Reporting of a Union defeat at Galveston, Bishop relates a rumor that their service will expire in August. It appears he still has not heard from Sarah.
[Camp Parapet, LA]
Monday Evening
January 5 1863
Dear Wife
I have written one letter to you today but I feel as if I could enjoy myself better in writing to you then any other way. My tent mates are all playing cards but as I do not play I am obliged to find other amusement.
My dear Wife we hear that our folks have suffered a defeat at Galveston of how much magnitude we have not got the particulars yet but they say that we have lost the Gun Boat Harriet Lane and one or 2 other vessels I am thinking my dear that we shall have our labor for our pay. I cannot give you much war news unless it occurs with our regiment or with some of the troops connected with us. you will probably get more news from the N. York papers than we shall have here
the rumour here has obtained confidence that our time will not be out until next August but I shall not borrow any trouble yet about it yet until I am sure that such is the case. Well my dear little Wife I can hear the Frogs croaking in the creek that is down back of our tents. I presume that you cannot hear them in Danbury at this season of the year. My dear little Wife how I should like to be home tonight My dear Wife how I do long to be with you again, you know of course that I cannot help wishing for it as am a lover of home. My dear I have got along very well so far without a woman and have suffered less than expected in the [ ] [ ] but I long to see you for all that, you must not think that my desires for home are entirely based on [ ] gratification. My dear wife I feel that I love dearly and it seems as if I had ever since I enlisted I loved you more than I used to. perhaps you will say that abscence makes the lieart grow fonder. I think it does. My dear I hope you will write me long letters that will be comforting. I long to hear from you darling,
I saw a Danbury times yesterday but did not get a chance to read it, it contained the Governors message but I did not read it. I think of going down to N. Orleans before many days to see the city.
My dear I look at your likeness and the children and derive much pleasure from the sight of you all although I should prefer to see you all. now my dear if I should never reach home, which I hope I shall you may rest assured that I love you fondly and that my dearest wish is to be restored to your kind breast. You know that I have often leaned my head upon it and found that it was the sweetest place on earth for me. My dear I hope you may feel as much affection for me as I do for you and if we ever are united again I think we shall not soon wish to part. I am coming near the end of this sheet of paper I will enclose it with another sheet you may think I am over fond in my expressions but you know that you are the only one that I can confide in with perfect confidence.
give my love to the children and to all inquiring friends and believe me to be your affectionate Husband
J.D.B.
