The following letters were found in the pension file of Winfield Pulaski Romick (1848-1865) who served during the American Civil War as a private in Co. I, 13th Iowa Infantry, and also as a private in the 7th Iowa Cavalry. He received a “slight scratch” on the left arm during the charge of his regiment on 21 July 1864 in the prelude to the Battle of Atlanta but survived that wound only to die of chronic dysentery in August 1865.
Winfield was the son of Israel Romick (1818-1903) and Hannah Arney (1820-1895). He was born in Mad River, Champaign county, Ohio, in February 1848 but came with his parents to Davis county, Iowa prior to the Civil War. He enlisted as a recruit in the 13th Iowa on 1 April 1864 when he was 16 years old.
[Note: These letters were found by Phillip Whiteman at the National Archives and made available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by request.]
Letter 1
Camp McClellan
Davenport, Iowa
April 21, 1864
Well parents, I take this opportunity to let you know how I am getting along. I am well and hearty as I ever was. We took the cars at Stumptown 1 about [ ] and reached Keokuk at 2.40 p.m. We then took the cars for Fort Madison at 5 o’clock and reached that place at 7 o’clock. On the 13th we took deck passage aboard the steamer Jennie Whipple at 8.40 and landed here at 4.30 p.m. of the 20th. I was examined, passed muster, and drawed my clothes today. As to my age, I have not been asked how old I was since I left for they don’t ask a fellow here how old he is when he looks like he is 18.
We met the regiment as we come up the Mississippi but did not know it at the time or we should have turned back. The boys that came up with us started down this morning at 7 o’clock by way of the Illinois Railroad. We will stay here probably a week or ten days. I can’t tell anything about it for I know no more thah you do. We are just waiting orders and ready to leave at any minute. Our squad of recruits all passed but Jim Goddard. He is rejected but I don’t know whether he will go home or not. He talks of trying to get in as drummer or fifer. I don’t know whether he will succeed or not. We are all well and hearty and I believe we will make a Bully set of soldiers.
As we came up, the boat landed at Burlington to take in some freight and we received an invitation to attend a supper which was made there for the soldiers and the captain of the boat said we were the most civil set of soldiers that ever rode on his boat and he would wait on us an hour and insisted that we should go and we went up and took supper. They had a very good supper prepared and as we were hungry, we made a bright display of our eating qualifications and had the pleasure of shaking with Rev. Michael See after which Harvey Garrett returned our thanks for their hospitality and gave them three hearty cheers and left.
We signed the pay roll today and will probably draw our pay soon but I can’t tell. I hope it will not be long for I want to get to the regiment as soon as possible. I could stay here all summer if I wanted to but I would rather be with the regiment. I guess I will send my clothes to Stumptown by express if Jim [Goddard] does not go home. But I will direct to Troy and they will send you a letter to let you know when they come. There are a good many soldiers here for different regiments and there are not many larger or stouter soldiers here than myself and there are a great many younger ones. Jim [Goddard] was not large or stout enough was the reason he was rejected. You need not write to me until you hear from me again for likely I will leave here before you get this. You see I am in a hurry so no more but remain your son, — Winfield
1 River Junction, often referred to as “Stumpy” or “Stumptown” is just down the road from Lone Tree, Iowa, 12 miles south of Iowa ity and 26 miles west of Muscatine, in Fremont Twp. Fremont Twp is in the southeastern tip of Johnson County.
Letter 2
Camp McClellan
Davenport, Iowa
April 24th 1864
Well I guess I will try to write you a short letter again to let you know how I am getting along by this time. We drew our bounty yesterday and I only drew $25. I guess I will not get the 300 dollar bounty but it can’t be helped now. I expressed $15 home. I should have sent home more but I bought some of my clothes instead of drawing and I will get money for what I did not draw after a while. I thought it would be a great deal cheaper to buy than to draw. I am very sorry that I did not get the $300 bounty but I did not enlist for money so I will just…
…important to write so I will quit for the present. Yours &c. — Winfield.
P. S. Direct to Co. I, 13th Iowa Infantry, Cairo, Illinois.
Letter 3
Pulaski, Tennessee
May 20th 1864
Dear Parents,
I embrace the present opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that I have received your letter and was very glad to hear from you and to hear that you were well at the time of writing. I would have written soon if I could for I am afraid you have been uneasy about me but I did not get your letter until the day before we started from Clifton and as I was on guard that day and had to fix up for our march, I had no time to write. But you need not be uneasy about me for times will sometimes come when I cannot write every week. But I will always do the best I can.
We have been marching four days now and have stopped here to rest a day and then we are going on to Huntsville. They say our regiment is only 28 miles from here. The rebels are in front of them and they can go no farther until we get there and whip out the rebels. But that will not be hard to do for we have got a pretty strong force along with us and they are not more than 8,000 or 10,000 of the rebels and we have got more than that here, besides what are there. They have stopped at Athens.
Well, I have stood the march as well as anybody in the company and think I can go through pretty easy. We have come about 60 miles. The second night I got pretty tired as I was on rear guard and did not get into camp until about 10 o’clock at night. The next night we did not get in until 3 o’clock in the morning. But I feel first rate and you need not be uneasy about me being discontented or anything else. And when I get through with our march, I will tell you more about it.
As i have not time to write much, I will bring my letter to a close. Write soon and often for you can’t imagine the good it does a soldier to hear from home. So no more at present but remain yours truly, — Winfield
Letter 4
Camp near Huntsville, Alabama
May 24, 1864
Dear Parents,
I will again try to write you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along at present. We reached here yesterday about 10 o’clock after traveling 19 miles. We found the regiment here and was all glad to find the boys and all of them well.
