The Iowa Civil War Site
Iowa During the Civil War
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Excerpts from my Great Grandfather Valentine L. Spawr's Civil War Diary Company C, 14th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment Valentine L. Spawr 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. Sunday, July 12th. -- Very cool this morning and smoky. All quiet in camp this morning as though there an been no stir at all for the few days. We have not heard the whereabouts of the rebels yet. I think at examination this morning I will get out of the hospital. At 8:00 o'clock a. m. examination is over and I am not released from the hospital but have got to take three blue pills this morning at two tonight. At 10 o'clock a. m. the chaplain made us his regular visit and read a chapter and prayed with us. I suppose he thought that we would die and he would start a spirit of reformation in us, which, in a proper sense of the word, is very necessary. But men in the army seldom think of hereafter, I think, from appearances. There certainly is more demoralization in the army than I was willing to admit before I was a member of the same. There is a certain spirit of appropriating other person's things to their own use that is rather disgusting to a man that wants to do what is right. I understand the Gen. Grant paroled all of the prisoners at Vicksburg -- both officers and men -- and we will probably have to fight them at some other place. At 4 o'clock p. m. it is very cool today, a man wants a good thick coat to be comfortable. There was another man brought into the hospital today from our regiment who is very sick. I understand that we are to be paid off the first of the week. Our chaplain preaches this afternoon at headquarters, the first time that there has been preaching in the regiment since I have been with it. Some think that we have to fight the enemy yet, for they are gathering out here in the country, but I don't think so myself. Tonight I expect we will have another scare or alarm and our boys have to stand all night again. Last night the boys on picket had four shots fired at them. Monday, July 13th. -- I am still detained in the hospital and three big doses of medicine to take today a good portion of which is quinine. I feel very unwell this morning owing probably to the effect of the calomel I have been taking for the past twenty-four hours. I have not heard any news of the anticipated attack on our fort this morning. I think there was no alarm given last night, at least I heard no long roll or command to "fall in." The battle is probably over for some days anyhow I see by the morning paper that supposition is that the backbone of the great rebellion is broken, but I fear that there is some fighting to do yet of come considerable consequence. It is very cool and lovely this morning, and I think we will get rain soon. Four o'clock p.m. -- It is cool, dreary and lonesome today; no alarm or excitement so far. I was lying on y cot looking out just now and saw a half grown negro trotting, pacing and cantering around on his hands and feet and a man might have very easily mistaken him for a baboon, it was as natural a position as I ever saw one in and he travels as easy and natural as a dog. There is a rumor afloat now that there is probability of our regiment being sent to New Mexico on business but I put no confidence in the report. The scare at this place has had some effect on some of the commanding officers here for they have been getting reinforcements in the last few days. I understand the drums are beating and the colors out for dress parade for the 31st Wisconsin regiment. Our regiment has not been out on dress parade for a week or more, nor theirs until tonight and this is grand weather for drilling -- so cool. The sick I think is on the increase if anything in our regiment. We have one man in our regiment at the hospital by the name of Graves, belonging to company B that has had the chronic diarrhoea for some time and I think that he is not long for this world any more, and some two or three more that are very sick. Just now I saw an ambulance come into camp with three or four ladies -- wives of soldiers, or rather officers, of the Wisconsin regiment, I see by their going to and among their tents. There are one or two of the Wisconsin drafted men in our hospital at this time. Tuesday, July 14th. -- Six o'clock a.m. Last night at midnight the camp was all called out again, I don't know what the scare was bout but I understood that our company was ordered to report at quarters in the city for instructions or orders. A strange time of night to call troops that distance to receive orders. The rest of the company I presume was posted on guard outside the fort for I don't see but few men in camp this morning. The cavalry regiment about a mile from here keep their horses saddled all the time ready to either fight or run I don't know which, I think to run for I don't put but little confidence in their valor -- the 4th Missouri. I have just learned the cause of the afright last night. There was a negro came staving at the rate of ten knots per hour stating that there were 15,000 rebels only three miles from the fort and would be on us and we asleep, and such excitement, all hands in fort this morning ready to fight. I will try and leave the hospital this morning so that I can see the fun of some of their reverses and victories. At 8:00 o'clock I have been examined. Doctor says that I may go to my quarters if I would prefer and I shall certainly go, but have got to take a pocket of quinine with me, but quinine is getting very scarce in this country and can hardly be procured, and so I shall not say anything, seeing that is so scarce. I am at myquarters now and have taken my first dose of medicine for today. I understand from scared men that they would be in to try us on. It was announced this forenoon that there would be an inspection today. We have fitted up and waited until three o'clock and no inspection yet. I hear great talk today about strengthening the fortifications at the city -- digging rifle pits, etc. At 7:00 o'clock p. m. all quiet but great expectation of an excitement tonight. We have just had our repast of bread, coffee and fat meat, generally called among soldiers sow-belly. I forgot to state this morning that we had a fine shower of rain and prospects look favorable this evening for more rain. We have had no drill in our regiment for some time and now our Lieut.