My passion is studying American history leading up to & including the Civil War. I particularly enjoy reading, transcribing & researching primary sources such as letters and diaries.
The following letter was written by Pvt. Alpheus (“Alf”) Andrews (1841-1911) of Co. H, 3rd Iowa Infantry. Alpheus was taken prisoner at the Battle of Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing) on 6 April 1862 and was eventually paroled and sent to Benton Barracks in St. Louis to await exchange. It was while at Benton Barracks that he wrote the following letter.
I could not find an image of Alf but here is one of George W. Smith who served in Co. C, 3rd Iowa Infantry (Iowa Civil War Images)
After he was changed he was returned to duty with his regiment and on 15 August 1864 he was transferred into Co. C. until he was mustered out of the service on 12 July 1865 at Louisville.
Alf was the son of Hiram Andrews (1813-1889) and Catherine Schisler (1812-1901) of Springfield, Keokuk county, Iowa.
Alf’s letter, written in mid-July 1862, pertains to the parolees who were being held at Benton Barracks at the time. The War Department had two weeks previously issued General Orders No. 72 announcing that furloughs would not be granted to paroled prisoners and instead sent to one of three parole camps established for their reception. Those from the East would go to a facility near Annapolis soon to be christened Camp Parole. Parolees belonging to Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, and Michigan regiments were ordered to Camp Chase near Columbus, Ohio. The War Department designated Benton Barracks, located near St. Louis, for paroled soldiers from Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri.
Benton Barracks was the first parole camp to receive large contingents of men. On July 13 Colonel Benjamin Louis Eulalie de Bonneville, commander of the post, reported that 1,167 had just arrived. They reached the camp “without officers and with extraordinary opinions of duties proper for them.” Specifically, the soldiers insisted that the terms of their paroles precluded them from performing any military duties whatsoever. They refused to stand guard duty or to perform garrison duty. Bonneville disagreed, and many ended up in the guard house adorned by a ball and chain. Many did not bother to remain in the camp, opting instead for “French leave” and risking being charged with desertion. On February 1, 1862, Bonneville reported that there were 818 parolees at Benton Barracks and 971 reported absent.
It is sometimes erroneously claimed that the Shiloh prisoners were taken to Andersonville which is impossible as that prison did not begin taking prisoner until late February 1864. From what I can learn, the prisoners were taken to Montgomery, Alabama, before they took the oath and were paroled.
[Note: The following letter is from the personal collection of Jim Petersen and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Transcription
Camp Benton St. Louis, Missouri July 18th 1862
Dear Friend,
As things is very dry and dull here and as I get very lonesome, I have to spend some of my time in writing and as I have to write, I thought that I might as well write to you as anybody else. I have not much to write to you as I have wrote to you once since my release from prison and I did not write much to you that time for I expected to be at home long before this time but we have had a set of officers over us that has been acting the rascal with us ever since we have been back in our lines. We should have been back home long ago if they had of done us justice but they wanted to make something off of us and keep us from place to place now for about 2 months and there was an order come they say from the War Department for us to be garrisoned at Benton Barracks to perform such duty as may not interfere with our parole which I will give you a copy of at the close of my letter so you plainly see that that little thing of coming home is plated out altogether.
We are now at the barracks and they have begun to try to put us on guard they make the details for guards every morning and the boys refuse to go on and they march them off to the guard house and put a ball and chain to their leg. It was detailed yesterday morning but when they come to get me, I was found missing so they did not get any of their jewelry on me.
They say it is a great pity for such boys to act so they tell us to remember that we are from Iowa, to remember that we fought and bled in the bloody struggles of Donelson and Pittsburg [Landing] and won great laurels for ourselves and the State from which we hailed but still all of that will not make us stand guard every day or go to the guards house and wear their French Jewelry from June till eternity. First they find they have a set of [ ] set of Iowa and all to deal with and whenever they feel their rights trampled upon, the Devil is to pay right off. We don’t think that our government wants us to violate our parole and we also believe that the government—owing to the great excess of business now to transact in the War Department—that they are in a great measure ignorant of our case. And as we are dead broke, we have no means of informing them of it. We wrote time and again to the government of our different states concerning it but the officers would stop any letter directed to any governor of any of our respective states. They thought by so doing to keep the thing all in their own hands.
Our camp is now pretty near in a state of mutiny and it would have been long before this time, but we feel that we owe too great a duty to the States from which we hailed to ever be guilty of that and we also feel that we owe our government a great duty and we also feel that one of the greater duties that now involves itself on us is to kill a few of the officers now in charge of us. I think that that would be doing ourselves and government and all parties concerned the greatest service that it is now in our power to do. We all feel that we have been grievously wronged and we will only submit when we have to. They have ordered two hundred balls and chains for us so there is one consolation. There is about 1300 of us and you see that they can’t put us all in at once and those that are out can minister to the wants of those that are in irons. They tell us to submit and we shall have our money and not before but that has played out and we will only submit when we have to. We will freely lose every cent that that is due us which is something over a hundred dollars before we will give in—not that we dread or have any fear of the duty. But we respect our oath and hate the idea of being gulled in any such a way. It was a mercy to us to get to take the oath of parole for we was starting to death as fast as we could. They gave us a piece of corn bread about two inches square and a piece of mule beef about the same size for 24 hours and it was half rotten at that. So you see a man naturally would want to get out of that the quickest way possible.
But that is all over now and we are living very well now. They don’t ask us to go int the field nor I don’t think by the information that I can gain by the papers that there will be any exchange. The paper of this morning said that they would not exchange so I don’t think that it will pay the government to keep us so I don’t think it will be a great while before they will do something with us. I want you to write to me immediately and give me a full account of things in general and tell the rest of them to write to me. I have not heard from any of my friends since the battle. I have not got a letter from you since the battle. I have not got a letter from you since I was home.
Direct as follows: Alpheus Andrews, Paroled Prisoner of War. Benton Barracks, Mo. in care of Captaincies. Albertson
As I told you that I would send you a copy of our parole, I present it to you below a copy from the original.
I do solemnly swear and pledge my most sacred word of honor that I will not during the present war between the Confederate States and the United States of America bear arms or aid and abet the enemies of said Confederate States or their friends either directly or indirectly in any form whatever until regularly exchanged or released.
I could not find an image of either William or Noah but here is one of Josiah Fletcher who served in Co. I, 123rd New York Infantry (Photo Sleuth)
This letter was written in part by Pvt. William M. Hill (1839-1878) and the other part by his brother, Pvt. Noah G. Hill (1843-1902) of Co. K, 123rd New York Infantry. The regiment was mustered into service in September 1862 and served in the defenses of Washington D. C. until October 1862 when they were posted at Sandy Hook, Maryland. Both brothers served through “the whole campaign” and were described as “good & faithful soldiers.” The whole campaign would have included Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Atlanta Campaign, and the Carolinas Campaign.
William and Noah were the sons of George W. Hill (1816-Unk) and Jane Foster (1824-1911) of Granville, Washington county, New York.
[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Greg Herr and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Transcription
October 19 [1862] Sandy Hook Camp
Dear Mother,
I thought I would write a few lines to you to let you know that we are all well here at present and I hope these few lines will find you all the same. I have sent a letter to father but if he don’t get, you must tell him not to enlist for he would not stand it very long. He is not tough enough to come down here for it needs tough men down here.
Tell John I wouldn’t cut that tree down if I had to hear John [ ] to help me. We don’t stand about trees down here. You must write and tell me how you all get along up there.
I suppose you are fixing up for winter. It is cold enough down here to freeze a man to death but we get along very well. That box has not yet come but I think it [will] be here before long. When we get into winter quarters, then you can [send] anything you wish to but what you send now may never get here. I have written a letter to [sister] Ella and put it inside of father’s. I have thought I should enlist into the Regulars and if I do, I shan’t be to home any less than three years anyway but if I don’t, I may be to home sooner. They enlist them out of any regiment. I don’t know but it would be better for me to stay here but if I do go there, it will be some time before you will hear from me again but I shan’t go till I hear from you again. Ask father what he thinks about it and write and tell me what he says.
I had a letter from Eunice and she talked of going West and if she goes, I hope she will have a good time. Tell John to write to me for I would be very happy to have him write a few lines to me. Tell him to write how the colt gets along and tell me how old gray looks.
I have seen Pluck Hall and he is just as fat as a hog. You must write as often as you can. Noah is well and looks very tough. William R. is well and most as hearty as I am. Tell cash to come on for we are waiting for him.
I must now say goodbye for this time. We are to fight any time when they want us to, my dear mother.
From your son, — William M. Hill
Dear Mother, I take my pen in hand once more to let you know that I am well [as] can be expected & I hope this will find you all the same. Your letter that you wrote to me, I hain’t received it yet. Father wrote too. He thought he would enlist but I think he is as well off where he is so you can give him my advice [even] if it is a poor one. It is better than none. The box is coming tonight, I think.
Write and let me know how you all get along & I will do the same. If I am sick, I will write & let you know. This is all just now. Give my best respects to all. I shall have to stop. So goodbye. — Noah G. Hill
The following letter was written by 37 year-old Lavinia M. Snow (1826-1917), the unwed daughter of Capt. Israel Snow (1801-1875), founder of the Snow Shipyard on Mechanic Street in the south end (Snow’s “Point”) of Rockland, Maine. Snow’s Point Shipyard was begun by Captain Israel Snow during the height of the Civil War, 1863. Captain Snow passed the business on to his son and that process continued until 1946, when Snow’s Point Shipyard became the property of General Seafood. Then, in 1957, General Seafood changed hands and the place was taken over by National Sea Products. Finally, in 1991, the yard became property of Rockland Marine, which still operates on the site of the old Snow’s Shipyard.
A biographical sketch of Lavinia was written by Angela M. Keith which states (in part) that, “though Lavinia Snow remained unmarried and childless in her adult life (indeed, she was long referred to by all as “Aunt Lavinia”), she found adventure aplenty prior to her crusade for women’s suffrage, sailing around the world with her family in the 1850s to locales including San Francisco, Panama, London, the Mariana Islands, and China. In August of 1916, at the age of 90, Lavinia asked a reporter from the mid-coast Courier-Gazette to write her obituary and recounted her adventures, along with her doorstep-view of Rockland’s metamorphosis from small fishing village to an industrially-modern hub of ship and rail. Though she received little in the way of formal education, Lavinia loved poetry, news and politics, and was a “staunch supporter of the things that make for individual and natural righteousness.” She greatly admired Abraham Lincoln and was fortunate enough to attend one of his speeches in Illinois in 1857. That she could not vote for him in the 1860 election was a sore spot for her. Lavinia outlived many of her siblings, and died [of pneumonia] on January 12, 1917 in St. Petersburg, Florida.” [See Biographical Sketch of Lavinia M. Snow.]
Lavinia wrote the letter to her Aunt Nancy (Snow) Stackpole (1799-1877), the widow of William Stackpole (1787-1836) of Pekin, Tazewell county, Illinois. Nancy’s husband died in 1836, just four years after the family relocated from Maine to Illinois, leaving her to raise six children. One of her children, William (b. 1827) went to California in the gold rush of 1849 and actually struck it rich. When he returned home to Pekin, he bought up apple orchards and a coal mine and eventually settled in Fairbury. William did not support the war and probably joined the ranks of the Copperheads, as feared in the last sentence of Lavinia’s letter. See William T. Stackpole’s 1849 Journey from Illinois to the California Gold Fields by Dale C. Maley, 2018.
The Capt. Israel Snow home in Rockland where Lavinia probably wrote his letter.
