Four Years With the Iron Brigade

by Lance Herdegen

  Well James Garner has got a book from the Philadelphia book store. The title of it is the lives of highwaymen and robbers of different countries. It is a Novel or that is what I call it. It is a book that I don’t care much about reading. Well it must be nearly roll call and I will quit.

  February 11, 1862

  And I am ready for drill which be verry soon but the drummers call has not beat yet and I thought that I would write a little. Well it is a pleasant morning with the ground frooze hard so as to bear the trains across the mudholes which are getting less for a few days past but the sky is clouded and as likely as not will rain before night but I hope not. We begun yesterday evening to drill the bayonet exercise for the first time. I like it verry much. There, there is the drummers call which tells us to get on our accoutriments for dress parade which we have in the morning instead of evening as it used to be.

  Well it is afternoon and our dinner consisted of hominy and a little sugar to sweeten it with. We had a skirmish drill this morning after dress parade. It is verry pretty and exciting movements. And we are to drill two hours this afternoon in the bayonet excercise. It is most time to go to drill. I mailed a paper to A.A. Bennett. It was the national republican, a daily paper with some interesting news therein. The paper he sent me was an old one and quite large and I thought that a little daily would be worth as much to him as the old paper was to me. But if he had sent me a late paper instead of the one he did, why I should have sent him a better one.

  February 13, 1862

  And have just returned from the picket lines to the Regt reserve. Well yesterday morning the Regt took up its line of march for the picket lines which we reached half past ten oclock but about a mile back the left wing took the other road to the left and our Co & A went on to the lines, we taking the left and the other Co the right of the road. And relieved the Indianna boys. By this it got to be eleven oclock and we stood until eleven today. There was I and three other boys and a man acting as Corporal which made five. We stood two hours apiece until it went around then we stood an hour a piece. I said we but it was them for I was taken quite sick about dark and Julius [Nickerman]37 warmed some water and I drank it until vomited. After that I felt better. It was caused from a foul stomach I think. I have felt rather bad for a week or more and I even went so far as to have my name put down to go to the doctors and when I went to the hospital there was so many to be doctored that it made me mad or kind a so for that morning there was eighteen from Co F on the list but the Doct didnt excuse half of them and if I had went and got medicine then probably I should have missed this sick spell. But however I am over it and feel a great deal better but havent a verry good appetite today. But I shall soon be able to eat my rations.

  Well Co C came and relieved us and when we reached camp found hot Coffee, cold salt beef & pork and our regular loaf of bread. I have not ate as much as a days rations for two days. O but the weather is pretty and has been for several day. Whew how warm the sun shines on this the south side of our bough house. We had to bring our knappsacks out this time and our oilcloth and one blanket & overcoat. I suppose the Doct laid in complaint because we laid around on the ground shivering instead of taking our blankets.

  February 16, 1862

  And it is a verry pretty day after the snow storm of yesterday which was all day and the snow got to the depth of three inches and is going verry fast today and will be the cause of making it verry muddy (but to return).

  Well we came home from picket on the fourteenth, the second Regt came and relieved us at noon. When we started home and came around by Munson Hill and Baileys crossroads which was as much as three miles farther than to have come the way we have always went and come. And what the Colonels reasons was for so doing I cannot tell unless he thought that it would be a dryer road but I am sure that it was not dryer and I guess he must have thought so to from the mud he seen and got on him and his horse. Oh but it was a hard jaunt for me and my boots hurt my feet verry bad. I tell you I guess all were glad when we reached camp which was nearly night. And then sit down and eat cold meat and bread and coffee.

  But Our Regt was so fortunate as to get a prisinor or our scout from this Regt and a scout from a New York Regt took him prisinor. He being a secesh scout and they had watched him for several weeks but without success until this time when they took him and brought him into our Colonels quarters. And he sent him to Kings headquarters which was about half a mile distant back to a house while his Brigade is on picket duty. While on picket our Colonel dwells in the same kind of a house that we did and no better.

