The election results disappoint as Buckingham defeated Seymour. Improvements in the outlook on the war. There is some allusion to Sarah's suspicions of Bishop's fidelity for which Bishop sympathises.
Napoleonville, La.
April 19th 1863
My dear Wife
yesterday I write a sheet full to you but I thought that I would add another sheet as the envelope will hold it easy enough and it does not cost any more. last night we got the returns of the connecticut Election. it seems that it went for Buckingham. I own that I am somewhat disappointed in the result of the Election. I think it is the course that providence intended and I think it is for the best and I shall submit my wishes without a murmur. My antipathy to Gov. Buckingham arose principally to the manner in which we were sworn in and the attempt to hold us for more than 9 months. I think we shall be able to get clear of the service in June but it may not prove so. if we have to stay until august we shall all of us be very much dissatisfied and perhaps trouble may arise from it. some of the Boys swear that they will not do any more duty after the 30th1 day of June. my dear wife the mail arrived last night and I did not have a letter or paper. the mail before I received 2 N.Y. Times of 20th & 28th March. we generally get the important news by the New Orleans Papers before we get the Northern papers. I intend to send you a New Orleans paper by the same mail that I send this letter. it contains the result of the Battle on the Tech [Bayou Teche]. we have not got the full result ourselves as the Troops are still in pursuit of the Rebs so far it has been a great Victory and I think will have an important effect on the result of the war.
I think the prospects for success are good for our side now as there seems to be an improvement in our armies on all sides and I think that if we had plenty of men to put the thing right through that we should take port Hudson & Vicksburgh by way of the Yazoo pass that eventually they will take it. I think that the Battle that has just been fought in the Tech [Bayou Teche] will produce very important results as I think it will enable our folks to get their Gun Boats and Troops about port Hudson without going by on the Mississippi River. but you will probably see by the N. Orleans paper what is expected to be accomplished by it. we have got a wet day to day with thunder & lightning. I pity Gen. Weitzels Troops as they are out in it and perhaps are fighting.
well my dear little partner I must talk to you some on this page. How do you get along in your new house? I think you must be lonesome at night I wish I was there just to guard you you will think when you read this that I would want to do something besides Guard duty, but I forgive you for the suspicions as I am afraid that your knowledge of me would justify the said suspicion
well my darling I want to get home and see you and the children and I want to live with you and I want to work for you and the children to take care of you as you have taken care of the children while I am away. well my dolly I am in hopes that the month of June will see us on our way home to meet those that we love and I hope to find you all in good health and spirits to welcome me home.
I am in hopes that we shall drive the Rebs out of the Bayou Tech [Teche] Country. if we have had a Victory there it will have an important effect for good on the ultimate success. my little deary you have got a new carpet have you? well I am glad of it you may take as much pride in it as you like. I wish I could see it so that I could tell you whether it was handsome or not. My darling donot you give of yourself of any uneasyness about my running after other women and donot let your confidence in my virtue abate because unless providence should take away my usual love of duty there is no danger. in fact I have had no desire to have anything to do with any one but you and I am in hopes that I shall always walk in the fear of the Lord. I am surrounded by temptation of course such as gambling & swearing and lewd talk but I have been able so far to get along without losing control of myself. my dear wife I am in hopes that providence will watch over me and carry me safely through all temptation and danger and return me to you as worthy of your love as I was when I left you. My dear little wife I always had a perfect confidence in your virtue and conscientousness and I never wished any change in you but that you would give yourself up to me wholly without reserve which I think you have done now. I do not mean by that I should wish you to do anything wrong even if I wished it. I want you to be my advisor and comforter and I want you to open your heart to me without reserve as there cannot be a perfect union without it. you have no idea my darling how much happiness there can be where man and wife truly love each other and strive for the happiness of each other.
You speak of desire to enlist again. I have become satisfied that my health is not sufficient to enable me to bear the constant alarm and excitement that there is in the enemy country. When I feel well I donot mind it but when I feel dyspeptic I long for the quiet of home. Military life requires a strong constitution and I am afraid that I have not got that. I hear rumours that we are to stay until august but I shall not let it trouble me until I received the lock of Fannies Hair and I prize it very much. I wish you had sent me a lock of your Hair. Now my dear wife I love you fondly and my thoughts are all of you when I think of home only when I think of the children and then I connect them with you. My dear wife I want to have you neat in your person and neat in your dress and I want to have you have your teeth fixed so
that it will always be a pleasure to look at you if I ever get the chance. well my darling my hopes of happiness in this world are connected with you in this world and I long to be with you and your profession of love to me makes me happy and give me encouragement and confidence in the future. take all the comfort that you can and believe that I desire your happiness and wish for your love and respect.
from your loving Husband
J.D. Bishop
Kiss the children for me and give them my love and tell Eddie that I have not make his ring yet but I have made one for you and will send it with the letter
J.D.B.
