FORT HOLT, Ky., Jan.
23, 1862
The 7th Regiment reached Cairo last Saturday evening. We found Cairo one big, deep quagmire. Mud, mud, everywhere, of the blackest and
most adhesive character. Although we had
been a whole week on the road from St. Louis, yet the authorities had neglected
to provide any accommodations for our troops on their arrival. The Regiment was quartered on board the
steamer City of Memphis for the night.
The next day (Sunday) we were ordered to Bird’s Point, but on enquiry it
was found that the barracks assigned us, were occupied by other troops. – Next we
were told to take quarters in Cairo but here also, we found the 8th Wisconsin
Regiment had preceded us and taken the only quarters available. Finally we were ordered over here. Accordingly we proceeded very early Monday morning
to invade the sacred soil of Kentucky.
Ground was soon marked out for a camp when our tents were set up, and
tent life once more commenced. The
weather is pleasant and we manage to live very comfortably. Our camp is on a sand ridge which borders the
river, and on the whole a very charming spot.
In front we have Cairo and Bird’s Point in full view, whilst between
rolls the broad expanse of water formed by the confluence of the Ohio and
Mississippi rivers. In spite of poor
tents and previous hard usage, we consider ourselves very comfortably fixed.
How long we shall remain here is entirely unknown to
us. We are under orders however, to be
ready to march at an hour’s notice.
The men are in good spirits and eager for active operations
in the field. We have with us a little
over five hundred men – nearly all fit for active service. Many of those wounded ant Belmont are
rejoining their respective companies, and never more anxious than now to do
battle in their country’s cause – the cause of Good and humanity.
I would here take occasion to acknowledge the reception of
many articles for the sick and wounded of our regiment, from the “Ladies’ Aid
Societies” of Burlington and vicinity.
The Congregationalist Church of Burlington has laid us under many
obligations for the many and valuable additions it has made to our hospital
stores. The Old Zion Methodist Church,
which has made generous provision for the unfortunate sufferers by the fatal
fight at Belmont. More recently Mr.
David Leonard, Corresponding Secretary of the Ladies’ Aid Society of the
District in which he lives, consigned to my care a valuable box of hospital
stores for our wounded in the Mound City hospital. This box was duly received there, and
distributed amongst the Iowa troops, according to the expressed wishes of the
donors. Colonel Lauman has just received
a box of hospital stores from the Episcopal Church of Burlington, and also
another from Mr. Wm. Lynn, of Pleasant Grove, Iowa, both valuable boxes. By means of these generous donations and
other smaller ones not here enumerated our Regimental Hospital has been well
supplied and the comfort of the sick and wounded very materially enhanced.
I doubt not it will be a great gratification to our Iowa friends
to know that their efforts to benefit the sick and wounded of our brave State
troops are duly appreciated and effective in accomplishing the object assigned.
The river is rising rapidly and my soon drive us from our
Camping ground.
J. H. CLARK,
Chaplain of the Iowa
Seventh
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye,
Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 1
