1861: James Knox Polk McCoy to Laura Lavina (McCoy) Willard

*I could not find an image of James but here is one of Jerome H. Sessions who also served in Co. K, 9th Iowa Infantry. (Collection of Al & Claudia Niemiec)*

The following letter was written by Pvt. James Knox Polk McCoy (1845-1862) of Tipton, Cedar county, Iowa, who enlisted on 14 September 1861 in Co. K, 9th Iowa Infantry and was killed on 7 March 1862 at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas. Although the muster records indicate that he was 18 years old at the time of enlistment, he was not. He was born in August 1845 so he would have only been 16 when he enlisted and when he died.

James was the son of George William McCoy (1814-1881) and Harriet Sarah Nye (1822-1906). He wrote the letter to his older sister, Laura Lavinia (McCoy) Willard (1841-1915). Laura was only 16 when she married James G. Willard, 13 years her senior, in 1857.

[Note: This letter is from the private collection of Mike Huston and was transcribe and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

“Thin Blue Line, Battle of Pea Ridge,” by Daniel Hoffbauer. The painting depicts the 9th Iowa in action north of Elkhorn Tavern, with Lt. Col. Francis Jay Herron on his horse. They suffered 35% casualties, the most of any Union regiment in the battle. Herron was wounded, caprured and received the Medal of Honor for his actions.

Transcription

Camp Herron
December 13th 1861

Dear Sister,

I received yours today. It found me well and I hope that these few lines will find you the same. I got a letter from Pamela and have written two letters to her since I have not got any answer, You know that I told you that we was a going away from here. We are here yet. I don’t know how long that we will be here for there is a good many regiments a leaving here and a going to Jefferson county as they are a fighting there now and I expect that from all accounts that we will go there too.

I will tell you why I keep up a correspondence with Karen [?] for it not because I love her at all. I do it just to pass the time away and to keep up good spirits. I am sure that he may sit up with her from June to all eternity and give his picture to her and his body, soul and all, to her for what I care for I am not any beau of hers. I would get my picture taken and send it to you if I could get it taken to suit me but I cannot so I will not have it taken at all.

I am glad to hear that the money I sent has got home safe. I would like to see you all and I hope that the time will come when I may see you. Dear sister, I have no more to write at present. You needn’t say anything about what I have said and I trust that you won’t.

It is very warm down here now. Your affectionate brother, — J. K. P. McCoy

to Laura L. Willard

I will send a lock of my hair in my next letter. Dear sister, fare you well.