Camp Warren, Ia. Sept. 29th/61
Ia Cavalry
Dear Sisters1
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
Your Brother
W. O. Gulick
_______________
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.
