Diary of Captain Luman Harris Tenney: July 12, 1865

Immediately after breakfast packed up and went around to bid my friends goodbye. Felt sad as well as happy. God bless the friends at Benton Barracks. Got paid. Saw Will B. Off at 4 P. M. Made several acquaintances. Can hardly realize that I am going back home to stay.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 169

Brigadier-General William T. Sherman to Ellen Ewing Sherman, December 18 or 19, 1861

St. Louis, Dec. 17 [18 or 19], 61¹

Dearest Ellen,

I arrived here today at noon without interruption—saw Halleck at once and the copy of the letter he wrote to me, and which you will see.²  My movement at Sedalia was premature, the Same that is now going on save that I think Price should be attacked in his camp at Osceola.  Pope has been intercepting parties of recruits bound to prices camp and is on his way back to Sedalia.  I cannot see that affairs here are materially changed in my absence.  Charley is at the Barracks, and I suppose will be up in a day or so.  I will drop him a note, for he complained to Hammond³ that neither I or you wrote to him.

Matters here look gloomy & unnatural.

Thomas was not on the list, but Mr. Lucas was, but got off on some representations.  He I suppose would not like to be classified as a Secessionist lest it affect the body of his property.

I am not yet assigned a command and hardly know whether to push it or take it easy, leaving Halleck time to assign me.  I will try to be more punctual in my duties to you, who really deserve a better husband than I have been.  How I envy the bawling crowd that passes by that care not for the morrow.  If I could see any end to this war, save ruin to us all, I could occasionally feel better, but I see no hope at all.  You can trust in Providence, and why he has visited us with this terrible judgment is incomprehensible.  As soon as I know my destination I will write again.

Affectionately.

W. T. Sherman

_______________

¹ Misdated. Halleck's letter to Sherman is dated December 18, 1862.

² Major-General Henry W. Halleck to Brigadier-General William T. Sherman, December 18, 1861.

³ Captain John Henry Hammond (1833-1890), a member of Sherman’s staff.

SOURCES: Brooks D. Simpson, Jean V. Berlin, Editors, Sherman's Civil War: Selected Correspondence of William T. Sherman, 1860-1865, p. 170-1; William Tecumseh Sherman Family Papers, Archives of the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, Box 1, Folder 140, image #’s 02-1020 & 02-1020

Brigadier-General William T. Sherman to Senator John Sherman, January 4, 1862

Head-Quarters, Camp of Instruction,

Benton Barracks, (near St. Louis, Mo.,) Jan. 4, 1862

Dear Brother,

I am so sensible now to my disgrace from having exaggerated to force of our enemy in Kentucky that I do think I should have committed suicide were it not for my children.  I do not think that I can again be entrusted with a command—Buell remarked to me in Kentucky that I should be Qr. Mr. genl.—this I do not think though I do believe myself better qualified for a Disbursing Department—Suppose you see McClellan and ask him if I could not serve the Government better in such a capacity than the one I now hold.  I do not feel confident at all in Volunteers.  Their want of organization, the necessity to flatter them &c. is such that I cannot prosper with them Telegraph me what you think and would do—

Affectionately

W. T. Sherman

SOURCES: Sherman, William T. William T. Sherman Papers: General Correspondence, -1891; 1861, Dec. 12-1862, Mar. 5. 1861. Manuscript/Mixed Material.   https://www.loc.gov/item/mss398000011/, image no. 45, Library of Congress, Washington D.C.; Brooks D. Simpson, Jean V. Berlin, Editors, Sherman's Civil War: Selected Correspondence of William T. Sherman, 1860-1865, p. 174; 

Diary of Captain Luman Harris Tenney: June 8, 1865

About 8 o'clock started for Benton Barracks. One lady ran out with flag and said “Welcome home.” Learn that we are not to go to Texas. Went out on foot. Got a pleasant boarding place near camp. Chet and I near together.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 167

Diary of Luman Harris Tenney: January 19, 1862

Moved over the river in afternoon, found our barracks (Benton) occupied and unfit. Camped out in the fair grounds. Men occupied the amphitheatre.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 5

Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Jan. 25 [1862]

EDITOR HAWK-EYE.

