USA > Iowa > Lucas County > Past and present of Lucas and Wayne counties, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 18
USA > Iowa > Wayne County > Past and present of Lucas and Wayne counties, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
"Dallas is about as large as Corydon, but we did not find a person in town. When we left the next morning, or just before we left, by some unaccountable accident the house belonging to the rebel, Colonel Jeffries, took fire. The Major remained a short time after the regiment marched. and when he left the fire had spread to all the other houses, except the courthouse. On the way back we had plenty to eat. and nice dry rails to cook it with."
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF HUMESTON
HIGH SCHOOL, HUMESTON
TI
221
PAST AND PRESENT OF WAYNE COUNTY
"PATTERSON, Missouri, November 11, 1862.
"We have not received our pay yet, but expect it every day. We have been expecting marching orders for some days. It is raining now quite hard, but we have a tent with a good floor in it. We also have good beds, four posts drove in the ground, strips nailed on them and three boards laid on them lengthwise, then we double one blanket and lay it on the boards, climb in and cover up with three blankets. The boards are soft, very soft, much softer than Iowa lumber, but the Missourians call them hard pine.
"It is reported that Colonel Jackson, the commander of the expedition to Dallas, has been arrested for cowardice, and the Twenty-third says 'Amen.'
"There is nothing pleasant in straying away from every- thing a man holds dear, and living the kind of life we have to live when we don't think we are doing good for our coun- try or anything else. Lying idly in camp will not put down the rebellion. Why don't they give us something to do, put down the rebellion and go home ?"
"PATTERSON, Missouri, November 17, 1862.
"I am out of postage stamps, and can't send a letter without franking it with the name of some commissioned officer. You will have to pay the postage on my letters hereafter, because I can't get stamps.
"We are still at Patterson, and have no idea when we will leave. We have camp rumors of all kinds about march- ing orders, but nothing reliable. Nothing is occuring in camp worthy of note."
"PATTERSON, Missouri, November 18. 1862.
"We are having a very heavy rain just now. Everybody is in their tents, and you can sit here and listen to the rain and hear almost any kind of noise that can be made by men.
"We have a six-gun battery here now. They are mostly Germans, I think from St. Louis. I don't know anything about their fighting, but they are splendid musicians and continually singing."
"PATTERSON, Missouri, November 21. 1862.
"General Davidson has come into camp since dark, and one of the bands is serenading him. I can't write with such Vol. 1-13
222
PAST AND PRESENT OF WAYNE COUNTY
good music ringing in my ears, so I will go down to head- quarters and hear it.
"Nov. 22. I had to stop writing to go out on inspection this morning, and our company had quite a compliment from Colonel Schreck, the inspector. He said they were the best drilled and the cleanest company in the Right, and the boys feel flattered, as it is not always the case with them.
"We have the same routine of duty every day, and as a consequence writing a decent letter would be like the Israel- ites in Egypt making bricks without straw."
"PATTERSON, Missouri, November 25, 1862.
"We have to do picket duty now. Our company were all out yesterday, and were relieved this A. M. General Davidson has moved his headquarters here from St. Louis and we think that he wants to show himself and his author- ity. He is quite foppish and is like a little Dutch Jew. The boys don't like him. They think there is nothing in him but show, and lying around camp so long with nothing to do except guard and drill becomes monotonous and predisposes growling and dissatisfaction with everything."
"PATTERSON, Missouri, November 30, 1862.
"This is Sabbath day. The company are nearly all on picket-forty-eight men. I was left to look after our camp, and see that everything was kept straight. ,
"Colonel Dewey died this morning. He had not been sick more than about four days. The cause was typhoid fever with erysipelas, the doctors say, but the boys think that all three do not know as much as one ought to know.
"The boys got to like the Colonel very well as a comman- der, but his death will make quite a change in the regiment. They are making preparations to send him home tomorrow. Lieutenant Colonel Kinsman will take command now, and the boys all love him. His shoulder straps are not so heavy but that he can wear them without hurting him. He has a kind word for any of the boys whenever or wherever he meets them. I suppose he will be commissioned as a Colonel, and the Major as a Lieutenant Colonel, and there will be a contest for the Majorship. The field officers will be more satisfactory to the boys of the Right than it has been.
223
PAST AND PRESENT OF WAYNE COUNTY
"We will soon be ready to march now, as we have about got our camp fixed up so as to be comfortable for winter."
