More severe rain and his tent leaks some but his oil cloth blanket on the straw keeps his the straw on the floor dry to sleep on. More rumours of a movement to Fortress Monroe, Charleston or Texas. Thanksgiving's approach makes him hopeful of a furlough to come up to Danbury or have Sarah come down to New York to her cousins. Says that most are disgusted with the service but will not desert and that ruminates on his disposition.
Camp Buckingham
Centreville Course,
Jamaica, L. Island [NY]
November 21st 1862
Dear Wife
I have just received your letter dated Nov 17th I donot think that you can have received the first letter that I sent to you from this camp. Your letter of this morning comforted me much I was glad to feel that you thought of me still.
We are having a severe rain storm and have had for 3 or 4 days. The tent leaks through some but I spread my oil cloth Blanket on the straw to keep it dry so that I can have a dry place to sleep. There are many of the tents that have no stoves in them and I should think that they would all be sick as their tents and straw are all wet through and they are all huddled in together. I think if this wet weather continues that we shall have a good many sick ones in the regiment. As to when we shall start from here I hear various rumours. Some say that we shall start pretty soon for Fortress Monroe and some think we shall be here for 2 or 3 weeks yet. Most of us think that Charleston is our destination instead of Texas. Next week is Thanksgiving and if we stay here I am going to try to get a furlough to come up to D if I find that we are going to move quicker or that I cannot get a furlough I will write to you in the mean time and have you come down to N. York to your cousins Sues and I can come over there to see you. I should prefer to [?] to Danbury if I could. If I should not see you before I go I want to have you leave the children with Amos except the Baby and make a visit to New York. But I am in hopes that I shall be able to go to D before we sail.
My dear wife I think of you with love and hope you will not forget me. I know that you would like to come to New York but I donot want you to come to the camp unless I am with you. The men are escaping from here everyday. Most of them are disgusted with the service. I do not think I could bring my self to deserting and keep my self respect. I myself have not suffered any hardships but the restraint that must necessarily be used to keep the bad ones in subjection. there is a great deal that is disagreeable and unavoidable but we console ourselves with the idea that the 9 months cannot last forever. I stand it better than I expected to and my health so far is better that it was when I was home.
my dear Wife I must draw my letter to a close. I hope the bond of affection may be drawing us closer and closer between us by my abscence and I hope that when I return if I should do so, that we may never lose that love for each other which seeks the happiness of both. I donot think my disposition is as happy as others but I hope that God will give me the privilege of loving you and being loved by you in return
from your loving Husband
J. D. Bishop
