He eceives a January 12 letter from Sarah Jany 12th and was not happy to hear that Clark Hoyt had hired the house that Bishop Family lives in and raised the rent. He accuses Hoyt of being a hypocritical "praying abolitionists" that urges others to enlist but do not go themselves. He asks whether John Smith could help her find another house. He threatens that if Hoyt tries anything with a member of company B, that Hoyt "will be ducked in some pond when we get back. (enough of him)." The weather turned cold for 2 days and they will have to bury a member of Company H. His supper consisted of a tin cup of tea, 2 slices of bread, an a plate of rice but sometimes they have to live on hard tack which is hard living indeed. The musicians have a stove and keep very comfortable. The band is improving and sometimes have bawdy conversations.
Brashear City or Berwicks Bay [LA]
85 miles Southwest of N. Orleans
January 28th 1863
Dear Wife
I received a letter from you last night dated Jany 12th I liked your letter very much but I did not like to hear that Clark Hoyt had hired the house that my Family lives in. I consider that he is just mean enough to hire a House and raise the rent on a person that is away in the army, he is one of those hypocritical praying Abolitionists that are urging others to enlist but do not go themselves. I wish he had to take the Front Rank in an engagement. I do not want him killed but I should like to have him know what it is to go in the service and be away from ones Family besides other peculiarities that are connected with the service. I have talked with John Smith about hiring another House we thought that if you could find a house together by the 1st of April that the rent is no higher or not as much that you could do so if you thought best or if you thought best to stay there and they wish to rent the House by the month as we now rent it, you do as you think best about staying. but by all means do not hire the House for a year of any one as we might want to move, if Clark Hoyt undertakes to cut any mean capers on any of Co B he may get ducked in some pond when we get back. (enough of him)
I was glad to hear that the children were all well and that they still thought of their Father. tell them I think of them often and want to see them all. tell Eddie to learn to play his fiddle so that he can play when I come home.
the weather is quite cold for the last 2 days but will probably be warmer in a day or two. we are still in the same place and I am in hopes will stay here until spring, and then if they or our folks should succeed in clearing the Mississippi River I should like to [go] up that way for the Bal of our time. some of our Boys are sick but none of Co B are dangerously so, tomorrow we have to bury one of Co H with Military honors.
Well my dearest Wife I long for your letters so that I can read some expression of attachment if I cannot hear it. you must not think strange that I should like to have you express yourself fondly often in your letters as I have no one else to expect it from and because I think it is one of the reequirements of all human beings, the desire to be loved. My dear I do not doubt your love and I remember that you have given me proof of it in your daily conduct since we have been married. but my dear I dare say that I wrote more about it than is necessary but then I suppose I take more pleasure in writing about that then anything else.
well my dear I have just had my supper which consisted of a tin cup of tea, 2 slices of breads 1 tin plate of Rice which is about the usual style for supper when we are where we can get bread. sometimes we have to live on hard tack which is hard living indeed. we have lived pretty well on the whole since we have been south. My dear I think there is a great deal in getting used to any thing and we are generally having enough to eat our meals when they are ready. we never have any butter unless we buy it and I have got so that I donot care anything about it although I dare say that if I was home I should indulge in Butter as well as some few other things. We are very pleasantly situated, that is the musicians. we have got my stove up and while the cold weather lasts we manage to keep very comfortable. the Boys are now singing and fifing sacred music. sometimes Shorty Smith squalls like a new born Baby and to give a variety he sings out amen after the camp meeting fashion. if we all get home alive we shall have had some good times. I am getting the Band so that we can make some good music.
Well my dearest little Wife I suppose you are just about putting the children to bed and thinking perhaps of me I wish I could be home with you for good not to stay a few days but to live permanently. you remember that I used to mention occasionally that I felt considerable anxiety to visit our aged relative I suppose of course I shall not be able to make her acquaintance for sometime to come I sometimes feel a hankering after such things but of course cannot do anything but hanker. My dear I cannot help but wish that next week was the middle of next June.
darling the Boys have been having a fine time this evening and we have had a good time we have got a collection of talent that is amusing of course they take more latitude in their conversation than would be proper for ears polite but they think that they must pass the time some how and manage to get as much enjoyment out of each passing moment as is possible. it is doubtful whether the language that they use is always innocent I am of the opinion that it is not always innocent.
My dear Sarah [Sauchey?] I see that my space is getting short and I must begin to say what I consider of the most importance and that is that I love you my dear Wife fervently and I am glad that I do as I take great pleasure in being able to say that I love my wife. my dear I hope that I shall be able to look on you before 6 months rolls around. I hope kind Providence will preserve us both to live together happy years as many as is our portion. from your loving Husband
J. D. Bishop
