The following letters were written by Private Nicholas (“Nick”) Belveal (1839-1926) of Co. F, 33rd Iowa Infantry. Nicholas was 22 years old when he enlisted on 13 August 1862 and he remained almost three years with the regiment, mustering out on 17 July 1865 at New Orleans, Louisiana.
Nicholas was the son of Louis Belveal (1815-1880) and Rachael Ann Nelson Kelly (1823-1918) of Jackson, Keokuk county, Iowa—formerly of Shelbyville, Indiana. Nicholas was married to Mary S. Miller (1841-1884) in 1862. Sometime after the war the couple moved to Oakland, Alameda county, California.
Adding a note to Nick’s 1st letter was Joseph T. Miller (b. 1836), Nick’s brother-in-law who served in the same company.
Letter 1
Tallahatchie River
March 9th 1863
On board steamer Lebanon No. 2
Dearly beloved wife & friends,
It is with the greatest of pleasure that I take the opportunity of informing you that we are all well & in good spirits & I sincerely hope these few lines may find you all in good health.
Well, Mary, I just finished washing & would like to see you—“that’s whats the matter.” Jo. T. is writing father Miller a letter. Well, Mary, I have not seen any more rebs since them I told you about. The darkies says the Rebs is scared nearly to death. They all leave as we advance. This is 13 days we have been out on the expedition and have not seem a reb yet. Oh yes, the cavalry took 2 prisoners.
This Yazoo Pass that you have heard of is about 2/3 as big as Skunk [River]. It empties into Cold Water which is a little bigger. Cold Water empties into the Tallahatchie which is about as big as Skunk [River] and as crooked, but it is a heap deeper. The darkies told us that their masters said if the Yankees got through the Yazoo Pass, Vicksburg was gone certain. The general belief of the soldiers is that the war is about over.
I haven’t got a letter from any of you since the one dated February 19th and I am a getting very anxious to hear from you again. But I think when the mail comes, I will get one. That will be this evening, I think.
Well, Mother, you said you was glad to think that I had quit swearing, I have not swore any since I was at home, not neither do I low it. We had preaching in the Cabin [of the steamboat] yesterday & I was in to hear it. Well, Mother, I have begun to live a religious life & I low to stick to it. You all know that the army is a hard place for a Christian to live but it don’t make any difference with me what others do or say. I low to try to do but what is right.
Sammy says he has nothing of importance to write—only he is well and would like to ses you all if he could. Only he wants to know whether Father has got that money from I. Morgan yet or not.
Well, I believe I have wrote all I have to write. I must close and let Joseph write some. I would like to see you all & I hope I will soon. So no more. Write soon. From your affectionate husband, — N. Belveal
To Mary S. Belveal
Dear Sister, I thought I would write you a few lines. I have just finished a good long letter to Father and Mother. Those lines leave me well and I hope they may find you the same as health is the greatest blessing we can enjoy here on earth and especially while we are in the army.
Well, Mary, I will tell you that I sent Martha 5 dollars in your care. I sent it with Nicholas when he sent his to you. Please do me the favor to hand it to her. I write her a letter the 24th of February. Something else. I have not much new to write this time but we are surrounded with trials here in the army. But Mary, I try to live up to my calling and serve my Master as much as I ever did in my life. And if I ever return to my home and friends, I hope to return untarnished by vice or if I die, to die a faithful soldier for my country and my Lord. But I must close. My best respects to you. Ever your brother, — Joseph T. Miller
To M. S. Belveal
Letter 2
Little Rock, Arkansas
November 17th 1863
Dear Beloved Wife and friends,
With the greatest pleasure I this morning seat myself in order to drop you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along. I am well and hearty and I sincerely hope these lines may find you enjoying the same happy blessing. The boys is generally well. S. B. and J. Gill is well. J. Speirs is not well yet though I think he will be alright before long.