Transcription
Addressed to Mrs. Nancy Stackpole, Pekin, Illinois
Rockland [formerly East Thomaston, Maine] September 8th 1863
Dear Aunt,
I hear nothing from you directly now & but little any other way. Mrs. Wightman mentioned in one of her letters that she had heard through Mrs. Mans that you were sick. This was some time in the summer. I hope you are well & prosperous now. I wrote you last in April and have sent you papers occasionally since when anything of special interest occurred in our town. I write today hoping to get an answer for we are anxious to hear from you.
“The [Copperhead] party in Rockland is made up of a few unprincipled leaders and the ignorant and degraded whom they can control. About six weeks ago, Dr. Rouse—a furious Copperhead—shot a Union man in the street. The excitement was intense for a few minutes & the crowd could hardly be restrained from taking vengeance upon him at once.”
—Name, 8 September 1863
I sent you a paper with the news of the drafted. [My brother] Israel & [brother-in-law] Hiram Hall were drafted but ’twas a mistake about Charlie. The person drafted was Charles W. Stone. The mistake was made at the telegraph Office here. Hiram arrived at Salem the 20th July and got home in season to be drafted. Rockland voted to pay each drafted man who went, or his substitute, $300. Israel & Hiram got substitutes by paying $416 apiece which exempts them for the term of service, three years.
The Maine Farmer, Thursday, 6 Aug., 1863
Have you any patience with this Copperhead Party that has spring up in the North & West to assist the rebels? Were it not for them, I think the rebellion would soon be crushed. The party in Rockland is made up of a few unprincipled leaders and the ignorant and degraded whom they can control. About six weeks ago [on 28 July 1863], Dr. [James] Rouse 1—a furious Copperhead—shot a Union man in the street. The excitement was intense for a few minutes & the crowd could hardly be restrained from taking vengeance upon him at once. He was rescued and taken to the lockup. On his way to Wiscasset the next day, he made his escape from the officer and is over in the British Provinces. Mr. [Cornelius] Hanrahan [1822-1893], though severely wounded, [has] recovered. Some of the Copperheads stood surety for Rouse in the sum of $3,000. They are sure to lose it for he will never dare to come back.
Our fall election takes place soon. We are having mass meetings often. Gen. [O. O.] Howard—the man with the “empty sleeve”—has spoken here. Gen. [Richard] Busteed of New York spoke at Thomaston last week. Thomaston is a Copperhead hole & has been from the first. They voted to pay $300 for each drafted man and keep them at home. Palintic [?] are they not?
You remember the Luman family at the “Point.” Their youngest son Charles has lately been brought home dead. He left here last fall a member of the 28th [Maine] Regiment which went south with Gen. Banks. After the fall of Port Hudson, his time having expired, they came home up the river. Charles was left at Cleveland, Ohio, sick. His father went on to see him but found him dead. Many of the men have died on their return. One was buried yesterday, Morton Snow got through the late battles unhurt. At last account he was in New York to help keep the Copperheads in check during the draft. What a fearful time they had there while the riot lasted! Mrs. Wrightman says they expected worse at Yonkers. The men stood guard day and night at the Armory for two weeks.
Enclosed I send you a photograph of Uncle Israel [Snow]. 2 He had a dozen taken. Himself & daughter Sophia spent ten days with us in June. His health was failing and the doctor thought the trip would benefit him but he grew weaker every day. He went to Thomaston with Capt. Oliver Jordan 3 one day & returned the next but with that exception, not one or two short rides with father, he did not go out. After his return home, he still grew worse until now he keeps his bed all of the time. He will be 92 on the 14th of October but Sophia says he will not live to see it. He takes great interest in the war & seems to want to live to see the end of it. When here he read his paper every morning & nothing escaped his notice or memory. His youngest son Charles has a family in Alabama. They have not heard from them since the war broke out. Sophia spent two years with her brother once and was under Hombs care one day’s journey in going there.
Rockland, Knox county, Maine
I have filled one sheet and have hardly written a word I thought to when I began. we are all as well as usual. I have a boil on my right arm which is very painful. I can do but little with it. It troubles me in writing but I can do that better than anything else so will not mind a little pain.
The “Point” folks are well. I was at Aunt Betsy’s a week ago but didn’t see her. Mary & herself were on the ledge berrying. William calls their baby Emmarella for Emarella Thorncliff. Emmarella was there. She taught their school this summer. She is small like her father. Aunt Betsy is looking for Lizzie to visit her. Uncle Clark cannot do much now & he does not go from home.
Father’s health is good. He is busy all the time. He is agent for the Maine Railway & they are building a schooner & repairing the Jenny Pitts. Charlie has gone to Bangor now to buy timber for her. He will probably go in her when she is done. Hiram will take the Fanny Keating in two weeks. Susan and I think of going the first trip with him. They are keeping house just across the street in the same house they had at first. I hope we shall go to Washington. A. C. Spalding & wife are here on a visit now.
Mrs. Keating is quite sick. She goes out but seldom. Helen is here now. I do not think Mrs. Keating will live through the winter. Her cough is very bad. Luella has a beautiful boy six months old. It has black hair and eyes and white skin & is large and fat. They call it Israel. Uncle Israel saw him when he was here & was pleased with the name.
This has been the warmest summer we have had in some years. Tis now quite cool and fall like. I see by the papers you have had a heavy frost in Illinois. We have had none as yet. We have news frequently from California. They are all well. [Sister] Eliza is teaching yet. Aidella Thorndike they say will be married in the course of a year & come East on a bridal tour. Her intended husband is a native of New York. I knew him in California. Joshua [Thorndike] is in China. He went there with Ebin. I understand that Mr. John Kinnes is in California. Did you give him letters to our folks there? I would like them to see him. I hope you will write soon & tell me all the news. Where is William Kellogg & Henry Wilkey? What is [your son] William doing? I hope he is not a Copperhead.
Your niece, — L. M. Snow
1 Dr. James Rouse (1821-1878) was enumerated as a physician in Rockland at the time of the 1860 US Census. He was a native of Virginia. He was married to Mary Jane Titus. Though he may have fled to Canada to avoid trial, James apparently returned to the States for he was enumerated as a physician in Calais, Washington county, Maine, in the 1870 US Census. A newspaper clipping from the Portland Press indicates that Dr. Rouse was indicted at the October term of the S. J. Court for Knox county for an assault with intent to kill.
2 Capt. Israel Snow (1771-1863) was the son of Elisha Snow (1739-1832) and Betsy Jordan (1740-1834). Israel died on 15 September 1863 in Bangor, Penobscot, Maine, just a week after this letter was written. His daughter Sophia Maria Snow (1799-1881) appears to have never married.
3 Capt. Oliver Jordan (1790-1879) of Thomaston, Knox County, Maine.
I could not find an image of Amos but here is one of John Deed who served in Co. F, 18th Ohio Volunteers (Ohio Memory)
The following letters were written by Pvt. Amos Gorrell (1837-1928) of Co. A, 18th Ohio Infantry. Amos was the son of Amos Gorrell, Sr. (1804-1890) and Leah Wollen (1800-1873) of Ross county, Ohio. Amos wrote the 2nd letter to his brother, Joseph Wollen Gorrell (1839-1914) who later (16 September 1864) enlisted as a sergeant in Co. C, 178th Ohio Vols. He married after the war and eventually moved to Blackwater, Missouri.
Amos does not say how he was wounded (and neither does the regimental roster) but my assumption is that he received the wound to his arm at the Battle of Chickamauga who was fought a couple weeks prior to the date of this letter.
Gorrell wrote the 2nd letter from General Hospital No. 19 which was housed in the Morris and Stratton Building at No. 14 Market Street near the corner of Clark Street.
[Note: The following letters are from the personal collection of Greg Herr and were transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Letter 1
Addressed to Mr. Amos Gorrell, Hooppole P. O., Ross County, OH
Tullahoma, Tennessee July 31, 1862
Dear friends at home,
I have been waiting for a letter from home for the last month but no letter comes. The last letter that I received from home was dated the 6th of June. And I have come to the conclusion that you have either become very negligent about writing or the mails are miscarried so that I don’t get them. But all the other boys gets letters from home. I write two letters at Athens, two at Fayetteville, and one at Battle Creek and sent 45 dollars home but have not heard from any of them. And I thought I would write again and still live in hopes.
Since I wrote to you last, we have been most of the time on the go as usual. Wereceived an order from Gen. Buell when we was at Battle Creek to go over the mountain to Tullahoma and take possession of the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad and hold it for the safety of our army demanded it. We left Battle Creek on the 13th and marched over the Cumberland Mountain to Cowan Station on the railroad which took us two days. The weather was pleasant and we got along very well. And as rattlesnakes are plenty in those mountains, we killed two large ones on our last days march. One had 13 rattles and the other 11.
After we arrived at Cowan Station, got supper and laid down for the night. There was an order came to our Colonel telling him that our forces at Murfreesboro had been attacked by the rebels and for us to march immediately to Decherd for there was but a small force there and they expected an attack there in the morning. So we aroused from our beds on the ground, loaded up, and marched to Decherd which was about 6 or 7 miles further. We reached there about two o’clock in the night and stood picket guard from that till morning. This was trying the grit of a soldier pretty well. There was several of the boys give out but I was one of the number that stood it pretty well. We was not molested by any of the rebels that morning and left there the next day and come to Elk Springs where we stayed about a week and built a fortification for the protection of the railroad bridge across Elk River.
Six companies of our regiment left there on last Friday night about 10 o’clock and marched to this place. The other four companies was sent back to Cowan Station the next day. There reason we was ordered off from Elk Springs in the night was an attack was expected at Tullahoma but it was a failure as usual. There is always some of the rebel guerrilla parties lurking about to keep our forces on the look out for an attack but they never attack unless they have a decided advantage.
There was a force of about 1,000 of our men went down to Manchester on last Saturday. They found about 1500 barrels of flour, 1,000 bushels of wheat, and about 10,000 lbs. of pork and bacon which had been stowed away for the support of the rebel army. Our men took possession of it and will hold it, I think. There was a report came up from there on Sabbath morning that our men had been attacked at Manchester and the rebels was trying to get their flour and meat back. Our regiment and two pieces of artillery was ordered to that placed forthwith to fight, not particularly for the Union, but for the flour and meat. We was on board the cars and down there in a short time but the attack was made by a band of rebels only on our outpost pickets. As they had a force much larger that our pickets, they took some 10 or 12 of our men prisoners and dashed off in a hurry, not giving any time for a battle. Some of our men are now in pursuit of the rebels which are encamped down about McMinnville so that is their harboring place. It is to be hoped they (our men) will be successful in catching them.
The dash made upon the men at Murfreesboro (which I mentioned in this letter) I suppose you have got a full account of before this time but I will give you a short sketch of it as we have it here.
There was the 1st Kentucky Battery of Artillery, part of the 9th Michigan Regiment and the 1st Minnesota Regiment at or near Murfreesboro to guard the place as we have some sick soldiers there in the hospital. There was a force of about from 5 to 7,000 of rebel cavalry, or mounted infantry, made a dash in on them in the morning before daylight, taking them entirely on surprise. And as the 1st Minnesota Regiment was about a mile off on the opposite side from which the rebels came in, the rebels took most of the others prisoners before they could get to their assistance. They then dashed upon the 1st Minnesota Regiment and after a short fight, took the regiment prisoners. The part of the 9th Michigan & 1st Kentucky Battery it is said fought gallantly considering the chance they had. I said the 1st Kentucky Battery but there was only four pieces of it there. They shot away all their ammunition and was taken also. There was about 20 of our men killed and 80 wounded. Their loss is not known. This was a good haul for te rebel guerrillas.
