Camped near

Woodville, Ala.

Jan, 9^th/'63.

 

Dear Mollie

I received 2 letters from you on the 7, No. 36 & 7. I was very glad to get them for I have not had a letter from you since the 22 of Dec. I expected you had gone to Illinois, but it seams you had not. you did not say whare I should direct my letters but I concluded to send one more to Clarence you said you thought you would go the next week so I will not write again until I hear from you you say you got that money, am glad you did, I was afraid you would not, for some of the boys heard from theirs a week ago. I am glad you sent me a list of the money I have sent home. I have sent more than I thought I had. you say / you have paid John $70. I am glad you have & I supose you have some thing to show for it, if not I think you should have, for life is very uncertain & especially in the service. I think you had better pay John as soon as you can & get a deed of that land & then you are certain of it. you are saving of your money & I am glad of it. I wish that braking was paid for, then I would think we could get along without much trouble. you must pay all you can on what we are owing. you say you let Remer have my gun. I am sory you did so. I would rather let it stand & rust than lend it. you know I would hardly let my brothers have it. the traids you spoke of would do very well if we were thare to take care of it, but to traid & have no one to look after it wont pay. well Mary we have got our shanty finished & I tell you / it is very comfertable. I built a fireplace in it & it makes it very warm. thare is three of us in it, Vrooman, Ferguson, & my self. we have fine times. we have hard tack sowbelly & cofee for breakfast, the the same for dinner & supper. we had some lite bread yesterday & we went & bought some butter & cheese. I think it is as good as eny I have had since I have been in the service & I tell you we had a feast. the buter & cheese dont cost much here, only 75 cts for butter 50 for chease, per lb & small at that. you wanted to know who my long bed felow was. I suposed you knew, for we have been together ever since we started out, his name is Vrooman, do you no him. well he has more legs than I bargened for. I would rather have some nearer the length of mine. they would be more comfertable this winter, as you said. /

 

well Mary the most of the old soldiers have reinlisted for three or during the war. they get four hundred & two dollars bounty. the 9 has nearly all enlisted the 4 & the 76 Ohio, they are all going home on furlow, the 31 could not reinlist, as they have to long a time to serve yet. well I dont no as I have much more to write this time the boys are all well & doing well & so am I Vrooman is well, Landon the same. may this find you all well & harty from yours

now & for ever,         

O Shibly

To Mollie C Shibly

 

PS thare is some talk of our leaving here. I hope not for we have got fixed up for the winter they say we are going to huntsville, about 30 miles. we have had some cold weather since newyears. we had a very litle snow last wednesday, the first I have seen this winter

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