Letter written by Rush P. Cady, lieutenant in the 97th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company K, to his mother of Rome, New York, from Washington, District of Columbia, September 20, 1862

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PAGE IMAGEWashington (Washington, District of Columbia) , Sept. 20th 1862. Dear Mother (Cady, Daniel (Mrs., Fidelia W. Palmer)) (Cady, Fidelia W. (Mrs. Daniel Cady)) (Palmer, Fidelia W. (Mrs. Daniel Cady)) ,

I received your letter dated the
15th, day before yesterday. You had not then rec'd
my two last letters.- If I come home at all
I shall not resign, but get my discharge,
or “Surgeons Certificate of disability,” which will
entitle me to travelling fees home, & my pay
up to the time discharged.- But I am not
prepared to go home just yet.-

While Joe (Joe) & I have been waiting here, for
the past few days, to learn something definite
from the Reg., we have been quite anxious to
hear how they fared in the late battles, know-
ing that they had been fighting desperately.

Last night, one of our officers, Lieut. E. G. Spencer (Spencer, E.G. (Lieutenant)) ,
Co. F. (Company F) Came here, wounded in
the hand, on Wednesday, when he left. He
said that we had been driven back, in dis-
order, as at Manassas (Manassas, Virginia) , Reg't being confusedly
mingled together. He saw Maj. Northrup (Northrup, Charles (Major)) , all

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PAGE IMAGE safe, & others. Lieut. Dallarim (Dallarim (Lieutenant)) , Co. H. (Company H) was
killed, & Lieut. Thomas (Thomas (Lieutenant)) , same Co. under ar-
rest, for cowardice. Lieut. Carpenter (Carpenter (Lieutenant)) , Co. I (Company I)
was shot through the leg.- Other officers were
wounded, but such was the confusion, that
he could learn no names, further than those
I have mentioned. Our loss in killed &
wounded, was terrible. Co.s A, B, C, F, G, H, & K (Company A) (Company B) (Company C) (Company F) (Company G) (Company H) (Company K)
are now without officers. There
are not more than 5 line officers now left
with the Reg.- Two wounded men, of the
104th N.Y. (104th Regiment, New York) (in our Brigade) say that their Reg.
was badly cut up. Two of their captains were
killed, & several officers wounded.

It is saddening to think, how our
once fine Brigade, has been decimated.

The slaughter in the last battle was
terrible,- even greater than that of Bull Run (Bull Run, Virginia) .
- Where our Brigade now is
I dont know, but as soon as I can
learn, I shall go to them. Joe (Joe) is a lit-
tle “off the hooks” again, but only a
slight indisposition. He thinks he will now

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PAGE IMAGE apply for his discharge, & I should think
he had better do so.- I am feeling
very well now, & hardly contented with
staying here in Washington (Washington, District of Columbia) , but I hope
to be off on Monday.- Did Jack- son (Jackson) enlist as a private?- I am glad
Father (Cady, Daniel) will escape the draft. I rec'd (received)
the Sentinel yesterday.- I suppose
Collins (Collins) will not go with the Reg. now,
will he?- That bottle was sent
to Maj. Northrup (Northrup, Charles (Major)) , & a bottle of brandy.

Tell Gustavus (Palmer, Gustavus M. (Captain)) the mess wag-
on was stove up & everything lost.
Gardner Clark (Clark, Gardner) found his satchel,
but whether it is safe now or not
I dont know.- I enclose a
letter from Serg't Alexander (Alexander, George (Sergeant)) , which
will be interesting to Gustavus (Palmer, Gustavus M. (Captain)) .-

Give my love to all, & write soon.
Your aff. Son Rush P. Cady (Cady, Rush Palmer (Lieutenant))