Iowa in the Civil War

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Camp Sigel Sept 13^th 1862

There not being water at Rolla to furnish the troops we were forced to leave where the fluid was more plenty and our commanders had selected this point as our camping ground for days to come. Our march was a short one but a pretty tiresome one & we put it through pretty fast.

We camp on the border of a little stream which furnishes a supply of water for washing &º and near by is one of the finest springs I ever saw & capable of furnishing water to ten times the number already here-We are informed that We must mess off into numbers of not over 20 & Sibbly tents will be furnished us.

Distance from Rolla 5 miles.

Camp Sigel Sept 14" 1862

Sunday-We get rid of drills today. Had preaching on the side hill at 4 pm. Dress parade for the first time in this camp.

The 20^th Wisconsin came in tonight & camp a short distance below us while the 94^thIll, are a short distance above us.

Camp Sigel Mo Sept 15" 1862

• Nothing of any special interest going on today. Rather pleasant.

• Orders to march in the morning.

Little Piney
Camp 10 miles East of Camp Sigel
Sept 16^th 1862

Was ready fully armed and equipped and 40 rounds of cartages in our Boxes and one days rations in our haversacks. But were unexpectedly detained by unforseen circumstances which the revolation of Col Crabb disclosed to us some things of which we had known nothing. He mounted a dry goods box or something else answering the purpose of a rostrum and gave us a speech and as it was his first probable his last one I must make minits of it-if not in language to the sense intended to convey. The Colonel informed us from some misunderstanding between himself and the War department or the Governor of Iowa or somebody else he was not yet our Col -This was somewhat surprising to some of us for we had supposed the 19th had a commander & Col Crabb was the man. Yet he wanted to be-and thought we were the finest looking men he had ever seen and we thought he was a fine looking man and he talked so pretty to us we could not but wish he might be our first officer. He made us a nice speech, shed tears over us and talked affection and love until his feelings so overpowered him he was forced to sit down, when Maj Kent arose to the rescue and made a motion that a series of resolutions be got up signed by the commissioned officers of the 19^thIowa Vol Infty asking of Gov Kirkwood and everybody else concerned that Col Crabb should be retained in our regiment-In fact we thought we could not do without him. Capt9 Bruce, Paine & Roderick' were selected to draft the resolutions which being duly signed was by motion acted upon by the entire regiment who voted (of course to retain B. Crabb as Col-This little affair being amicably settled we were ordered into line again and took up a line of march. While we went one way Col. Crabb & his family persued another.

The 94" Ill. & 20" Wis. accompany us & we camp tonight on a little stream called Little Piney where we are guarding Sesesh property consisting of a dwelling, a little garden patch, & half a dozen chickens -March today 10 miles.

September 1862
Camp on the Big Piney
Pulaski Co Mo-Wednesday 17"

 

Left camp on the Little Piney at 12 am today arriving here about dark - Our camp tonight is one on which Gen Sigel camped with his mtn and when on his famous retreat from Wilson Creek to Rolla" and many of the people in the neighborhood still have reasons for remembering him for the amount of property he destroyed along the road. The 20^th Iowa came up with us today and our force presents a formnable appearance.

Distance came today 9 miles.

　

Camp near Waynesville Mo Thursday 18'^h

Left camp at 6 pm this morning arriving here at 12 m today. Companies "A" & "F^" were sent forward as an advance guard.

Waynesville is one of those necessary little towns which are needed in certain counties as a place for horse racing, quarrels & fights and where bad whisky and poor tobacco is offered for sale at reasonable prices for approved credit or country produce.²⁰

We received orders today prohibiting all jayhawking and no shooting allowed.

I shall leave this camp on Rubidotux Creek with pleasure, for through the town and a mile around it seems selected as a vast cemetry for Uncle Sams dead horses and mules for they are spread broadcast over considerable an extent of country and through the town. The air is foul with the stench arriving from them and you can imagine that your very victuals are contaminated with the decay of animal matter.

There are a few soldiers stationed here, perhaps a hundred in number.

Rations have grown short in the past day or two & the boys are indulging in a few curses that will not hurt any person.

Distance came today 12 miles.

September 1862
Camp on Gasconade River Friday 19^th

We are all tired tonight, it has been a hot dusty day and many a blistered foot is acheing. And the river bank is Lined with soldiers who are laving in the cool water their heated lacerated limbs.

It is a beautiful country in this vicinity, the soil rich and fertile. We crossed the Gasconade by means of a rope ferry. It is low at present but at certain times of the year must be a large stream. Our tramp today amounted to just 15 miles.

Camp 3 miles SW Lebanon
September 1862
La Clede Co Mo Saturday 20^th

We camp tonight by a stagnant pond in which are half decayed hogs, horses and mules and a thick green scum covering the surface of the water. We left camp this morning at 7 oclock with but a very poor apology of a breakfast and a much poorer one for dinner and tonight we feel lank and ill natured.

The day has been a very warm one and water has been scarce along our route, so much so that we have suffered-This has been the first day that we have found a scarcity of that article which is absolutely indispensible  to a soldier on a march and today has been a most disagreeable one. Swollen feet, parched tongues have been plenty and we have hastened on expecting a rich banquet at our camping ground tonight where we might satiate our thirst. And O such a reception as awaited us-a pond putrid from the rottenness which oozed from scores of decaying carcasess.

