The company, presumably, changed our quarters and received orders march with blankets and 2 days Cooked rations for New Orleans and left that place by Rail Road [Ed. New Orleans Opelousas & Great Western R.R.] for Berwick Bay (80 miles to the southwest) with 8 or 10 Regiments of our troops crossed over at this time with 4 or 5 Batteries of Cannon. Bishop expects fighting. Confederates gave the troops 8 hours to surrender but answered attacking them. William Hoyt was discharged on account of sickness and went home promising that he would call and see Sarah and relay his impressions of the front. There is continued fighting near Bishop but he is thankful to have avoided it thus far.
Berwick Bay [LA]
80 miles Southwest of New Orleans
January 12th 1863
Dearest Wife.
we changed our quarters lately. day before yesterday we received orders to start with our Blankets alone [along] with 2 days Cooked rations. we started for New Orleans and left that place by Rail Road [Ed. New Orleans Opelousas & Great Western R.R.] for this place where we arrived yesterday about 1 o'clock we had orders again yesterday afternoon to be ready to start at 5 minutes notice for the other side of the Bay where the Rebels are congregated.
there is probably some 8 or 10 Regiments of our troops crossed over at this time with 4 or 5 Batteries of Cannon. we expect that there is going to be fighting. the Rebels came down to the landing last night and said they would give us 8 hours to surrender in but we answered them by sending troops across the Bay to attack them.
My dear Wife I expected that we should have to go into action last night but we have not got into any as yet and the news is that we are to stay on this side and guard the Rail Road &c. I can assure you for one that I felt thankful that we had not got to go into an engagement immediately although we are in danger of being ordered into one at any time. I have not heard anything from you as yet although we heard that a mail had arrived the day before we left Camp Parapet.
John Smith did not come with us but I suppose he will come in a day or 2 he haves [sic] to stay with the quartermaster department he was well when I left. William Hoyt a member of our company has got his discharge on account of sickness and will start for home right away. he promised me that he would call and see you and tell you of our situation &c &c. My little deary I lay last night on a work Bench in a Steam Saw-Mill expecting every minute to be ordered to march. I thought of you and the children I can assure you. I was afraid that perhaps it might be the last time I should have the power to think of you but a merciful Providence kept us out of it and I feel grateful for it. I donot expect to be able to avoid an engagement always and I hope to always do my duty where there is danger but I think an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
My dear Wife I long to hear from you and to see you I hope you wish the same.
Berwick Bay
80 miles Southwest of New Orleans
January 12th 1863
we have not heard anything from the soldiers that have gone over so that we cannot tell what is the issue but I hope favorable to us. My dear Wife accept of my sincere Love and believe me to be your affectionate husband
J. D. Bishop
Give my love to the children
J. B
January 14th 1863
Dear Wife
I was writing on the other side of this sheet yesterday and I told you that our forces had started out to rout the Rebels. this morning the cannonading is going on but with what result we know not yet.
[Berwick Bay, LA]
January 15th 1863
Dear Wife
this morning we have news from our Boys that were fighting about 10 miles above here, the Commodore of our Gunboat (Commodore Buchanan) was brought in killed, shot through the head in the commencement of the action [Ed. Bayou Teche campaign] he lies in his coffin at the Depo to be sent to N. Orleans we have taken Prisoners I do not know how many they are still fighting this morning. we are the only regiment at this place and we have to be consistently on guard and sleep on our arms, that is the privates. I do not have any more to do than usual.
Well my dear Wife I am thankful to a kind Providence for being able to write to you at this time. I send you my love and wish for yours. I long to take you in my arms, give my love to the children.
Lovingly yours
J.D. Bishop
