The following letter was written by Elisha M. Hummel (1838-1866) who enlisted in August 1862 when he was 25 years old to serve in Co. C, 20th Iowa Infantry. He was made a corporal and remained with his regiment until 16 November 1863 when he was discharged for disability at Mound City, Illinois. The letter was datelined from their camp at Marysville on 6 November 1862—just one month before the Battle of Prairie Grove in northwest Arkansas. In that engagement the regiment marched 110 miles in three days to reinforce the Union forces assembled there and when called upon to fight, they suffered 47 total casualties (8 killed, 39 wounded).

Elisha was the son of Mathias Hummel (1805-1881) and Louisa P. Mosier (1809-1890) of Winfield, Scott county, Iowa. Census records reveal that Elisha was born in Ohio and migrated with his family from Morgan county, Ohio, sometime in the late 1850s.

The only other letters I’ve transcribed (to date) by a member of the 20th Iowa were written by William Busby of Co. H. I published those 31 letters over ten years ago at: https://williambusby.wordpress.com

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Camp at Marysville
November 6th 1862

Much esteemed friend,

After so long a period, I seat myself to inform you that I am well at this present time hoping you are the same. I have not been shot yet. We are on our way to Springfield. I think we will go to St. Louis and then go down the river where there is something to do. The rebels is afraid of us. They won’t stand fire here so we will go down the river to find work to do. We have had some very hard marching. The dust is so bad that we can’t see each other in the road. It nearly smothers us to march.

I sent you a [letter] some time since so I can’t think of much this time. I am looking for an answer every day, or every mail. The weather is dry and the days warm but the nights is cool so we can get along very well. The time slips along fast and smooth but we can’t have so much fun as I had last winter when I was down there to Uncle Bill’s. I would like to be down there this winter. I think I will be down there [before] long to see the folks. I think the war will end before long. I hope so anyhow. If I ever get free, I am coming down to see the folks.

We are 25 miles from Springfield now. We will go there tomorrow, I think, and then to Rolla, then take the cars for St. Louis. That is what we think now and I hope it may be so. It is very hard work to march night and day. We marched 84 hours and only got 6 hours sleep. That was pretty tuff on us. But I have stood it very well so far—only my feet, they get very sore sometimes. The road is so full of pebbles that it is hard on our feet.

Well, Miss Snider, I often think of you and that car ride that we have talked about in our letters. It would be a pleasant thing to me to take a pleasure ride with some nice lady. It is very seldom that I get to see a girl here. What few I do see is secesh and I do not like them very well. Just wait until I get out of war, you won’t catch me in this trap again, I think.

We have the best captain in the regiment. He was formerly a private in the 2nd Iowa Infantry and is now a captain in the 20th Iowa Infantry and a nice man.

Times is very hard here for you can’t buy anything here at all at any price hardly. I have only received one letter from [you] since I enlisted, I would like to hear from you once more. Can’t you write any more? You can write if you will. I hope you will write often to me and let me know how you are getting along in the land of rest or land of peace.

Well I must go and get a load of rails so as to get our supper. Well, I have been after the rails so I will finish this epistle. I sent cousin Anna a letter some time since but I have not received an answer yet but am looking for one every day from her and J. M. Hummel. When you write, tell me who he is waiting on now for he won’t tell her name. Well, I can’t write much more this time because it is getting late. I have no good place to write on. I just have to sit down on the ground and I am kept very busy the most of the time.

The Boys is full of fun today. I think they will have good times when they get to St. Louis. I will write when I get to Rolla or before if I have time. Direct to Benton Barracks, Mo., Elisha M. Hummel, Co. C, 20th Iowa Infantry in care of Capt. M. L. Thomson

To follow the regiment.

Please write soon. Yours as ever. — Elisha M. Hummel to Mattie E. Snider

When this you see, remember me. Goodbye. 1862