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5th Iowa Infantry
William Hirst Gift
Jefferson City Aug 1861
Dear Folks at Home
I take this opportunity of
writing you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present and
hope these few lines will find you all enjoying god Health my health
has been good since I joined the army I have not read but one letter
from Delhi since I left Home The day I left I went up to Mccrearys and
he said he would send me the Journal but I have not read a copy of it
yet Tell Mc if he dont soon send i Iwill quit takng it I would like to
have t if he would send it to me
We (the 5th Regt) has been moved about considerable since I wrote to you
& we have had a prety hard time of it too. We left Camp Warren for
Keokuk on the 1st of Aug we wet to FtMadison on the boat then took the
cars and run in to Keokuk we had first rate quarters there we did not
go out on the camp but put up in the city the building we was quartered
in is about as large as the Harding house there was two Com of us in it
On the 4ins News came in town that a heavy Army of Sesesh was marching
on Aethans which is 30 miles from Keokuk the excitement was great we
soon read orders to leave for that place Every man was ready in a short
time and soon the cars was hurrying gusto that point They stopped about
two miles this side there we learned that 500 of Union drove them we
was ordered to cut off their retreat and imediately started we waded
he Desmoines River and marched about Ten mile in Missouri Then learned
they had got ahead of us and was fast retreating it was about 9 oclock
P.M. So we stoped for the night we had but one cracker for dinner and
had to do without supper and some of us had no blankets and had to sleep
on the ground without cover there was considerable growling in the camp
but we could do no more than lay our selves down for the night The next
morning we marched into Aethens and learned the poticulars of the Batle
about 500 of our troops drove 1500 Rebles Killed about 40 took a good
many of them prisoner Capture 60 horses I went over town and found a
reble house the man had been taken prisener and the rest had left I
entered it it was an awfull looking house the Soldiers had throwed the
beds all over the floor took all the chickens and cooked them in the
house we was left to take anything we wanted I found a Handkerchief and
some No 1 apples that suited me first rate so I pocketed them I see
were they buried some of the rebbles we left for Keokuk that day and on
the 7th ins it was supposed that they was agoing to make another attack
and we was ordered back but they did not do it s e returned home the
same day On the 11th ins we was ordered to Jefferson Barix which is Ten
miles below St. Louis We arrived on the 13th and in one hour from the
time we got off the Boat we was ordered to this place but we did not
start until the next day we had a gard time that trip nothing but
river water to drink which is worse than water out of a dirty mud puddle
the water in the missouri is muddy all the time well we finally arrived
and lad around in the boat for a few days and then came to these
quarters which is first rate it is a large Brick Building on the night
of the 20th (when all was asleep except the guards) the order rang
trough the house for us to arise and fall in ranks in a very short time
we was all in ranks and marched on board of the cars and was off for
Osage which is 10 miles from here they expected the rebbles to attact
that point in the morning but they did not make the attack we staid
there that day and that night I was on Alarm guard It was an awful
night it rained extra hard I stood 4 hours i the rain and was as wet
as water could make me and could not get dry clothes until we came home
I have to go on Parade so I must lay ths by for the present
Aug 24
There has another night passed
since I commenced this letter when we was on parade last night the
Colnel said that in a short time we would get our uniforms and arms I
supose when he said arms he ment Rifles as we are armed with muskets now
and as soon as we get them we will go out in Camp {Huhrh for Uncle Sam}
There was a full boat load of Cavery just arived it is reported this
morning that there is seventeen thousand troops in this town this
morning and more is arriving hourly We are expecting a fight in a few
days as this is Jacksons home and it is reported that he is marching his
army to this place if he comes he will fink a warm reception as they
are throwing up entrenchments and fast preparing for him There is an
irish regiment here They are pretty hard boys and they will fight like
Bull dogs They are down to Osage now and the news just came to town
that they had a brush last evening the Rebbles tried to burn the rail
Road bridge and while one man was puting a match to it he was shot he
fel over in the river to rise no more as a traitor there was several of
them taken prisners and several killed the rebles tried twice before
this and succeeded in burning about half of each time it is a bery long
bridge and crossed the Osage River I was on it when we was down. There
was some of our men up the Missouri River on a scouting trip they jus
returned having 7 prisners 23 horses 2 span of mules 3 wagons with
provisions blankets clothing etc etc Tell Mrs George I will send
her the money for making my pants as soon as I draw some if Crozier has
not paid her And I want you to be shure and tel Said that I made
amistake when I wrote to her yesterday In writing about the battle at
Aethens I think I said the rebles was 15000 strong tell her i ment
1,500 I think I put on one to many naughts and tell her to direct to t
Loui insted of this place asthey will come safer ive may respects to
all enquiring friends Tell Chet it is about time he was answering my
letter give im my address
Address ` I Remain Your Son
Company I Hirst
5th Iowa Vol
St. Louis Mo good bye
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Iowa In the Civil War
