Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 1, 1862

7 Oc Amandus Mullen & I took the cars for St. Louis arived 8 we then went to the arsenal & to[ok] a view of all the preparations there for war then took the cars & went to Corondelet took a view of the gun Boats building & the big guns. took dinner with Anthony Lobsinger then took the cars for the citty then took the Street Cars & came to Benton Barracks I was on Dress perade A Mullen staid with us the night

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 97

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 2, 1862

9 Oc we went on Battallion drill. after we dismissed I & A Mullen visited the hospital & afternoon he started for home we was on company drill & Dress perade after dismissing I again visited the hospital and endeavored to comfort the suffering. evening we had meeting at the Barracks of Co A. the Chaplain had me to open by prayer he spoke then called on me to exort after that we had a speaking meeting & the power of God was with us & many wept 1st Lieut not able for duty

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 97

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 3, 1862

In the morning I visited the sick in the hospital & at 9 Oc took the street cars and went into the citty to procure some things for the mess. I had an interview with Genls Curtis & Fisk. Called at Genl Fremonts residence he is absent. I saw the 118th Illinois Reg on their way to Memphis. evening I spoke in the Barracks of Co F text Matthew 11th 28th K. P. Morrison & our Chaplain followed me we had a good time I visited the 33 Reg Iowa Vol in their barracks to day.

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 97

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 4, 1862

Forenoon we had a fine battalion drill afternoon the orderly & I drilled the company we ware on Dress perade Evening the Chaplain preached in barracks of Co C text prayer is as an anchor to the soul &c. after preaching we had an excellent speaking meeting.

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 97

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 5, 1862

Forenoon we was on battallion drill after noon Co drill, no Dress perade about sunset just when the 23 Mo Inft dismissed their dress perade one of their boys snapped his gun at the croud not knowing it was loaded it went of killed one man dead dangerously wounded one & one slightly Evening I attended preaching by one of the 1st Iowa Cavalry to the paroled prisoners text to be spiritually minded is life & peace

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 97

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 6, 1862

Capt Fee & Orderly Spooner spent the day in the Citty we had a general cleaning up in the barracks, afternoon I took 3 of the boys & went out & got a fine lot of Sasafrass & we had some pistol target shooting I stood No one. 4 Oc we ware on dress perade I received a letter stating Amandus is verry sick

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 97

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 7, 1862

In the morning I visited our sick in the hospital 10 Oc attended preaching by the Chaplain in the 4th ward hospital at the fair grounds, text eternity. 2 Oc our Chaplain preached in Barracks of Co, H evening Capt Mahan preached in our barracks Co G. text the Lord hath given his people a banner we had a good time. I am uneasy about me Dear Son Amandus

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 98

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 8, 1862

Forenoon we had battalion drill afternoon Capt & Orderly went out to try their pistols I visited the hospitals & the Seargents drilled the Co. 4 Oc we ware on dress perade evening Capt Fee & I spent at head quarters of post with Leroy Mayne & Adgatent Horine

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 98

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 9, 1862

9 Oc Mr. R Murdock & I started to the citty was at the gun boats & Arsenal seen one horse get drouned, took our dinner at the Mt Vernon hotell, kept by Bolander Spent an hour with Dr Elliott Editor of the Central advocate. Evening I spoke to the paroled prisoners text now commandeth all men everywhere to repent Butler D Bailey a stout young man of our company died, the first we have lost

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 98

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 10, 1862

8 Oc I went down into the citty to the government undertaker & made arrangements & arranged to have him burry Corporal Butler D Bailey at 2 Oc. I got the Col to releave our Company from duty that all mite escorte the corps to the graveyard. evening our Chaplain preached to the paroled prisoners. I exorted, text, thou shalt not go with the multitude to do evil we had a good time it turned it into a speaking meeting & there was great liberty

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 98

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 11, 1862

Forenoon we had a good battallion drill afternoon I Drilled the Co 4 Oc we was on Dress perade evening I was at meeting a short time in Co D at 7½ Oc I met with the commissioned officers at head quarters we held an election for Sutler & a Mr Wolf of Albia, Monroe Co Iowa was elected

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 98

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 12, 1862

Forenoon we had a fine battallion drill afternoon we ware in Co drill & dress perade evening I spoke to the paroled prisners in their barracks text Son give me thy heart Our Chaplain was present we had a good time.

