Private William O. Gulick to Mary Parkes, about October 1, 1861

Dear Mary,¹⁷

I thought I must write you a few lines in answer to your letter I was very happy to think you was so good as to write me and hope you may not forget to do so again. That paper of Candy I sent with John for you to pay for your letter. If I had have had time I would have sent something I would have been glad to made you a visit from Davenport as you requested me. But I had no time tell Woodworth and Parkes they must write to me be a good girl and remember your

Cousin Billie

I went to supper when the other sheet was full, but before we were half through Dress Parade was called and we had to leave every thing to get cold but however I ate enough such as it was

I was very glad to hear that Hattie and Mother were going to Wis. Hope they may enjoy it

I just wish that you could be here one day and see the soldiers and their fare there is a guard all around our camp and one can not get out unless he has a pass or run the beat Isaac and my self are going out in the country tomorrow if we can just for a pleasure trip

There was a secessionist or spy arrested here Friday. Maj. Lefingwell¹⁸ took him to St. Louis, have not heard from him since but he may have to suffr, This morning two men were arrested and brought in camp said to be from Missouri and spies they are in the guard house I do not know what they will do with them

It was so dark I just moved toward a camp fire I find it rather disagreable writing and will have to close I was very glad to hear from you want you to write as often as you can and I will do the same. If I had time I could write a great deal more you must send all my letters if I have any to me by the directions below

Direct W. O. Gulick

Camp Warren,        

Burlington    

Iowa

Care of Capt. Ankeny

Company M

1st Regiment Iowa Cavalry

You must excuse this poorly written letter if you can read it but writing on a rough board makes it look worse than it would,

Isaac was just here and says he has not time to write, but tell you he is all right, the camp is very healthy and my self and Fred are very well give my love to all and write soon

Yours in hast

W. O. Gulick

I forgot to tell you that Peter Barr has a soldiers Library of Fifty books with him

_______________

¹⁷ This letter is undated, but from the mention of his mother's impending trip to Wisconsin we may infer that it was written about October 1, 1861. Mary was William's cousin by marriage; she had married his cousin Woodworth Parkes of Clinton. Hence Gulick writes or refers to them frequently as "Mary & Woodie".

¹⁸ Wm. E. Leffingwell, according to Lothrop's A History of the First Regiment Iowa Cavalry, which is substantiated by the rosters of the Iowa Union forces, was not actually commissioned with a higher rank than Captain of Company B. However, he was for all practical purposes acting Major of the First Battalion, which was detached from the regiment, placed in his charge, and sent to West Central Missouri in the early part of October.

SOURCE: Benjamin F. Shambaugh, The Iowa Journal of History and Politics, vol. 28 (1930), pp. 206-8.

Private William O. Gulick to Parkes Gulick, October 1, 1861

Camp Warren, Oct. 1st/61        

Co. M. 1st Iowa Cavalry

Dear Brother:¹⁹

I am happy to have an opportunity to answer your letter. I received one from you, Mary & Mother, in one envelope, but intend to answer them sepperate, so to have you all write to me again one at a time I wrote a short letter to the girls day before yesterday I was standing on guard then, I had a fine old time of it, as it continued to rain all night, and I had four hours to stand in the middle of the night. A fellow attempted to run my station but I heard him and demanded him to halt he did so, I then demanded the counter sign, he could not give it He said his horse had crossed the line and he wanted to get him I told him to go to Head quarters and get the counter sign, or to travel, he left and was heard of no more

I came off Guard at ten o'clock I got a pass to go down town I run about town all day I see Isaac leave with his company there was four companies left, all took the boat, the horses were put on flat boats, you would have seen a great sight had you been here when they started Isaac did not have time to send his box by express so I sent it for him I sent your over coat home and my linen coat and shirt I give you, I have a long tailed Blue You would laugh to see me with it on, but it is very comfortable It makes a great difference in the appearance of a company of soldiers when they have their uniform on. There was four more companies left for St. Louis this morning I wished my self along with them but we will have to stay here yet three or four days to get the remainder of our horses and saddles It looks rather war like to see so many men all mounted, and then to have them to give three cheers and fire off a canon it makes a person feel like fighting I tell you Parkes I would advise you not to go to war. I think you are not strong enough and most to easy excited, for camp life is almost a continual drudge     To day I have to cook I expect to morrow to stand on guard and evry day brings work By the way how is your onion crop, how does the sugar cane turn out. I would like to have some of the Molasses We only draw Molasses once a week and then only a little. What are you doing this fall, tell me what you with all the rest are about I should like to hear from Charlie²⁰ & Richard²¹ also tell Peters folks to write I suppose you will have charge of affairs when father and mother goes to Wis. do it up well. Tell father I have seen the company Blacksmiths shoe horses all day out in the rain it looked rather hard but it was just before they started for St. Louis and there is no stop of any thing in war As soon as I get to St. Louis I will write to mother & father You had better wait untill I write to them before you answer this, then it will come direct to St. Louis Tell Woody to write me a letter and I will answer it as soon as I can he said he would write to me. You must write all about my friends and about affairs at home as it is most time to get supper I will have to close