Various changes are taking place in our army. Gen. Mitchell is sent off it is said to Virginia. There are various rumors but I don’t know for certain what for, Brig. Gen. Smith has command of the 3rd Division, all the Brigades and Regiments about here are divided into various parts guarding what they have got and several officers of our Brigade are undergoing a court martial for some of the outrage of the 8th brigade at Athens. There is some newspaper correspondents of Gen. Buell’s army that appears to be out of news and have went to gathering up rebel reports about the 8th Brigade and writing them to the papers. But as I belong to this outrageous 8th Brigade & Gen. Mitchell’s Division, I always have a word to say in its favor. There is one thing certain, there is no Division in the army that has done as much hard service and to as good a purpose with so few men as Mitchell’s Division. And as it happens, this 8th Brigade has been in front of the Division all the way through.
Mitchell’s Division captured provision enough at Bowling Green to feed the entire Division one month. After this, they made for Huntsville, building railroad bridges and preparing transportation as they went for the whole Division. Went to Huntsville, took possession of the rebels most important railroad and held it and took 300 or 400 prisoners at the same time. Now they have to be scandalized by some mean correspondents for a small outrage at Athens. And as I was an eye witness to the whole affair, I have a right to tell my story about it. When our regiment first went to Athens, our officers stationed guards all over town and not a cents worth of property was allowed to be touched by our soldiers. But the citizens began to come to our Provost Marshal with a very long smooth face on to get passes, pretending that they wanted to go to mill or to the country to get provisions for their families. They got their passes but instead of going on their pretended business, they went and informed the rebels of our small force, that we had no artillery, and that our regiment was scattered all over the neighborhood and along the railroad for guards and it would be a good chance to drive us from the town. This was told us by prisoners that our men took at Athens but they would not tell their names and when the rebels came in, the citizens gathered up their shotguns, mounted their horses, and assisted the rebels all they could, waving their secesh flags which they had hid under their beds. And when we was reinforced by our Brigade and went back and run the rebels off, our boys (and Col. Turchin, our Brigade commander) was affronted at the course the citizens had pursued and the boys broke open their stores and took what they wanted but did not injure the person of any of the citizens and Col. Turchin did not try very hard to stop the boys from getting what they wanted.
I did not favor the policy myself and took no part in it, not because I regretted to see the property destroyed, but because the innocent had to suffer with the guilty. We have some had boys amongst us no doubt but they are for putting an end to to the rebellion. And Col. Turchin says he can whip more rebels with his Brigade than another other Brigade in the service. Col. Turchin has been court martialed but they could not make anything out against him and he has got a commission as Brigadier General and says he will have no brigade only the one he had before. The colonels of all the regiments that was at Athens are undergoing court martials at Huntsville. I hope they will all come off right. The health of our regiment is tolerably good. My health is very good & all the Hooppole [boys] are well.
Daniel Bishop is dead (as I suppose you have heard). He died at the hospital at Shelbyville on about the 1st of July, I think. I don’t know for certain. I believe his disease was pronounced consumption. Daniel was a fine boy and well thought of in the company by every person. I seen a man that tended to him in the hospital. He said he was perfectly willing to die and died easy and calm as a summer’s morning. I cannot help blaming our officers for the way Daniel was treated. He wanted a furlough to go home and seemed in pretty good spirits as long as he thought there was any prospect of getting homer. But our officers was careless and let him lay in his tent till he was too weak to reach home. But I have no doubt that he is free from all his troubles.
George W. Bishop is unwell. He has never been very well wince he got over the measles. He is trying to get leave to go home. Whether he will succeed or not, I cannot [say]. I fear it is the consumption that is working on him and he[will] go as Daniel went before very long.
We have fine growing weather here at present. Corn is growing fine and has the appearance of a good crop. The railroad and railroad bridges are all repaired between Nashville and Stevenson and the cars are running through every day. Well, I have written all that I can think of at present so no more. But remain yours truly, — A. Gorrell
Write soon. Write often and write great big letters. Direct as before, — Amos Gorrell
Letter 2
Addressed to Mr. J. W. Gorrell, Hooppole P O., Ross county, Ohio
General Hospital No. 19 Nashville, Tennessee October 7th 1863
Dear Friends at Home,
This morning finds me seated in the 2nd Ward of a large hospital which contains between three and four hundred sick & wounded soldiers; most all of them are of the latter class. Some are lying in their bunks unable to help themselves, some hobbling about with canes and crutches, some walking about with their heads tied up, others with their arms in slings, &c. But I believe the most of the wounded are getting along as well as can be expected. Some few in the ward above us has got the erysipelas in their wounds which is a very bad thing. There is no cases of it in our ward yet.
My wound is doing as well as can be expected, I believe. The swelling has most all left my arm and it has been mattering pretty freely for several days. The wound is beginning to heal and I think in the course of a month or so, I will be able to give the rebels a few more rounds from the Enfield rifle.
We are in a place where we are well taken care of. The doctor visits us everyday and our wounds are dressed twice a day. This hospital is kept clean and in good order. I have not heard any reliable news from the regiment since I came here. I wrote a letter to the company several days ago but have got no answer yet. I forgot to tell you in my last letter that I had formed an acquaintance with a man in the 11th Michigan Regiment by the name of Philson [Filson] who says he is a brother-in-law of Uncle John Fouty. He says that Aunt Letty Fouty is dead—died about 18 months ago. He says that Uncle John lives about 15 miles from Fort Wayne. I forget the county in Indiana. He says that he (Uncle John) is now a Methodist preacher and is doing well. He says that he owns a good farm & is in good circumstances. He also says that he is acquainted with a good many of the Gorrells in Indiana. He says there is one by the name of O. I. Gorrell in some Ohio regiment [but] he didn’t remember the number of the regiment. He says that John Gorrell’s son (Huffett) follows public lecturing a good part of the time. He was acquainted with Uncle Jessie Gorrell. Says he still follows preaching. He says there was some one of the Gorrells (he thought it was Uncle Jessie’s son) that was a chaplain in some Indiana regiment and had died in the army. This man (Philson) lives in Michigan close to the Indiana line. He married Uncle John’s sister.
The news about town is nothing of much importance as far as I know. Read the letters from a correspondent of the Chicago Journal on the first page. It is a pretty good description of the scenes on a battlefield. The truth of it, I was eye witness to a good deal of. There has been arrangements made (as you will see in the Union) for the Ohio soldiers at Nashville to vote. I think we will give Brough a good heist although we have been disarmed by the enemy’s bullets (but not without disarming fully as many of the graybacks). I think we will march out an Invalid Corps which will e able to disarm a large number of the able bodied Valandinghamers at the Ballot Box. I have received no letter from home since I came here. Write soon. yours truly, — A. Gorrell
Direct to Hospital No. 19, 2nd Ward, Nashville, Tenn. — A. Gorrell
The following letters were written by Frederick Metcalf (1847-1864) who was mustered in as 2nd Lieutenant of Co. K, 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery on 1 October 1863. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 6 May 1864 and transferred into Co. B on 27 May 1864. “Fred” was serving as the Acting Regimental Adjutant when he wrote the first letter while on special duty at Fort Pulaski.
The second and third letters were written in July 1864 from the encampment of the 3rd Rhode Island Heavies just outside of Fort Welles on Hilton Head Island. Unfortunately for Fred, he did not survive the war. He died of disease at a hospital at Beaufort on 28 August 1864, less than a month after he penned the third letter.
Fred was the son of Providence attorney Edwin Metcalf (1823-1894) and Eliza Spear Atwell (1824-1863).
[Note: These letters are from the personal collection of Greg Herr and were transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Letter 1
Headquarters U. S. Forces Fort Pulaski & Tybee Island, Georgia February 23rd [1864] 11 o’clock P.M.
Dear Cousin,
I suppose you think, and very justly too, that is about time for that scrapegrace cousin of yours to answer some of your letters—very acceptable they are too him, I assure you—although he takes such a poor way of showing it. If you only knew what a bore and detested thing it is for me to write letters and how many stings of conscience it takes before I can bring myself down to it, you would forgive me I am sure.
We are having a few days of busy life and a little excitement down here in the land of all that is detestable, but I am not allowed to say anything about the movements of the army and so you must be content to know that I do not see as I shall have any chance of going on any of the expeditions, if there are any. And so you see that as I cannot say anything of the movements of the army, there is not much to write of. I might describe the islands to you but they are all the same thing—mud, mud, mud, nothing but mud anywhere except where artificial ground has ben made around the fort. I sometimes go over to Tybee and there there is a little more variety, some trees, &c., but nothing worth mentioning except the light house which the rebels burnt when they left and the old Martello tower, Some deserters come in once and awhile. A sergeant came down from Savannah the other day. e had on a very fair pair of boots. I asked him what they cost and he replied that he paid $125 for having a pair of old legs footed. What do you think they are coming to up there?
I have not heard from Sam since he was here but suppose he writes home much more regularly than I do. I enclose an invitation that I received to a ball at Beaufort. But i assure you that there was altogether a different ball going on not many miles from here that took our attention during the day.
It is getting quite late now and I must go to bed. I have been writing this in my office and by the light of a government candle. A pet kitten has been running all over the table most of the time and I suppose it will be a hard scrawl to read. The sentry on the parapet has just called 11 o’clock and “All’s well.” So goodbye.
Very affectionately your cousin, — Fred
Letter 2
Adjacent to Fort Welles, Hilton Head
Camp Co. B, 3rd Rhode Island Artillery Fort Welles, Hilton Head, South Carolina June 21, 1864
Dear Cousin,
I received yours of the 5th yesterday. It was the first letter I had received for two weeks. It is getting very hot out here. we live with our tents up on all sides to allow the air to come in and then are nearly suffocated sometimes. We have been moving for the week past. Have changed camp four times and that with it raining all the time nearly. One night the Captain and myself had no tent pitched and had to sleep in a guard house the darkies had just left. I could stand [not] that, however, and moved my bunk outside. We are still settled now, however, and are encamped just outside Fort Welles, the captain being in command of the fort. We have also an infantry company under our command—one of the 144th N. Y. Vols. and are instructing them in artillery.
I witnessed the most impressive sight I believe there is in the world last Sunday—I mean a military execution. It was a clear, hot morning. All the troops on the island were formed in a hollow square on a large plain. The prisoner was marched into the centre, seated on his coffin, and there after his eyes were blind-folded, he was shot at a signal from the Provost Marshal. We were then wheeled into columns of companies and marched in review by the corpse. A most impressive spectacle, I assure you, but a soldier has to get used to such scenes. The man deserved it. He was caught deserting to the enemy. 1
I am boarding now at the house of a refugee from Charleston. The fare consists of “bully” beef and potatoes. The price six dollars per week. This is very cheap for down here but would be considered high at home for board and lodgings both. I have paid as high as $40 a month at Pulaski for simply my board. My washing bill is about a dollar and a half a week and my servant I pay $10 a month and yet they talk about an officer’s pay being large. I tell you, “Sis”, an enlisted man as a general thing can save more money than an officer.
Well, I think that I have scribbled about enough—particularly as I was up late last night. The men got some liquor from the Drago & had a little “toot” but they soon found out who was “boss” and kept pretty quiet. We never have any trouble with our men except through liquor and even then they know enough to mind when spoken to.
Give my love to all. Excuse the writing as we have no table yet and this I wrote on my knee.
Ever your affectionate cousin, — Fred
1 The soldier executed by firing squad at Hilton Head would have been John Flood of the 41st New York Infantry. He was executed on 19 June 1864.
