The next day was spent in moving from the cars to the steamboat intended to carry us down the river. I procured a pass in the morning and visited Benton Barracks where I found the 4th Iowa Cavalry. Here I found a number of acquaintances, that I had not seen since enlistment. The barracks looked almost like home, for I spent two months here last winter and not very pleasantly either. The day was spent very pleasantly with my former associates.
In the evening I returned to the landing and found my Regiment aboard the steamer Iatan, all ready to open the way through the running ice down the Mississippi River.
Starting time found not a few of the soldiers intoxicated for they had liberty to do as they saw fit during the day. Privilege, which a great many abused, brings trouble upon themselves as well as others.
At 10 o’clock P.M. the 7th, with all being in readiness, we shoved from shore, directing our course to the sunny South....
During March Will and the Iowa 3rd Infantry traveled south, through Cairo, Ill, stopping at Paducah, Fort Henry and Savannah to rest and regroup.
On the 17th Will’s Winterset Zouaves arrived at Pittsburg Landing:
We remained aboard the boat until the 17th when a part of the expedition landed at Pittsburgh Landing, Hardin county, Tennessee, where we still remain in camp this the 26th of March. We are at last brigaded. Colonel Williams is acting-brigadier general and has command of the First Brigade in the 4th Division, which gives our regiment the position of honor, which is on the extreme right of the division.
Leading up to the Battle of Shiloh, 6 April, Will writes:
April the 1st finds the Iowa 3rd Infantry with 150,000 other troops quietly in camp on the Tennessee River, Hardin County Tennessee, but making preparations to act upon the defensive or aggressive in a very short time. The rebel’s army at Corinth, Mississippi is being augmented daily by troops arriving by railway from different parts of the Confederacy.
Further down his narrative, Will foresees the future battle:
This was a signal for a battle, which I think, will soon be forgot not and it would appear from this that the enemy will be the attacking force. Our army is still being augmented by the arrival of fresh troops. If a battle takes place here between the two majestic armies, the loss of life will be immense.
After the Battle of Shiloh, Will gives his assessment of its historical significance when he pens:
April 16th A.D. ‘62, what a change since I last took up my pen. A terrible battle has been fought, and a great victory has been won by the great federal army at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee.
On the evening of the 5th, everything appeared to be quiet along our lines, our regiment had dress parade at the usual hour (5 P.M.) a chaplain’s order was read announcing that we would assemble the next day (Sabbath) at 11 o’clock for divine service. The evening was pleasant and all appeared to be happy, little did we think that, the Sabbath soon to dawn upon us would be a day to be remembered by generations yet unborn, is the day on which began one of the greatest battles ever fought on the American continent up to that time.
Later, in a more personal entry, Will writes about surviving the battle in one piece. Yet, in the fall of 1862, six months later, Will would have his right leg amputated due to a wound during the Battle of Davis Bridge (6 October 1862):
I, myself, was wounded about 4 o’clock P.M. of the first day, in the right leg but not serious. As I looked around and saw hundreds with legs arms and bodies torn to pieces, I felt that I should be thankful that I had escaped with so slight a wound. However, this the 16th day of April the wound is healing finally, and I hope that in a short time I will be entirely well, little if any worse off than I was before I was wounded...
Five months after Shiloh and a year after the Battle of Liberty, Will compares Liberty to later battles:
Wednesday Sept. 17th / 62
Quite stormy last night, raining this morning. This day one year ago we fought the Battle of Blue Mills. We thought that a terrible affair; would think it no fight at all now. Our Regiment is stronger and in better condition this day than it was one year ago.
My health is good; all in excellent spirits. At this P.M. the sky is clear.
Camp near Bolivar
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