SIR, - I noticed in your issue of the 22d inst. an article in answer to a letter from a Mr. King of Kossuth relative to the sending home of Robert Barn’s remains undressed in uniform.  I assisted the bereaved father of the deceased (also a member of Co. k, 2d Iowa Cavalry) in expressing the remains of his son home and would say to inquirers that Mr. B. did not decide to send the body home until after it was prepared for burial by the government and it was then too late to dress it in uniform because of the delays which would be caused in making out the papers necessary for obtaining the clothes from the Hospital officers.  I will further add for the benefit of those having friends sick in the army, that the sick are well attended to in very comfortable hospitals, and the dead decently buried, though not in uniform.  The graves all are numbered and a record kept, so that friends can find the graves of the deceased relatives should they ever desire to do so.

Yours,

L. B. PIERCE

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 2

The Flag Of The Red, White And Blue

Additional Verses to an Old Song.

BY REV. J. G. FORMAN.

I.

Blest banner of Freedom! Thy pinion

Floats wide o’er the land and the sea;

The emblem of peaceful dominion,

Our eyes turn with rapture to thee.

Though war-clouds and danger are o’er us,

Thy folds are still dear to our view;

With the flag of our country before us,

We march to the Read White and blue,

We march to the Read White and blue,

We march to the Read White and blue;

With the flag of our country before us,

We march to the Read White and blue.

II.

The glorious ensign ne’er sever,

Let it float in the ether above,

Its stars the bright symbol, forever,

Of Union and Freedom and Love.

May they never grow dim in their shining,

Nor fade from their colors so true,

The stars and stripes still entwining,

Hurrah for the Red, White and Blue.

III.

Though traitors shall meet and dissemble,

And armies of Rebels shall rise,

Our banner shall cause them to tremble

As it waves in the bright Southern skies;

And millions of patriot voices

Shall the chorus of Freedom renew,

And shout as the nation rejoices,

Hurrah for the Red, White and Blue.

Benton barracks, St. Louis, Feb. 1862.

– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862, p. 4

A Military Bank Robbery

A very adroit bank robbery was recently effected in St. Louis by a young rogue belonging to the 3rd Missouri volunteers.  It was effected in broad daylight.  Below is a protion of the statement of the young robber which shows how it was done:

OFFICE OF PROVOST MARSHAL,

ST. LOUIS, March 29, 1862.

I was born in St. Louis county; will be sixteen years old in May next.  I joined company H, Third Missouri Volunteers, in this city on the 4th inst., and went to Rolla soon afterwards. – On the 20th instant I arrived in this city from Rolla as one of an escort of prisoners of war – escort and prisoners being in charge of Colonel Shepherd, of said regiment.  On the 24th inst., I went to the office of Capt. Leighton (Provost Marshal St. Louis District,) and reported that a cavalry sabre was in possession of one Kuester, living on the Bellefontaine road, six miles from the city.  When I made this report I expected Capt. Leighton (Provost Marshal,) would give me authority to take the sabre, but I was merely informed that the matter would be properly attended to.  On the next day I went to the headquarters of the Eighth Missouri Militia, on Fifth street, near Franklin avenue; said I had been sent by the Provost Marshal to get a guard of five or six men.  The officer in charge gave me five men, and I went with them to the house of Keuster and got the sabre.  On going out I marched the guard to the terminus of the railroad at Bremen, and then took possession of an omnibus, telling the driver to take myself and the guard to the six mile house, on assuring him that the fare would be all right between him and Uncle Sam.  The driver did not object to the terms which I proposed.  After leaving Kuester’s I went to the premises of Col. McLaren and took therefrom a breach loading rifle, a musket, a shot gun, a navy revolver, and a few cartridges.  I then went to the house of John Jennings, and took from a box that I found therein about a dollar in silver.  Not finding any arms in Jennings’ house, in which I was very much disappointed, I directed him to send his wagon with myself and guard to the Six Mile House, which order he complied with.  The money which I obtained from Jennings was barely sufficient to pay the fare of the guard from the six mile house to the city.  I discharged the guard on the sidewalk in front of an eating house on Broadway, kept by on Crozier, sending it to headquarters on Fifth street under the care of one of them, whom I told to act as corporal. – The arms taken in this expedition were deposited by me for safe keeping in Crozier’s establishment.

