Letter from: Lafourche Bayou, Louisiana (Document)

Letter from: Lafourche Bayou, Louisiana

Bishop, Joseph D., 1825-1863

1 leaf, bi-fold, pencil on paper

Bishop reports rain and making adjustment to his quarters. He has stomach issues but the medicine he received helped him. He has made rings for the children. He reports having spoken to Captain Lewis H. Northrup about his wife Harriet and advised him to refrain from sending money because Bishop thought she was not 'doing her duty' based presumably on some information that Sarah shared. He advises Sarah not to be scared by Mrs. Northrop. Harriet Northrop died on the February 23rd, 1863 at the age of 26, leaving behind a 10-year-old son, Ebenezer. Captain Northrop had filed for divorce on June 6, 1861 according to the Litchfield Times and would die shortly after returning home in October of 1863. He discusses some particulars regarding his pay.

1863-02-16

United States. Army. Connecticut Infantry Regiment, 23rd (1862-1863)

ms071_01_06_1863_02_16

Gift of Carol Lieto

Bayou Lafouch L.A.
February 16th 1863
My dearest Wife

Today is Monday and a cloudy day at that. last night it rained hard and flooded the ground so that we thought we should have to move our tents but the water settled down so that it did not reach our bedding which is some Hay laid on some Boards. I have got so that I can when I feel well sleep on a board without much inconvenience. we generally when we pitch our tent in a new place make a flooring of boards enough to keep off the damp. in this place the nights are very damp and in wet weather the ground is very muddy.

I have not been well for the last few days but I think it is a good deal Bilious and dyspeptic feeling. I caught cold and was sore all over but I took a sweat of herb tea and felt better next day but I find that I have got to take some medicine to bring me right. I have made a couple of rings for Katie and Josey and I am going to make another for Eddie to send in my next letter I have not time to make it for this letter. the largest ring is Katie, the smallest is for Josie.

I spoke to Mr. Northrup to day about his Wife and told him from what I had heard that I thought she was not all right. the reason I told him was that I saw he was fixing to send money to her and I thought perhaps that he might not do it if he know she was not doing her duty. what course he will take I cannot tell but if she should come to talk to you about it donot let her scare you at all, you did not say anything that you ought not to have said.

I understand that the Mail Boat has arrived at N. Orleans and I suppose we shall receive the mail from home by it. I hope I shall have a letter or 2 letters. it is now some days since I received a letter from you and I should like to have another. of course I always feel some anxiety about the health and welfare of all of you. I hope you recovered all right from your difficulty. I suppose that it is the effect of weaning Fannie. I should like to see the little thing. I think she must be cunning [sic] by this time. I enclose in this letter an order for 10 dollars due by the state of Connecticut to me for you to collect. you can get it cashed probably at the Danbury Bank by allowing them a ¼ dollar if they ask it. you will want to endorse it on the Back of it if you collect it. the Captain has gone to N. Orleans to day with the payroll to get our pay and then I intend to send you in my next some money. the first that I have received from the U.S. government. My pay amount at 12 dollars a month up to the 1st of Jany. $53.60 I shall probably send you so or 30 dollars. the 1st of March we have another payment of 2 months due, which we shall probably get at that time. I want you my dear if you have not got them already to get you good clothes and make yourself so that you can go a visiting once in a while, when you write please inform me whether you have received the monthly payment due from the state or not.

Now my dear I must close my letter and I want you to consider my Love and as belonging to you and that you have it exclusively and that I hope to be home by the middle of June if God is willing.

from your affectionate husband
J. D. Bishop