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Letters of Francis William Kimble
14th Iowa Infantry, Company 'B'
Presented by the Iowa Civil War Site
Letter number seventeen
Ft. Haleck, Columbus, KY Aug __, 1863
Dear Mother Once more I am permitted the pleasure of writing you a few lines
in answer to yours of the 31st which reached me yesterday morning. Mother
your letter found me enjoying very good health at present. I was glad to hear
from home. Also glad to hear that James had got well again. Mother it is very
comfortable today. Yesterday was intensely hot. At least I thought so for I
was in the sun most all day. There was a detail of three co's to go out to
Union City to guard a train of cars that was loaded with provisions for the
soldiers at that place. We had no trouble going through. We didn't care if we
did have a little fight. I wasn't particular for I had a good gun and 40
rounds of powder. We got back to camp after dark. Mother the steamboat Ruth
burned a few nights ago 6 miles above Columbus. There was 2 million dollars
in green backs burned, 100 head of horses and 100 and 40 mules besides a
great many cattle and meat. They say there was 30 lives lost. Our regt got 2
months pay the 30th day of July. I got a letter from Sarah a few days ago.
She was well at the time of writing. Mother I am sorrow to say that Co. B has
lost one more of their members. The man that died got a furlough and died on
the way home. Two went home day before yesterday morning. I am afraid one of
them will not get home for he is very weak. Mother I was sitting in my tent
the other evening and who should come in but Elsa Jane Hughs's man. He showed
me a letter he just got from his wife. She said that Steve and Dad had been
at her house. Dad told her that I was in the 14th regt and she wrote to her
man to look me up. I saw her likeness and I recognized it in a minute. John
Hughs is in the 38th Iowa regt. We had a nice rain last night. I must close.
Yours respectfuly, Your son
Eliza, I thank you for corting E. for me. I got a sweet letter from her a few
days ago and it was sweet with love. Also got one from S.J. Biddison. She
says she longs to see me. I pity the girl, don't you. You spoke of going to
church. I will just way that I would of liked of been with you.Liza I sent
you a novel yesterday. I had a good mess of green corn for dinner that I got
while I was out a rebel hunting yesterday. Eliza the band is a going to get
our minatures taken all together. I will send one home. Eliza E.R.C. has got
my minature before now I suppose for I sent it. I got tired of her asking for
it so I sent it. My best respects to you and Jimmy. Francis to Eliza
Dottie [email protected]
Transcribed and submitted by great great niece
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Iowa In the Civil War
