Union Course Nov. the 24 1862

                                                                                                                                    

Dear Mother

                        I now seat my self to inform you that I ame in camp on long Island we left Elmira on the 18 we stayed theare ontill saterdy then we came to this camp we putup our tents yesterd it being Sunday but we do not stop work on Sunday when it is nessery for us to work Our tents is made of Canvis and there is from foure to five stayes in a tent it was very rany when we ware / in New York but it hase Cleared off plessent now my helth is good at presant and I thank God for it there is a good many of our boys sick mostly from Colds but they most of them was left at home and in Elmira this is a plesant place and there is a great meny Soldiers here I can not tell you corectly how many Soldiers there is here but I think there is from 10,000 to 15 000 here I must bring my letter to a close as the Captin is sick and he has sent for me to do some writing for him No more at presant but remember Your Son

                                    W^m. M. Bell /

 

Deare Uncle & Aunt I send my respects to you all and you must write to me be fore long as I do not know any thing about how long we will stay here on this Island

no more at presant from

 

Your Nephew

                        W^m. M. Bell

 

P.S. W^m. M. Bell

            union Course

            Jamaica New York

            Co. E. 161 regt. N Y S V

 

            (care of capt. P. H. Durland)

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