Bishop doesn't want his wife to lend money to Mrs. Ball. Mr. Northrop's wife has died. Sarah Bishop has to move because of Clark Hoyt.
Bayou Lafourch L.A.
March 10th 1863
My Dear Wife
I have just received your letters of the 22 & 23d of Feby. my dear Wife I found them to be all that I could desire. you cannot think how much pleasure it is to me to receive them. I was not feeling very well and was rather low spirited but your letters revived me up. I was glad my dear to think that you had enough confidence in me as I have in you. I feel my dear as if it was providence that preserved us from harm.
but I want to warn you against lending the money that you have in the Bank to Mrs Ball because I think that her Husband should take care of her money matters, besides that I think I have heard that she was in the habit of borrowing money, I think that she is insane on that subject, at any rate donot lend her any more and if she does not pay it to you I want you to go to her husband and tell him that she has borrowed the 10 dollars and I want him to pay it if she does not at any rate there are some of her religious friends that can furnish her with necessary money.
Mr. Northrop has received a letter today containing the news of his wife's death. he takes it to heart very much. It makes me feel sad my dear wife to think of his wife acting as she did and to see how quick she was cut off. I am strong in the opinion that an overruling providence overrules our action. we are given our judgement to control our actions but we need the help of god to give us wisdom to direct us aright. how little we are able to fathom the womb of the future. I am sorry that you are obliged to move and I feel indignant when I think of Clark Hoyt. Ed Comstock tells me that the man that has hired the part that we live in is not in the habit of paying his rent. but I want to get home myself and I will try to take care of you and the children. try to get into a respectable house and locality until I get home if it is possible. and be careful of the money so as not to get out of money before I get home and do not lend any of it to any body unless it is to Fannie and she is not likely to want it. but whatever comes my dear Wife continue to have perfect confidence in my intention to do right.
your affectionate expressions to me make me happy. I sometimes feel as if I should like to rest my head on your bosom and be able to talk to you with perfect confidence. my dear wife you have no idea of the utter abandonment there is in the army as it regards morality and the fear of God, but I suppose it strikes me more forcibly because I have not been in the habit of associating promiscuously with all kinds of men. but still these very men are warmhearted and think that they are as good as other men.
my dear wife I hope you will always bear in mind how much I love you and I hope you will always return my love to you. my dear I watch the time as it passes with longing for your dear arms how I long to be in those dear arms and on that dear bosom. accept my dearest love and believe me to [be] your husband
J.D. Bishop
