Captain Charles Wright Wills to his Sister: January 5, 1864

Scottsboro, Ala., January 5, 1864.

Your brother no longer represents the Festive Mamaluke, but has returned from his paradise of fresh pork, cornbread, honey, milk, and horse, to his original heavy infantry exercise, his nix-Grahamite diet of army rations, to that headquarters of red-tapeism, a “permanent camp,” in short, to the elysium of the enlisted men, and purgatory of company commanders winter quarters. In short, the powers that be concluded that dismounting us would not render the salvation of the Union impossible, and as the detachment was getting a very hard reputation, and making much trouble for said powers to settle, ’twas decided to unhorse us. It's all over now, the mounting part has “played” and that string will not probably be harped on again for this brigade to dance to. I think that to-day, Sherman, Logan or Ewing would not trust a detachment of this brigade on sorebacked mules if they had only three legs. This little squad of 500 men in the two months they have been mounted have committed more devilment than two divisions of regular cavalry could in five years. Everything you can think of, from shooting negroes, or marrying these simple country women, down to stealing babies' diapers. From taking $2,700.00 in gold, to snatching a brass ring off the finger of the woman who handed a drink of water. From taking the last "old mar" the widow had to carry her grist to mill, to robbing the bed of its cord, for halters, and taking the clothes line and bedclothing “to boot.” I'll venture that before we were dismounted, not a wellrope, tracechain, or piece of cord of any kind strong enough to hold a horse could be found in the districts through which we have foraged. I want you to understand that my command is not responsible for the heavy devilment. I have steadily discountenanced it, and watched my men carefully. I am willing to be responsible for all they did, and will probably have a chance, as I understand a board of inquiry sits on the subject shortly. Some of the officers will, I think, have cause to wish they were never mounted; and to think that “Mission Ridge” would have been preferable to the duty they have been on. We had been looking for General Ewing out to our bivouac to review us for several days, and I rather saw in the distance that dismount was an order we'd get shortly, and had sent in to our colonel, lieutenant colonel and staff some of my best horses, knowing that if we got dismounted they would be taken by Sherman, Logan or Ewing. Sure enough, on the morning of the New Year's day came an order to form to be review by some heavy staff. The review consisted in their picking out what good horses there were, turning the rest into a corral, and sending us to our regiments on foot. We got here the same day, found the regiment just pitching camp, with the idea that winter quarters or a good long rest, at least, was their portion. Our company already has good comfortable quarters up, and is as well fixed for winter as we care about being. But already we hear it rumored that our division is to move down to Huntsville in a short time, and we have had no orders to prepare winter quarters. All right. It has been pretty cold here although we have had no snow nor ice that could bear a man. A great deal of rain. The regiment is very healthy. Not a dozen men complaining. My wrist is improving slowly. Not worth very much yet. Doctor says 'twill take it a year to get well. That bone at the wrist joint protrudes considerably. All right. The veteran feeling is "terrific" here. Three regiments in our brigade the only ones eligible (that is that have been in two years) have re-enlisted almost to a man. 40th Illinois, 46th Ohio and 6th Iowa. In our division there are seven regiments eligible and all have re-enlisted, and are going home in a few days. It is, I think, the grandest thing of the war. These old soldiers so enthusiastically and unanimously “going-inimously.” I guess no one is more astonished at it than the very men who are enlisting. One of the 40th boys told me that "about 15 of us were talking about it and cussing it, until every son of a gun of us concluded to, and did re-enlist." Our regiment hasn't been in long enough to make veterans. Wouldn't you rather have me stay in service until this war ends? I get the blues, though, sometimes, and think of getting out and denying that I ever was in the war. Haven't I a brilliant record, Thirty-three months in service and not a battle.

Clear and cold this morning. I'm very comfortable. Have built me a brick fireplace and chimney, raised my tent two and one-half feet on a broad frame. Made me a good bed with broom sage for soft, and am living high.

I received three recruits yesterday and have at least one more coming. I have more men for duty than any other company. Night before last two Confederate soldiers came into our camp and stole three horses, two of them belonging to our surgeons, and the other to the adjutant. The Rebels crossed the Tennessee river, which is only four miles from here and recrossed safely with their horses. I call that pretty sharp. The horses were only about 30 yards from where I sleep. They might just as well have got me. I feel highly complimented by their prefering the horses to me. We had one-fourth of an inch of snow last night. Gone now. Yesterday three teamsters, belonging to Logan's headquarters while foraging went to pillaging a house. The woman of the house tried to stop them, when one of the fellows struck her on the head with a gun and killed her. This was about three miles from here.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 208-11

Diary of Private Charles Wright Wills: July 1, 1861

Cairo.  Writing letters is getting to be harder work than drilling, and is more dreaded by the boys. Lots of people are visiting the camp now, many of them ladies, but I tell you that they use their fans more than their spy-glasses after a very few looks.

