La Belle Village
We
remained in camp on Davies Creek 5
days, and then marched. Marched to La Grange, distance six miles, at which place, we
remained until the 17th of July. But during that time, we did a
great deal of hard marching and heavy duty. One of those was to Holly Springs, Miss. [22 miles
southwest]
We
went on many foraging expeditions, which were always tended with much danger.
At one time the 3rd Iowa had a daring adventure with a body of Rebel
cavalry under command of Colonel
Jackson.
Camp
La Grange, Tennessee
La Grange is a beautiful town situated
on the M & Charleston R.R., 42 miles from Memphis and about 2 miles from the state line of Mississippi.[1]
The
buildings are mostly of ancient style and many of them much decayed.[2] The lots of ground on which the buildings
stand are much larger than ordinary town lots in the north, judging them to
contain about two acres, and these beautifully adorned with ornamental trees.
The
county surrounding the town is indeed beautiful, consisting of fine
plantations. The county south to Holly Springs is also good, beautiful mansions with the most
luxuriant surroundings.
After
the military had concluded to abandon the [rail]line from Corinth to Memphis, the divisions under Generals Sherman & Hurlbut were ordered to
march to Memphis.
In
pursuance to orders, the 3rd
Iowa Infantry, with her associates in division, took up a
line of march on the 17th July for the conquered city of Memphis. The weather is remarkably hot and dry to
march over the sand banks; the hot weather appears almost more than we can
stand.
We
left La Grange at 1 o’clock P.M. just after a refreshing shower of rain; marched
to Moscow ten miles from La Grange. This first day’s march was performed with
ease and with but little disasters compared with the latter part of the march.
But
as I failed to make a note of the towns, camps and general appearance of the
county, I cannot, at this late period, give anything like a correct account of
our journey across this portion of Rebeldom. Notwithstanding a fine and beautiful
county is their [brand] of
habitation.
During
this very severe & exhausting march, we lost many men. However, after the
elapse of four days we accomplished a hard and much dreaded march. We entered
the city of Memphis on the 21st of July after marching
10 miles. A more ragged and dirty body of men never marched in this county.
We
halted one hour on Main
Street for rest and water. After which, we continued
our march to the south, halting and marching a half dozen or more times; we
finally succeeded in finding a stopping place.
July 23rd,
1862
Today
we moved camp a few rods, and pitched tents in a dense piece of woodland; so thick
that the rays of sun could not penetrate through the thick foliage.
July 24th,
1862
Today
we again moved camp just across the road. At night when all were fast asleep, a
mighty storm arose, the thunder rolled, the lightning flashed, the rain fell, and
the winds blew with great fury. So much that the foundation of the forest
timber trembled with fear. A huge and powerful tree fell to the south in the
midst of our camp, however with but little damage.
We remained in this camp two or three days
when we again moved camp to a position 1 ½ miles south of the city where we
have spent many hot days. Since our arrival here, but little of importance has
transpired worthy of note.
Guard duty is very heavy every four days; 19
men from a company are required for picket duty.
July the
28th, 62
3rd Iowa is detailed to go on picket 6 miles north of
this camp to guard a bridge across Wolf River. We had a pleasant time. However, one very
serious accident occurred. While a
number were in the water swimming, one man from Company D (Captain Wiser)
was drowned; was taken to camp for internment.[3]
After
three days’ duty, we were relieved by the 28th Illinois Infantry. Marched back through the City [Memphis]. The
band playing many favorite airs at which crowds of civilians gathered along the
sidewalk. After a dusty march we reached camp about 8 o’clock
P.M.; found all
as we left except a Sergeant of Company G who had died in the hospital in
absence.
Sabbath, July 31st,
1862
Company near Memphis, Tennessee
I am
detailed as Sergeant of Provost Guard;
reported at Provost Martial’s Office.[4] Was detailed from there with one Corporal and
9 men to guard General Hurlbut's
Headquarters. Was not relieved until the next evening; a proper detail had been
neglected by Company A &
a general of the Division.[5]
Will gives no reason for this
month-long interruption.
