Heat and lice are discussed and Bishop remains optimistic that he will return home in June. A mixed race woman gave John M. Raymond of company B a bouquet of flowers for having played banjo at a dance. Bishop dismisses Raymond and Shorty Smith (John R. Smith?) for playing in order to watch the formerly enslaved persons dance, and goes on to espouse a series of racist observations.
Napoleonville [LA]
April 24th 1863
My dear Wife
to day is very hot and I donot know what to do to pass away the time as I will write again I sent a letter to Lafourche yesterday to go in the next mail from N. Orleans. the weather here now is as warm as it is in Danbury in the hottest of summer. what it will be by July I cant tell but if it is much hotter it will be hard to endure, we donot understand anything definite about our time yet although there are rumours every day of what General Banks or some one else says about it. I think that we shall get started for home some time in June. I see by the paper that some 3 years men are arriving in N. Orleans so that there will be some men here to take our place
My little darling I donot hardly know what to fill up this letter with as I write so ofien. except that the flies are so thick that they are very troublesome. we have been troubled a great deal with fleas that is while we were in Lafourche but since we have been here we have not had them so much, you once spoke about our having the itch. I have no had it but a good many of the Boys have, it is not catching but is the effects of living on salt junk Pork &c and the change of climate. I donot hear so much about it now days so I conclude that there is not much of it now, the Co. generally have kept themselves clean some of them have been lousy at times but they have got rid of them as soon as it was found out. it is considered disgraceful and the rest of the Co. will not associate with a person that they know to be lousy but will tease them until they wash themselves thoroughly and if that would not do they would take the matter in hand and force him to get rid of it speedily.
Johnny Raymond has just received a splendid Bouquett from a mulatto girl that was at a dance in one of the buildings attached to our quarters. Johnny played the Banjo for them to dance by and they think he is smart. it just suits Johnnie & Shorty Smith if they can get our N!66er Bill to get up a n!66er dance so that they can see them perform. we have an opportunity to see the real N!66er in its simplicity, the N!66ers around here seem to be pretty well off as to clothing some of them are very good looking especially the Mulattoes. most of them are of easy virtue consequently I give them a wide berth. besides that I never yet felt like mixing on terms of equality with Negroes. last night we had a negro Ball in the wash house until 12 o’clock but I looked at them a few minutes and went into the quarters and turned in.
we have to get up every thing that we can possibly think of to pass the time off as it is it hangs heavy, for my part I donot have to do anything but about 15 minutes work a day. and it is hard work to pass the time. most of the Boys play cards and a good many of them gamble and pass their spare time in that way.
well my little sauchie I love you still as fondly as ever and derive my principal happiness in thinking of you and the good times that we have had together and I hope may have again, my little darling I will take your advice and exercise patience until I can honorably enjoy the society of my dear little partner.
from your affectionate Husband
J. D. Bishop
give my love to the children and tell them that I look at the Daguerotypes to see how they look. tell them all that I should like to kiss them. tell Eddy that he must bring the water for his mother and you may rely on my receiving advice from you with a good Grace but donot worry about me because I hope that providence will take care of me.
lovingly J. D. Bishop
