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Letters of Francis William Kimble
14th Iowa Infantry, Company 'B'
Presented by the Iowa Civil War Site
Letter number sixteen
Ft. Haleck, Columbus, KY July the 26th, 1863
Mother, This pleasant sabbath finds me seated to answer your kind letter of
the 6th that I received last night. Mother I am sorrow to hear of James
illness but I only hope he has recovered before this time. I am truly glad to
hear the rest of you is blest with health, for health is the enjoyment of
life. Mother this letter leaves me enjoying very good health. I was unwell
for some time back but I am happy to say that I am well for the present. My
disease was the summer complaint. I believe that it is the worst disease a
soldier is troubled with. Mother Co. B followed another of their noble
patriots to the tomb yesterday 10 o'clock a.m. Mother he is the man that I
spoke of at Cairo that was burnt up with whisky. He was one of the men that
went from Camp Strong with me. We was 7 then but we are 6 now. We have 4 sick
men in my company. One of them is our 2nd lieutenant. He is not dangerously
sick. Mother you can send Sarah the 3 dollars for I expect she stands in need
of it. You say you shouldn't think the soldiers would go out of the fort in
time of danger, but that is just the time they like to be out. We haven't
seen any of them rebels that they talked so much about a few days ago. And I
think we won't while we stay in this place. I think the rebels has more sense
that to attack a strong hold as this place is. Them clothes that I sent is
some that I bought off soldiers that had more than they could carry. I gave
one dollar for that blanket. Mother the band goes over one half and to mount
guard every morning. We mount over 400 guards every morning. I want to know
where the old man went to. We had a very hard rain night before last. Write
all the news in your next. We haven't got our last 2 months pay yet. My
clothing bill up to now is 4l dollars and 63 cts. I must close for this time
so no more but remain your son. F. W. Kimble to M.A. Kimble
Eliza I want you to go slow how you fall in love with the butternuts. For you
must remember that the soldiers is around cracking them. I think by the best
information that I can get that your celebration was kind of a cop
celebration. I got a letter from Adam Stump a few days since. He seen Miller
boys. They was well. Eliza I had some splendid pies. I run the picket guard
and got 3 gal of black berries. My old cook drawed flour and baked them on
shares. I shot some rabbits with my revolver. I fried them. You better
believe they was nice. I broke one of my drum heads going to the funeral
yesterday and I had to put another in this morning. Altho it is Sunday but we
have no Sunday in the army. Eliza I got a letter from E.R.C. one week ago
last night. So you must go with the girls for me while I am gone. Good day
Eliza. from Frank to Eliza.
Dottie [email protected]
Transcribed and submitted by great great niece
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Iowa In the Civil War
