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Letters of Francis William Kimble
14th Iowa Infantry, Company 'B'
Presented by the Iowa Civil War Site
Letter number forty-five
Tipton, Mo. Oct. 20, 1864
Dear Mother, I seat myself this morning to drop you a few lines to let you
know that I am atill amongst the land of the living. Mother I am happy to say
to you that this morning finds me quite well and enjoying myself as well as
could be expected under the present circumstances. And the circumstance is
that the weather is rather cool and frosty expecially this morning for it
rained in the fore part of the night and turned cool toward morning. Well
Mother I told you in my last letter that we would move in the morning but we
did not till 2 in the afternoon and then we only marched ten miles to a small
crick but the next morning we rolled again bound for Jefferson City expecting
to find Price and his forces for we heard every day that he had attacked the
city. I would take it that we didn't get there in time. So of course we put
through in a short meter, marching at the rate of 20 miles a day and besides
this we had to wade two rivers on our march, the Cascade River and the Osage
River. It wasn't very pleasant wading for the water was quite cool but not
deep. We had to take our pants off at the first one, but we waded the other
by rolling our pants up. You ought to of been at the river to see us cross.
It was a grand site. When we reached Jeff City the news was that Price was
fortified at Boonville 40 miles from the city so we put out after him again.
We stopped at a little town by the name of California and stayed there a day
or two. While we was there, Col. Shaw thought he would take the 14th back
toSt. Louis, but he failed to do so. So we had to go on with our brigade last
Sunday. The army passed through Tipton. Our brigade was in the rear of the
division. About noon we got in town and about the same time we got an order
to stop in town to guard the depot and water tank and to stay until we was
relieved by other soldiers. Day before yesterday all of the men that was
detailed in the division was relieved and went back to Tipton. We was all
aglee for we expected to return to St. Louis immediately, but we ain't gone
yet and don't know how soon we will go. Mother the 4 camps of our regt that
was at Pilot Knob has got back to St. Louis and are having a big time. We
haven't heard how many was killed and wounded yet and won't till we can see
them and that my be sooner or later for we have 16 days more to serve yet and
the probability is we will stay here or near this place for the bush whacky
is pretty thick and if there isn't any troops at this place they will come in
and burn the town. And it won't do for to let them destroy this depot and
tank for it is the only one between here and Jeff City for the rebs destroyed
them all. It is quite a lively time here for there is troops passing through
all the time on the cars. Well Mother I will close by saying Good Day. Your
son, Francis. Mother I would not buy the house.
Well Eliza a few words to you and then I must close. To commence with we are
quartered in a large building, large enough to hold a whole regt but it isn't
very warm but that is nothing for I am used to such living. Well sister I
don't want to scare you and hope I won't when I tell you that F.W. had the
honor to escort two young ladies to church and back last night. You may think
this is rather short acquaintances. It is without a doubt but this is my
motto. Since I am a soldier I expect that I will have to go with them this
evening. Our chaplin is having a meeting and says he will until we leave. I
hope he will for I like to tend church when there is plenty of ladies there.
I got you letter of the 2nd. The next day after I wrote to you from Gray
Summit. Eliza direct to St. Louis. You will please excuse my scribbling for
it is so cold that I can hardly write. Yours Truly. F.W.K.
Transcribed and submitted by great great niece
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Iowa In the Civil War
