The regiment has been moving around near New Orleans. Bishop is tired and relates some confusion over the strategic situation though Vicksburg and Port Hudson have fallen and is in a convalescent camp.
New Orleans
July 16th 1863
My Dear Wife,
I received a letter from you this morning by the steamer Columbia. In the letter you speak of all being well which I am glad to hear. You letter is dated the 5th of July. You say in your letter that you have just heard of the Battle but had not received my letters containing an account of the Battle. I did not write or I did not get a chance to send a letter until after we had evacuated Lafourche Crossing which was Wednesday evening. I wrote you a short accort [account] of the Battle on Monday the day after but I had no chance to send it until I sent it with the one that I wrote on the Algiers side ofN. Orleans I think that was on Friday. Ever since the fight we have had so much service and such a hard officer in command of us that we are greatly used up.
We left Congo Square at 4 o'clock Monday morning to go up the Oppelousas R. Road. We went as far as Boutee Station that day. We expected to go about 7 miles farther and build a Bridge that had been destroyed when we retreated but we understood that the Rebs were there in large forces and our Col did not dare to undertake it with the force that he had and wanted to go right back to N. Orleans but Col Colburn that haves [has] command of the Road told him he had been anxious to undertake the job and now he must go through with it. So we put on a heavy guard and awaited events. The next day our Cavalry took 3 prisoners at the Bayou de Zelma 7 miles above Bontee. The first steam Boat came through from St. Louis today Tuesday night we were awakened out of sleep about past 12 o'clock at night and ordered into lines as quickly and as quietly as possible then we were ordered on to the Cars and every thing put onto the Cars ready for an evacuation. We stayed on the Cars until sunrise and then we were ordered off the Cars for coffee and we stayed off altogether but the hard service that I have been through with for the last 3 or 4 weeks had used me up pretty well and I determined if I could get a certificate from the surgeon that I would get out from under this Col Stickney that has got command of the forces with our Regt. So I got a certificate and the Col signed it and I left for New Orleans with about 15 or 20 others last night and came to the Convalescent Camp where I am going to stay just as long as I can. Consider my time out and I do not consider myself able to stand active service and besides that I have done about 10 months of service already. Our officers are trying to get us home as soon as possible but we may not be allowd to start before they consider our time out, 14th of Aug.
well my darling I want to see you very much and hope to get safely home. I do not know but what you may consider it my duty to do all I can but I think I have done enough and I think there has been enough men killed out of our regiment. It only numbers about 140 men fit for duty. I am in hopes to start for home in 3 or 4 weeks when I can talk to you so you can understand it. mean time you may rest assured of my love and believe me to be your devoted Husband
J. D. Bishop