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 98

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 13, 1862

Forenoon we had a fine battallion, no drill afternoon or dress perade, afternoon I was sent for to go to the hospital & talk & pray for a Mr Jewell he had lost his evidence, he was enabled to lay hold on the promises & was made verry happy. Evening Hare preached & I exorted. text almost thou persuadest me to be a christian we had a good time.

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 98

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 14, 1862

4 Oc we ware on dress parade in the mud & rain 2½ Oc Brother Oiler Chaplain of the 21st Mo Inft preached to us text 1st psalm Capt Morton exorted he is of the Mo Inft night H D Morrison preached text take the whole armour Hare exorted & we had a speaking & it was a glorious time.

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 98

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 15, 1862

9 Oc I went on duty as officer of the Guard had some rough costomers to tend to in the guard house in the Western division Benton Barracks I got along verry well

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, pp. 98-9

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 16, 1862

10 Oc I got of duty was up near all night last. this day I spent mostly visiting the sick in hospitals 4 Oc was on dress perade evening attended preaching in Co K Capt Noble Barracks. Dr Ball preached text we love him because he first loved us &c we had a good time.

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 99

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

Beautifull & pleasant. we ware on battallion by light in the morning, afternoon we had Skirmish drill & dress perade 11 Oc Lieut J. K. Morey of the 18th Iowa Vol called to see us. 3 Oc H C Caldwells¹ Lieut Col of the 3rd Iowa Cavalry came out to pay me a visit evening I went with him into the citty we attended the ladies aid society or fair in the Mercantile Colledge there was a house full of the grandees. Brig Genl McKean² of Iowa was there at the sale tables they represented the costume of 15 different nations it was grand. I staid the night at the Mt Vernon hotell kept by Bolander

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¹ Henry Clay Caldwell of Keosauqua, afterward United States district judge for the Arkansas District from 1861 to 1890, and United States circuit judge for the Eighth Circuit from 1890 to 1903, when he resigned. He died February 15, 1915.

² Thomas Jefferson McKean, a native of Pennsylvania, graduated from West Point in 1831, resigned from the army in 1838, followed civil engineering and located at Marion, Linn County, Iowa, in 1840. Became county surveyor of Linn County and in 1844 was a member of the first Constitutional Convention. Was in the Mexican War as a sergeant-major in 1817-48, was sheriff of Linn County in 1861, but resigned to enter the army, was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers November 21, 1861, and was breveted major-general in 1865. Died at Marion April 18, 1870.

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 99

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 18, 1862

I visited the Rever Vernon Dr Elliott Hiram Fate & saw Mrs Wm Thompson of Keosauqua Iowa I promenaded the citty & visited the Batterries. 4 Oc I was on battallion drill, Noon we had orders to be ready to march by 8 Oc morning with 4 days rations all seem keen to be off, we will have to leave 150 of the Reg in hospital of our company we will leave 7 men

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 99

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

At daylight I visited our sick in the hospitals talked & consoled them all I could bid them good bye at 7½ Oc we took leave of Benton Barracks marched to the packet landing & took passage on the packets Warsaw & Jenny Dean for Helena Arkansaw & at 3¼ Oc we started from the levve at St. Louis, our Co is on the Warsaw we laid up for the night 20 miles below St Louis near the Sulphor Springs

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 99

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

6 Oc we let loose & started on our way rejoiceing 2½ Oc Wm Perkins preached to us text get wisdom &c he is a prisbeterian & Chaplain of the 7 Illinos Inft on the way to his Reg Walker Chaplain of the 118 Ill Inft opened servises by prayer. on his way to the Reg. we laid by for the night at Saml Vancils. Cape Girardeau County & 15 miles above the town of that name I went on shore & to the house & spent part of the evening with them

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 99