Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Sunday, February 2, 1862

Froze a little last night but has thawed in the sun all day. Went out to church with wife and boys. Chaplin Booth of the 5^th Reg^t Sickels Brigad[e] preached, a pretty smart man. A crazy man in the church made a disturbance by giving an Extra discourse. He was hustled out by one of the Deacons. Ed Dickerson came up and spent an hour or two this evening. The roads are in such an awful condition that a “movement” or an “advance” would seem to be simply impossible. Drills and Dress parades in the Camps are in most cases dispensed with. There is a great deal of sickness in the City, but we hear less about the Small pox than we did a month ago. Our family is in good health.

SOURCE: Horatio Nelson Taft, The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1,1861-April 11, 1862, Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington D. C.

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Friday, January 20, 1865

Reviewed at 12, M, by Genl Reynolds who compliments our Regt. Lt. Sharman, much worse. Capt L—— and Lt Rice go to sit up with him Mill 7 mile from town burned by Rebs

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. 571

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, Sunday, October 20, 1861

Inspection as usual. Services at 11 O'clock by our Chaplain, weather very pleasant has the appearance of Indian summer No news of importance today Dress Parade as usual this evening.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 229

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, Friday, October 25, 1861

As soon as breakfast is finished—preparations for moving to the barracks Co.s A. B. C. and so on respectively—struck their tents and went into the barrack. Dress Parade in the evening.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 229

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, Saturday Morning, October 26, 1861

Camp Cairo, Illinois. Fogy and damp Drill as usual before breakfast no Drill this forenoon. Regt. was called out this forenoon for inspection that is the inspecting of men. The no. of men out on drill—the sick list & those absent from Camp not agreeing with the morning report, consequently there is a number that undoubtedly shirk from duty. This afternoon the review before Gen. McClernand came off.—Tomorrow we have a Grand Review.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 230

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, Sunday, October 27, 1861

Regimental inspection this morning.—Religious services by our Chaplain. Grand Review commenced this evening at 2½ O'clock continued till 5, before Gen. McClernand and Staff. The forces which passed Camp Cairo, Illinois. Under review were Five Regts. of Infantry One of cavalry and one Battery of flying Artillery. The review has been pronounced a splendid affair Every thing passed off in fine style

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 230

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, Wednesday Morning, October 30, 1861

Still clear & cold Routine of Drill gone through with. Battalion Drill this forenoon and afternoon. One of the Orders published on Dress Parade this evening—was the acceptance of the resignation of Lieut. Buchanan of Comp B. this Regt.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 230

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, Thursday Morning, October 31, 1861

Still cool Regimental muster for Pay. The forces now stationed here are all mustered to day—on the Brigade parade ground—An Order placing Capt. Hart under arrest by Col. Buford¹—was read this evening on Dress Parade.

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¹ Napoleon B. Buford was a graduate of West Point, law student, assistant professor at West Point, 1833 to 1835, civil engineer, Illinois merchant, banker and railroad builder. At the outbreak of the Civil War, his banking business was ruined due to large investments in Southern State bonds. He gave up all his property to satisfy his obligations and was commissioned Colonel of the 27th Illinois Volunteers by Governor Yates. For his gallant conduct at the battles of Belmont, Island No. 10, and Union City he was commissioned Brigadier-General by the President. When he left the service, he held the commission of Major-General. Eddy, Patriotism of Illinois, II., pp. 56-57.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 230

Diary of Private Seth J. Wells: December 10, 1862

Weather fine. We had dress parade at 4 o'clock.

SOURCE: Seth James Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the Diary of Seth J. Wells, Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After the Surrender, p. 15

Diary of Private Seth J. Wells: December 11, 1862

Weather warm. I was on fatigue nearly all day, cutting and hauling wood for the company. We had dress parade at 4 o'clock. Just at dusk the news came in that a guerilla band was to attack us before morning. Fifty men from our regiment and forty-eight from the 126th (which is here doing picket duty) were detailed to build breastworks of cotton, four hundred bales of which lay near the depot. Col. Norton and Major Bates did the engineering. After they had finished we lay on our arms during the night, but no enemy made its appearance, and about 7 o'clock we were ordered back to camp.

