87^th Regt N.Y.V.

Near Harrisons Landing

July 31^th 1862

 

Dear Sister All.

                                                                                                                                    I now take my pen in hand full of ink, to let you know that we are still alive, and are enjoying very good health witch I hope that this will find you enjoying the same blessing. we are yet in the same camp and in the same place, on the soil of Virginia, but we are a getting along better now than we was some time since, for we are now getting fresh bread every day. we get it every mornning hot right / out of the oven, and it is mutch better for us now, for we had not seen any fresh bread since we left hamton, for to march on yorcktown, untill now. so you may imagin how it tasted. the first lot that we got, we could only get one half of a loaf for the first, and then after that each man got his full loaf. but I must tell you that we have nice times a going on picket. we go on about every five days, so we have it very pleasant, to think of getting out of camp so often, when we can get blackberries, and huckleberries. so we get what / we want of them, every time that we go out and it happened so that we found a sugar pair tree, and so we helped our selves

            August

to them, and brought a lot in camp, and stewed them so we had quite a dish. but it is near time for to put this in the mail, but it is not yet ready for to start. I received your letter of the 21^st July, and I did not want to let it go to long before answereing it, so I commenced it in July 31^st and now end it in Augest 1^st, but I was very happy to hear from you, but I dont think that it would do to send / of those elephants in a letter for he would make his way out I think. but I must soon close fore it is about time I think. you must rite as often as I can and the rest of them. we had too that came back to our co. last night, one of whome was wounded at the battle of fair Oks, and the other was in the hospital sick, so we are too stronger now. but I must close, so no more at presant. we Join as one and send our love to all hands and the cook.

rite soon                 

 

     From Your Affectionate

you must                     Brother Wilson

excuse all                                To

                                    Alice Sproul

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