We have marched about 120 miles since we left Clifton [Tennessee] and was on the road 8 days, laying over one. I have stood the march first rate as well as anybody in the regiment and as I had not then been detailed as fifer, I had a gun and cartridge to carry through. I think soldiering is not very hard work; still we marched pretty hard some days.
We have orders to march again to start tomorrow morning for Rome, Georgia, being about 150 miles from here, and I feel like I can march pretty well now as we have had one days rest.
I forgot to tell you in my last where to direct. Direct to Co. I, 13th Iowa via Nashville, Tennessee, and your letters the same way. You need not be uneasy about me if you do not hear from me again for two or three weeks for very likely I will not have a chance to write again until we get through our march. But I will write as soon as I can. I would like very well to hear from home again for I have had but one letter since I left. And tell John Wallace and Jim to write to me and I will write to them as soon as I can. I am most out of postage stamps and cannot get any here but it may be that I can get them when we stop again.
Well, I guess I will have to stop for this time and fix up for inspection. Write soon and give me all the news and when I get time, I will not write such short letters. But you must remember that we are sometimes hurried so that I have not much time to write but you need not stop on that account for I will always do my best. But I must quit or I will not be ready for inspection. So no more at present but remain yours truly. — Winfield
Letter 5
At Decatur, Ala., May 27, 1864, the 13th Iowa regiment, with the rest of the Crocker Brigade, was attached to the Fourth Division of the 17th Army Corps. General Crocker, who had commanded the division, was compelled on account of poor health to relinquish his command, and was succeeded by Gen. W. Q. Gresham. The regiment now moved forward with this command to Rome, Ga., arriving there June 6th, and thence by way of Kingston and Allatoona to Ackworth, where on June 8th the Seventeenth Army Corps took its place in line with the Army of the Tennessee, commanded by Gen. James B. McPherson, and became a part of the great army commanded by Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman, consisting of the armies of the Tennessee, the Ohio and the Cumberland. One of the greatest campaigns In the history of warfare had now begun and, through it all, the Thirteenth Iowa was destined to bear a conspicuous and honorable part.
Camp near Aqua [Acworth], Georgia
June the 8th 1864
Dear Parents,
I take the present opportunity to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and getting along fine. As I told you in my last that it was very likely that I would not have a chance to write again soon, I hope you have not been uneasy about me. Since I wrote my last letter, we have been marching all the time with the exception of two days and one of them I wrote to John Wallace and the other I had no chance of sending out mail. I received your letter at Rome bearing date of the 8th of last month which is the second letter I have had from home since I left but I am looking for another the first mail.
Well we finally got as far as we can go until we route the rebels out of here. We have had some pretty hard marching since we left Clifton [Tennessee], having marched about 300 or 350 miles and we are all very glad to stop awhile and rest. Still I have stood the marching fine and am getting fat on it. I think it has done me good to march.
Well, I suppose you heard of the fighting that has been going on here and probably know more about it than I do. I don’t know how long we will be in taking this place. Very likely we will have no more fighting to do here for we heard this morning that Hooker had out flanked Johnston on the left and they were both running to see which can get to Atlanta first. I don’t know how they are making by this time. Johnston held a pretty good position here in the mountains and one that will be hard to take unless Hooker does succeed in drawing him away and if he does that, they are about played out for we have about 150,000 men here now and if we can get them out of these mountains, we will more than make them get.
I think if Grant succeeds in taking Richmond, we will get to go home pretty soon for they are about gone up down this way. Tell Mr. Pierson’s girls (and the old woman to boot) that I think it would have been just as easy to send their respects on a little piece of paper as to send it second handed, but I am much obliged to “em for their spects.” Tell little Mag I am taking as good care of myself as I know how and tell her that I think if she will take good care of herself, I think she will get to be a pretty good-sized girl after while.
You wanted to know what I done about a blanket after I had mine stolen. I had to go and draw another one. As to that letter, there was no harm in opening it. We heard in Decatur that the 7th Iowa Cavalry had gone through there that morning but I guess it must have been a mistake or Bill would have known something about [it]. Well, I have not time to write any more at present. Excuse my short letter and poor writing for I have nothing to writ on and just have to sit down on the ground and after marching so long as we have been marching, a person will naturally get nervous. But enough in the way of apologies. So no more at present but remain your son, — Winfield
Letter 6
Camp 13th Iowa
June 16th 1864
Dear Parents,
I again seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know how we are getting along down here in Dixie. The boys are all getting along tolerable well. I am doing pretty well at present. I had a little sick spell a few days ago and the oyster had me to go to the Convalescent Camp just to get out of the rain for it has been raining very hard here for the last few days but I only stayed there one day and came back to the regiment.
I received your kind letter day before yesterday bearing date of the 28th of last month and was glad to learn that you were still getting along well at home. I have received the two Guards that sent me and was glad to get them for they are the next things to a letter from home. You seem to think that I am not stout enough to stand a hundred miles march but since we started on our march, I have marched about 375 miles and a pretty stout yet and feel like I could stand another just as big if it was necessary but I guess we will have no marching to do for some time as there is something else for us to do now that we have found some Rebs.
Well Mother, I am sorry to hear that you have been afflicted with a boil but you know we must all have afflictions some time and you know too that it is good for us to be afflicted sometimes for it learns us to be contented adn how to appreciate the blessings of good health. You said you had a good time visiting with an old friend of yours. I guess I don’t know anything about the woman—at least I have no recollection of ever hearing of her. I would like first rate to have been at your [Methodist] Quarterly Meeting for I have not been to meeting since we left Clifton and that has been a good [while] but I will tell you the reason for fear you conclude that I don’t want to go to meeting. Since we left Clifton, we have been marching all the time until we have been in this fight and we have no time for meeting now for we have to build forts and dig rifle pits at night and fight in the day time and you know that keeps us pretty busy.
