Sgt. Co. D. 39th Iowa, Corinth, April 11.
Mr. Caverly:– It being rainy this evening I will pass the time by telling you some of the doings of the Corinth braves.
On the 7th of this month word was given out by Gen. Dodge, - who, by the way is beloved by all the troops here – that we would celebrate that day, it being the anniversary of the battle of Shilo [sic].
We raised a fine pole about 100 feet high for the flag, and all the troops were ordered to parade for a review at one o’clock, P.M.
The troops were up to time, and when the old flag was thrown to the breeze, the shouts of the Boys were scarcely less loud than the roar of the artillery. The Band then [struck] up the Star Spangled Banner, and if [ever] I felt like fighting it was then.
The next thing was a prayer by the Chaplain, after which Col. (acting Brigadier General) Bane, who lost his arm at the battle of Shiloh, gave us a stirring, patriotic speech. – He encouraged the soldiers and rebuked the copperheads in scathing terms. At the conclusion the Band again played, and the boys cheered with a will. The review then commenced led off by the 10th Missouri cavalry, well armed and [equipped], and going through the exercises as well as infantry.
The infantry also came up in fine style, as did the artillery that brought up the rear. – It was near night when the exercises were through, and as I left for my tent, I felt proud that I was an American soldier, fighting for a government like ours.
Company D are doing well as could be expected under the circumstances, having [built] them nice split log huts, neatly covered with boards; the Captain’s being sided and roofed with clapboards. We have plenty of provisions. If we could have the smiles of our wives and mothers to great our comings and to cook us a clean bite, I believe we could enjoy ourselves for a while.
Health of the Company is good with a few exceptions, and the spirits of both officers and men, high, with the best of feelings between each other. I am detached from the Company and belong to a Pioneer Corps, but am with them often.
Hoping that God will help the right, and enable us to whip in every fight and to attend to the copperheads at home, when we return, I bid you a good night.
Yours,
T. A. Trent
– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, May 2, 1863
Mr. Caverly:– It being rainy this evening I will pass the time by telling you some of the doings of the Corinth braves.
On the 7th of this month word was given out by Gen. Dodge, - who, by the way is beloved by all the troops here – that we would celebrate that day, it being the anniversary of the battle of Shilo [sic].
We raised a fine pole about 100 feet high for the flag, and all the troops were ordered to parade for a review at one o’clock, P.M.
The troops were up to time, and when the old flag was thrown to the breeze, the shouts of the Boys were scarcely less loud than the roar of the artillery. The Band then [struck] up the Star Spangled Banner, and if [ever] I felt like fighting it was then.
The next thing was a prayer by the Chaplain, after which Col. (acting Brigadier General) Bane, who lost his arm at the battle of Shiloh, gave us a stirring, patriotic speech. – He encouraged the soldiers and rebuked the copperheads in scathing terms. At the conclusion the Band again played, and the boys cheered with a will. The review then commenced led off by the 10th Missouri cavalry, well armed and [equipped], and going through the exercises as well as infantry.
The infantry also came up in fine style, as did the artillery that brought up the rear. – It was near night when the exercises were through, and as I left for my tent, I felt proud that I was an American soldier, fighting for a government like ours.
Company D are doing well as could be expected under the circumstances, having [built] them nice split log huts, neatly covered with boards; the Captain’s being sided and roofed with clapboards. We have plenty of provisions. If we could have the smiles of our wives and mothers to great our comings and to cook us a clean bite, I believe we could enjoy ourselves for a while.
Health of the Company is good with a few exceptions, and the spirits of both officers and men, high, with the best of feelings between each other. I am detached from the Company and belong to a Pioneer Corps, but am with them often.
Hoping that God will help the right, and enable us to whip in every fight and to attend to the copperheads at home, when we return, I bid you a good night.
Yours,
T. A. Trent
– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, May 2, 1863
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