1st Lieutenant Charles Wright Wills: March 12, 1862

Yet near New Madrid, March 12, 1862.

The enemy are separated from us by only a few cornfields, the country is perfectly plain; we can see from our tent door the smoke stacks of their gunboat, and the music of their bands mingles with our own and yet 'tis confounded dull.

I received a letter from you by mail a few days since. The colonel and Sid. and myself take a little ride into the country most every evening for mush and milk and 'tis astonishing what quantities they do eat. We are all in perfect health and good spirits, though since we left Commerce the colonel and major have complained considerably about the fare, but 'tis better than I'm used to, so I have the advantage of them. The evacuation of Manassas, Columbus, etc., have caused considerable anxiety for the outburst of these forces which we think will be on Buel or maybe further east on our little army at the Cumberland Gap. The impression here is that the Rebel army at this place has been greatly reinforced since we arrived here from Kentucky. We number though, full 30,000 (with a brigade that is now advancing to join us) and feel fully able to attend to all of their forces here. General Pope told our colonel yesterday that Foote would be here within 48 hours sure with his gunboats, and that's all we ask.

There is a review now being made of all the troops here by the commanding general. You'd think it quite a spectacle, wouldn't you, to see 25,000 troops in line; 3,000 of them cavalry and 36 pieces of artillery. I was left in charge of the camp, and although I have my horse at hand saddled wouldn't mount him to see them. It's funny how all interest in anything dies away in a person when they have a full view or chance to view the object. We hear a dozen volleys of musketry every now and then, and although we all know there's been a little fight, it doesn't interfere with conversation and nine times out of ten we never hear what caused it. But go up to the hospital and you'll find a couple of long rows of cots, each with an occupant, and they can tell you of the shooting and show a wound that they're prouder of than you can imagine. They and their regiments that were under fire love to tell it over and over, but the rest of the army, through jealousy I believe, never mention it. You'll see a vast deal of state pride here. The 7th Cavalry don't acknowledge the Michigander troopers to be more than the equals of Jeff Thompson's scalawags, and the Michigan boys really seem to think that the 7th regiment is not equal to one company of theirs. But I notice the generals here have all taken their bodyguards from our regiment. The Illinois boys and the Iowaians coalesce more readily and seem to have more family feeling between them than at least either of these state's troops have for those of other states. 'Tis the same in the Southern army. Arkansas and Missouri troops have a mutual hatred for each other that has extended to the citizens of these states. This part of Missouri goes a great deal on old blood the best variety I believe is Catholic French, and these people have a sovereign contempt for the barbarians of the “Arkansaw,” while the Arkansawans accuse the Missourians of toe-kissing proclivities and cowardice

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 65-7

Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood to Edwin M. Stanton, June 23, 1863

Executive Office, Iowa,

Iowa City, June 23, 1863.

Hon. Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War,

Washington, D. G.

Sir: — I have received the letter of Brig.-Gen. Canby, A. A. G., covering copy of Surg.-Gen. Hammond's report on my application for the transfer of sick and wounded soldiers from Iowa to hospitals in that State, and confess that I am deeply mortified and much disheartened by their contents.

Surg.-Gen. Hammond reports that on the 27th of May last he reported to you that at hospitals then established, there were 40,000 vacant beds, that a compliance with my request would involve the construction of more hospitals, and therefore he disapproved it; and Gen. Canby's letter merely states that he has been instructed by you to enclose to me a copy of Surg.-Gen. Hammond's report.

I do not at all dispute the correctness of the facts in Surg.-Gen. Hammond's report, but I think you will be troubled, as I certainly have been, to discern the reason why these facts render my request an improper one, when I state to you another fact which certainly would be known to Surg.-Gen. Hammond, to-wit: That one of these hospitals in which these vacant beds are, is in the city of Keokuk in the State of Iowa. Immediately after the battle of Shiloh a hospital was established at Keokuk, and the same has been kept up continually until this time. There are now some 500 or 600 patients there, and “vacant beds” for at least 1,000 or 1,500 more, and when I apply to you to have our sick and wounded men sent there, backed as I suppose myself to be, either by a positive law or joint resolution of Congress, it is exceedingly mortifying and disheartening to learn as I do unfortunately, that the existence of this hospital is unknown at Washington, and that to comply with my request will require the construction of new hospitals. There is room enough in the hospital now established at Keokuk, and now in operation there, for all or nearly all our sick and wounded men, and thus the reason assigned by Surg.-Gen. Hammond for refusing my request being removed, permit me to renew that request and further urge it upon your consideration.

