a series of drawing depicting the regiment that were bequeathed to the University of Dundee in 1958 by Ruggles’ daughter. All the drawings, however, at some time appear to have had a different signature, in the right hand corner, which has been erased. This name in most cases is illegible apart from a few letters, but the drawings are in fact believed to be that of Phillip M. Ostrander, 149th Regiment. Several of the drawings, however, depict scenes at which Ostrander could not have been present. It is likely that the later and perhaps even all the drawings are based on original photographs or other pictures. [see Ruggles Bequest]

Transcription

In rifle pits
May 16, 1864

Dear father and mother,

I now sit down to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and kicking. We haven’t lost many men in two or three days—only 24 wounded. Tommy Gardner is well and all right so far. Skile Segor is killed. He was killed in a charge and all the boys is well that is left—only a few that worne out. Our [Brig.] General [Alexander[ Shaler is taken prisoner. He was commanding our Brigade and our adjutant and six lieutenants and some captains was taken prisoner in our Brigade. Lieutenant White is safe and Andrew Wilkins is too. And Lieut. Col. [Augustus W.] Dwight.

We have got most to the railroad that goes to Richmond. Many things is working right so far and I hope it will continue so. The Rebels is pretty sick of fighting and I think everything is good so far, I hope it will continue so till we get to Richmond.

I will send some more letters and papers that I got out of the Rebels knapsack and I will send a dollar that you may use. I doesn’t send much at a time but I will send you all I can spare. I have to close for it is going to rain. Give my love to all—Charley too, and all that ask about me.

From your son, — William E. Rugggles