SOURCE: Seth James Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the Diary of Seth J. Wells, Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After the Surrender, p. 15-6

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, October 17, 1862

I spent the day with my children most of the time in the city 4 Oc we went out to camp & I took command of our Company on Dress perade my children took supper with us at Camp. Ben Swearengen & Deek Spooner started home in their wagon & Lemuel L Spooner & John W Williams started home to Centerville on the cars this morning

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 92

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, October 19, 1862

10 Oc I & Emma Amandus & our Cozens Maria & Mary Kelley attended Catholic Church after which we went to the Hospital Boat & from that we went to the hospitals & amongst the sick & wounded 5 Oc I was on dress perade evening I preached in the tent 30th Reg text Gal 6th 1st & 2nd v

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 92

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, October 20, 1862

Forenoon I was on Camp drill afternoon on Battallion drill & dress perade, evening Brother Burgess Chaplain of the 30th Reg Iowa vol preached in our tent text Psalms. Praise God, an excelent discourse One of the men of Company D died¹

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¹ William P. Shipley, age 25, residence Eddyville, nativity Tennessee. Enlisted August 13, 1862, Company D. Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry. Died of disease October 20, 1862, at Keokuk,—"Roster Iowa Soldiers," Vol. V, p. 716.

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 92-3

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, October 21, 1862

Forenoon I was on Company drill afternoon Division & Battalion drill & Dress perade, evening Emma Cozen Maria Kelly & I attended a Medical Lecture at the Medical Colledge we visited some of the sick soldiers in part of the Colledge

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 93

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, October 22, 1862

Forenoon we ware on Co drill afternoon on Brigade & battallion drill & Dress perade. Our Capt is poorly in his bed most of the day the 26th Reg passed down on a Packet landed a short time they are a fine looking set of men. evening Emma & I attended the African Church & seen some contrabands just from South Carolina

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 93

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, October 23, 1862

I went with our Capt to the Hospital & gave him his medison & staid with him most of the day afternoon a short time on drill & Dress perade evening Emma & I attended prayer meeting at exchange St Church after that we went into see some of our sick Soldiers in the Hospital

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 93

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, October 25, 1862

We did not drill but had Dress perade at 4 Oc the 30th Reg left here this day on the Packet John Warner they ware in fine spirits I had the children all with me to see them leave then Emma & I attended the hospitals & evening Emma & Mary Kelly & I attended meeting in the hospital in the lighton house & I spoke from the 1st Psalm one of the 30th died

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 93

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, October 26, 1862

Our Reg got our coats pants shirts & socks & caps & they needed them verry much 9 Oc I was at love feast in the African church then visited our boys in the hospital. then helped to receive & distribute the uniform 4 Oc we were on dress perade evening Emma & Mrs & Miss Kelly visited the hospitals & attended preaching at exchange church

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 93

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, October 27, 1862

Forenoon I drilled the Co & was on dress perade. 1st Lieut drilled the Co afternoon. I took my children & visited the hospitals. the centance of the Courtmartial on 2 deserters from Co C. 36 Reg Iowa & was read on Dress perade they are brothers each forfeit one months pay & one is put on hard labor for 2 weeks & have 1⁄2 his head clipped & be kept in the guard house at nights. Evening Miss Mary & Miss Richey of Ill spent the evening at Kellys with us

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 93

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, October 30, 1862

Forenoon I drilled the Co in the manual of arms afternoon we ware on battallion drill & dress perade & ware down on main street & had our arms inspected I visited our boys in the hospital morning & night some of them are verry sick one of Co [F] Capt Vermilion died he is a brother to one that was sent up yesterday

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 94