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.

Sunday, August 16th. Nine o'clock a.m. At this time in the morning it is so warm that a man can hardly get his breath. I fear that sickness is going to commit heavy ravages among our soldiers for there are new cases every day but few deaths, but the warm weather, in appearance is just commencing here.

I think I am better this morning than I was yesterday, although I took a small dose of castor oil last night. Guard duty is on heavy so few men left in camp when the guard is mounted that regular weekly inspection is again deferred as it was last Sunday. Teamster Smith came up to the fort this morning to get me to take one of his mules and go out in the country, but I was not able to do so. I will stay in my tent and suffer on with the heat, for there is not a breath of air stirring and the rays of an August sun in Southern Kentucky seems to go right through one of these cloth tents. Six o'clock p.m. We had a good little shower of rain this afternoon that makes it quite pleasant and cool.

We have no dress parade this evening. I fear that I am going to have the bloody flux again but then I will get along without taking medicine as long as possible. Our chaplain preached this forenoon in town and this afternoon in camp, but I didn't feel well enough to go. It is almost night and a little cloudy, but I don't hardly think that it will rain tonight. I think that sickness is on the increase in camp now diarrhea mostly.

Monday, August 17th. The day passed off very still for it was awful hot as warm a day as I ever witnessed, however it is a little cooler this evening. We just got off dress parade. I am very unwell this evening.

Tuesday, August 18th. It was very warm today, so warm that a man could not see any satisfaction in any place. I feel very unwell tonight, so much so that I can't write, so I will stop.

Wednesday, August 19th. Very warm today. Omitted dress parade this evening. I feel a little better tonight. Nothing transpired today of note. I hear the mail boat whistling and I look for a letter tonight. It looks something like rain tonight. Two or three of our boys have got the ague. Health I think is better than it was some time ago, at least in our company. The army it appears has taken up summer quarters generally and movements will lay still generally until cool weather.

Thursday, August 20th. Today is quite warm, but cloudy. Nothing occurred of consequence. We had inspection this afternoon.

Friday, August 21st. All quiet. Weather very warm. Had inspection tonight. Got no mail last night, all anxious this afternoon.

Saturday, August 22d. The day commenced with a damp, heavy fog. About eight o'clock the fog raised and the sun came out with awful power, it will nearly wilt a man down under its scorching rays. There is nothing transpiring nowadays at all. Seven o'clock p.m. It has been very warm today. Lieutenant Mills, Sergeant Fisher and myself went to town and stayed a short time, but saw nothing worthy of note.

We had good dress parade this evening. I see a band of contraband came into camp this evening. I suppose that they will be put right in the negro regiment that is camped some distance outside the fort, it is a new regiment just raising and drilling and they do well drilling better than I was willing to give them credit for. There were fifty rebel soldiers got to our lines today, took the oath and a majority of them are going to enlist in the Union army at this place.

Transcribed and submitted by greatgrandson