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Sunday, August 10, 2025

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, Wednesday, November 6, 1861

No Drill this morning. We have rec'd marching Orders, also the 30th 31st & 7th Iowa 22 Ills. and 2 Co's Cavalry and one Battery of Artillery. At 10 O'clock we had Gen. Inspection by the Field Officers for ascertaining the condition of the men their accoutrements Guns &c. The balance of the day until 4 O'clock was occupied in preparing for a march. At 3 O'clock the 30th, 31st & one Co. of Cavalry, (Capt. Noleman) embarked on board the Steamer Key Stone. Alec Scott & Chancelor, at 4 O'clock our Regt. 27th embarked on Board the Steamer Montgomery1 The Memphis at the same time was laying at Birds Point taking on the 22nd Ills. at about 6 O'clock Alec Scott with the 30th and 31st Regts and Gen. McClernand on board the Balance following suit. Stopping at Birds Point and Fort Holt for the Iowa 7th & Capt Delano's cavalry Co. The fleet then dropped down the river a few miles to Island No. 1 Where we lay till the next morning.
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1 Compare with the report of General U. S. Grant, Nov. 17, 1861. War of the Rebellion, Official Records Series I., vol.III., p. 269. In all 3,114 men were sent "to make a demonstration against Columbus. I proceeded down the river to a point about 9 miles below here [Cairo], where we lay until next morning, on the Kentucky shore, which served to distract the enemy and led him to suppose that he was to be attacked in his strongly fortified position at Columbus."

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 231

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