L. C. Draper, Esq.
Madison, Wis.
My Dear Friend:
Your two letters have been gratefully received and would have been answered earlier but for the reasons I have had nothing of special interest to write about, and my time has been fully occupied in military affairs.
Our Command reached the Tennesee River on the 24th of January and went immediately into winter quarters where it has remained ever since. On the 28th of the same month I was by Special Order detailed on General Court Martial, at this place, and have been serving on that duty ever since. Our Regiment is encamped some two and a half miles from this place on the banks of the River, and in addition to Court Martial I am attending to the management of my Battalion. This will show you I have not had much spare time.
Your letters are read with great satisfaction and I will be glad to make it an object for you to write often. Nothing is more acceptable that letters from home and friends.
Of course your report of Society matters is interesting and I am glad to hear of any progress the Society is making; and I regret not being able to contribute more to its interesting and valuable collections. This is a very barren field and it is rarely the case I can find anything to send you. From time to time, I have been gathering up Military Orders issued in this Department and Military Division; and in due time you shall have them, and all else I can secure for the Society.
I have sent to my wife a copy of the Laws passed by the Legislature of Alabama for the years 1859 and 60, which you may feel some interest in, as it contains Acts and Resolves bearing upon the subject of the rebellion. You will find several very humane acts "to enable Lucy, Maria, and others, free women of color to become slaves!" This book is intended for the Society, after our friends look it over. If my wife does not care to look it over you can take it at once.
The honor conferred by continuing me on the board of Curators is appreciated, and it is but natural that I should feel complimented very highly by such departure from the rule to continue thus on the board who can and do attend regularly.
I would like to see the Society in better rooms but I have never been strongly in favor of taking rooms in the Capitol. It has never seemed best, to me, to get any nearer to the Legislature than absolutely necessary. To drag the Society into the muddy arena of politics, will be to impair its usefulness, retard its prosperity, and eventually strangle the organization. If it is in the Capitol, it will be considered a fit subject to be plundered by the members and if this not permitted a row will be the result. The utmost vigilance will be required to prevent the books and Cabinet from being scattered. The State Library has suffered largely in this way and we cannot hope to be better treated when there are tenfold inducements for (borrowing and never returning) stealing. I still hope the rooms in contemplationwill not be granted to the Society.
While I remain a resident of Madison, I hope you will not find sufficient inducements to take you to any other place. We should miss you very much.
The removal of Judge Orlon (?) to Washington is to be regretted. Madison needs all the good men she has.
For the local news and small talk accept many thanks. I shall be very glad to get a printed slip containing the report of the proceedings at the Annual meeting. With kind regards to Mrs. Draper, friend Dussie (?) and all the friends I remain,
Very Truly Your Friend,
S. V. Shipman
P.S. I have written to Capt. Marin at Winchester, Ga. about Judge English's negro man, but no answer received. Capt. M. is Depot Quarter Master at that place. S.V.S.