Had a presentation of the regimental flag the day before and he misses his wife and children.
Camp Terry New Haven [CT] October 26th 1862
Dear Wife
According to your desire and my own inclination I set about writing to you. I am sitting by the stove in the cooks tent the day is very cold and windy and it is so cold and uncomfortable in my tent that I thought that I would get by the fire. We had a great time yesterday with the presentation of a Regimental Flag. We had a great deal of speech making, music and cheering. We donot hear anything definite about the time that we shall leave for the south. The Captain is up to Danbury now how long he will stay I do not know but I shall try to find out from him some time this week whether I can come home or not. I sent home my blouse by Ira Knapp you know I suppose you have got it by this time. Line it with something warm.
My dear Wife I miss you and the children very much you know of course how I used to write to you when I was in Chicago. I often think that we are but imperfect creatures in as much as we are not always careful to speak kindly to one another at all times but we cannot make ourselves always perfect and you know that I donot think myself so and I confess that a great deal of our bickering has come from my want of charity for the imperfections of you my dear wife. Let us keep trying and perhaps in time we may become purified by trials so as to be content with what is common to the lot of most mortals. The last time I was home I enjoyed myself very much and I was much pleased with you. It makes me happy to be able to look back to my visit with emotions of pleasure. The time looks long ahead but I am in hopes it will slip along glibly and that we shall have a happy home together. It may be if I am spared that I shall learn to be satisfied with things comfortable by that time. I shall often think of you and the children while I am gone and wish I could be with you and may be [I] shall never have that pleasure after I leave the state but I do not intend to look on the dark side of things and I have not suffered homesickness as much as I expected. I get along as well as could be expected but we donot have Blankets enough to keep us warm these cold nights but we probably are more comfortable than we shall be when we take the Field but who can tell what is in store for us.
Well my little Sauchey [Ed. Pet name for his wife] I must bid you good bye for the present I shall write you again if nothing happens by Wednesday or Thursday. I suppose you will be writing to me if you are well today you must write as affectionately as you can with truth and as often as twice a week. Kiss little Fannie and Josy and Katie and Eddie for me tell Eddie he must take my place and take care of you for me and I shall think well of him for it I cannot write much more but my heart yearns for love and I hope yours does the same and I love you my little darling and I hope you love me good bye until next time affectionately
J. D. Bishop
