McDOWELL’S COLLEGE,
ST. LOUIS, February 6, ‘62
EDITOR GAZETTE: As it is some time since I wrote to you, I will with your permission through the columns of your valuable paper, let our friends in Iowa know how we of the 2d are getting along.
News is rather scarce in St. Louis at the present time, and reporters have to be constantly on the lookout if they wish to obtain an “item.” The regiment is in good health and spirits, and are well provided for, and when the time comes – if it ever will – for them to show their courage and valor, I think they will give a good report of themselves. Our quarters are much more comfortable than the ones we had at Camp Benton, and the men do not drill as much, but they have an extra amount of guard duty to do, and that makes it about the same. We have a dress parade each evening near the college, and to see the admiring crowds who assemble to witness them, makes each man try to outdo the other in drill. We have been here a good while, and the same thing over and over again naturally becomes an old song; but it seems that the more the people see our dress parade the more anxious they are to see it again. The crowd increases each day instead of diminishing, and it has become necessary to place a guard across the streets to keep the crowd back.
Company B is as usual “gay and happy.” We have our full complement of men, and nearly all of them are reported for duty – there being but few on the sick list. Capt. “Bob” has not changed a particle; he is the same “Bob” as he was when we left Davenport, and has but one interest in view – the welfare of his country, and the health, happiness and promotion of his company. They are his constant care, and the “boys” think he is the only man in the country to be loved and obeyed.
The Prisoners are well taken care of. – Their quarters and provisions are good. Yesterday, a great number of woolen sack coats, shoes, stockings, shirts, &c., were distributed amongst them. A considerable number have been discharged from custody upon their taking the oath of allegiance, and giving bonds for their future loyalty. – The twenty or thirty contrabands are kept at work, cleaning the streets about the quarters, chopping wood, carrying coal, &c. They are all under the charge of Lieutenant Flanagan, of Co. B, and he is very attentive to the wants and comforts ob both soldiers and prisoners.
Our brass band, under the leadership of Lieut. Ray, has gained great favor with the citizens of St. Louis. Their collection of music is excellent. Three nights of last week they played at Mercantile Library Hall, for a series of tableaux, given by the Ladies’ Aid Society. The hall was crowded to almost suffocation, and the music was loudly applauded. One gentleman arose in the audience, and proposed three cheers for the 2d Iowa brass band, and such a shouting and waving of handkerchiefs was, perhaps, never heard or seen in the Hall before. To-morrow evening, Miss Kimberly, the celebrated actress, who just terminated an engagement at the St. Louis theatre, gives a reading for the same benevolent purpose, and the band have again been invited, and will enliven the entertainment with their sweetest strains. I forgot to mention that the gentlemen managers of the Ladies’ Aid Society tendered an excellent supper to the band, after one of their performances, which was superb – oysters in every style, quails, rabbit, fish, and, in fact, every eatable in market, not forgetting a choice collection of drinkables and cigars. Mirth and music reigned supreme, until late at night, when we took our departure for camp.
Not wishing to occupy too much space in your paper, I will close. Before I do so, However, I must thank you for the papers we receive from you. The GAZETTE comes regularly, and is read and re-read by ever one in the Company, for which you will please accept all their thanks.
JULES
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, February 11, 1862, p. 2
ST. LOUIS, February 6, ‘62
EDITOR GAZETTE: As it is some time since I wrote to you, I will with your permission through the columns of your valuable paper, let our friends in Iowa know how we of the 2d are getting along.
News is rather scarce in St. Louis at the present time, and reporters have to be constantly on the lookout if they wish to obtain an “item.” The regiment is in good health and spirits, and are well provided for, and when the time comes – if it ever will – for them to show their courage and valor, I think they will give a good report of themselves. Our quarters are much more comfortable than the ones we had at Camp Benton, and the men do not drill as much, but they have an extra amount of guard duty to do, and that makes it about the same. We have a dress parade each evening near the college, and to see the admiring crowds who assemble to witness them, makes each man try to outdo the other in drill. We have been here a good while, and the same thing over and over again naturally becomes an old song; but it seems that the more the people see our dress parade the more anxious they are to see it again. The crowd increases each day instead of diminishing, and it has become necessary to place a guard across the streets to keep the crowd back.
Company B is as usual “gay and happy.” We have our full complement of men, and nearly all of them are reported for duty – there being but few on the sick list. Capt. “Bob” has not changed a particle; he is the same “Bob” as he was when we left Davenport, and has but one interest in view – the welfare of his country, and the health, happiness and promotion of his company. They are his constant care, and the “boys” think he is the only man in the country to be loved and obeyed.
The Prisoners are well taken care of. – Their quarters and provisions are good. Yesterday, a great number of woolen sack coats, shoes, stockings, shirts, &c., were distributed amongst them. A considerable number have been discharged from custody upon their taking the oath of allegiance, and giving bonds for their future loyalty. – The twenty or thirty contrabands are kept at work, cleaning the streets about the quarters, chopping wood, carrying coal, &c. They are all under the charge of Lieutenant Flanagan, of Co. B, and he is very attentive to the wants and comforts ob both soldiers and prisoners.
Our brass band, under the leadership of Lieut. Ray, has gained great favor with the citizens of St. Louis. Their collection of music is excellent. Three nights of last week they played at Mercantile Library Hall, for a series of tableaux, given by the Ladies’ Aid Society. The hall was crowded to almost suffocation, and the music was loudly applauded. One gentleman arose in the audience, and proposed three cheers for the 2d Iowa brass band, and such a shouting and waving of handkerchiefs was, perhaps, never heard or seen in the Hall before. To-morrow evening, Miss Kimberly, the celebrated actress, who just terminated an engagement at the St. Louis theatre, gives a reading for the same benevolent purpose, and the band have again been invited, and will enliven the entertainment with their sweetest strains. I forgot to mention that the gentlemen managers of the Ladies’ Aid Society tendered an excellent supper to the band, after one of their performances, which was superb – oysters in every style, quails, rabbit, fish, and, in fact, every eatable in market, not forgetting a choice collection of drinkables and cigars. Mirth and music reigned supreme, until late at night, when we took our departure for camp.
Not wishing to occupy too much space in your paper, I will close. Before I do so, However, I must thank you for the papers we receive from you. The GAZETTE comes regularly, and is read and re-read by ever one in the Company, for which you will please accept all their thanks.
JULES
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, February 11, 1862, p. 2
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