Through Their Eyes...

Tuesday May 2, 1863 Camp Sulffolk, Vir.

 

Dear Cousen T

I thought I would improve every opp-

tunity. Carley Stevenson said that he

should write to Francis to day, I thought

I would send a few lines. I do not think

that I am any better than I was when

I last wrote you, I have spells that I

can hardly set up, I have got through

going to the doctor, If I have got to do

duty I shall make the best of it.

The most of our reg think we shall

stay here this summer and do fatigue duty

3 companys was out yesterday at the

at the old trail falling the woods west

cross the Nancymond river our comp

says they went 3 miles, there is some

talk of digging some rifle pits. It will

be easyer than to camp Marcy I have

not seen a stone large anough to send

at a bird since I came to suffolk, it

is all sand. I think it is all useless to

dig, the rebs are to near use up, Vixburg

will real their doom, I heard

last night it was taken it's not certain

we shall know probly to night. The

last news Gen Grant was crowding hard on

Vixburgh & had got good prisoners. The

2nd day before we come in from blackwater

comp K was out on picket & 2 rebs come

& gave them selves up of Missouri Reg &

they said that there was two reg of the

same wanted to come over if they could

get a chance, before they got a chance they

had reinforcements, & they had to go in

to (Illegible) at place, but they say if when they are brought into battle they never will

point the gun low anough to hurt our

men. The rebs are as sick of fighting

as we are & worse used up. I hope

this war will close soon, One man

told me that he had got a bet that

it would close in 6 weeks, I hope that

he will wen, but I fear he wont. I have

seen Mr Parlmer & talk with him, he

is quite sick, he is under the doctor's

care. He has writen to governor Seymore to

assertain whether we are 9 month men or not I think we are 3 years fast anough. I hear

that Lut Butler has got back to Washing-

ton and is a hospital sick capt Bingan is

there yet Ceylon Andrews & Ed Varheese

I do not hear from since we left them.

When the sick horn blows you had aught to

see the sick lame & lasy flock to the hospital

there is over 100 every day since we came in from scouting. I got letters often from Mason he is well. I will close by asking you to write often, I will answer all.

Write what you think of the war closing from your cousen,

Robert M. Bishop

 

 

 

 

At the time he wrote this letter, Robert Bishop was 44 years old and a member of I Company, 152 New York Infantry stationed at Suffolk, VA

 

He died a few months later in a hospital in New York City.

 

That soldier would loose his bet... The

war would rage for another two years...