Bishop worries about battle. They had goat meat and he liked it. A flea bit him.
Napoleonville La.
June 18th 1863
My dear dear Wife
I have just sent two letters to the Co. Mail Box but I think that the steamer does not sail until Saturday or Sunday so that I can get another letter into this mail. My dear I might just as well be writing as to be doing nothing. I want to make you happy and if a letter from me will add to your happiness I am glad that I am able to so easily encrease your enjoyment.
I am sitting in my tent with the back part of [it] loosend up and fixed so as to let in the cool air in [if] possible. Although the sun shines clear and hot yet there is a breeze that counteracts the strong heat. I am in hopes that we shall not have to weather any hotter than it has been.
Last night we had a little change occasioned by the arrival of some Cavalry that are going to scout up around Napoleonville and arrest some of the Secesh Citizens that have been furnishing food to the Rebs since we left there. The Provo Marshall could not stay there without some force to protect him. I am glad to have plenty of force up in that country so that we can feel more safe. The Rebs will come from that quarter if they make an attack on us. But I am in hopes that they will find other business to attend to while we stay.
Donot think my darling that I should be cowardly if it was necessary to act but I am in hopes that we shall not be attacked and then no one will probably be killed. I feel a great deal more anxious to return safely home now than I did when I first came out not that I did not love you then but I expected that we should in all probability go into Battle and have to fight more or less. But now that we have been so long without losing any men by battle I hope to escape our whole time.
This morning we had Goats meat for breakfast and I like it very much. If you have never eaten it tastes a good deal like mutton.
Gen Banks has not got P. Hudson yet and I am all the time fearful that something will happen that he will not. He undertook to storm their works last Sunday but was repulsed with great slaughter. He still holds his former position.
I have just had to stop and try to catch a flea that was biting my leg.
Last night my darling before I turned in for the night I took the pictures of you and the children and looked at them and yours my dear Wife I kissed. I wished that I could kiss the original but as she was a long way off I was obliged to content myself with her picture. My darling I live in hopes of joining you before long and then my darling I anticipate much pleasure in your society. Now I am sustained by your love and then I shall be too. If I thought that you did not love me I should not be at all happy Were if I could have all the gratification of my desires. My dear wife I prize your love and I love you in return and your love is a great blessing to me. I hope to be worthy of it and I long to be able to do all I can to make you happy.
Your letters have been a great comfort to me and I love you the more for receiving them.
Continue to [be] my darling and believe me to be your devoted Husband
J. D. Bishop
Kiss the children for me and encourage them to think that I did not forget them.
J. D. Bishop
