The following letters were written by William Hervey Coffin (1835-1927), the son of Hervey Coffin (1810-1873) and Rachel Mills (1808-1873) of Pipe Creek, Madison county, Indiana. William was married to Rachel Luzena Shelley (1839-1927) in September 1857 and had his own farm in Adel, Dallas county, Iowa by the time of the 1860 US Census.

William enlisted on 9 August 1862 and mustered into Co. C, 39th Iowa Infantry as a private on 27 August 1862. He mustered out of the regiment on 5 June 1865 at Washington, D. C. 

The 39th Iowa Regiment was organized at Des Moines and Davenport and mustered in November 24, 1862. Moved to Cairo, Ill., December 12-14; thence to Columbus, Ky., December 16. Attached to 3rd Brigade, District of Corinth, 17th Army Corps, Dept. of Tennessee, to January, 1863. 3rd Brigade, District of Corinth, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 16th Army Corps, to September, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, 15th Army Corps, to August, 1865.

Defense of Jackson, Tenn., and pursuit of Forest December 18, 1862, to January 3, 1863.  Parker’s Cross Roads December 30-31, 1862. Moved to Corinth, Miss., January 6, 1863, and duty there till November, 1863. Dodge’s Expedition into Northern Alabama April 15-May 8. Great Bear Creek and Cherokee Station April 17. Tuscumbia April 22-23. Town Creek April 28. March to Pulaski, Tenn., November 2-12. Guard duty at Reynolds Station and along railroad till January 21, 1864, and at Pulaski till March 12. Moved to Athens, Ala., March 12, and to Chattanooga, Tenn., April 30.  Atlanta(Ga.) Campaign May 1 to September 8. Demonstration on Resaca May 8-13. Snake Creek Gap and Sugar Valley May 9-10. Battle of Resaca May 13-14. Ley’s Ferry, Oostenaula River, May 14-15. Rome Cross Roads May 16. Kingston May 19. Moved to Rome May 22 and duty there till August 15. Expedition after Wheeler August 15-September 16. Moved to Allatoona October 4. Battle of Allatoona October 5. Moved to Rome October 9. Reconnoissance and skirmishes on Cave Springs Road October 12-13. Etowah River October 13. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Ogeechee Canal December 9. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865.  Salkehatchie Swamps, S. C., February 3-5. South Edisto River February 9. North Edisto River February 12-13. Columbia February 15-17. Lynch’s Creek February 25-26. Battle of Bentonville, N. C., March 20-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 9-13. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett’s House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D. C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 30. Grand Review May 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., June. Mustered out August 2, 1865.

[Note: I transcribed only a half dozen of the roughly 140 letters that are in this archive which I learned had been previously transcribed and published in a book entitled, Love Letters from the Civil War, a work that was edited by John B. and Donna L. Chapman (a descendant) and published in 2000. Although they subsequently sold the letters after publishing the book, they claim the material is copyrighted and I do not wish to infringe upon their work, which can be purchased at Amazon for $15. Neither do I wish to waste my time transcribing material that is already available to researchers. The letters that follow are a fair representation of the quality and content of the letters in the collection and which may be found in the aforementioned book.]

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Letter 1

Jackson, Tennessee
January 5th 1863

Dear wife & children,

I now seat myself for the purpose of writing you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present and hope these few lines will find you well. There han’t been any chance to send or get letters since we come down here on account of the railroad being tore up It was tore up & some bridge burnt the next day after we got here. They have got it all fixed but about 12 miles. We got a mail last night for the first time since we left Iowa. They run a coach across where the track ain’t finished. We had a large mail destroyed when Trenton was taken by the rebels. That was in a few days after we got here.

Our regiment was in the battle of Parker’s Cross Roads or Red Mound as some call it, except our company was left up at Huntington on picket through neglect of the officer of the day or we would have been in it too. We got in sight just as the yaller breeches was making a blue streak. I han’t found out what our loss was but not near as heavy as the enemy. Our regiment lost 3 killed and 40 wounded & there was 9 of our company give out on the road & was taken prisoner. There was 106 from the regiment give out and stopped & 102 of them was taken.

Tommy Ashton was driving a team and was taken. They are all paroled. [Issacher J.] Zeke Davis & [Aaron] Hense Cowger and Joe Early was taken. That is all that you knowed. I stood the march as well as any of them. I never had better health in my life. We are living on what they call half rations but we generally have all we want.