I was up to Mound City yesterday with nine others of our company on a United States boat that has three cannons on her. Mound City is a beautiful little place, and takes it name from a mound about 30 feet in diameter and 10 feet high, on which grow a dozen spindling locusts. I have been about 12 miles up each river from the point here. At that distance the river banks are, say 25 feet high, and slope down to the point, and run into a broad wide sandbar that ends Illinois.

Fishing is a principal amusement or time-killer now. I have fished about four days and caught nary a “minner.”

There is no outside influence used to induce a man to re-enlist. Officers tell every man to use his own judgment, and each fellow does his own thinking and — another long dash or words to that effect.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 20

Major Charles Fessenden Morse: December 24, 1863

Tullahoma, Tenn., December 24, 1863.

In my last letter, I spoke of having something important to write in a day or two; I referred to the very matter that you speak of in your letter, the re-enlistment of the old regiment. I have always been very earnest about it, but little was done in the matter till quite lately. Last Saturday night, General Ruger came over to headquarters and told us that the Third Wisconsin was busy re-enlisting and meant to get home during the holidays.

The next morning, I wrote as stirring a letter as I could to Colonel Coggswell; it had the effect to bring him to headquarters that same afternoon. We consulted together for some time; I found that he was very enthusiastic and quite sanguine about the success of the movement, and that he spoke the sentiments of nearly all the officers of the regiment. The next day the colonel made a speech to the men and a good start was made, nearly one hundred putting their names down. On Tuesday, I went over to the camp; I found that some companies had done nobly, having already more than filled their quota (that is, more than three-quarters); others were hanging back. My old company hadn't made much of a start. I made them a little speech at “tattoo,” and persuaded some half-a-dozen to face the music again. So far, we have got about a hundred and fifty names, that is, a little more than half the requisite number.

Colonel Coggswell writes me to-night that everything is going on well, so that I've strong hopes of ultimate success, but I shall not give way to any excitement about it at present.

The spirit with which the line officers have gone into this thing is most noble. There's that young Crowninshield, with three bullet holes in his body, who is the most active of any of them, and has secured a great part of his company. One thing is sure — the bounty money is having very little to do with this re-enlistment; I don't think one man in ten thinks of it as a consideration; the going home is what moves them. These old fellows who have been knocking about, and have been shot at for the last three years, may not have much care for money now, but they all show that they have not forgotten their homes and families. I tell you, if they do go in again, it will show what splendid stuff they are made of, and the regiment should gain more honor and credit for this than for any other act in its history.

You can easily imagine that it takes some inducement a good deal stronger than money to get soldiers in the ranks to exchange comfortable homes and firesides for the hard knocks and dangers of a campaign.

It is rather exciting to think of marching through Boston with our drum corps and old flag riddled with bullet holes.

_______________

* A sufficient number of the regiment re-enlisted to secure a furlough, and it returned to Boston in a body with all of its officers.

SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 160-2

Diary of Corporal Alexander G. Downing: Monday, March 28, 1864

I went to Tipton on horseback today, accompanied by John D. Moore, who enlisted in Company E of the Eleventh Iowa Infantry. All of the Inland boys who went before have re-enlisted as veterans, and four or five others besides John Moore are going to enlist in our company and go to the front when we return. I saw several of the boys of my company today, who live at Tipton.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 176

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, March 12, 1864

All the men of the Iowa Brigade who did not re-enlist have been formed into a battalion until the veterans return. Major Pomutz of the Fifteenth Iowa is in command. All the non-veterans of the old regiments are to remain at Cairo, Illinois, until the veterans return from their furloughs.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 174

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Monday, March 7, 1864

The Thirteenth Regiment started for Iowa today on their thirty-day furlough. Our regiment received three months' pay, and all who re-enlisted were given a part of their bounty money, $160.00 each. The bounty, with my regular pay, after settling for six months' clothing, $8.00, gave me $207.00.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 173

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, January 6, 1864

The time for re-enlisting with the bounty expired last night at midnight. The boys who re-enlisted are now looking forward to going home on a thirty-day furlough in the spring.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 160

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Monday, January 4, 1864

An order was issued by the War Department cancelling the previous order giving the large bounties to soldiers for re-enlisting, but it is not to go into effect until midnight of the 5th inst. Re-enlisting is going on at a lively rate. Company E today secured the necessary number entitling it to be a veteran company — the first one in the regiment, Company K being the second. General McPherson delivered a speech before the Iowa Brigade, expressing his desire that the entire Seventeenth Army Corps might become a corps of veterans, and I think there is no doubt but that it will.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 160

