A very wet morning. Our Lieut. Col. Miles got his leg broken below the knee, by his horse stumbling and falling; he had visited the 77th Penna. regiment, and it was on his return to our camp that he met with this accident. I carried coffee out to No. 3 station and No. 1 post in the evening, making a march there and back again of 4 miles.
SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The
Soldier Boy's Diary Book, pp. 34-5
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
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.
When I read over my
letter this morning I found I had not written something I wanted to, because I
did not have time, and finish my letter before tattoo
This small sheet was
here so handy, and one that Isaac gave me, I thought I would direct it to you
and write to all. I intend to write to Uncle Jacobs in a day or two and if I go
any where near them I shall get a pass to go and see them There is quite a difference
in the climate here from that of Low Moor. There has not been the least frost
here yet, and the trees grass and all nature looks green and fresh By the way
how does evry thing get along at home let me know all the little particulars
Has Father & Mother got back from Wis. and how did they enjoy their visit.
Is Kich Vleharts threshing yet, how does John and all of Peters folks
together with Henries folks get along I do not know but I promised to write
them a letter but I have not got time.
Tell Rich I have got
a good tough horse, and well he might be for he has since I had him had the
saddle on his back four days & nights with out changing Evrything has to
get used to hardships When on Picket Guard a person is not allowed to unsaddle
his horse
I have not got a
name for my horse yet if you can think of a good one I want you to name him. I
did not think about the picture of the Fare grounds on the first sheet when I
was writing so poor, I am writing now in hast for the Bugle is sounding for
drill excuse all errors, and write soon.
SOURCE: Benjamin F.
Shambaugh, The Iowa Journal of History and Politics, vol. 28
(1930), pp. 213-4.
I received your long
looked for letter last night and I set my self about answering it as soon as I
had read it, but had hardly commenced when the word came (to arms) or rather to
go and get our new Sabers. I had to go. I have a very good one indeed. There
was so much nois and clamor that I could not think of writing more last night.
This Sunday morning we had to pack up evrything that is caried on horse back
and appear on grand review or inspection after forming in line of Battle we
marched around Brig. Gen. Curtis'27 quarters, He (with his Body
Guard close by) was to inspect our Battalion as we marched by. I had a fine
opportunity of seeing him he is a fine looking old man, and quite gray hair,
all the soldiers had to salute him with the Saber. It was dinner time when I
came in quarters, and as soon as I could take care of my horse and put away my
things it was two oclock, and now as I want to write this letter (not knowing
when I may have another opportunity) I will have to give up going to meeting,
which is at four oclock We have orders to leave here between this and
Wednesday. I know not where, but unless the order is countermanded we will go.
I expect we will have to be put through drilling while we stay here, we drill
mostly on a trot and a gallop, and when chargeing, on a dead
run. I am geting used to riding, I beleive I shall make a good horseman a
number of the boys have been thrown from their horses and some been run away with
I believe that not any of them have been hurt. I am proud of my horse he is
such a steady good one, When I get my accouterments all on and drilling I tell
you I feel animated and like fighting. I beleive I shall do good exicution when
I get a chance at those Missouri Ruffians. I think my chance is good for one
stroke at least soon too, Day before yesterday our Lt. Crissy28 came
back from Lyons with recruits among them were Blacksmith-Clark J. Kilmer,
Thoms. Else,29 Although they are nearly strangers to me, they
seem like old friends. It came my turn to stand on stable guard that night from
twelve untill six in the morning. I had so many long stories to exchange with
the Camanche boys that I did not go to bed to get any sleep that night. Aaron
Reccord & Lucian Beely30 also came down at the same time in
pesuit of their Regt. I suppose you knew that they had been in the Hospital at
Camp McClellan, and home on a furlough They are here yet and as Aaron is quite
lame (from the affects of over walking when too week) I think he will stay here
untill he is better, while Beely will start tomorrow morning, to over take his
Co. that I think is near Warsaw.31 I got a pass to go to the
Hospital but they would not admit me I enquired for John Dam and was told that
he was not There, I suppose that he went with his Co, The last I heard of Isaac
and Co R. they were at Jeferson City. Tell Aunt Rebecca32 Isaacs
letters will be forwarded from Head Quarters and I will not see them You said
you was glad to hear of any delay of our Co. for my personal safety I do not
want you to feel so, I came to fight, and the sooner we get at it
the sooner it it [sic] will be ended I can not give you any information
concerning the war I do not get the news regular and there is so many rumors in
camp that a person can not beleive any of them, and a soldier never knows where
he is going or what he is going to do I beleive our Regt is as good as any them
is, or at least Col. says so, & Brig. Gen. Cortis [Curtis] says it has cost
as much as any two Regt. organized.
