Bishop complains about the food. He's sent a letter to Dr. Dickinson.
Napoleonville La.
May 7th 1863
My darling little Sauch
I did not feel able to finish my letter night before last and as there was no use of writing until there was some probability that it would get to N. Orleans I did not commence until this morning, well my health is about the same not very bad or very good. I have just written a letter in answer to Doctor Dickinson which I will send to you to forward and you must read it and then forward it to him with my respects.
My dear we have got a real cold snap and I am all froze up. I am sitting by the fire writing to you now. we have no change in affairs one day is like another only that each day we draw nearer to the end of our time. I see by the Papers that Charleston will have to be abandoned for the present as the fortifications are impregnable and we shall have to find some other way to reduce it besides with Iron Clads. I understand that the fleet and the forces with it are coming to this department to reduce Mobile, Galveston &c. I hope they will so that we can get out of it when our time is out.
I presume that things begin to look like spring in Danbury by this time, how I should like to be there as doctor Dickinson says to enjoy the quiet of Home. he is a dry dog they would say in the army Tough Bitch, not very refined you will say well the army is not based on that principle but it partakes more of salt pork & coffee for Breakfast and stewed Beans for dinner with Rice Boiled for supper with a dicoction of some dark leaves for Tea. Vanity is Charming but we are not allowed to test it unless we buy the change ourselves which we have to do to keep our stomachs contented. if you could see the scorn depicted on some of the countenances when dinner is ready and they see the same old Beans & Beef Soup vulgarly called Slush it would arouse all the stock of Pity in your Composition but I think that we fare very well on the whole quite as well as I expected.
I feel myself cured of all desire to go into the U.S. Service again if I should get out of it this time. but I think if my health was good I might get a position that would pay very well but I donot think I am strong enough to stand the Rackett. my little darling I think that I had better be contented to enter into the service of my Family and stay there the rest of my life, what do you think of it Sauch?
My darling I still find my thoughts centered on you and the children, often during the day and oftener during the evening do I find my mind fixed on a picture of home with you as the Matron and the Children making the place happy with their innocents prattle or the noisy Romp which would be a perfect musick to my ears for a time. but you my dear you are the principal object of my thoughts and I confess that I value your protestations of Love very highly not that I think that life will always be a Honey Moon with us but that it will be much sweeter with Love than without it. and also that it sweetens life to have some one to Receive our affection as well as it is pleasant to be loved by a worthy person and that person ones wife. my dear I love you dearly and hope to prove it by my devotion to your happiness hereafter but I should not prove to always succeed you must lay to the want of the head and not of the Heart.
hoping that this will find you with the children in good health. I remain your loving Husband
J.D. Bishop