On the 7th we had got to the front of the army and stayed there until this morning of the 9th. The we advanced about 10 miles and camped about one and a half miles from the Rebel breastworks. On the morning of the 11th we marched out and attacked them commencing with very heavy cannon. Since that we have been laying around in front of the enemy watching them get behind trees and shoot at us. But there has been none of our regiment killed unless it has been done since I commenced my letter. We have driven them from a good many of their fortifications & rifle pits and are now in some of them. We have captured four or five pieces of their artillery and a good many prisoners and there are a great many of their men deserting. There was about sixty of them came over to us one evening and said that their whole regiment would be over that night and that the whole brigade would come over as soon as they could get away. But I guess they are watching them so that they can’t get away. I think we will rout them out of here in a couple of days. We are in the rifle pits now and some of the boys are shooting over at them. We are getting along pretty well I think so far and we are in a hurry to get them out of here.
I forgot to say anything about that piece of carpet. I guess it will not be worthwhile to send it but you can lay a little piece up in some dry corner and save it till I get home. I guess I will be at home before long and I can see it there for I don’t think that this thing can last much longer—at least I am living in hopes that we will capture the most of this army and then if Grant takes Richmond, they will be about played out.
Well, I believe I have nothing more of importance to write so I will bring my letter to a close. You wanted to know whether I heard from the Little Rock boys. I don’t hear from them often. So no more at present but remain your son, – W. Romick
Letter 7
Camp 13th Iowa
June 21st 1864
Dear Parents,
I will try and write you a few lines again this evening to let you know how we are getting along by this time. I am well and hearty as I ever was. The Troy boys are not in very good health at present. Bep [?] and John Evans and Dolph Miller and Harvey Garret are akk complaining considerable and have been for some two or three days but I guess there is nothing serious the matter with them, and Jim Allen has had two or three chills but is getting well now.
Well I have had no letter from home for a good while—not since I wrote my other letter—but I guess as you will not write to me, I will write every time I get a chance just for spite. I think if I write about three or four times a week and about two sheets at once, you will get tired and write to me to tell me to quit a while and give you time to get your breath. Whenever you get tired, just let me know.
Well I suppose you know that we have been fighting here for sometime. If you don’t, I do. We have been here fighting for the last 11 days and I don’t know when we will get through. We are driving the rebels considerable but they may fight for some time yet as they still hold possession of the mountains. On the night of the 18th, they evacuated their first line of entrenchments and retreated I guess about two miles and the next day we advanced about the same distance. We hear a good many good news here but I will not write anything more than I can see for there is no dependence to be put in anything we hear. There has been heavy cannonading all along our lines for the last two days and considerable musketry but we have been a pretty lucky regiment so far, not losing morethan one or two men since we have been here.
Well I must go and fix up our shebang for I am getting wet for it has been raining for the last month.
Well it is tomorrow morning now and I will try and finish my letter which I commenced last evening. There is nothing going on here this morning except some pretty brisk cannonading and some rattling of musketry but I have got used to that so that I don’t notice it much—only when we are ordered in line of battle as quickly as possible. We expected an attack last night and was ordered to sleep with our shoes and everything on and our cartridge boxes and guns under our heads but the rebs did not disturb our night’s rest. But such orders as that have become so common that we can sleep as well under such orders as with out them.
I think the rebs are going back some this morning and I expect we will have to advance but I don’t know for the brush are so thick here on these mountains that we can’t see more than a rod.
Well, I can’t think of much to write as I have not got a letter from home to answer for some time and i don’t think I can write one of those large letters this time that I was trying to write last evening. I have ben looking for the Guard every mail for some time but still I am living in hopes of getting one today and if I am disappointed, I shall look for one tomorrow. Oh yes, I have forgot to say anything in any of my letters about this other Romick in our company. He is not my cousin as we supposed and I don’t know whether he is any connection of mine or not. His grandfather’s name, I think, was Thomas. He said he would write to his father about it but I don’t know whether he has done it yet or not.
Well, I believe I have nothing more to write at present so I will quit until tomorrow (or some other day). I don’t think this letter will interest you very much but I don’t care for I am writing for spite anyhow and if you want to throw out a little spite, just write a great big letter. So no more at present but remain your son, — W. Romick
Letter 8
Camp 13th Iowa
June 28th 1864
Dear Parents,
I will again try this morning to write you a few lines to let you know that I am yet alive, well and hearty. On the night of the 24th, I received your letters bearing the dates respectively of the 3rd, 10th, & 15th, being the first I have received from you for some time. You rightly comprehend my feeling when you think it gives me such great satisfaction to know that I am still remembered at home for there is no one that loves to hear from home and friends than I do. And I think I am equally as anxious to hear from you as you are to hear from me. It is true I was getting discouraged when I wrote my last letter (as you will undoubtedly noticed from my manner of writing) but you can’t imagine what encouragement them three letters give me and I now feel in better spirits for writing than I had before done for some time.
The postage stamps I received and was very thankful to get them as I [was] just about out. You will probably wonder at me sending for stamps so long before I was out as I have stamped all the letters since that time but you will remember that I was at Huntsville when I wrote for them and at that time I had but two left and as there could be none got at that place, I thought I had better send for some. But as we came through on our march, I found a day book and in it 15 stamps so I have had a good supply since.
Well, I suppose you would like to hear some news from here but from the long and protracted fighting that has taken place, I shall not attempt to give you the details, and when we get through with the present campaign (if I am spared to get through which I hope and trust I will) probably I will try to give a detail account of the long and hard fought battle (or rather siege which it has so far been more like than anything else I could compare it to). Although we have had some hard fighting here, it is very likely we will have some more as hard before the rebels are entirely defeated.
