The following letters were written by Israel Marcus Ritter (1841-1864), the son of Benjamin Franklin Ritter (1814-1904) and Mary Stover (1818-1915) of Iowa City, Iowa. Marcus enlisted at the age of 21 in Co. D, 24th Iowa Infantry on 20 August 1862. He survived the Battle of Champion Hill and the siege of Vicksburg but was severely wounded by gunshot in the left arm at the 3rd Battle of Winchester, Virginia, on 19 September 1864 and died at a Winchester hospital on 4 October 1864. According to the Office of Veterans Affairs in Johnson county, Iowa, Marcus was orginally buried on the battlefield at Woods Farm but was later reburied with a military headstone at the Winchester National Cemetery, Section 76, Grave 3557.

Marcus was married to Julia A. Barnes while in the service. The marriage ceremony took place in Johnson county, Iowa, and was performed by his captain, Jacob Casebeer, who also happened to be a Minister of the Gospel. The wedding took place on 23 February 1864.

Letter 1

On board the Imperial
Below Columbus, Kentucky
October 27, 1862

My beloved Mother,

Knowing that you can but be anxious about your son, I now seat myself to talk a few moments. I cannot tell you all that has transpired since I left, nor all I have thought about you at home, but will simply give you a short account of our journey since I wrote you at St. Louis. When I then wrote, I supposed we would leave on the following morning for Helena. In this we were disappointed for we lay about on one boat and then another until Saturday evening at six o’clock when we started out on the Imperial.

We passed the town of Cape Gerardo on yesterday morning. We saw the fort. This is where the 1st Iowa were so long. We came to Bird’s Point and Cairo just at dark. We lay here awhile and went on down to Columbus in Kentucky where the boat lay over until morning. I have just been out viewing in the distance the battlefield of Belmont. Several houses on the shore at Columbus I noticed were badly cut up with shot and shell.

Our cartridges have been distributed and ten selected from each company as sharp shooters to stay on hurricane deck. I wished to get out but could not. As I have a severe cold, the Capt. ordered me to remain in the room. My gun is under the bed, ready at any time. We apprehend trouble at Island No. 10, a few miles below us yet. We saw several boats with holes put in but I think there is no particular danger. Six of our companies went down on Wednesday on the Empress. Four remained and the 26th Iowa is now with us who were left making about thirteen hundred on board. We all have arms.

Mother, yesterday morning I wished I was at home to spend the Sabbath with you but still we did very well here. After we received our cartridges, we had meeting in our company’s quarters behind the wheelhouse on the larboard side. Our Capt. preached from, “God forbid I should glory in anything save the cross of Christ.” We then had one of the best class meetings I ever attended. Many of the officers were present & took a part.

The 26th Regiment is the hardest set of fellows I ever saw. Them men & some of the officers get drunk and all, I believe, delight to swear. Our regiment is the most moral I have seen anyplace.

We will meet the balance of the regiment tomorrow. It is so dark in this room I can scarcely see to write. You must excuse me for bad writing. I will write as often as I can make it convenient. You must write and I should like to know how the girls get along. I have not heard from Barbara for some time—not since I have written two letters. Julia has written oftener though I have not [paper creased].

I am well at present save a cold. My health has been very good. I am several pounds heavier than when I left home. Tell Father to let either of the girls have money for expenses at school and I will make it all right next payday which is the first of next month.

Is Will Posey back yet? If Jim Loan has come home, some of you got that dollar. The scamp shall not keep it.

The country down here is worth nothing. I have seen very few negroes yet. You must write soon as you can and as often as convenient. Give my love to all the family. I don’t know where the next Post Office is so I may write more before mailing this. Expecting a ready answer, I remain your dutiful son, — Marcus

Monday afternoon, Oct. 27. We are safely by No. 10 Island and will soon arrive at Memphis where I can mail this letter. The Federals drove the enemies from here some days ago. We will get along finely I think. Our sharp shooters are on the alert and five rebels a good fight. No danger now on this side of Memphis. I will write again in a few days—perhaps tomorrow. I am you son, — Marcus

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Letter 2

In Camp, Rear of Vicksburg, Mississippi
Thursday afternoon, July 2, 1863

My dear Brother Jacob,

I seat myself this afternoon to respond briefly to your letter of 11th ult. It found me in good health which still continues. I have no news important to write, Nothing strange or exciting has occurred for some weeks. We are still fighting the rebels and continue to siege this town. Our prospects for taking possession of the place soon are fair, though our desire to spend the “4th of July” in Vicksburg will not be gratified, I think. The rebels do some little firing now. Several shots fell near our tent the other day weighing 32 pounds. our works still continue to advance. We have blown up several forts and are near many others, ditching and throwing up defenses. I set my watch with the Vicksburg time the other night. We could distinctly hear the town clock strike.

