These letters were written by Robert (“Rob”) M. Kepner (1838-1929), the son of Samuel Kepner (1811-1862) and Elizabeth Haslet (1815-1845) of Marengo, Iowa. Rob was “a young Iowa farm boy when he enlisted in Co. G of the 7th Iowa Infantry. On October 4th [1862], the second day of the Battle of Corinth, the regiment was fighting near Battery Powell. With the regiments on either side of them retreating, the 7th held their ground until ordered to fall back and the brigade reformed around them. Sometime during the desperate fighting Robert was shot in the face. Robert kept up an active correspondence with his younger sister but he always avoided the gory details that might frighten her. When he mentioned his wound he as often as not made light of it. He broke the news by telling her, “I have got a slight introduction to something less than a pound of Sesech lead in the face. I was struck by a miney (sic) ball in the left cheek just above the mouth—the ball striking the bone and glancing, lodged in the back part of the cheek, making rather an ugly, though not very painful wound. I am doing finely, and you need not feel the least uneasiness about me.”
There were several hospitals in Corinth, as well as the larger hotels and warehouses, which had been pressed into service to treat the wounded. Oddly, because his wound was not serious, Robert was sent to Pittsburg Landing and then put on a steamboat headed north. The boat docked at Mound City, Illinois and the wounded were off-loaded into the massive Mound City Naval Hospital. “There is about 1500 hundred sick and wounded in this one building here. I shall be perfectly sound in a week or two. I don’t think I shall be badly disfigured by the scratch, there will be a small scar, but as I had not a great deal of good looks to spare, I cannot say as this has helped my looks in the least.”
On November 10th, Robert, no worse for his ordeal, wrote to his sister again to assure her he was again “doing finely” and had returned to his regiment at Corinth.” [Source: Shiloh National Military Park]
Rob wrote some of his letters to his sister, Ellen Elizabeth Kepner (1842-1923) who would later (1866) marry James Henry Mead of Marengo, Iowa. Mead served in Co. E, 24th Iowa Infantry during the Civil War. It should be noted that Rob had a brother named Daniel S. Kepner (1840-1862) who was killed in action at Antietam while serving in Co. A, 14th Indiana Infantry. It should also be noted that though all the records I have found on Rob show his name to be Robert, for some reason he signed his named “Robbin” on this letter.
[Note: These letters are from the private collection of Greg Herr and were offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Letter 1
Bird’s Point [Missouri]
[Mid] November [1861]
Dear Sister,
I received your letter today and was glad to hear from home once more but sorry to hear that Father is not so well. I am enjoying a reasonable portion of health at this time though I have felt somewhat down in spirits when I studied over the disaster that followed the Battle of Belmont. 1 However, it is not quite so bad as I stated in my other letter as many supposed to be killed were merely taken prisoners though that is pretty near as bad.
I had a letter from [brother] Dan [14th Indiana] a few days ago. He was well and he thought perhaps they would come to Kentucky pretty soon. It is rumored that our regiment will go to St. Louis in a few days to recruit. I think they will go from there to some point in Iowa as they cannot recruit out of there own state, they might about as well send us home as we are of no account till our companies are filled up again. There is only about 50 men in our company and only 25 of them fit for duty.
I wrote a letter about three weeks ago and sent some $15 dollars in scrip to Father but I have had no account of it yet. I begin to feel a little uneasy lest it has been miscarried or been detained in some other way. I want you to write whether you have got it or not that I may feel satisfied on the point.
It seems to be a noted fact that out of 12 of our boys who went to the hospital, but one or two have come away. John Zahast is still there and is not any better. He would not stand the trip were he to start home.