Letter 3
Camp Co. B, 3rd Rhode Island Artillery Hilton Head July 31st 1864
Dear Evelina,
I received yours of the 17th instant by the Fulton. Also one from Father. Both very acceptable. I was very glad to hear that you are enjoying yourself so much and dear little Tott. I know it will do her good to be by the salt water. I am feeling rather mean today because I got wet through last night. My tent leaks like a sieve and I awoke about 12 o’clock last night and found a puddle of water on my bed and all over the tent. One of our showers had come up and wet everything. I sleep under a rubber blanket every night now. Gen. Grant has issued an order that officers shall draw no more tents but sleep under shelters—that is, a piece of canvass about 6 feet square.
Everything is quiet here at present. We have a new officer to our company—Remington—late a corporal in the Second. We have plenty of watermelons now but our other fare is very poor. Some beef that Gen. Birney captured in Florida and which we call Florida Venison and it is tough enough, I assure you. This and commissary ham is about all we have.
Our company is still at this old sand heap and the fleas grow thicker every day. They almost poison me with their bites, but that is a petty annoyance, easily born with. I would describe our fort, &c. to you but that is strictly forbidden and you must wait until I get home and then I shall [share] a store of conversation.
Talking about home, from all that I hear, I suppose it will be another year—perhaps two—before I see home again. I tent now with a very gentlemanly young fellow named [George S.] Reed—the senior second lieutenant of our company. Our quarters are about eight feet square. In this small space we have two bunks, two trunks, and one table. The bunks answer for seats. That leaves us just room enough to undress and dress in. So you see I shall learn not to be very dainty when I get home. My bed consists of a bunk made of fine boards, a sack filled with hay, and a couple of blankets. My overcoat serves for a pillow. Sam gave me some sheets when he went home but the last time we moved, they went the way of all such things—even to ruin.
When I left home, I should have thought it hard to have to sleep between blankets, but now I like it and if it does not rain and wet everything, I sleep like a top. It would make you and grandmother groan to see how recklessly everything is thrown away when a regiment moves.
There, I have scribbled nonsense enough. And now, kiss Tott. Give my love to Aunt Mary and Grandmother, and my regards to the Tileston family. Believe me ever your affectionate cousin, — Fred
The following letter was written by 32 year-old Arial S. Noyes (1829-1907), a shoemaker from Haverhill, Massachusetts, who was private in Co. D (the “Haverhill Light Infantry”), 5th Massachusetts in 1861. This three-month militia unit tendered its services to the US Government on 15 April and left for Washington D. C. a week later where they were mustered in on 1 May.
I could not find an image of Ariel but here is an unidentified Sergeant who most likely served in the 5th Massachusetts wearing the 1861 militia uniform. (Dan Binder Collection)
From this letter we learn that the regiment was quartered in the interior courtyard (the “enclosure”) of the Treasury Building on West 15th Street. They moved across the Potomac river to Alexandria, Virginia, at 10:30 p.m. on the day this letter was written—25 May 1861—-where they remained in camp until the Battle of Bull Run in which they were engaged on 21 July and lost 9 men killed and two wounded, including Col. Samuel C. Lawrence. Twenty-three men were taken prisoner.
After the regiment was mustered out of service at the end of July 1861, Ariel reenlisted as as sergeant in Co. D (later transferred to Co. C), 17th Massachusetts and served until the end of the war. He was wounded at Wise’s Creek in North Carolina on 8 March 1865.
Ariel wrote the letter to his older brother, Rev. Daniel Parker Noyes (1820-1888), an 1840 graduate of Yale College and, at the time of this letter, serving as the Secretary of the Home Missionary Society in New York City.
Transcription
Addressed to Reverend Daniel P. Noyes, Bible House, Astor Place, New York
Treasury Department May 25, [1861], 4 p.m.
Dear Brother,
While eating dinner we were ordered to march with nothing but our equipments for immediate action, word having been sent from Alexandria for reinforcements and that they [were] not at it. In 30 minutes we were on our way but were stopped on the bridge 3 miles from our quarters. we returned to quarters and received orders to be ready to march in one hour. At 5 o’clock—as near as I can find out—we go into camp in Virginia. How far I can’t tell but will inform you as soon as I find out. Ten thousand men are to leave tonight. Eight regiments went over the river—though as you will see by the papers before you get this—and a part of them took Alexandria.
I think we shall have hot work soon. But as we stand at the top of the ladder, we shall try to maintain our position on the field of battle, putting ourselves in the hands of Him who ruleth all things. I bid you farewell for a time. I shall not send this till we are on the march. You can inform Sarah that we have changed out position.
Your brother, — Ariel
6 o’clock. Since writing I have received one from you. I have time for but a word. Our baggage is loading. I have more clothing than I can carry. Send me nothing unless I write for it. Rest assured I commend my soul to God, my body to my country if it is so to be. I can’t find out where we are going but you will probably find out about as soon as I do.
This letter was written by Charles (“Charlie”) William Petrie (1843-1913), the son of Lemuel Weeks Petrie (1813-1851) and Rosa Mahala Farrar (1824-1905) of Jackson, Mississippi. He wrote the letter to his older sister, Eva Petrie (1849-1911). After their father died in 1851, their mother remarried to Irish-born Rev. John Hunter (1824-1899), a Presbyterian clergyman, in 1858. During the Civil War, Charles served as a private in Co. A, 1st Mississippi Artillery.
Charlie’s father, Lemuel Petrie, was born in Maine but came to Rankin county, Mississippi, prior to 1840. In 1841 he reported that he owned 1,500 acres worth $4,500. In 1842 Lemuel owned over 2,500 acres worth over $17, 500 plus a brick home worth $2,000. In 1843 he reported that he owned 215 cattle and 49 slaves. In 1847 he owned various assets and 64 slaves in Rankin County, and 60 slaves in Hinds County. Lemuel became a large property owner in Hinds and Rankin county before his early death at age 37. It appears that a substantial amount of his wealth was inherited, or “obtained” from his brothers. At the time of Lemuel’s death his property included two large plantations located a few miles from Edwards, Mississippi, and a smaller one in the same general area. According to an estate inventory taken a few years after Lemuel’s death, there were 76 slaves on the Downey Plantation, 77 slaves on the Baker’s Creek Plantation, and 25 slaves on the Elwood plantation. The total appraised value of the slaves was approximately $134,000. The total appraised value of the three plantations was a little over $143,000.
In 1872, the Lemuel Petrie descendants filed a joint claim with the Commissioner of Claims regarding losses suffered during and after the Battle of Champion’s Hill (May 16, 1863) in Hinds County, Mississippi. A Calvary force of 60 to 70 men, which were part of Ulysses S. Grant’s army engaged in the siege of Vicksburg, camped and set up a hospital on the two plantations belonging to the children of Lemuel Petrie. The Battle of Champion’s Creek was fought partially on one of these plantations.
The initial claim was for approximately $30,000 for a variety of supplies taken by the Union Army. The claim was later reduced to $10,000. This claim represented three-fourths of the total property taken as one fourth belonged to another brother, Charles Petrie, who was not eligible for reimbursement as he was a soldier with the Confederate Army during the Civil War. The Petrie children had inherited the Baker’s Creek plantation and the Downey Plantation which were located near the site of the Civil War battle of Baker’s Creek that occurred on May 16, 1863. The largest claim item was for 56 workhorses and mules. Other large amounts included corn and cotton. A number of witnesses were called before the Commissioner of Claims to verify the amounts claimed by the Petrie children. Of these witnesses, one was the wife of the overseer of one of the plantations, and 8 others were slaves who had worked on the plantations for many years. The claim was substantially reduced by the Commissioner of Claims to approximately $1,300 due to many inconsistent statements regarding the amounts claimed, actions taken by Lemuel’s wife prior to the arrival of the Union Army, and the confederate loyalty of the Petrie’s. The Commissioner found that the workhorses and mules were of inferior quality and that there were fewer than claimed. The claim for cattle was disallowed as the Commissioner determined that the cattle were moved to another county to keep them from the North. All other items were also reduced substantially or eliminated totally. Only one-third ($1,300) of the Commisioner’s adjusted claim value was allowed as the Commissioner found that only Eva Petrie qualified. Eva qualified as she was “too young to entertain any responsible political opinions during the war”. [Compiled by Lawson S. Howland from Fold3 Archives.]
Charlie’s letter speaks of his efforts recruiting free Negroes from the vicinity of Vicksburg to work the family Mississippi plantations near Edward’s Station but does not appear to be sanguine about their productivity without “very close watching.”
Addressed to Miss Eva Petrie, Care of Dr. J. N. Waddell, Oxford, Mississippi
[Vicksburg, Mississippi] January 7, 1866
Dear Eva,
As I owe you a letter & will have an opportunity of mailing it tomorrow, I’ll write a short one though I know of very little to interest you.
I was in Jackson three days since & brought Alice and Rosabel home with me. Rosabel is quite pleased & asks more questions that a dozen lawyers can answer. She says that she don’t know anything to tell you. Alice desires me to say that she received your letter a few days since & will answer it in a short time.
I have succeeded in getting as many Negroes as I wish between those that stayed here and those that are to come from Elmwood. Mr. Ferguson is with me & he thinks we will be able to get a good deal out of them; but it will require very close watching to get much out of them.
I saw Erse while in Jackson and he told me that he had determined not to return to Oxford. I suppose his father has so much money that it is a burden to him and he wishes Erse to stay at home & assist in diminishing the pile, & from all accounts, he is an excellent assistant. Jackson has gotten to be the dullest place you ever heard tell of. There has not been a party there since you left but there is to be a grand Fireman’s Ball tomorrow night. But I expect it will be a failure as everyone seems to fear that there will be too many of all sorts of people there.
James Harding came on and stayed a few days during the Christmas [holiday]. His marriage is deferred for a month or two. He was compelled to leave Texas because the Yankees were set against him by one of his neighbors who told lies on him about mistreating Negroes. I wrote to Herbie about a week since and hope he has ‘ere this gotten my letter. I wish you or him to try to write to me once every week & direct your letters to Bolton’s Depot as I expect to be too busy to go to Jackson very often for some time to come.
I will have to close for want of something to tell you. Alice joins me in love to yourself & Herbie. Write soon to your affectionate, — Charlie
From the book, The Signal Corps in the War of the Rebellion by J. Willard Brown, p. 640
The following letter was written by Lewis Aaron Egolf (1842-1898) of Perry county, Pennsylvania. Lewis was a 21 year-old carpenter when he enlisted on 26 March 1864 to serve in the U. S. Signal Corps of the Regular Army. He served until 23 August 1865 when he was honorably discharged.
Lewis was the son of Joseph Egolf, Jr. (1814-1867) and Susannah Mickey (1818-1886) of Carroll, Perry county, Pennsylvania. Lewis’ older brother, John Francis Egolf (1838-1864), served as a private in Co. D, 47th Pennsylvania Infantry until he was killed in action at Cedar Creek, Virginia, on 19 October 1864.
Transcription
Winchester, West Virginia January 29, 1865
Respected Friend,
I am now seated to answer your welcome letter which I received last eve. In your letter you stated that some of the one-year men were at home and were catching deserters. Now my opinion is that if they were at the front and could not get a furlough, they would go home too. They do not know what it is to be in the army. Their laying back on their bounty in Pennsylvania ain’t that brave and they wish the war would last, I suppose, as long as they can stay where they are now. I would like to see them put in the front where they would be of some use. They could be used to better advantage here for they might stop a ball from hurting some good man.
Well, the thing that I don’t like is that those men are getting furloughs and men who has been in the army for more than a year cannot get a furlough. For my part, I do not intend to try for one as I have been away from the corps pretty near three months and there are men who have not been off duty all summer and I would as soon see some of them go home as to go myself. There is one of my tent mates going home tomorrow.
