Mr. Nothrop's wife is sick with lung fever. Bishop is sending his Indian Rubber Blanket home to his wife and children. He talks of duties and the new men who have been drafted to fill up the regiments. He misses his wife and wants her to write often and affectionately as possible.
Camp Terry New Haven [CT] October 29th 1862
Dear Wife
Having an opportunity to send a letter today I thought I would write a few lines to set you a good example of writing often.
I am glad to hear that you are all well. Mr. Northrop went home yesterday of course you saw him he says his wife is sick with the Lung Fever I am sorry to have them suffer from sickness. I have been engaged in making myself a water proof Blanket Cloak to keep me dry when it is wet weather. The money that I earned at fifing last week I used it to buy the material and when they give me an india Rubber Blanket I will send it home for you to cover the children or to spread over our feather bed to keep it dry from Frannies Pee. [?] - as well sarah to every progresses the same as usual.
Today we have got on a double guard to prevent the escape of Draughted men that have been brought here to fill up the Regiments. The day is quite fine. Yesterday we had a beautiful day after the Storm and I was up to the city. My duties are not all arduous in fact I donot have to fife more than 2 hours a day and have nothing else to do but eat and sleep. I donot have to drill or stand guard but I have to be out at 9 o'clock at night for 15 minutes and 6 o'clock in the morning about the same length of time.
Well darling there are times when we feel the necessity of pouring out our expressions of love and this seems to be one of the times with me my darling of course when I cannot be with you I can only write to you. You may be somewhat skeptical of the sincerity of my expressions of love but I have got no one else to love and I must pour it out on some one and who has a better right than you to receive it my own little Wife. The one who generally receives my caresses with out much murmuring. My little darling donot think that I am incincere in my expressions of love to you because I repeat them often you know that a15sence makes the heart grow fonder and I have often told you that I wish that there could (be) no expressions but those of fondness escape us toward one another but we must forgive and forget and try to do better next time. Kiss the children for me and learn them to love their father. I have not said anything to the captain since he got back but I think I shall be able to get home by a week from Saturday so that you need put your self to extra pains to get the children ready to go to Bridgeport. We do not hear of anything to let us know how long we are to stay here I think we shall have 5 or 6 days notice of when we are to leave.
Good bye darling and donot forget to write often and as affectionately as possible. Donot hesitate to get a woman to do your washing when you do not feel able to do it yourself nor hesitate to draw money from the Bank when you need it as I do not know when we shall be paid off here. When we are you can deposite it again. I want to have you buy yourself a shawl and a Bonnet donot hesitate to do it on account of the expense.
From your loving Husband
J. D. Bishop
