It’s one thing to know your ancestor served in the Civil War. It’s another thing entirely to hear their voice—in their own words, describing their daily struggles, their homesickness, and their hopes. That’s what makes letters found in Civil War pension files so remarkable. They don’t just document service—they tell stories.

That’s especially true in the case of Private Creed Amos, a 19-year-old soldier from Keokuk, Iowa, who enlisted with the 36th Iowa Infantry. His heartfelt letter home, written in October 1862, not only gives a glimpse into early camp life—it became part of his parents’ pension application after his untimely death just four months later.

A Glimpse Into a Young Soldier’s Life

Creed’s letter opens with warmth and longing:

"Dear Mother, I seat myself down this beautiful Sabbath morning to let you know that I received your kind letter... nothing is so dear to me as home."

The young soldier, adjusting to military life at Camp Lincoln, describes the difficult conditions he and his fellow recruits were facing:

"Our barracks are very cold and open... they are made of pine plank and the roofs are open and leaky."

"The weather has been very wet here and we have had heavy frosts."

Despite this, Creed remained hopeful—and practical. He lets his parents know that he’s just been paid and wants to help:

"We received $40 from government last evening... I have got $40 from government and will send $30 to you."

That single line—so casually and kindly written—would later serve as proof that Creed was financially supporting his parents, which was necessary for them to qualify for a pension after his death.  (That $30 he sent home was worth about $750 in today’s money)

He continues:

 "If I don’t come home, the Captain is coming home about Wednesday and I will send it by him... I don’t know yet whether I will get to come home or not."

He closes the letter by asking about his family’s well-being and promising more updates soon:

"Let me know how you are getting along with your work... I will write more about camp life some other time."

A Letter That Became Lifesaving Evidence

Sadly, Creed Amos died in February 1863, only months after writing this letter. He never had the chance to come home. Because he was unmarried, his parents could apply for a pension—but they had to prove he supported them financially.

That’s why this letter was submitted as evidence. It not only revealed Creed’s sense of duty to his country, but also his devotion to his family. At the time of his death, Creed’s parents were raising eight other children under the age of 14. The pension would have been critical to keeping the household afloat.

A Rare Treasure in Civil War Research

Letters like Creed’s don’t appear in every pension file. When they do, they are priceless. They offer a firsthand look at history—and in this case, reveal the emotional connection between a soldier and the family he left behind.

The complete transcription of the letter can be viewed below, but pension files like Creed Amos’s one, are only available through the National Archives. It remains a moving testament to the sacrifices of both soldiers and their families during the Civil War.

Want to Discover a Letter Like This in Your Family Tree?

At CivilWarRecords.com, we specialize in retrieving records (like Civil War Pension files) from the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Whether you're hoping to uncover letters, affidavits, or service details, we can help bring your ancestor’s story to life. 

Our team is onsite at the National Archives every week and has access to all of these files that are not online.  Let us help you get your ancestor’s files in your hands!  Not sure if your ancestor has files at the National Archives?  We can help you find out!  Let us know what you know about your soldier and we’ll do a free check of the indexes for you.  You can do that here.

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