December 16, 1862

           

Dear wife I have been looking for a letter from a letter you for three or four days & I have not received one yet so I thought I would write you one to know the reason why you dont write oftener. if it is your delay I will give you a good scolding the next time I write. I received your leter dated Nove 17 the 27 & have not heard from you since I am looking for a letter to day & if I dont get one I will be very much disapointed. the health of the boys is not as good as it has been there are a great meny sick with the diareah & some have the flux one from the anamosa companydied last sunday night with it, & lieut. Fremon has been down with it for the past 12 days & unless there is a change in a day or two he cannot live. Birt Smith is sick with the same disease he was taken a day or two ago. he will proberly get better ina day or two. Ed Young / is getting better. Henry isent very well that breach troubels him some & he is some home sick & I think would like to have his discharge I dfont know but he ma get it after a while. our captain is sic & I am afrade he will not be able to do much service. I think it is the effects of the measels & the diareah with it. I hope he will get soon, for he is one of the best men I ever saw. here is the place to test the man, if he has eny selfish motives they will come out in the army, & one will take the advantage of the other if he can, so it stands a man in hand to take care of himself. thare was an order come in camp to day for our regiment to march we are to start to morrow, with bag & baggage I dont no whare we will land, it is supposed we will go to vixburg, but I could not say thare are 4 regiments going from here the 4^th 9^th 31 Iowa & 34 Ind I dont expect we will come back here again. Direct your leters to helena, ark 

 

Decem the 17^th/62

I could not finish my letter yesterday & this forenoon I have been washing there are a number of our boys that are not able to go, they will be sent to helena or St. Louis. Henry will be left with the rest. Henry got a letter from Mary & she said Clarence had the measels, if so Mary, take good care of him & dont let him take cold. I need not ask that of you, for I know you will do so without. Lillie I supose has them before this time. how I would like to see them if they are sick, but that cant be so, at present, so there is no use of talking about it our captain is some better to day. Lieut Freeman is about the same, Vrooman is well & Landon is the same as always, wide awake & full of fun I wrote a letter to mother about three weeks ago but have not received an answer yet. Mary I would like to have you write to her as often as you can. 

 

the general inspector is in camp to day & I think we will not leave to morrow. I dont care how soon we leave here for I am geting tierd of laying around I wanto be on the move it would be beter for the health of the soldier.

 

my health is very good with the exception of a cold & that is geting. I can eat almost eny thing that comes before me.

 

ma this find you all well & enjoying your selves as well as I do & you will do well enough

                                                           

No more this time       O Shibly

from your husband

To Mollie Good-by

 

John & Josa write

if you please

I am at home & I wish you was

 

Dec 18^th 1862

we are packing up this morning

we are going to take the boat & will proberly go down the river

no more this time good by this time

O Shibly

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