Not having anything to do and it being a very rainy day. A John Carpenter was given a letter for Sarah. The troops are confined within the race course. Mr. Byfield's son was in camp and Helen Bishop was at their House in New York. Abe Gray wanted warm water to help his chafe between the legs. A good many have deserted. There is a rumour that they will be sent to help Burnside.
Camp Buckingham Centreville Course Jamaica, L. Island [NY] November 21 st 1862
My dear Wife
not having anything to do and it being a very rainy day I thought I would write a letter to you to fill up the time. I wrote a letter and sent it by a young man by the name of John Carpenter I assume you will recieve it by tomorrow noon. the rain still continues without any prospect of it clearing off. our Colonel proves himself not be as popular as he was at the start. he does not think much of the comfort of his men but personally I have not much to complain of but I never did fancy him much.
we are confined within the race course and no possibility of our getting off the ground at present I am writing my dear to occupy my time and because I have no newspapers to read the day being so wet that news boys did not come over here. we are about 9 miles from N. York city by the L. I. Rail Road. the Depo is about ½ a mile from the camp ground.
Mr. Byfield's son was on the camp ground to day and said that Helen Bishop was at their House in New York and that probably they would be over here on Sunday to see the camp. if I donot send this letter before that time I will send it by her. Give Amos my respects when he calls to see you and tell him that I am obliged to him for the trouble that he is to for us. My dear Wife I seem troubled to find ideas to fill up my letter with after having written one before today. If I could transcribe the conversation that is going on in tent, we have a stove
in our tent and some come in to warm some water. just now Abe Gray came in and wanted to warm some water so that he could wash himself. he said he was chafed between the legs so that it hurt him to walk. some of the men seemed to think that perhaps he had got something else the matter with him but he declared that his Tap was all right. such are the conversations that are the most current in camp. Some of the men will say they will be d---d if they do no go home if they have to run away. a good many have run away already. My dear time passes away and I hope I shall be spared to come home after my time has expired. the rumor now is that we are going to help Burnside butl donot put any faith in that rumour I think we shall go south as soon as they can get the expedition ready. My dear Wife I have just finished my Supper and am sitting on my Knapsack and my Blanket by the stove with a candle sticking in a dish for light we manage to keep comfortable with our stove to warm and dry us.
well my darling my space grows short and I must end this letter with the assurance that my lover for you is as strong as ever and I hope may never grow less.
Affectionately
J. D. Bishop
