The Iowa Civil War Site
Iowa During the Civil War

Excerpts from my Great Grandfather Valentine L. Spawr's Civil War Diary

Company C, 14th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment

Valentine L. Spawr
Born 1835, Died 1882.

The diary is entitled "A Record of Passing Events Kept By Me and Recorded Each Day as They Transpired." In transcribing the diary, I will replicate all spellings exactly as printed in the diary.

Well, here it is.......the last two weeks. I feel a bit saddened that it ended here; he gave a wonderful human sense to what he experienced, but it was essentially garrison duty. I know that the 14th experienced combat, and I would have enjoyed reading his accounts; however, it may have been that he was unable to put in writing what he experienced.

Hope you have enjoyed this diary. It is now 134 years after it was written; I feel a very powerful linkage to my great grandfather. Thanks for reading.

Chad Spawr - August, 1997

Sunday, September 6th. All still today -- quite warm and very lonesome. We had a good dress parade which is just over and the evening gun has just fired.

Monday, September 7th. Last night our company lost its first man by death. Davidson, that I spoke of being sick some days ago, died last night about midnight. This morning was quite cool but warmer in the middle of the day. There is a great deal of ague in camp and seems to be on the increase very fast. This afternoon at three o'clock the procession started with the remains of poor Davidson. We got to the graveyard (I say we for I was along and all of the company that were not on duty or sick went as mourners), we found a hold dug not long enough to let the coffin in and no vault. They cut it over at the end so as to let the coffin in, fired three volleys over the grave and proceeded to fill it up, which I did not stop to see for it was getting along toward dress parade time. But it was a very large graveyard.

Tuesday, September 8th. It has been very warm today. I think almost as warm as any day we have had since we have been at this place. There has nothing of note occurred today. I hear today from official source the expectation is that we will go to Cairo in a few days and probably spend the week there, which news will be very thankfully received by the regiment, for there we will get good barracks which is much better than tents.

Wednesday, September 9th. This is another very warm day, however about noon a gale came up from the north that cooled things off some but it is hot yet although the wind blows hard and the whole air is full of dust. There is a circus in Columbus today and will show tonight I understand, and some of the boys are going down to see it. One more of our company got a furlough today and intends starting home tomorrow morning. His name is H. W. Beckwith, 2d sergeant of our company. Ague still gets worse all the time I believe, eleven men from our company are sick.

Thursday, September 10th. The announcement was made that we would move out of the fort, which we did in due form. We moved about one mile and a half and camped on the ground or near the ground where the negroes were hanged last Friday and tomorrow I understand that there will be three more swung on the gallows which are still standing as a warning to all men.

Friday, September 11th. It is very warm today. We have been fixing up all day in our new camp. The three negroes were not hung today from some cause. We still get a great many rumors about moving from Columbus, some say up and some say down the river.

Saturday, September 12th. Twelve o'clock M. Quite warm this forenoon, although there is a cloud rising in the west and it is thundering very steady and I think that it will rain very heavy and be cooler. A member of company A in our regiment died last night in the hospital. Two men were buried today. I think I will like our camp very well, we are situated in an orchard. There has been a good farm at this place, although nothing is left to tell except apple trees and weeds, and there is a good spring about one-fourth of a mile from the camp.

Sunday, September 13th. Quite cool and pleasant today owing to a light shower we had last night.

Monday, September 14th. All quiet today, cool in the morning and warm in the middle of the day.

Tuesday, September 15th. Quite cool this morning, but very warm at noon.

Transcribed and submitted by greatgrandson