He informs his wife that they are to leave Ship Island the next morning for New Orleans. The weather is hot and sultry. He has heard that Richmond and Vicksburg were taken and that General Banks also arrived on Ship Island.
Ship Island [MS]
December 14th 1862
Dear Wife
Today is the Sabbath day but does not seem much like it as everything in military life goes on the same on Sunday as on any other day. I have sent 2 letters to you since we arrived here but I donot know whether they have left the Island yet or not. we expect to leave this place tomorrow morning for New Orleans but whether we shall stay there or not we donot know. as soon as I ascertain what our real destination is I shall write to you.
there are a good many rumours as to where we are going but none ofus know certainly. the Transports were coming in all day yesterday and this morning but most of them started for N. Orleans yesterday among them the vessel containing General Banks. I did not see him but some of the Boys saw him. we have been hearing firing from many cannon all day or most of the time this morning. some of the Boys think that it is from Mobile but of course we do not know. this Island is a collection of white sand and everything is covered with sand. I have not seen a anything that looks like soil on this end of the Island.
There seems to be a lack of news this morning and I guess that I shall have to wait until I find something interesting to write about. the weather today is quite hot and sultry. I dare say that you have cold winter weather in Danbury.
Dec 18th
Dear Wife
not being particularly busy this afternoon I will add a few lines to this letter.
I have just been out to look at an Alligator that a couple of men killed down on the other end of the island. he was not so large as some of them are but a about 7 feet long
the Regiment except our Company and Co F left for N. Orleans yesterday morning. We did not go with them because the Capt. of the vessel said he could not or would not take so many men as came on her to N. Orleans so that we and another company were left with the Col on the island. we do not know how long we shall stay here Some think that we shall stay here some time but we do not know. the transports are arriving daily with soldiers for N. Orleans. we do not yet know what our destination is. and I donot yet whether the letter that I have sent to you since I arrived here have gone to N. York. we think here that the mails have not gone because Gen Banks would not let them.
I hope that you have not felt any anxiety about our whereabouts. My dear little Wife we are on the island enjoying ourselves as well as we can some are reading some are talking some are doing one thing and some another. all hoping to pass away the time so that their 9 months will be sooner ended.
My dear little Wife I hope you will not forget me. it seems as if I had been away from home as much as 6 months although it is only 3 weeks since I was home. never mind deary if I only live to get home and find you all well. we have not seen a N. York paper since we left N. York we think that you will naturally feel anxious about us as you cannot hear from us until they allow the mails to go forward. there is not much news on the island vessels come and go and bring rumours. We have heard that Richmond is taken and we have heard that Vicksburgh is taken but we donot know whether the rumours are true or not.
give my love to the children and tell them to be good and mind their mama so that I shall find them good if I come home and if I donot so that they can be a pleasure to themselves and others when they grow up.
My dear Wife my love for you is as strong as ever and I hope yours for me does not diminish.
from your loving Husband
J. D. Bishop