We have another suit
of evry day clothes in the Col.['s] charge so we shall not get out this winter
Besides we have a dress suit for a fancy rig but the Col. will not give it us
yet I do not want it to mus now since I wrote you last we have received fatigue
caps and partly enough overalls, expect the rest soon they are a good
institution If I have time before I go from this place I will send you my
likeness with my arms I shall expect to receive yours soon (I mean all the
folks) Emma wondered if I was standing on guard the night she wrote I beleive I
was or the night before I am not positive which You told me about Parkes how
hard he had to work I am sorry he has to work so hard I believe it is easier to
soldier, but since we have been at Benton Barracks my whole time has been
occupied though it is not hard work, We have so much cleaning to do by the way
I will tell you something I have to do We have to keep our Buttons Bright (we
use chalk and a brush) all our clothes brushed clean, our Boots Blacked There
is a great deal of Brass about our saddles, spurs Bridles and all have to be
kept Bright and clean We have Brass shoulder Plates or Appauletts our Arms
&c all have to be kept Bright. We also have to keep our Quarters clean and
take care of horse. We Drill five hours evry day and have Dress Parade at five
oclock it takes about half or three fourth hours I have to cook every ten days
and stand on guard once in from three to six days, we all have to get up at six
oclock or Reveille, (The sound of the Bugle) and cannot go to bed untill after
Roll call or Tattoo (sound of the Bugle) which is at nine oclock P. M. If we do
not answer at Roll Call we get a black mark, and about three markes makes extra
guard duty (I never got a black mark yet) I was sorry to learn that Father and
mother did not go to Wis. I think they would have enjoyed the visit by the way
there is some boys here from McGregor, Iowa. Some are acquainted in Grant Co, Wis.
they say they are acquainted with some Kaslers but not our friends relatives as
I can learn. There is some here from Adair Co. Mo. They Have been at Shibleys
Point33 but not acquainted there I have not written to Uncle Jacobs
yet. I will the first spare time I have, for I know they would be glad to hear
from me, But I want to write a good & a long letter when I write. I hope I
may have an opportunity to visit them, though I think the prospects of geting a
furlough is rather dubious, several have applied but to no effect I almost
forgot to tell you of my visit to the Arsinal Yesterday I got a pass to go down
town I went on horse back and rode nearly all day through the city The Arsinal
is about three miles below the city and on the river Bank It is surounded by a
high stone wall and includes about ten acres There is many large stone and
Brick buildings where all kinds of arms are manufactured I see 1.25 large
cannon about half were six and eight inch bore and Riffled Cannon the rest were
light and ten inch and one did weigh 12,051 lbs I see a number of morters and
Bom shells a number of Brass cannon In one building they were makeing
cartridges and five hundred boys would make two hundred Thousand a day it would
seam enough to shoot all the rebbles in existence It was interesting to see the
process of cartriges makeing and others makeing impliments of war, I have no
time for explanations.
27 Samuel R. Curtis was at this time a
brigadier general; shortly afterwards he was promoted to major general, and in
March, 1862, was in chief command of the Union army at the decisive victory of
Pea Ridge, which gave an opening wedge for later Union invasions of Arkansas.
