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Subject: C. V. Times, Aug. 25, 1864, 20th Iowa Infantry
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2004 19:32:30 EDT

The Cedar Valley Times,
Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa.

Thursday, August 25, 1864.

From the 20th Regiment.

Headquarters 20th Iowa Inf.,
Near Brownsville, Texas.
July 24th, 1864.

Editor Times:

Sir:--Allow me to inform you and through you, the friends of the 20th, that
we are still numbered among the things that are, and yet in the U. S.--and that
is about all--twenty rods further and they will land us in Mexico.

We are now camped near Brownsville, Texas, on the east bank of the Rio Grande
river, just opposite the city of Mattamoras [Matamoras], Mexico. We left
Mustang Island on the 24th of last month, where we had been playing Robinson
Crusoe for nearly eight months--and reached this place on the 28th. Since we left
New Orleans last October, the health of the regiment has been very good,
having lost but four men in that time by death.

But I did not start out to write a letter, I simply wanted to put a
"flea"--we have plenty of the real living kind to spare down here--into the ears of the
friends of the 20th, in Cedar Rapids. Here is the "flea:" our regimental
colors are completely worn out by long use. It is a splendid silk flag,
presented to the Regiment by the ladies of Davenport. We want another. Ladies, do
you feel that "flea," I do not think that the ladies of Cedar Rapids will allow
themselves to be outdone in any truly noble and patriotic work where the
soldiers of their own town are so immediately interested; at least, their past
deeds say they will not.

We leave here in a few days--perhaps I will carry this to New Orleans with
me--and from there we may be sent to a place where it will take brave men to
carry the good old flag. The 20th Iowa is ready to go; shall they have the flag
to carry? I will stake my life upon it that they will never disgrace the
gift.

No news to write from here. The weather for the past week has been pretty
warm, varying from 85 degrees to 105 degrees in the shade. The health of the
regiment is good.

Capt. [Edward] Coulter has been unanimously recommended by the officers of
the regiment, for Major; he is deserving and capable. I hope to meet him in New
Orleans. Gen. [Francis Jay] Herron is still in command here. Col. [William
McE.] Dye's wife, who is here, is quite sick.

Yours, very respectfully,

20th Iowa.



Sue Trout Reisdorph

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