"PATTERSON, Missouri, December 8, '62.
"On the 2nd inst. I was attacked with what the surgeon says was lung fever. . Was quite sick for three or four days. I am able to be up now but very weak. The Colonel was at St. Louis. I appropriated his bunk and brought it to our tent. It is much better than ours and fared very well, better than most of the sick. I did not go to the hospital, but was nursed by the company.
"All the troops are to leave here tomorrow, except the Twenty-third Iowa, First Nebraska. The Colonel is trying to get orders for us to go, too. We are badly disgusted with having to lie around so long, and doing nothing. I get out of humor when I undertake to say anything about it, but we will have to grin and bear it and wait the orders of our superiors. I suppose we will get something to do some time."
"PATTERSON, Missouri, December 11, 1862.
"I still continue better, and am able for duty, though weak. Joe Sharp was sent to the hospital at Pilot Knob. The Colonel was not here when he started, and the Colonel has gone after him and swears he is going to have his men all together.
"Company D is on picket today. The sick and conva- lescent remain in camp."
"PATTERSON, Missouri, December 14, 1862.
"This Sabbath day and it has been raining for two or three days. At the present it is pouring. The streams are full and everything looks dreary. The weather is warm here, though I understand the Mississippi is frozen over in Iowa.
"The health of the Right is better than it has been for some time. The Right has had twenty deaths since we started, beside the Colonel-eighteen died from the effects of measles -one from mumps and one of typhoid fever."
"PATTERSON, Missouri, December 19, 1862.
"The railroad track is torn up between here and St. Louis by the recent rains, and we have had no news for some days. We have marching orders this morning. This place is to be
224
PAST AND PRESENT OF WAYNE COUNTY
vacated tomorrow, unless the orders are countermanded. The postage stamps you sent me were received so that I can write to my friends."
"VAN BUREN, Carter County, Missouri, December 25, 1862.
"If I were at home this morning I would claim a Christmas gift. We left Patterson on the 20th inst. The camp is about fifty miles southwest of Patterson. We arrived here last night after a march of five days, one of which rained all day.
"A part of the regiments here are the Eighth and Eigh- teenth Indiana, Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Missouri, First Nebraska, Eleventh Wisconsin, Thirty-third Illinois and Twenty-third Iowa, with two or three cavalry regiments and three or four companies.
"When we came in yesterday they were having a little skirmish about two and one-half miles from here with a lot of rebels that had run in and captured one of our forage trains, killing two men belonging to the train.
"There is a good deal of dissatisfaction in the army about the way the war is carried on. There appears to be not enough energy in conducting it, and the armies are all lying idle.
"We have the news of Burnside's defeat at Fredericks- burgh."
"VAN BUREN, Missouri, December 31, 1862.
"We have been here just one week, and have orders to be ready to march in the morning at 8 o'clock, but we are going across the river. (We are camped on the Current river.) We will celebrate the New Year by crossing the river.
"We have nine rights of infantry, two of cavalry and four batteries. We are now among the rebels, as there is not a Union man in all this country, and the rebels and bush- whackers are roving in bands from twenty-five to one hundred and fifty on horseback, and will attack our foraging trains whenever they can get them out in small squads.
"We were mustered today for pay, but have not got our money yet."
"CAMP CHASE, near Van Buren, Missouri, January 7, 1863.
"We moved here on new year's day, or near here, but we have moved camp since to get a more favorable position.
225
PAST AND PRESENT OF WAYNE COUNTY
"The health of the army is good, the weather is warm during the day, but it was cold enough last night to make ice about a quarter of an inch thick.
"I have had to stop writing to make out discharges for Jos. T. Sharp and Daniel G. Slavens.
"There was one of the Fourth Missouri Cavalry shot from the brush this morning with buckshot from a bushwhacker. His four comrades rushed into camp and left him. Six of the Twenty-third boys came along a short time after and brought him into camp."
"ALTON, Missouri, January 22, 1863.
"We left Camp Chase on the 14th inst., leaving several of the boys there. The first day out it rained all day and the first night out it snowed about 5 inches deep, and in the evening Col. Boyd issued the following order: 'First Brigade, second division will not move a d-d foot tomorrow,' so we did not march on the 15th. On the 16th we marched 12 miles and camped near a spring that runs out of a rock about 20 feet from the base of a perpendicular bank, strong enough to turn a mill that is built immediately under it.
