1863: George VanBeek to Ellison Smith

Trooper George VanBeek of Co. C, 1st Iowa Cavalry (courtesy of Jane Mott)

This letter was written by 29 year-old George VanBeek (1834-1906), Co C, 1st Iowa Cavalry. George enlisted on 20 June 1861 as a private. In March 1863 he was promoted to corporal. In January 1864 he was promoted to Sergeant, and by April 1865, he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.

The 1st Iowa Cavalry was part of General Steele’s army that captured Little Rock, Arkansas, in September 1863. They first set up their camp in the southern suburbs of the city near the United States Arsenal. By mid October, they had moved to a camp about two miles down the Arkansas river where they remained for the winter of 1863-64. According to Lothrop [Regimental History], “the men built comfortable cabins for themselves and sheds for their horses, doing picket, outpost duty and scouting.”

George was born in Oud-Vossemeer, Zeeland, Nederland, the son of Leonard VanBeek (1797-1870) and Elizabeth Van Poortvliet (1803-1874). Sometime prior to the 1850 US Census, the VanBeek family came to Burlington, Iowa, where they took up farming. George was first married to Emily Maynard on 25 September 1861 in Henry County, Iowa. He married a second time in 1883 to Emma Corinna Weller (1843-1921). He died in Mount Pleasant, Henry county, Iowa in 1906. [Family name also spelled Van Beck]

George addressed his letter to “Mr. Smith” who was apparently married to a woman named Mary and had two children named Alice and Sammy. I could only find one family in Des Moines county that fit the profile, that being the family of English emigrant Ellison Smith (1825-1893) who was married to Mary A. Hunt (1830-1916). In 1860, the family resided in Middletown, Danville township, Des Moines county, Iowa, where Ellison earned a living as a farmer. His two oldest children were Alice (b. 1852) and Samuel (b. 1854).

[Note: To read another letter from Little Rock by another member of Co. C, 1st Iowa Cavalry, go to Horace Payne to Mary (Payne) Hills.]

Transcription

Little Rock, Arkansas
December 31st 1863

Mr. Smith
Dear Sir,

I hope that you will pardon me for not writing to you ere this or calling to see you white at home in June last. The various excuses I might offer you can easily form in your own mind so no further preliminaries at present.

No doubt but your active mind has traced us to this place so to offer you any of our exploits would not be a waste of time & a task I would prefer to leave to abler hands. To speak of hardships & privations would be simply folly for this you can hear from others who are more given to despondency than I am willing to admit at present.

For the last three months I have been suffering with chronic diarrhea or flux & for one month have been an inmate of the hospital from whence I pen you these few lines. This seems to be the prevalent disease here & also has laid many a rugged soldier low beneath the green sod. The health of the troops is improving, however, as the weather grows colder. Instead of eight lost, we mourn but two deaths this month—both by flux. I have been quite low, inasmuch that fears were entertained for my recovery for the past two weeks. I have improved greatly. I feel somewhat weak yet but hope to be able for duty soon.

As for this army, but very little worthy of note since our arrival here has transpired. You have seen an account of the engagement at Pine Bluff. It was spirited but short and sweet. The rebels in this department have been whipped till they have lost all self confidence. Price’s army is reported fortifying at Washington [AK] on Red River about 140 miles from here. You may ask why not give him battle there & bring an end to the war west of the Mississippi. This question is easily answered. Up to the present, all the transportation in our possession has to be employed to supply the troops here & even then we lack many things which we sadly need. But the river is rising rapidly & we shall be able to get supplies up the Arkansas & Red River or the Quachita or Saline Rivers when an advance is ordered which we all hope will be ere long. Gunboats are on their way here which with the assistance of a small force will garrison this place.

The sentiment of the remnant of Arkansans is in tone loyal & they seem to be anxious to enjoy the benefits of the United States Government. This sentiment is rapidly increasing. Recruiting among the citizens is progressing rapidly here as well as other places which we occupy in this state. I believe that there are two regiments of the colored population in course of organization here.

Our horses are in a most pitiful condition & are dying off rapidly for the want of hay or fodder and dry corn, & hard service is thinning out our lines rapidly. Yesterday a Rebel captain & twelve men came in and gave themselves up taking the Oath of Allegiance. From information received from them, a scout has been ordered out today, destiny unknown, with four days rations.

Two commissioned & twelve non-commissioned officers from our regiment have been ordered to report to Davenport, Iowa to recruit or drill. A few—perhaps 100 in all—will reenlist in our regiment as veterans. How is volunteering? How are times with you? How did your crop turn out? And how is Mary & the children? Alice and Sammy must be of considerable help to you by this time.

My sheet is full so I must close wishing you all a Happy New Year. If you deem these few rough & imperfect marks worthy an answer, I shall be most happy to receive it at any time. I remain yours for the Union, G. VBeck

My address: George Van Beck, 1st Iowa Cavalry, Company C, Little Rock, Ark

How do you like Uncle Abe’s message? Today we have a real Iowa snow storm. I never have seen a more severe one in Iowa. This is the 1st snow this winter.

Remember me to Uncle Jesse & family & to your folks. Don’t forget!!!

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