On September 24, 1862, he was assigned to command of the Department of Missouri
and Kansas. He kept the Confederates in this field on a defensive and guerrilla
basis of warfare throughout his period of command; but his policy of
maintaining as many troops as possible in Missouri to dragoon southern
sympathizers into submission instead of furnishing contingents to other fields
when asked for them set him at odds with the authorities at Washington. On
March 10, 1863, President Lincoln ordered Gen. E. V. Sumner to relieve him.
Sumner died on the way to St. Louis, so the President on May 13th ordered
General Schofield to relieve Curtis. Curtis afterwards commanded the Department
of Kansas and Indian Territory. - Battles and Leaders of the
Civil War (New York. The Century Co., 1888), Vol. III, pp.
446, 454, Vol. IV, pp. 376, 377.
28 James Crissy, 1st lieutenant in Company M.
29 "Blacksmith-Clark" was James
Clark; "J. Kilmer", Jeremiah Kilmer; "Thoms. Else", Thomas
C. Elce. All three were evidently from Lyons and all enlisted after
muster. They re-enlisted in 1864 and apparently served out the war.—Lothrop's A History of
the First Regiment Iowa Cavalry Veteran Volunteers, pp. 396, 403.
30 Reccord and Beely were evidently friends and
neighbors at home. Nothing further is known about them.
31 Warsaw is the county seat of Benton County,
Missouri; it lies about 60 miles southwest of Jefferson City.
32 William's Aunt Rebecca Gulick, wife of
Abraham Gulick, a brother of William's father.
33 Shibley's Point is a small inland town about
15 miles northwest of Kirksville, in Adair County, Missouri.
34 Dr. Ankeny was a brother of Captain William
H. Ankeny who was in command of Company M at this time.
35 "Uncle Abe" was Abraham Gulick,
William's father's brother.
SOURCE: Benjamin F.
Shambaugh, The Iowa Journal of History and Politics, vol. 28
(1930), pp. 213-20.
Routed out at daylight and ordered to make Nashville, a distance of thirty-two miles. Many of the boys have no shoes, and the feet of many are still very sore. The journey seems long, but we are at the head of the column, and that stimulates us somewhat. Have sent my horse to the rear to help along the very lame, and am making the march on foot.
The martial band of the regiment is doing its utmost to keep the boys in good spirits; the base drum sounds like distant thunder, and the wind of Hughes, the fifer, is inexhaustible; he can blow five miles at a stretch. The members of the band are in good pluck, and when not playing, either sing, tell stories, or indulge in reminiscences of a personal character. Russia has been badgering William Heney, a drummer. He says that while at Elkwater Heney sparked one of Esquire Stalnaker's daughters, and that the lady's little sister going into the room quite suddenly one evening called back to the father, "Dad, dad, William Heney has got his arm around Susan Jane!" Heney affirms that the story is untrue. Lochey favors us with a song, which is known as the warble.
Thou, thou reignest in this bosom,
There, there hast thou thy throne;
Thou, thou knowest that I love thee;
Am I not fondly thine own?
Ya-ya-ya-ya.
Am I not fondly thine own?
CHORUS.
Das unda claus ish mein,
Das unda claus ish mein,
Cants do nic mock un do.
On the banks of the Ohio river,
In a cot lives my Rosa so fair;
She is called Jim Johnson's darky,
And has nice curly black hair.
Tre alo, tre alo, tre ola, ti.
O come with me to the dear little spot,
And I'll show you the place I was born,
In a little log hut by a clear running brook,
Where blossom the wild plum and thorn.
Tre ola, tre ola, treo la ti.
Mein fadter, mein modter, mein sister, mein frau,
Undt swi glass of beer for meinself,
Undt dey call mein wife one blacksmit shop;
Such dings I never did see in my life.
Tre ola, tre ola, tre ola ti.
SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, pp. 109-11
I will here relate a
little incident that occurred while we were picketing at Marietta. Captain
McKnight was informed (August 4th) that a man who had belonged to the
Confederate army, but had deserted and visited the Federals, was at home fixing
to move his family inside the Federal lines. This man lived about ten miles north.
