A few days in the Camps of the Iowa First Cavalry

BUTLER, Bates County, Mo.
April 26th, 1862

Editors Missouri Democrat:

As a citizen and civilian of Iowa I feel some pride in the gallant First Iowa Cavalry, Col. Fitz Henry Warren, now stationed in this part of Missouri. In officers, material, discipline, equipment, efficiency, it is in my judgment, surpassed by none in the service. Though stationed here upon police duty, as it were, while others are permitted to participate in events more stirring and achievements which soldiers delight in, their services here are of less conspicuous, at least not undeserving of honorable recognition.

The regiment embraces much of the flower of Iowa’s most stalwart manhood, men of robust health, mental vigor and of high culture, not a few fitted to figure honorably in the legislative halls of any State. Naturally they chafe at a position where they are only conservators of the peace, in a district infested by predatory jayhawking bands, where they operate rather as detectives than a well organized and thoroughly disciplined regiment in every point fitted to combat with the regular forces of the rebels.

Yesterday, for example, Col. Warren with a small scouting party brought into this post twenty three jayhawking rebel prisoners, and captures of this inglorious sort are frequent - The sub-district which is placed under the military surveillance of Col. Warren, properly embraces the four counties of Bates, Henry, Saint Clair and Vernon, though detachments are also stationed at Sedalia, Pettis county and at Warrensburg, Johnson county. The four posts within the District are as follows:

Butler, Bates county – Under command of Col. Warren, Lieut. Cressy Provost, Companies E, Capt. Wm Thompson, I, Capt. J W Caldwell.

Clinton, Henry county – Under command of Major Gower, Capt. Heath, Provost. Companies H, Capt. Anderson, D, Capt. Bryan.

Oceola [sic], St. Clair county – Under command of Capt. Leffingwell. Capt. Freeman, Provost – Companies L, Capt. Leffingwell, K, Captain Freeman.

Montecello, Vernon county – Under command of Capt. Caldwell, Capt Chase, Provost – Companies C, Capt. Chase, M, Capt. Ankeny.

Two Companies – G, Capt. J D Thompson, and F, Capt. Elliott – are now at Sedalia and two more – A, Capt. McQuinn, and L, Lieut McIntyre – at Warrensburg, Johnson county.

Attached to the regiment are three companies of the Twenty-sixth Indiana and a battery of artillery under command of Capt. Murfey, formerly of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. these are employed chiefly as camp guards while the cavalry scouts the country and performs the more active work.

Col. Warren is most of the time in the field, leading in person all the principal expeditions during which times Capt. Wm. Thompson is left in command of the post.

During my short stay here I have seen evidences of the efficiency of this military occupation and of the energetic policy pursued by Col. Warren, in the number of men lately disloyal who daily come in to take the oath of allegiance, and give bonds for their fidelity. They are doing it with cheerful alacrity. Still there are bands of outlaws in the district, who under the guise of pretended military organization seek opportunities to plunder the peaceful inhabitants.

Our State has a just pride in this regiment and its accomplished commander who is one of her valued citizens. The duties assigned it here, though obscure, and not the class of services they aspired to engage in, are unquestionably important and they are most faithfully and efficiently performed. Justice would seem to dictate that this regiment should now be relieved and permitted to go into the field where their soldierly mettle and prowess may be tried. Certain I am it will not be found wanting.

The country about here has been [woefully] devastated by Jayhawkers on both sides. This town of Butler was burnt by Montgomery last winter and is now merely a camp. But the country about here, for natural beauty and natural advantages has no superior in the west.

IOWA.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 10, 1862, p. 1