Well Mary, I was working on the fort yesterday. The detail of men to work on the fort per day is about 600—that is, from the different regiments. 1
Well Mary, I must tell you something about our meetings here in town. I was to meeting three times last Sunday and Sunday night. There is 6 different denominations here in town. I went to the Christian Church at 11 and 4 and as there was no preacher at that church at night we went to the Presbyterian Church at night. I got to hear a mighty good sermon in the forenoon and a tolerable good one in the afternoon, but at night it was rather a dry time.
Well Mary, you may guess how much satisfaction it was to get to hear some good preaching once more. It almost seems like I was free once more. I guess I must tell you there was lots of pretty girls there and they had to go home by theirselves. I tried to get some of the cowardly boys to go with them [but] they was afraid to venture.
Oh Mary, if I could only be at home where I could go with you to meeting, then it would be some satisfaction but I trust the time is not far distant when we can once more see that day. Prosperity and civility seems to once more reign over the town of Little Rock in which the inhabitants seem to be well pleased. As to produce, everything is very high. Pork is worth 15 cents per pound, mutton, beef 12.5, chickens 50 cents per head, potatoes 1.50 per bushel, corn meal 1.50, flour $10 and other things in proportion. What do you think of that?
Well Mary, Sergeant J. Bell is on his way home for the purpose of recruiting for Co. F and I send you $50 by him. I have no news of any importance to tell you this time I believe that would be new to you, but if I was only with you again I could talk you all to sleep. But I am in good spirits for I think the time will roll round some time when I will be again permitted to return to the one that I so dearly love. Well, Mary, tell brother J. F. Githen that I would like mighty well to hear from him if he has not forgotten me entirely though I don’t suppose he has time to write for nursing that boy. So I will bring my letter to a close by scbscribing myself your affectionate husband until death, — N. Belveal
To Mary S. Belveal. Write soon.
1 A month after occupying Little Rock, Gen. Steele ordered the start of construction of a new fort to defend the city from attack. It was a square redoubt with a network of batteries and rifle pits that was named Fort Steele.
Letter 3
Little Rock, Arkansas
June 21, 1864
Dearly beloved companion and friends,
With the greatest of pleasure I this morning seat myself for the purpose of dropping you a few lines in answer to your kind and welcome note of the 5th instant which came to hand in due time and found me as this leaves me—well and hearty. And I sincerely hope these lines may find you the same.
As to war news, I haven’t anything late. Times is quiet here and the weather extremely hot. And we had a General Review yesterday and today general inspection. They are spreading on the style rather thick to suit me. I hear that there was a fight at Brownsville yesterday between our cavalry forces and Old Shelby but I don’t know how true it is. But there was some infantry sent over there yesterday for some purpose. There was a detail from our regiment to go to Ft. Smith with a boat load of rations. The Rebs fired into the boat twice but they didn’t hurt anyone. They sent them their compliments and pushed on.
Well, Mary, I heard that Old Big Martha was married. If she is, tell her for me that I wish her much joy and a big boy. John M. Jones and J[ames R.] Speirs & J[ames] Gill is all well. Well, Mary, we haven’t been paid off yet. We had preaching in camp Saturday evening by the Chaplain of the 40th.
The Arkansas River has swollen about 6 feet in the last 24 hours. Business seems to be lively in town and all cheerful. The boys is all fixing for inspection.
I hant got any letter from Ben for so long that I can’t hardly recollect the time but I reckon he will write when he gets good and ready. I have wrote him two or three since I have got any from him. Well, Mary I don’t know what to write as I am out of news. We have got in the notion of getting up a singing. We have sent for 12 books to Chicago—price $3 per dozen. They are of the round note system. We have got tired of the old patent note.
Well, Mary, I will have to quite writing for want of something to write but if I was at home, I could tell you a great deal more than I can think to write. So I will close for the present hoping to hear from you soon. Fare you well for a while. As ever, your true companion until death. — N. Belveal
[to] Mary S. Belveal
Write soon. Co. F’s cook.
Spared & Shared 23 