The company's pickets were fired upon and expected an attack but none materialized. The Rebel pickets are stationed across the River within sight. It is suspected that the Provost Marshall is considered to have Confederate sympathies. He occupies a store that used to belong Confederates and he has pass that enables me to go outside the lines at will. The Knapp Boys and John Smith are well and Robert Stratton & William Downs are sick. He thinks the President's Emancipation Proclamation should be recalled.
Brashear City [LA]
January 30th 1863
Dearest Wife
I mailed a letter for you 2 days ago but having time to spare this morning I thought I might better use it in writing to you than doing nothing.
last night our camp was all in an uproar. our pickets were fired upon and we expected an attack. all the companies were assembled on parade at ½ past 10 but there proved to be no serious attack and we all went back to bed and slept quietly until morning. I expect that we shall find it a reality before long especially if the rebels are victorious at Vicksburg and other places so that they can spare troops to reinforce the Rebels up the River. the Rebels have got their pickets stationed across the River within sight by the naked eye. this war is curiously conducted. we do not post out Pickets on the other side of the River at all but let the Rebels do just as they like. it is thought that the Provost Marshall in command at this place is not as earful of the interests of uncle Sam as he might be. he is considered to be a strong Secesh. I presume he thinks there is no use in fighting against them but I think that it is not exactly honorable for a man that is in the service to be giving advantage to the enemy.
This morning the Indiana Regt. are out practicing the Skirmish Drill and a Battery of 6 Cannon and their horses &c have just passed, they make quite an imposing appearance. Well dear Sauchey there is a great deal of talk in the Regiment that we were not regularly mustered into the service and that we cannnot get any pay. we have not been payed a cent by the government yet and I have been out of money now for about a week but I managed to get tobacco and once in a while a glass of beer of the suttler on credit. I think perhaps it would be a swell for you to send a couple of dollars in a letter if you can for fear that they will not pay us at present.
I have quite easy times as far as hardships are concerned that is we have quite comfortable quarters. we occupy a store that used to belong to the secesh. I have a pass that enables me to go outside the lines whenever I please. the Col told me he was not afraid to give me a pass to go anywhere. yesterday we had a Military Funeral with muffled drums the only disagreeable feature of the affair was that the chaplain kept us about 1 ½ hours listening to preaching and praying.
My dear little wife I should just like to open my arms and give you a good hug and then I should just like to take and give you another and then I suppose I should not be contented, my dear I feels as if I should like to be with you. My Wife I expected to find it hard to bear the separation from you and the children but I get along tolablery [sic] well thinking that most 5 months of our time is gone. darling I think of you every day and often during the day and every time I think of you I wish the time to come when I can be home with you not altogether for sensual gratification but that I may enjoy the pleasures of home. I think if anybody can tell what home is it is the soldier as he is deprived of it as long as he is in the service. All the Boys are speaking of it every day or they are thinking what they will do when they get home. they all calculate that they are going to have one good time. I hope they will realize it but undoubtedly some of them have got to bite the dust before that time unless they get discharged sooner. All of our Boys continue generally well. the Knapp Boys are well. John Smith is well. two of our men are sick those are Robert Stratton & William Downs and a good many men have had turns like the Cholera Misery but have soon got over it. the Boys eat a good deal of sugar and a good many sweet potatoes and I suppose the change in climate affects them somewhat.
My dear we get some northern papers once in a while and we are unable to see what is going on in the world. I hope there will be a peace made in some way that will be for the good of the country. I cannot see how it can be done, but by recalling the presidents proclamation of freedom to all the slaves. I do not think we shall be able to treat with them as long as that is the policy and I think that haves a bad effect on the Democrats of the north. and we have got to look to them somewhat to help fill up our armies.
My dear I love you and I long to be with you I think more of you than I do of anything else on this earth. I think of the dear children. I think of Eddie, Katie, Josey & Fannie. I suppose that Fannie will almost forget me by the time that I get home but I hope not. I often think of the little innocent thing and think I should like to take her in my arms. darling there is not really any news of interest transpiring at our post. I like to look around and see what is going on every day but I cannot think of it sufficiently to give a good description. My space grows small and I will close.
Goodbye for now and remember that I love you better than anything else on this earth and that I look upon a reunion as the greatest felicity. Kiss all the children for me and tell them I think of them. Give my respects to Amos & Fannie and believe me to be your Loving Husband
J.D. Bishop