"The scenery was magnificent, beautiful, grand. The giant hills covered with beautiful young jack-oaks with the under- growth so thick that a dog could not run through it. Jan. 17, we marched probably 12 miles to Eleven Point river, got there about three o'clock, river too deep to wade so bridged it with mules and wagons ; crossed the First Nebraska, drowned three mules and nearly drowned three more beside three men and a horse. The wagons were then taken out and we made a foot bridge across some distance below by laying poles from one big rock to another over the swiftest running stream I ever saw. Our Col. Kinsman was the foremost man in putting across the poles-in the water to his waist. The bridge consisted, when completed, of three poles side by side and about 100 vards long.
"The next morning we started to cross the river and the water had frozen on the logs, making them rather too slippery. to pass a Right over in safety, but over we went, and all safe except Jos. Cavender of our Company, who fell off and was drowned. We never saw him afterwards. One man of Co. G fell in, but got out again with a good ducking. Cavender was a good soldier, always ready for duty and never com-
226
PAST AND PRESENT OF WAYNE COUNTY
plaining. The Col. and four others hunted for him for a half day, but could not find him.
"We marched to this place on the same day, (about 14 miles), and found a small town of about a dozen houses, and a very fair brick courthouse. Alton is the county-seat of Oregon County, and about twelve miles from the Arkansas line. Jan. 23. We have had grand review today."
"WEST PLAINS, Missouri, Jan. 31, 1863.
"Since writing you last we have marched about 40 miles. We are now about 90 miles south of Rolla and close to Arkan- sas line. We are camped on a high hill overlooking the village. The 3rd Iowa Cavalry and 21st and 22d Infty. joined us here today. The weather is warm; I saw two grasshoppers today.
"Three of our boys went out with a forage train last Sab- bath and deserted. Our provisions are running short now. We have subsisted now for two days on fresh meat without salt, but we expect crackers tomorrow. We have been eating venison or that is what the boys call it. The animals have wool on their backs, but we are not allowed to kill sheep. As far as we can see there is no organized enemy in this country, except the Guerillas. They meet at night, do some mischief and disband and go home in the morning, and if we come around the next day every fellow has his pass or safeguard. and we dare not touch any of his property."
"WEST PLAINS, Missouri, Feb. 6, 1863.
"We have about eight inches of snow this morning, or had yesterday, but it is going off today.
"The paymaster is here, but he has not called on us yet.
"Col. Kinsman is having some difficulty with General Davidson, and the Col. is under arrest for disobedience of orders. Davidson ordered him to take two companies and go after ammunition. The Col. refused, as he thought it was the intention to degrade him by giving him the command of a captain. The Right are indignant and would force him from the General, if they had the least encouragement from the Col."
"EMINENCE, Mo., Feb. 16, 1863.
"Since writing last we have marched about 65 miles, and are back to within about 60 miles from Rolla and the same
227
PAST AND PRESENT OF WAYNE COUNTY
from Pilot Knob, and will likely leave tomorrow for parts unknown. I have been in the service now for six months and have never seen one rebel in arms, but I saw a dead one yes- terday, shot by one of the 3rd Iowa Cavalry. We were paid off yesterday.
"On the night of the 14th I was under the ground about a mile and a half. Seven of us ran the guards after nine o'clock at night after marching all day. The cave was full of curiosities to us. Stalactites of all imaginable shapes and sizes from the thickness of a straw to seven feet in diameter.
"Feb. 24th. This is a little old, but we have no mail so I just carry it along and add to it as the spirit moves me. We are camped now within 8 miles of Pilot Knob and it makes me feel like I was getting towards home.
"We have seen the elephant in a way. Have traveled about 1,000 miles, or it appears so to us, over gravel and rock, through snow, rain, sleet and mud; slept on boards, snow, mud, hay, cornstalks and leaves; have lived on full rations, two-thirds rations, half and quarter rations and sometimes nothing but fresh pork without salt, and that we had to jay- hawk. We have run the rebels out of the southeast Missouri, or at least they are out.
"We left West Plains on the 8th and laid up three days on the way, two at Thomasville and one at Eminence. Our Chaplain has gone home on leave of absence, but it does not make much difference. He has preached twice since we came to Patterson four months ago, and he has never been in the quarters to talk to the men once during that time."
"IRON MOUNTAIN, Mo., March 1, 1863.
