No. 40.

Wednesday, Dec. 9, /63

Bridgeport, Alabama.

 

Dear Mollie,

We are in camp at this place for a fiew days. I cant say how long we will stay here, the talk is now that we will go to huntsvill for winter quarters. I hope we will go some where place whare we can have some rest for we have had some hard times since we left black river. from here to huntsvill is about 75 miles, from here to Chatanooga about 30 miles. this is the most mountanious country I ever saw, nothing but rock & mountains. it is most imposible for our teams to get through, but we have one satisfaction, we have given Brag the worse licking ever he had & that will pay us for our trouble /

 

well Mary this is a cold rainy day & my hand is numb with the cold so I dont expect to write much to day but will try & finish this before the mail goes out again. we have had 3 mails since I received a letter. the last one was no 31, Nov. 8. thare are two that I have not got. I wrote you a letter when we were at Chatanooga, stating the loss in our regiment. I did not know the number that were killed & wounded thare was 20 wounded & 4 killed. the Iowa 5 lost more than half their regiment. they made a charge & the 17 was to suport them, when they came into the hotest of the fight they run & the 5 was left alone. some of them was taken prisoners & some killed & wounded. they have about 100 men left. this is the third time they have run when they were / to suport the 5. Well Mary, I commenced my letter yesterday & was mistaken in the date, to day is the 9 & it is a pleasent day for the time of year. we are all well with the exception of Vrooman & he is geting better. Co G went through the fight without geting a scratch. they have been lucky so far. you spoke in your letter about going to Illinois. I dont hardly know whare to direct my letters but I will direct them as usual until I hear from you again. we had a mail last night but no letter for me. I think we will have another mail in a day or two & then I will look for a letter. the 9 did not loose more than eight or 10 men we lost the most of ours on lookout mountain. our regiment was under heavy fire for eleven hours without being relieved. the 9 & 26 / was ordered three times to relieve them but would not. the Colonel said it was to dangerous to get their position. we went in about 3 oclock in the afternoon & was not relieved until 12 at night. Dow has been in this fight but I have not heard from him since the fight, but I think he is all right. well Mary I dont no as I have much more to write this time. I am well & harty & hope this will find you all the same. Mary you cant imagin how bad I wanto see you & my children, & I hope the time is fast coming when we can meet again to part no more in this world. so good by for this time.

 

P.S. we are to be paid to day or to morow. I will send you some money as soon as I can.

                                                                                               

O Shibly            M C Shibly

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