  And when we reached home our new guns had come and yesterday morning we went on dress parade which we never did before after coming off picket the day before. But there was some important orders to be read. Also some promotions to be read. The first being the Lieutanant Colonel promoted to Colonel and the Major being promoted to Lieutanant Colonel and Captain Bills of Co A, it is said was promoted to Major and all of this being in the Seaventh Regt Wisconsin Volunteers. And as it was snowing the Colonel dismissed us and we went to our quarters and then we gave up our catridges and went and got our new guns from the Ordinance Sargeants. Then they were given out as the roll was called and the guns being numbered, we took guns accordingly.38 Then we went to work and cleaned up our old guns in the best manner possible to return them. Then the order come to fall in without arms and form on the parade ground to receive orders from division headquarters. And then the Colonel ordered us back to get our guns and form again which we did.

  Then Mcdowel [General Irvin McDowell] came by going to the Sixth Regt which were formed like us and the orders was read to them I suppose the same as ours. Which was as follows. That Mcdowels division had to furnish Co men to go on the western rivers to man gunboats which were laying idle for want of men to work them and this was a call for volunteers from Regts now in service. And they must be sailors or rafts men or boat men and men that are used to the water. There were a great many probably twenty or thirty out of the Sixth and as many out of our Regt I think. There was only one man went out of our Co. His name is [John] Johnson.39 This speaks well for our officers. That is that the men are satisfied with them. But their names are not to be striken from the rolls as they are to return when they are done with them. I would of liked to went but didnt know anything about the business.

  Well we come back to our quarters and cleaned guns. We got evrything pertaining to the new guns which are as follows. First a brass stopple, a verry pretty one, a good wormer and a good screwdriver and wrench. Those are in one piece. We went out on inspection this morning with new guns which are colored black except the lock guard and rammer which are bright. So we will not have to spend so much time cleaning guns as before. Those we have are rifles and four inches shorter than the muskets and half a pound heavier but they carry verry nice and much easier than the musket. So we are ready for the secesh now. But I don’t think that we will have a chance to try them on secesh from the wagons boys or the Federals have taken the rebels. For we have taken 19,000 rebels in the last ten days. We have taken Roanoak [Roanoke] Island with two thousand prisinors and we have got Bowlingreen. I believe the enemy retreated from it. And we have got Fort Donaldson [Donelson] with 15,000 prisinors and some big officers which are Gen Floyd, Pillow and Backner [Confederate Generals John B. Floyd, Gideon J. Pillow and Simon B. Buckner]. Three of the most noted officers in the Rebel army. This will weaken them verry much.40 We are taking them on all sides and I think we will never advance on Manassas from this side but probably from the other side or the rear in a military way of speaking.

  Well the drums are beating for roll call and I shall have to quit writing for tonight. Oh, but I got three letters or found them awaiting my return from picket, for the mail was not brought out to us this time while on picket. There was two from Newton, one from Henry. Henrys contained one sheet of foolscap and each of Newtons contained two sheets of foolscap which made four and it was for one letter only. The cause of him writing so much is this.
What I told him in answer to what he said that was that he would quit writing or I would tire of reading in one of his letters. And I told him that I wouldnt tire of reading if he wrote a haversack full. Then I would take it on picket to read and have food for the mind as well as for the body. So that is the reason he wrote so long a letter. And I being almost on the sick list and feeling verry bad. So it took me two days to read them all.

  February 17, 1862

  And raining again this morning. Oh what weather we have. It makes me dissatisfied. I am getting tired of staying here in this mudhole as we call it. We have the worst Camp grounds of any Camp I have seen. That is for mud but we have advantages otherwise. Such as being near the City and not having to haul our provisions so far and getting our mail evry day and so on. All of which are the most prominent. Well I have got a verry sore ankle caused from my boot rubbing it whilst going out on picket and returning. And I expect to go on guard tomorrow. I must quit writing this book and answer some of them long letters.

