Letter from: Berwick Bay, Louisiana (Still Image)

Letter from: Berwick Bay, Louisiana

Bishop, Joseph D., 1825-1863

8 pg(s); 4.5 x 7", bi-fold; Pencil on paper

I received 2 letters dated the 1st and 4th of January and he finds them 'very acceptable.' Sarah reports that she has disposed of their upstairs neighbor and Bishop is relieved that they have avoided the potential scandal by being too closely connected. He reports of holding their position with the gun boats and the 21st Indiana and one battery artillery. Bishop has received the appointment of Principal Musician of the Regiment with the pay of 21 dollars a month. He reports on the destruction of the Rebel Gun Boat (Cotton) which was a very large Boat and a great trouble to the Federal troops in this quarter. He again hears that Vicksburg has fallen. He tells of marching on dress parade with his sword. He reports the area is full of sugar plantations with enslaved persons, and had not seen any cotton growing. They have plenty of sugar.

Berwicks Bay [LA]

85 miles southwest of New Orleans

January 19th 1863

Dearest Wife.

I received 2 letters from you last night, one of them dated the 1st of Jany, the other the 4th of Jany. My dear Wife the letters were very acceptable you cannot think how much. My dear I find them all that I wished as they contain the welcome news that you were all well and that you still loved me which I prize very highly. my dear I am glad that you have got rid of your upstairs neighbor as I was afraid we might suffer some scandal by being too closely connected. I was glad to get Edwards letter and glad to see that he could write one. I wish he could be taught to write at school. but you need not add to your other duties by teaching him yourself. I wish you to take as much ease and comfort yourself as you can while I am gone from home. Kiss the dear Children for me and tell them that I think of them often and wish them to be good children and not to forget their papa.

there is not much change in this place. we hold it with the gun boats and one Reg. of Indiana 21 st and one Battery of Reg. Artillery. at present we are comfortably quartered in a large building formerly used as a store. the music haves a very comfortable room by themselves. I have received the appointment of Principal Musician of the Regiment and have the music under my charge, &c &c. the office of Drum Major is not recognized any more in the army and the man who was our Drum Major has got his discharge and starts for home tomorrow. you will be happy to hear of my success I know as I had set my heart on the possession of that office. the pay of P. Musician is the same as Drum Major I believe 21 dollars a month.

My health continues good. and I enjoy myself tolerably It was quite a sight to see the regiments the other day as they came in from the skirmish up the River, they destroyed the Rebel Gun Boat (Cotton) which was a very large Boat and a great trouble to the Federal troops in this quarter. there was about 8 thousand troops went up the River, all of them have returned and most of them have gone towards N. Orleans or up the Mississippi River. we hear that Vixburgh [Vicksburg] has been taken by our troops but I do not think it is true I wish it was. My dear little wife I had rather write to you of how much I love you as I cannot be there to tell you, my little darling I think of you as often as I get to thinking of anything else but my duty. your letters my dear cheered me very much and they were good letters. I hope we may be spared dear to live together again. be careful my dear of appearances while I am away. I know you will darling but there are people in the world wicked enough to take pleasure in the destruction of the happiness of a Family. My dear I never had the least want of confidence in you but have always felt that you were good and worthy of my love I hope never to change. My darling do not think I am too sentimental as I have no one else but you and the children to love. I think all of us feel the need of some one to love and of being loved in return, do not you think so?

of course you know my weaknesses and I hope you have charity for them. you know my darling that my disposition is not as even as some folks but I hope it is reliable. I know darling that you will forget all that is disagreeable in my former conduct and trust me for the future which probably will be very much like the past if I and you live as my nature will probably continue.

you ought to see me Sauch [sic] with my sword marching down the Regimental line before the music on dress Parade which generally takes place about 5 o'clock P .M. in pleasant

weather. guard mounting is a good deal like Dress Parade only it consists of those that are going on Guard for 24 hours with the officers connected with it. Military is full of Ceremony and some of it would seem to be unnecessary to outsiders but the service requires that everything should be done according to the regulations. I have very nice times of it now since I have got my appointment I have a room with the Music where we practice and read, write or do anything we have a mind to except when we are on duty. our calls and parades have to be punctual all I have to do is instruct and lead them on parades.

I think I will write to mother this afternoon as it is a wet day and we cannot stir out much without getting wet which we avoid if possible although I stood out in a hard rain this morning through guard mounting.

well darling I do not know of much to interest you about the country. it seems to me to be very much like a new country except that here they have their Plantations with slaves, principally sugar plantations in this section of the country. I have not seen any cotton growing as yet but plenty of oranges. there are plenty of sugar mills around here and we have plenty of sugar here.

now then darling I must begin to think of bringing my letter to a close and I will repeat to you that I love you dearly and that I long to join you and have once more a home but I donot expect to be able to do that before June. My dear I would that I could express to you all the fondness that is in my mind or heart for you but I cannot and you must accept as much as I can make intelligible donot forget to write me often nor forget that I crave affection from you and believe me to be your loving Husband

J. D. Bishop

January 19, 1863

United States. Army. Connecticut Infantry Regiment, 23rd (1862-1863)

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Gifted to WCSU by Carol Lieto, 2021