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Sunday, January 3, 1864

It cleared off this morning and it got quite cool. I was at my post this morning, standing in water a foot deep. When our relief came they had to go back almost to town before they could cross the swollen creek to reach our post. The "Veteran" excitement was raging when we got back to camp. This afternoon we had a meeting of our regiment, when Major Foster made a speech on the subject of re-enlisting, and I re-enlisted. A large number in our brigade and throughout the Seventeenth Army Corps have re-enlisted. Abraham Brown of our company died yesterday, here in the Vicksburg hospital. He was a good man.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 160

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Thursday, December 31, 1863

The weather has been generally mild this month, though changeable, but today it capped the climax. There was a strong gale from the northwest, accompanied by rain and snow. This is regular muster day. The Eleventh Iowa was mustered at 10 o'clock, and we all had to fall in line by companies, and march to the colonel's tent, where we answered to our names as they were called. This is a poor day for "Veterans;" the re-enlisting is not progressing very fast.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 160

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, December 15, 1863

Quite cool this morning, with a high wind all day. Quite a number of the Eleventh Iowa have re-enlisted, though only eighteen of our company.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 158

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Friday, December 11, 1863

The Eleventh had regimental inspection with accouterments and full dress. The boys are continuing to re-enlist for three years or during the war. Officers from the corps headquarters are out among the different regiments urging reenlistments. They argue that the war will be over anyway by the time the first three-year service shall have expired, and they might as well avail themselves of the extra bounty. Then, too, they say, “What a fine thing it would be to be called a veteran of the war!”

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 157

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, December 5, 1863

The re-enlisting of the men for three years is proceeding rapidly. Most of the boys are in favor of seeing the war brought to a close before they quit the job, while others say that they have seen enough of war, declaring that they have done their duty.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 156

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Thursday, December 3, 1863

I went out on picket this morning. An order was read on parade this evening, announcing that all soldiers who will re-enlist for three years or during the war will be enrolled in the Veterans' Corps, and receive a bounty of $400.00 and a thirty-day furlough. Some of the boys signed their names at once.¹

_______________

¹ I was not yet in from picket and so knew nothing of what was going on.—A. G. D.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 156

Brigadier General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, May 27, 1862

CAMP OPPOSITE FREDERICKSBURG, May 27, 1862.

Yesterday General Reynolds's brigade was moved over the river to occupy the town of Fredericksburg, and we changed our camp to near the bridges, so that, in case of necessity, we could be rapidly thrown over. Although we only marched three or four miles, yet a thorough change of camp is always a great job, for notwithstanding we are prepared to move at any time, still we stick our stakes so firmly in the ground, when we do halt, that it is a labor to pull them up. McDowell left last night for Washington, where they appear to be paralyzed with fear at the audacity of the enemy falling on Banks with a superior force. It is whispered that McDowell was peremptorily ordered to return to Manassas and Alexandria, and to establish his headquarters at Washington City. He immediately took a train for Washington to enter his protest against such an injudicious move, and urge his being reinforced and authorized to move on. It was only the other day the Government disbanded two regiments of Indiana volunteers, who being twelve-months' men, their time had expired. These men were willing and desirous of re-enlisting for the war, but the Department refused to re-enlist, saying the Government had more men in service than it really needed. To-day they are crying out for any one to come to Washington to save them. The truth is, we must expect disaster, so long as the armies are not under one master mind. In nothing is the old adage so fully verified as in matters military, "that too many cooks spoil the broth." The enemy by their razzia (as I think it is called) sometimes raid or foray against Banks, have most beautifully succeeded in knocking all McDowell's plans into a cocked hat, and now they are at leisure, so far as any co-operation from this army (for it was an army) is concerned, to do what they please against McClellan. I hope the latter will be able to drive them from Richmond, when perhaps the Government may for awhile be easy on the score of Washington. From all appearances, we will have to remain here, if not fall back to Manassas and Alexandria.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 268-9

Will They Come Back?

The Richmond papers say that every train from Manassas is crowded with soldiers who are on their return home to visit their friends – but who have promised to come back and re-enlist.  Wonder how much, under the circumstances, this promise is worth?  The succession of defeats which the rebel cause is encountering at every point must be a lively inducement to return.  Once at home they will fancy, come to the conclusion that patriotism imperatively requires them to stay where they are, so as to help drive away the “Hessian invaders” when they go that way.  Besides, if they spend a few weeks at their firesides, it will probably prove so difficult for them to find their old comrades and commanders, unless they seek them among the prisoners in the Union camps, that they will scarcely attempt so desperate an undertaking. – N. Y. Herald.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 4, 1862, p. 2

Letter from 18th Iowa Inft.

Ft. Smith, Ark.,
March 18, 1864

Mr. Editor :–

In reading your paper of Feb. the 20th I see an article addressed to the citizens of Clark County, written by Mr. Lyons, the recruiting officer for said county, purporting to be a reply to a resolution passed by the recruits of said county at Ft. Des Moines, Jan. 8th, 1864.