We camped the night after the battle on the field. I saw several dead men on both sides. We buried our dead and left the rebels for their friends to bury at their request. We have been moving so much that I can’t hardly tell where all we have been. We have had pretty easy times except when was was marching which was just a week. I don’t know whether we will stay here long or not. We are very comfortably situated in little log cabins built for the purpose.

This is a very pleasant place in the winter. I don’t know how it will be in the summer. It looks as though people would starve out here before summer come. The citizens of this place are on rations the same as soldiers & they say there ain’t but 10 days rations in the place. They took from the rich and divided with the poor. There is plenty in the country back apiece from town but there won’t be long if they tear up the railroad much more for there is a good many soldiers here and they will have something to eat if the country affords it.

I han’t seen [Wesley] Krysher for over a week. He’s at Trenton. He stays with our things that we can’t take with us on a march. When we started, we was at Trenton. I left my blanket and shirt & drawers there. I keep the old quilt. It is better than a blanket.

I want you to write & let me know how you are getting along for I am very anxious to know. Write and let me know whether you got the money I sent you and how much you have on hand, &c. We didn’t get any the last payday and not likely we will if we stay down here. It ain’t safe for a man to try to come here with money. I suppose you have been some uneasy about me. I wrote a letter to you 10 days ago but couldn’t send it. About the time they get the road fixed in one place, they tear it up in another.

I got a letter last night from Jim Jones but he didn’t say anything about you. I suppose there is nothing serious the matter or he would have wrote. O. C. Macy got a letter from home stating old Ab Davenport’s had lost their baby and Steve VanCleve was dead. Tell your father we have some good bates of persimmons which would make him think of old times if he was here. We get a little of most everything to eat. We ain’t choosy—we take it as it comes. We do our own baking now all together. Sometimes we have meal & sometimes flour. We have beef, bacon, pickle, pork & bacon, and once in awhile a glorious mess of seet potatoes. We ain’t bothered with pie peddlers like was was at Davenport.

We have over 300 prisoners here. They talk some of sending our regiment to Cairo with [them]. We would like to get the job of guarding them through. They are a motley looking set of fellows. They are all dressed well enough but they have no uniform. There is nary two dressed alike. Even the officers have no uniform. The privates we took seem to be very tired of fighting. They say it is bringing lots of families to starvation. They most of them say they was pressed into the service.

I am on picket guard today. There is 16 of us together—four watches at a time. The rest do what they please. I would rather be on picket than at camp. There ain’t so much confusion & we have a nice place to stay. We have a shelter fixed up to sleep under.

The niggers are having a jolly time today cutting down the timber close to us so as to give the cannons a good range if this place is attacked. Niggers are pretty plenty here but white folks are scarce except soldiers. Once in awhile we see a butternut slipping around as though he had been killing sheep. I han’t seen any snow since I left Iowa. It has been cold enough to freeze a little three or four nights. I will quit for this time. I won’t get to go in till tomorrow morning. Maybe I will write some more then.

This the 6th [January]. We came in and found the regiment in line ready to take the cars for Corinth. We will start in a little while. We had a good time on picket last night. We sent out & got a ham of meat & some sausage & corn meal and borrowed an oven and had the best supper & breakfast we have had in Tennessee. I will have to quit for this time.

Write soon and tell me how you and the children are getting along. Tell Dick to write. I allowed to write some to him this time if I hadn’t been hurried off.

So farewell for this time. Direct your letters to Co. C, 39th Iowa Infantry, Cairo, Illinois

That is the general distribution office for sll army mail matter. This from your affectionate husband, — Wm. Coffin

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Letter 2

[Corinth, Mississippi]
Tuesday, March 10, 1863

Dear wife,

It is with pleasure that I take my pen for the purpose of writing you a few lines. I am well with the exception of a cold. I hope this will find you and the children well.

We have a good deal of rain lately. It rained hard nearly all night last night adn looks as though it wasn’t over yet. We had the hardest hail storm last Sunday evening I ever saw. There was lots of hail as large as a prairie chicken’s egg and the ground was completely covered with hail. It rains for keeps when it does rain lately. We hain’t had any cold weather for some time.

