Catharine Peirce wrote with news of home to her husband, a soldier with the 22nd Iowa Infantry at Vicksburg. She would later receive a letter Taylor had written to her on July 4 announcing that the “Gibralter of America has fallen.”
Des Moines City July 5th 1863
I sit down to write feeling a little bad again not having had a letter for two weeks but I will try and be patient hopeing thee is well and that I will get one in a few days more. We are all well to day. Cyrus seems to be in a better condition this two weeks than he has been for a long time. I do not know whather it is Ayers medicine that is helping him or not. We have had a very pleasant summer so far with the exception of a few very warm days but our fourth was not near so hot as it was last year I do not think. We had a very nice celebration on the fair ground and a real good addres by a Mr Palmer in favour of the war the Union and the Soldeirs and death to all Copperheads and rebel sympathisers. It was a good thing and just suited my stile. The speaker went on to say that Goverment must be sustained and the soldiers cared for at all hazards but Dear me I can not write half of the good that was spoken in behalf of our Country and our Countrys cause. Mary received a letter from Rachel day before yesterday. R writes they are all well but Aunt Hannah she is no better and there appears very little prospect of her ever being any better. Rachel writes very gloomily of the times. The Rebels have got up into Penn and are doing a great amount of damage. But if thee has a chance to see the Union papers thee will know more about what they are doing than I can write, but it seem as our army in the east has not or can not attane much some how or other. What is the reason I am shour I can not tell. It seemed to me if they let the rebles overrun them there that there is very little hope for our beloved Country. But I still hope and trust there is still a just God in heaven that will set the Nation right one of these days, wheather we live to see it or not Dear Taylor. I can not write to do any good or that will be interesting to thee for the simple reason that I do not know of any thing of interest to write of.
I have not had any news from Jasper Co for a week or more. Mr Vowel and his wife was up here about two weeks ago and gave me the full news. There is nothing of importance except deaths. Preston Caloson was killed at the Battle of Black river Bridge and Willis Greens son also but I expect thee has seen the account of the killed before this time. Vowel says that there is no thing doing in Newton this summer to a mount to any thing. He thinks if the railroad should mis it a few miles that it will die a naturel death and that right soon they have got the cars runing to Grenell now and are working on this side. They say thair are going to grade Skunk bottom this fall but it may not be done if the Draft gos on. The baby is siting on the floor by side me and is beginig to fuss and I will have to close.
With love I remain thy wife Catharine