Bishop (as well as many other men) has diarrhea.
Cotton Press,
N. Orleans
July 24th 1863
My dear Wife,
The mail leaves I think tomorrow morning for N. York and I will add another sheet to the one that I have already written. I am still stopping at the convalescent camp although I feel as well as usual with the exception of my Bowels which are quite loose. A good many of the men are troubled with a dhiarrea on account of the Climate and water. I am in hopes that we shall get started from here before long but I donot know anything that indicates it with certainty. We hear rumours every day that leads us to think that we are soon to start for home but the Regt. is still up on the R. Road and until they are ordered down to N. Orleans I shall not think that we shall start soon. The fact is that the R. Road has got to be taken from the Rebs again and the Bridges that have been destroyed have got to be built up again. Whether they will keep our Regt. on the Road to help I do not know.
The Gun Boats have gone around to Brashear and yesterday the 12th & 13th Connecticut Regts. went around by the sea to help. It seems hard that as soon as the soldiers got through with P. Hudson that they should immediately have to commence another campaign but so it is. The Rebs are not all dead yet and there is a great deal to be done in this department yet. Texas is to be cleared of Rebs. Mobile is to be taken and the state of Louisiana is to be kept clear. The fact is that the people of Louisiana are almost all secesh and as soon as the soldiers are withdrawn they immediately show that they prefer the Jeff Davis Government. The only way to keep them down is to destroy every bit of property they possess and hang them. Which our Government will not do consequently they will have to go a good many times over the same ground. I presume the war will take the shape of a Guerilla war and will take sometime to end. I feel anxious to hear how the Battle that is expected to take place in Pennsylvania will tum out. I hope that U.S. will manage to give Lee a good licking and then take all the rest of his army prisoners. I see by the Paper that the drafting has commenced at the north. How it will make them squirm.
Well my dear Wife I am awaiting day by day like Jenkins McKawber for something to turn up. There is no doubt that the 9 months men in this department are to be sent home as fast as transportation can be furnished for them. My dear I am anxious to start for home and be with you and hope that it will soon be brought around. Nobody but those that have been away from home can realize how we long to be once more at home. Military matters move slow and it takes time to move the machinery. My darling you may rest assured of my love and my earnest desire to join you at home again. I hope I am cured of a desire to go into the army.
Give my love to the children and accept my best love for yourself and believe me to be your loving Husband.
J. D. Bishop
