1863: Joseph T. Miller to Friends

The following letter was written by Joseph T. Miller (1836-1863), the son of William B. Miller (1803-1864) and Synthia Johnson (1807-1884) of Jackson, Keokuk county, Iowa. Joseph was working as a carpenter and still enumerated in the household of his parents in Jackson, Iowa, when he enlisted at age 26 in August 1862 to serve three years in Co. F, 33rd Iowa Infantry. He was seriously wounded in the battle at Helena, Arkansas, on 4 July 1863, and was transported to a hospital in Memphis where he died on 8 August 1863.

*Carte de visite photograph of the city of Helena in Phillips County under Federal occupation. (Arkansas Digital Archives)*

Transcription

In Camp at Helena, Arkansas
January 22nd 1863

Dear Friends,

I take this opportunity of dropping you a few lines to let you know that I am well and hope those lines may find you all enjoying good health as health is the greatest blessing we can enjoy.

I hardly know what to write as Nicholas [Belveal] has wrote about all the news. I will tell you that the word came here that the 33rd [Iowa] Regiment was cut all to pieces but I think it is a mistake or I would know something about it for I have been with the regiment all the time. I believe I am as hearty as I ever was and weigh 167 lbs.—a little more than I ever weighed before.

We are camped on the west bank of the Mississippi river. It is rather swampy and wet around the camp but where our tents are pitched is dry and sandy. The river has raised 4 or 5 feet since we landed here. I do not know exactly how many troops are stationed here—something like 25 or 30 thousand—and the river is lined with boats loaded with troops now going North. I do not know to what point they are going. I can hear no news here but a little camp news and that don’t amount to much.

I must tell you that we have some pop guns here. They take about 6 lbs. of powder at a load.

Helena is rather a dull-looking place. I expected to see quite a city but was much disappointed. In coming down from Columbus, we laid at Memphis, Tennessee, one day and we got off a little bit and went up in the city and in the park. It was a nice place. I saw a monument there in memory of Andrew Jackson which paid me well for my trouble. Memphis is quite a city but I must come to a close.