But I believe I have not much more to write. Therefore, I will bring this short epistle to a close but remain your affectionate brother till death. — R. M. Kepner to Miss E. E. Kepner
1 “The battle of Belmont was a bloody day for the Seventh. The regiment went into the fight with eight companies, number 410 men, Two companies-K and G-being detached as a fleet guard, were not in the fight. The regiment lost, in killed, wounded, and missing, 237 men. It was on this field that the gallant and lamented Wentz fell, with many other brave officers, viz: G. W. S. Dodge, 2d Lieut. Co. B; Benjamin Ream, 2d Lieut. Co. C; Charles Gardner, 2d Lieut. Co. I. Col. Lauman and Major Rice were both severely wounded, as were also Capt. Gardner, Co. B; Capt. Harper, Co. D; Capt. Parrott, Co. E; and Capt. Kitteridge, Co. F. It was in this fight that Iowa officers and soldiers proved to the world that they were made of the right kind of material, and added to the luster of our young and gallant State. On the evening of the 7th of Nov., 1861, the shattered remnant of the Seventh Iowa arrived at Bird’s Point, remained a few days, and were then ordered to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Mo., to rest and recruit. This terminated the first battle of the Seventh Iowa.”
Letter 2
Steamboat Landing, Tennessee
March 19th 1862
Dear Sister,
I now avail myself of a few moments spare time to write to you. Although I have wrote several letters within the past month, I have not sent them yet as I expected to get some postage stamps but have failed to do so which will account for my send them unpaid.
I am enjoying reasonably [good] health just now—better than I did when we left Fort Donelson. I received your letter of the 2nd of this month some time ago but I have failed to answer it until the present time. There is not very much going on here. There is a good many troops congregated at this place. We are now about one hundred and fifty miles above Fort Henry on the Tennessee river and about 30 miles below Florence, Alabama.
There has been some fighting around in the neighborhood since we have been here but nothing very serious. I believe that I have given you about all that I can think of at present. I am sorry to tell you that John Brown fell overboard a few days ago and was drowned. Every effort was made to save him but he sunk to rise no more before a boat could get to him.
I will try to write again in a day or two. No more from your brother, — Robert Kepner
To Miss Mary Kepner
Letter 3
Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee
March 20th 1862
Dear Sister,
I sit myself down on the ground to pen you a few lines this morning which is very beautiful and spring-like. The trees—some of them—are in full bloom and the flowers begin to appear. But our situation is such that we do not appreciate the beauties of nature nor hardly welcome the return of spring. We came off the steamboat on which we had been living for the past week yesterday and are encamped on a high bluff on the bank of the river. It is a very pleasant place and reminds me very much of the bluffs of Indiana.
The 8th Iowa Regt. came up here a day or two ago and I had the pleasure of seeing Dan Talbott and the rest of the boys from that neighborhood. They were all well and hearty except Thompson. He does not look quite as well as he use to. He says that he likes the war over the left.
I do not know as I can think of much more to write as it is about the same thing over with us except the different scenes in the country that we travel over, and there is not anything in them either to interest or amuse. The inhabitants mostly all leave their homes as we approach and every thing that is of any use to the soldier is then carried off or destroyed leaving the country entirely waste.
But I will bring this to a close hoping it may find you all enjoying the blessing of health. From your affectionate brother, — R. M. Kepner
to Miss Elly Kepner
N. B. You must not blame me for sending this unpaid as we cannot get any postage stamps down here. Yours, — Rob
Letter 4
Camp at Monterey, Mississippi
May 8, 1862
Dear sister,
I received your ever welcome letters on yesterday and was truly glad to hear from you and to hear that you was all pretty well. I am enjoying a pretty good share of health at this time. In fact, I have been in good health for some time.
We still remain in camp about 6 miles from Corinth and I think we should have made a move on that place before now had it not been for the recent heavy rain which have made the roads impossible for artillery or wagons. 1 I cannot say as to whether there will be much of a fight there or not but rumor seems. to indicate not as it is pretty generally reported here that the secesh are evacuating the place. But if they have not, I think they will pretty soon under an escort of Gen. Halleck’s. I think they will get liberty to make a tower in some of the northern states unless they take a trip south pretty soon.
