BENTON BARRACKS,
St. Louis, March 22, 1862.
EDITOR OF GAZETTE. – Knowing the interest of your readers in the progress of the Iowa 16th, I will give you a few items thereof. We left Davenport for this place last Thursday morning – weather unpropitious and mud deep. Till we arrived at Alton, it stormed continually, generally snowing hard, and excessively disagreeable. The boys took everything philosophically, and were in the very best spirits. The idea of a change from their old quarters was inspiriting and nothing seemed to dampen their happiness. The long train moved tediously slow, and those who thought about the matter feared it would make the arrival at St. Louis a night exploit, and bring with it many disagreeablities that otherwise would be avoided.
We did not arrive at Alton till about 4 o’clock Friday afternoon – along after the time we should have been comfortably quartered in these Barracks. Our train of nineteen passenger and an unknown number of freight cars, had been divided into two trains at Joliet, (where, by the way, through the thoughtfulness of Col. Chambers, several barrels of hot coffee awaited us.) At Alton, we found everything deeply muddy, and mingled snow and rain adding to the miserable complexion of things. We were here shipped on to a large steamer for St. Louis, and after about an hour’s delay were off, and in a little over another hour at the St. Louis wharf.
We did not get started to Benton Barracks, about four miles off, till after dark. The march out was very muddy, but the boys seemed almost to enjoy it. They sung John Brown & Co. with immense zeal, while our German companies indulged in songs in their own language. The night was pitch dark, and we stumbled our way along promiscuously after leaving the gas lights. At 1 1-2 o’clock we arrived at the Barracks. Excepting an occasional lantern flitting about the grounds, and here and there a flickering candle in officer’s quarters, all was the darkness of the outside fields and woods. Here our boys came as near being disgusted as their good spirits would permit. Entering the gate, under, the guide of some non-commissioned supernumerary, we plunged from fathomable into unfathomable mud. An Irishman with a lantern released us briefly, and then plunged the regiment into something very extraordinary, even after our past experience, in the way of mud. Getting us well stuck, and not being able to see six feet beyond our noses, the Lt. Colonel in command, (the Colonel having gone out in advance to make arrangements, but it appears losing his way and arriving only a few minutes before us,) became wrathy, ordered the lantern bearer as escort, and started to find headquarters, and have something done for our relief instanter [sic]. – There he found the Colonel, ascertained the quarters were all full, no notice had been had of our coming, and we might get a place in the old “wash house” of former regiments. He captured another Irishman with another lantern, and triumphantly returned, his Wentz mare snorting with the zeal of her master. The two lanterns marched us and then countermarched us, and then mired the gallant 16th, Iowa’s last and best hope. Finally, we got to a great barn of a building. Without furniture bunks or straw. The boys however, went in gladly, and at last piled about promiscuously, were soon asleep, the officers being the last to hunt up corners, a Muscatine Lieutenant sleeping in a manger.
This morning they were an awful muddy looking set of individuals, from the Colonel down, but just as good humored as ever. – To-day all the officials have appeared anxious to do what they could for the 16th. In fact, the Iowa boys stand A. No. 1 here. There is no mistake about that, as remarks all over the camp hourly illustrate. We have had a large number of bunks put up, and to-morrow will be really comfortable. The officers have rooms separate from, but adjoining those of the men. The field and staff officers have a kind of dwelling some distance from the company quarters, and I learn have got their larder filled and cooks at work. We will immediately recommence our drill, and continue at work till ordered away, which may be any day.
It may seem strange, but in Camp McClellan there is better discipline than at Benton Barracks. Our “guard mounting” was infinitely better done than here, and rules more rigidly adhered to. Our reception here, last night, was simply disgraceful, whether we were expected or not. I did not see a commissioned officer, outside of our own regiment, before I went to bed. Two Irish sergeants were the only persons who did a thing for us.
I should have said, that in every town and village through which we passed, we were received with cheering, waving of handkerchiefs, &c. To this our boys grew hoarse in responding. Our sick are none the worse for the trip, and we have added none to the list, although many a 16th slept with wet feet last night. We have not commenced longing for home or feather beds yet.
ORDERLY.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, March 28, 1862, p. 2
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