Health is still improving some in our regiment. Weir Couch is getting pretty stout. Krysher is confined to the hospital with his leg. I have my doubts about him ever being able to do duty as a soldier. W. J. Davenport is getting better and I think he will get well. I am cooking this week. It don’t suit me very well. It is too confining. We cook in our tents yet but will have cook sheds by the last of this week.

We got word that all the prisoners from this regiment was exchanged and on their way here. There is about 150 of them which will help the looks of our regiment considerable. I guess there is some of them that would rather been excused from coming back.

We hain’t got any money yet and I guess it is uncertain about us getting any soon. I want you to write and let me know how you are getting along. I hope Anderson will send you some money. I hain’t heard yet what he has done in regard to the wheat and corn. I want you to write and let me know what you have concluded to do about keeping house and all about it. If you still want to keep house, I will try to make some arrangement to get you some money to fix up with. Tell Williams’s folks if you see them that I was over to Jess last Saturday and he was well and hearty. He looks about as well as he ever did. Tell Henry & his I would like to see them and tumble them around awhile. Tell them they must learn their books so that they can spell for me when I come home.

I feel in hopes this war won’t last much longer. The prospect is that they will have Vicksburg in a few weeks at farthest and when that is done, I think they will feel their holds slip pretty fast. There is lots of people here that will have to starve or eat weeds before long.

Well, I must quit and go to getting dinner. After dinner I will try to finish my letter. It is raining some and looks like being a rainy time. I hain’t had any letters since yours of the 11th of February—only father’s of the 21st. I begin to want to get some letters pretty bad. We didn’t get any mail last night and I don’t expect we will for 2 or 3 days on account of the railroad being damaged by water between Jackson and Columbus.

Our regiment have [not] been away from here in a good while. I hope we won’t have to make any trip till it quits raining. There is some kind of bushes that are getting pretty green here now and the grass is beginning to start up considerable. I have seen peas where they have grown scattered around camp up 2 or 3 inches. I guess that if they were let alone, we could have green peas in a month or 6 weeks. I don’t know of anything more that will interest you so I will bring my letter to a close by requesting you to write often. I would be glad if you would write as often as once a week anyhow and oftener when you can. I never get tired of reading letters. No more. Yours as ever. — Wm. Coffin

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Letter 3

The following is a description of Dodge’s Expedition into Northern Alabama April 15-May 8.

Corinth, Mississippi
May 3rd 1863

Dear Wife,

As it has been some time since I have had an opportunity of writing, I will now try to write you a few lines giving a description of our trip.

We started from here the 15th of April, went to Burnsville and camped, 16th went to Iuka and took dinner. Went on to Clear Creek and camped. 17th, all our forces but a company of our regiment and the trains, which we were left to guard, went on to Bear Creek where the rebs were said to be in considerable force and in a strong position. Our batteries were planted on a high hill on this side where they commenced shelling to woods on the other in order to find where the rebs were. Fortunately about three of our first shells lit right in their camp killing three and the rest skedaddled. Our cavalry followed them some 5 or 6 miles and had some sharp skirmishing.

In the evening we moved up with the train. 18th, our cavalry, some infantry, and some artillery followed the rebs and had a sharp skirmish—some killed on both sides. We lost two pieces of artillery and about 40 men taken prisoners. 19th, we got our guns back & [took] several prisoners. Were reinforced by another brigade in the evening which fetched our mail to us. I got a letter from you that you wrote the day you left father’s, one from Dick write the 12th, and one from Thol and Abigail.

20th, more soldiers coming. Fetched us more mail. I got a letter from you wrote I believe the 13th and one from father and mother. 21st, all quiet. 22nd all quiet. 23rd, marched and crossed Buzzard Roost, Cane Creek &c. and camped in the woods by a large farm which afforded plenty of rails for fires. 24th, went on to Stinking Bear Creek where the rebs was said to be fortified. Got there, found a few rails piled up for them to hide behind but none of them there. Went on to Tuscumbia expecting a big fight there certain but instead of fighting, they run as though their shirt tails was afire. Camped all round town. Our cavalry followed the rebs and took in 80 of them.