Determined to make an effort to capture him, Captain McKnight, I and a few
others left our schoolhouse a little after dark, and awhile before day we
surrounded his house. We called at the door, as though we were some of his
neighbors. His wife answered. We told her that we wanted to see her husband,
calling him by name, as though we were well acquainted with him. She said he
was not at home, but had gone to his father's. On being asked to open the door,
she said she would as soon as she could get a light. We believed he was at
home, because she was so much excited and so long getting a light. After so
long a time she opened the door, and Captain McKnight searched the house while
I guarded the door. We noticed three ladies lying on one bed, but did not find
our man. searched other houses, and finally went to his father's, but still
failed to find him. Our trip, however, was not altogether in vain, for one Mr.
Malone gave us a splendid breakfast, his daughters made some sweet music for us,
besides we had as many melons and peaches as we could eat. Who but a soldier,
though, could appreciate such a treat as that! While at Mr. Malone's we
learned, to our surprise and chagrin, that the object of our search was, at the
time we were searching his house, between the straw and feather beds under
those three ladies. After taking a real hearty laugh over the
affair, we mounted and returned to our picket base.
While McKnight's
Company was picketing at Marietta our camps were moved from Fulton to within
two miles of Guntown. The latter place is on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, some
thirteen miles south-west from Marietta. The Federals were kind enough not to
visit Marietta while we were there, though they came within about five miles, taking
cotton, negroes, horses, etc.
I will here relate
another little incident, which, I am sure, some of McKnight's Company will
remember. A good lady who lived near Marietta had any amount of fine peaches,
but neither she nor we had any flour. So we told her to use corn meal in
making the crust, as we were bent on having a "peach cobbler." Novel
as the idea was, she made the "cobbler." And right heartily did we
eat of it. Well, it was a great deal better than no pie. We remained at
Marietta until [August 14, 1862.]
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 204-5
Started at six A.M., marched to Beverly Ford, and went into camp at eleven A.M. Paid off for two months, in the afternoon. This ends the Pennsylvania campaign,—a march of over thirty days and over four hundred miles. The hardest march the army had ever seen, hard on both men and horses. The battery remained in camp at Beverly Ford with the daily routine of duty, till [Aug. 29.]
SOURCE: John Lord Parker, Henry Wilson's Regiment: History of the Twenty-second Massachusetts Infantry, the Second Company Sharpshooters and the Third Light Battery, in the War of the Rebellion, p. 279
Near Oxford. Weather
still warm. Several of the boys went to Oxford in the afternoon with Captain.
Returned with eight new horses, also with the report that the Rebs were in
possession of Holly Springs, with 5,000 cavalry. Had taken several prisoners,
one of whom was Colonel Murphy, 8th Wisconsin; fears also were entertained that
the paymasters had been captured with their capital.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 20
Oxford. Reveille
earlier than usual; orders to hold in readiness to march, such orders being
anticipated. 7 A. M. the whole Division took up the line of march back toward
Oxford. Hitched up. The caisson fell in the train, but the pieces with the 59th
Indiana, Colonel Alexander, were left for a rear guard. The Division passed by
9 A. M. but as the train could not take all of the commissary stores and cotton
at headquarters, we had to lay there all day hitched up, waiting for the trains
to return from Oxford. They arrived at 4 P. M., loaded, and started back as
soon as possible. We were ordered to hitch up, as we could hear the drums beat
for roll call on the right of us; supposed to be Logan's Division. We fell in
rear of 59th about 8 P. M., leaving the place all quiet, the Rebs making slight
demonstrations upon the infantry during the day notwithstanding. Pushed
silently along towards Oxford, proceeded toward our old camping ground. Brought
into line by Lieutenant Clark on the right of the road in the flat. Captain
Dillon went up to the old camp. The caisson drivers being already on the start,
after pitching their tents and again striking, we passed up the hill again, on
the top of which, countermanded again, unhitched and left the horses at the
bottom. Laid down at 1 Α. Μ.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 20
Near Memphis, Tenn. Slept out-doors. Awoke at 5 A. M. A beautiful
morning. Byhalia, unlike Tallaloosa, was a bright and lively little village, with
a large school house, church, lodge room, with a scientific laboratory, out of
which the boys jay-hawked numerous books, writing utensils, etc. etc. Picked up
two horses and two mules. The owner of the horses came and pleaded hard, but
could receive no other satisfaction than a receipt from Lieutenant Clark. He
was reported to be a rank Secesh, as well as everybody else.
