This letter only carries the signature “David” but the content leads me to the conclusion it was penned by David Spencer Sigler (1842-1892), the son of John Sigler (1804-1882) and Huldah Elsworth Wilson (1808-1849). In 1860, the Sigler family was living in Upper Sandusky, Wyandot county, Ohio. By that time, David’s father had remarried to Ursula C. Adams (in 1849). David was working then as a clerk and his older sister Samantha (mentioned in this letter) was employed as a school teacher. Davis wrote this letter to his only brother, Lyman Perry Sigler (1848-1911) who was at the time still living in Upper Sandusky. He and his father did not come west to live in Garden Grove, Iowa, until 1863.
Davis was living and working in Osceola, Iowa, when the Civil War began and so it was there that he chose to enlisted on 1 July 1861, as the Eighth Corporal in Co. B, 6th Iowa Infantry. They were mustered into service on 17 July 1861. He was then promoted to Seventh Corporal on 10 October 1861; to Sixth Corporal on 10 January 1862; to First Sergeant on 1 July 1862; and then commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 24 January 1863. He resigned his commission on 3 August 1864.
Transcription
Camp Warren
Burlington, Iowa
July 22, 1861
Dear Brother,
It is now about half past five a.m. & while some of the boys of our mess are getting breakfast, I will write. We are cooking for ourselves now. Commenced yesterday morning but was to town after breakfast all day so this is the second meal. We draw beef four days out of week, 2 days bacon. Our bread is cooked for us. We draw rice part of time. Sugar and coffee, salt & vinegar every morning. They give enough of latter victuals but bread is rather short owing to not being regulated yet. The word come to us that the bread house was broken into & a wagon load taken out last night by the soldiers. May be so. They are ripe for anything you might think of.
We commence drilling today. Have no uniforms—no guns—but just as we were. We have now about 2700 men. The 5th and 6th regiments is full and are filling up the 7th. The Osceola Company [Co. F] get along well enough. All well as the boys in this company are. Esau 1 was thrown out of that company. A Webster boy, Mr. Grey and some other fellow. Esau told me he was going with them as sergeant. I suppose though he will go in the ranks. They do not inspect rigid at all. With sound fingers and eyes you will pass. None of ours or [the] Osceola Company refused to swear but some did in other companies & they drummed and yelled them out of the camp which kept dozens from leaving. The last night we ate at tables together. Three groans were given for the quartermaster who feeds us, and such groans from 2500 all at one time! You might have heard it for a mile. It would be hard to imagine the noise it would make.
We have a guard of one hundred and sixty men to stand and relieve each other every day—one day from our regiment, next from 5th [Regiment] alternately. It will come my duty to act to put on and off soon. I’m glad I do not have to stand guard. We had dress parade last eve. Our regiment orders were read. Among them [was] one keeping them from playing cards Sunday. When your letter came yesterday, I was getting ready to go to town. I took a squad of six down to church as they can only go for that purpose & privates only with officers, commissioned or non-commissioned. Ate dinner at Fredrick. Have no chaplain yet. [Lt. John T.] Grimes is post master of our regiment. Keeps next door. Was into Kimball’s a week ago. Talk with Camberlin. Understood there was a dollar over your [ ] coming to you. He showed me over the establishment and was quite social.
The word is we are to open up the Mississippi river. Of course it is not known how soon we will march but I don’t think we will be here a great while. Illinois money is getting some better. How much, don’t know. Missouri discount at bank 15 percent at stores for 90 cents. Business is dull in Burlington. How is Daily feeling about this time? I wrote to Doc B. & told him his daughter had counted without her host. I left her as I did all acquaintances. She is like a good many others. Look at them and you are sworn to marry an event. I know will never happen in my own history.
I have wrote to Father and Samantha. Received no answer yet. I get along first rate. Am getting fat they say. Col. Adams gets drunk often. Oliver is well, I believe. Millard is going home because he could get no office tomorrow. Compliments to friends. Write soon. I write my letters thus because I thought it would interest most. — David
1 Possibly Esau McBride of Osceola, Iowa. He enlisted in mid-November 1861 and then again as a veteran in January 1864. He was taken prisoner while on a foraging detail in March 1865 but paroled and mustered out in July 1865.
Spared & Shared 23 