"We are camped on the side of Iron Mountain, and it is well named as it is nearly all iron. Our bed is on the ground on the side of the mountain, and we have to fill up the lower side of the tent with ore in order to find ourselves in the tent when we wake up the next morning. Our bed is not quite as soft as feathers, but we sleep quite well. It is nothing when one gets used to it.
"I understand that the Knights of the Golden Circle are using their influence to have the men desert, but their foul mouthed treason has not affected the army of the southeast Missouri very much yet. Col. Kinsman went to St. Louis this morning to stand his trial for disobedience of orders. Some
PAST AND PRESENT OF WAYNE COUNTY
of the Regt. went along as witnesses. Kinsman is a model Colonel. and the men like him and would fight for him at the drop of a hat. and General Davidson knows it. and does not like him for it. It is reported that the Col. told Davidson that he was a coward. I have told bigger lies than that many a time and thought nothing of it. If he was not a General I would think he was a coward, but as he is I don't know. A soldier must not speak disrespectfully of his superior officers."
"IRON MOUNTAIN, Missouri. March 8. 1863.
"We have marching orders for tomorrow. but where we don't know. The health of the Right is good generally."
"ST. GENEVIEVE. Mo .. March 12. 1863.
"We started as ordered on Monday morning the 9th. The distance here is 40 miles and we were on the road nearly three days. arriving here yesterday about 3 o'clock all in good shape. "There was a little side show at Iron Mountain that I forgot to tell you about. The boys of the 22d Iowa drew some beef that was very poor. so poor they would not eat it. The boys took it to the top of the mountain and buried it with the honors of war. according to regular military style. firing three volleys over the grave. and after the grave was closed one of the boys got on a stump and preached a funeral sermon. when they marched back to camp with due solemnity.
"There are six or seven Rights here now.
"ON BOARD THE CHAUTIAU. March 15. 1863.
" We stayed at St. Genevieve about two days, and embarked on this boat for New Madrid. Missouri. We embarked ves- terday morning. and came to Cape Girardeau. where we stopped and put off a battery. We landed at Cairo about dark. My hat blew off into the river. as we came down. and I got another at Cairo.
"We left Cairo at 2 o'clock this morning and are now just turning out from taking on wood just below Island No. 10. and within 8 or 9 miles of our destination.
"3 o'clock P. M. We have landed at New Madrid. pitched our tents. eat our dinners and been out to examine the breast- works that Gen. Pope captured from the rebels about eleven months ago. The works are very strong. There has been 12 guns mounted on them. but by order of Jeff C. Davis the
229
PAST AND PRESENT OF WAYNE COUNTY
magazine with three tons of powder was blown up. blowing one 64 pound cannon into the river a distance of some ten or fifteen rods and spiking all the others except three.
"The country is perfectly level. Off to the west about a mile. a mile and a half of two miles, stands the house. the portico of which served Gen. Pope as a stand while he watched the movements of the rebels, and gave orders to his own men. The Fort is about a mile below the town. The weather is warm and the trees are beginning to turn green."
"NEW MADRID. Mo .. March 17. 1863.
"I promised to inform you of our movements. Well we are ordered to move down the river tomorrow. I suppose that Vicksburgh will be our destination. if so. we will not lie idle much longer and will have a chance to try ourselves."
"STEAMER WHITE CLOUD. March 25. 1863.
"We were ordered to march on the 18th. but did not get away till the 22nd about noon. We ran down to Memphis and tied up for about three days and then ran down here ( Helena. Ark.) starting yesterday at 10 o'clock and landing here at S o'clock last night. a distance of 90 miles. We are waiting for orders.
"The boys are confined to the boat. but they broke guard today. A citizen had a barrel of apples. which he was selling out at $5.00 per bushel. The boys kicked the barrel over. The merchant did not sell any more out of the barrel. but the boys got them all the same.
"The town is mostly under water now. The women will stagger out of doors into a canoe and paddle it over to a neighbor's and gossip a while, then get into the canoe and paddle back."
" MILLIKINS BEND. La .. Apr. 2. '63.
" We left Helena on the 26th and ran down here. We are about 18 miles from Vicksburgh. There is quite an army collected here under command of Gen. Grant. The weather is nice. though we had quite a storm the night we landed here. Our tents were blown down and the rain was very heavy. There is no town here. but the country is more than level. The water from the Mississippi, when it breaks through the levee. will run away from the river instead of towards it."
230
PAST AND PRESENT OF WAYNE COUNTY
"MILLIKINS BEND, La., Apr. 11, '63.