Well, there is nothing going on very fast here just now. Last week there was a skirmish between our cavalry and the rebs and our men found one of our boys [in the rebel army] at Staunton. He left the [signal] station he was on about three weeks ago and was not heard of since until one of our scouts saw him. I would not like to be in his place for he will be shot if our men get him though he never was of any account in the corps for he could neither flag nor drill. But he will be kept on account of if he is caught for an example.
I have had no letter from William for more than a month and do not know where he is at present. Well, the weather is very cold here at present but I hope it will not last long. There are no news so you will please excuse this short letter. Answer if you please and direct as before. goodbye for the present, — L. A. Egolf
The following letter was written by John H. Griffin whom I am not able to identify conclusively. There were a couple of soldiers by that name in the Confederate service from Virginia but there is nothing in their records that would link them to Botetourt county.
Peachy Gilmer Breckinridge
Griffin wrote the letter to Emma Walker (Gilmer) Breckinridge, the wife of Cary Breckinridge (1796-1867) of Fincastle, Botetourt county, Virginia. He wrote the letter to let her know that her “boys” had all survived the Battle of Manassas (First Bull Run). Emma had three sons who served the Confederacy in uniform. The eldest son, Peachy Gilmer Breckinridge (1835-1864) entered the service as Captain of Co. K, 28th Virginia Infantry and later transferred to the 2nd Virginia Cavalry. A second son, James Breckinridge (1837-1865) entered the service as a 1st Sergeant in the 30th Virginia Cavalry (later designated 2nd Virginia Cavalry). The third son, Cary Breckinridge, Jr. (1839-1918), entered the service as a 2nd Lieutenant with his brother in the 30th Virginia Cavalry. Cary was the only one to survive the war of the three.
All three boys participated in the First Battle of Manassas. The 28th Virginia was attached to the Fifth Brigade commanded by Col. P. St. George Cocke. The 30th Virginia Cavalry was attached to the 1st Brigade commanded by Brig. Gen. Milledge L. Bonham.
Transcription
Addressed to Mrs. Cary Breckinridge, Fincastle P. O., Botetourt county, Va.
Gordonsville, [Virginia] 24 July 1861
Dear Madam,
I left Manassas yesterday & promised your brother William to perform the very pleasant duty of informing you of the safety of your Boys. I sincerely congratulate you & your family on the result & especially that they should have shared the honor of contributing to so glorious a victory—which must lead to such important results.
The property captured is estimated to be worth not less than a million of dollars ($1,000,000).
Very respectfully & truly yours, — Jno. H. Griffin
The following Civil War diary was kept by William Joseph Mottern (1840-1905) who enlisted at the age of 22 on 15 August 1862 as a private in Co. A, 33rd Iowa Infantry. He was promoted to corporal in August 1863 and mustered out at New Orleans on 17 July 1865.
William’s grandparents were Nicholas Mottern and Elizabeth Hobough of Sullivan county, Tennessee. His father, Deadrick Mottern, was one of ten children born to the couple. Deadrick died at the age of 26 in 1846 but not before marrying and have a couple of children. Unfortunately we don’t know the name of William’s mother who apparently also died prior to the 1850 US Census for in that year, William was living with his Aunt Mary (Mottern) Jordan and her husband, John J. Mottern in Marion county, Iowa, who apparently raised him.
After the war was over, William returned to Iowa where he married Mary Margery Brown (1841-1937) in March 1868 and they had one son named Ellsworth Eugene Mottern (1871-1933).
Transcription
[Note: This diary is in the possession of Travis Core, Pleasantville, Iowa— a g-g-g grandson of William Joseph Mottern]
SEPTEMBER 1862
Camp Tuttle, Oskaloosa, Mahaska county, Iowa. September 9, 1862 Mess No. 6: W. L. Brown, foreman, S. A. Gose, W. J. Mottern, W. W. Cradick, P. Walter, Joe Hunter, J. Worth, Milton Miner, Hiram Miner, John J. McElroy< John Johnson. This composes our mess. They are all good Boys I think. We take it by days cooking. On the 25th of September [1862], we was called out to be mustered into the US Service at Oskaloosa.
NOVEMBER 1862
November 15th 1862—Was very cold morning. This was the day that the 33rd Regiment received their orders to move for St. Louis.
DECEMBER 1862
Sunday morning, December 14, 1862—On board the steamer Rowena this morning. December 25, 1862—Columbus, Kentucky. This day we was laying in camp waiting for an attack from the enemy but they had not attacked us by 3 o’clock in the evening but as to the reason why is unknown to me. 26th—Columbus, Kentucky. Still we are waiting for an attack of the rebels today. The ground is very wet and muddy here. Last night was the first time the 33rd lay in their tents and i got very wet but I feel very well today and at this time I am sitting on a stump listening at the cannons firing and the guns cracking.
JANUARY 1863
January 2nd 1863—Camped two miles south of Union City, Tennessee on the Columbus Railroad in a nice scope of timber such as beach and poplar. Here we taken our New Year’s dinner of fresh pork and crackers & coffee which went well to a hungry soldier. January 8th 1863—We left Columbus, Kentucky for Memphis today. I am sitting at the wheelhouse [Steamer J. D. Perry] writing this about 45 miles above Memphis. It is very pleasant today and I feel good.
FEBRUARY 1863
February 1, 1863—Helena, Arkansas. February 1st find me still on the banks of the Old Mississippi River sitting in my little tent thinking how many dreary days we have to spend before this rebellion shall come to a close and we will have the privilege to return to our native homes and enjoy the pleasures of home, sweet home once more. February 5, 1863—Today the ground is covered with snow and the snow is still falling here while I am sitting in my tent. The other boys are reading novels, some smoking, ad I myself am whiffing a cigar. Friday, February 6th—Near Helena, Arkansas. At this time I am sitting on the root of an old beach tree guarding one of the roads leading from Helena to St. Francisville on White River. I am about one mile from Helena and I would like to be still further from such a place if I could but as I am governed by higher authority, I enjoy myself as best I can. I am placed in a large ravine. On either side of me is high hills and on those hills are very fine timber such as poplar, beech, white oak, and ash. The land here is very poor. this is a brief description of this place at present time. February 17th 1863—[Took steamer Lebanon No. 2 on the Yazoo Pass.] Camped on the Yazoo Pass on Geneal Alcorn’s farm in the State of Mississippi. We are well quartered in the Negro houses here. We have had some trouble with the secesh scouts but have not had any man killed yet but we have had several skirmishes with them.
MARCH 1863
March 3rd 1863—Today we are lying in the Coldwater [river]. March 8th 1863—Still on board the Lebanon No. 2 on the Tallahatchie River. Sunday morning. March 12th–Today we are waiting for orders to march on to the Rebels. It is now 9 o’clock in the morning. March 20th—Today we are an hour way up the Tallahatchie River. we expect to have to fight our way back if we get back at all.
APRIL 1863
April 2nd 1863—Still finds me on the old camp ground on the Tallahatchie River. Nothing has been done yet to remove the Rebel fort but soon think we will give the another trial. April 4, 1863—We started up the Tallahatchie today which is the 5th of the month. We are still an hour up the river. As to where we will stop, I cannot tell yet. April 9th—Helena, Arkansas. On the 8th this month we arrived back to this place off of our expedition down the Tallahatchie River. We started February 24th and returned April the 8th. Today we are lying on the boat waiting further orders.
MAY 1863
May the 14th 1863—Helena, Arkansas. Today finds me on guard at General Prentice’s Headquarters on the Wharf Boat. The weather is fine this morning and things seem to be going off finely in regard to the war. May 29th 1863—Just come in from picket and I feel very much worried from the walk I had to take before I could reach camp and worse than all, I could not sleep for the mosquitoes—they was so numerous. They stole a vast amount of my precious blood which I did not like to have spilled in such a manner. The weather is very hot at this time. Yours in haste.
JUNE 1863
June 1st—Today we received $26 which was our pay for the months of March & April. June 14th—Sunday. Today we are all quiet in our tents. Some [are] reading, some sleeping. Today the weather is very warm. Today the 3rd Iowa Cavalry started to Vicksburg. They are a noble set of Boys and no doubt they will do good work if they have the chance to try their hand. They have been here at this place eleven months today. June 29th—Still finds us at Helena. All is quiet here and has been for some time…I have gone to the timber to relieve the old picket…[illegible].
AUGUST 1863
August 16th 1863—Camped on White river in a nice shady grove. we left Helena on the 11th August. Arrived here on the 15th. had a very dusty trip. will lay here a few days and then cross the river and proceed to Little Rock. August 18th—Still in camp on the white river though we expect to leave soon. Some of the troops are across the river. The weather is still hot here. August 21st—Still on the White River. August 22nd—In camp [illegible] August 26th—In camp 30 miles up. We camped on the White River at DuVall’s Bluff on the railroad leading to Little Rock. This is a very nice place [location] for a town. Has all been burnt up by the enemy troops. August 29th—Still in camp on the river. We are looking all the time to march. 31st—We leave the Bluff and go 7 miles and camp.
SEPTEMBER 1863
September 1st—We marched 22 miles to Brownsville. Here we are still on the 2nd. September 9th 1863—In camp on Bayou Meto two miles from Arkansas River and six miles below Little Rock. But little fighting done yet. The [Rebels are] supposed to be in their fortifications about 4 miles from this point here. We have tolerable good water and plenty of the best of beef and pork. September 10th—Little Rock fell to the Union troops. September 11th—we are laying on the banks of the Arkansas river waiting for orders. 13th—Still on the bank of the river but we will cross today. The weather is pleasant at this time. Still the weather is pleasant on the 25th of September.
18 year-old John H. Anderson enlisted in Co. I, 33rd Iowa Infantry (Iowa Civil War Images)
OCTOBER 1863
October 9, 1864—On board steamer Sallie List 40 miles below Memphis. The weather is mild. I left Little Rock the 4th of October with 325 prisoners—one Major, four Captains, several Lieutenants. Leave Little Rock October 4th, arrive at St. Louis 13th. Leave 15th [and] arrive at Little Rock 29th, 1863. Weather pleasant on the river. October11th—Still on the river on board steamer Hawk Eye State 3 miles below commerce on the night of 11th. We lie at New Madrid. Next Columbus. Next Cairo. Next Cape Girardeau.
NOVEMBER 1863
Nov 28th – The weather is cold and dreary today.
DECEMBER 1863
December 3rd—Weather dry and pleasant today. I have been working on Fort Steele. Things are quiet here. 7th—Things all quiet. Plenty of rain today. 8th—Pleasant and warm. 9th—The weather lowery. Signs of more rain. Other things going briskly. 10th—Nothing very important going on. 11th—Still raining tonight. All things going on fine. 17th—Cold and very high winds. Other things all quiet. 28th—Weather still pleasant and rather cool. All quiet here at this time. Weather cool and pleasant at this time. I have just finished a letter to Frank H. Brown, Little Rock, Ark. 31st—Today it has snowed nearly all day which the first snow that has fell here this winter. This is New Years Eve. Sixty-three is nearly gone and Sixty-four will soon be here. All quiet here. Things going off smoothly. Duty light and plenty to eat which is all that we need. Little Rock, December 31st, 1863 — Wm. J. Mottern. So ends 63, State of Arkansas, U. S. of A.
