Civil War 150: Philip Henry Rutter, part 6

Philip Henry Rutter served in the Civil War in Company K, 12th Iowa Volunteer Regiment from March 28, 1864 to July 14, 1864.  His parents, Emerson and Mary (Nichols) Rutter, both applied for pensions based on his service.  Found in the pension file were five letters Philip wrote home during May 1864.  Each letter provides a window into life in the army during the Civil War and details of Philip's unique experiences.
To read the letters, see the Intro,  Part 1, Part 2,  Part 3, Part 4 & Part 5.

The reason why Philip's parents were able to apply for pensions under him is because Philip was killed during the Battle of Tupelo, Mississippi on 14 July 1864.  I have not been able to find out any specific information about Philip's death. He is buried at Cornith National Cemetery in Cornith, Mississippi.  His information is entered into two Burial Registers for Cornith:

[1]

[2]

The first Register gives a report that might contain more information.  Both Registers list the burial location: Section I, grave 570.  Today the location has changed slightly and is now officially Section I, Grave 1270.

[3]

_____________________________________________________________________________
[1] "U.S., Burial Registers, Military Posts and National Cemeteries, 1862-1960," digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : downloaded 12 November 2012), "Burial Records. National Cemetery at Corinth, Miss.," p. 177 (penned), entry for P.H. Rutter (co. K, 12 Iowa); the entry for P.H. Rutter and four others are part of sheet that has been glued onto the ledger; Burial Registers of Military Post and National Cemeteries, compiled ca. 1862–ca. 1960; Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774–1985, RG 92; NARA, Washington, D.C.
[2] U.S., Burial Registers, Military Posts and National Cemeteries, 1862-1960," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : downloaded 12 November 2012), "Record Book of internments in the National Cemetery at Cornith, Mississippi," p. 65 (stamped), entry for P.H. Rutter (Co. K, 12 Iowa); Burial Registers of Military Post and National Cemeteries, compiled ca. 1862–ca. 1960; Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774–1985, RG 92; NARA, Washington, D.C.
[3] Find A Grave, Inc., FindAGrave.com, digital images, (http:/www.findagrave.com : downloaded 25 November 2006); photograph, “gravestone for P H Rutter ( - 1864), Memorial No. 3177953, Records of the Corinth National Cemetery, Corinth, Mississippi;" photograph © Vicki Burress Roach.

Civil War 150: Philip Henry Rutter, part 5

Philip Henry Rutter served in the Civil War in Company K, 12th Iowa Volunteer Regiment from March 28, 1864 to July 1, 1864.  His parents, Emerson and Mary (Nichols) Rutter, both applied for pensions based on his service.  Found in the pension file were five letters Philip wrote home during May 1864.  Each letter provides a window into life in the army during the Civil War and details of Philip's unique experiences.

This is the fifth letter, see the Intro,  Part 1, Part 2,  Part 3 & Part 4.

May 28, 1864

This letter is my favorite.  Philip talks the happenings in his home town and the family he left behind, sharing news from his sister-in-law Mary [(Finch) Rutter, wife of Alonzo].  He shares bits of news from the two brothers, Hollis and Jubal, he keeps running into, including the fact that Jubal took his extra pair of boots for himself.  Philip he mentions he got a letter from his other brother Lon [Alonzo].  And yet a war is still going on around them and Philip is apart of it every day.

[1]

