Near Pittsburgh, Tenn.
Up The Tennessee, March 27, 1862
We are still in status quo, encamped upon the banks of the now swollen Tennessee. – The condition of the troops is not as we could wish. The long voyage here and the river water which at this season of the year is bad, has produced a distemper in the camps. – From this distemper, which exhibits itself in diarrhea, probably not more than one in five escapes. Officers and men alike, are subject to it. We are all patiently waiting for the command “Forward March” but expeditions of the size of this cannot move suddenly. – We are busy getting transports off the boat and getting our positions. Go down to the landing any day and you will see the ground covered with the mule teams and the muleteers with their everlasting one line and shouting to their teams.
For a few days past the weather has been fine and the roads are fast improving their condition. To-day Surgeon Edwards was ordered under arrest and I understand that he will have a speedy trial.
There have not been many fatal cases of sickness as yet in the army here, and none in our regiment. I noticed a few days since the grave of an Illinois volunteer, which had been kindly cared for by his comrades. Upon the board at the head of his grave was the simple but expressive epitaph: “He was much loved by his fellow soldiers.” The grave is situated upon a high bluff overlooking the Tennessee. Sadly it brought to mind my own dear brother who sleeps upon the banks of the Mississippi in a soldier’s grave.
There are plenty of rumors about camp that the enemy are in large force between Corinth and Florence and occupying a line of some fifteen miles. Of the truth of these rumors I am unable to inform you, but presume there is some reliance to be placed upon the statement. There are here one hundred and thirty regiments and rumor says a portion of Buell’s army besides. Report says that many Tennesseans and Alabamians are getting away and joining our regiments that are not full.
I presume that the people of Iowa are congratulating themselves that in a few days the war will be at an end and your volunteers will soon be at home, but you must be patient; the war is not yet over and a single failure may prolong the war for months. In the mean time let us hope that no such failure will happen and that victory will continue to crown our arms. Meantime, too, let the people of Iowa provide a good supply of provisions, for those of us that live to get back will be a set of desperately hungry fellows, that is if we stay much longer in Tennessee.
Our gunboats that are not ironclad have received a pretty severe raking from the rebel battery up the river. The range of the rebel guns seems to be greater than the range of those of our gunboats.
March 28th. – We are still in camp. The weather is fine and the roads are fast drying up. We have orders to leave our tents when we move from here. Last night we moved our camp at least one mile and are now encamped in a little opening where the ground is dry, with water near by.
March 29th. – The weather is still fair. – We continue to lie in camp waiting for the storm gathering for us somewhere. We have received papers from home containing the latest news by telegraph: “Attack upon Ft. Henry; Probable Advance upon Fort Donelson; Rumored Evacuation of Columbus; Move upon the Potomac,” &c.
Here where so many troops are congregating many friends meet each other for the first time during the war, and some for years. A few days since as we were standing upon the Steamer [latan] a German jumped aboard and hurriedly exclaimed, “are there any of the 3d Iowa here?” His acquaintance with our boys had been short, but of that kind which is always remembered. We had seen him standing the last man at his gun at Blue Mills when the leaden hail was showering around him, - he, too, was the last man at his gun at Fort Donelson – all alone he gave a farewell shot at the enemy, and left, and Swartz’s Battery for a time was in the hands of the enemy. It seems as though we had known him for years, and the grasp of his hand was that of a friend. We shall always remember him as a brave man, though his name may not go forth to the world in the public prints. Only a portion of Swartz’s Battery is with us, for their loss at Fort Donelson was so heavy that there were not men enough left to properly man a full Battery.
St. Charles.
– Published in the Cedar Falls Gazette, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Friday, April 11, 1862, page 1 column 4
Up The Tennessee, March 27, 1862
We are still in status quo, encamped upon the banks of the now swollen Tennessee. – The condition of the troops is not as we could wish. The long voyage here and the river water which at this season of the year is bad, has produced a distemper in the camps. – From this distemper, which exhibits itself in diarrhea, probably not more than one in five escapes. Officers and men alike, are subject to it. We are all patiently waiting for the command “Forward March” but expeditions of the size of this cannot move suddenly. – We are busy getting transports off the boat and getting our positions. Go down to the landing any day and you will see the ground covered with the mule teams and the muleteers with their everlasting one line and shouting to their teams.
For a few days past the weather has been fine and the roads are fast improving their condition. To-day Surgeon Edwards was ordered under arrest and I understand that he will have a speedy trial.
There have not been many fatal cases of sickness as yet in the army here, and none in our regiment. I noticed a few days since the grave of an Illinois volunteer, which had been kindly cared for by his comrades. Upon the board at the head of his grave was the simple but expressive epitaph: “He was much loved by his fellow soldiers.” The grave is situated upon a high bluff overlooking the Tennessee. Sadly it brought to mind my own dear brother who sleeps upon the banks of the Mississippi in a soldier’s grave.
There are plenty of rumors about camp that the enemy are in large force between Corinth and Florence and occupying a line of some fifteen miles. Of the truth of these rumors I am unable to inform you, but presume there is some reliance to be placed upon the statement. There are here one hundred and thirty regiments and rumor says a portion of Buell’s army besides. Report says that many Tennesseans and Alabamians are getting away and joining our regiments that are not full.
I presume that the people of Iowa are congratulating themselves that in a few days the war will be at an end and your volunteers will soon be at home, but you must be patient; the war is not yet over and a single failure may prolong the war for months. In the mean time let us hope that no such failure will happen and that victory will continue to crown our arms. Meantime, too, let the people of Iowa provide a good supply of provisions, for those of us that live to get back will be a set of desperately hungry fellows, that is if we stay much longer in Tennessee.
Our gunboats that are not ironclad have received a pretty severe raking from the rebel battery up the river. The range of the rebel guns seems to be greater than the range of those of our gunboats.
March 28th. – We are still in camp. The weather is fine and the roads are fast drying up. We have orders to leave our tents when we move from here. Last night we moved our camp at least one mile and are now encamped in a little opening where the ground is dry, with water near by.
March 29th. – The weather is still fair. – We continue to lie in camp waiting for the storm gathering for us somewhere. We have received papers from home containing the latest news by telegraph: “Attack upon Ft. Henry; Probable Advance upon Fort Donelson; Rumored Evacuation of Columbus; Move upon the Potomac,” &c.
Here where so many troops are congregating many friends meet each other for the first time during the war, and some for years. A few days since as we were standing upon the Steamer [latan] a German jumped aboard and hurriedly exclaimed, “are there any of the 3d Iowa here?” His acquaintance with our boys had been short, but of that kind which is always remembered. We had seen him standing the last man at his gun at Blue Mills when the leaden hail was showering around him, - he, too, was the last man at his gun at Fort Donelson – all alone he gave a farewell shot at the enemy, and left, and Swartz’s Battery for a time was in the hands of the enemy. It seems as though we had known him for years, and the grasp of his hand was that of a friend. We shall always remember him as a brave man, though his name may not go forth to the world in the public prints. Only a portion of Swartz’s Battery is with us, for their loss at Fort Donelson was so heavy that there were not men enough left to properly man a full Battery.
St. Charles.
– Published in the Cedar Falls Gazette, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Friday, April 11, 1862, page 1 column 4
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