Bishop continues to report on the warm weather and calculating when he'll return home. He reports on the Emancipation Proclamation taking effect but doubts a visible effect on the war. Burnside's defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg is reported as dimming prospects for a Union victory against the South.
Camp Parapet [LA] 9 miles above N. Orleans December 31 st 1862
Dear Wife,
My dear I feel just like writing to you. whether I can find ideas enough to fill a letter remains to be seen.
well my dear little Wife tomorrow will be New Years day and we are down here on the Mississippi river with hot days and cold nights while I suppose you are having snapping cold weather with perhaps sleighing.
My dear we have just had a general inspection previous they say to being paid off. I hope it may prove true. the third of january we shall have been 4 months in the service. we are in hopes that our time will be out by the middle of june next so that we can be home by the 4th of july if we are alive.
My dear we have been in no engagement yet and we are in hopes that we may be stationed here or at some other Fort or town, city &c where a garrison is necessary. we have now been in this place most a week and we are in hopes that we shall not have to move right away as it is very disagreeable to have to pack and unpack so often.
My dear it would be quite a sight for you to see all the forts and Gunboats there are scattered along this southern country. the Gunboats are scattered at every fort from Virginia to the lower part of Texas. where we are now there are extensive fortifications that were originally built by the rebels. they extend for 3 or 4 miles and are protected by very heavy cannon. we hear that the policy of our commanders is to take the old Troops up the river where the fighting is going on and have our 9 months men to garrison the places they leave. whether it will prove true remains to be seen.
My dear Wife my health has been generally good but 2 days ago I was troubled with looseness of Bowels but fortunately the surgeon of the regiment gave me some medicine that helped me right off. we have plenty of oranges to eat which I think does not do any good to us but they are so tempting that I cannot resist the temptation.
tomorrow is the day that is set apart by the president for the emancipation act to take effect. We donot think that it will have much visible effect on the war. we received news of the defeat of Burnside at Fredericks burgh. I am afraid my dear that we shall have to eventually give up the idea of forcing the south to come to our terms altogether but time will tell. it may be that by surrounding them that we can eventually conquer them.
My dear we busy ourselves with making finger rings out of coal that we found in the wreck of a rebel vessel. we carve in them military devices. I have one that I have made at this place out of Red cida [sic] that makes a nice one. they serve to remind us of the places where we were stationed when they were made.
New Years Evening Jan 1st 1863
Dear Wife
the mail closes tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock and I must close this letter.
we have not seen the 3 companies that we left behind at N. York yet we hear that there are only 28 or 30 of them left and they had not left N. York when we heard from them.
Good bye dear until the next letter. you must write often and as interesting as you can and believe that I love you as much as ever and give my love to the children and kiss them all for me and believe that I would kiss you if I were home.
from your affectionate Husband
J. D. Bishop
P.S. John Smith is with us and well as usual he wrote by last mail.
J.B.
