Moses A. McCoid Papers

The papers consist of 86 letters, the majority of which were written by Moses to his wife Helen. Three letters were written by Helen to Moses. The letters are organized chronologically.

The pre-Civil War letters were written between 1859 and 1861 when McCoid was in Fairfield, Iowa reading law with James F. Wilson. In these letters, Moses is wooing Helen. He reminds her of the time they met and talks about their future together despite her parents being against the match.

The Civil War letters cover the period of May 1861 to April 1864. These intensely emotional love letters are filled with the young man's longing for his "dear Helen," and his attachment to "our flag" and country. The letters discuss war news and politics, army life (rations, attending church services, conflicts with commanding officers, etc.) including a detailed account of the Battle of Shiloh and Moses' take on the Emancipation Proclamation. He also talks about his regiment, the 2nd Iowa Infantry Regiment (1861-1864), courts-martial, the siege of Vicksburg, G. T. Beauregard, Braxton Bragg, Ambrose Burnside, Grenville Dodge, John Charles Frémont, H. W. Halleck, William Hardee, Joseph Hooker, Abraham Lincoln, John A. Logan, Gideon Pillow, Samuel Sturgis, Libby Prison and war prisoners, and slavery. One of the letters includes a hand-drawn map of the Battle of Shiloh with a list of casualties from Co. E. Many letters were written on ornate patriotic stationery, some with illustrated envelopes as well.

The post-war letters were written by McCoid when he was a member of the Iowa State Senate living in Des Moines and Washington, D. C. In these letters he talks about politics in Iowa and his dislike of being away from his wife and family.