"Our second Lieut, has resigned and starts home tomor- row, and John Glasgow is discharged and will go with him.
"We have received orders this morning to march tomor- row morning. We go to Richmond, about 12 or 15 miles west of here, and a small country of little importance.
"Marshall Nelson came down with the provisions that were shipped to Co. D through the Sanitary Commission."
"BACKWOODS, La., April 18, 1863.
"We are now about 15 miles south of Richmond and four miles north of Carthage. We arrived here on the 16th and are going in the direction of Vicksburgh, but the whole country is covered with water or nearly so, and they are going across the country in flat boats. We are not in sight of them, but can hear them very distinctly. There were eight boats ran the blockade night before last, among them some transports loaded with provisions for the army. One of the transports was badly damaged, but it got through. Uncle Sam is doing quite a large business here now in the way of moving the army.
"While at Richmond there were a few intelligent contra- bands came to camp, among them a free nigger. He thanks God that he could hold up his head now. He was free, but his wife was not, consequently all his children were slaves. He wants to pilot the army through this country.
"We have just received news that Charleston has been taken, and the army here is happy.
"It rained very hard last night and the mud this morning sticks like wax. If the army was to move this morning, they would have to move the country along with them."
"BACKWOODS, La., April 20, 1863.
"We still occupy the same camp as when I wrote you last, but we expect to move about the 22nd. We are likely to be busy from this time, and I cannot write often, but will write as soon as possible after the fight. if I am spared, and I feel confident that I will be.
"The health of the Right is good now. There is a very large army here, and between here and Millikins Bend, but just how large I don't know, and if I did it would not be prudent for me to write it from here.
UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH, SEYMOUR
BAPTIST CHURCH, SEYMOUR
IBLIC
AS
233
PAST AND PRESENT OF WAYNE COUNTY
"Louisiana is a very flat country, and lower than the sur- face of the water in the Mississippi river when the water is high, so much so that there has been an embankment thrown up along the west side of the river below Helena for a dis- tance of three hundred miles. The embankment is about 40 feet wide at the base, and ten feet on top. It has required an immense amount of work to make it.
"The river runs down (a person might say), a vast ridge. Where the Union troops have cut through the levee the water runs through, overflowing the whole country. This is the way the Yazoo pass was made, by cutting the levee, and letting the water from the Mississippi across into the Yazoo so that boats could run across through the woods to the Yazoo.
"They also cut the levee at Lake Providence about ten miles above Millikins Bend. The water covered the town of Lake Providence up to the windows of the houses. There is just one house in town where the water does not run up to it. The lake of the same name is overflowing, and the water runs back into the country down into Red River, and branches of, from that enters the Atchafalaya river and enters the Gulf about 100 miles west of New Orleans.
"I can't believe that this war will last much longer, the rebel strongholds are beginning to crumble before the tri- umphant march of the 'Yankee hirelings, Mudsills and Hes- sians' of the north. About two or three more successful battles for the Union troops and the thing must end. The darkies here say that their masters once thought that the north could not even annoy them, but now they say that if the Yankees can't whip them, they can starve them out."
"PORT GIBSON, May 4, 1863.
"The day I wrote you last there was an order issued that there should be no more letters sent out until after Vicks- burgh was taken. I did not see the order, but that was the report. I will have this ready to send when the mail goes.
"We left Camp Perkins on the 22nd, and marched down the river five miles below Carthage and nine miles below our former camp. We stayed there three days, took steam boat about 12 miles further and stopped within sight of and about four miles above Grand Gulf. This was on the 28th. On the morning of the 29th, about 9 o'clock, four gunboats and three rams started for a point below the fort in order to shell out
234
PAST AND PRESENT OF WAYNE COUNTY
the Fort, which was very strongly fortified. We could stand at our Camp and watch the bombardment, and it was a ter- rible though grand sight. The roar of the cannon was con- tinual for about an hour and a half, without any intermission, and for the balance of the day there was shot fired about once in five minutes, until about the middle of the afternoon. We had silenced all their guns in the fort except three.
"The gun boat Benten ran to within about 75 yards of the fort, and poured a perfect stream of iron hail into it, but failed to silence them. They had good breastworks. Our loss is not known certain, but one boat. There were two privates, one Lieut. and two negroes killed by a shell coming through the port holes and exploding in their midst. There were about five others killed and 18 wounded.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.