They now took a position about two miles from us. The first was a mile and a half. They only had one gun that would reach us from this place. We had several that would reach them. It was a nice thing to look at. we could see our shells burst around them and see the smoke from their gun. Both forces were on an open field. A lot of us was on a high point looking at them and they commenced on us. The first shell they throwed lit close enough to throw dirt in some of our boys eyes. We could see them coming in time to dodge them, They were so near spent by the time they go to where we were that we could run out of the way. They have a whiz that I don’t like the sound of. They can’t be seem when it is clear.

About 10 o’clock our men commenced making a bridge to cross over on. The rebs tried very hard to shell them back from the creek but all in vain. They wounded three of our men slightly was all the damage was done to our forces all day. About one o’clock the shelling ceased and the 1st Brigade crossed over on the railroad bridge which they had been afraid to do before for fear of the rebs having guns that would rake the road. About three, they got the other bridge fixed so our Brigade crossed. There was skirmishers throwed out and we advanced in line of battle a mile. The skirmishers got a few shots at them a good way off as they run. We commenced killing hogs and chickens for supper when we were ordered back to where we camped the night before. We got back a little after dark, found our quartermaster with 50 head of sheep ready butchered for us, cooked our supper, and roasted a sheep leg apiece for next day.

29th, started back, burnt the railroad bridge which I think was the main thing we came for. I will just say we had the 1st Alabama Cavalry with us which was a great extent made up tight in this part of Alabama. When they left for to keep from being pressed into the rebel service, the rebs burnt their houses and took their property of all times and now they thought was their time although very contrary to General Dodge’s orders. Before daylight, Old Town—as it is called—was in flames. It is two big planters live close together. They had had so many negroes that their shanties made it look like a town. From that on we could see houses burning all the time, no difference which way we looked.

We got to Tuscumbia about noon. Don’t think there was a dozen houses in five miles of the road on either side but what was burnt. Went on to Stinking Bear Creek and camped. I forgot to say that the citizens had all fled to the mountains with their mules, horses, negroes, bacon, &c. All that stayed at home saved their houses and all that left got them burnt. They didn’t burn any houses where the people was at home. This valley clear from Big Bear to Old Town is very good country…

No more this time, as ever, — Wm. Coffin

Letter 4

[Corinth, Mississippi]
Friday evening, May 29th 1863

Dear Wife,

I take the present [opportunity] to inform you that I am well at present and hope those few lines will find you and the children well. I received the socks you sent last night. They are just the kind I wanted. I hope to be able to do as much for you sometime.

Health is about like it was when I wrote last. Oliver is complaining today but nothing serious. Weir Couch has a felon on his finger which is hurting him some. Not to its worst yet. We have had some very warm weather lately. We drill a half hour every morning and three quarters in the evening skirmish with the gray backs and wood ticks. The balance of the time we live well and have as good times as soldiers could expect to have. O. C. Macy and I have divided blankets. The non-commissioned officers have to all live in one house. Oliver being a sergeant, he had to go in with them. He is a good fellow for a partner.

I aim to go up to the 16 mile water tank in the morning to see Jess Williams, go a fishing, get some eggs, butter, onions, &c. if I can get a pass.

We got good news from Vicksburg last night which I hope will prove true. Our negro soldiers are learning to drill very fast. They turn their whole attention to it. They are keen to get to try the rebs a hitch. They have great confidence in theirselves. I don’t know how they will do but I believe they will do good fighting.

I sent you a paper a few days ago. There is some prospect of us having to do post duty here. I don’t like the idea much though it will exempt us from going on marches, &c. If we get the position, our works will be guarding the stockade where the prisoners are kept, the general’s headquarters, the post commissary, &c. &c. I would rather do picket duty.

Weir got a letter from Dallas stating that Andersons had started to Jefferson. I suppose they are gone back before this time. I don’t get any news from old Johnny yet about our wool. I want you to write what you want doe with it. I don’t know of anything more. This from your affectionate husband and friend, as ever, — Wm. Coffin

To Rachel L. Coffin

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Letter 5

[Corinth, Mississippi]
July 7th 1863

Dear wife,

I now take my pen to write you a few lines in answer to yours of the 1st which I have just read. I am well as common and I hope when this reaches you it will find you and the children well. Tell them Copperheads when they are calling us all thieves that we are proud of the name in the place of being called Copperheads. We are working to put down the rebellion and if taking their property will weaken them, I say go in on it. I have never done anything yet that I am ashamed of. I have took in a few hogs and sheep and once in awhile a chicken, and I wouldn’t think I was a loyal man if I didn’t do all I could to starve them out.

