Four Years With the Iron Brigade

by Lance Herdegen

  October 31, 1861

  And the last day of the second Autumn month and I am well. And sitting on my knapsack on the river bottom or our Brigade drill ground. And have been inspected and are resting until the mustering officer comes to us to call the roll and then we have to support arms and when he calls our name we must shoulder arms and then order arms. Well here he comes and we must get into ranks.

  Well we have got home for as soon as soon as we all answered to our names we were fetched home. That is by company to fix up our quarters for Inspection. And we have fixed our tent up pretty good and clean but three of us had to do it. We expect some to get our pay today but it may not come for a week yet. But this is general Inspection & payday and yesterday was General muster day. Yesterday forenoon we fixed up, brushed our clothes & shoes, buttons, cleaned our guns &c. At one Oclock afternoon we fell in and formed Battalion. Marched about three miles down to the river bottom near long Bridge. It is a verry pretty place to drill a brigade which there was our whole Brigade and a Regiment of cavelry. They are formed into companys and ten companys makes a regiment. They work about the same way as we do except them being on horseback and having swords. They went through some queer gestures. It looked rather wild when they charged, their horses running at full speed and swords flying in all directions. I was taken out as guard and stationed on the road to keep the civillians back. The road runs right along the river bank and the meadow run one mile back where timber set in. And this was confiscated property. It had been a fine meadow some day but is turned out now for drill ground. It was about two miles long. After the Cavelry had done manuevering they left.

  And the Infantry took the field and performed until near sunset. And then came home and had Dress parade which was after dark. And General McDowel said the Co F knappsacks were packed the best of any Co in the Brigade. And I think if we had of had our blue suit on we would have looked as well as any but we have only drawed one pair of pants, two pair of drawers & our cap which is deep blue. Pants sky blue, drawers cotton flannel. They are verry good cloth. We will be dressed the same as the sixth Regt but the second is dressed in deep blue clothes all around except their hats which is black. They have brass mountings on their hats and a large black Ostrich feather on the right side and they have white gloves also. Oh they look pretty and they go by the name of the Bloody second and the sixth goes by the name of Baby sixth and sometimes by the name of Bragging Sixth. They are not liked verry well by either of the other regiments. They call us the bully seaventh and we are in size of men and the most of them also for I had a good chance to see all of the Brigade when they performed yesterday from where I was on guard along the road.

  Our regiment is not so well drilled as the others but we have not been in more than half so long. I am writing by candle light tonight for the first time. The tent is pretty still tonight although there is two playing cards to my left within three feet. But they are good fellows except that. But they are gaining on bad habits now verry fast since the sutler came and they got his tickets and could buy cards and gamble with the tickets instead of money. As they will buy anything at the sutler18 as well as money and now payday is coming. Then the sutler will bring his accounts into the Captains and they will keep it back in their hands.

  November 1 and it is after noon and I am sitting in the tent door. Well I must go and wash some—my haversack and some socks and wash my feet and head and ears and take a general clean up as we are not going to drill this evening.19

  November 2, 1861

  And it is raining verry hard and a verry nasty time all around but we must put up with it. Our tent is full of visitors but there is no card playing today. Frank Boyantan is playing the flute instead of playing and we have a fife to so we enjoy ourselves pretty well today. And there is not much chance to write but I have read some. I am getting so that I can read if there is a noise. I must quit and try to read some as nothing has transpired worthy of note except our meals comes verry slim. Only coffee for breakfast & meat for dinner but plenty of bread.

  November 4, 1861

  And it verry pleasant and it is three Oclock and we have worked verry hard today. We have moved on to our new Camp Ground. We have worked all day at the street and have got it fixed up verry pretty all around our tent. The best of any in town. It is verry pretty day. Verry. Our camp is not more than two hundred yards from the old one.

  November 5, 1861

  And it is cloudy today. We have not drilled any today yet but I guess we will in an hour or so. We have been fixing the street and are building a cook house. We elected another cook last night which makes three now. There has been several cooks since we left Madison. They cook a little while and get tired. D. Rector & L. Day [Danforth Rector and Leicester Day]20 has been cooking about one month and it is to hard work so we elected Wm Miles21 [William Horton Miles] last night. So there is three after this and it is work enough too. We have got cedar and pine boughs in our tent for a bed. Mostly cedar, they are about three inches deep. We only cut the verry finest limbs of the trees and covered with they make a fine bed and warm too. I must fix for Brigade drill. This is taking twenty four men out of a Company and the rest stays at home. I have been down on that drill three times.

  November 6, 1861

  And it is raining this morning. Just about such a rain as we have in Wisconsin in the month of May but it is not cold. We sleep warm since we moved our tents for we have fixed it better than ever it was. The wind cant get in at all around the bottom. And the cloth is naturaly so thick that it will not let rain or wind in either.

