Letter by William Shannon - December 10, 1861

On yesterday morning eight companies of our regt went out to reconnoiter and find out if they could, the position of the enemy, and if it would be safe for our regt to make an encampment further out. Our company was one that went out. I remained for the reason that all the night before I was troubled with the dysentery, and am not yet entirely over it, but feel much better. There are ten of our company here. The other boys like myself are similar situated. There are a great deal of sickness still in the regt, though not so many deaths as here before. The measles has swept the entire army, and in it's ravages, has sent many soldiers to the land of spirits. Since Alex wrote there has been one other death in our company, and it was another messmate of mine, L. J. Carrilton from Escondido, one of my near neighbors & a fine young man. That makes three of our messmates, all fine young men.

The weather, so far as a general thing, been very pleasant though there has been some tight little spells of short duration. I like this encampment much better than I did at Bowling Green. There are so many troops there that the country is nearly entirely eat out, and for some time before we left, it was a hard matter to get vegetables, apples or anything of that kind, and then had to pay exorbitant prices for it. Here we can get Butter, eggs, vegetables, chickens, milk, etc, nearly as cheap as they are sold in Texas. We draw plenty of good provisions, and can have coffee three times a day if we make it. We get Bacon, beef, lard, flour, meal, soda crackers, rice, beans, potatoes, sugar, and molasses, vinegar, and manage to live very well, and when on picket duty, the country people take a pleasure in feeding us. I was out a few days ago, and it was just after hog killing. I was treated so well that I would have had no objections to remained for a week. The people of Tennessee & Kentucky go high on the Texas Rangers, and our enemies dread us worse than other branch of the army. Our regt has taken a great many prisoners, and killed several of the enemy and not a man of ours has ever been wounded by them, though they have shot at us frequently. I myself have been in but one skirmish, Alex I believe has wrote you the particulars of that. We have had some three or four men accidentally shot, but none serious. I think when Spring opens so that we can scout, we will be able to do our cause a good deal of service, but I do not think we will do much during the winter. We are mounted on fine horses and have them pretty well drilled. We drew horses it was done by ballot and I unluckily got a small horse, the next day I rode out on him, and as I come back by Col Terry's tent, he called and asked me if that was the best horse I could get, I told him yes, he then told me to go up to the depot that another cargo would be in that evening, and to select a horse. I done so, and got me a fine charger, one the best horses in the regt and have got him pretty well trained to obey my commands and to shoot while on him.

I ordered the "Louisville Courier," a newspaper printed in Nashville, with one of the editors in Bowling Green--sent to you, it may contain some news of the army movements.

Thursday night Dec'r 12th, as I did not finish this hasty written letter the other day I will now do so. Nothing of interest has transpired. I took a pleasant country ride on yesterday got a fine dinner and was well treated. I have heard nothing from the boys on the scout yet are coming into Bowling Green. I do not know the intentions of it--thought hope it is for an advance movement.

The weather is still fine & pleasant. Write as often as is convenient. Direct all the letters to Bowling Green and state the regt and company- for they are brought out by express.

I am ever faithfully Your son
William