Camp Winfield Scott

near Yorktown April 27 1862

 

Dear Father Sisters and brother I received your letter and 2 Mercurys on the 24^th but I was not in camp at the time I was sent down to Ship point with more men to unload a steamboat of clothing for the Division I was there till Friday afternoon and then come to camp that place is full of vessels with all amunition of war when I came to camp I got the letter and $1 2 murcurys we are verry comfortable now we got new tents on Tuesday last the first we had since the 10^th of March they are for 2 men each man to carry half there is cannonading going on every day at short entervals they keep firing on our pickets so we return the fire we are about 3 miles from Yorktown there is / 100,000 men ahead of us scattered all over I dont think the battle will commence for a month yet for they have not got all the seige guns unloaded yet and the roads are in an awful state the troops are making intrenchments both day and night we are camped the best place ever we had yet the soil is sandy and streams of water for washing clothes but drinking water is verry scarce and bad there is no drums beat here nor bugles sounded no music at all our Captian and lieutenant arrived here on the 19^th he fetched some tobacco we all got some I believe he fetched some liquor we got none the money was used out of the Company funds there has been 2 companies transfered to the rest of the Companies so there is but 8 companies and about 450 men for duty 

 

so you can see that a small Regiment we have had very wet weather this month mostly every other week is wet the sun comes out very strong here in dry weather I am in first rate health at preasent we expect to get paid soon but I cant tell when I think this battle will decide the war I hope it will for I wish I was in New York now for I am tired of camp life it is a lazy life we have drill 2 a day you can send the Murcury every week they charge 10 cents for the New York herald or for any paper I shall now conclude as I have nothing more to say at preasent

 

So no more at preasent but

Remains your affectionate brother

John 

 

Direct your letter

57 Regiment N.Y.S.V.

Camp F

Fortress Monroe

General Richerdson Division

Sumners Army Corps

 

PS you can send me a sheet of paper and envelope every time you write

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