Our Division was reviewed on yesterday by Gen. [Thomas A.] Davies. The commander, General Halleck was also present on his old bay horse. I tell you, it was quite a lively time and beat any 4th of July you ever saw. There was twelve Battalions of infantry and four of cavalry and to a looker on, they presented a truly grand appearance. I was not [there] myself as I was on duty but then I was where I could see the whole performance and enjoyed it much—better than if I had been in.
We are having it pretty rough now being on duty every other day and sometimes every day. The days down here are very warm and the nights cool so that we can sleep pretty comfortably. But I have nothing more to write this time so I will close by hoping that this war will be speedily ended and I have the unspeakable joy of meeting you all at home is the wish of your sincere brother, — Rob M. Kepner
to Miss E. E. Kepner
1 “On May 4 and 5 torrential rains pelted the area, turning the roads into ribbons of mud. A number of bridges were swept away by normally placid streams turned into raging. torrents.” Source: Siege and Battle of Corinth.
Letter 5
Camp near Corinth, Mississippi
June 2, 1862
Dear Sister,
I received your letter a few days ago and was very glad to hear that you were all well. I am pretty well at this time notwithstanding the weather is very warm and we have been marching around considerably. We are a few miles south of Corinth now, the rebels having evacuated the place. Our forces are in pursuit of them but do not know whether they will overtake them or not. It seemed to have been the plan of the Commanding General to have attacked the rebels about the 30th or 31st of last month. As it was, however, our forces occupied Corinth on the morning of the 30th, the last of the rebels having left early on that morning. I am unable to say what their intentions were for leaving the place as they were pretty strongly fortified and appearances indicated that they had no lack of anything to eat. There was great quantities of flour, sugar, and molasses that was scattered over the ground. They seemed unwilling that we should enjoy the benefit of these luxuries without some difficulties.
There is a great deal dissatisfaction manifested among our soldiers on account of the secesh leaving here. Everyone is disappointed in not having a fight. We had made long preparations and done everything with the calculation of having a fight that it seemed almost a disappointment that we should not have. Besides, we will undoubtedly have to make long and forced marches in pursuit of them which will cause a great deal of suffering and cannot find scarcely any water in this section. Some citizens of Corinth who still remain seemed highly rejoiced when our troops marched in. They were unable to give up any reason for the rebels leaving the place. they stated that it was generally befeared that this fight would have decided the fate of the C. S. A. There is a flying report that the rebels are making for Richmond. If that is the case, there will be a call for one or two of our divisions to be sent there.
But I will bring my letter to a close sincerely hoping that we have fought our last battle. Your affectionate brother, — Rob
Letter 6
Camp in the field near Corinth, Miss.
Sunday, June 8th 1862
Dear Sister,
As I thought you would be anxious to hear from me as often as possible, I have taken the present Sunday morning for doing so. I have nothing strange or important to write as the war seems pretty near dried up in this section. We are near a small town by the name of Booneville about 30 miles from Corinth. We have to move our camp about every day and progress a little farther into the South. Everything is so quiet here that you would hardly suppose that a rebel army had so recently been routed and scattered over the country.
The weather is pretty warm though we have had no real hot weather as yet. Health is pretty good among the soldiers at this time.
I should like very much to be at home a few days about this time but I expect it will be some time before I am granted that privilege. There is several of the boys of our company who were sick in the hospital have been sent to Keokuk. I almost wished I had been one of them. I think if I should get that near home, I would make an effort to get the rest of the way. I may get home pretty soon and again, it may be some time but I hope the time will be short until I can again greet all the friends at home. It is just harvest here and when I see the yellow grain shocked in the field, it makes me think of the god spread plains of Iowa. I would willingly change my musket for to follow the reaping machine though I never used to like the business.
Our present camp is in one of the beautifulest little groves you ever saw and it makes me think so much of a [Methodist] camp meeting to see the tents and soldiers scattered around in all directions. I only wish it was camp meeting instead of the present reality but I shall meet affairs as they come and close for this time. From your true and affectionate brother, — Robbin Kepner
to Miss Elly Kepner
N. B. Give my love to grandpa and ma Mead. — Rob
I send you some very patriotic verses. Them’s my sentiments exactly.
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