The news are very good this morning, it being reported that our extreme left commanded by Gen. [Mortimer] Leggett and the extreme right under Gen. [John] Schofield have come together enclosing Johnston in a complete circle and cutting off all their supplies. I hope we may be enabled to make their whole force surrender here which [if] done, will probably end our campaign on reaching Atlanta. But they may mass their forces and make one desperate charge to break our lines. If they do this, it is likely they will charge on this part of the line as our line is very weak here and no doubt if they come in any force, they will be successful in breaking through although they have moved most of their force to the right.
Well, I guess as I have no more at present to write about matters and things down here, I will try and answer your three letters in one as I have not got time to write three today. You want to know whether i have been to meeting since I left home. I have but have had no opportunity of attending meeting since I left Clifton. You also wanted to know in the same whether I have a duplicate for them clothes, I have none but I think you will get them in course of time. I received your Japonica which was the first flower I have seen since we came on this mountain and such things remind me of home. You want to know whether I am trying to live right since I came in the army. To this I answer I have been trying to live near right as I can & I fel that if I should fall in the army that I shall only exchange this world for a better one. Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain your son, — Winfield
Letter 9
Camp 13th Iowa
July 6th 1864
Dear Parents,
I will try to write you a few lines this morning to let you know that I am still alive, well and hearty. I would have written sooner but I have not had time. I received a letter from Jane the 2nd. She was at Bloomfield when written.
On the night of the 2nd, just after going to bed (or laying down rather), we were ordered to move immediately. We got up and started toward the right, marched all night, stopped about daylight to feed the horses and started again at 6 o’clock. Marched until 1:15 p.m. when we arrived on the extreme right. Sent out five companies of our regiment to skirmish while the other five were held back as a reserve. We then advanced, drove the rebs back about two miles when it began to get night and we were ordered to fall back to where we first attacked the enemy. We stacked arms about 11 o’clock and lay down to rest from the fatigue of the previous night and day.
On the 4th, we got up about daylight and got breakfast when I concluded I would have a good dinner to celebrate the 4th as I was always accustomed to do so I went out and gathered a mess of blackberries which I cooked and them together with my hard tack and bacon furnished me a splendid dinner such as a soldier only knows how to relish. After we had eat dinner, we were ordered to advance, We advanced about three miles, driving the enemy before us when it again began to get night and we fell back about half a mile & camped. Yesterday we again advanced at 7 o’clock a.m. about four miles having some very hard fighting to do all along the road and driving the rebs behind their works on the Chattahoochee River where they now hold very strong works. But we will drive them out after a while. We are now in sight of Atlanta and I think we will be in it before long.
In reading my letter you might naturally suppose that we just marched along the road as ew always do on a march but it is not the case. We had to march in line if battle through the thickest kind of brush all the way and each of us thought we done well if we got through without a wound from the brush. But I got through pretty lucky, only I tore my haversack and came near losing all my grub.
Well I have not much time to write today. I just thought I would write a short letter to let you know that I was alive and well. You needn’t be uneasy if you don’t hear from me again for some time for while the rebs are retreating and we follow up, we have no time to write. Please write soon and give me the news in general. Tell me how you spent the 4th of July. I got two Guards last week, both the same date. I suppose one from the office and one from home. If you have ordered it, you need not send anymore from home. Hoping to hear from you soon and often, I remain your obedient son, — Winfield
Letter 10
Camp 13th Iowa
July 9th 1864
Dear Parents,
I received your letter of the 22nd last night and was glad to learn that you were well at the time of writing. You say you have not heard from me for three weeks. It seems very strange to me for I have written every week, only when we were marching and I could not. And since we have been been fighting here, I have written at least two every week because I thought you might be uneasy about me so that you will have to lay the blame all to the mail not being carried through regular.
Since I wrote my last, there has nothing occurred of importance any more than we are still fighting and I guess the Rebs are still retreating toward Pine Bluffs which is about 15 miles from here. Day before yesterday the Rebs thought they would trty our strength here and commenced shelling us and as we were right between them and our own cannon, the shells flew pretty thick over our regiment, especially our company which was just falling in to go on picket. There were a good many shells bursted over and around us but there was none of us hurt expecting John Evans. A piece of she hit him on the foot but did not go through his boot, only bruising it. Still he is reported on the list of wounded. We have had five men wounded in our company, about 40 or 50 in the regiment, and I suppose between 150 and 200 in the brigade. This I think to be a very low estimate for both the 15th and 16th Iowa have sustained heavier loss than ours and some companies in our regiment have lost more than we have.
Well, I believe I have nothing more to write as it is not very pleasant writing in the sun to write very long letters when I write so often. I fogot to tell you that I am not fifer yet as we have had no time to make a detail since I have been with the regiment and I don’t care much for I can stand the service first rate as a private and I wanted to carry a gun through one battle and I will be detailed as soon as this campaign is ended.
I guess you can read this and if you want me to write any better, you will have to send me a pen as I have none and can’t get any here—only such a one as I can borrow—and soldiers don’t keep good pens to lend so no more at present but remain your obedient son, — W. Romick
Sunday, July 10th, 1864
Well, I did not get to send my letter off yesterday. I will try and write a little more. I had not told you how we were situated here before and I will have to explain a little. You know that before we moved we occupied the extreme right but since we moved, we have been on the extreme left. We come up and formed line in front and about five hundred yards from the Rebel lines where they were very strongly fortified having a fort containing 16 embrasures bearing on our brigade alone so you may know that our loss has been pretty heavy.
