Sill at Camp Parapet, Bishop tells of his hope to be promoted to 'the position that I sought after when I first enlisted'. He reminds Sarah to write often and as affectionately possible because she couldn't 'realize how much I desire the affection of yourself' and regrets that in his time before his service that he may not have been as demonstrative as he feels he should have been.
Camp Parapet [LA]
10 miles above N. Orleans
January 8th 1863
Dearest Wife
I send you this letter by our Pipe Major Peck. he has got his discharge and starts for N.Y. tomorrow morning. dear Wife I thought I would send a few lines by Major Peck as he was going directly home. he has got his discharge because he was mustered in the service in a way that he cannot draw his pay and he is going to leave for home. Most of the Boys wish they had the opportunity of going home with him but I should prefer to go home with the regiment. My dear Wife I sent to you a letter 3 days ago which I suppose you will receive nearly and perhaps sooner than you will this in that letter I told you that I loved you still as fondly as ever which I hope you will prize and I hope to retain your love. My dear I look forward to a reunion with you as the one high spot of the future. I hope we may both live to realize it. there is not much news that is reliable in camp and I have not much faculty for telling what there is. my dear I think more of you than I do the war and I hope to get a letter from you soon. I have not received a letter from you since I left N. York.
I am in hopes that I shall be promoted to the position that I sought after when I first enlisted but I cannot tell certainly in this letter and may not get it at all. My dear Wife donot forget to write to me often and as affectionately as you can because you cannot realize how much I desire the affection of yourself nor how much I have always although we have not always shown each other as much at all times as we might but perhaps as much as falls to most couples.
Goodby dear Wife and write often. Kiss the children for me and give my respects to all
Camp Parapet [LA]
10 miles above N. Orleans
January 8th 1863
My dear little Wifey
this is evening in camp and I can hear the busy hum of hundreds of men all of them separated from their families the same as myself. all of them wishing their time was expired so that they could return home.
My health is as good as usual I hope it may continue the same. give my love to mother if you have an opportunity. I will write to her myself. soon. good bye my dear Wife I remain your loving husband
J.D.B.
