27th Iowa Infantry

Item LTR-10270

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 4 pages, written in period ink.


Camp Reed
Jackson, Tennessee

February 26th 1863

My Dear Wife,

The weather is such that military operations cannot be carried out in the field. I am therefore obliged to stay in the tent. Last night it rained hard all night. Only held up two or three hours in the morning when it commenced again and now (2 p.m.), it is pattering down upon the tent, making what I call fine music. This forenoon I went into town to the Post Quartermasters for provisions.

The Captain furnished one dollar and Orderly Wilcox $4. All our mess could raise. With it I bought 100 lbs. of flour and 16 lbs. of sugar. We get provisions of government at cost price.

The 7th of this month, I paid $4.10 for provisions which took all the money I had but one dollar. Now I have 55 cents in my pocket, which will answer my purpose very well if we get some pay in a few days. I shall manage to get along without asking you to divide the little you have.

We have run up an account with the regimental quartermaster and also with the stuler which must be paid when we get money. Captain Miller is fixing up his affairs preparatory to offering his resignation. It may take some time to bring it about. He is still too lame in his back to do anything and the physicians tell him his spine is affected. It is the intention now to discharge several in the company. Alfred and Albert Cordell and John Blank are all that you know. We have heard today that Lewis McWilliams is dead.

He was left at Memphis where the regiment marched into the state. It is almost impossible to hear from those of our company left at Memphis. I understand William Morgan is still at Memphis waiting for a discharge. In reference to your remark hoping I would not come back, etc., I understood you as what you meant.

I can still reiterate what I then said that it seems doubtful if I ever get back. I have but little confidence in my physical ability to carry us through three years of exposure to fatigue, such as we have in the army. My undercoat and overcoat are both wet and yet I must sleep in one of them. Now it is all mud and water, next summer they say the earth will be parched up with hot dry weather.

The summer is more to be dreaded than the winter. It takes a very hopeful man to be laid in a hospital where the dead and dying are all around and not give up himself. This is one of the worst features of the hospital. If the patient sees anyone die, he justly concludes his case to be dangerous. Because he is in the department for the dangerously sick.

I could tell some things about the conduct of the hospitals that would tend to dishearten those at hoe who are putting up their fillers. But it would do no good. Besides, I have not space for it. I am out of stamps but you need not send me any.

Write me all the news you can. Has Hyde finished painting the house?

Give my respects to all and grieving friends, etc.. Kiss the children and accept my love as usual, etc..

O. Whitney

P.S. I think it must be a mistake that Lewis McWilliams is dead. I think he is alive and getting well. O.W.