Bishop is anxious for communication from Sarah. He delinates his duties and lays out what times he is expected to have them carried out.
Brashear City
February 4th 1863
Dear Wife
This is a rainy morning and not much to do and I improve the time by writing to you.
yesterday I got excused from duty for a day or two because I had got tired out and wanted one or 2 days rest. the duties of my position are very confining and sometimes disagreeable when things do not go along smoothly sometimes the men act contrary and try to avoid doing their duty and I have to exert some authority to make them obey.
I hope you will not wait for me to write before writing to me if I should not happen to write as often to you as I sometimes do. I look anxiously every time the mail arrives for a letter from you and for the last 2 mails I have not got any so that I begin to feel as if I should like to get one or 2 or 3. this morning my ideas do not flow very smoothly or very fluently. one of the musicians is fiddling the other is fifing and it is hard work to write while there is as much going on.
My dear I have not felt very well for the last 2 days I have felt very nervous on act. [account] of attending to my duties too closely. I have to give all the calls of the Regt. at a stated time for each call. the regulations of a Regiment work just like a clock or should do if they were properly carried out. our duty command at 6 o'clock in the morning at reveille then there is a call at½ past 8 sargents call at 7 Breakfast Call, at½ past 7 the surgeons Call, at 8 o'clock guard mounting at ½ past 9 the drill for non commissioned officers, at 10 the recall at ¼ past 10 the drill for the company, at 12 the recall, at ½ past 12 the Dinner Call, at ½ past 1 the !51 Sargents Call, at 2 Battallion Drill, at 4 the recall at ½ past 4 the 1st call for Dress Parade at 8 o'clock the tattoos at ¼ to 9 the taps which ends the days duty. three taps on the drum at ¼ to 9 signifies that all lights must be immediately put out and all privates, musicians & non commissioned officers must turn into their bunks so that the rest can sleep.
Well my darling we have just been up to a barn to get some corn shucks for bedding. sometimes we find the bare boards hard to lie on and the Boys try to find different things to make their beds easier
Dearest Sauchie there is much that I could say if I was home that I cannot think of to write but I think that this gist of the matter is that you are my dearie and I am glad of it I wish was with my dearie. My dear Wife I long to have the time come when I shall have the power to stay home as long as I like, war is but a poor trade to live by and it is a disagreeable one at that. I long for the time to come when I can sit under my own vine and fig trees without anybody to say me nay. dearest little wife I think of you with love and am glad that I possess just such a little wife as you are,
hoping that this will find you all well at home I remain your loving husband
J. D. Bishop