Your dear brother

W. O. Gulick

P. S. Give my love to Henries²² folks tell him to write me I will answer a long letter.

_______________

¹⁹ "Dear Brother" was Parkes Gulick, who remained at home. William's letters contain frequent admonitions to his brother not to enlist, as he did not believe him strong enough to stand army service.

²⁰ "Charlie" was Charles Jones of Low Moor, who married William's sister Cynthia. After the conscription act was passed he was summoned to service; but he succeeded in hiring a substitute, which was not only a very common practice, but specifically legalized by the draft law.

²¹ Richard Wagner, before mentioned, a brother-in-law of William Gulick's.

²² Henry Gulick, an older brother at home.

SOURCE: Benjamin F. Shambaugh, The Iowa Journal of History and Politics, vol. 28 (1930), pp. 208-10.

Private William O. Gulick to His Parents, October 18, 1861

Camp Benton,²³ Mo. Oct. 18th/61

Co. M. 1st Ia. Cavalry        

Dear Father & Mother

I have just set down to write you a letter. I have a great deal to write and but little time to write in. I have been very busy for the two days I have been here. It was very rainy the day we came in and cleaning up and geting settled is quite a chore. I wrote a very short letter the day we left Burlington stateing that we was about to leave We had a very pleasant trip down to this place We were from Monday noon untill Wednesday morning but we lay up; one night above the Keokuk rappids I was very glad as it gave me a chance to pass Canton and many other towns in the day time, we did not pass any town but what the Glorious old Stripes and Stars were seen floating from some part although some were said to be quite rank secessionists The finest looking City I see was Quincy, we stoped there about two hours. The Iowa third Infantry was encamped there, I believe to recrute awhile. and to my surprise I came across Charlie James from Camanche Township.²⁴ He said he expected to go home on a furlough soon, if he dose you will see him and an hours chat would be interesting as he was in the Battle of Blue mills²⁵ & severel skirmishes. I set up all night on the boat to see the Bluffs and cave above Alton I could not distinguish the cave but the rocks I could see planely, I also see the mouths of the Ills. and Mo. rivers We arrived in St. Louis about 7 oclock in the morning It shows to good advantage to the river, It was a long time before we could land as the levee for two miles was crowded with steam boats I tell you, St. Louis is a large city and things look warlike. There is a great many Gun boats building and the streets are lined with soldiers canons are seen drawn through the streets with other arms and shiped to the different camps. The St. Louis streets are very narrow. Our camp is just out of the City and five miles from the river I thought we would never find the M. Barracks,²⁶ although we were tired the march from the boat was more interesting than I thought it could be, as we were cheered from evry side and the seens of a city to a country greenhorn were all new, When we arrived at Benton Barracks I found the best Quarters I ever seen I will send a View of the Barracks in a newspaper I believe there is about 7,000 thousand soldiers encamped here and in the Fare Grounds adjoining. On this sheet there is a view of the fare grounds on review day There is soldiers from Iowa, Ill, Wis, and many other states they are comeing and leaving evry day. By the way I said Isaac and his company were all here when we arrived, Well they had marching orders yesterday they saddled and packed their things but did not get off untill today three oclock they have a part of their arms and expect to go by Jefferson Barracks and get the rest of their arms. Jef. Barks, is about five miles below St. Louis. I do not know how many soldiers are encamped their I do not know where Isaac is going but he will undoubtedly see a fight before he gets back I was sorry to see him leave, but still I was very anxious to go with him, but I know I shall have a chance before long to smell Rebble Powder, When I look around me and see so much that Government has done and has to do, I do not wonder at its slow movements as we used to call them Evrything here is on the strict order I was on guard today and it is night now, soon will be tattoo when all lights have to be extinguished I have only received your two letters that you sent to Burlington since I left home Except one from H. H. Judson and Aaron I should like to get some letters from any body (only so I get some) I came across some of Mr. Lafayette Tallmans Relations the day before we left Burlington some of their boys came to camp and when they found who we were and where from, nothing would do but that we should go out in the country about 2 miles where they lived and see them We did so and had a good dinner and an excellent visit, They wanted I should write so Tallman would know it, They said tell Tallman that Old Aunt Elen of Henry county was dead. This Tallmans name is Thomas _____     The Iowa eighth Rej. left here two or three days before we came in I was sorry for I should like to have seen some of the Eden boys. Isaac said that John Dam was left here in the Hospital. Was not able to go with the Rej. I have not had time to go and see him yet but think I shall go tomorrow If I can get a pass. I expect when I leave here that I will not be allowed to carry any thing except what I can carry in my saddle so I will have to send my carpet sack home or give it away as soon as I get my arms I intend having my likeness taken again and send home I only wish I could get all of yours I believe you might send them all in one case that is taken on single plates Again I wish you all might be here to see the encampment and see the soldiers drill &c one day if no more The talk is that we will get our pay soon. I do not know but hope we will for many of the Boys are out of money I have plenty as yet however I do not know how long we may stay here yet but I guess the best way is to send your letters here as they are all forwarded on after evry company You must all write to me evry one of my folkes and direct to, Benton Barracks, St. Louis Mo. Company M 1st Ia. Cavalry

