Ft Smith Ark Dec the 20^th AD 1864

 

                                                                                                Dear Father Mother & Sisters

after a long silence I once more take my pen to write a few lines to you it has been quite a month if not more since I wrote last to you and in that time I have received two letters from you one of them was written in July and was marked No 1 I received it in Nov the other I received by the last mail it was dated Nov the 29^th 64 I will now endeavor to tell you why I did not write sooner the 22^nd of Nov we got orders to march with six days rations and 40 rounds of amunition our destination was Ft Gipson in the Cherokee Nation to guard a supply train to this post but when we got there the train had not yet reached that place we laid there one day when it was reported that the train was in danger of capture by the Rebles and we were ordered on a forced march to reenforce it we left Gipson at 11 Oclock Sunday night and reached the train thursday morning about an hour after sunrise having made a forced march of one hundred miles and all we had to eat was corn and beef with a little coffee but we found the train all right and in no dager danger and I tell you we had quite a feast on hard tack and sow bellie the same day (Thursday) we started back to Gipson with the train and the Tuesday following we reached that place all safe and the next Tuesday Monday we arrived here but instead of being gone six days we were gone 21 we carried our Overcoats Blankets amunition and three days rations during the march 

 

Ft Gipson is a hard looking place it is situated on the East bank of Grand river and about three miles from the Arkansas river and is about 65 miles from here but I saw some beautiful Country while on our march up Grand river towards Ft Scott we marched near 350 miles and did not see an enemy but we saw Cherokee and Creek Indians in abundance but they are loyal there is three Indian regiments at Gipson but between here and that place the Country is desolated and depopulated there is but two houses that are inhabited between the two places and one of them is at the salt works on the Big Illinois 20 miles this side of Gipson and now I must tell you that times are about as hard as ever flour is Forty dollars per hundred but the Arkansas is booming full and I think times will soon get better I must also inform you that Capt Standiker has resinged and is going home in a few days also Wilson Carson a Sargent in our Company has been discharged and is going with him he lives in hopeville I am sending a linen coat (that I bought last summer and two Memorandum books with him you can send for them or you go and get them if you please and keep them for me untill I come

 

the Smallpox is pretty bad here there has been two Cases in our Company but neither of them has proved fatal I have been exposed to it but I have been vaccinated and I do not that I will take it otherwise the health is good we have had no very cold weather as yet but we had quite a thunder shower / Sunday night it was one of the most disagreeable nights that I ever saw I was on picket guard and was out all night the war news here is not worth writing in fact we have none but old news there is some talk that we will leave here but I do not know how true it is as I think it is only Camp rumor I had a letter from Jasper by the last mail he was well but I have not heard from Fred for two or three months Jasper said he had a letter from him the morning he wrote which was the 29 of Nov

 

and now I wish you would some of you write and give me all the news for I have had no news from Union Co for the last three months your leter of the 20 of Nov had nothing in it only an enquiry as to where I was well I presume you have heard ere this but if not you will when this reaches you and let me say here if you should not hear from me again direct to the regiment and I will get and I think the mail will be more regular this winter than it has been this summer but I will have to close as the Company has orders to march immediately with three days rations and blankets

 

So I shall have to say good bye for the present remaining your affectionate son and Brother John Reed to Q Reed and family 

 

Well Mother the Company or part of it has gone but I did not go as I was almost barefooted and did not get shoes untill after it started and I have been detailed to cook untill they come back and now I will try and tell you how we are fixed we have comfortable quarters or Barracks to sleep and stay in when off of duty and then the Company is divided into two messes with two cooks to each mess and we have a good cook house or kitchen with a bake oven and a baker we have two long tables in our kitchen and each mess has a large coffee pot that will hold about 7 gallons each with frying and mess pans tin plates tin cups and knives and forks and if you will come on over in the morning I will try and have you a good cup of coffee just as you like it without Cream or sugar but the bread and meat I will not promise shall be so good And now I should like to be with you to join the family circle to offer praise and thanksgiving to the Lord of Hosts for surely the Lord is good and I have great cause to praise his name every day of my life for all his goodness and as I write to night I can truly say from my heart blessed is the name of the Lord

 

but I desire that you will all remember often at a throne of Grace for I sometimes get sadly discouraged in the army but I have many things to be thankful for I have the Heralds and sometimes I get the American Messenger and then I have my Bible the dear blessed Bible the Book above all others but I would like for the Church to remember me for I have not forgotten the happy hours that I have enjoyed in it and I hope I shall enjoy more happy seasons there but it is getting late and I will close remaining as ever your affection Son

 

            May God bless and keep you all is my prayer

                        John Reed Co B 18^th Regt Iowa Vol Inft

                                    Ft Smith Ark

 

                        if life and health are spared I will write again soon

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