We started with the
1st Brigade in rear of the train at 9 A. M. Twenty-eight miles from Memphis,
passed a house where a woman stood in the yard, bravely holding the Stars and
Stripes in her hand (to protect her chickens I suppose). Marched along quietly;
nothing of importance save the appropriation of considerable molasses along the
road until half an hour of sundown when a small party of guerrillas dashed up
in our rear, discharging some fifteen or twenty pieces, then legging it before
their fire could be returned. We halted, the cannoneers sprang to their posts,
got their equipments, when the 48th Indiana formed their line. But it was all
over with. They were gone, and we started on.
Two of the balls
took effect, wounding two boys of the 48th Indiana in the arms. An assistant
adjutant general and surgeon [who] had wandered a little from the train, were
taken also by a few of Jackson's cavalry, divested of their accoutrements and
horses, then paroled.
7 P. M. Drew up
three-fourths of an hour to feed our horses, then started on, travelled till 10
P. M. Came into camp seven miles from Memphis.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, pp. 22-3
Memphis. Awakened by the morning gun at the fort; fell
in for roll call, Sergeant Hamilton acting orderly. Saw a Memphis Bulletin of
the 30th, the first newspaper since that bearing the date of the 12th. Watered
my horses, then rode into the fort with Colburn. Met Milton Campbell of the
23rd Wisconsin Regiment. The Regiment had gone down the river, leaving
twenty-nine convalescents behind. The boys were furnished with a pass to go to
town, others taking leg bail, by night. Several heavy heads. Drew six days'
rations.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 23
I visited Washington
to-day, through such rain and such mud, as no civilized country, save this, can
sustain, and preserve its character for purity. Am back to-night. On my return,
I find on my table the following:
"General
Order No. 11.
"HEADQUARTERS, &C.
"When
the time arrives for the troops of this Brigade to move, the following
will be the allowance of the means of transportation:
"Five
wagons to the companies of a Regiment (two wagons to each company); one wagon
to the Regimental Hospital.
"Each
wagon will carry the forage for its horses. The sixty rounds of reserved
ammunition will be carried in extra wagons. In the company, wagons will be
carried rations for two or three days, company mess equipage, and officers'
baggage, which will in no case exceed the amount by regulations for baggage in
the field. The forage for horses of regimental and field officers will have to
be carried in their wagons. This notice is given so that soldiers and officers
may be aware, that all property not above mentioned, to be preserved, had
better be removed, for if the troops march, it is probable the first notice given
will be the presence of wagons for loading,
“By order of Brig. Gen. ———.”
Now that begins to
look like business, and if our General means to put us in the way of doing
something if it will only not prove another counterfeit cry of "wolf"—we
shall be pleased. Gen. McClellan has already grown several inches in the
estimation of those whose confidence began to get shaky. I do not like that
expression of "for if the troops march." It looks a little wolfy. But
I shall try to think it means "go in."
SOURCE: Alfred L.
Castleman, The Army of the Potomac. Behind the Scenes. A Diary of
Unwritten History; From the Organization of the Army, by General George B.
McClellan, to the close of the Campaign in Virginia about the First Day
January, 1863, pp. 75-6
Loudon. Everything remains precisely as it was three
days ago. We are not allowed to leave camp, at least beyond bugle call. Our
guns must be kept in perfect order, ready for instant use. Artillery horses wear
their harness night and day. In fact, we are ready for attack, advance or
retreat at a minute's notice. Each morning the cavalry goes to the front,
skirmish with the enemy, watch their movements through the day and return to
camp at night. Matters wear a strange aspect; the Rebels seem playing with us;
now advancing, now retiring. I know not what to think of the way things
are working.
