Belinda Iowa

O^ct 14^th 1864

 

Enos Reed Esqr

C^om K, 34^th Iowa Vol

                                                                                                                        Dear Brother

I am perfectly wiling to take almost any kind of a scolding that you have a mind to give me for not answering your last letter which came to hand about one month ago I got it when I was on my road to Chariton and I got on a big bust and did not get home for several days and I was so tight for several days after I did get home that I could not write and by the time I got sobered off I had forgot all about it but they say that it is never to late to do good so I will promise never to be so negligent again

 

            This leaves us all well so far as I know we were at your house last Sunday we went with Loo & Harve from meeting at the South School house James Molesworth & family were there and before I forget it let me tell you that Jim has got to be a black abolishionist of the deepest dye and we are running him for T. P. Clerk so little M^c had just as well give up the goast (and while I am on this subject) the Copps wont make a pint in Iowa this fall they have nearly all played out they will scarcely show there hands 

 

We were very glad to receive that picture of yours it is the best one of yours I think that I ever seen. The draft is going off very quietly (with the exception of the Poweshiek Co afare of which I suppose you are aquainted) we herd from the Pleasant Township representatives to day they are (M W Smith H Wallace Mich Stotts & Mathew Shore) (Shore is a cousin to Enoch he came here since you left) that is all that I have herd from in this county Hes Templeton is drafted in Jefferson Tell Coony that Bill Thomas Geo Cochran & Alford Right are drafted in Jefferson C^o I think things are working very well our great victories good news from election returns and the thined ranks of our armies being filled up are by draft are things that we may truly rejoyce over But alas the poor copps they dont see any thing to laugh at there joy has turned to sorrow and there down cast looks tells the sad tale for them that all is not right and perticularly so with one that was refured to in a letter written from rear of Ft Morgan and published in the Iowa Patriot the same one from which old man Foster took his texed a few evenings since when he preached

 

            Write soon and I will be jumped up if ever I am so long about answering again My respects to all the boys                                      Respectfully

 

                                                                                    James Harden

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