  Last night about eight Oclock we received orders to get ready to march by tomorrow morning at eight or this morning it is now. For we don’t know where we are going but suppose going to get our pay. Well I will lay by until after breakfast

  Well it is nearly noon and we didnt go to the review as it was to be. We were to be reviewed by McClelen [Army Commander George B. McClellan] and he has been put in to scoots [General Winfield Scott] office or the office that Scott held but has resigned and I understand that there was to be a great gathering there. I also understand that we were going down on the ground where we drill and if that is the case we would not have to travel more than a mile. The news comes in the morning papers that the Federals were bombarding Charlston [Charleston, South Carolina] and had taken Fort Sumpter [Fort Sumter] but I think it is not so. I hope so. They say that the Rebels are drawing away from Bullsrun [Bull Run] to go South to protect their homes.

  November 7, 1861

  And I am on guard today and the wind blows cold from the Northwest but the sun shines warm. It put me verry much in mind of the many days that I have followed the plow in old Wisconsin. But we have a fire by the guardhouse but one side is cold all the time and keeps us turning around. Well it is afternoon. I was on the first relief as usual. It is the best relief too for we are off guard so as to get our meals at the right time.

  I think a good deal about home today. I suppose the cause of it is such a chilly day that sets me to thinking. We all wear our overcoats today. It is the first time I have. I guess it will not rain this time while I am on guard as it happens to about evry time. Evry two men has fires on the ends of their beats so it is not hard standing guard. There is such a report as having another battle at Hatteras inlet. It is in the morning papers.

  November 8, 1861

  And it is a verry pretty morning and I am very well. And feel well considering that I stood on guard yesterday. And did not get to sleep more than two hours in the twenty four. But there was considerable excitement in camp last night when the news came that [Confederate General John B.] Floyd and his command consisting of fifteen thousand men were taken prisoners, also that Ft Sumpter was taken and Charleston was burned by our troops. We could hear cheering in camps all around as distant as one mile & a half from our Camp. And there was hearty cheering here also. But the morning papers do not mention anything about it.22

  Well I have been to see a sick man in his tent by the name of
[Henry] Hudson23 and done all I could for him. He has the inflamitory Rheumatism and I told him about my mothers remedy which consisted of Sulphur and wax. About one tablespoonful of sulpher to each foot and the wax must be made into a cake and the sulphur put into the middle of the cake and the edges stuck fast to the foot with sulphur in the hollow of the foot.

  November 10, 1861

  And it has been several days since I wrote any and I shall have to correct some things especially about Floyd being taken prisinor. It has been proved to be false but he must surrender in a few days. For Rosencranz [Union General William Rosecrans] has surrounded him and he intends to starve him out and I hope he will do it.

  Well it is sabbath day and a verry pretty one too and I have been to work a most all day. I am sorry to say it but you not blame me reader when you know how we are situated. There is two men sick in our tent and we had a rain yesterday and last night and it was verry damp so I thought I wouldnt put off building a fire place in the tent any longer as it is pretty chilly of nights now. There was three of the boys went and got some brick. They brought them about two miles. It was a hard job. James Garner & I built it. Richard Pierce was writing, James Clark was sick & the others carried the brick so they done enough.

  November 11, 1861

  And it looks like rain this morning and warm south wind. There getting to be considerable sickness in Camp. Frank Boyantan went to the Doctors this morning. For the last week there has been one on the sick list from this tent evry day. I was vaccinated last Sunday a week ago and it didnt work. I think of getting it done again and then if it don’t work then I think I will be safe from smallpox.

  November 12, 1861

  And it is a verry pretty day and there was some frost last night. It is a little chilly to stand still where the wind blows in the shade. I being down on brigade drill yesterday, I didnt have to go today and have this evening to myself. This brigade drill I will explain. It is twelve files out of evry Co in the Brigade and those that stay at home do not drill this afternoon and I improved the time by washing my shirt and writing in this sketch. I received two letters last night after going to bed. The mail came in verry late. The Chaplain carries it and is postmaster also. The fireworks played verry brisk all around last night. It is called in the morning serenadeing Mclellen [McCellan] on account of his promotion to a higher office. That is taking Scotts place. The rockets were of the different colors. The colors were red, white & blue. We could see the rockets. Some of them went to a great height in the air, we did not know what it meant last night. It is said the germans turned out enmass.

  November 13, 1861

  And it is a verry pretty day. As pretty as it can be. It is similar to Indian summer in Wisconsin. And I have signed the payroll and receipt roll also. They are going to pay and are paying the regiment of today. They make us sign all the papers first. Well it is nearly dinner time or is (dinner time but we havent got dinner). Well we have got our dinner which consisted of beans and bread and the beans was well cook today. Well I guess we will get our pay which is twenty six dollars and forty one cents and I think I will send about twenty dollars home and payday causes considerable excitement.