Wednesday
Sept 3rd, 62
Nothing
new today, 4,000 prisoners (Rebel) anchored off Memphis today on their way to Vicksburg to be exchanged. Upon their arrival here they
gave three vociferous cheers for the Confederacy, and three for Stonewall Jackson. At the same time
displaying a flag of which was recognized by a Miss Edmondson in the City who also waved one in return, which
resulted in her expulsion south of our lines. Good for her, learn her better
next time.
Thursday,
Sept 4th, 62
All
in trim this morning, news from the Army
of the East, federal forces falling back on their works.[6] Had a short drill. Was summoned as witness on
Court Martial against Geo W. Baty,
for getting drunk on duty.[7]
Four o’clock
P.M., evening
paper brings intelligence of a Bull Run No 2.[8] Headed in large capital letters one absurdity
after another. Such a secession sheet as the Memphis Appeal, and its treasonable editor should be dashed into
the Mississippi waters forever.[9]
Friday,
Sept 5th, 1862
Fine,
pleasant, cool morning. My health good; everything has a lively appearance in
camp. No news more than yesterday from the Virginia Army.[10] Anxious for the news. &c &c &c
One o’clock
P.M., orders to
march by tomorrow morning at one o’clock A.M. Everything is in camp. Wine & brandy rules
the day. Boys in ailing trim, as is the case generally when we have orders to
move. Four
o’clock P.M., heavy
thunder & rainstorm blowing many tents to the ground; laying the dust &
cooling the air.
Camp near Memphis, Tennessee
Daybreak
found us fast asleep this morning instead of on our march as we expected. The
order was countermanded at 11 P.M. last night. It now stands for 11 o’clock
P.M. today, at
which time we will bid adieu to our present camping ground unless another
change is made. This is a pleasant cool morning, delightful for marching.
Seven o’clock
P.M., we left
the City of Memphis at the appointed time (11 o’clock). Marching through the back part of the city
until we reached the northwest part of town and then we took the Bolla
Road running in a northeast direction.
Marched
9 miles where we now rest for the night. The march was very hard on the men as
they have not marched very much for more than a month.
Nothing
of interest on the road but the Boys relieving some wagons of melons, which
were being conveyed to the city for market. However, they were saved of the
trouble. Supper is announced by the cook.
Well,
after partaking hearty of rough camp fare, I feel once more refreshed. It goes
very hard with me to march this hot weather.
We
are at present bivouacked for the night on the banks of Wolf River whose waters empty on the Mississippi just in the northern part of Memphis. Quite a pleasant little stream, silently
running through heavy forests of timber.
A
little shower of rain has cooled the air considerably, but making the ground
somewhat damp for spreading our blankets.
However,
I have already gathered some paw paw [Asimina triloba] leaves which will answer as substitute for
feathers &c on which I shall spend the silent hours of this night (if
providence permit), while the frogs echo their shrieking notes and the mosquitoes
so silently sail through the air when to your ear they will sing cousin [sic].
Sabbath night, 11 o’clock, Sept 7th, 1862
Bivouacked 21 miles E. of Memphis
After
another miserably tedious day’s march, we again rest for the time being 27
miles from where we started yesterday morning. We took up a line of march this
morning at seven
A.M. leaving
our temporary encampment on Wolf River for our enemies to ramble over in our absence.
The
shower of rain last night very much improved the roads and cooled the
atmosphere, making it, in all, quite pleasant for marching.
Our
regiment is the rearguard of the division today, which decidedly is the hardest
place to march in a division. The division train (about two miles long) was
immediately in advance of us and some of the teams were continually balking,
breaking down bridges &c which made it very tedious indeed.
After
we had marched two miles, we came to the town or village called Bolla, a kind of one horse town
destitute of good buildings and nothing as I saw of interest in or around the
place, unless you call old fields, barren plantations, & decayed buildings,
objects of interest.
The
next place we came to was Union
City
on the Memphis and Ohio R.R., fifteen miles from Memphis; it also is an inferior place like most of the
inland towns in the south. No mercy was shown to Rebel citizens along the road
as the Boys were pretty sure to relieve them of their chickens and such like.
We
burned a small place (The name of which I had forgotten.) about 3 P.M., consisting of store room, repairing shop and
several other buildings all of which we willingly applied the torch. The place
being the rendezvous of a guerrilla band. General [perhaps Lew] Wallace had one man
killed near by them when he was marching to Memphis in June, 62.