  February 20, 1862

  And it is a verry pretty day. Our troops are in possession of Savannah [Tennessee]. It was a verry strong place but our boys did take it. I have stated that Floyd was taken prisinor at Fort Donelson but he escaped with five thousand men to Savannah but got taken there. Gen Johnson was taken prisinor also with a great many other southern leaders with 20,000 prisnors.41 This is a hard blow for them and a good one for us. Well I have answered all my letters and now I must write one to Mother.

  Well there is a hard wind blowing from the North which will dry up the ground verry fast. And I will be glad of that for the mud is as bad as ever. Well Richard Pierce has just come in from trying his gun and he says that it shoots verry well.

  February 21, 1862

  And it is a verry pretty day. Last night Jack frost dried up the mud so that empty wagons would go on the top but the sun is getting to have considerable power. Therefore it will soon be as muddy as ever. Well it is dinner time. I am not well yet but feel some better. I got six powders from the doctor this morning and have to take one evry two hours. They are a bitter thing.

  Well the boys was out drilling this morning and now they are ordered to clean up brasses and buttons &c for to go down to the Arlington House to celebrate Washingtons birthday which evry true American knows comes tomorrow.

  Oh, but what a pretty day. I understand that the forts are to fire five hundred guns tomorrow and I guess there will be a great time all around. Well after dinner I think I shall write a letter to Mother. Well I have concluded to not write to Mother until after the Celebration of tomorrow and postage stamps are scarce with me at present, and no money to buy more with. The reason of the scarceity of money with me is that I loaned it to Orley Foot one of my tentmates and he has not paid it back. And he was to pay it in a week but he has let one week after another pass and has not paid it. He is a great spend thrift but the more proper name for him would be a blackleg for he is a nuisance to the Co I think. For he gets drunk whenever he has a chance or can get the whiskey. Well I must take another of them nasty powders.

  February 22–Washington’s Birthday

  And raining and likely to rain all day. I feel some better this morning so much so that I didnt go on the sick list and I wanted to go down to the Arlington House but I expect evry minute that the order will be countermanded. About sunrise the canons were booming and all was astir as usual on secesh boys. I expect we should have had a great time today if had not rained. There has been some more prominent places evacuated by the rebels. They have evacuated Columbia and Clarksville. The former was first place was calculated to be almost impregnable but the latter was not of much consequence.

  Well there they go. Boom boom goes the cannon all around and on evry side. Well it is evening and we have been down to the Arlington House and heard an extract from George Washington’s speech read that he delivered to Congress a short time before he died. The whole of Kings Brigade being formed in a half circle and closed in mass after the reading of the speech. Gen King proposed three cheers for it and the United States and the victories our troops have won such as Fort Henry, Donelson and so forth. They were hearty cheers I tell you. Then he proposed to have us fire a few rounds so he gave the orders and we were formed in line of battle, each Regt by itself. The Second Regt being in the rear of ours and the sixth on the Right, Indiana Regt on the left and so formed as to make like the letter Z as near as I can tell and firing begun. And after two or three volleys the drums sounded when we ceased firing.

  And were ordered to fire by file and after a few rounds, there was ramrod shot from the second Regt which broke in three pieces, one piece going through the right leg of the man that stood behind me and another piece went through his bootleg. The other piece run into the ground within three inches of the mans foot that stood beside him. The but of the ramrod stuck in his leg until he pulled it out. The ramrod broke into three pieces about equal in length. The but piece run through his leg to the boot on the other side and there stoped. The middle piece it thought went through bootleg in another place. The other piece not touching anybody.