JANUARY 1864
“Today a Rebel Spy by the name of David O. Dodd was hung at this place…”
January 1st, 1864—Things all quiet. Weather cold. The ground covered with snow. Today we Bury L. E. Collings in the Little Rock Cemetery east of town. 3rd—Nothing going on in camp more than usual. 4th—Still the ground is covered with snow and it is sleeting at this time. Things are very dull here. Duty light. Nothing more than camp guard. 5th—Things all quiet. I am on camp guard today. The snow and ice is still on the ground. Things all slow. 6th—Things all quiet today. 7th—Weather still cold.8th—Snow slowly melting off. Weather pleasant. Today a rebel spy by the name of David O. Dodd was hung at this place. He had when taken up a plot of all the forces at this place and their situation and number of men we had here. He was only 18 years old—nice looking young man. But he met with bad fate. Other things here all quiet. 9th—Weather pleasant. Things all quiet. 10th—Sabbath today. The snow is fast melting away. I was at the Episcopalian Church at Eleven A.M. Also at three P.M. Nothing of any note passing. 11th—Still the weather is moderating and the snow is nearly all gone off the ground. 12th—Today the weather has been very pleasant. 13th—Still pleasant. 14th—Today the weather has been pleasant but this evening the wind is blowing and it is getting cold. 15th—Today I am in camp guard. Nothing of importance a stir. 16th—Sunday. Plenty of rain today. Things all quiet. 18th—Nothing of Importance transpired today. Weather warm and pleasant. Today the boys—or a part of them—organized a society called the Soldiers Reform. 19th—Company drill 10 till 11 A.M. Weather still pleasant. Army Regulations read to the company. 20th—Drill today. Weather pleasant. January 21, 1864—Nothing more than company drill today. Weather pleasant. 22nd—Nothing more than company drill. 23rd—Weather pleasant today. Drilled in the bayonet exercise. 24th—Drill in the bayonet exercise. 25th—Weather pleasant. Drill has been the business of the day. The northern mail came in. I received one letter from F. Brown, Wheeling, Iowa. One from W. H. Brown, St. Louis, Mo. 26th—Nothing of importance afloat. 27th—Today the regiment was inspected by the Inspector General. In the afternoon, I paid the 4th Iowa a visit. Did not stay long. 28th—Weather pleasant. Today the northern mail came In. Also the Pay Master came to pay the troops at Little Rock and other adjoining points. 29th—The weather still pleasant and warm. 30th—Today the 3rd Division had a grand review. The troops looked well and some good marching. Tonight it is raining and has the appearance of being bad weather for some time. 31st—Today I am on guard. Today it has rained most all day. This finished the month.
FEBRUARY 1864
February 1st—Nothing of importance going on today. 2nd—Weather pleasant. The wind high. 3rd—Today we had target shooting and it terminated in Osias Nichold being the best shot. Nothing new afloat at this time. 4th—Nothing more than company drill. 5th—Weather pleasant. 6th—Weather still nice but some colder. Company drill and from ten till eleven in the bayonet exercise. 7th—Nothing new today. Company inspection at nine a.m. 8th—On guard today. Nothing new going on today. 9th—Today I went to town and spent the afternoon. The weather is very pleasant at this time. February 10, 1864—Today we received our pay for the months of November and December. 11th—Nothing new more than the northern mail came in. I received one written January 25th, other 27th same month. 12th—Nothing new going on today. 13th—Weather very pleasant today. Things all quiet here at this time. 14th—On guard today. It has rained nearly all day and tonight it is still raining. 15th—Nothing more than company drill. 16th—Nothing of importance. 17th—Today we had regiment inspection. The regiment was in fine trim. We was inspected by A. A. Inspector General Whipple. February 18, 1864—On picket today on the Benton Road south of Little Rock. Weather very cool for the South. 19th—Weather cool today. Written one letter to Mrs. Mary Jordan. 20th—Nothing unusual going on today. 21st—Today we have company inspection. I also was at the Episcopal Church 11 a.m. Weather pleasant. Tonight we had two new recruits to the camp. 22nd—On camp guard today. Nothing new going on here at present. 23rd—Nothing more than company drill and dress parade. 24th—Company drill from 10 a.m. till eleven. 25th—Company drill from 10 a.m. till eleven. 26th—Today the regiment is on Brigade Drill in the afternoon but I am on the sick list and am not taking any part with them. 27th—Nothing new today. On police duty today. 28th—Today is Sabbath. We have company inspection. Tonight it is raining very hard. 29th—Cold and sleeting all day. Today we was mustered for pay by C. H. Macke, Lieut.-Col. This finishes the month of February.
William Harris was 22 years old when he enlisted as a private in Co. C, 33rd Iowa Infantry (Iowa Civil War Images)
MARCH 1864
March 1, 1864—Company drill. 2nd—Company drill. 3rd—On picket guard today. Nothing new transpired. 4th—Company drill from 10 till 11 a.m. Taken a stroll to town in the afternoon. 5th—Received one letter from J. T. Jordan dated February 16th. The regiment on battalion drill today. 6th—Sabbath. Nothing more than company inspection. The mail came in from the North. Received one letter from J. T. Jordan; one from F. H. Brown. 7th—Company drill today. Nothing new. Nine recruits has come to camp in the last month. 8th—Company drill from 10 a.m. till 11. Battalion drill from 2 p.m. till four. Nothing more. 9th—On picket today on the Benton Road south of town. It has been very wet all day. Nothing unusual transpired during the day and night. 10th—Cold and windy. Company drill 10 till 11 a.m. 11th—Help to haul two loads of wood today. Tonight the news come that we are on marching orders—our destination not known. 12th—Weather cool. Nothing new. 13th—Sabbath. I went to the Episcopal Church. Today we are packed up ready to march. Whether we will go or not is hard to tell. Time will prove. 14th—Still in camp on camp guard today. Weather cool with high winds. The 3rd Division passed review today. 20th—Sabbath. On camp guard today. Weather cool. Nothing new going on. 21st—Nothing new going on today. 22nd—Tonight we are trying to start on the march. We start tomorrow at 10 a.m. for parts not known to me. 23rd—Today we left Little Rock. Travel 10 miles. Go into camp on the Benton Road south of Little Rock. We are camped in an old field close to water. March 24, 1864—Today we are the rear guards of our brigade. [We] march 15 miles [and] go into camp 1 mile southwest of Benton, in Saline County. It has rained all afternoon. The roads are very bad. 25th—Today we march 8 miles and go into camp on a nice little stream of water. 26th—Today we march 16 miles. Go into camp at Rockport on the Ouachita River, Hot Springs County. The country over which we traveled today has been very broken and but little settlement. 27th—Cross the Ouachita River and travel 8 miles. Country very broken. 28th—Travel 10 miles. Country very Broken. Today we are rear guard of the whole division. 29th—Marched 8 miles to Arkadelphia. After supper we was ordered back 3 miles to guard supply train. 30th—Marched back to the division rear. We are living in camp close to town. 31st—Today we lie at Arkadelphia.
APRIL 1864
Elkin’s Ferry Battlefield, Civil War Trust
April 1st—Today we left the above named place and traveled 12 miles. We passed some of the nicest country that I have seen in Arkansas. Went into camp at a small town by the name of Spoonville. 2nd—Left Spoonville and traveled some 8 miles and was attacked by the rebels in our rear. They aimed to take our supplies. 29th Iowa and 50th Indiana was engaged in the fight. Halted at place by the name of Okabona for night. 3rd—Left the above named place and went four miles and camped close to river by the name of Little Missouri. 4th—Today we have been lying all day waiting for the enemy to attack us. This morning at 7 a.m., they attacked our front and had a pretty hard skirmish. Finally quit by the enemy. We had on our side 3 or four killed and 17 wounded. [See Engagement at Elkin’s Ferry] 5th—Still we are lying on the above named place. It is now near 7 a.m. and we expect they will attack the rear today some time. We are waiting for the rest of our forces to come up. The weather is very warm here all this time. 6th—Today our regiment moved to the front, crossed Little Missouri River, went some two miles and come to a small field [where we] formed in line of battle. Sent out skirmishers to find out [where] the enemy was placed, but they had all left but a few that was left to cover their retreat. The cavalry chased them some 6 miles and quit. We moved on some 3 miles and went into camp on the bluffs of the river. April 7, 1864—The army has been here all day. There has been no force out—only the cavalry scouts. We are waiting for General Thayer’s forces to join us. They are still in our rear. We are camped on a nice ridge close to a nice little stream of water. We have plenty of pine knots to burn and branches of the same kind of timber to make tents to lie under. 8th—Still in camp. Expect to lie here all day. Last night we had a very hard rain. Things all quiet today. 9th—Still in camp. Today the Fort Smith troops are crossing the river. They will be up tonight. I am on picket tonight. The night is very cool and some little rain is falling. We are posted in a nice camp of oak, pine and dogwood [trees]. 10th—Still on picket. This morning the army is moving out. We will soon be relieved. This Is a very pleasant morning. Leave camp and travel 4 mile and come up to the rebel force on D’Ane Prairie. We had some skirmishing with them and considerable cannonading. They fell back some two miles and night come on and we had to stop the chase. About 8 p.m., they commenced to shell us. You bet they raised us out of the grass. Finally they quit after our batteries shelled them awhile. 11th—Today we lie on the ground where we was yesterday till 3 p.m., then we advanced some 2 miles and had some heavy skirmishes with the enemy. We lie on the prairie till dark, then we fell back to the old camp. Then our company went out as skirmishers for the night. We got very wet during the night. It rained very hard. 12th—Up again this morning we are. Today we advance on the enemy and drive them out of their fortifications. Then we march 8 miles and go in camp for the night. 13th—Today we lie in camp till 1 a.m. Then we march 5 miles and camp for the night. 14th—Start at one p.m. and go some two miles and an order came to stack knapsacks and go to Camden—a distance of 28 miles. We started and traveled till ten at night. Then we halted for the remainder of the night. 15th—We started against daylight and had not gone more than five miles till we come to the rebel force. Again we had some very hard skirmishing for some 3 hours. Finally they pulled up and left. Then we moved on to Camden, we taking possession of the town about sundown. It is a very nice town what I have seen. 16th—Today we are lying In camp. We will move to another camp today. 17th—Yesterday we moved our camp to where we are at the present time. We have a very nice camp at this time. We have built rail pens for shanties so we are doing fine. 18th—Still in camp. Things going off finely so far. Some little skirmishing with the rebels but no serious damage done. The weather here is very pleasant at this time. April 19, 1864—Today I am picket guard. Today we drawn four ears of corn for our days rations. 20th—Come off of picket guard today. Today we received mail from the North. Also we had seven recruits to come to the company. 21st—I am in camp. The weather is very pleasant. Things are going off lively here now. 22nd—In camp all day. Things all quiet. 23rd—Today I am on picket guard 1 p.m. Today the rebels attacked one of our picket posts on the Shreveport Road. They brought three pieces of artillery to bear on our men, but they did not do any serious damage to us. They shelled awhile and then moved to the right. We expected an attack on the place the next day. 24th—This morning I come off picket. They have been expecting an attack today on this place but up to this time, things have gone off quiet. It is now 12 noon. I think they will not come. 26th—Today we lie in the line of battle all day and at night. The troops evacuated the town of Camden, went some 3 miles, and stopped till morning. 27th—Today we travel eighteen miles and camp for the night. 28th—Today we move out early and travel till 5 p.m. and stop for the night at a town by the name of Princeton. 29th—Leave Princeton. Travel some 12 miles and the rebels attacked our rear and skirmish with them till night come on and put a stop to the chase at night. Our regiment was called out to hold the enemy in check till morning. We lie all night without sleep or anything to eat. 30th—Morning come and we fell down under the hill and they began to fire on our skirmishers again. We held them in check till the 29th Iowa formed in line and then we fell back to make our coffee which was all we had. But before we could get that drank, the fight began. Then we was ordered up on the double quick. Our company and Co. B was thrown out on the left of the regiment as skirmishers. Then we went into them for good. The fight lasted from 7 till 1 p.m., during which time there was as heavy musketry and as fast as ever has been since this war broke out. Our regiment lost 129 men killed, wounded, and missing. In the [afternoon], we fell back and crossed the Saline River and went into camp for the night.On the 30th of April 1864 on the Saline River, Thomas Canady and John Hunt, both belonging to Co. G, 40th Iowa was killed. The Battle on Saline river lasted from early in the morning till one o’clock. we had no artillery engaged. The enemy used three pieces until our men taken them from them. [See Battle of Jenkin’s Ferry]
The Battle of Jenkins’ Ferry
MAY 1864
May 1st—This morning we leave the Saline River and travel all day and night. Stop this morning and eat a bite. 2nd—Start again and travel till within 10 miles of Little Rock and go into camp for the night. 3rd—Today we arrive in Little Rock after a march of 40 days over the hills and valleys of Arkansas. 4th—Today we are in same old camp we used to occupy. Things are quiet here today. 5th—Nothing new going on here at the present. 6th—Still In camp. Weather pleasant and warm. All quiet today. 7th—On detail today at division headquarters. Drawing clothing for the brigade. 8th—Regimental inspection at 9 a.m. _____ at 11 AM. Weather pleasant and warm. Things all quiet. 9th—Weather unpleasant today. Some rain falling today. I drew one woolen blanket, one hat, one pair of shoes, [and] two pair of socks. 10th—Nothing new going on. Weather still rough and some rain falling. 11th—Weather pleasant today. Today I am detail to help load cannon on the cars to be taken to St. Louis for the [Mississippi Valley] Sanitary Fair [May 17-June 17, 1864].
