Iowa in the Civil War

IN THE OZARKS: MISSOURI AND ARKANSAS
The diary of Benjamin F. McIntyre

S B Theodore L. McGill Sept 4^th 1862

Tis useless for one who has a family he has ever loved and with whom for years he has lived in uninterrupted affection to enter upon any description of the last parting from his family—with whom he may never meet again—a scene to sacred on which to intrude—to sacred for any pen to attempt a description and in my own instance I draw the mournful veil and shall gaze back through the vista of the dim past and remember my farewell to loved ones who so soon shall be far from me—Sept 4th 1862. I bade my loved ones adieu for the uncertainties of a soldiers life—The last clasp is given, the last long kiss even now lingers upon my cheek—My little ones, uncontious of the reality, feel it not. But 0' God—that parting hour must remain green in memory so long as life shall exist and I would hide my own weakness—if such it may be called—amid the sorrowful refection that crowd upon the heart. 5 o'clock am Roll call we were all present with two exceptions—Albert Bane and Wm West who no doubt have deserted. With these exceptions my company were all present.

¹ According to the Keokuk press, the 19th Iowa Infantry held a dress parade on Sept. 2, 1862, marching from Camp Lincoln through Keokuk on September ?, they were attended "by a large concourse of citizens and friends who had assembled to bid them farewell," and embarked on the chartered steamer T. L. McGill for St. Louis. Daily Gate City, Sept. 3, 4, 6, 1862; Constitution, Sept. 3, 5, 1862. 
² Albert Bane, of Montrose, Iowa, who, enlisted in Co. A of the 19th Iowa Infantry on Aug. 15, 1862, was mustered in on Aug. _, 1862, and was mustered out on July 10, 1865, at Mobile, Ala.  William H. West, aged twenty-four and a resident of Alpine, Iowa, enlisted on Aug. 14, 1862, and was mustered in on August 17.  West deserted on Sept. 4, 1862, at Keokuk.—Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion (6 vols., Des Moines, 1908-1911), III, 240, 330.

 

 

 

At 8 am we were ordered into line with our guns upon our shoulders and the equipments at our side and our Knapsacks upon our backs, our haversacks filled with two days rations.

This was our final of Camp Lincoln and while we stood in line I saw many scenes of which I was an unwilling witness, husbands bid-ding farewell to their wives who lingered until the moment of seperation.

Mothers were there to gaze upon their sons that they had given to their country (o what sacrafices the heaving bosom, the tearful eye, the compressed lip told of the agony rankling in their bosoms.)

Occasionally some young girl with swollen eyes & pallid lip would flit through the crowd as some wierd shadow-and was gone-ashamed to betray her weakness to the public gaze.

Little children were there who clung franticly to their fathers as if this was the final sepperation. 0 if there is anything to move the stony heart it is to realize such scenes as this.

At 9 oclock we were in line of march and Col Crabb³rode its entire length. I could not but notice the expression pride upon his face and when the expression fell from his lips. This is the finest Regiment I ever saw - we could but feel the compliment paid us (May we avenge his wrongs at Belmont. The order to march was given and our columns turned their backs upon Camp Lincoln, many of us for the last time and we might ask ourselves-what has the mysterious future in store for me?

3 Colonel Benjamin Crabb, born in Ohio in 1821, served as proprietor of a hotel in Washington, Iowa, immediately before entering the 7th Iowa Infantry in the summer of 1861. Captured in the Battle of Belmont, Nov. 7, 1861, Crabb was exchanged and rejoined the 7th Iowa and served until August, 1862, when he resigned to accept the colonelcy of the 19th Iowa Infantry.-A. A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments: Being a History of Iowa Regiments in the War of the Rebellion; and Containing a Description of the Battles (Des Moines, 1865), pp. 351-360. Cited hereafter as Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments. Photos elssewhere.

We were again halted upon the Levee & friends and relation who had followed for a last look or farewell for those whom they loved & might not behold again-Were clasped again.

But tears or words of affection however they might excite painful emotions in the heart could not hold them from the stern call of duty which they felt their country had called them. And while we may for-sake every pleasure of home yet there is that within us nerves us for every emergency. And on the altar of our country we dedicate our lives promising in weal or wo to stand by her.

May a kind Heaven bare his strong arm to shield and support those we leave behind.

The word of command is again given and we pass upon the Steam-boat T L McGill and at 11 o'clock am we rounded from the city of Keokuk leaving its pleasures, its joys, its sorrows, and every association of pain and pleasure connected with it for the stern realities for a soldiers life and its actual reality.

The boat is crowded to the utmost-it seems an impossibility to find a place to sit or even stand to rest wearied limbs.

The weather is hot and the heat of the sun on the tarred roof of canvas with the boiling steam beneath us render our situation a very disagreeable one.

The amount of men and with our present accommodation would thin a regiment faster than a plague, for it is continued suffering, a continued taxing upon nature which cannot long endure such a condition as ours is at present.

There is no pity manifested for Soldiers and no accommodation is prepared for him and he expects or is now learning his first lesson that he must not expect anything that humanity pays for but be satisfied with such as is given him & be thankful for it. We are greeted along the river upon each side by cheers and demonstrations by the inhabitance. We expect to reach St. Louis tomorrow. 

