This letter was written by 19 year-old Creed H. Amos (1843-1863), the son of Gilbert Bird Amos (1819-1901) and Caroline S. Knapp (1823-1900) of Monroe County, Iowa. Amos enlisted on 13 August 1862 to serve three years in Co. K, 36th Iowa Infantry, but he died of typhoid fever on 19 February 1863 at the regimental hospital at Helena, Arkansas.

Creed wrote his letter from Camp Lincoln at Keokuk, Iowa, in mid-October—a little over a week after they were mustered into the service. The men were first issued old Austrian and Belgian smoothbore muskets with “sword” bayonets, but these antiques were eventually replaced with more effective .58 caliber Springfield rifled muskets. Following four weeks of basic training at Camp Lincoln, the regiment departed Keokuk on 1 November 1862 aboard two steamboats for St. Louis to await corps and division assignment and to continue training.

This letter was found in the pension records at NARA by Brian Rhinehart. It was submitted by his mother Caroline as proof that Creed sent money home to his family while in the service which they depended on. Brian forwarded it to me for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared.

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

Camp Lincoln
Sunday, October 12, 1862

Dear mother,

I seat myself down this beautiful Sabbath morning to let you know that I received your kind letter dated October the 4th which found me well and gave me great satisfaction to hear from you and that all was well. I am well now. I have had the sore eyes but they are getting better now. I hope this may find you all well and doing well. I have a great interest in knowing how you are getting along for nothing is so dear to me as home.

I have placed myself in a hard life to love. Our situation is new to the most of us, if not all the American people. We have changed the peaceful walks of life and are in the army where we are shut down to narrow limits by the military law. We have given ourselves up to the officers to be controlled by them.

The weather has been very wet here and we have had heavy frosts. Our barracks are very cold and open. They are made of pine plank and the roofs are open & leaky. We received $40 from the government last evening & have got our blankets & shoes but no clothing yet, and how soon [we will], I know not. I will bring these few lines to a close. I will write a few lines to father so no more but remain your son, — C. H. Amos

Dear father,

I will drop you a few lines this morning to let you know how I am getting along. I am well at present, hoping this may find you well. I would like to be with you this fall helping you do your work. I have got $40 from the government & will send $30 to you. If I don’t come home, the Captain is coming home about Wednesday & I will send it by him. I got all US money in $10 bills. I don’t know yet whether I will get to come home or not. Some of this company is going to home tomorrow. If you want me to come back and stay a few days, I will try and get a pass and come home for a short time. They won’t allow us to stay long.

There is a few sick in our company. Little John Potts is sick at present but I think will get well soon. All the balance are well.

Address your letter to name, Keokuk, Iowa, Co. K, 36th Regt. Iowa Vols., Care of Capt. is sufficient.

You go into Albia about Thursday or Friday and see the Captain. So no more but write often as you can & do the best you can. I will write more about camp life some other time. C. H. Amos to G. B. Amos