Four Years With the Iron Brigade

by Lance Herdegen

  And there is another thing that has transpired and it is shameful to mention and it all terminated from me refusing one of my tentmates a pipe of tobacco. He is a pretty good beggar and I got tired of furnishing him it so I told him that he might draw sutlers tickets and buy it. And it made him mad but he took the tobacco but this wasnt the only thing that he was deficient for. It was most evry thing such as butter. Well when he bought some butter he told me the same as I told him when he got the tobacco. But mind he hadnt bought any butter before. And I and all the rest had bought. I had bought two lbs and several more had done the same and he always ate a part of it. Well, this mans name is Boyanton [Boynton]. I hate to mention names but must this. And I have loaned money one time and another to evry one of my tentmates and always gave them a share of what I got. That is anything that they or I would divide. And then when Boyanton and I was talking about our trubles, first one then another pitched on to me, that is with their tongue, but I always dared them to prove their accusations against me and then that would stump them. And I done wrong, I must admit for getting vexed and saying so much. I tell you, I was into pretty for I could stop them at most anything. I talked with them as long as they would say a word to me. And then I had to stop as a matter of course and I told them to keep evrything to themselves and I would do the same but behold when I bought some onions and brought into the tent, Orley Foot thought that I might give him some but I refused to do it. He said he had given me some but I said if he would prove it. But it stumped him and shut up about things and matters.

  Well I must carry some water then write some more and I have spilled my ink. Well I have carried six more pails of water which makes sixteen today. The cooks do not use so much as when I carried before for them. I carried forty pails full. There is brigade drill this evening and the boys that didnt go have to dig a ditch to carry the water off from our street when it rains. So that they do not get to play as usual. I hardly can tell what is the reason that I come on water guard unless that the orderly gives me a little lenity for I have been on three or four times. It is easier work than standing on guard around the camp and therefore I think he has shown me some lenity but it may not be so.

  December 4, 1861

  And it is a pretty day. It is quite warm. Congress has sitt now and we had the Presidents message here in camp last night.33 I bought one of the papers, it an extra to the National Republican. The message fills just one side of it. I think much of the message, it is right to the point and he has left evrything to Congress that he could so as to not show to much authority, I suppose. And he thinks that it will be more satisfactory to the people at large to have congress have a voice in evrything that is passed now. There havnt been many newsboys around since it, the weather, has been cold until last night. The fellow came along in a buggy that I bought my paper of.

  Well it night again and no mail for me. I do not see what is the reason. I write a great many. I have written upwards of twenty and have not received more than half that many. But I think that they are delayed on the road and the mail only running from Cassville twice a week. That may account for it some. But I must have patience although I laid in a good stock of that material when I got the last letter. But that has almost run out. And I do hope that I shall not have to lay in another stock before getting another letter. But probably the folks have’nt as much time to write as I have. And I have sent several valuables home that I would like to hear from.

  December 5, 1861

  And all is well with the exceptions of our chimney which was throwed over last night by somebody, I don’t know who. But there was a man came into our tent this [morning] and I suppose he thought he was doing us a favor when he told us that he knew who done it. But he wouldnt tell us. So I guess we will never out who done it. But it is of little consequence for we have been talking about tearing it up but never got at it. And now we have it rebuilt better than it was. So I think that we didnt loose much by it, but gained. Frank and Olie has built it this time and they have gone to get more brick as they was excused from drill today by the Captain.

  Well it is three Oclock and I have been after a cedar to sett at the corner of tent which I have done as well as most of the Co except those that went on Brigade drill which was twenty four. It helps the look of our quarters and I understand that we are going to stay here this winter. And there is such talk that the officers made an estimate of how many teams it would take to take this brigade on a twenty days march. Which was the calculation at time it is said but finding that there was not sufficient teams to take the most nessary things that had and must go, it was postponed. And we are to go into winter quarters here on this ground and the Colonel told the Orderly Sargeants to make out a requisition for what socks and blankets was needed by their respective Companys by tatoo which is eight Oclock. That it is beat by the drummer. But I sleep warm enough now, so warm that I sweat when laying in bed last night.

  James Garner, one of my tentmates bought a fiddle last night. I was and the rest of the boys was against it but now I must admit that it seems nice to have a little music now since I got to hear it. Well it is night now, probably seaven Oclock and we did’nt have any dress parade tonight for the boys didnt get back until sundown or after and they just stopped out on the ground to hear the orders read. But it is said that we will have to go on picket the latter part of next week. The sixth Regt going first for three days, then us go three days. For they say that we do not begin to be as good men for fatiguing work as when we first. And it is said also that the cause of it is we do not work or travel enough. And I knew that I cant stand it to doublequick as well now as I could two months since. At any rate I would like to try picketing.

  December 6, 1861

  And another fine morning has made it appearance. And all is right for we now eat our rations and have for several days. The cause is we are all well in this tent and have better bread than we did for a while. Our fireplace works exceedingly well. It warms up the tent good, but we do not need it so much now for it is verry pleasant and warm enough to go without an overcoat, it bids fair for pleasant weather now. We do not have any drill today for we are fixing up and adorning the street with pines and cedars and making a large bower across the street. It looks verry pretty for there is from two to three and four trees to evry tent and all evergreen that it makes it look verry pretty. It looks like spring putting the trees and warm day togather.