On the next night between seven and eight o’clock, I proceeded to the headquarters of the City Guard, on Sixth street, and called for a guard of six men, and the same time presenting to Major McConnell an order purporting to have been written by Captain Leighten, Provost Marshal.  I wrote the order in an eating house on Broadway by Miller & True.  As I was quite nervous from the effects of liquor, I could not write very well, and asked Miller to write the order, but True said: “No, if you can do that it will get you and me into trouble; but Redman may write it here, and I will not say anything about it.”  I told True that I was going to get a guard and arrest the proprietors of the Broadway Bank, and that I would soon have money enough to go into partnership with him, to which he replied, “Bully for you; if you do, I will stick to you as long as life lasts.”  Both Miller and True had a pretty good idea of the adventure, although I had not given them the full particulars.  My intentions were, in case I obtained the guard, to rob the bank and arrest the proprietors that night.  Major McConnell refused to give me the guard, and I returned to Miller and True’s eating house, and stayed there that night.  Before retiring for the night, I told True to call me early in the morning, as I intended to arrest the proprietors of the above named bank, and he said he would do so.

An an early hour on Thursday morning, I went to the headquarters of the City Guard, and presented to the Lieutenant in charge another order purporting to be from Captain Leighton, for a guard of six men.  The Lieutenant said the order was not good and refused to place the guard under my charge.  I then went to Benton Barracks, and after a few judicious inquiries, learned that a German company attached to the Seventeenth Wisconsin Volunteers, was stationed in Barrack No. 68; so I informed myself of the Captain’s name and went to his quarters, and told him that I had been sent to him by the Provost Marshal for a guard of six men.  He said it was strange that I had not brought a written order, but gave me the guard quite readily.  My idea was that I could get the guard more surely from a German than from an American officer and the result showed that I had reasoned correctly.  Upon getting the guard I marched them to the Broadway Bank, arrested the proprietor thereof, and sent him under guard to the Broadway Garden; after which, finding I could not unlock the safe – it having a combination lock – I went to the Garden and told him he must come down and open the safe, as I had orders to see that all his papers were thoroughly searched.  He came down to the bank with me and opened the safe, and then I sent him back to the Garden, giving directions to have him kept in close custody until further orders were received from me.  After his departure I went to the safe and helped myself to quite a large amount of money – the exact sum I do not know.  I then locked the door of the Bank and gave the key to a sentinel which I had previously stationed on the sidewalk for the purpose of keeping the crowd back, telling him to deliver it to the sergeant of the guard, and to tell the sergeant not to let any one have it except myself or a commissioned officer.  I also gave the sentinel a ten dollar bill and told him to hand it to the sergeant of the guard, and have it spent for the benefit of the guard in the way of paying for beer and food.  I had previously paid the sergeant a dollar or two to pay the fare of the guard and that of my prisoner from the Bank to the Garden.

