He went on an trip via flatboat to get hay for the horses.
Napoleonville La.
May 15th 1863
Dear Wife
Surrounded with noise I am endeavoring to write, well yesterday I went on a kind of Excursion, that is I went down to Laberdaville about 8 miles down the River to get Hay for our horses (for you must know that we keep about 12 or 15 horses to scout the country with or for any other use that is necessary) well we took a flat Boat and about 9 or 10 men, they draw the boats in this country with mules by having a Rope attached to the mast of the Boat and the other end of the Rope attached to the mule. the Navigation of these Rivers with Flat Boats drawn by mules in quite exciting. the Levee is often repaired when it had broken away and in stopping the cracks they generally drive down slabs and let the ends stick up so that every little ways we had to keep a sharp look out to see that the Rope did not get caught on some obstruction, then again the water has become low and often there are shalo places where the Rope will not be long enough to reach from the Boat to the Levee and then we have to unhich the Rope and draw the Boat by the obstruction by hand. one time I got out of the boat and got over shoes in mud trying to draw the Boat finally I had to get aboard the Boat as quick as possible as I found that every step was bringing me into greater danger of sinking altogether in the mud, but we spent the day very very pleasantly and got back to our quarters about V2 past 8 o’clock in the evening thinking that we had had a very good time. we are having quite easy times of it just at present as we do not have anything to do of consequence but still the time drags slowly along.
we reason to be very thankful that we have so little sickness in our Co. or Regt. I see by the N. 0. [New Orleans] papers that there has been a Battle in Virginia and that our side has got the best of it but we are waiting to see some N.Y. papers before we can believe it entirely, as it regards our time our Col. (1-lolmes) was up to our quarters 2 days ago and he says that he will help its to get out of the service by the 30111 of June if possible.
and now my dear dear little wife I must talk to you some. how much I do want to see you. I think of you constantly with love I long to be with you home once more, to look into your eyes, to put my arm around your waist and to kiss you but it cannot be yet. My dear Wife I hope that nothing will happen to prevent my seeing you well and happy in Danbury in 2 or 3 months at farthest but I hope that it will happen in less that 2 months. Words here inadequate to express the desire of once more being home again with you and the children, but patience Rules the 1-lour and I must submit, but I shall not cease to love you as long as I am possessed of Reason rely upon my pure love for you and a real desire for your happiness.
from your loving Husband
J.D. Bishop
