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Letters of Francis William Kimble
14th Iowa Infantry, Company 'B'
Presented by the Iowa Civil War Site
Letter number thirty
Near Vicksburg, Miss March 7th, 1864
Father Today finds me seated to drop you a few lines in order that you may
know my whereabouts. Also to let you know that I am quite well at the present
ime. We have just returned from a long and hard march. We left Vicksburg on
the 3rd day of Feb. and got back the 4th day of March. 5,6,7th we had quite a
sharp skirmishing with the rebs the day before we took Jackson. The 52nd
Indiana had 2 men killed. Several others in their regt was wounded but none
dangerously. We captured one field place and 30 odd men at Jackson as we went
out. The rebs told us that they would give us a thrashing at Meridian.
Meridian is on the Mobile and Ohio railroad near the Alabama line. The 12th
of the month we passed through a little town by the name of Hillsborough. The
rebs fired into our train at Decater and killed 17 mules. No other damage
dare I believe.The 14th we marched over to Meridian without a fight. The main
part of the army skiddadled for Mobile and Celna, Ala. There was some few
scattered round through the country, just enough to bother our boys when they
would go a foraging. I believe that 10 of the 27th Iowa and a captain of the
89th Indiana was captured while out a foraging on the other side of
Hillsborough when we was coming back. John and I have been together very near
all the time since we have been out on the expedition. He has gone home. He
started a day or two ago. His regt is veterans, him with the rest. We made
great havac amongst the rebs on our trip. It is said that this expedition has
been one of the greatest of the war. We have almost ruined the country. We
took all of the meat, corn, potatoes and cornmeal. The potatoes was sweet
ones for they don't have any other kind in this part of the country. All of
the horses, mules and oxen was brought in besides 4,000 negroes. We destroyed
a great quantity of railroad. We had some very hard living. We marched 20
miles one day and had nothing for supper but a small quantity of parched
corn. But this is nothing when a man gets used to it. I stood the march very
well. I carried nothing but my blanket and drum. I seen peach trees in bloom
on the 4th of Feb. We will embark on a steamboat in a day or two for Red
River or Grants army. It is hard to tell which but we will move soon. The
last letter I got from Mother was written on the 2nd of Feb. I will have to
close for the present for I haven't much time to write just now so good day.
From your son F.W.Kimble Answer this direct via Memphis, Tenn.
Transcribed and submitted by great great niece
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Iowa In the Civil War