Upon leaving the Bank I stated to the crowd in front of the door that I had seized a quantity of counterfeit Treasury notes, and was going to take them to the office of the Provost Marshal, but I immediately started in search of a man named Jerry Welch, (who had previously been introduced to me by the name of Wetzel,) whom I found on Fifth Street, near the Melodeon.  We stepped into an alley, and I told him what I had done.  He said, “Bully for you; you have carried the thing out better than I have ever heard of anything being done before.”  I then gave him part of the money which I had taken from the Bank, and told him that I had two others to divide with.  I do not know how much I gave him.  I then divided with Miller and True, but do not know what sums I gave them respectively.  My opinion is that Miller got more of the money than True did.  I kept only a comparatively small amount.  The understanding was that Miller and True were to meet me in Chicago, where I intended to go the day following the robbery.

The idea of getting money from the Broadway Bank was original with me, but I spoke of it to Welch, Miller and True, and they encouraged it.  I told Welch that I thought of bringing a charge against the proprietors of the Bank, and have it investigated by the Provost Marshal.  Pending the examination, I expected to find time and opportunity to rob the Bank.  Welch said that scheme would not work, and advised me to get a guard and arrest the banker, and have him confined in some place where there were no commissioned officers.

The Broadway Garden being the only suitable place that I knew of, I selected it as a temporary prison for the banker, and expected he would remain there in confinement at least twenty-four hours.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 5, 1862, p. 2

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Sunday, December 8, 1861

Reveille sounded this morning at 2 o’clock. We jumped out of our bunks, packed our knapsacks, and got started for the railroad station by daylight. As we left the barracks and entered the main street leading down to the city, the sun away to the southeast, just above the hills, showed its face — a regular ball of fire. How glorious it was! I think I shall never forget it. Arriving at the railroad yards, we stacked arms and went to loading our commissariat onto the cars — coal cars. At noon we boarded the train for Jefferson City, riding in box-cars and open cars, and reached our destination at 6 p. m.

While loading our train at St. Louis, we heard the church bells calling the people to worship. It made many of us think of home and I wonder if the folks at home were thinking of us boys here at the seat of war. For here there is no church for us, and when we get orders to go, there is no stopping for Sunday.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 22

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, December 7, 1861

The Eleventh Iowa received marching orders today, and we are to carry forty rounds of extra ammunition, besides our cartridge box of forty rounds. There was no drill or dress parade today on account of an all-day rain.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 21

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Friday, December 6, 1861

Very warm and pleasant. There are soldiers drilling almost all the time. Our drill ground is level but well drained, so that even after a heavy rain it is soon dry again.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 21

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Thursday, December 5, 1861

No news of importance. There are troops from all of the western states here in camp and working together in harmony.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 21

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Monday, December 2, 1861

It turned warm today and the snow is all gone. I was on guard for the first time here at the barracks. We have to walk the beats with our overcoats on. A man on this, the west side, of the camp was engaged in cleaning his rifle today, when by some movement it was accidentally discharged and hit and killed a soldier on the other side of the grounds.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 20-1

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, November 30, 1861

We had our first general review today, including the infantry, cavalry and artillery. The parade ground was full of soldiers, most of them full-armed for active service. And thus ends the month of November at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 20

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, November 23, 1861

We cleaned up today, preparing for our first inspection and review at Benton Barracks. I sent $10.00 home today, the surplus of my State pay.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 19

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Friday, November 22, 1861

New troops are arriving all the time, and there are something like forty thousand men in the barracks at present. This camp has the appearance of being nearer the seat of war. It is a novel experience for us country boys to see so many men all armed for war, some on guard duty, others leaving for the front, while still others are arriving. The commissary work of the camp is thoroughly organized. Each company has a detail of cooks which serves a week at a time and then is relieved by another shift. The cooks go to the quartermaster and get the rations for five days at a time. The food is cooked in kettles hung in a row in the rear of the barracks, and is served on long stationary tables, each accommodating a full company. Our rations are about the same as at Camp McClellan, except that we have our first taste of “hard-tack” instead of bread.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 19

