The following letters were written by James Henry Mead of Marengo, Iowa, who, at age 33, enlisted on 12 August 1862 and was mustered into Co. E, 24th Iowa Infantry on 28 August 1862. He was discharged for promotion in December 1864 as a Commissary Sergeant in the 1st Missouri Colored Infantry, and later in the 62nd USCT.

James wrote the letters to Ellen Elizabeth Kepner (1842-1923) of Marengo with whom he would marry in 1866.

Some additional Civil War correspondence in the Mead family may be found at the University of Iowa, see Identifier: MsCO372 and Meade Family papers.

Letter 1

Helena, Arkansas
March 22nd 1863

Dearest Ellen,

I have been looking the last two mails for a letter from you but get none. We got a mail this morning but nothing came for me so I thought I would write a while to you, but you will probably have to be contented if I don’t write but a little as I have but little to write about.

First I will say that I am reasonably well though I do not feel just right, yet I am on duty. But the drums beat for preaching so I guess I will stop & be off. I suppose you are about starting out and I wish I could be there to go along.

The weather has been pleasant and very warm for a week past. Today it is cloudy—quite cool and sprinkles a little occasionally. We may get some rain for all I know. Oh, I forgot to tell you, Captain [Jacob B.] Casebeer [of Co. D] preached the sermon. Twas the same one he preached at Hilton & that I heard him preach in Muscatine.

During the past 3 or 4 days we have been having division drill. There was five regiments of infantry, quite a body of cavalry though I don’t know how many, & two or three or more pieces of artillery out. They had a dusty, hard time & it appeared quite like the movements on the battlefield the boys thought. I was not able to be out Friday & then there was none but ours and the 28th Regiments.

I have not been over to the 28th for a week but I guess the boys are all well except All C. He was no better when I saw him last. The health of our regiment is improving. None of our company is very sick except Lieutenant Strong and he is improving. I think Mr. [John P.] Driver [of Co. G] is.

I see Dora most every time I go over there. He appears to be well & enjoying camp life very well. For my part, I am doing very well though I am no ways partial to a life in camp.

You need not be surprised if the tone of my letters should seem changed & even cold for I dare not let my mind dwell upon things at home or hardly think of the pleasures & comforts that home & friends afford. I don’t know but if I were to stay in the army three years, but I should get so that I would not care for anybody but I hope not. But by not allowing myself to think on these things, I do not of course have any trouble with them.

There is a good deal of activity among the boats on the river here now. For a few days they have been going down & up all the time amost. There is quite a number here now & I should not be surprised if we were to get marching orders any day yet. A great many seem to think that we are not going to leave & among the rest our Brigade Commander, Col. Kinney.

I can’t send this off till Tuesday so for the present, goodbye. — J. H. M.

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Letter 2

Helena, Arkansas
April 10, 1863

Dear Ellen,

I just received your most welcome letter. I have been looking for it for several days. It was one week ago last Tuesday that I got my last letter from anyone. I tell you, I begun to. think that you were all sick or something was the matter. Ellen, you must write as often as you can.

I am very much pleased with your letter & the progress you are making in writing. I am gratified to learn that you have got a certificate [to teach]. I hope you will succeed in getting a good school. I felt satisfied when I read that you and my folks were well for I had not heard from you for so long that I was almost sure something must be wrong and I heard it was so sickly up north.

I am glad to hear that Molly is well & enjoying life so well. Tell her she must write once in a while. I am glad to hear that some young folks are come into the neighborhood. I only hope they are the right stripe. Look out for them.

Well, I have not entirely forgotten you Elly & I don’t believe I shall for some time. I suppose I might guess why Adda could not stay over Sabbath but I would like to have you keep me posted. As for the Copperheads, I only wish we could go to Marengo & settle them. We could do it in a hurry but we have a call to go in another direction,

We are all ready but getting our pay to get on board the boat this afternoon which we expect to do though we may not leave camp until morning. We expect to go and join in the great battle of Vicksburg. The talk is that we are to land at Young’s Point, a few miles from Vicksburg. We are prepared to leave & so you can judge that we are in a hurry so you will please excuse my scribbling & brevity.

We have had a meeting of our company and adopted resolutions which you will probably see in the paper ere long. I have been busy arranging those papers and writing the letters as corresponding secretary & it has taken a good deal of time. But we were anxious that you might know our minds & condition.

I rather expect that we are now about to enter upon an active and likely pretty lengthy campaign. Well, I am pretty well & can’t complain. I don’t exactly like to leave our camp for we shall have to leave a great many of our little conveniences. However I don’t care much as long as I am well. We have just been mustered for the purpose of finding out the number of men in the company so that they may know how many conscripts to send us. This is my opinion but I don’t know for certain. We are to receive 4 months pay in about half an hour

Oh, I suppose you are not so lonesome since Mr. Talbutt got his hired man. But I have written all I have room or time to write now. Be a good girl & pray for me. I shall probably be some way from her when I write again. For the present, fare you well. Yours truly & wholly. — J. M.

Letter 3

Keokuk, [Iowa]
Saturday, August 1st, 1863

Dear Ellen,

I just received your letter of the 29th July & was glad to hear from you & when I came to look at my journal. I was astonished to find that it was already over a week since I wrote last. I have not heard from either of two letters that I have written home since I came here. I had a letter from Adela which were directed to Jefferson Barracks. I have been afraid that some of them were sick & I feel the more concerned since I have learned that Adda has the whooping cough. I fear some of them are pretty sick. I wrote the same day I got here a week ago last Monday.

I should like to go home first rate but there is no chance now. There may be after a while but I am afraid not, I should like to have you come down & see me first rate if I cannot get home. I should like to be there when they draft. I would rather fight rebel rioters than the southers rebs. There was a squad of soldiers left here a week ago today for Iowa City to quarrel while they draft. I would get transferred there if I could. I can’t conjecture how long I shall be here. I am getting pretty well now but I would be of no service down South now. I know I could not stand it to go down there now.

I suppose the rain that has been falling there lately wsa very acceptable. It must have been very dry.

You say that religion is your only comfort. I say the same. My only hope us in Christ. in Him do I put my trust & look for guidance. I am favored with religious privileges here and it is a great blessing. I attended preaching twice last Sabbath, Last evening I joined the Soldier’s Christian Association which meets every two weeks in this building. I hope you will continue to trust in God and pray for me.

I learned by one of the boys that the talk is they are going to send another squad off Monday to quarrel somewhere—perhaps to Fort Desmoins. I may go for all I know now. If it is so, I don’t care much. I have nothing more to write I believe so I close. Hoping you will write soon & tell me how you are getting along with your school, &c, remember me to all enquiring friends & believe me your own, — J. M.