  November 16, 1861

  And it is morning and a verry cold one to. I was carrying water for the cooks yesterday and it was rainy and verry muddy. We got our pay on the 14 instead of the 13 as I heretofore said. And I gave 15 dollars to the captain to express home. Oh but the ground is frooze where it is muddy but we have a fire in the fireplace. I spent my time yesterday in writing home to Henry when I was not carrying water. Well I must eat my breakfast.

  November 17, 1861

  And it is a little warmer today although the wind blows verry hard. It dries up the mud verry fast. We had another Inspection this morning. And were called out again on dress parade form to receive Govenor Randal [Wisconsin Governor Alexander Randall] and present arms to him which is the highest respect that can be shown to a person in this vicinity. The privates when using arms does have to present arms to a field Officer and all higher in office and all lower in office. That is commissioned officers. We have to bring our left arm up across our breast and touch the gun with our fingers. We carry the gun in our right hand by the guard and the cock of the lock at shoulder arms. Then to present arms we bring the gun up before us.

  November 19, 1861

  And it is a pretty day and we have to march at eight Oclock. We have our dinners in our haversack & all we have to carry is haversack, canteen and maybe our overcoats. We are going someplace, we don’t know where. We was out about five miles yesterday on a grand review of about 16 thousand infantry and two thousand Cavelry. And a great deal of Artillery. I don’t know how much. And after marching around about three hours, we halted, the sun about one hour high. For there was a messenger come to Mcdowel with the news that the 14th N.Y. regiment was surrounded by the rebels. We halted and Mcdowel put off at post haste. And we stayed there until after sundown and started home which we reached about 7 Oclock which was long after dark and we was verry tired and soon went to bed. But got the order to march just as we got in bed. Well we are at the same place as yesterday which is near Munson Hill a place of great note. There is a verry strong fort on it. It is quite a large mound rising above the surrounding country. Well I sitting on the whilst I write.

  Well when we reach this place which was about half past ten Oclock and was formed by the Colonel into mass by division. There was ten men detailed out of evry Company and Co F being the largest. And the Companys having to be equalized when in Battalion and I being on the left wing of the Co was taken of as usual and put into Co E. So I was one of the ten that went off from Co E on extra duty and were marched out and stacked our arms and taken of to a wagon and got axes and were taken to a piece of timber and set to chopping. Our squad from this Regt was 104 men and I with a great many of them went to chopping and those that had not an ax had to drag brush. The timber consists of pines & cedars of different sizes from eight inches in diameter down to small switches. There is about 7 acres of it. Well we worked about two hours then there was some men came from Co E to take our place for our Captains found it out. That is, there was some from Co H as well as our Co so that made it that Co E didnt furnish but 4 men. That is but 4 of their own men. And our Captains thought that wouldnt do.

  There has not been any drilling today yet. And therefore I think that we were brought out here to get used to marching. And seeing so many folks & things for there is as many here today as yesterday and they are clearing the rubbish and trees of the ground. And that piece of timber that I spoke of when cleared off will be an inroad to another large field. I do not know how large but this field we are in now contains as near as I can guess about one section or 1000 acres. And if all comes that is talked of there will be sixty thousand men.

  November 20, 1861

  And it is rather a cool day but still a pretty sunshiny day. And the wind blows cold but still I am comfortably warm with only one light woolen shirt on and a pretty heavy jacket such as I have worn all the time heretofore. I have not had much to do today but fix up things about the tent and write. I have wrote a letter to Otice Way. And have sent a paper to George Ray [son of brother Henry]. The cause of me not having much to do is this. That there is a great review today. I spoke about it yesterday. Well instead of sixty thousand, there will be eighty thousand so it is said this morning. We got home last night about dark. It was two of the tufest works I had done for a long time. But to return: Well the order came this morning that there was only twenty four files or forty eight men out of a Co to go so I being on the left flank of the Co and they took them from the right flank so that let me out with a great many others. But we got orders to carry water for the cook. But that is not much. I have only carried four pails of water today and if they all carry half that much there will be plenty.

  The camp is quite still today. I was glad when they left me but I would like to be there now to see the sight. I can hear the cannon roar verry plain. Th
is morning the country seemed to be alive. There was so many going evry way, we got up long before daylight, had our breakfast just at daybreak. I think the object is to ascertain their real strength and how they are drilled. It will be an awful hard day on the men. There is so much standing as well as marching. It is the hardest work I ever done and what would make it worse, it frooze considerable last night and then it thawing out today. The ground would be slippery but god be thanked I have been free from it. And got to attend to some buisness. I sent home a pretty picture called the rose of Washington. There was a great many small pictures therein on the same paper. Well my book is nearly full and I will try to buy another. Well I have got another book, it is as near the size as could be of the old one and I got a pencil with the book or at the same time and it is as near the same size as could be. So I have as good a fit out as while writing this book to write the other and will have to begin in the new book. Well I put some potatoes in the fire to roast and I must look at them.