Letter written by Rush P. Cady, lieutenant in the 97th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company K, to his father of Rome, New York, from Camp of the 97th Reg. N.Y.V. near Belle Plains, Virginia, April 27, 1863

---

PAGE IMAGE Camp of the 97th Reg. N.Y.V. (97th Regiment, New York)
near Belle Plains, Va. (Virginia) (Belle Plains, Virginia)
April 27th '63. (Eve'ng.) Dear Father:

I sent you by Express, today, a pack-
age of money, containing $1.280; enclosing a state-
ment of who it was to be paid to $220. is for Mrs. Northup (Northrup (Mrs.)) ,
$205. for Mrs. Alexander (Alexander (Mrs.)) , $65. for Rev. Mr. Beach- am (Beacham (Reverend Mr.)) , $35. for George Frisbie (Frisbie, George) , Verana (Verona) (Verona, New York) , $10. for Mrs.
Jane A. Hawkins (Hawkins, Jane A.) , New-London (New London) (New London, New York) . And there is to be cred-
ited to me $745, of which $530. is my own
money. One of our men deposited $180. with
me, and another one $35. Charge those to whom
the several amounts are sent, their proportion of the
Express Charges, with the exception of Mr. Beacham (Beacham (Reverend Mr.)) ,
as you will see by the statement enclosed with the
package. I collected the note of Lt. Alexander (Alexander, George (Lieutenant)) , and also
$25. which he owed Gustavus (Palmer, Gustavus M. (Captain)) , which with other items
credited to Gustavus (Palmer, Gustavus M. (Captain)) , makes any account with him nearly
square, if he has not paid you anything on it before
this. Crediting you with $5.45, for Express package, Feb.
9. (Contents & Express Charges) and substracting the $37, which
I had charged you, as being paid by Gustavus (Palmer, Gustavus M. (Captain)) , there re-

---

PAGE IMAGE mained $396. To my credit, which with the $745.
now sent you, will make a total of $1.141.
subject to my order.

I wrote a letter to Mother yesterday, telling
about all the news. But there remains an item
of news more important than I have yet commu-
nicated: we this afternoon received definite or-
ders to march tomorrow morning at 8 o'c.
with 8 days rations (the officers having theirs carried
upon mules, & the men carrying theirs in Haversacks
& Knapsack. It is not known what is to be our
destination, but we expect to march in the direction
of Port Royal (Port Royal, Virginia) – perhaps 30 miles below here.

I have been informed that the 5th & 11th. Army Corps (5th Army Corps) (11th Army Corps)
have yesterday and today marched to
Warrenton (Warrenton, Virginia) , about 40 miles W. (West) of North from here.
The weather is promising, and I have no doubt the
campaign is about to commence in earnest.
We expect to see the rebs pretty soon. The army
feels confident of success this time, though it
may be achieved with great sacrifice. We know
positively, that from all its training in the hard
school of experience, that the Army of the Potomac (Army of the Potomac),
taking into account its spirit, and discipline, sani-
tary condition, and general efficiency, is better pre-

---

PAGE IMAGE pared than ever before, for the performance of the [stern]
and stupendous task required of it.

And when we know, too, from the repeatedly corroborated testimony of
deserters from the rebels, and from contrabands, daily
coming into our lines, that the rebels – very have a formidable general
to contend against, viz. “General Starvation”, we
can but hope that they will become the more easily de-
moralized, and conquered.-

I wrote to Gustavus (Palmer, Gustavus M. (Captain)) yesterday and the day be-
fore, urging him to came to the Reg. without delay.
I am afraid he will come tomorrow, and find us
gone. Shall have to write to him not to come, if
he has not already started.

I will write home again as soon as anything of im-
portance transpires, and there is opportunity to send letters.
Love to all. When convenient, let me know about
the Exp. Package – whether it comes safely, and is all
right.

Your Son, Rush P. Cady (Cady, Rush Palmer (Lieutenant)) .

Excuse errors, as I have been compelled to write hastily,
on account of preparations for march'g.