The following letter was written by Cyrus Miner (1822-1888) of Co. K, 5th Iowa infantry who enlisted as a musician (drummer) on 15 July 1861. He wrote the letter to his wife, Sarah (Fay) Miner (1822-1889) and his four children. In the 1860 US Census, Cyrus and his family were enumerated in Linton, Allamakee county, Iowa, where Cyrus was employed as a carpenter. Ten years earlier, the family resided in Jones county, Iowa.

Cyrus began his service in Co. K but was later transferred to the regimental band and then transferred out on 1 October 1864.

The letter is particularly noteworthy for its great description of Camp Warren which was located outside of Burlington, Iowa, in July 1861. It’s comparable to another letter by William Codling, a private in Co. E of the 5th Iowa who wrote to his friend ten days earlier saying that Camp Warren was “on the Burlington Fairground two miles from town. There we are about 2300 men of us penned up on about thirty acres of ground with a high board fence and guarded on all ends and sides. We are allowed to go to town to the river twice a week to bathe but then under the command of an officer.” [See William Codling]

[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of John Wernick and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent. He also owns the image of Cyrus Miner.]

Transcription

Camp Warren
July 28, 1861

Dear Wife and Children,

It is with pleasure that I take my pen in hand to write a few lines to you. I am well and hope these few lines will find you blessed with the same blessing.

Our trip down the river was without any accident. There was 6 companies on board before we got to Burlington, about 500 in all, besides the boat’s crew.

I will give you a faint description of Camp Warren. There is 15 acres enclosed with a tight board fence about 7 and and half feet high. There is picket guard placed one about every eight round the camp. There is on that small piece of ground 2800 soldiers. The 5th Regiment and 6th are full. The 7th lacks 200. There is three rows of board shanties, 10 in each row. Each company occupies one.

Now, fancy to yourself three thousand people copped up as we are without anything to do. There is only four hours drill in each day. The remainder of the time is taken up in a little of everything that you can think of—card playing and jumping, singing, pulling squares, and everything that can be thought of below the sun. There is so much noise while I am writing that I cannot hear myself think. I do not know what I am writing or what I want to write. Damn the confusion.

Now a little about our grub. Each man is entitled to 18 ounces of bread, 20 ounces of beef, or 12 of pork, 2 ounces of coffee, 2 ounces sugar, salt and vinegar. Pepper as much as we want to use per day. No potatoes yet.

There is some sickness in the camp but not as much as I expected. There is only about 20 out of 2800—that is, 20 in the hospital, but there is one half in camp got the shits. I am blessed. I never felt better. I beat reveille 5 in the morning, retreat at sunset, tattoo at 9 in the evening. The taps at 9:30. Then every candle is blown out. Then everyone that is out after that is walked off to the guard house and kept there until morning. Then they are put on guard the next 24 hours or put to cleaning out the quarters or some mean work such as cleaning back house. There is no use in getting under guard.

It is two weeks today since we got in camp and I have not missed one call. I can go out every day after guard mounting—that is a nine in the morning. Then I have nothing to do until sundown. Farewell for this time. Direct to Camp Warren, Burlington, Iowa

— Cyrus