Officials with the Hitchcock House say the final summer program at the historical site in Cass County, will be a reading of the Civil War Letters of Francis R. Howard. Floyd Pearce, Chairman, Hitchcock House Board, says Private Howard enlisted in the Iowa 23rd Infantry Regiment from Lewis. The letters provide an intimate look into Civil War army life.

Private Howard died of wounds inflicted in the battle of Port Gibson. Matthew Smith will read the Letters. The program is free, at 2 pm, Sunday, August 17th, in the Red Barn. Bring comfortable chairs if you have them. Hitchcock House, one mile west of Lewis, was a station on the Underground Railroad and is a National Historic Landmark.