12th—Nothing new going on at this time. Today we have a detail working on fortification. 13th—Nothing of importance going on here. All quiet today. 14th—Saturday all quiet here. Weather pleasant. 15th—Sunday inspection today at nine a.m. Today I attended M[ethodist] E[piscopalian] church at town. 16th—Nothing going on. Only the work on the fortifications. This is going on lively. 17th—This morning there fell a very heavy shower of rain at 4 p.m. Today we have regimental inspection. Things all quiet today. No inspection on the account of rain. 18th—Today I am on picket. The regiment had Inspection at 4½ p.m. today. 19th—This morning I come off picket guard. All quiet at camp. Weather warm. 20th—All quiet here. Drill from nine to ten a.m. Weather pleasant. May 21, 1864—Weather pleasant today. Captain Paris Totten of Co. I was buried at this place. He was wounded in the battle on the Saline River.
22nd—Sunday morning all quiet and pleasant here. Inspection at 9 nine a.m. today. 23rd—All quiet today. Duty heavy. We received mail today. I received one letter from J. T. Jordan dated May 14th. 24th—On camp guard today. All quiet here. 25th—Weather pleasant here. Things all quiet at this time. 26th—All quiet here. Company drill 9 to 10. Other things all quiet today. Weather pleasant at this time. 27th—Weather pleasant at this time. Nothing new at present time. 28th—All quiet today. Weather pleasant. 29th—Weather very warm and sultry. 30th—Everything going on fine here at this time. Still continue to fortify here. Nothing else of importance going on. 31st—Nothing new going on today.
Stephen Stolzer was 19 years old when he enlisted as a private in Co. E, 33rd Iowa Infantry (Iowa Civil War Images)
JUNE 1864
June 1st— All quiet today. Weather pleasant. 2nd—All quiet today. 3rd—Nothing new going on today. 4th—Heavy raining today. Very cool. 5th—All quiet today. Weather clear and pleasant. 6th—Some rain today at four p.m. Today we had general inspection. General [Daniel Edgar] Sickles reviews the troops of this place. 7th—All quiet today. Weather pleasant with some signs of rain. 8th—Today I am on camp guard. Weather cloudy. Some rain falling. Today all quiet in camp. 9th—All quiet today. Nothing of importance going on. June 10, 1864—Still all quiet today. Weather pleasant and nice. Some signs of rain. 11th—Saturday. In camp today. Today we was to have regimental inspection but the rain hindered that. It will come off tomorrow if the weather will admit. 12th—Sunday. Weather pleasant. Nothing new going on. Went to Presbyterian Church at night. 13th—Monday. On fatigue today chopping timber wood from six to ten, then from four to ½ past 6. 14th—Tuesday. In camp today not doing anything. Visit town in afternoon. Weather pleasant and nice. All very cool. 15th—Wednesday. All quiet today. Nothing unusual going on. Weather pleasant. 16th—Thursday. All quiet at this time. Northern mail come in today. One letter from J. T. Jordan. 17th—Friday. All quiet today. Weather pleasant today. Regiment was inspected by the Division Inspector General. 18th—On picket guard today. weather very warm. All quiet on picket. 19th—Sunday. Come off picket guard. Attend Presbyterian Church today. Weather very warm. 20th—Monday. Have brigade review today. Weather very warm. All quiet today. 21st—Tuesday. All quiet today. Expect to have inspection today but it is raining so it will not go off. 22nd—Wednesday. All quiet today. Six a.m. today we had regimental inspection. It has rained a goodly portion of the day. 23rd—Thursday. All quiet today. We have battalion drill today. Weather very warm at this time. 24th—Friday. On fatigue duty chopping timber. Rains in the afternoon. All quiet here now. 25th—Saturday. Today we have brigade drill from 5 to 7 p.m. Weather very warm. Nothing more at this time. 26th—Sunday. Company inspection today. Attend church at the Episcopal Church today. Have meeting in camp tonight. 27th—Monday. All quiet yet some talk of fight here now. June 28, 1864—Tuesday. All quiet yet. Nothing new going on here now. 29th—Wednesday. On camp guard today. Battalion drill this evening. 30th—Thursday. All quiet today in camp. Weather warm.
John Richards was 18 years old when he enlisted as a private in Co. A, 33rd Iowa infantry (Iowa Civil War Images)
JULY 1864
July 1, 1864—All quiet today. 2nd—Brigade drill this morning from 5 to 7 a.m. today. Weather warm. 3rd—All quiet today. Weather very warm. On picket today. 4th—All quiet today. National salute fired today at twelve noon. 5th—Weather warm yet. Battalion drill. 6th—All quiet today. Weather warm. 7th—Weather still warm. All quiet today. 8th—On camp guard today. All quiet in camp. Weather very warm. 9th—All quiet today. 10th—All quiet today. Weather very warm. 11th—On prison guard today. All goes off quiet on guard. 12th—Come off prison guard this morning. Weather warm. 14th—Nothing new going on at present. All quiet. 15th—Regimental inspection today. Weather very warm. 16th—On camp guard today. All quiet here. 17th—All quiet today. Weather very warm. 18th—Company drill from 8 to 10 a.m. Weather warm. 19th—All quiet today. Weather warm. 20th—All quiet today. Received mail from North today. Weather warm at this time. 21st—All quiet today. July 22, 1864—All quiet today. Weather pleasant. 23rd—Nothing new going on here. Weather rather cool. All quiet today. 24th—All quiet today. Weather pleasant. 25th—All quiet. 26th—On camp guard today. The northern mail come in this morning. All quiet here at this time. 27th—Boys raising thunder at present in my camp. All quiet here at this time. weather pleasant. Duty heavy at the present. 28th—All quiet today. 29th—All quiet. 30th—Start for Lewisburg on detail of six days. We take passage on board the steamer Carrie Jacobs. 31st—On board steamer. Weather pleasant.
Samuel Allen Rice served as the Colonel of the 33rd Iowa Infantry (Iowa Civil War Images)
AUGUST 1864
August 1st—Still on board. Things pass off well. Arrive at Lewisburg late in evening. 2nd—Leave Lewisburg for Little Rock. Arrive at Little Rock three p.m. Find the boys in camp all lively when I return. 3rd—Nothing new going on here at this time. 4th—All quiet. I help haul one load of wood today. 5th—Go on picket today. Have a very nice time until night—then I suffer much from the mosquitos. Nothing unusual transpires while on duty. 6th—Come off picket this morning. Weather pleasant. Return to camp and wash and comb my head. Then lie down and take a nice sleep for a couple of hours. 7th—All quiet in camp today. Weather pleasant. 8th—Nothing new going on today. 9th—Today it has rained very hard. All quiet. 10th—Nothing new. Weather pleasant. 11th—Today it is raining. All quiet here. This day one year ago, we left Helena, Arkansas, for Little Rock. We arrived at Little Rock on the 10th of September. 12th—Weather cloudy and some rain falling. All quiet here at the present time. 13th—All quiet today. Some rain today. The mail arrived today from the North. At the time I am writing it is just half past eleven at night. All quiet and still at this time. 14th—All quiet here. August 15, 1864—Today we received pay to the amount of $84 dollars. 16th—All quiet here. Weather cloudy. 17th—On fatigue today on Fort Steele. Things all quiet here at this time. It looks very much like rain to night. 18th—Rains nearly all day. 19th—Weather cool and plenty of rain. We received mail today. 20th—On picket today. All quiet where we are at this time. 21st—Sunday. All quiet in camp. Today we buried Robert Hicks of our company. He died in the night of the 20th of fever. 22nd—All quiet today. 23rd—On picket today. 24th—All quiet today. 25th—Weather very warm today. 26th—All quiet here today. 27th—On picket today on the Pine Bluff Road one mile and a ½ south of town. 28th—Sunday. Weather cloudy. Some rain today. 29th—Weather pleasant and clear today. All quiet here. 30th—On camp guard today. On second relief. It has rained all the forenoon nearly. All quiet here yet. 31st—Today was mustered for pay for the months of August and July.
Michael J. Clarahan was 23 years old when he enlisted in Co. B, 33rd Iowa Infantry (Iowa Civil War Images)
SEPTEMBER 1864
September 1st—Today it has been very warm. 2nd—On picket today west of Little Rock—close to State prison. 3rd—Come off picket this morning. Weather very warm here at present. 4th—All quiet today. September 5, 1864—Last night we lie in the rifle pits all night expecting the rebels would give us a fight next morning but they did not come. 6th—Come to camp today and taken a little rest. 7th—On fatigue today all day. No fight yet. 8th—On picket today west of Little Rock. Things all quiet today. 9th—Come off picket today. Things all quiet in camp. 10th—All quiet today. On fatigue drawing rations for regiment. 11th—Sabbath. On camp guard today. 12th—Come off camp guard this morning. All quiet here at present. 13th—Slightly Sick. 14th—Same as above. 15th—One small pill at 3 pm. Fever accordingly. 16th—All quiet in camp. 17th—On fatigue today. 18th—Sabbath. All quiet today. Weather pleasant. 19th—Weather cool and pleasant. All quiet at camp. 20th—On picket today. All passed off quiet. 21st—Come off picket this morning. All quiet in camp. 22nd—In camp today. Weather cool and pleasant. All quiet around the Rock. 23rd—On camp guard today. All quiet here. Weather warm for September. 24th—Nothing going on in camp today. 25th—All quiet today. At church at 11. Went on fatigue at night at R. R. Depot. Worked till 2 a.m. 26th—In camp all day working on my cabin. All quiet. September 27, 1864—On picket guard. Showery all day. 28th—Come off picket today. Weather lowery. All quiet in camp. 29th—All quiet in camp. Weather rather cool. Went to town today. Nothing new going on around Little Rock. 30th—Nothing new going on in camp.
