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Letters of Francis William Kimble
14th Iowa Infantry, Company 'B'
Presented by the Iowa Civil War Site
Letter number forty-two
>From Mountain Railroad, Mo. Sept. 25, 1864
Dear Sister, I have the pleasure to announce to you that I have just received
your very and anxiously looked for letter which I can hardly express the joy
it gave me in receiving it. For I haven't got a scratch of a pen from home
since the 8th of Aug until this one. Well Eliza we broke up camp at Cairo
this morning of the 14th and before noon we was steaming up the Mississippi.
The evening of the 15th found us landed 20 miles below St. Louis. The next
morning we started up the river again and in a few hours we landed on the Mo
side of the river 10 miles from St. Louis, Mo.Everything went off fine until
yesterday morning when we got orders to be ready to take the oars at 6
o'clock but that order was countermanded and everything went smoothly until
about 12 o'clock last night when an order was received at headquarters to
get ready to move in a few minutes and Eliza you ought to have been here for
10 minutes just to seen the boys break up camp. Of all the holering I ever
heard, it was last night. It was rather uncomfortable getting up last night
for it was so very cool. Well after the boys had stood around for about 3
hrs. the order came to get on the oars at a little after 3. The 14th rowed
out for Pilot Knob, Mo. Probably before this time they were amongst the Rebs
for the Evening Democrat says that the Reb, Gen. Price is marching on Cape
Girardian with 8,000 men. It is thought in camp that there will be some hard
fighting to do before the invader can be drove off. We have had some glorious
news from the east. Last night there was 100 guns fired in honor to Gen.
Sheridan and his noble men. Well Eliza the draft is a going off in St. Louis
all right. The most fun is to see the conscripts trying to get substitutes to
go in their places. When you write again let me know if any of the Iowaville
folks is drafted.. Nothing would do me more good than to hear of some of our
Iowaville peace men being drafted. Let them come out and fight for peace if
they want it so bad. For my part I think there isn't anybody wants peace
anymore than our soldiers who is undergoing all the hardships that people can
undergo, but we don't want to make peace with rebbles on their own terms
after fighting so long.
As for my part I would rather be a soldier for years to come yet than to make
peace on any such terms.Abraham is the man for our president. As for Mr. G? I
can't see him. Any man that will run on a Sesh platform won't do, for a
soldier to vote for at these state of affairs. It might do any other time. I
would like to know if Dad will vote for that venimous Mr. G. I hope not at
least. Eliza I feel very sad to learn that so many of the Iowaville boys
failed to get home. I hope some of them will turn up yet. I would of liked to
of been one of your guests at Mr. Millers but you know that I could not. But
never mind if no bad, bad luck turns up I will be at home before another two
months turns up and then I will try to make up for lost time won't I. Well I
guess I will. When you write again tell me if Jim Coombs has got home. I
heard that he was sent to his regt after he got to Davenport. I would like to
know. Our orders that we had to report to Sherman was countermanded the same
day that I wrote to you and I am glad of it for if we had went there we would
of had to stay over our time. I think if it hadn't been for Price coming into
Mo. we would of got back to the state before long. Our qtr. master drew
clothing day before yesterday for the last time. I guess that I will loose my
bounty and have the twenty seven dollars taken out of my next months pay for
I won't be in the U.S. service 2 years until the 26th of Nov. I got a letter
from Sate at the same time I got this letter. She complains of being so
lonesome. She wants to make a visit to Iowa but I think that she had better
stay at home for it will cost considerable to go and come. I haven' seen John
since we left Cairo. Eliza when you write give me all the news, political and
all. I got a letter from S. Biddison a few days ago. She wanted me to give
you and the family her regards. So I suppose you will accept of such. Eliza
myself and two more of our band is left behind to take care of the things. We
have been looking for orders to go to the regt all day but none has come yet
and it is after dinner. Write just as soon as you get this and direct it via
St. Louis, Mo. Billy Poor is here. He wants you to tell E.R.C. to write to
him if she hasn't forgotten him. I haven't heard from E.R. yet. Give my best
wishes to Mother and the rest of the family. I would like to hear from Dad. I
must close so Good Day from your brother F. W.Kimble
"Hurrah for Lincoln" Excuse my short letter!!
Transcribed and submitted by great great niece
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The Iowa Civil War Site