The expedition left Cairo on the 6th of November, under the command of Generals Grant and McClernand, and landed at Belmont at eight o'clock next morning. The American forces comprised the Twenty-Second, Twenty-Seventh, Thirtieth, and Thirty-First Illinois, the Seventh Iowa, with the Chicago Artillery and some cavalry. The object was to break up the enemy's camp at Belmont, and in case he sent reinforcements from Columbus, to attack that also, by a force sent down on that side. The attack on Belmont was eminently successful. Although the enemy were seven thousand strong, the Americans, Schmitt's company leading, routed them, and planted the American colors on their camp. As new troops were sent, however, from Columbus in successive divisions, led by Pillow, Cheatem, and by Polk in person, the Americans fell back to their boats, cutting their way through. In the attack on Belmont, Lieutenant Shipley's company was first in the engagement, first in the march to take the enemy in the rear, first in the enemy's camp, and last to leave the ground before the thrice reinforced troops of the enemy.

Lieutenant Shipley carried with him into the battle a small pocket Testament, given him just previous to his departure, and in the early part of the engagement, a musket-ball struck this Testament as it lay exactly over his heart, and he escaped unharmed. He stood up nobly and manfully, as did all his company through the fearful battle, but while conducting the retreat at four o'clock in the afternoon, was struck by another musket-ball, which passed through his body from side to side, immediately above the hips. All who fell at that critical juncture had to be left on the field. The next day a number of Americans, under a flag of truce, were allowed to visit the field, in order to bury the dead, and remove such of their wounded comrades as had been left on the

field. They found Lieutenant Shipley alive and perfectly rational. He had lain there all night, had been stripped of his money, his watch, his arms (pistols and sword), but his Testament was left the rebels seemingly placing no value on such trophies.

He was taken on board the boat at ten o'clock, and received every possible aid under the circumstances, but his life could not be saved. He died on the boat before reaching Cairo, about evening, and, despite his sufferings, was rational to the last moment, and died in the triumphant hope of a glorious resurrection.

His regiment, with sad hearts and reversed arms, accompanied his remains to the boat which was to convey them to Quincy, whither Captain Schmitt accompanied them. Quincy prepared to honor the first of her soldiers slain on the battle-field. His funeral took place from the house of Senator Browning, the protector of his youth.

Rev. Dr. Warren, of Macomb, for some time pastor of the Old School Presbyterian Church (of which Lieutenant Shipley was an exemplary member), conducted the exercises, assisted by Rev. Mr. Piper, the present pastor. They were brief, but appropriate and impressive. At the conclusion, the remains were borne to the hearse, and escorted to their last resting-place, in Woodland Cemetery, by a very large procession of military, young men. citizens, and friends.

CAPTAIN ALEXANDER BIELASKI.

KILLED AT BELMONT, NOVEMBER 7, 1861.

WHEN the biography of one of our countrymen is to be written, the task is easy in comparison with that of relating the incidents in the life of a foreigner or describing those traits of character which form the man. Of the native, every kind of information may be gathered from his own family, his friends and neighbors. Anecdotes of his youth and manhood, events of interest and occurrences of small importance, yet indicative of his turn of mind or disposition, are remembered and detailed by various old acquaintances, Old men recollect him as the boy who shared their sports and their adventures, and recall many an early scene, many a noble act, or kindly deed. Younger men describe the stanch patriot, the true friend: the lofty exhibitions of virtue, truth, bravery, and honor, are described by eloquent pens, and dwelt on by loving hearts. To the biographer is left only the pleasing labor of selecting from this bountiful supply of materiel such as may best serve to portray the man as he was known among us.

How widely different his work when called on for a memoir of one who came from a foreign land a matured man. Few and meagre are the bits of information at hand, and who is there to ask for more? All