OCTOBER 1864
October 1st—On picket today on Benton Road south of Little Rock. 2nd—Sunday morning come off picket. All quiet in camp. 3rd—Weather cool today. Weather Showery. Things quiet. Northern mail today. One letter from home. 4th—All quiet. One hundred guns fired today in of honor of Sheridan’s Victory. Weather very muddy. 5th—On fatigue today [working] on fort. Weather cool and pleasant. 6th—In camp all day. All quiet. Weather pleasant. 7th—In camp all day. Things all quiet here. 8th—On camp picket today west of Rapley Road. 9th—Come off picket today. All quiet in camp. 10th—Weather pleasant. All quiet today. 11th—Weather pleasant. On fatigue today. 12th—All quiet in camp. Weather is pleasant. 13th—All quiet today. 14th—On camp guard today. Some rain falling in the evening. 15th—All quiet today. Weather pleasant. 16th—Weather pleasant. All quiet around camp. 17th—On camp guard today. Weather pleasant. 18th—Come off camp guard today. Went to town in the forenoon. 19th—Weather pleasant. I went to timber today. 20th—All quiet today. Weather pleasant. 21st—Nothing new going on today. weather pleasant. On fatigue at night unloading cars at depot. 22nd—Brigade drill today from 2 p.m. to 4. Weather cool and pleasant. 23rd—Sabbath. weather pleasant. work on kitchen today. Nothing new going. 24th—On picket guard today. weather pleasant. 25th—Come off picket today. Weather lowery. All quiet in camp. 26th—All quiet in camp today. Battalion drill from 2 p.m. to 4. 27th—All quiet today. Weather rather cool/ Work on cabin today. 28th—All quiet today. 29th—On picket today. Relieved at twelve. October 30th—Leave Little Rock [with forage train] for Ft. Smith [—a distance of 180 miles—] at one p.m. March 8 miles and camp for the night. On picket tonight. 31st—Came off picket this morning. Today [Companies] A & F are rear guards for train. March 10 miles and camp on the Purloin River. Country broken.
A sample of Mottern’s Handwriting in Diary
NOVEMBER 1864
November 1st 1864—Leave Purloin River and go 16 miles and [companies] A, F & D was in the center of train today. Rained all afternoon. Roads bad. Camp on a very nice little field. 2nd—Travel 2 miles, cross Cadron River. Go two miles and camp. Go foraging. Have bad luck. Get lost in the swamps. Finally get out by the assistance of a Negro guide. 3rd—Finish crossing train and remain in camp on the bank of the Arkansas River. Weather rather cool. On camp guard tonight. All going off nicely so far. 4th—Come off camp guard. March 12.5 [miles]. Arrive at Lewisburg at one p.m. Go in camp on a very rough ridge. Still close to the Arkansas river. 5th—Leave Lewisburg, march 10 miles and camp for the night. Roads bad. All quiet tonight. No camp. 6th—In camp today. train is not moving today. Lying, waiting to get forage. 7th—Leave the above-named place, march 14 miles, and camp on a large plantation. Roads good today. Weather pleasant. Plenty of forage, hogs and cattle. November 8, 1864—March 11 miles. Fired on today by one bushwhacker but done no damage to us. All going off fine. Camp at one p.m. and hold election. Camp on a nice stream called Illinois Bayou. Pass Rushville today. 9th—Cross Illinois Bayou and march 15 miles and camp on Big Piney. Roads hilly today. All quiet today. 10th—March 18 miles and camp at Clarksville on Spadra Creek. Good roads today. All quiet. Clarksville—county seat of Johnson county. Town mostly burned. 11th—Lie by today to get forage to last through the 18th. Arkansas infantry and 54 U.S. Colored met us here today. Here we see the ranges of the Mulberry Mountains. 12th—March 15 miles. Cross Little Horse Head & Big Horse Head today—both small streams—and pass through Horse Head Gap in the mountains. 13th—March 16 miles. Cross White Oak Creek and camp on or close to the creek. Today we crossed the road from ozark to Huntsville, Arkansas. 14th—March 15 miles and camp. Cross Mulberry Creek today. Have to wade the creek. On guard tonight in train. 15th—March 14 miles. Arrive at Van Buren one p.m. Roads good today. Camped on the Arkansas river. 16th—Nothing new today. Lie in camp all day. Weather cool here. 17th—Leave Van Buren at 10 a.m. and march 14 miles. Cross Little Frog. [Note: It appears that Mottern and the members of his regiment turned around at this point and began their return to Little Rock. Most likely it was at this location that the train was met by members of Maj. Thomas Derry (3rd Wisconsin Cavalry) who had preceded the supply train with dispatches to Fort Smith and on their return, met the supply train and escorted it safely back to Fort Smith. See Fort Smith Expedition.] 18th—March 16 miles. Cross Big Frog. Mulberry camp on the same ground we did as we we went up. Roads bad. 19th—Camp on same ground as we went up. Road bad today. Camp on Horse Head. 20th—March from Horse Head Gap to Clarksville 16 miles. Cross Spadra [Creek and] camp on old camp. Roads good today. Very cool. 21st—March 16 miles. Cross [Big] Piney. Roads good today. Weather very cool. 22nd—March 18 miles. Cross the Illinois Bayou and march to Pott’s Plantation. 23rd—March 17 miles. Roads good today. Weather pleasant. Camp on a nice stream, name not known to me. 24th—Pass Petit Jean Mountains. March from Pontramos to the Arkansas river. Pass Lewisburg. 25th—March 4 miles. Cross Cadron river. Roads bad today. Camp on same ground we did 3rd night. 26th—March 14 miles. Camp on Pauline Creek. Roads bad and very stoney. 27th—March 18 miles. Arrive at Little Rock at 4 p.m. March to old camp and go into quarters. 28th—All quiet in camp. 29th—On fatigue today. Weather pleasant. 30th—All quiet. No news today.
DECEMBER 1864
December 1, 1864—Nothing new today. All quiet. 2nd—Weather pleasant and warm. 3rd—Same as above. 4th—On picket today south of town. All pass off quietly. 5th—Came off picket today. Weather pleasant today. All quiet in camp. 6th—All quiet today. Weather pleasant. Go to town in afternoon. 7th—High winds today. Rather cool. All quiet in camp. 8th—On picket today. Weather very cool. Today we have four recruits to our company—H. Miner, Spurgeon, Strait, Metcalf. 9th—Came off picket today. Weather cool. All quiet in camp. No news today. 10th—All quiet in camp today. weather cool. 11th—No news today. Very cool. [Pages missing] 20th—Weather cool today. All quiet in camp. 21st—Weather cool and high wind. 22nd—On fatigue today chopping wood for picket line. weather pleasant. 23rd—Weather pleasant today. Company drill today. All quiet in camp. No news today. 24th—On picket guard south of town on Rapley Road. Weather pleasant. 25th— Come off picket today. Weather pleasant. Some rain today. today I went to town [and] from there to 40th Iowa. Find the boys all right. 26th—In camp today. weather pleasant. 27th—On picket guard today south of town on Wright’s Farm. weather very cool. 28th—Came off picket this morning. weather still cool. all quiet in camp. no news of any importance. 29th—Nothing new going on here. 30th—On fatigue today on the fortification. 31st—Today we have muster for November and December. All quiet in camp. weather pleasant. Nothing new going on worth notice. This finishes ’64.
JANUARY 1865
On camp guard today. Weather pleasant. All quiet in camp. 2nd—Nothing new today. Company drill 2 hours. weather pleasant. 3rd—All quiet today. 4th—Nothing new going on in camp. 5th—On picket guard today. Rains all day. 6th—Come off picket guard today. It snowed considerable—the first that has fallen here this winter. 7th—All quiet in camp today. weather pleasant. 8th—Sabbath morning. Nothing new. In camp all day. Go to Presbyterian Church at night. 9th—On picket today. Rains all day and snows at night. All passed off quietly on guard. 10th—Came off picket today. weather clear and pleasant. Snow melting off swiftly. All quiet in camp. 11th—Weather pleasant. All quiet in camp today. Go to town in afternoon. 12th—weather pleasant and nice. All quiet in camp. 13th—On picket on Rapley Road south of town. Weather pleasant. 14th—Came off picket today. Weather still pleasant and nice. 15th—Inspection today. Attend Catholic Church at 11 a.m. Weather pleasant. 16th—All quiet in camp. Monthly inspection today. Inspected by Capt. Barnes of [General Edward S.] Salomon’s Staff. 17th—All quiet in camp. 18th—All quiet in camp. on fatigue today on fort. 19th—On picket guard today on Ripley Road. 20th—Came off picket guard today. We was reviewed by Major. Gen. Reynolds.
FEBRUARY 1865
February 14th—Leave Little Rock at 5 a.m. Arrived at DuVall’s Bluff at one p.m. Embark on steamer Paragon at 5 p.m. 15th—Arrive at mouth of white River at 2 p.m. Now lying in camp. weather pleasant. 16th—Embark on steamer [ ] at [ ] a.m. weather pleasant. 17th—Weather pleasant and warm. We are some 40 miles above Vicksburg. Arrive at Vicksburg at one p.m. Leave at 6 p.m. 18th—Travel all night. Arrive at Natchez at daylight. Stay there but a short time. 19th—Arrive at New Orleans at 2 p.m. Cross the river to Algiers on the opposite side from New Orleans. 20th—Still in camp. All passing quietly today. Have regimental inspection. 21st—Still at Algiers. all passing off quietly. The troops are passing down the river all day. 22nd—Very showery all day today. we sent our regiment teams around today. Today I paid a visit to the [ ]. 23rd—Leave Orleans for Lakeport. Arrive there at 8 p.m. Go off the cars and go into an old house for the night. 24th—Move to another house and camp. 26th—Leave Lakeport for Dauphin Island on steamer Zephyr. 27th—Arrive at Ft. Gaines on Dauphin Island. Then we move to Navy Cove 4 miles. 28th—On detail today hunting wood. Mustered for pay today. Dauphin Island 140 miles from Lakeport.In camp on the beach of the Gulf of Mexico in Alabama at Mobile Point.
MARCH 1865
March 1st 1865—Still in camp on Mobile Point. All quiet here. 2nd—Weather pleasant and nice. No news today of any importance. 3rd—All quiet today. William Brown and I went down on the bay and caught a fine mess of oysters. 4th thru 7th [No entries] 8th—Today our division was reviewed by Maj. General Osterhaus. 9th—On the 9th, the forts around Blakely fell into our hands. 11th—Leave Blakely on the night of the 11th and march to landing on the bay. Embark in boats on 12th and cross the bay and take possession of Mobile. 13th—Leave Mobile and march out on Mobile and Ohio Railroad some 5 miles to Whistler Station. We have a small skirmish with the enemy. 14th—Rained all day. Nothing new going on in camp today. 15th—On packet St. Stephens Road. All quiet for today. We are 11.5 miles from Whistler Station, Alabama, on Mobile & Ohio Railroad. 17th—Leave Mobile Point today. March 9 miles and camp. Advance guards today. 18th—March all day. Rear guards today. Some bad roads today. 19th—Marched all day. Roads very bad. Only move 6 miles. On picket at night. 20th thru 24th [No entries] 25th—Leave Fish River and march 5 miles. 16th Corps in advance. Roads good. All quiet today. 27th—Commence bombardment on Spanish Fort on the 27th. 28th—Still being in our works around the line. 31st—Commence at 8 a.m. with all the artillery on the rebel works. weather very pleasant here at this time.
APRIL 1865
April 1st—On skirmish line today. No one in the company hurt. we was very close to a rebel fort. April 4th—Today things are quiet with the exception of the artillery firing that is kept up pretty lively. April 8th—This evening our artillery opened all round the lines on the enemy. April 23rd—Read the news today of the murder of Abraham Lincoln. April 25, 1865—Today 5 companies of our regiment embarked on the gunboat and went up the Tombigbee River.
Spared & Shared 23 