  December 7, 1861

  And it is a pretty day. It is about three oclock. I am on guard. I am on the second relief and therefore I have to go on at half past four. I came off half past twelve and that made it late before I got my dinner.

  December 8, 1861

  And it is a murky morning and the night was so. No rain but fog so much so that I couldnt see more than a rod at times. I will give you a detail of what transpired yesterday and also what a guard has to do. The first thing as usual is a drummer comes out and beats the drummers call and then the pipers and drummers comes out and beat the revalie which brings us out of bed and into the ranks in the street to answer to roll call. This is at half past six Oclock. Then at seaven the drummer that beats the drummers call, he beats the breakfast call. Then at eight Oclock the Police call is beat by him then at quarter past eight, he beats the drummers call again. Then the drums and pipers come out on the parade and beat the guard call and then the guards begin to assemble on the left of them. And when they have all got there and the commissioned and non-commissioned officers also and then they examine our arms to see if they are clean and to be sure that they are not loaded. Then we are marched to the guardhouse by the officer of the guard and the Officer of the day look after the Camp and the Generals things. The officers are detailed by the field officers of the Regiment the day before they serve and the guards are at the same time.

  It takes a captain to be officer of the day and Lieutanants to be officer of the guard. The orders day before yesterday were as follows. At dress parade Capt [Samuel J.] Nasmith, Officer of the day, Lieutanant
[J. N. P.] Bird, Officer of the guard, Co A, 4 privates, B 4p, C 3p 1 corporal, D 4p, E 3p 1 corporal, F 4 p, G 3 p 1 corporal, H 4 p, I 4 p, and Co K 3 p 1 Sargeant and six extra guards which were used the day I was on. The above is for the day I was on and it is the same evry day as to numbers.

  Well to return. And after we are marched to the guardhouse, the officer of the guard takes down the names of enough for the first relief and puts a [corporal] with them and him sends around to relieve the old guard, Then he takes the names of the rest and numbers them of for reliefs and puts a corporal with each relief. Then dismisses us until time for us to relieve the first relief which is evry two hours. I was on the second relief and my post was no [number] two. Well when the two hours was up, the Officer of the guard or the sargeant, the officer if there and if not there, the sargeant will hollow out, turn out such a relief, which ever may be due to go on. For instance when it was time for to relieve the first relief he hollowed out, turn out second relief, go and relieve first. And so it went until next morning and we were relieved by the new guard.

  The orders in daytime were to let soldiers pass in and just as they pleased but keep out pedlars and civillians unless they have a pass signed by the colonel or some higher officer. But at night it is different. We got orders to let no one in unless they had the countersign which was Waterloo last night. And if we seen anybody trying to cross our beat we must hollow out, halt, and he halts. We ask him who goes there, but must never let anybody come nearer than six paces before saying halt and must hollow halt twice and he does not stop neither first nor second time, I must hollow for the corporal of the guard double quick and he tries to catch him so as to punish him for running the guard. But if he should stop the first time I hollowed to him and I ask who goes there and he says a friend with the countersign or says a friend, I say friend and if there is more than one I say advance one at a time and give the countersign. And if given right, I say it is right go your way. Well I must quit and finish this some other time.

  December 9, 1861

  Well it is the 9th and I am not verry well this evening. I am writing by candlelight and my head aches and I have a verry bad cold. For when I stood on guard it was a muddy beat and it was a foggy night. At times I could’nt see two rods [28 feet] but it was warm and I didnt get to sleep any. I have just received two papers, I guess from mother but no letters, but I shall not have much time to read them for we are going out on picket tomorrow. We start at eight Oclock in the morning. The sixth went Sunday morning and we have to go and relieve them. Well I must quit this evening.

  December 10, 1861

  And it is half past seaven and the boys are on their heels jumping for joy for they start at eight oclock to go on picket. There is twenty four files goes out of evry Co in the Regt and it did not take me therefore I have to stay in camp but probably will have something to do. I am glad I didnt have to go for I am quite unwell and have been for several days. It is the first time I have been sick since I enlisted. I have just hired Frank Boyanton to take down notes while they are on picket. He is a smart and well educated fellow and I give him fifty cents for it. It is paying pretty dear but as I could not go, I do not mind it so much. Well the boys are gone, I guess I will have all day to write as I have not been detailed to do anything.

  Well, I will finish giving an account of guard duty that I commenced on the eighth inst. And if I see anybody coming on my beat I say to him when he gets within six paces, halt and if he halts I ask who goes there and he says a friend. I say advance friend and give the countersign. If right I let him go and if not right I hold him at the point of the bayonet and call for the corporal of the guard and the number of my post whatever it may be. And the corporal comes and I give him up to him.