P. S. Give my love to all my friends and receive this from your affectionate son.

W. O. Gulick

_______________

²³ Benton Barracks, also called Camp Benton, was just outside St. Louis. It was the chief point of assembly for the Union armies in Missouri late in 1861 and early in 1862.

²⁴ Camanche Township in which the town of Camanche, Iowa, is located, lies along the Mississippi River a few miles southwest of Clinton.

²⁵ This refers to the action at Blue Mills Landing (about five miles from Liberty, Clay County, Missouri), on September 17, 1861. About 4400 Confederates attacked 900 Union men and the latter were forced to retire. Union losses were about 130 killed and wounded, the Confederate about 160. The Third Iowa Infantry, as Gulick reports, was engaged. —Official Records: War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. III, pp. 193-195. This series was published by the Government Printing Office at Washington, 1880-1898.

²⁶ That part of Benton Barracks occupied by Company M of Gulick's regiment.

SOURCE: Benjamin F. Shambaugh, The Iowa Journal of History and Politics, vol. 28 (1930), pp. 210-3.

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, February 9, 1863

We drilled some in bayonet exersize. Our Capt went out on picket about 11 Oc[.] 1 Oc I took the Co on Dress perade I wrote some in a letter I had commenced to write to my Daughter on the 7th I also wrote her one today desiring her if she could to send me some honey & butter

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 109

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, February 10, 1863

I received a letter from my Daughter dated Jany 29th also a fiew lines, from each of my two eldest son's Amandus & Augustus & my heart rejoices that Amandus has got able to sit up again Night I wrote a letter to my son Amandus, & also a little one to each of me little boys.

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 109

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, February 14, 1863

4 Oc we ware on Dress perade Genl Fisk was out to se I wrote a letter to my good Brother C E Yeager Keosauqua Iowa. eight full pages of foolscap

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 109

Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Thursday, April 2, 1863

I finished ordnance reports and address letter to Olin and Adj. General.

SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 15

Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Saturday, April 25, 1863

Sent a letter to J. Haradon.

SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 16

Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Sunday, April 26, 1863

Sermon, Rev. 3:18. I finished a letter to Jos. M. Van Cleave, 318 Washington Market, New York. I took a wash in the river. Dress parade. I had some onions.

SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 16

Diary of 5th Sergeant Lawrence Van Alstyne, April 13, 1863

Wrote and mailed some letters this morning. Wm. Partington died in this room this morning. He and I came here the same time and lay side by side. I was taken to the big tent and he left here. We were both hard sick and when I came back Bill was in just about the same condition I was. We both got round together and began to go out at the same time. A day or two ago diarrhea hit him and now he is taken and I left. So it goes. We plan for to-morrow and to-morrow we are wrapped in a blanket and out we go.

