CIVIL WAR LETTER - 15th Iowa Infantry, GREAT CONTENT, Cavalry, Drafting Soldiers

Description

CIVIL WAR LETTER
Civil War Letter by Soldier in
Co. A, 15th Iowa Infantry - Wounded at Shiloh!
This Civil War letter was written by John A. Wheelock (1840-1862), of Lyons, Clinton county, Iowa—the son of Charles Asker Wheelock (1809-1904) and Clarissa Betty (1811-1855). He wrote the letter to his brother, Hiram Wheelock (1835-1910) of Alson, Madison county, Illinois.
John served in
Co. A, 15th Iowa Infantry
early in the war with his younger brother,
Charles Myron Wheelock
(1844-1923). Charles was wounded in the Battle of Shiloh. John appears to have been discharged from the service early due to disability. We learn from this letter that he was suffering from the ague. His grave record indicated he died in December 1862.
He also mention another brother,
Harrison Tyler Wheewlock
(1833-1915) who was serving in Co. C, 26th Iowa Infantry (enlisted 14 Aug 1862; discharged for disability 23 Nov. 1863).
[Note: The first part of the first letter was written by Charles Myron Wheelock.
Transcription
Keokuk [Iowa]
November 28th 1861
Dear Father,
I take this opportunity to write to you to let you know that we are well and doing well. We have been here about six weeks and have seen something of a soldier’s life since we have been here.
We had good pair [ ] about four weeks that boarded to at a hotel. There was a cavalry regiment in camp here. They was ordered away and then we had to go into their quarters. They weren’t fit for the hogs to live in. We stayed in that camp [and] whilst we was there, we had a big rain. We got good and wet and then came off cold and you can judge how we felt. We are seated in town in a big brick block. We have a good room to sleep in. Have got bunks built on one side and a big stove on the other so we are very comfortable now. We cook our own grub and use the lower room for a dining room. Our company is not full yet. It ain’t likely to be soon. There ain’t but two or three full companies in the regiment. The regiment lacks 200 men of being enough to organize.
There is some talk of us going to St. Louis before long. I don’t believe we will very soon. If we don’t go until the regiment is organized, we shan’t go very soon. Since we have been here, the 11th, 13th, and 14th Regiments have gone down. The 14th went today,
This company was raised to go in the 11th. It was not full so we could not get in. Then we had our choice to go to Dubuque and go in the 12th [but] the company chose to come here. We have the first position in the regiment—Co. A.
Charley like to soldier first rate. He makes a good soldier. He is as good looking a soldier as there is in the company. We have been trying to get a furlough and come home. We could get the furlough but couldn’t get passes up and back so I don’t know when we shall come. It will be when we get discharged and not before. I think we shall all be discharged in the course of a year if not less. Congress is going to do something the next session. The South is getting discouraged. There is 36 counties of North Carolina has come out for the Union. 18 thousand of them laid down their arms and they have elected delegates for Congress. The Union men of East Tennessee are coming out and burning the railroad bridges so that the rebels cannot transport their armies over them.
Col. Moor [?] of the Iowa 7th marched 20 miles last Sunday and took over four hundred Rebel prisoners and killing some with the loss of one man killed and one mortally wounded before sundown, He was camped in Memphis, Missouri, some thirty miles from here.
I don’t know as I can write anymore news this time. Tell I have wrote to Les an Henrietta since they have wrote to me. I have not heard from home but once since I have been here. Tell them to write to me and tell me where Hiram is and give me his address. Write soon and write the news from Vermont if you have any. Yours in haste, — John Wheelock
Keokuk, Iowa
Care of Capt. [Josiah W.] Kittle, Co. A, 15th Reg., Keokuk Camp, Keokuk
November 28th 1861
TERMS
.00 postage in the United States.  We accept Paypal.
Postage combined for multiple purchases.  Please wait for me to send the invoice, otherwise you will pay a higher rate.
For International buyers, we utilize eBay’s Global Shipping Program.  We had too many packages sent via the post office go missing.  So we believe this program will be safer for us and for you.
We are members of the American Philatelic Society, the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, the Confederate Stamp Alliance and the Illinois Postal History Society.
We only sell genuine, original letters (no copies or reproductions).  Some of our letters have been transcribed and nicely presented for future genealogists and history buffs on the Spared & Shared blog.
We have been selling on eBay since 1998.   BID WITH CONFIDENCE !