This letter was written by Daniel Cox (1840-1862) of Marengo, Iowa, who enlisted when he was 21 years old in Co. G, 8th Iowa Infantry. He died of disease at Sedalia, Missouri, on 19 February 1862—just a few weeks after he wrote this letter.

Daniel was the son of William Cox (1812-1896) and Margaret Elizabeth Wannamougher (1814-Abt1853) who married 18 September 1838. William later married Martha Jane Athey Rockwell (1831-1861) in 1854 and she became Daniel’s step-mother.

The 8th Iowa Infantry was attached to the Department of Missouri until March 1862 and they spent most of the winter at Sedalia, occasionally participating on minor expeditions to chase small squads of guerrillas.

Daniel wrote the letter to Ellen Elizabeth (“Nellie”) Kepner, the daughter of Samuel Kepner and Elizabeth Haslet of Marengo, Iowa. She married Hames Henry Mead in July 1866. Her brother, Daniel S. Kepner was killed in the Battle of Antietam. Another brother, Robert Kepner (mentioned in the letter), served in the 7th Iowa Infantry.

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Transcription

Sedalia, Missouri
November 29, 1861

Dear friend,

I take the opportunity to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present and hope that these few lines may find you enjoying the same. We are still in our old tent yet and I expect that we will stay in them all winter. I received your welcome letter yesterday and was glad to hear from you and the rest of the friends. You said in your letter that you seen Uncle Squire and he said that Holy [ ]. Well, I will make it all right with you girls when I come home.

I would like to be at home a New Years, [but] you needn’t look for me now before the 4th of July. I would like to be there to take a sleigh ride with some of you. We have some snow here but not enough to sleigh ride. But it is pretty cold here sometimes. It is very pleasant today.

We have taken about 1500 secesh since we have been here. The pickets brought in four secesh yesterday. There was 300 of our men 1300 of the secesh. Ellen, I never was caught in a scrape before that I could not get out of before this [but] I can’t get out of this. If I get home again, you better believe that I will stay there. They say that we will go to Kentucky this week but I don’t believe a word of it.

Ellen, we are a going to have a general settlement the first of next month. We have about three months pay behind. We will get between 35 and 40 dollars and then you may look for that likeness.

I got a letter from Robert. He was not very well. He said he had the mumps. There is right smart of sickness here. I believe that I have nothing more of importance to write. So no more at present but remain yours truly, — Daniel Cox

to E. E. Kepner