This fort is the strongest I have ever seen. The walls, I suppose, are about 15 feet thick of solid earth. About 25 yards in front of this there are stakes about 3 feet high drove into the ground and sharpened leaning over toward our lines. In front of this there are trees fell so that the tops were pointing toward us. The brush were trimmed off the limbs and these were also sharpened so that it would have been almost impossible to have taken it by storm. When we came up in front of these, Brig. Gen. [William] Hall, commanding our brigade, came along and told [us] in half an hour he wanted to hear us give one of our Iowa yells and never stop until we had planted our flag on the Rebel works. But the Colonels and Major Gen. [Walter Q.] Gresham commanding our division saw the foolishness of such a move and the Colonels refused to lead us forward. 1
We then halted for the night, worked all that night throwing up breastworks and commenced shelling them and continued thus until last night when the rebs evacuated and fell back across the Chattahoochee where they have another line of works and fortifications and we are now in the works they held last night and about half a mile from where the rebs are now in considerable force. Good day to you.
1 The line of forts constructed by the Confederates with their backs to the Chattahoochee River was known as the “River Line” and it incorporated a series of diamond shaped forts called a shoupade. They were placed anywhere from 60 to 175 yards apart depending on the terrain and were connected by earthworks that intersected the Shoupade roughly in the center. The angled section in front of the line from two adjoining Shoupades, allowed for a crossfire on an advancing enemy. Each Shoupade could hold 80 soldiers shoulder to shoulder. They were also constructed to withstand an extended artillery barrage. The Confederates occupied this line until the night of July the 9th, when the retreated across the river. The following map shows the position of Sherman’s Army confronting Johnston’s army on the River Line with its back on the Chattahoochee River. Gresham’s Division and Hall’s Brigade can be seen on the extreme Union right (in the orange circle), flanked by the 3rd Ohio Battery.
Letter 11
4th Division Hospital near Atlanta, Georgia
July 24th 1864
Dear Parents,
I will now try to write a few lines to let you know that I am still alive & doing well as I could expect. I suppose you have already heard of my being wounded. I received a slight scratch on the 21st in the charge which the Iowa Brigade made on that memorable day. About 8 o’clock we were ordered into line behind the works which we had thrown up the night before. We were then ordered to advance and springing over our breastworks, we charged down a hill on double quick through a heavy volley of musketry, grape & canister. Our regiment ran on down to the hollow and lay down After laying there about 20 minutes, they found the enemy too strong for us and ordered us to fall back behind our works. We got back behind our works just 30 minutes after leaving them, losing 10 men out of our company in killed & wounded, and 126 out of our regiment. The 15th Iowa also suffered a severe loss. The 11th & 16th being in our rear for a support. I was wounded in the left arm just before we were ordered to halt but did not leave the field until the regiment fell back. Till [Tilman H. Elrod] then helped me back to the hospital which was about 3 miles from the lines.
On the morning of the 22nd, through some carelessness on the part of our officers, the Rebs outflanked us on the left (our Army Corps was on the left) & were but a very short distance from our hospital when the 16th Army Corps moving to the left came upon them & held them in check while we moved our hospital back farther to the rear. Our Brigade (or rather our Corps) again became heavily engaged as the Rebs were on all sides of them and determined on victory. Our regiment fought them in front awhile, then jumped over their works, about faced, and began to fight them in the rear. Then they would face to the right and fight them on the flank, repulsing them in every direction.
After the Rebs had made seven unsuccessful charges & our Brigade first advancing then retreating, then marching on double quick by the flank, they retired from the field in disorder leaving it almost covered with the dead and wounded & our troops occupying the same ground they did in the morning, and although our loss as well as theirs is very heavy, we claim another glorious victory. Our Corps is literally cut all to pieces. The 3rd—or Iowa Brigade—have not enough men to [make] one regiment. Our regiment now numbers but 250 men all told, 130 of which are able for duty.
The Rebel prisoners say that their officers made them a speech the night before and told them that the 17th Corps was the “Flower of the West” & they wanted them to cut it all to pieces & although they did cut it to pieces, they paid for it dearly. It is reported that one division of our Corps buried 1500 Rebels today just in the front of the one division & the prisoners say their men will not fight us in the open field again. There is only one of the Troy boys killed. Henry Thompson died in a hand to hand fight with a rebel after being shot twice with a revolver—one entering his head. He fell dead [and] the last words he was known to say was he would surrender to no rebel. 1
I am thankful to tell you that I am but slightly wounded & will be well, I think, in a few weeks, or months at most. In answer to your letter, [John] Elrod is still Chaplain. I guess I get all your letters but they come very irregular. I sometimes get 4 and 5 at one time. This is the third I have got from you since I have written but had no time to write. Tell Sarah I received her letter this evening & will answer it is a day or two as soon as I get time & paper.
Jim Allen says for you to tell or send word to his folks that he is all right but I will tell you a little more. He was struck in the ankle by a ball or piece of shell and it is considerable swelled although it did not break the hide and he will be all right in a few days, I think. You needn’t be uneasy about me for I will be all right in a short time as there are no broken bones. I will bring my hurried lines to a close hoping to hear from you again soon. I subscribe myself, — Winfield
P. S. I will send you a list of the killed and wounded in Co. I.
George McLaughlin, Captain, in the arm
David Hudson, 1st Lieut., in the leg
Joseph [G.] Berstler, Orderly Sergeant, in the head
Adolphus [M.] Miller, 2nd Sergeant, in the foot
Robert [N.] Brown, 4th Sergeant, jaw broke
John [E.] Johnson, 2nd Corporal [eye]
1 Kentucky born William Henry Thompson (1843-1864) was from Troy, Davis county, Iowa. He left his widowed mother to join the 13th Iowa in 1861 and then reenlisted in 1864. His remains are in the Marietta National Cemetery in Georgia (Grave 5731). Were there an epitaph, it might read, “I will surrender to no rebel.”