  Well when I hear the fuss behind me, I looked around and saw Bill Atkinson [William Atkinson]42 had stept away from behind me and was kind a stooped over. Then I seen his gun laying on the ground and looked. Looked to see if it had bursted or what was the matter and could see nothing but a piece of round bright iron and I had kept loading all this time and was going to fire and thought I would look around. And I saw him throw down the but of the ramrod and it was bloody and I turned and shot and looked again and he was gone. And by this time the Colonel and Lieut Col, Adjutant and our Captain had got there and they picked up the pieces. It caused a great excitement but I didnt think much about it but kept on loading and shooting and this all occurred in less than a minute. Then the drums sounded. We ceased firing and the surgeons being there, they went to work fixing it up a little and sent word to Cap to send a man for the ambulance which didnt accompany us this time. Each regt has an ambulance and then we were ordered home and when we got home there was two ramrods missing out of the Co.

  February 23, 1862

  And I am on guard again which makes twice in this week and I don’t like it much. But I am in great hopes that our stay in Virginia wont be long if the news is true about Nashville being surrendered up to our troops if they wouldnt burn it. It being the most prominent city in the southern states and if this is true, the war is virtually to an end now. And be that as it may they cannot hold out much longer. Well it is about half past ten, the time for the second relief to go on post but I am No two on the third relief today. There the second Regt band has commenced playing. How pretty it sounds. And this being Sunday, they are playing tunes to suit it.

  Well about that wounded man. It proved to be only a flesh wound and not so bad as thought at first. I am sorry and also the whole Co for he was well liked by all. And was always at his post. Well I got a good first rate letter from home or two letters in one envelope. It was from Henry and Caroline [Henry Ray’s wife]. Henry writing about half of the sheet and Caroline the other half. And it was a sheet of foolscap which as a matter of course made a good letter.

  Well I don’t feel so well today as yesterday but I wouldnt refuse to go on guard as there are so many in my own fix. But I fear that there are a great many that get off standing guard that nothing ails them but laziness. But it will not do to give way to despondence and I never have nor will I do it.

  February 26, 1862

  And it is now about five oclock and it is raining. Where there has been a great many things transpiring since I last wrote. Well I came off guard on Monday morning and that day about noon the wind commenced blowing and kept raising until it blew a perfect gale and the tents begun to weave and creak and our tent being on the west end of the row and the wind coming from that quarter, it gave it a hard strain which broke out one of the guy ropes and that gave it a double chance which terminated in the overthrow of our tent. Away she went. And away wen
t papers, clothes and all such things. But lo, look, behold when we looked around there were many others in the same fix. Evry man is out holding to some part of his tent. There is one pulling on the ropes, one driving stakes, another propping it with poles &c and the wildest excitement prevails all over the camp. And all is in good humor & laughing and saying something about the poor soldiers, such as this is soldiering isnt it boys. Another says oh, who wouldnt be a soldier. Another anybody is a fool that wouldnt be a soldier. Another says this is another fine day and another says oh yes, but it is over the left. Ho, look at Toms cap, there it goes, there goes. Look boys, there is a fellow down in the mud. He gets up and sees his cap retreating and finds it in some ditch which is full of water. He puts it on his head, confiding himself with the thought that the mud and water that is in it will hold it on and as it happens, he is not deceived for the mud glues it fast to his hair.

  And looking to the east I could see things going to destruction in a manner as I thought. But when the tents come to be raised and things changed around until they come to their owners, it terminated that the loss of this regt didnt exceed ten dollars I think. Well the gale still continued without abating. Well we piled up our things and weighted them down and got behind the promiscuous heap making it serve the purpose of a wind break. And there I sat watching others work for Dick was on general police and must go to work and the other boys sended into tents that were standing but I didnt chose to crowd myself into others tents if they were so fortunate as not to have them blown down and so I got new stakes and drove them well and got things fixed a little and looked up the boys and asked a few neighbors to the raising and we raised it in spite of the wind. And we kept fixing and got it quite comfortable by sundown and got our stove set up and got a fire started. And it felt like home once more and one helped another until we got them all up.