SOURCE: David
Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer,
1862-1865, pp. 112-3
Reached Leesburg, Loudon county, to-day and camped near the village; presume we will remain here a few days, in order that our broken down horses may recuperate. We have had only one feed of corn for our horses since we left Rapidan station.
SOURCE: William S. White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, pp. 129-30
Left Leesburg this evening at 5 o'clock, crossed the Potomac River and marched eight or ten miles into Frederick county, Maryland.
'Twas a beautiful night; the crystalline waters of the lovely Potomac danced and sparkled in the soft moonbeams of that autumn night, whilst the neighing of horses, the clanging of sabres, the gleaming of muskets, the artillery's rumble, and the merry jest of many a careless soldier, made it a scene ever to be remembered. The "die is cast," the Potomac is crossed, and Maryland is invaded or aided, just as she may see fit to call it. If she fails to join us now, let us hear no more about oppressed Maryland, but let the proud land of the Carrolls, the Howards and the Cecils be known to us of the sunny South no more forever.
SOURCE: William S. White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 130
Marched to within four miles of Frederick city; here we have an abundance of food for our half starved horses.
SOURCE: William S. White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 130
Moved on towards Shepherdstown. Having loaned my horse to a comrade to visit his home, I had a fine prospect of marching all day, but as good fortune willed it, I met a cavalryman with two horses. He loaned me one, and we started for Shepherdstown on our own hook. We reached that place about sundown, having had a splendid time on the way. We stopped at several farm-houses, and were most hospitably entertained, both in Berkeley and Jefferson counties.
SOURCE: William S. White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 132
I received your kind letter yesterday morning but as I did not have time to answer it then I waited untill now. My time is limited, for I am standing guard and just came off, will have to go on again at one oclock, we stand two hours on, and about four off, for twenty-four hours. It commenced last night to rain and has continued to rain ever since and prospects for a wet time all through my time of Guard, But I am well provided for as we have our uniform the clothing for the whole Regiment came Sept. 20th. We have one heavy pair Pantaloons and the promise of another soon, a very heavy Overcoat with cape a Fighting Jacket trimmed with orange a blue sack coat for a fatigue dress a pair of Boots, pair of shoes, and a hat something like Isaac's We have three Blankets one for our horse. The Whole Regiment is Ordered to go to St. Louis and to go by Squadrons one each day commencing tomorrow (Monday) Our Squadron will be the last so we will remain here yet six days unless further orders We expect to get the remainder of our horses by Wednesday, We have now about 30 horses and saddles. I forgot to tell you all of our clothing we got Shirts two pair drawers, two pair Socks a canteen, and all the little necessaries we wanted. I cannot carry all my clothing so I will send my things that I need least, in a box with some others to Clinton I shall have them in a bundle directed to Low Moor, I shall write to the rest of the family in a few days I got a pass yesterday to go down town but as the Colonel2 wanted all should appear on grond parad [sic] I could not go to have my likeness taken but as soon as I can get my pass I will have it taken and send it in my next letter. You will probably hear from Isaac soon for he will write as soon as he gets to St. Louis and he starts Tuesday
I was glad to hear that you were all geting along so well I am as well as can be and like soldiering better evry day I tell you it is fine cooking and eating out doors such days as this I have just pertaken of an apple dumpling I bought it for my dinner and thank fortune I have change but many have not, Peter Barr3 has lost his pocket Book with over Fifty dollars he says if Wagner4 has not payed that little sum he ows him to his brother he would like to have him send it to him, he says direct or send it in one of my letters The sum is $3.60 I believe. It is now time for me to go on guard and I have always been prompt excuse me from writing more this time and I will write soon and more give my love to all my friends tell them I like to get letters, direct care of Capt.5 to Camp Warren as you have heretofore and my letters will be forwarded on to me if I am gone
1 William Gulick had four sisters, all older than himself: Lorette Schuyler, Sarah Jane Wagner, Emma V. Harris, and Cynthia Jones.