-Colonel being sick I don't know when we will drill again, and then we are harrassed so much on account of this scare that there is nothing else thought of by the officers and everything more thought of by the privates. I believe that a fight would be hailed by glad voices by the majority of the regiments at this place. This evening at roll call we, with the rest of the troops at this place, received orders to lay on our arms and not take off any of our clothes and be ready for any emergency at a moment's warning. Wednesday, July 15th. -- The night passed off and no excitement, we were not called out for any duty. The weather is somewhat warmer but quite pleasant yet. Alexander March and Edward Glenn were over to see us this morning. They (or the 32nd) are camped outside the fort. They told us that Mr. Hayden, a son-in-law of Lieut. Converse, was buried yesterday and there was another many by the name of Smith from their company they thought would die before many days. Some of our boys were out through the lines today and got some blackberries which are just now in their prime. They also got a nice lot of apples which are getting nice now. This appears to be a fine country for fruit both wild and tame, for papaws and plentiful and they tell us that grapes, plums and persimmons are in abundance. The word came today that Port Hudson was taken by our forces which if confirmed tomorrow will bring forth a thundering national salute from our battery of iron monsters and it will be given with a will, for that will give us possession of the whole Mississippi river and to be a death stroke to the rebellion. I heard a rumor today (and only a rumor) that three companies from our regiment, our company included, will be sent out to Clinton tomorrow which is some ten miles distant from this place. There was about ten or fifteen men detailed this morning to dig a sink on the river bank for private use of the soldiers and at about two o'clock this afternoon they came to some hard substance that proved to be the very chain that the rebels had used to blockade the river at this place which many will remember reading about. For a short description of the same I would say that it is made of about three inch round iron links probably ten or twelve inches long. The length of the chain no person can tell anything about. It once reached across the river which is near a mile in width and it comes to the top of this hill two hundred feet about the level of the river and is buried in the bank but how far I cannot say. They dug down on it and it runs on through the sink. It was buried of course the purpose of making it fast at this end; it then run down the bank and across the river, being supported occasionally by laying across flat boats which supported it (for they were anchored in the stream and the current is tolerably swift at that place) finally wore through and cut boats in two and it was so heavy that its weight broke it. Also, I understand it was hung full of torpedoes and the chain would stop the fleet and the torpedoes would be exploded and destroy the whole thing. but it availed them nothing. Some of our boys was over to see the battle ground of Belmont which is directly across the river from here and in plain view of this place. I want to go over and take a view of it, for I have never had the pleasure of being on a battle field. We expect to have to go out on duty for I see some of them think that there are rebels in the country and there may be some. Thursday, July 16th. -- The night passed off without any alarm. We have just dispatched our very plain breakfast and received an order to detail eight men and one sergeant for guard. Prospects look favorable for a fine day. /It is quite cool this morning. I received a letter from my wife last night written at Hudson, Ill., stating she arrived at that place on the 14th inst. Some of the boys were out to an orchard today and got some apples and some blackberries. I think the present excitement is about over for there is not much said about it today. I was over to the hospital today to see the sick boys there that I got acquainted with when I was there sick. There are no boys there from our company at this time. It has got quite warm today and the soldiers are mostly laying in their tents, some writing, some reading, some cleaning their guns, some few playing on their violins, at least one man that I was unlucky enough to get my tent in close proximity to that I could not get away from the squeak of that miserable instrument any length of time. He is a man that belongs to company K. I don't know his name nor do I wish to know it. Then there are some that I see playing on a more favorable soldier's instrument called euchre. You will once in a while see a negro strolling through our camp. We have negro cooks mostly. At 10:00 p.m. tonight all is excitement in the fort, the report is that there is a heavy force marching on us. Our teams are all under whip hauling our rations inside the fort from town. I go to bed expecting to be called out before morning. Friday, July 17th. -- Six o'clock a.m. -- Morning has come and no alarm given. We are all awaiting our humble repast and the teams are still at work and have been all night, hauling provisions inside the fortification. It is plainly to be seen that some of the head officers expect an attack but I am still of the impression that there will be no fight at present. I see by the morning paper that the rumor of the capture of Port Hudson is confirmed. It surrendered with 12,000 prisoners, they made an unconditional surrender on the 8th inst. at 10 o'clock p.m. I took a prisoner today for the first time since I have been in the service. It was not a "cecesh" some call them body-guards but in the service they are generally known as gray backs. Anyhow I put him to death between by two thumb nails. The word just came that the rebels had taken Mound City, Ill., a small place seven miles above Cairo on the Ohio river. There were no troops there to speak of if any at all, but I presume that they got a pretty good haul of plunder with considerable ammunition, and I understand that there were some rebel prisoners quartered there but don't know the particulars yet. To judge from appearances I think we will get some rain tonight. Saturday, July 18th. -- Seven o'clock a.m. -- All quiet this morning and the night passed off without any unusual excitement. I want to go out today and get some berries as I have not been outside of the breastworks for over a week. By some cause or another our mail boat did not come down last night. 5 o'clock p.m. -- I have taken a good tramp in the country The report of the capture of Charleston by our forces reached this place this afternoon, however it wants confirmation yet. It looks like rain this evening, it is cloudy, consequently all of the boys are out at the several amusements -- some pitching horseshoes, and some one thing and some another, and the squeak of that miserable old fiddle is yet free for all to hear, whether they want to or not. I can hear distant firing this evening from some place where they have artillery, either for a salute or something else. Sergeant Roberts was my companion in my rambles and I think he about as tired as myself.
Transcribed and submitted by greatgrandson |
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