No 16.                                                                                                

July the 14, /63

Camped near Jackson Missipia

 

Dear Mollie, I thought I would write a fiew lines this morning to let you know that I am yet alive & well. Vixburg was surrendered on the 4 & the morning of the 5 we started for this place. we were 4 days marching through the weather being very hot, & the rebel cavelry troubling us some, made it very slow marching. we are about one mile from the city. the rebs have fortified so that we will not get in as easy as we did before. they have a larger force than before. their force is estimated from 15 to 25 thousand & ours from 60 to 75 thousand. our forces extend from pearl river above the city to the river below. we are expecting bernside to atact them in the rear. he has taken port hudson on the 8 with 5000 prisoners. we have 2700 at vixburg. if we have succeeded in taking what there is here, I think the rebs will be used up on the mississipa. I expect we will have hard fighting before we get this place, but it cant last long for we have three times their number. we have over 300 peaces of artilery & when all open on them, I think they will be glad to surrender if we succeed in cuting off their retreat, they will be ours in spite of fate. the river is now open the whole length & I trust it will be. we have got the cars runing from Vixburg to black river. they are repairing the bridge & intend to run the cars to this place as soon as it is taken. Grant intends to make this an out post. Sherman has the command of the army here now & the boys are afraid of him, they say he likes to make to many charges. I think Grant has given him strict orders not to charge unless it is actualy necesary. on the 11 the 4 Iowa was planting a battery & the rebels made a charge on it. our men let them advance / about one hundred & fifty yards, when they opened on them with musketry & they were glad to get back. we got some of them prisoners. one lieut, he was as drunk as a fool, he said old Johnson would give us hell to morrow he had 1500 men & would drive us from here. to morrow came & we heard nothing from old Johnson & we are here this time yet. the health of our regiment is not as good as it has been. some are having a fever & some the ague. Vrooman is well Landon was left at Vixburg & some of the boys that wer sick. I wrote you a letter on the 4 & left it with the boys to mail. we had a large mail come in the day we started from Vixburg I think we will get it in a day or two. I have not had a letter from you since the 25 of June. I am awaiting with great pasience for a letter. I will not write much while we are here, for I left every thing in camp. I have no paper nor ink. this is a sheet of rebel paper which I got when we were here before. write often & I will as often as I can. no more this time. I think we will go back as soon as this place is taken. I dont know when I will have a chance to send this out but I thought I would write & have it ready. no more this time, from your husband, now & for ever,

Oliver Shibly

To Mollie C Shibly

 

may this find you all well, & doing well my respects to all who may enquire, good by                                        

 

I will send you 50 in confederate script.

SOURCES