Letter 12
U. S. General Hospital, Marietta, Georgia
August 4, 1864
Dear Parents
It is with pleasure that I seat myself to write to you a short letter in answer to yours which I received some days since. In fact, I have received two since I have written on the account of having no paper nor no money to get any with as we have not drawn any since I left Davenport.
My wound is doing well & in all other respects, I am in good health. It is true I am not so stout & fleshy as I was when I came in the hospital for my wound, though slight, has weakened me some. But I am as hearty as I ever was in my life.
I like this place just tolerable well. We are pretty well cared for since we have been here.
I heard from the Regiment yesterday. Co. I numbers 13 privates for duty, 4 corporals, 2 sergeants, & one 2nd Lieutenant. When we started on this campaign, we numbered in all 60 men so that you see just two-thirds of our company are disabled (with the exception of 2 teamsters) 10 of which are killed. But I think this is more than an average loss of the regiment. The men are getting sick very fast now as they have very hard times at the regiment. They work all night throwing up breastworks and the next night go and picket and in the day time sharp shooting all day. But I am getting along fine and am perfectly contented with my posish [position].
Your letter brought me the glad news that Atlanta was taken but I can’t “see it.” I suppose it was Gen. Hood that took it but I don’t think he intends to keep it very long or at least Sherman don’t think so. They received orders at the regiment night before last to send all men back here that were not able for a hard chase. It is supposed that Hood is going to take his army to Richmond and Sherman wants to go along.
Well, I believe I have no more to write at present. I will write again when I get paper or money. Our Orderly gave me this sheet and envelope this morning but you needn’t send me any money for I think we will draw soon. I received them pens but had no ink as my ink stand is at the company. Well, I will quit for this time. — Winfield
Letter 13
Hospital Marietta, Georgia
August 4th 1864
Dear Parents,
Itis with great pleasure that I seat myself this afternoon to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am still alive and getting along well. My wound is doing fine & I think if there is no preventing Providence, I will be able to go back to my regiment [in] 3 or 4 weeks. I would have written sooner but I could get no paper & this sheet is all I have got now & I don’t know how I can get anymore.
Well, we have got a good place to stay since we came to Marietta. We are staying in some houses that were built for boarding houses for the Military Institute in this place. Since I have been in the hospital, the regiment has had some very hard fighting to do so that I may have been lucky to be wounded when I was, but of course I would rather be with the regiment now that any other place.
Well, the Rebs are getting one of the worst whippings here that they ever got anywhere & I think if our armies continue successful during this campaign, we will all be permitted to return home in the course of a year or two. But as long as this war lasts, I don’t want to go home—not until my time is out anyhow.
I believe I have no news to give you, only that our company has been pretty lucky since the 22nd, only being one man, Stephen Wirtz of our company was killed on the 27th. The wounded of our company are doing well. The weather is very good for the wounded as it has been quite cool for the last two weeks. I have been out blackberrying several times since I have been in the hospital. There is plenty of berries down here and you can imagine there are plenty to pick them.
Tell John Wallace I received his welcome letter last night and will answer it as soon as I can get another sheet of paper and envelope. I received one letter from you since I wrote my last which was dated May the 8th & as you just directed it to the 13th Infantry, leaving the Iowa out, it went to the 13th Illinois instead of the 13th Iowa, so you must be careful how you direct your letters after this.
Well, I guess as I have nothing more of importance to write, I will quit for the present. Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain your obedient son, — Winfield
Letter 14
17th Army Corps Hospital, Marietta, Ga.
August 29th 1864
Dear Parents,
I again seat myself this morning to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am still getting along well. My wound is healing very fast & is almost well. Since I wrote my last letter, Till [Tilman] Elrod has come here wounded in the chin & shoulder but as it is only a flesh wound, I don’t think it will hurt him much. He is getting along fine & I think will be able for duty or a furlough before long. I guess I could get a furlough if I wanted it but I don’t want one so you needn’t look for me home for some time yet—if not longer. I think it would cost too much to go home for a 30 day furlough.
I have received two letters from home since I wrote my last. You wanted to know whether I ever seen Robert Pierson. He is about a quarter of a mile from this hospital in charge of a squad of convalescents so that I can see him whenever I want to. I have been to see him four or five times since I have been here & he has been up to the hospital several times. You spoke of Villa growling because I did not tell her goodbye. I have no doubt she has been grieving at a grand rate for the last five months. You know she showed her sympathy last spring.
I have received all the stamps you have sent & everything else but I have not had a letter from home nor no other place for some time though I am looking for one every mail. I have heard that our regiment has had another hard fight [and] came out with only 40 men but I don’t know whether it is true or not.
As I have no more at present to write, I will close by asking you to write soon. Yours with respect, — W
Letter 15
Camp Army of the Tennessee
Octiber 17th 1864
Dear Parents.
In haste I seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am still alive and enjoying good health but probably you would like to know first thing why I have not written for so long a time. Indeed, I have been afraid that you would be uneasy about me & I have no doubt but you have been.
On the first of this month while in camp near Atlanta we received orders to get ready to move in 30 minutes with three days rations in our haversacks. We moved out about six miles and camped for the night. Next day we moved on about two miles where we found some Rebs and after skirmishing with them awhile, we fell back and camped where we did the night before & next day marched back into camp near Atlanta. That evening we received orders to move again in the morning in the direction of Huntsville, Alabama. Gen. Hood having got in our rear had torn up the railroad from Big Shanty to Ackworth, a distance of 10 or 15 miles. So you see the mail could not go through for some time. We marched back to Atlanta & camped.