Gen. Johnston has been threatening us for some weeks in the rear [of us but we] are all ready for him. We are looking for [paper missing] in here by the enemy from way of Port [Hudson] [paper missing] Regt. was called out three miles in the [paper missing] in anticipation of their visit. The boys [paper missing] now lying in wait. [There seems to be] no doubt but that we shall take possession of [paper missing] a few weeks at farthest.

The weather is very warm indeed. This afternoon the sun comes down with great power. Scarcely [paper missing]. I have been very busy writing since we have been here and have had little time to write letters.

Capt. [Casebeer] is unwell just now with a slow fever. Some of the troops is not near so good as it was so [paper missing]. I expect much sickness during the coming months of August and September. We are living very well now, having plenty [paper missing]. Provisions are high, such as we have to buy. This morning I paid one dollar for a little chicken six weeks old. I suppose when this reaches you, you will have had a grand time on the “Fourth.” I expect there will be a splendid display here on the Fourth, of cannonading, but very little dinner and no orations save our old guns.

I heard however that there had been a meeting called to make arrangements for some public display on the great day. When you write again, tell me all about the manner you spent the 4th, &c. What lady you took with you, &c. &c. Who took Barbara? If Will Posey [paper missing] in turn, &c. I suppose Ira McCollister is at home. Have you old Brooks’ horses yet? How much corn have you altogether? Tell me all the news about the valley. Write some oftener. I happened to [paper missing] the other day & bought some or I could [paper missing]. I have me a great many little [paper missing] up on the marches and would like to [paper missing] but can not. I have quite a [paper missing]…make you a present of a slate pencil which I [paper missing] at Rocky Springs—a little village some [paper missing] from here in Mississippi. Keep it and don’t [paper missing] sole Old rolls in this envelope. You must keep it in a safe place for me…

You see the roads from Jackson and Raymond meet just at the battleground. We came down on the Jackson Road & Osterhaus on the Raymond Road. We met the enemy first on [paper missing] of the creek, formed our lines, and attacked the enemy 1st [paper missing] their first lines. We drove them for two [paper missing] forks of the road you see here & there made [paper missing] guns were just in the road we came to [paper missing] and then fell back. I guess you don’t [paper missing] much about this after all. When [paper missing] came up on the Raymond Road, the enemy run [paper missing].

On the other page I gave you a view of our battlefield at Baker’s Creek, or Champion Hill. I hope you are still a good boy and doing as well as you can. Study as much as possible and read. I will write again soon. Be sure and answer immediately. Give my love to Mother and all the rest. Believe me your brother, — Marcus

Map drawn by Israel Marcus Ritter, Co. D, 24th Iowa Infantry, Vicksburg Campaign

The following letters were written by James Henry Mead of Marengo, Iowa, who, at age 33, enlisted on 12 August 1862 and was mustered into Co. E, 24th Iowa Infantry on 28 August 1862. He was discharged for promotion in December 1864 as a Commissary Sergeant in the 1st Missouri Colored Infantry, and later in the 62nd USCT.

James wrote the letters to Ellen Elizabeth Kepner (1842-1923) of Marengo with whom he would marry in 1866.

Some additional Civil War correspondence in the Mead family may be found at the University of Iowa, see Identifier: MsCO372 and Meade Family papers.

Letter 1

Helena, Arkansas
March 22nd 1863

Dearest Ellen,

I have been looking the last two mails for a letter from you but get none. We got a mail this morning but nothing came for me so I thought I would write a while to you, but you will probably have to be contented if I don’t write but a little as I have but little to write about.

First I will say that I am reasonably well though I do not feel just right, yet I am on duty. But the drums beat for preaching so I guess I will stop & be off. I suppose you are about starting out and I wish I could be there to go along.

The weather has been pleasant and very warm for a week past. Today it is cloudy—quite cool and sprinkles a little occasionally. We may get some rain for all I know. Oh, I forgot to tell you, Captain [Jacob B.] Casebeer [of Co. D] preached the sermon. Twas the same one he preached at Hilton & that I heard him preach in Muscatine.

During the past 3 or 4 days we have been having division drill. There was five regiments of infantry, quite a body of cavalry though I don’t know how many, & two or three or more pieces of artillery out. They had a dusty, hard time & it appeared quite like the movements on the battlefield the boys thought. I was not able to be out Friday & then there was none but ours and the 28th Regiments.

I have not been over to the 28th for a week but I guess the boys are all well except All C. He was no better when I saw him last. The health of our regiment is improving. None of our company is very sick except Lieutenant Strong and he is improving. I think Mr. [John P.] Driver [of Co. G] is.

I see Dora most every time I go over there. He appears to be well & enjoying camp life very well. For my part, I am doing very well though I am no ways partial to a life in camp.

