He reports regretting not being more agreeable with Sarah's mother and for not being humble.
Napoleonville La.
May 29th 1863
My dear Wife
The mail goes out to N. Orleans tomorrow morning and I thought I would write another sheet to you today. 1 have just eaten my breakthst and took my writing materials and started for my sylvan retreat under the shade of a large tree about 200 rods from the quarters where I can enjoy the quiet necessary to collect my thoughts. in the l place my darling wife I have been supremely happy since I received your two last letters dated May 10th & 14th the letter of May 10th liked the best because it was fuller of tender expressions than the other although I was extremely glad to get that but in the one of the 10th you told me that I was necessary for your happiness and that made me happy. I was also glad to hear that your health was good for I had felt quite anxious about you since the last time you had written previous to that letter. My darling I believe I am like a young man in love for the l time as I find myself thinking what you would say to this or that as it regards my conduct. I am glad that you possess so good an influence over me my dear wife or I am glad that I value your good opinion. I hope you will not think that I am not restrained by the fear of God in my actions and speech. I have been sorely tried at times by the example of those around me in the practices of swearing or blasphemy. It is very common in the army but my dear the lord has been gracious to me in that respect and I do not know that I am any worse in that respect than I was before.
I hope and pray my darling that the lord will not forsake me and leave me out from his protecting care. I bless him or I thank him that he has made me so happy in the possession of you my dear wife. if we live to meet again my darling I have got to learn to subdue my disposition so that I may not be selfish towards you. I receive your promises my darling with thankfulness and how much I do love you and how I do long to be with you to tell you so. I’ll take you in my arms and possess you to my bosom. My dear if God spares our lives I hope much for the future. let us trust in him and submit to his government. My dear I hope much from your advice and encouragement in the future. I feel that I never before gave myself so entirely to your keeping as I do now. May God our heavenly father sustain me in doing justice to you.
your letter puts me at ease about the health of the children that is up to the time you wrote. I think you had better write to Almira to come to Danbury and spend a months with you while I am away. I am sorry to hear that your Father is so feeble in health. Mary is doing her duty nobly in taking care of him. I wish I could do something towards it. You say that Mother is still in Bridgeport. I must write to her and show the respect that is due her. I have always had too much pride with mother and I am afraid that God has punished me for it. I wish that I was more humble and forbearing towards her. I remember that the Bible says that he who does not know their father or mother the young eaglets shall pick their eyes out or something to that effect. I do not think that this quotation is correct but I think that there is a [parable?] attached to the disobedient I am afraid my darling that I lack humility. Now my dear must think of closing my Letter. I want to have you think my dear wife that I honor you and respect you and that I look to you for counsel and support in my abscence and I hope it will make you happy to know that I value your love next to the blessing of God our heavenly father the only thing that lam afraid of my dear wife is that I am not good enough to deserve the blessing of your love but I will try to be a good boy and return to you trying to do my duty whether I succeed or not, you must enjoy yourself as well as you can during my abscence and believe that nothing but duty could keep me from your side.
from your loving Husband
J.D.B