The
county along this road is far from being as good as on the road to La Grange, no such fine plantations and beautiful
mansions.
Rebel
Uniform, WS cartridge boxes and such like were found at different houses. At such
places not much respect was paid to property. The rain commenced to fall about noon and continued for some time.
Night
overtook us and we were far from our journey’s end. The train made but slow
progress stopping every rod or two until we reached our place of abode for the
night. Weary and very worn were all, and happy were we when we found a resting
place.
And
as Mal (the cook) is preparing
supper, cooking some fine chickens, which he cunningly captured by the way, I
am penning these words.[11] And, as he has announced it to be ready, and, as
it is just 12
o’clock midnight, I will draw the notes of the day to a close.
After
I have partook of the spoils of the enemy (The first I have ate since four A.M.
this morning), I will lay down my weary limbs upon mother earth for a short, but
sweet repose, with the Heavens for a covering and the falling rain to cool my
brow while the silent hours of night pass away, that I may arise ere the dawn
of tomorrow’s day for the labor and toil which it may bring. &c &c
&c
WCNewlon 3rd. Iowa
Sept the 8th, 1862, Monday noon
In
the field 27 miles East of Memphis
We unexpectedly rest where we halted last night
at midnight. Madam Rumor says that we will return to the
city again. The day is cloudy, threatening rain. The news of a fight at Bolivar resulting favorably is the
cause of a retrograde movement that is, if any should be the place in the 4th
Division.[12]
The Boys
are enjoying themselves finely, rambling through the woods gathering muscadines.[13]
Eight P.M., orders to be prepared for action in a
moment’s warning. Also to march tomorrow morning at daybreak. WCNewlon
Tuesday,
Sept 9th, 1862
8 P.M.
Camp in field, Tennessee
We
were aroused from slumber at three o’clock A.M. this morning, prepared breakfast, struck tents
and at daylight we were marching northward. A very pleasant morning for
marching, roads in good condition; the atmosphere cool and enticing.
Our
place today was third from the right and immediately in front of the train.
Consequently, had nothing to hinder our progress and we improved the time by
doing some of the fastest marching we ever done in Tennessee. After
marching some three miles, we came to Hickory Withe,[14] a small village containing perhaps one dozen
houses. We marched almost altogether in a north direction, traveling a by-road
as we left the Bolivar road this
morning crossing the county through plantations & one very large plantation
with quite a quantity of cotton in field and about one hundred bales in [whole].
The
county through which we passed today is very poor, old worn out plantations,
poor fences and decayed buildings.
But little jay hawking done.[15] In fact, there was nothing to jay hawk, we
were now resting in a bottom and I don’t know how far from any place.
I
have learned that we are going to Brownsville some 30 miles distant from this place.[16] Such a county as this I would not live in, not
even a pretty girl to be seen at any place. Took some prisoners. Mal (the cook)
has just prepared some dinner consisting of green corn &c, which I shall not
be slow in hiding.
Wednesday,
Sept 10th, 1862
Camp
in field, Tennessee
Reveille
at 3 A.M., marched at 5. The county through which we
passed was very poor. Marched 15 miles; camped on Big Muddy three miles from Big
Hatchie. I was
Sergeant of the Rear Guard today.
Thursday,
Sept 11th, 1862
Camp in field, Tennessee
Reveille
at 3 A.M. this morning, 3rd Iowa and 41st
Illinois are detailed to build a bridge across Big Hatchie three miles from camp. At 5 ½ A.M., with
contrabands,[17] shovels and axes, we proceeded to our place of
operations passing through one of the most lonely, wild and wilderness looking
places I ever saw, dense wood land, thick under brush, marshy land.
Upon
arriving at the stream, we found it quite a stream, about 125 feet wide. The
bridge across this river was burned by the enemy. To build a bridge across such
a large stream appeared to be quite a task. Our contrabands were brought to
bear upon the heavy timber, felling and cutting in pieces of the proper length.
These were rolled into the river and drifted to their proper place.
We
busied ourselves gathering the wild fruit, muscadines, grapes and paw paws,
which were very abundant in the bottoms. Thus, the day passed during the
afternoon. However we were unpleasantly drenched with heavy showers of rain.
