This letter was written by Calvin McGowan (1838-Aft1880) who enlisted as a private in Co. B, 9th Iowa Infantry on 12 August 1861. He mustered out of the regiment 3 years later on 24 September 1864 at East Point, Georgia.

Calvin was the offspring of English emigrants Archibald McGowan (1790-1858) and Hannah Weimer, who settled in Muddy Creek in Butler County, Pennsylvania, where Calvin was raised. According to the 1860 US Census, Calvin was residing in Fairview, Jones County, Iowa, where he was listed within the household of William McGowan, likely an elder sibling who had established his own family. In that same year, he was appointed postmaster of Fairview. Following the conclusion of the war, Calvin returned to Fairview, where he took up the profession of a mercantile agent.

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

White County, Arkansas
Camp near [Little] Red River
May 25, 1862

Dear Cousin,

With pleasure I again sit down to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present and hope these few lines may find you and all the rest she named. It has been some time since I have heard from you but I think it is on account of our mail not coming regular. I hope you will continue writing to me while the war lasts. Nothing gives me more comfort than to hear from you and the boys that enlisted around Old Muddy Creek [Pennsylvania]. I am a thinking that they will have something to do before long at Richmond, Va. if the papers tells the truth.

We are on our way to Little Rock about fifteen thousand in all of us. We are sixty miles from Little Rock at present. We would of been about there now but it has been raining for the past week and the Little] Red River is so high we can’t get across. We have been laying in camp one mile from the river for four days waiting on the river to fall. It is about one hundred and fifty yards wide and twenty feet deep. There is about one thousand rebels four miles on the other side of the river commanded by Coleman. We had a small fight with them. There was none of our men engaged in it. [see Skirmish at Little Red River (May 17, 1862)]

Only one part of one regiment under [Franz] Sigel’s command. Sigel’s Division [Army of the Southwest] was at the river some five or six days before the rest of the troops came up. The river was not high at that time [and] part of one of his regiments went across the river. They had built a bridge across to go a foraging when they was attacked by the enemy about one thousand strong. We had thirty-one men killed and the number wounded I can’t tell you. The bridge they built has since went away and we can’t cross till the water gets lower. The rebels say they will kill more of us before we get to Little Rock than they did at Pea Ridge. We will give them a chance in a few days once we cross this river.

We started on this march the sixth of April. We have marched three hundred and forty miles. When we started, we was about twelve miles from Pea Ridge. I must tell you we have come through a God forsaken country. I seen but few places that was fit for a white man to live. If all the southern states is like Missouri and Arkansas, I want to see no more of them for in seeing, you can behold nothing.

I must close this subject. I must say, the weather is very warm at present. Apples and peaches is about one third the size. When you receive this letter, write soon. Let me know all the news about the boys that left their women to fight for their country. Let me know what is going on about home and what has taken place. Give my love to one and all. Be sure and write. Yours truly, — Calvin McGowen

Address 9th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Co. B

To William D. Tebay