It is a little cooler today than it has been for a few days. There was two of the Kansas 7th [Regiment] shot yesterday while gathering berries about two miles from camp and this morning just at daylight Co. H was attacked where they were stationed 3 miles east of here guarding the mule corral. There was about 550 of the rebs and they had them completely surrounded before they knew they were there. The pickets fired at them but they dashed in and the pickets was so close to camp that it didn’t hardly give our boys time to get their clothes on till the rebs was right among them. Still the company formed in lines and give them a round or two when the rebs surrounded them and was closing i non them. Capt. Loomis told his boys to take care of themselves the best they could—that it was impossible to get out of there all together. Some ran half a mile across an open field and made their escape but 27 men and the captain surrendered. The captain had his wife with him and they was staying in a house close by. He put on his soldier pants, a bluish coat and an old white hat and took a gun instead of his sword to fight with so it is hoped he will be paroled as a private as he had nothing on to show that he is an officer. He is a splendid captain and spunk to the backbone but he had no chance to fight—he was so completely surprised. The rebs took all the miles out of the corral which amounted to three or four hundred but they was run down mules, put there to be recruited up.

Our boys killed one lieutenant and one private and wounded one lieutenant and three privates. they had one man wounded pretty severe in the calf of his leg. We don’t know how many wounded they carried away. Two of their wounded was found 2 miles from camp. All the cavalry force that was here was after them in an hour after they left. Mules have been coming back all day which signifies that our men are crowding them. Probably we will hear something about how they come out by morning and I will write it then.

Clark Bringham was taken is all the one that you was acquainted. I guess there was one of Swallow’s boys taken. I don’t know much about the furlough business. It is reported that Vicksburg is taken and I reckon they will give furloughs again. Our Captain has a very polite request to resign his office. He has 30 days to fix up things in and I don’t expect we will get much favors while he has command. We are going to give him a chance to resign and if he don’t do it, we will find some other way to get him out. We don’t like him any too well at best, but the trouble is he has been drunk several times in the last three weeks. The Fourth he was so drunk he couldn’t navigate. We don’t propose to patronize such conduct at the company expense. If we should ever get into an engagement with the rebs and him drunk, it might be a dear thing to us. Price will take his place. The Capt. never drunk any of any consequence till lately.

Tell granny I would like to see her very well. Tell her I would like to send her a present but I don’t know of anything that I could get that could be sent in a letter. I will quit for this time and write some to father and mother. I remain your husband as ever, — Wm. Coffin

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Letter 6

[Three miles north of Kingston, Georgia]
May 20, 1864

Dear Wife,

I this evening take my pen to write you a few lines. I am well at present and hope this may find you all well. I wrote some to you yesterday but we have to move before I got through writing and as I have a chance today, I thought I would write a little more for fear I don’t get a chance soon again.

We are now camped three miles north of Kingston on the railroad. The cars have been running through here today. They have been running bridge timber, railroad hands, &c., down below to repair the road ahead. We are laying over here today to work and clean up a little. I think we will take Atlanta in less than a month if we have no bad luck. Everything looks to be working as well as could be desired.

You wanted to know what I thought of the war. I can tell you I think we will clean them out pretty soon. I don’t think they can stand two months more like the last two weeks has been. The prisoners say that they hain’t any as strong places as some they have lost. It looks to me as though they had got discouraged and afraid to risk a general engagement anymore. They have Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas troops to cover the retreat. They don’t dare to put Tennessee, Kentucky, or any of their northern troops in the rear for fear they will come over to us.

What dead and prisoners I have seen seem to be pretty well clothed and their haversacks well filled with corn bread and meat (their turds along the road looks like coon turds in roasting ear time. There is a good deal of brand mixed in).

I wrote to Anderson to send you your part of the wool the first opportunity. I want you to keep the children going to school. D all you can on interest in their teacher. Tell granny I am glad to hear that she is well. I would be very glad to see her once more. I still feel in hope it won’t be long till we all get to go home. We may have to serve our time out but I don’t think so at the present. I will quit for this time and write some to mother. I remain your ever well wishing husband, — Wm. Coffin