SOURCE:  Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 98

Diary of 5th Sergeant Lawrence Van Alstyne, Friday, April 17, 1863

Went to see Walt. I had a first-rate visit. He is about well. I did little but answer questions about what has been going on since we parted at Camp Chalmette, who is living and who have died and what sort of a place we are in. Found three letters for me when I came back.

Later. Marching orders with two days' cooked rations and 100 rounds of ammunition, blankets and overcoats. I am going, too, unless Dr. Andrus stops me. Must stop and write a letter before taps.

SOURCE:  Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 99

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Tuesday, April 4, 1865

Mail was to leave the camp at 12 today; sat down to write a letter before I was ½ through was detailed to take charge of a squad of 30 men with spades for fatigue & report with them at Div Hd. qtrs. I reported with the detail at 11. A. M. some mistake had been made with reference to the detail as the A. A. G. expicted my detail to have axes. waited with the men until he rode to Brig. Hd. qtrs to ascertain how the mistake had occurred, he returned at 12, М. & ordered me to report at a two gun battery, on the left & near spanish fort. I found the battery & put the men to work to finish it. The 1st Ind heavy Artilery mount 2 30 lb Parrots here while we are at work. These guns are intended to play on the Rebel water battery which annoys us more than all their other guns, while we were at work a staff officer rode around giving orders for all the batteries around the whole line to open out at 5 P. M. & fire 40 ronds to each gun, with intervals of 3 mins. finished the battery a little before 4. but had to hold the detail to tear down a breastwork in front of it which was to come down just before time to open out, at 20 mins before 5 Capt of Battery ordered the work down, men all worked lively as there was danger of the Rebs firing on the party, two men having been wounded here yesterday. Just 3 mins before 5 finished that job & falling the men in started for camp about ¾ mile distant & if the Rebs replied to our batteries in point blank range, had not advanced from the battery more than 200 yds until the whole part of our line was ablaze, walked fast to camp. Rebs did not reply & no accidents occurred. after arrived in camp the Jonnies lifted a few shot over, they tried to sharpshoot our gunners from their fort & sent the balls uncomfortably close. The 33d Mo. & 35th Iowa & 12th Iowa moved in this evening again to our camp our Brig is ordered to the left to fill the places of these Regts. At 8. P. M. fall in & move in the darkness with a little sprinkle of rain 1 mile to the left of our camp, find very poor quarters, lie down almost anywhere for the night.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, pp. 583-4

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Monday, April 10, 1865

All the Regts rec orders to be supplied with 5 days rations in their haver sacks. Capt Lacy was in our camp looking well & hearty. Mail is to go out at 10. a. m. until which time spend the time in writing. After dinner Templeton & I go out to see the fortifications, see many pools of blood. Can see Mobile from the forts & see some rebel batteries out in the Bay firing at our gunboats & shelling a pontoon bridge we have across Spanish river See a squad of rebs under guard taking up the torpedos which are thickly strewn, the roads are full, they uncover them & build a fire on them to explode them. the pieces fly about with a wicked noise. Saw one place where in the charge 4 men were Killed by the explosion of one torpdo. The Jonnies had extensive works laid off here which would have taken a year to complete but the works completed are ugly to get to over fallen timber & brush thick abbattis & dead loads of torpedos. About 150 of the men who had been at Spanish fort were captured this morning they not knowing this place had been taken were making their way up here. I was to see them & pronounce them the best looking confeds I ever saw, when the forts here were charged yesterday there were two Genls there, but one was taken & it is supposed the other escaped with some of his men who swam the river, but this evening he was captured. he had secreted himself in an commissary boat & undertook to get out & run for it but there were too many guards with muskets close by to allow that. It is rumored here this evening that about two hundred prisoners were taken, found in their holes close by Spanish fort think this not reliable. A supply train started to Thomas early this morning, saw a small detachment of cavalry from his army who say they saw no rebels between him & no report his men wanting grub. Genl Steeles command is ordered to be ready for a forward movement where to not known, the way to Mobile by land is 135 miles & there is a camp rumor that Steeles corps & Smiths corps are to go to the rear of Mobile & Grangers corps to Thomas who will opperate somewhere above. heavy firing has been kept up all day in the bay but do not learn with what effect.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, p. 588

