There are reports that Bishop's regiment will join General Godfrey Weitzel for an assault on the Confederates. James Hagan's health discussed. Bishop speculates in regard to the the draft that if the 23rd were called upon that they would not be willing to shoot down men in Connecticut for not being willing to submit to the draft despite the 300 dollar bonus. He reminds Sarah to write to him as affectionately as possible.
Lafourche Crossing La.
April 2nd 1863
Dear Wife
I wrote 8 pages yesterday and I thought I would write 4 more this morning. I cannnot tell what changes may take place with us now from day to day. the Troops are going up the Road and coming across from baton Rouge to join Gen Weitzel to make an attack up on the Tech [Bayou Teche]. well we hear reports that we are to join the expedition. there may not be any truth in the rumours. if there should be we are likely to be ordered to move at any moment. it is said that our Col. that is Col C.E.L. Holmes has applied to be put into active service but the rumour has not been proved yet. I write to you about our probabilities so that you can understand our situation. ifwe should go with Gen Weitzel we should probably get into Texas before we got through with it. so that probably we could not communicate with one another for some time. what the chance is of cleaning out the Rebels in this quarter is I do not know. I think the Rebel army on the Tech or Tash [Bayou Teche] is composed ofreckless men and I think they will fight strong but we cant tell.
James Hagan tents with me He is not very well. he took medicine yesterday from the hospital and I think that he will escape having a Fever if he should be sick I shall write immediately if I am where he is.
we have had 2 or 3 days of beautiful weather now which is quite encouraging and I am in hopes that we shall have a continuation of it.
I understand that Gen Banks has as many as 50,000 men in but I donot think that he has over 40 thousand at the outside the Regts most of them have not over 500 effective men in them. I donot think that we can muster 500 men for an action. I think if we go with Weitzel that we shall act as a V [sic]. of course as far as the glory of war is concerned it would be to our advantage to go into action but if we get shot the glory would not amount to much. I am in hopes that if we go into action that I shall possess the necessary courage to do my duty without flinching.
well my dear time passes and the month of June will soon be around whether it sees us on our way home or not. I think myself that the powers that be will let our Regt. go home in June if for nothing else but to help enforce the draft. I have my doubts about the Regt.s being willing to shoot down men in Connecticut for not being willing to submit to being forced into the service for 3 years on account of the 300 dollars clause in the law. the tendacy of allowing money to buy off the service of men because they are[?] the 300 Dollars is very bad. it is very aristocratic in its tendency and I am astonished that such a clause should be allowed.
well my dear wife I wrote in the other sheet about my love to you and I repeat it in this. about my love for you is unabated and constant and that my dearest wishes are for your welfare and the Childrens. do not forget to write as affectionately as you can and believe that you have all my love that does not belong to the children
from your affectionate Husband
J.D. Bishop