Night approached and no sight of our teams. Here we are without blankets or
anything of the kind. The bridge is near finished.
[1] La Grange (approx 48 miles from Memphis) was named in honor of the
Marquis de La Fayette’s ancestral home in Auvergne, France and became known throughout
the Old South as “La Belle Village”. Brochure “Walking/Driving Tour of La Grange, Tennessee”, Town of La Grange, TN, n.d.
[2] It is unclear which type of
architecture the author refers to here. It may be Georgian (1714–1776). For a
description of various styles of that era, refer to: Michael J. Varhola, Every
Day life During the Civil War. (Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer’s Digest Books, 1999),
73. Also visit www.LaGrangeTN.com for views of La Grange homes.
[3] Perhaps Emilius I. Weiser,
age 25, residence Decorah, Iowa, né
Pennsylvania, enlisted 20
May 1861,
appointed First Lieutenant and mustered 8 June 1861. He was promoted Captain 16
January 1862, wounded in knee by grape shot 6 April
1862,
Shiloh, Tenn. See a roster of soldiers in Company D on the
following web-site, http://iagenweb.org/civilwar/regiment/infantry/03rd/index.htm,
transcribed by Linda Suarez from the
Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers, Vol. I, lists the Captain as wounded
5 October 1862, Hatchie River, Tenn. and mustered out 18
June 1864,
Davenport, Iowa, expiration of term of
service. There is no Captain Wiser on the above Company D Roster.
[5] Will had crossed out Company A in the journal.
[6] Perhaps referring to the 1
September Battle of Chantilly, Virginia and its aftermath. On 2 Sept US General
John Pope completed “his withdrawal into the entrenchments around Washington”. Skirmishes broke out at
Fairfax Court House and Flint Hill...”With Pope’s army no longer a threat, CSA
General Robert E. Lee turned his army west and north to invade the North”. James
R. Arnold and Roberta Weiner, Editorial Consultants, The Time Chart History
of the Civil War. (Ann
Arbor, MI: Lowe & B. Hould Publishers, 2001), 44; Frances H. Kennedy,
Editor and Principal Contributor, The
Civil War Battlefield Guide, 2nd ed. (New York: Houghton Mifflin
Company, 1998), 112.
[7] George W. Baty (Veteran),
age 22, residence Green Bush, Iowa, né Ohio, enlisted
21 May 1861, mustered 8 June 1861, re-enlisted and re-mustered 4 Jan 1864. See
company B, Third Infantry Consolidated Battalion, A roster of soldiers in
Company G on the following web-site, http://iagenweb.org/civilwar/regiment/infantry/03rd/index.htm,
transcribed by Linda Suarez from the
Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers, Vol. I.
[9] Memphis Daily Newspaper from
1843-1894. In 1894, The Appeal merged with The Daily Commercial,
founded in 1890, to become The Commercial Appeal, the current daily
newspaper in Memphis. Available at https://umdrive.memphis.edu/mckibben/www/appeal.html.
[11] “…the concept of a mess hall
was unknown during the Civil War,…In camp, companies would frequently designate
cooks to prepare their rations…”, Michael J. Varhola, Every Day life During
The Civil War.(Cincinnati, Writer’s Digest Books, Ohio, 1999), 92.
[12] Perhaps referring to the 30 August battle where the Union lost 3 killed and the CSA lost 100. Civil War Battles of 1862, Chronological Summary and Record Of Every Engagement Between the Troops of the Union and the Confederacy in the American Civil War During the year of 1862, collated and compiled from the Official Records of the War Department. http://users.aol.com/dlharvey/1862bat.htm
[13] Muscadine: (ca. 1785) A
grape of the southern U.S. with musky fruit in small
clusters [prob. alter of muscatel]: Merriam-Webster’s
Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Ed
(2003), s. v. “muscadine”.
[15] Jay-Hawk (1858): A reference
to looting and burning by some bands of Antislavery guerrillas in Kansas and Missouri before and during the Civil
War. Ibid. s. v. “Jay-Hawk”.
[17] Contraband: a slave who
escaped to or who was brought within the Union lines. Ibid. s.
v. “contraband”.
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