You need not be surprised if the tone of my letters should seem changed & even cold for I dare not let my mind dwell upon things at home or hardly think of the pleasures & comforts that home & friends afford. I don’t know but if I were to stay in the army three years, but I should get so that I would not care for anybody but I hope not. But by not allowing myself to think on these things, I do not of course have any trouble with them.

There is a good deal of activity among the boats on the river here now. For a few days they have been going down & up all the time amost. There is quite a number here now & I should not be surprised if we were to get marching orders any day yet. A great many seem to think that we are not going to leave & among the rest our Brigade Commander, Col. Kinney.

I can’t send this off till Tuesday so for the present, goodbye. — J. H. M.

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Letter 2

Helena, Arkansas
April 10, 1863

Dear Ellen,

I just received your most welcome letter. I have been looking for it for several days. It was one week ago last Tuesday that I got my last letter from anyone. I tell you, I begun to. think that you were all sick or something was the matter. Ellen, you must write as often as you can.

I am very much pleased with your letter & the progress you are making in writing. I am gratified to learn that you have got a certificate [to teach]. I hope you will succeed in getting a good school. I felt satisfied when I read that you and my folks were well for I had not heard from you for so long that I was almost sure something must be wrong and I heard it was so sickly up north.

I am glad to hear that Molly is well & enjoying life so well. Tell her she must write once in a while. I am glad to hear that some young folks are come into the neighborhood. I only hope they are the right stripe. Look out for them.

Well, I have not entirely forgotten you Elly & I don’t believe I shall for some time. I suppose I might guess why Adda could not stay over Sabbath but I would like to have you keep me posted. As for the Copperheads, I only wish we could go to Marengo & settle them. We could do it in a hurry but we have a call to go in another direction,

We are all ready but getting our pay to get on board the boat this afternoon which we expect to do though we may not leave camp until morning. We expect to go and join in the great battle of Vicksburg. The talk is that we are to land at Young’s Point, a few miles from Vicksburg. We are prepared to leave & so you can judge that we are in a hurry so you will please excuse my scribbling & brevity.

We have had a meeting of our company and adopted resolutions which you will probably see in the paper ere long. I have been busy arranging those papers and writing the letters as corresponding secretary & it has taken a good deal of time. But we were anxious that you might know our minds & condition.

I rather expect that we are now about to enter upon an active and likely pretty lengthy campaign. Well, I am pretty well & can’t complain. I don’t exactly like to leave our camp for we shall have to leave a great many of our little conveniences. However I don’t care much as long as I am well. We have just been mustered for the purpose of finding out the number of men in the company so that they may know how many conscripts to send us. This is my opinion but I don’t know for certain. We are to receive 4 months pay in about half an hour

Oh, I suppose you are not so lonesome since Mr. Talbutt got his hired man. But I have written all I have room or time to write now. Be a good girl & pray for me. I shall probably be some way from her when I write again. For the present, fare you well. Yours truly & wholly. — J. M.

Letter 3

Keokuk, [Iowa]
Saturday, August 1st, 1863

Dear Ellen,

I just received your letter of the 29th July & was glad to hear from you & when I came to look at my journal. I was astonished to find that it was already over a week since I wrote last. I have not heard from either of two letters that I have written home since I came here. I had a letter from Adela which were directed to Jefferson Barracks. I have been afraid that some of them were sick & I feel the more concerned since I have learned that Adda has the whooping cough. I fear some of them are pretty sick. I wrote the same day I got here a week ago last Monday.

I should like to go home first rate but there is no chance now. There may be after a while but I am afraid not, I should like to have you come down & see me first rate if I cannot get home. I should like to be there when they draft. I would rather fight rebel rioters than the southers rebs. There was a squad of soldiers left here a week ago today for Iowa City to quarrel while they draft. I would get transferred there if I could. I can’t conjecture how long I shall be here. I am getting pretty well now but I would be of no service down South now. I know I could not stand it to go down there now.

I suppose the rain that has been falling there lately wsa very acceptable. It must have been very dry.

You say that religion is your only comfort. I say the same. My only hope us in Christ. in Him do I put my trust & look for guidance. I am favored with religious privileges here and it is a great blessing. I attended preaching twice last Sabbath, Last evening I joined the Soldier’s Christian Association which meets every two weeks in this building. I hope you will continue to trust in God and pray for me.

I learned by one of the boys that the talk is they are going to send another squad off Monday to quarrel somewhere—perhaps to Fort Desmoins. I may go for all I know now. If it is so, I don’t care much. I have nothing more to write I believe so I close. Hoping you will write soon & tell me how you are getting along with your school, &c, remember me to all enquiring friends & believe me your own, — J. M.