The following letter was written by Eldridge Gerry Black (1843-1862) who enlisted on 14 October 1861 to serve as a private in Co. E, 15th Iowa Infantry. He was mustered into the service on 1 December 1861. He did not survive the war. He was severely wounded in the Battle of Corinth on 3 October 1862 and died of his wounds.

Eldridge had been born in Richland county, Ohio, but was residing in Keosauqua, Iowa, when he enlisted. His parents were William Francis Black (1810-1882) and Hannah C. Cook (1814-1879)

Transcription

Camp Halleck [Keokuk, Iowa]
December 13th 1861

Dear Father, Mother, Sister, Aunt, and Brothers

I received yours of the 8th this morning. Sergeant Woodruff brought in a handful of letters this morning among which was yours. I was very glad to hear from you home again. I have looked for father until I have got tired of it. I went to the depot every time I could get permission to go expecting he would come on the cars but was disappointed. I would like very well to go home again and I think perhaps I can. Our captain has given three of our men permission to go home without furlough and I think I can get leave of absence four or five days. I have just spoken to the captain about it and he says I can have a pass next week to go home. By the—-“Fall in for drill!” are the words just now uttered by the Orderly and I must go.

By the way, our captain is one Richard [Williams] Hutchcraft. He had a company of about forty men and our companies were consolidated by the colonel. His company was allowed the captain and first sergeant and ours, the two lieutenants. The corporals and sergeants were divided equally between the two companies. The election results as follows: 1st Lieutenant J. P. Craig, 2nd [Lieutenant] H. Brown, 2nd Sergeant Amos Thatcher, 4th Sergeant W. C. Stidger, Corporals McCrasry, Glanville, Lane, and Tool. H. C. McArthur run for everything but lieutenant but was not popular enough to get 7th Corporal.

Capt. Hutchcraft is a good company officer and a good man. He stays with his men and don’t think himself above them.

I received a letter yesterday from cousin E. G. ¹ He is in Louisville, Kentucky. He says they had a hard time of it while they were marching. It took six days to march 70 miles. He said the road had no bottom. They had 75 teams and then had to leave their tents. He said their band wagon broke down on Laurel Hill and left them in a bad fix. He slept three nights without anything under or over him.

James Dunshee was here today. He eat dinner with me and then took me to a Hotel and gave me my dinner so that I got a clean bite again. I would like to write more but I must quit. I want to send it off in the morning. I will direct this letter to Oak Point. As I am going home and will see you all, I will not write the particulars for I can use my tongue better than I can a pen. No more at present. Yours truly, — E. G. Black.

P. S. Frank, as that opossum can go double quick so well, perhaps he would make a good soldier. We want more recruits. you had better send him down.

¹ Eldridge had a cousin by the same name who served as a musician in the 15th Indiana Infantry.