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 Headquarters 97th N.Y.V. Rappahannock Station, Virginia, November 16, 1862

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PAGE IMAGEHeadquarters 97th N.Y.V. (97th Regiment, New York)
Rappahannock Station, Va. (Virginia) (Rappahannock Station, Virginia)   Nov. 16, '62. Dear Mother (Cady, Daniel (Mrs., Fidelia W. Palmer)) (Palmer, Fidelia W. (Mrs. Daniel Cady)) ,

Your welcome letter – to Gustavus (Palmer, Gustavus M. (Captain)) – dated the 6. inst. Was
rec'd night before last.- Although 8 days on the way, it was the only
one rec'd from home, for some time. I have just finished a letter
to Eliza (Cady, Eliza) , though it is about 10 days since I have heard from her. But
I don't think best to wait till answers come to my letters, before
writing again, as there is considerable delay sometimes, & we want
to get letters, both from home & from her, as often as possible.

When I last wrote to Father, at Warrenton (Warrenton, Virginia) , we were just on
the point of marching, we knew not where.- Starting at about
1 o'c. P.M., we came to Bealton Station (Bealton Station, Virginia) , a distance of 17 or 18 miles,
arriving there rather late in the evening. It was the longest, & most
fatiguing march, we have had, since leaving Mercersville, Md. (Maryland)Mercersville, Maryland, but
men & officers stood it remarkably well, & were soon joking &
laughing in the finest spirits, around the camp fires. Bealton Station (Bealton Station, Virginia)
is about 6 miles west of Catletts (Catlett, Virginia) , & about 6 from the
Rappahannock  Bridge (Reppahannock Bridge) , of which we are now within a mile.

Arriving at that place Tuesday night, we bivouacked on
the ground, very irregularly, without laying out any camp;
the regiments being almost mixed up with each other; & so we
remained till Thursday, when we moved a short distance

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PAGE IMAGE & laid out regular camps, the regiments, being on the same
line. The ground was very level, & smoothly carpeted with
grass; & here & there at frequent intervals were scattered a
variety of evergreen trees; altogether forming one of the most
beautiful camping grounds, we have ever had. On Wed.
Gen. Duryea (Duryée, Abram (General)) , & Capt. Duryea (Duryée (Captain)) (his bro. & Adj. Gen.) returned;
but the Gen. did not resume command of the Brigade,
as he ranks higher than Gen. Gibbon (Gibbon, John (General)) , who is now in com-
mand of the Division, since Gen. Ricketts (Ricketts, James B. (General)) went to Harper's Ferry (Harpers Ferry, West Virginia) ;
but he will probably take Gibbon (Gibbon, John (General)) 's place, unless as-
signed to some other command.-

Bealton Station (Bealton Station, Virginia) , by the way, is the place, from which I was sent to Washington (Washington, District of Columbia) ,
sick, last Aug.- Last night we were informed that our
Reg. had been transferred out of Duryea (Duryée, Abram (General)) 's old Brigade, into that of
Gen. Taylor (Taylor, Nelson (General)) , formerly commanded by Gen. Hartsuff (Hartsuff, George Lucas (General)) (wounded at Antietam (Antietam, Maryland) ,
& since deceased.) & were ordered to report to Gen. Taylor (Taylor, Nelson (General)) ,
this morning, striking tents & marching at 7 o'c. which we did.
We marched about 5 miles, perhaps only 4, & upon our arrival
here, immediately encamped. This Brigade is composed of
the 88th Pa. (88th Regiment, Pennsylvania) the 9th N.Y. (9th Regiment, New York) the 97th N.Y. (97th Regiment, New York) & the 12th Mass. (12th Regiment, Massachusetts) The 88 Pa. (88th Regiment, Pennsylvania)
was in our Brigade a short time, at Clouds Mills (Cloud's Mill, Virginia) . A Lieut. Wagner (Wagner (Lieutenant))
of that Reg. went with me to Washington (Washington, District of Columbia) last Aug. & for a short time we
were at the same private house together. We think that
our transfer into this Brigade, may perhaps be an improvement

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PAGE IMAGE in some respects, though we were on the most friendly terms
with the other officers in our Brigade, & now will have to
form new acquaintances.- It is thought that the
men will get a greater variety of rations than before, as we
have a much better Brigade Commissary; who also keep on
hand a better variety of provisions to sell to the officers.
At times, the officers are obliged to depend almost entirely
on the Brigade Commissary, for their supplies, when little or
nothing can be bought through the country, where we go.

There is quite a body of troops at this point, composed
of cavalry, artillery & infantry. We are only a short dis-
tance from