There is a great deal of ill feeling among our sick and wounded men and their friends at home on this subject. When men are suffering from wounds or disease, there is among them a natural desire to be as near home as possible and to see their friends if they can. If you, or Surg.-Gen. Hammond or I were sick or wounded, we would feel thus, and our friends would desire to have us near them so they could see us. Our sick and wounded men feel thus, and it is right that I should say to you plainly and frankly that the belief prevailing among our soldiers and their friends at home that the government refuses to gratify this natural and proper feeling of the soldiers and their friends, when as in this case it can be fairly and properly gratified, is producing results in the public mind unfavorable to the government and prejudicial to the cause of the country. When speaking on this subject men whose sons are in the army begin to say, and to say freely, that it would be well for the government to pay some regard to the feelings and wishes and opinions of those who have given all they have for the country, as well as to be careful to conciliate those who are doing much against it.

I therefore renew my request and base it on the following grounds:

1st. We have already hospital accommodations in the State.

2nd. Our people are well satisfied, and they are sustained in their belief by the best medical authority, that not only will our sick and wounded recover more rapidly in their own climate, but that many will recover if sent here who will die if kept below.

3rd. The sick and wounded can be as well guarded at Keokuk, as elsewhere, and returned to their regiments upon their recovery as well from that point as from any other.

4th. It will be a cause of heartfelt pleasure to many a poor fellow to be in a place where his wife, his sister, or his mother can go to see him and cheer him in his suffering, and will encourage their friends to stand by and support the government that shows a sympathy for those who are suffering for its preservation. Very respectfully

Your obedient servant,

SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD

SOURCE: Henry Warren Lathrop, The Life and Times of Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa's War Governor, p. 235-6

Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood to Governor Israel Washburne Jr, April 3, 1862

Executive Office, Iowa, April 3, 1862.

Hon. Israel Washburne, Jr., Governor of Maine, Augusta, Maine:

Sir: — I have just received a certified copy of the resolution of the general assembly of your state in reference to “our victories in the west.”

Please accept my thanks for the compliment paid to our western troops.

Permit me, however, to state that in my judgment strict justice has not been done to the troops from Iowa. The troops of Illinois are specially selected in the resolution for commendation for their gallant conduct at Fort Donelson. Too much honor cannot be given to the Illinois men for their gallantry there, unless, as in this case, it is done by preferring them to the troops of other states. The men of Illinois did bravely and well, and I shall never seek to pluck one leaf from the wreath of honor they there so nobly won; but it is not true, as is implied in the resolution, that they did more bravely or better than the men of Iowa. There was not any better fighting done by any of our troops at Fort Donelson than at the right of their entrenchments. There the crest of a long and steep hill was covered by well built rifle pits, defended by three of the best regiments in the rebel service. To their left, some 1,500 yards, was a rebel battery that swept the face of the hill with a cross fire. The face of the hill had been heavily timbered, but every standing tree had been cut down and thrown, with the tops down hill, in such manner as most effectually to retard the approach of an attacking force. At that point, through the fallen timber, exposed to that cross fire, and in the face of the three rebel regiments behind the rifle pits, a regiment of western men, with fixed bayonets, with guns at the trail, and without firing a shot, steadily and unswervingly charged up the hill and over the entrenchments, and planted the first union flag on that stronghold of treason. The men who did this were men of Iowa. The flag borne by them and the first planted on Fort Donelson now hangs over the chair of the speaker of the house of representatives, and will soon be deposited in our State Historical Society as one of the most sacred treasures of the state.

I cannot, therefore, by my silence, acquiesce in the implied assertion of the resolution of your general assembly that any other troops did better service at the capture of Fort Donelson than the troops of Iowa.

Three other Iowa regiments were engaged in the same fight, and although our gallant second, from the fact that they led the charge, deserved and received the greater honor, all did their duty nobly. Elsewhere than at Donelson — at Wilson's Creek, at Blue Mills, at Belmont, and at Pea Ridge — our Iowa men have been tried in the fiery ordeal of battle, and never found wanting. Their well earned fame is very dear to our people, and I trust you will recognize the propriety of my permitting no suitable occasion to pass of insisting upon justice being done them.

I have sent a copy of this letter to his excellency the governor of Illinois.

Very respectfully, your Obdt. Sevt.,

Samuel J. Kirkwood

SOURCES: State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa Historical Record, Volumes 1-3, Volume 2, No. 3, July 1886, p. 327-8;  Henry Warren Lathrop, The Life and Times of Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa's War Governor, p. 180-1, which I believe incorrectly dates this letter as April 8, 1862, since this letter does not mention the Battle of Shiloh, which took place on April 6th & 7th, it is likely that April 3rd is the correct date for this letter.