Bishop ship approaches Mobile, and the 23rd happily disembark on Ship Island with other regiments from Bank's army. There is mention of the Alabama, presumably the Confederate raider. Bishop is still speculating about his final destination - Texas, Mobile or Vicksburg. He describes eating a hoe cake prepared by escaped former enslaved persons.
Ship Island [MS]
December 12th 1862
Dear Wife,
We arrived at this Island last night about 5 o'clock after having been at sea 8 days and 6 hours between the ports. We first made the Port of Mobile yesterday morning and communicated with our Blockade fleet about 11 o'clock in the morning. we saw the rebel steamers inside the harbor waiting to slip out. You never saw a happier set of men than we were to get out of that vessel. we had a dreadful rough passage to me as I could not get used to the motion of the vessel when it was rough it will not give confidence in the vessel as she was not built for an ocean steamer but to run on some river in China. She was named the Chekiang [Chi Kiang] and I never shall forget her as I saw the most critical moments of my life described the situation we were in one night to you in one of the letters that I wrote while we were off Tortugas.
My dear Wife you cannot think how thankful we were to be preserved from the dangers of the sea. We were packed 1200 at least on the vessel like cattle and fed in the morning about 8 or 9 o'clock and about 5 in the afternoon with hard crackers and salt junk boiled in salt water. we all got so tired of the fare that we could not take any comfort in eating it. we were the first vessel of Banks expedition that arrived here although one or two started out ofN. York 19 hours ahead of us. this morning 2 other steamers came in filled with soldiers some of our expedition from N.Y. probably Connecticut Volunteers. we found some soldiers here that came out with Gen. [Benjamin] Butler and some Rebel prisoners and plenty of contraband.
it would be interesting to you now if you could see the regiment getting ready to put up their tents, driving down the stakes for the tents so that they can be put up in line. we landed about an hour ago and the teams are drawing our Baggage to the camp which is not over 40 Rods from the dock. the island is a sandy barren place with some woods and Alligators on the other end; the government has put up quite a number of buildings in the last year and is now building a very strong fort down at the landing. there is a large light house not more than 200 feet from our tent which will make it quite light for us at night.
My dear Wife I was not sea sick but the food made my stomach and bowels out of order so that I could not feel well. last night I got some pills from the doctor and this morning I feel better.
we have now begun the stem realities of war. we were in danger from Rebel Gun boats all the time we were on the southern coast. the men would sing out that the Alabama was in sight and one day when a steamer was in sight the captain crowded sail and steam until I thought I should go crazy from the motion of the vessel but we beat her I think she was one of our own vessels. there a great many circumstances my dear that happened that I cannot remember which might be interesting to you but we arrived safely and I suppose in a months time will start with the expedition to take either Mobile, Vicksburgh or some place in Texas.
My dear Wife I had rather write to you of love than travels as that is what I take the most interest in. I used to lie in my Bunk at sea and think of you and the children and wonder what you were all doing expecially in the evening. My dear Wife the one great hope of our time while we are in the service will be to get safely home to our families so that we can see and enjoy the society of the loved ones at home. we all hope to be able to realize this hope. I think my dear that we shall see severe service for the rest of our time but I hope to live through it and return safely to find you all as well as when I left.
I said in this letter that we were the first vessel but that was a mistake as the the Alinors was here about an hour before us but we were landed before them.
My dear Wife I have just been up to a contraband shanty and got a cup of coffee and a first rate southern Hoe Cake. I wish you could see the darkies cook them. they have a spider with a lot of coals under it with an iron cover that holds about as much coals as the spider. they will bake a hoe cake in twenty minutes.
My dear Wife I suppose I shall find many lonesome and many dangerous hours before I shall see you again but I hope for the best. the only cheering thoughts I have are those that point at home. the idea that I shall eventually face if I live to tum my footsteps towards home is noiring [sic].
My dear wife do put some words of Love in your letters if you feel it but if you do not why donot say so but my dear I think you love me as well as I ought to be loved. Give my love to the children and tell them I think of them often and hope they will be good and mind their Mama.
direct your letters to me to Joseph D. Bishop Co B. 23 Reg. C.V. Banks Expedition (for the present) give my respects to Amos & the Family and believe me to be your loving Husband
Joseph D. Bishop