Next day after camping in that place, our division went out on a two days scout in the direction of Powder Springs, camping there that night and going back to Marietta the next day. We then marched up to Big Shanty and laid over there a day. We then came on up to Kingston where we got mail. I got 4 letters & two papers. We had no more than read the news from home until we were ordered to move in the direction of Rome. We moved out about 7 miles and went into camp at 1 o’clock that night. Next day we marched back to Adairsville & took the cars for Resaca, reaching that place about daylight next morning. We there found that the railroad was burned from there to Dalton, a distance of 14 miles. We laid in Resaca one day and then moved again. That was day before yesterday. THat day we found two brigades of rebels at the mouth of Snake Creek Gap. After skirmishing with them about an hour, we routed them and marched on through the Gap, camping at the north end of it.
Yesterday we skirmished with them again and drove them, marching about 7 miles & camping here last night. Today they said there would be a chance of sending out mail so I thought I would improve the opportunity although I don’t know what minute we will be ordered to move. So you must excuse me for writing in such a hurry. Latest reports say we are ordered to Stevenson, Alabama & from there to Tennessee. Also that Hood has left the railroad and is moving south but I have no more room for news. Suffice it to say this is equally as hard a campaign as the last for we are doing more than half of our marching in the night. Tell the young folks I received their package and will answer it as soon as I can/ My last letters were dated September 29th & October 1st. Orders to move. Yours truly, — Winfield
Letter 16
Camp near Galesville, Alabama
October 22, 1864
Dear Parents,
As we have stopped to rest a day or two, I will again try to write you a few lines. I am still well and getting along fine. We have been marching ever since I wrote the last letter. I do not know the object of this campaign but as Sherman is along with us, I guess we will come out all right after a while. I have heard that it was to open up a new line of communication but I don’t know whether it is true or not. Our non veterans & officers are to be mustered out today. You better believe they are a joyful set of fellows. Chaplain Elrod says he is going to take supper with you before long & he is going to eat some for me too. Well our rations have been pretty short for the last week or two as we had to make the last three days rations last five days. But we foraged some & now have on hand a good supply of sweet potatoes and fresh pork.
Well we received the news last night of some—–well, I don’t know what to call them trying to resist the draft in Iowa. Copperheads is too good a name for a set of beings (I won’t call them men) that are guilty of such an act as that & I know of no mode of punishment sufficiently severe to inflict upon such persons. But it is of no use for me to try to describe my feelings toward such a set of law breaking peace advocates. But let them look out for the non vets or they might yet get hurt for no one knows better how to hate them than a soldier.
Well, it is pretty cool down here now adn my hands are so numb I can hardly write. But I guess you can read it if you will take time. Well Mother, I guess I will have to ask you to knit me a pair of gloves as it is getting cold weather & we can’t get anything here. I am ashamed to ask for anything as I have not sent you any money yet but I guess we will get pay some time & there will be more of it when it does come. But I don’t want you to send me any money as I told you before for it might get lost.
Well, I don’t know how long we will stay here. I guess we will rest two or three days & we have just now got the news that we are going to Memphis, Tennessee. WE got mail last night but I did not get any. I am going over to see Robert Pierson today to take a letter to him that was directed to our company. I don’t know who wrote it. I will close for the present. I remain as ever your son, — W
Letter 17
Marietta, Georgia
November 7, 1864
As we have again stopped & have a chance of writing, I will try to write you a few lines this morning to let you know that I am still well & hearty. We are now camped in Marietta. Came here yesterday. Have been marching ever since we left Galesville, Alabama. I don’t know how long we will stay here. Our orders are to stay several days & there is some talk of us staying here all winter. But I don’t think we will nor in fact I don’t want to for if we have this rebellion to put down by marching and fighting, we may as well be at it & rush the thing through. But I am willing to go according to orders. It may be that we have done enough this year.
Well, you wrote about the guerrillas making a raid up in Davis County but I guess they did not do much damage. I heard that Pap & Brown tied their horses out in the brush. I think you needed me up there to stand picket for you or to ride your horses after them Johnnies. which would have been more prudent. But I guess you got along very well without my assistance & we had a campaign of our own down here in Georgia & Alabama though it may be not so long as yours was for we only marched about 300 miles and skirmished a little with the rebs.
There is some talk of our army going down to Savannah this winter & you see we will have another little campaign of about 300 miles.
Well, it is now tomoroe & we have just come off of Battalion drill & as times are getting pretty busy, I wil have to close to write the balance of my letter the next time. No more at present but remain your affectionate son, — Winfield
Letter 18
Savannah, Georgia
Christmas, December 25th 1864
Dear Parents,
I will try to write you a few lines this evening though I haven’t any[thing] to write that will interest you—only that I am still well & getting along as well as I could expect. The Troy boys are all well excepting Dolph Miller. His head is not quite well yet from a hurt that he received in one of our skirmishes, though it does not hurt him much. We have not had any hard fighting since I last wrote to you but our regiment has been in some pretty hot places—places where the shot & shell fell thick and fast around us. But an all-wise Providence saw fit to protect & save us from the enemy’s deadly missiles & we are now enjoying ourselves safe in the beautiful City of Savannah. And although we have not the accommodations that I am accustomed to on this holiday, we have enjoyed ourselves first rate.
For our Christmas dinner we had a piece of roasted beef, some beans, and that other standard of life, “hard tack.” And we are indeed thankful that we have that much & I hope & trust that we will be permitted to spend the next Christmas at home surrounded with friends, peace and happiness though I would not have you infer from this that I am tired of soldiering for I can say today that I am glad I enlisted when I did & when this war is over, if my life is spared, I a can go home feeling that I have done my duty to my country.
Well, Till has got back to the company. He got here (to the company) day before yesterday but we were all disappointed as he lost his knapsack on the road & all that the people sent to the Troy boys. When I get some money to send home, I want to send for some more as you can send it by mail & it will be a great deal cheaper than to buy it down here. I have got all the letters that you have numbered (that is) three of them.
