Head Quarters, Army of S. E. Missouri
Camp Near Patterson, MO Dec. 7th 1862

My Dear Friend:

Yesterday the accumulated Mail for our regiment, from Cape Girardeau, came through, and with it your letter of the 13th October, including one to Mr. Abraim Hunter too late of course for me to aid you in your researches in that locality. I regret this very much, as it would have afforded me great pleasure to have looked up the matters about which you write. As it is, I can give you nothing that will be of any service to you.

The Mr. Neely you mention is now dead, as I learned from Judge English, and aged gentleman living at Jackson who gave me an interesting account of the Neely family in connection with other old settlers in Cape Girardeau county. Judge English lives but a few (?) from old General Watkins, a brother-in-law of Henry Clay, and they two can give more information in regard to these matters than any others I now think of. Hubbels Creek is only a mile or two from Jackson and these gentlemen will know all about your Mr. Charles Fallinash, and probably Mr. Hunter also.

Mr. Kimmel, whose first name I do not now remember, Wm. C. Watson and Henry Smarr, of Cape Girardeau, will probably be able to give you some information on the subject as they are old men and old residents of that county. Mr. Kimmel is an old Editor, knows about the KasKaskia settlers and is a man of some literary ability. His son M. M. Kimmel is Major and adjutant General on VanDorn's staff in the confederate Army. To him I will send your letter to to Mr. Hunter and he will take pleasure in forwarding it. There is no mail from there to Benton as the swamps south and west of that place were and still are swarming with bushwackers. Mr. Watson is the Postmaster at the Cape and will have opportunities of forwarding your letters. All of the gentlemen whose names I have given you above except Mr. Watson are southern syrupthipiss (?), but very good men notwithstanding. I am very well acquainted with all except old General Watkins.

Old Major J. J. Turnbaugh and J. M. McGuire, both prominent men of Jackson, may be able to give you much valuable information about Fallenash and Neely. I know them very well and the latter is a strong union man, - the other is a Southern man and has greatly encouraged the Confederates.

This Hubbel's Creek neighborhood was the field of many a scout in search of the rebel Col. Jeffries, who eluded us for a large time in that vicinity; and I remember to have seen on the (?) of that Company, the name of Fallenash and also to have heard it (?) time repeated by persons living about there.

Capt. Wm. B. Slaughter of your place is now stationed at the Cape as Assistant Commander of Subsidence and he may be able to gather up scraps for you. He and Henry Smarr were quite intimate, before I left there on the 16th October.

Your letter enclosing Mrs. Eastman's was received in Cape Girardeau, but at a time when all my energies were being put forth to hold that place and Bloomfield and I found it impossible to attend to anything else. We were in constant motion, first scattering the guerillas from around our place, and then sending every available man to assist in defending the other; so that I never had two months of more intense and unremitting care and labor than from the time I returned until I left to go to Greenville, Wayne Co.

We are now some 12 miles from Greenville, where the "Army of southeast Missouri" has been organized and is now being pushed forward towards Little Rock, Ark. The Cavalry is the only effective body of troops foor this state of things as the rebels are (usually ?) all (?) -- one day in this place and another forty miles distant; and when you come upon them they disperse and every one you capture is most anxious to take the oath; and will most earnestly protest he is a "plain good Union man" and was only looking for his cows, or a horse, stolen by parties of the enemy. The only way to fight this rebellion here is to take everything you find and confiscate it to the Government. This kind of warfare is having a most unhappy effect upon the men; for after the property is captured, I notice it is a hard thing to turn it over to the Government. Every man thinks he is entitled to some trophy; and very often, these consist of a fine horse or two, and a half dozen mules, etc. etc. Inspection Day reveals a large amount of avariciousness among those who are not favored with opportunities of such plunder (?) is otherwise concealing it from the eyes of the Inspector.

The 11th Wisconsin, Col. Harris in General Benton's division which marched from here some ten days since and is encamped in Black River on the way to Batesville. The 2nd Division leaves tomorrow and our Division the day following, so that the whole Corps. de Army will soon be en route for the Capital of Arkansas, and thence God only knows where. Our Cavalry brigade consists of the 1st Wis. Cavalry, 4th and 5th Missouri, and the 13th Illinois.

I have quite a number of relics and some valuable specimens -- fossils, etc. for the Historical Society, which shall be forwarded by the first opportunity. I hope you will be successful in securing an ample building fund for the depository of the Society's exceedingly valuable collections, and I wish it were possible for me to be there to assist in the good work. This cannot be and I am satified to know the matter is in good hands.

We have not been paid in nearly six months and many of us will be very glad to see the Paymaster coming along with the "Greenbacks".

The result of the elections in our state is encouraging, but we all regret the defeat of Col. Guppy. Politics in the army is at a very low ebb -- soldiers don't care much about it. The removal of General McClellan has discouraged us very much but there is nothing like insubordination on account of it. "The government right or wrong" but if we had a more positive and far-seeing man at the head of the government there would be less doubt in regard to the result of this terrible war. Kindly to Mrs. D and the friends at Madison, I remain

very truly your friend,

S. V. Shipman

P.S. The health of the Regiment is now very good; and if the weather continues good we shall be able to render a good account of ourselves before the campaign is over. I am detached from the Regiment and on the staff of Gen. Davidson, who commands this Corps-de-Army, and who is very popular with the officers and men. We think he can fight if not fettered with instructions and orders from those over him. We have no large battles to chronicle but the Cavalry is scouting daily, going a short time, since to Pocohantas, Ark., scattering several bodies of rebel troops bringing back quite a number of prisoners. Tell all of the people who have friends in the army that the greatest favor they can do them is to write often. A letter will do the sick more good than the Surgeon's prescriptions. Nothing like a letter from home, or one's sweet heart, if they are so fortunate as to have one.

I have spun this out to a much greater length than anticipated; and will end it here. My health is excellent and I weigh more than ever before. My broken leg is still troubling me a little -- could not run six steps so it will be necessary to fight or surrender should I happen to be dismounted by any means in a battle. My position on the General Staff is Chief of Cavalry; and with the large Cavalry force in this command, I find very little time for pleasure or correspondence. Shall be glad to hear from you often.

Please present my kind regards to Mr. Durrie and say that we are expecting J. Holt to accompany the column as Telegraphic Operator (This must not find its way to the Press).

-SVS.

Direct letters to me, A. D. C. Staff of Brig. General Davidson, Army South East Missouri, in the field, (?) St. Louis.

"A Companion of Boone's -- a medicine man -- for a long time with a tribe of Indiands, lives at Forsyth, Ark; Have you got him?"


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