November, 18 1862

 

Dear mary I will rite a fiew lines to you this morning it is raining now & has been all night it is warm weather here, it has been pleasent until to day I have taken a fiew items which I will rite.

 

Nove 13, we have just passed Island No. 10. thare is a gunboat stationed there we can see the brest works which the rebels built. about 10 miles below is a place called new new madrid which you have often heard of, which the rebels once held but now is held by our force it is a small place not as large as rome. this river vally is the hardest looking country that I ever saw mostly timber and swamp with now and then a log hut 

 

Nove 14

last night we laid on the tenisee shore all night on account of a sand barr we have been long enough on the way to have got through long before this but we have stuck on every sand bar every day since we started I dont know how much longer it will take to get to memfis we have had very pleasent weather since we started but the nights

 

Saturday 15 we lay on the arcansis shore last night & this morning we walked about two miles on account of a sand barr which the boat could not cross. sunday 16 we have been here all day and night the boys had fun last night the 136 Illinois camped with us last night and we had 200 pickets out about 1 oclock they fired 8 guns they heard something make a noise in the brush they halted / it but got no answer so they fired away and come to find out it was nothing but an old cow as soon as the report was heard some of the officers were scared & formed their companies in line of battle but they did not scare old Handy he lay still and told his men to do the same for says he it nothing but the boys shooting at a coon or something else, so they lay still untill morning

Novem. 17, we are on the boat once more and have started off. we are now landing at Fort pillow. it has been well fortified by the rebels but now is in our possession. the 52 Indiana is stationed thare this place is situated on the tenisee side said to be about 15 miles above memfis / whare we stoped yesterday the Illinois regiment arrested two men they said they had been in the rebel services if they had to fight again they would fight for them again. they let them go before night. the boys were shooting all through the timber and one of them was shot, the ball struck him below the sholder blade. they say it was an axident I think it was not some of the sergents went and see him they say he cant live I cannot write much more I am well and harty may this find you all the the same From your husband O Shibly direct your letters to St Louis  & they will folow us. I want you to write often we cant be more than 15 miles from memfhis they say they are fighting at holler springs no more this time. goodby O Shibly To Mollie C Shibly

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