Benton Barracks Mo Sept ^5th 1862 

Passed Alton6 at 9 am this morning. Passed S B Runyan come 10 miles below--a large number of ladies  on board greeted us with every demonstration of patriotism. At 10 am we arrived at St Louis and at 10 am were in line of march for Benton Barracks where we arrived at one oclock. On our way we were greeted enthuiasticly from nearly every dwelling. The ladies seemed particular partial in their demonstration of joy.

This was a hard tramp for many of us although a short one. The day was an excessively hot one and each one having his knapsack & overcoat & blanket beside his gun and accoutrements to carry-being uncustomed to such a load and very many of us not inured to the heat of the sun our different vocations requireing many of us to remain behind in shady locations & had not perhaps spent an hour in the sun at time for months.  And this trip from the St Louis Levee to the barracks was rather more than a good many were able to endure and many found conveyance on the street cars. While nearly exausted the remainder of them made the barracks but were a sorry looking set of Soldiers wet with perspiration and dirty from the dust. Our Chaplain & Major' deserves credit for the assistence they rendered poor fellows today by carrying upon their horses the Knapsacks and guns of many who would never reached the Barracks without assistence.

Benton Barracks are situated five miles from the city-Everything is conveniently arranged for the accomodation of a very large number of troops. It contains one mile square of ground and has every variety of building for camp purposes. They are all whitewashed and kept in good repair. At present there are 19000 troops quartered here but so ample are the grounds that it seems as if there were scarce as many hundred. Distance from St Louis 5 miles. Distance from Keokuk to St Louis 214 miles.

Benton Barracks Mo Sept 6th 1862

I might here venture a few words concerning our officers but I think it policy for the present to remain silent. I must say however they are as far as their acquaintence is with us loved and respected-They are as follows

Benj Crabb, Colonel
Sam I McFarland Lt Colonel-not with us
Daniel Kent Major
Dennis Murphy Chaplain
Granville G. Bennett Adjutant
Philip Harvey Surgeon
D A Hurst -L M Sloanaker : Asst Surgeons
J R Downing Quartermaster

 

Non Commissioned Staff as follows

Today occurred the first death in our regiment, a soldier from Co "G" from WapeIlo Co.

Benton Barracks Mo Sept ^7th 1862

Sunday-No drills today-meeting at 10-30 am at the vast amphitheatre connected with the barracks ground. Chaplain Murphy gave us his first sermon from 6^th Chap 7 v-Gallatians. We turned out to a man with our entire regiment & I venture here the remark that he will never again address the number of 19^th boys he has done today. The 33º Mo met with us. Their commander Col Lusk was introduced and made some excellent remarks.

Benton Barracks Sept ^8th 1862

The 20^th Iowa came into camp today & take up quarters in the barracks." We have drills twice a day, dress parade in the evening. The supposition seems to be that we will leave in a few days for Springfield Mo.

　Benton Barracks Mo Sept ^9th 1862

Our company received a flag today by the American Express Co I from  Keokuk. It was purchased by J. J. Bishop and presented to us by Mrs Smith Irving & Talbot of that city. It is a very nice one of silk, staff necessary ornaments accompanying it. At a meeting; of our boys this evening O. G. Burch was selected to receive it. C. H. Judd to be the  presenter in behalf of the ladies, addresses to made which will come off tomorrow evening immediately after dress parade. Orders received this evening to be ready for a final leave on Thursday

Benton Barracks Mo Sept 10th 1862

Our destination seems Rolla on the Pacific Railroads" Our sick have all been conveyed to the hospital.

Rolla Phelps Co  Mo Sept 1862 

Left the Barracks at 9 am this morning for the depot of the Pacific railroad some four miles distant. A rain commenced this morning & has continued all day. Our march to the depot was through heavy rain and mud. The day was quite cold and being saturated to the skin our situation was most disagreeable.

We remained at the depot some two hours shivering with cold where we were kindly permitted to take possession of some freight cars with soft undressed pine seats and some of the cars void even a roof over them. The best of them were mere old rattle traps unlit to carry respectible freight upon. Yet that only makes them the more valuable to the government to carry soldiers-The rain accompanied by a cold north wind rendered us anything but good natured--But we arrived safely at Rolla about midnight and was not cry long pitching sufficient tents to cover us, and wet, cold & hungry turned in with our blankets around us & soon forgot Pacific railroads or that we were soldiers.

Rolla Mo Sept 12th 1862

We got up this morning & soon had a realizing sense of the uncertainity of earthly things. Our provisions had not been unloaded from the cars and could not be got out for some hours. This was an unlooked for dilemna and we began to feel very lank about the stomach. But fortune sometimes favors the brave (seldom a soldier however). The 20th ''Wisconsin'* came to our rescue & gave us an invitation as a regiment to come over and breakfast with them. We went in big and many a Badger Boy rolled up his eye to see hardtack and sow belly disappear. Our keen appetites were satisfied and we gave that 20th three as good hearty cheers as they will ever receive if they spend a whole life in the survice.

There are 7600 soldiers at this place at present but many will leave in a few days.

The place seems well protected, forts and fortifications are numerous.

The town is small & the country around it poor and the only thing that makes it a place of any importance is being the terminus of the railroad and of course this must make it a depot for a vast amount of business which is under government control!.

One of the forts at this place contains over a hundred Missouri German troops who refused to leave the state when ordered to do so & were sent here to work on the fortifications.

One of our Co "A" boys were sent to the hospital today.

Next to Segment 2