2 Colonel Fitz Henry Warren, of the First Iowa Cavalry Volunteers, rose to the rank of brevet major general before the close of the war. A native of Massachusetts, he had moved to Burlington, Iowa, in 1844. In 1849 President Taylor appointed him Assistant Postmaster General. He made an excellent record in this position, but resigned it in indignation when Millard Fillmore signed the Fugitive Slave Law. In the campaign of 1860 he employed his eloquent oratorical powers in behalf of Abraham Lincoln. When war broke out he left the associate editorship of the New York Tribune, where he had made a reputation as one of the ablest journalists in the United States, to serve his country in the field. In later years he was frequently active in Iowa politics.
3 Peter Barr, of Company M, came (like Gulick) from the Low Moor neighborhood and seems to have been a close friend of Gulick's, as he is mentioned a number of times in these letters. At the time of his discharge for disability at Clinton, Missouri, on June 24, 1862, he held the rank of corporal.
4 Richard Wagner, of Low Moor, married Sarah Jane Gulick.
5 By the "Capt." is meant William H. Ankeny, Captain of Company M.
SOURCE: Benjamin F. Shambaugh, The Iowa Journal of History and Politics, vol. 28 (1930), pp. 204-6.
I am suffering with pains in all my bones & am indifference to moving when seated We drilled some in bayonet exersize, the volts; passades &c Our Major Woodward was unfortunate his servent Frank a white man road his fine horse to town & in jumping a ditch the horse broke his leg & they had to shoot him, the Major is quite sick & they have not yet let him know it
SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 107
This has certainly
been one of the most exciting days I have spent in the service. We crossed the
river on a transport to the Louisana shore and commenced our march at 4 a. m.
My orders were to capture all the horses, mules and cattle I could, together
with all arms and amunition. The country is a beautiful one, splendid
plantations just blooming with cotton, the first I have ever seen in such an
early stage. I mounted my men as fast as I could. The march was a perfect
ovation from the darkies who first time in their lives saw Yankee soldiers and
knew they were free; they rushed to the road, fell on their knees praying with
all the fervor and feeling of their race. "Glory be to God, freedom's come
at last," etc., etc. They brought us fruits of the finest kind, butter,
milk, eggs, chickens, in fact all they could get so happy to know they were now
free. Captain Whittle with a few men pushed in advance of the main body and
captured a large lot of guns and ammunition, pressed a number of teams into
service, brought back what he could and destroyed the balance. Lieutenant Mason
was sent off on another road and captured an old planter who was just starting
for Texas with all his slaves, mules, horses and wagons; in fact would have
gone in five minutes more but those five minutes were fatal to him. He had to
turn his face the other way; his negroes were nearly crazy, so glad were they
to escape. We marched about fifteen miles into the country and then, as
ordered, started back on our march toward the river. Such a sight as met my
gaze. All along the road were the negroes with their families, household goods,
everything they could gather in the short time, piled up in their immense cotton
wagons as high as they could get them. There must have been thousands, no end
to the children; such a happy set of beings I never saw before. They were to
use their own words, "Going to freedom." They knew nothing else,
cared for nothing else, they were now free, what they had looked forward for,
for years, had come upon them in a moment, nothing could induce them to stay on
their plantations. I told them our provisions were short; they cared not, they
could find something to eat, they cared not if they died, they were now free;
they sang and danced, kissed each other and all the extravagant demonstrations
of joy you can imagine were carried on. We marched to within five miles of the
river at dusk when we encamped for the night. We took supper in the house of an
overseer of Colonel Davis' plantation, who was boasting that his darkies would
not leave him, when all at once one of the men came and whispered something; he
jumped out of his chair and exclaimed "Good God, you don't say so, are
they all going?" "Yes," says the darky "All going, Massa,
and so is I," and he darted out of the room. Our officers could not but
help laughing, and the oaths of the overseer were frightful. At night all was
quiet but the singing of the darkies, which music was certainly remarkable for
the joyous tunes and remarkable words.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, pp. 20-1
