Bishop talks about repairing Mr. Griffin's well and and having Mr. Dann drain the cellar. Bishop talks about the election. He saw survivors of the Battle in Bayou Teche, and is generally disillusioned with war.
Napoleonville, LA
April 22nd 1863
My Dear Wife
We have just received the mail from Lafourche this evening, I had written one sheet today and I think I will write another one tonight. I am sorry that Mr. Griffin does not show more disposition to accommodate about the well and other things. if he will not get it done why you can get it done at our expense and also you can tell Mr. Dann the Carpenter that I wished him to look at the cellar and get a man to drain it and I will pay for it. I do not want to have you have any difficulty with anybody while I am gone if it can possibly be avoided. Mr Griffin is a peculiar man and you cannot do anything with him by driving I had rather lose some money than to have you have difficulty with him while I am away.
as it regards my being a seymour man I donot want to have you pay any attention to what you may hear of me because I donot think any body but myself knows what I think. I will tell you that I myself donot know how I should have voted if I had been in Danbury the probability is that I should not have taken the responsibility of voting for seymour if I had been home at any rate I should not consider it proper for me to resist the government in its efforts to fill up the army. but I want to have you my dear wife keep out of the excitement that rages in Danbury, if any body asks you about my sentiments you can tell them that I am loyal to the government and am doing my duty as a soldier, I have been expecting that there would almost be a civil war in the north when they came to draught but I hope there will not. if the people that talk so much about it in D. knew what war was they would be careful how they fed the excitement war is a dreadftil thing my dear and not to be thought of without shudder. we have lain here night afier night expecting to be attacked before morning with the probability that we should all be taken prisoners because we had not men enought to resist a force of any magnitude we have escaped so far and I am in hopes shall get through with it all right, the prisoners & wounded have been passing through Lafourche for several days from the Battle in the Tech [Bayou Teche]. if you could see them you would not think there was much glory in war. being in the army the Fascination soon ceases and nothing but discipline and the power of the government keeps the army together. I have said enough about war my dear to you I do not like to talk about it in connection with you my darling, it is after 9 o’clock and the Taps have sounded for lights to be put out but I am writing by one not with standing because as the time draws near for our discharge the officers donot think it but to draw the strings quite so tight because they know that when they get to Danbury they will have to settle.
well my darling I was glad to get your letters especially as I know that in you I possess a treasure, my dear I feel that if I succeed in getting home safe and find you all right that you will be a friend to me and will do all you can to make me happy. my darling I look forward to meeting with you as the greatest happiness that I could have you must fix your self up my dear when I come home so that you will look as pretty as possible not but what I shall love you any way but I know that you can look pretty well when you get your fixings on. my dear wife I shall be glad to see you any way just as you are and shall be glad to take you in my arms and take care of you in sickness and in health. I love you my dear and long to be worthy and feel thankful to you for the favors that you have always shown me and hope that we may live together as long as providence will let us.
hoping that this will find you and the children well is the prayer of your devoted Husband
J.D. Bishop