I saw some so regardless or so exausted that they cared not for any-thing but to quench the thirst that parched them push back the scum of green decayed matter and drink to satisfaction. Others chafed their arms and feet in the stinking water gazing upon it with feelings never before experienced. Others sick at heart turned from it but to feel more keen the anguish that was almost excrutiating-And which they knew full well they must partake or perish. This perhaps could not be obviated, it was maybe the only source from which we could get water. But I must say I do think we rnight have been placed in different circumstances had our officers known the real facts connected with this camp.

Our camp is in a field of ragweed so high & so thick that any common army might play hide and go seek & find plenty of room for the playing of such a game. And in after years we shall all remember this spot of slue water & where Gen Herron gave us the rot gut.

One word for Lebanon²' which is the county seat of La Cede Co Mo. It is however a place of no great importance. The place is a small one and is used as a military post and never could have boasted over a couple of hundred inhabitance. The finest buildings are used for hospitals.

There is a log fort here and a blockhouse nearly finished.

Several hundred soldiers are stationed here and in its near vicinity. We sent three of our company to the hospital this evening. Our march today was 15 miles.

Sunday--Our camp is a very pleasant one streached along this little stream which furnish a sufficiency of what we most need. We met at this place quite a number of the 10th Ill. Cavalry with a large train on their way to Rolla. Our rations continue woefully scant and we have hard fare to cheer us.

Distance came today 22 miles.

September 1862 Camp at Mill Springs Monday 22''

With but little or no breakfast, no dinner and a poor show for supper we rest beside a little meandering stream tonight from which oozes a hundred tiny springs. The day has been hot and the road very dusty and we present an appearance of a lot of dirty scallowags and we feel about as sorry as we appear.

But water is plenty and this little creek at Mill Springs furnished more water to clean the exterior of soldiers tonight than it will ever do again perhapse.

This is a fine place for a camp, in an extensive wood where there is no underbrush or small timber and the huge trees arch their branches over us thus affording us a cool retreat from the sun. At noon today we passed Sand Springs where there is a fort called Fort Snelling. It is garrisoned by a small force and is a halting place or camp for trains passing between Rolla and Springfield. There are 21 prisoners confined in it.  Distance today 15 miles.

Camp at Mill Springs September
Mo Tuesday 23^d

We rest today-and although the distance we have came each day has been short-the weather has been hot and the roads very dusty. And very many of us unacustomed to this kind of exercise and exposure In the heat feel it most sensibly and it is much more fatigueing to march in ranks than outside it where you can use yourself without restraint and avoid in a great degree the dust & heat - In fact the slow shady tramp of soldiers march was always taxing upon my frame. While the days march was a short one I could perform twice the distance out of ranks in less time and with much less fatigue to myself.

Fruit is quite abundant in the neighborhood and I have seen quantities of fine apples and peaches brought into camp. Had dress parade this evening. Col Crabb arrived this afternoon. I presume he is our commander else he would not returned to us.

Orders to leave tomorrow morning.

Camp near Springfield Mo Wednesday 24th

Left camp at Mill Springs at 7 oclock this morning arriving at Springfield at 3 pm. Springfield was before the rebellion a town of perhapse 2000 inhabitance and contains several fine buildings and many beautiful residences. Yet like all other towns of interior Missouri their glory has departed and is shorn of their beauty to a great extent and everything going on seems carried on by the government. Large trains are arriving and departing daily with government stores and provisions.

The place seems to have been deserted by its inhabitants and Store-houses and dwellings are closed or open by U S Employees for the transaction of their business.

The sentinel marches his lonely rounds and guards every avenue leading to the place-You scarce meet an individual hut the blazing capitals U S stare out in bold relief and every sign denotes an official or place of business of the U S-and every horse and mule and wagon bears the common brand of U S.

There are 19000 troops in and about Springfield at present. There are various forts and fortifications in and near the place.`' Distance between Mill Springs & Springfield 15 M.

September 1862
Camp near Springfield Mo Thursday 25`'

This day has been spent by soldiers mending, patching, washing and doing for themselves what they could not get others to do for them. And they seem to have set apart today for the conducement for their own comfort and and health. The country around Springfield is a fine one and productive of a bountiful yield to the husbandman,

The woods abound with grapes the finest I ever saw.

One of our guards was shot last night while guarding a dwelling near our camp. camp. Considerable excitement exists in relation to it, for when Lane was here several months ago he confiscated the slaves, mules & horses belonging to the individual whose property we are protecting.

September 1862
Camp near Springfield Mo Friday 26^th

Today  in my rambles for items I have noticed many ruins of elegant residences which have been burned, as I am informed by orders of Gen Sigel while he was here, and the people in this neighborhood in drawing a contrast between Sigel & the rebel General Price speak of the latter as possessing more humanity than the former. There was prayer meeting tonight. Today the chaplain gave each of us a testament a hymn book.

Camp near Springfield Mo September 1862
Saturday 27th 1862

Reveille at 4-30 am. Roll call 5-Breakfast 6-30-Company drill 12- 4 pm, Battallion Drill from 2 to 4. Supper 5-30. Dress Parade 6-30 Roll Call 8-30. Tattoo 9-Taps9-45.

This is a daily routine of daily duty enforced upon us by government

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