  And there is what they call the grand round. It is to try the sentinels to see if they are on the alert and to see if they can catch them in any way. The grand round consists of Officer of the Day, Officer of the Guard, a sargeant and sometimes the Colonel comes with them. And they all try the guard by going togather and when they come within six paces I halt them not knowing who it is. And I ask who goes there. The sargeant will say, the grand round. I say advance Sargent and give the countersign. When this is done they all advance and question the sentinel about his duty and if he does not know, they tell him. And besides this there is some officers tries to run the beats of different sentinels to see if he looking out as he ought to be. Well I must go and do company police duty.

  December 11, 1861

  Well the Corporal put me to carry water for the cooks and he also put me at the same today for it is not verry hard work. Well I must finish about the guard duty. And the officers of the regiment tried to run my beat several times but I always halted them. There was two officers run my beat at one end whilst I was on the other end and it was a little foggy that night but I saw two men come running and I run to see if they was going to run the beat and sure enough they did run it but I hollowed halt at the top of my voice. But they crossed my beat and I hollowed again and they stopped. By this I got pretty close and hollowed for the corporal of the guard No. 2 double quick and it was near the guard house. So in a minute the corporal was by the other officer and made him give the countersign and let them go again. Then after a while the officer of the guard tried to run the beat at the other end and I stopped him and made him give the countersign and the officer of the day said that there never had been as good sett of guards around this regiment before. For he couldnt run the guard at all without them seeing him. And ever since the Colonel told us that it was for to school us that he had a guard and not for to oppress, we have taken more interest in it and the officers instructs us more also than they used to. We cannot leave the guards house except to get our meals. When on guard, we must stay there the twenty four hours and receive the new guard in the morning. And then we are released from duty until two oclock drill in the afternoon. Then we have to go on dress parade and the next day we go on general police and then that releases the guard and they go to their respective Co and drill until their turn comes again. Then go through the same and so on to the end of the chapter. This finishes the account of guard duties.

  The sixth regt got home last evening from picket duty about sundown and never seen a secesh while gone it is said. But our boys will have a harder time of it than they for the wind is blowing a hurricane and it is raining some.

  December 13, 1861

  And it is a pretty morning and I am on guard today. The cause of it is that yesterday the corporal come around to see who would volunteer to go on guard today so as any of the boys that was on picket wouldnt have to go on today. And James Garner and I volunteered to go out of this tent and I am on the third relief so I don’t go on post until noon or after. Our boys got in from picket about sundown last evening and in good spirits. Nobody hurt, nobody killed and they don’t drill this forenoon and I guess not any today. Some of the boys got one mule and two horses while on picket. Some of our regt done better than the sixth did and they told it about that our boys seen some of our own cavelry and got scared and run for life. There is a strong antipathy between the two regt and it is getting stronger all the time. And it all arose from a dispute about a few boards the day we came to this camp.

  December 15, 1861

  And it is a verry pretty day and I can sit in the tent comfortable without a fire, but have an overcoat on. I have just got dinner. It consisted of bean soup and a few beans therein and bread. And the beans were cooked good. Yesterday afternoon the regiment, at least twenty four files out of a Co and it did not take me, and went out to balls crossroads [Ball’s Cross Roads] to go through a sham fight. There was five Brigades there and some Cavelry and Artillery also. We could hear them from here. They was firing about one hour but don’t kill anybody as they fired blank catridges but it made the noise. The boys didnt get home until about dark. There I hadnt anything to do yesterday and I wrote an answer to a letter that I got from Henry the night before and have written one today to Mary Jane [Mary
Jane Ray — older sister, born 1824] as an answer to one that I received at the same time. I received one from Otice Way [relative of Amos Way, husband of younger sister Evelina Ray, born 1841] at the same time which made three.

  And when I was on my post, Olie Foot, one of my tentmates brought them to me. And it being about eight oclock at night I could not read them but I did read the one from Otice as it was written verry plain with black ink. And the moon was shining as pretty as I ever seen it and today being Sunday I didnt have to do police duty. I went up to the guards house when the others did that was on guard Friday and we were dismissed. And that being at eight Oclock we didnt have to go on the inspection as it was at the same hour. But heretofore inspection came off at ten oclock and then them that were dismissed from police duty on Sunday had to go on inspection. It does appear to me that I am lucky if there is such a thing but this all happened so because I volunteered to go on guard Friday so as the boys that was on picket wouldnt have to go. But it wasnt so in other Cos for they had to go that was on picket and there was no drill so they got to rest that day which they needed, that is our boys did.

  December 16, 1861

  And it is a verry pretty day and there is some excitement in camp which is caused by a report that the rebels have advanced as far as Falls Church in great numbers and were fortifying thereabouts. And I saw Mcdowel and his staff go out that way as fast as their horses could run and that has a great impression. And we have been examined to see how many catridges and caps we had and if they were good ones and if not we got them after dinner. And we had bean soup verry thin and poor it was too. We have just got orders to put on our blue clothes but I had them for that was the last order. But some of the boys wears their gray clothes any way but I have got so that I do nothing without orders.