Camp California

near Alexandria

Virginia Dec. 19 1861

 

Dear Father Sisters and Brother i received your letter on the 19^th and was glad to hear from you and you was verry long in ansuering my last i am in good health at pleasent there are a great many in the hospital now sick and one has died i had the pleasure of seeing a baloon going of last week it started at Cloudes milles about half mile from us we were alarmed on Wedensday night last about 10 oclock and ordered to turn out for the enemy so we were drawn up in line and then ordered to bed again to sleep on arms / and nothing happened there was 3 Regiments sent off the 52, 53, 66 N.Y they got back this morning about 9 oclock and no one hurt they went about 6 miles we were to act in reserve for fear and about that Zouave cap i can buy them in Alexandria they cost 11 shillings Mr Sherwood got his box and Romain they were opened and things taken out i would like you to send me a couple of papers every week weekly papers such as the clipper and wilkes spirits and Sunday Murcury it is getting cool here in the mornings we have little frost we dont know wether we will stay here this winter let me know if Father is working yet we wont get no money before the 10^th the next month let me know what kind of weather you have / it is verry warm here in the middle of the day we drill twice a day a batallion drill and a brigade drill which last 2 hours each it is hard work we blong to Gen. French Brigade and Gen. Sumner Division i went to mass last Sunday in the 69 the 88 arrived here on Wedensday afternoon we have plenty to eat plenty of water and any quanity of wood i would like to know who is that Sullivan i seen no man that name

 

So no more at preasent but remains

 

yours truly                  

John Loughran

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