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Saturday, April 15, 1865

Soon as breakfast is over sit down to write a letter, not finished before I was detailed to take charge of 40 men & report to Div Head Quarters, was about 9. A. M. when I reported, the detail was to go on the train to Mobile for the purpose of loading & unloading 200 sacks of corn, while we waited for the train saw a squad of 10 negro soldiers with arms come in who had deserted the Rebs & report none closer than 20 miles, they say the Rebs declare they will bush whack us. & also report that Genl Lee had issued an order that all Rebs found in arms after the 1st of April (I think they meant May) should be considered as outlaws. The train started at 9.15, & run down in 20 minutes, left the detail at the depot & went with Capt Jordan A. A. Q. M. to the wharf to see about the corn. was in the Provost Martials office & the citizens of Mobile was doing a big job of swearing swallowing the oath at a gulp. The streets are full of Yankee officers. with their starch on. It was 1. P. M. before the corn was brought to the cars, after which we waited for Cols. Patterson & Grier to come before the train starts, while we wait the coquette a reb. steamer comes down the Mobile river loaded with cotton, she had tried to get off with it but the Yanks got on the river ahead of her & she returned with her cargo. about 4. P. M. our teams just over from the Eastern shore start out to camp. train starts at 4. unload the corn & get to camp just in time as it rains soon after. I have just time to distribute the mail, of which there was but little before the rain fell in perfect floods, rained hard for about an hour, a Regt of Cavalry camp out beyond us tonight & the artilery belonging to the Div moves out, rumors of Lees defeat & surrender grow more in favor. Reported that a fed. force had taken Meridian & that Galveston Texas had surrendered & Texas had sent commissioners to Washington asking to come back into the Union & the privalege of free trade as the residents were starving.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, pp. 591-2

Diary of Private John J. Wyeth, March 16, 1863

When we were called to breakfast at seven this morning we found we were steaming down the river and just entering the Sound, After a pleasant sail, we arrived at the wharf at Little Washington about four P.M., and marched with colors flying and band playing, by Grist's, to the earthworks, where we busied ourselves in an entirely new occupation, — pitching our shelter-tents for the first time. It was done finally, and after a fashion of our own; and now we are trying to write, but are bothered, as the gas is poor.

SOURCE: John Jasper Wyeth, Leaves from a Diary Written While Serving in Co. E, 44 Mass. Dep’t of North Carolina from September 1862 to June 1863, p. 42

Diary of Private John J. Wyeth, March 25, 1863

Yesterday it rained most all day, and the drills Col. Lee had inaugurated Monday have not amounted to much as yet. We played cards, read, wrote letters, and slept; so the day worried out. To-day we have been firing at a target for a change. It was on a couple of bread-boxes, one on the top of the other, in the field immediately in front of our breastwork. The target was small, only two feet square, — but still a few hit it.

SOURCE: John Jasper Wyeth, Leaves from a Diary Written While Serving in Co. E, 44 Mass. Dep’t of North Carolina from September 1862 to June 1863, p. 44

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, January 21, 1863

Streets almost impassible for footmen. I called in a verry pretty residence surrounded with beautifull shrubery & had a social chat with two young ladys by the name of Head they have a brother in the Rebble army. I received a letter from Emma with encouraging information about my son Amandus, he is seeking the Saviour & is in a fare way to be up soon, though I have been much depressed in mind I feel greatly relieved & am hoping & praying for my son I answered the letter. A fleet passed down from Memphis with parts of Grants Armey the 15th & 16th Reg Iowa Vol was on board & the fiew minutes they layed here I improved & injoyed with the boys some from Keosauqua & vicinity

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 106

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, January 29, 1863

The hospital boat Henry Von Phul came up from Vicksburg with sick soldiers, the Chaplain of the 24th Iowa Infty Rev Corkhill was along they went on up to Memphis no news of importance from below except the watter is passing through the cut of & our men are enlarging it I have been verry feeble this day We drilled in bayonet exersize I wrote a letter to the Rev Cyrus Morey at Atica Marion Co Iowa

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 107

Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Saturday, March 7, 1863

I wrote to John C. Haradon and copied letter to Sibley. Lieut. W. Kinney and I examined the report of hospital. Artillery and horse power arrived. Fire in the hospital kitchen.

SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 13

Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Sunday, March 8, 1863

I made out returns and wrote two letters. An awful snow storm came up just in the evening. Hospital walls caving in. Private Small, Co. D of the Seventh, died about noon; lung fever. Battalion drill. Lieut. Col. gave me five stamps, 15.

SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 13