The Iowa Civil War Site
Iowa During the Civil War

Letters of Francis William Kimble
14th Iowa Infantry, Company 'B'

Presented by the Iowa Civil War Site

Letter number twenty-eight

In the rear of Vicksburg, Miss. Feb. 22nd, 1864
Dear Mother and Sister, It is with pleasure that I take up my pen to address
you a few lines to let you know my whereabouts and to let you know that I am
yet enjoying quite good health. Mother the 14th Iowa is camped about 3 miles
in the rear of the treacherous city of Vicksburg. We landed at Vicksburg
about 9 o'clock the evening of the 27th. The next morning we moved down the
river one mile and a half. When we landed there we pitched our tents. We lay
there 2 days when we once more packed our knapsacks and marched to where
tonight finds us. I would not of written this evening but I thought it best
to let you know where I was. It is the calculations for the band to play
revellry tomorrow morning at 4 o'clock and at 6 o'clock we expect to be ready
to march. I suppose that tomorrow evening at this hour Frank will become to
know some little about soldiering. I suppose that we will go to clean the
rebs out at a place by the name of Meridian. It is the other side of Jackson,
Miss. You need not look for a letter from me till you see one a coming for we
are a leaving our knapsacks in Vicksburg and our writing material in them.
Our colnel says he thinks it best for the less we have to carry the better we
will get along. He ought to know for he has tried it before. I think for my
part that I can stand it very well for I ain't a going to carry anything but
my blanket and drum. By so doing I think that I can stand it very well. Well
Mother 21st Mo. regt landed here yesterday. John came over to see me last
night He looks as fat as I ever saw him look. I don't know but he looks
better that he used to. All I hope about it is that he is a veteran. He
thinks that the war will be dried up in one more year from now. He says that
he don't think that he could make 400 dollars any easier than joining the
veterans. I guess he is a writing Sate a letter tonight. I am sorrow that I
couldn't get a letter from home before I left here for I would like to know
if my box and money went safe. You needn't be uneasy Mother. I must close.
Good evening Mother

Transcribed and submitted by great great niece

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