I would like for you to send me a little thread if you please—some of your own making if you have any that is colored. I believe I have nothing more to write at present & must go to getting dinner. So I will quit. I remain as ever your son, — Winfield
Letter 19
Camp of the 13th Iowa
Near Beaufort, South Carolina
January 8, 1865
Dear Parents,
With pleasure I take this opportunity to write you a short letter to let you know where I am and how I am getting along. I suppose you have heard before this that I was sick & probably thought I was pretty sick that I could not write but I am well again and as hearty as ever. I was pretty sick the last two or three days we stayed in Savannah but as soon as we got to moving around, I got well. I guess it was only a little spell of the Dumb Ague or something of the kind.
On the 6th, we left Savannah & marched about 6 miles to a place on the river. Stayed there all night and day. We embarked on a ship and sailed to this place, landing here about 5 o’clock that night so you see we have had a ride on the big frog pond. But as the sea was very calm that day, we was not troubled much with seasickness. We have a tolerable good place to camp here only we have to carry wood a little too far, but we get rations enough to make up for that. Yesterday we drawed onions, potatoes, picked beef and some light bread. And besides that there is thousands of bushels of oysters laying right out here not more than 200 yards from camp and we have plenty of them you know. I suppose you recollect the time the time that you fixed up some oysters for John Wallace & I. But I have learned a trick or two since that. I can take them out of the shell & eat them alive and a kicking now & if you will come down & take dinner with us I will give you some oyster soup.
Well, perhaps you would like to know what we are going to do out here in South Carolina & I would too but I guess we are preparing for a campaign against Charleston or some other place though I think we will stay here a week or two before we do anything.
Well it is raining and blowing here and I expect I will have to stop writing as my paper is getting wet. Tell Pap I would like to hear from him too once in a while. But no more at present. I remain as ever your son, — W
I wrote a letter to Flora on New Year’s Day.
Letter 20
Camp near Pocotaligo, South Carolina
January 18, 1865
Dear Parents,
As I have delayed writing longer than usual I will try to write you a few lines this morning although I have had no word from home for a long time & this is the reason why I have not written sooner for I thought there must be something wrong with the mail line & there was no use of writing.
The next day after I wrote to you last we moved out about five miles from town & camped two days when we received orders to move again. We had not gone more than about 8 miles when we run into the rebels but as the 3rd Division of our Corps was in the advance, our Division did not become engaged but stopped and formed line of battle and rested on our arms until the other Division got them started. And then we moved on keeping the Johnnies going on the “double quick” until they got behind their works at Pocotaligo. They thought they would give us a little fight but they soon found they were not sharp enough for the 17th Corps. As it was then getting dark. we advanced up to within about 150 yards of their line of works when we halted & give them till morning to study on the subject of giving us battle. When morning came, we found that “Johnnies” were not to be seen nor heard of. They had done just as we expected, evacuated & fell back about two miles across a stream called Saltcather River which place they said they must hold at all hazards. But when night again came on, they had left leaving us in full possession of the railroad from Pocotaligo to Savannah & they have now found out that they don’t understand “flanking.”
Our regiment is left out here to picket a cross road so that we have considerable picket duty to do but as long as there is no rebels about, picketing does not amount to much. It has been raining ever since yesterday noon making it very muddy & disagreeable & I don’t know how much longer it is going to rain. I can’t tell you how long we will stay here but I don’t think we will move again until we get ready for another expedition & then I don’t know where we will go though I think we will first strike for Branchville. And if Grant don’t succeed in taking Richmond pretty soon, I expect we will go and help take that. I don’t believe ait would take Sherman long to flank Lee out of there or capture his army one.
Well, I guess I have written enough for the present so I will close by again asking you to write soon. I remain as ever your son, — Winfield
Letter 21
Goldsboro, North Carolina
March 27, 1865
Dear Parents,
With pleasure I now hasten to drop you a few lines to let you know that my life has been spared thorough another long and toilsome march & I am still in good health, this last being indeed one of the longest marches made since the commencement of the present war and a great deal the hardest owing to the season of the year. But when I look back at what Sherman’s Grand Army has accomplished on this campaign, I can but be glad that we are rushing things so fast for without this energy, we cannot expect to suppress this fast declining rebellion.
As I have told you that this was the hardest march made since the war, I will tell you some of the hardships to which we have been exposed though I do not want you to think tht I am complaining of anything that we had to go through. The worst trouble we had was wading and crossing swamps as it is a very rainy season of the year down here. The creeks and streams are all very high, being swollen out of their banks for sometimes a half a mile or more & these—as we could not bridge them—we were obliged to wade, one of which in particular I had to swim for a short distance and the water being so cold and we having such loads to carry, you must know that it is very dangerous. But it will do you no good to know of this so I will change the subject though I must tell you that this exposure has not hurt me in the least.
We have had no fighting to amount to much until we got pretty near through to this place & then we had a pretty smart fight though we had considerable skirmishing all along the road and our brigade did not have very hard fight even here as the most of the rebel force were in front of the Left Wing of our army. Our brigade only lost about 40 or 50 men. I suppose it is not necessary to give you an account of the route we came on as you will see that before this reaches you though I must tell you that our regiment was the first to plant its colors in the City of Columbia.
We received the long wished for mail today. I received 5 letters, three from you and one from Sarah & one from Flora, She said they were then living near Fremont so I will not know where to direct to her again but perhaps I will find out after awhile. Tell Maggie & the old folks that wrote in your letter that I am much obliged to them and will remember them when I get more time. I will be very busy for a day or two at washing and fixing up our camp as we are a going to lay over for awhile & when I get fixed up, I will answer all my letters. Also tell Mr. West that I will try to fulfill my promise as soon as possible but it is supper time and I will have to close for the present. My respects to all enquiring friends. I remain as ever your son, — Winfield
Spared & Shared 23 