Camp Day Aug 19 1862

 

Friend Harriet

                        I have a plenty of time and so seat myself to write you. I am seated in my barricks writeing on my knee We did not have any trouble with our furlough we walked on to the camp and did not hear a word from it. we do about as we like the sargent detaled five of our squad to stand guard today we told him that we should not stand guard untill we had our uniforms and we stuck to our text all but Doane he is on guard now we have good / straw beds furnished us now but no blankets. we are all enjoying ourselves very much we played cards most all the forenoon. we were called out onto the ground last night and presented with a Bible by the Boston Bible society

 

The Officers of the camp say they shall send us south this week so I donot supose we shall get any furlough. I wish they would send us tomorrow

Sibley sits beside me writeing to his swety in Oakham

 

Downey and Slayton are [?] apples and tumbling around it is impossible to write a letter but perhaps I can scripble of somethings’ we like this / camp better than we did we first came here. we are pretty rough if there is Beds or blankets in the Barracks we have them if we cannot get them by fair means we do by foul. Soldiers have to learn to be rough or they do not stand much of a site.

 

I dont know as I have any thing more to write you at this time but will try and write more next time write me before we leave this camp give my love respects to your mother and all enquireing friends. Excuse bad writing because I am surrounded by crazy boys

 

                                                                        Yours &c

                                                                                    Elbridge Hume

SOURCES