Camp 12^th Iowa
   Memphis Tenn May 28^th 64

Dear Mother & Father
   It is with pleasure that I take my pen in hand at this time to rite a few lines to you. we are still in our old Camp and on Pickit as usual. I have been trubled with the Liaree a little but am getting over it a little[crossed out] now, Hollis came down this morning but I have not seen him yet, one of the boys was down Town and see him and he gave the letter to him you rote and it aforded me much pleasure to here from home I had not had a letter from home in a week before. I rote you a letter day before yesterday which I hope you will get. you rote in your letter that you had got your planting done and that you had painted the Citchen and the Poarch. and I expect it makes the house look a great deal biter than it did before I was glad to here that those Goosboyes were doing well this summer for they were such nice bushes I am in hopes that by the time they bare again I will be at home to eat some of them and if Grant is sucesesfull in taking Richmond we will be at home by this time next year. I am glad that you have pleanty of milk now for it is so good to use in the family. we have a consiterable ^milk in the line of toal ant on Picket and it comes in good play in over Coffee. I would like to be at home to work in the Garden this ummer but you must do the best you can and mabe I will hoe it next summer at least I am in hope I will
   Hollis said he would come up here on Monday he would come up tomorrow but the felow told him that we would ^be out on pickit Jubal was up here yesterday he came up to get my boots for hisen was all worn out. I received a letter from Mary yesterday she is well she says the children are going to school this summer she did not rite much. Jub received a letter from Lon the other day they are still on the Island yet they have got 5 forts built and are still at work building more he says they are busy all the time at work on drilling but I dont think they have any more Duty to do than we have ^for we have all we can ^do at any rote as much as we want and expect to get pay in a few days but I dont now as I will get any or not if I do it wont be much nut if I can spare any I will send it home. and when we are paid off again we will get some more of out Bounty and then I will send about fifty Dallars home for it to be. I mite keep all of my money and spend it and when I had spent it I would not feel as well as if I had sent it home. and of I send it home I will have some thing to show.
   Well I don't now as I can think of any more to rite at this time rite as soon as you get this and tell me all the news I will rite as often as I can and that is all I can do.
   I send my love to all the folks and a good share to yourselves so good by for this time.
   from your Dear son
      Philip
   to his
      Parents
 _________________________________________________________________________________
[1] Philip Rutter to "Dearest Mother & Father" [Emerson and Mary (Nichols) Rutter], letter, 28 May 1864; Mary E. Rutter, mother's pension application no. 223,150, certificate no. M.O.C. 193,691, for service of Philip H. Rutter (Pvt., Co. K, 12th Iowa Inf., Civil War); Case Files of Approved Pension Applications ..., 1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files; Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Civil War 150: Philip Henry Rutter, part 4

Philip Henry Rutter served in the Civil War in Company K, 12th Iowa Volunteer Regiment from March 28, 1864 to July 1, 1864.  His parents, Emerson and Mary (Nichols) Rutter, both applied for pensions based on his service.  Found in the pension file were five letters Philip wrote home during May 1864.  Each letter provides a window into life in the army during the Civil War and details of Philip's unique experiences.

This is the second letter, see the Intro,  Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3.

May 16, 1864

[1]

Camp 12^th Iowa
Memphis Tenn May 16^th
64
Dearest Mother
I received yours of the 7^th and[crossed out] in due season, and was glad to here from you once more. I am as well as ever I was in my life. we are having very pleasant ^weather here now but the nights are very cold though we expected to be ^be rerieved from Duty but we was grandly mistakened we went out yesterday morning on Picket expecting to be relieved today but when we got into Camp an order came for six Companys to prepare to go to white river but we dident happen to be A one of the Companys so thare is only 4 Companys left in the regiment, and we have the same Duty (with the exceptions of getting up in the morning at 4 oclock) we had before in regard to being Vacinatid. I can say that I have been and it is working very well. I expect I will have a pretty sore arm before it is through with. but that is beter than to have the Small Pox. thare is three cases of it in the Regiment but they are getting along very well. that man that was shot last week is dead he died yesterday and was bureyed today he left his fami-ly very destituite. Jubal was over here the other day he said that they received Orders to go up to St. Louis to leawse thire Horsses & Ecnteamnets but the Order was Countrmanded. I don't think that I will get out of practice of milking while I am in the Army for if any cows come around the Pickets they generly get milked I am glad you have received the money that I sent for I began to be uneasy about it but it is safe now. and let it be used to the best advantage. that Blue Bell that you sent made me think of the Garden I suppose Peas onions Potatoes and such thing are up but they are big enough to eat down here. it is nice to go along and see the gardens with the flowers all bloomed out. I will send you a sample of some of the rosies in this letter Keep them and when you look at them think of Philip. . well Dear Mother I ^must close for now Keep up good spirits and all will turn out ^well in the end so good by for this time rite soon and often
From your Dear son
Philip
To his
Mother.
_________________________________________________________________________________
[1]  Philip Rutter to "Dearest Mother" [Mary (Nichols) Rutter], letter, 16 May 1864; Mary E. Rutter, mother's pension application no. 223,150, certificate no. M.O.C. 193,691, for service of Philip H. Rutter (Pvt., Co. K, 12th Iowa Inf., Civil War); Case Files of Approved Pension Applications ..., 1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files; Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C.