The writer of this does allege that A. H. Burrows told him that he, (Mr. A. Lyons) on making application to him (Burrows) for a recommendation as a suitable person for recruiting officer, told him (Burrows) that He was going in the United States army, which he says is false. He says in regard to the second charge, that he told some of the citizens that he intended to go in the service and that he is still in the same conmfortable [sic] fix. The writer does not doubt that there are hundreds at home, and likely to remain there in equally as comfortable a fix as Mr. Lyons. That they would assert three times a day, if the opportunity would present itself, that they would sacrifice their property and lives for the maintenance of the Union. But alas, when an opportunity presents itself, by the authority of the government for them to make good their assertions! Their patriotism fails them, and they say to others, “You go, I have houses and land and unless I can profitably dispose of them I cannot go.” So says Mr. Lyons. It seems notwithstanding the great disappointment he incurred last fall in not getting a hand, he deliberately and voluntarily, of his own free will and accord, made application for a commission and through true motives of patriotism made the great sacrifice, and left the domestic circle to act as recruiting agent for the government. You may ask the question, why Mr. Lyons has made this great sacrifice? I do not know that I can answer the question. Let it suffice for the present for me to say that he gets fifteen dollars for every competent recruit he delivers at the office of the District Marshal. It is a fact that cannot be contradicted that there is thousands of men in the North who could leave their families well to live, that will never join the army as a private, but who would readily leave their families if they had an assurance that they would get an office in the army. Mr. Lyons talks different from what he did when he first took the field under Uncle Sam. He then said that our brother soldiers in the field had borne the heat and burden of the day, and now called upon us at home to contribute our mite, so that they could return home to enjoy the fruit of their labor.

At the time he was at Lacelle, beating up for volunteers, he did not ask you whether you could leave your family in a position to live within themselves; or what disposition you could make of your farms, and stock, but said to you that had no farms, that you could make more in the army than you could at home, and to you that had farms and stock, that you were men that should go, from the fact that you had the means to support your families while you were in the army, and at the same time added that “he was going to leave his concerns, and was going in the service.” But instead of making good his assertion, we find him at home publishing false accusations against the volunteers.

As to the recruits being prevented from re-enlisting at Indianola, by Mr. Lyons, it is a false assertion, and only could emanate from something in the shape of Anderson Lyons. While he has arrayed us before the people of Clark Co. for trying to desert them, and to represent another county, he has forgotten to tell them that he left a part of us on the streets at Indianola, and we had to procure our own lodgings, and pay for the same out of our own pockets, and then he refused to refund the money until we complained of the to the district Marshal. –

After slandering and misrepresenting his recruits to cap the climax, he then challenges any one of them to single combat in order to prove his patriotism. Allow me through your columns to accept his proposition. I will say here, as I am the challenged party, according to the dueling code, I have the choice of weapons, place and manner of fighting. As to arms I propose [a] squirt gun, not more than one-half inch [missing text] nor more than twelve inches long, of the [missing text] approved pattern, to be chosen by our [missing text] onds. Place of fighting. South of [Oceola] on White Breast, at some point where [missing text] the is not less than ten paces wide, the contending parties to take their respective positions on either side of the creek, then and there forever to decide which has been the most valiant soldier in defense of political liberty. Time of fighting to be thirty days after the independence of the Confederate States of America is acknowledged.

Please give room for the above in your paper, and oblige your friend and obedient servant.

Wm. Ford

We, the undersigned, do hereby Certify that Mr. A. Lyons did say at the time he was recruiting for the Government, in Clark County, December last, that the time for volunteering would expire on the fifth day of the next month, and furthermore that he was going in the United States Service when he delivered his recruits at Ft. Des Moines, and we furthermore do certify that the charges preferred against us recruits for the 18th Reg. for wanting to re-enlisting at Indianola, for a home bounty is positively false.

Soloman Thomas
Nathan Thomas
Stephen Stiverson
William H. Burham

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, April 9, 1864

Our Quota

The State Register of Friday last has the following on this subject:

“Adjutant General Baker has kindly furnished us with some explanatory light on that dispatch published yesterday morning which reports Iowa deficient 13,000 men. The facts are as follows: Under the call for 500,000 men, the state has more than filled its quota. The re-enlisted regiments have not all made their returns. Under the last call for 200,000 men the quota of Iowa is 6,439. On this quota there is already a credit of 1,000 men, leaving 5,439 to be made up by recruits and re-enlistments. Iowa has never yet failed to meet the requisitions of the Government. The last call for 200,000 men will meet with a hearty and patriotic response. To say, therefore, that we are deficient 13,000 men, or even one man is an infamous slander on the State.”

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, April 9, 1864