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, November 20, 1861

The first thing this morning was to finish drying our clothing, after which we cleaned up and burnished our guns. There are several thousand troops, infantry, cavalry, and artillery here in camp. The barracks are ordinary frame structures and built around the drill ground. The Eleventh Iowa is located on the west side of the ground. We have large quantities of firewood on hand.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 19

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, November 19, 1861

We started down the river again at daylight and reached St. Louis at 3 p. m. We landed and marched to Benton Barracks, where we were to be at home. Just as we left the boat it commenced to rain and we marched the whole way in a downpour of rain which soaked our clothes through and through. Reaching the barracks we built fires to dry our clothes before retiring for the night.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 19

Brigadier General William T. Sherman to Senator John Sherman, February 3, 1862

HEADQUARTERS, CAMP OF INSTRUCTION,

BENTON BARRACKS (near St. Louis, Mo.),

Feb. 3,1862.

Dear Brother:

. . . . . . . . . .

I am still here at the Barracks doing my best to organize, equip, and prepare regiments for the coming Spring. . . .

I believe an attempt will be made on the Forts on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers in co-operation with Buell who finds with his 120,000 men he still needs help. I rather think they will come up to my figures yet. Halleck is expected to send them from 30,000 to 50,000 men. Had this been done early and promptly, the Confederates could not have made Bowling Green and Columbia next to impregnable. Until these places are reduced it will not do to advance far into Tennessee and I doubt if it will be done. East Tennessee cannot exercise much influence on the final result. West Tennessee is more important, as without the navigation of the Mississippi all commercial interests will lean to the Southern cause. If the Southern Confederacy can control the navigation of the lower Mississippi, and European nations from the mouths of the Mississippi, what can Missouri and Kentucky do? These are, however, questions for the future. . . .

Affectionately,

W. T. SHERMAN.

SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman letters: correspondence between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 139

From the 16th Iowa Regiment

BENTON BARRACKS,

St. Louis, March 27, 1862.

EDITOR OF GAZETTE. – The 16^th regiment is now about ready for the war, excepting a little more drill.  The regiment is now completely equipped with the exception of the single article of canteens – and a very useful one it is, and one perhaps easily to be secured.  Yesterday morning our guns and accoutrements were distributed, and this morning our tents.  We have the Springfield rifled Musket, the best arms in the hands of any troops in the country, or in the world for that matter.  They are a beautiful gun, of long range, fine finish and perfect in every part.  Our boys are delighted with them.  The 16^th was the first regiment from Iowa armed with really good or superior guns.  The 15^th regiment, now in barracks here, have since received the same arms.  It is well they were tied on to our coat-tails in this matter, as but for the activity and success of our Colonel they would have no possible chance of getting anything but the common musket. – All the accoutrements belonging to their arms are of the first class.

The tents are the Sibley tent, a large conical institution, and the best tent in the service – the kind we wanted for which application was made.  Yesterday our mules were marched into quarters – one hundred and nine in number – and the wagons are ready.  The quadrupeds are quartered in the great ampitheatre of the old Fair Grounds, near which are our barracks.  They are a clean looking set of animals, but generally small.  Our wagoners and teamsters are now getting their hands in.  With the Wagons and mules is complete harness.

The weather has been perfectly delightful the last three days, and roads getting dusty.  It is both comfortable and healthy for camp life.  We have but comparatively few sick, and none dangerously so.  I think, but it is a mere surmise, that we shall be ordered to march to-morrow or the day after.  We have had an intimation of an early start, while the speed with which we of the 16^th are being fitted out shows “something is up,” so far as we are concerned.  The 15^th and 16^th will doubtless go together.  Where is another question – most likely to New Mexico, which is regarded as the choice service although it will comprise a march of two or three months. – But it has the prospect of hard fighting with the best fighters in the rebel army, as a close.  The officers and men of the 16^th are ready to cheerfully obey orders to go anywhere, but all are anxious to get into the fight and that as soon as possible.

ORDERLY.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 2, 1862, p. 2