B.F. McKinley's Diary
Segment three.
Many of these prisoners perform daily labor on the government works.
Camp near Springfield Mo October 1862
Monday 6thMany of our regiment are quite unwell. The camp diarrhea is making a sad havoc amoung our ranks, quite a number have already been sent to the Post hospital and one hundred & thirty in camp are reported to the surgeon.
Hucksters with pies and cakes are plenty in our camp daily.
Camp near Springfield Mo
Tuesday 7thScarce a dozen of our boys in camp today, being off on shovel and pick duty at the forts.
Camp near Springfield Mo
Wednesday 8thRain since morning- We are wet and uncomfortable-Orders are received to leave in the morning.
Camp near Springfield Mo
Thursday 9thA cold rainy day-The orders to leave was countermanded-I think we shall leave in a few days but will have to remain in our present location until the swollen streams subsides.
I have spoken of soldiers working on the forts. Inducements have been made to them of 25 cts Extra pay each day for their work and payable when 10 days labor has been performed. I consider it an imposition for I have the first soldier yet to see who has performed more than nine days work-they are not needed on the 10thday.
Camp near Springfield Mo
Friday 10thCold clear and windy-We leave in the morning. We shall have few regrets in leaving this place for at present we are doing but little here
Camp near Twin Springs Mo
SaturdayWe are in a pleasant camp after our days march. The day has been, quite pleasant after a cold night. I noticed frost this morning for the first time of the season. The dwellings along our road today have been nearly destroyed and everything indicates the work of destruction that has been carried on for months passed. There is a dwelling near our camp from the inmates of whom I wished to learn some particulars concerning the Wilson Creek battle but a guard around the place precluded my entrance, so of course I learned nothing from them. I was much disappointed at this, for the precedent had been established weeks ago that every house belonging to Sesesh must be protected while the husband & sons are in the southern army we must protect the families and their property.
We passed near the ground of the battle of Wilson Creek today at 3 pm. The grounds are a rough stony range of hills to the right of the running from Springfield to Twin Springs where we crossed the creek at the same point Gen Sigel crossed. We found hands full of grapes and cannister. I also noticed also several graves of Sesesh
Jayhawking is strictly forbidden yet hogs stray into our camp. While someone mourns their loss somebody rejoices over a dish of pork. I might add here that we hired a team to bawl our Knapsacks from which cost us 25¢ each, and from Springfield we pay as much to Cassville.
If we ever get to a rebel country I think we shall have a team of our own. The camp on which we camp tonight is called Camp Curtis, McCullough Springs, Double Springs and Twin Springs and is known by each of thease names.
Distance came today 12 miles.
Camp at Crane Creek Mo
Sunday 12th Stone Co October 1862It has been a fine day.
The 20t" Wis. camp near us tonight. Gen Herron & staff are in company with us. Col Crabb is detained at Springfield. Lt Col McFarland has not yet arrived. Major Kent is in command.
Gen Herron seems to have a pretty extensive bodyguard. A large mail arrived this evening.
Camp at Dug or McDowells Springs
Monday 13thOur march today has been over immense hills of limestone which are broken up into small particles as if just from the roadsmans hammer and ring for piking levee or Street purposes. It seems a singular freak of nature to have piled up such immense ridges of broken lime-stone on which vegitation can scarce exist-Weare accompanied today by the 20th Wis. 1 Battery & 6 companies of the 8 Mo.
Distance today 18 miles.
Camp at Dug or McDowells Springs
Mo 13t'1 MondayThis has been a hard clay on many of us, and we halt footsore and exausted. Yet a little coffee, hardtack and sow belly & we are all right again and a thousand men in like condition of myself an hour ago were limping along from the pain of blistered feet seem now to have forgotten and it and are gay and happy. fur march today has been over immense hills of limestone similar to what I have already described on which there is scarce any vegitation and a few gnarled stunted trees. There is occasionaly a rich bottom husbandman is amply repaid for his toil. Distance came today 18 miles.
Camp near Cassville Mo October 1862 Tuesday 14th
Arrived here at 12 m today. Our camp is on elevation extending NE from Cassville and near flat Creek which furnishes us abundance to needful. We have crossed it twelve times today. The country through which we have passed presents the same desolate appearance as other days of our marches-houses burned, fences destroyed, one. laid waste. The limestone hills I have spoken of before in my description of the country have been numerous today. The roads are in a nice condition for travel--it would be almost impossible to have them otherwise for they have been piked by nature. I understand that we will remain here a few days.
There are nigh 20,000 troops in Cassville and its immediate vicinity. The officer appointed by the Governor of Iowa arrived today but to late to take a vote of but four companies which will lessen the Republican vote some hundreds in our own regiment.
The distance came today 12 miles.
