“Camp Lyon” July 18th 61 Col Curtis Dear Sir. An opportunity offering to send you a word I embrace it. Enclosed is a petition for your appointment as Brig. Genl. Capt Huston1 undertook to engineer it thro’ & as we all supposed sent it a week ago: he didn’t do it however & Lieut Archer2 [...]
[Copy] Head Quarters Camp of Instruction Benton Barracks Oct 17th 1861 Captain The street order from the Commanding Genl Fremont, sending back my patrolls, which with much trouble I had found means to equip, was, in the face of surrounding circumstances, more than a surprise, but your explanation to me of the pendency of an [...]
To Abraham Lincoln President of the United States of America Greeting We your petitioners, Commissioned Officers of the Second Regiment Iowa Volunteers, would most Respectfully beg leave to Express our desire, as well as the wishes of our respective Commands by them unanimously expressed, that the Hon Samuel R. Curtis be appointed our Brigadier General. [...]
“Camp Lyon” St. Joseph Mo July 10th 1861 Genera] Order No 9 1st The use of profane and obscene language by the officers or men is strictly prohibited in camp. The commissioned officers will enforce obedience of this order. 2nd Gambling in Camp is forbidden. Any member found engaged in gambling will be deemed in [...]
[July 8] General Order No. 7 [Court martial trial of Lt. Huntington dispensed oners in custody discharged from arrest.] “Camp Lyon” St. Joseph Mo July 7th 1861 __________ Special Order No 16. [Three companies ordered to prepare for an expedition against Marysville with 4 days rations and 20 rounds of cartridges. To leave at 5 [...]
“Camp Lyon” St. Joseph Mo1 July 5 1861 General Order No 6 [Applications and the granting of leaves from the camp were tightened. Guard mounting at seven o’clock A. M. ordered each day.] 5th A General Court Martial will convene at this post, at the tent of Major Crocker on the 8th day of July, [...]
[copy] Benton Barracks Mo. Oct 29. 1861 A delicate but important duty is devolved on you.1 One of two Communications, one directed to Major General John C. Fremont and the other to Major General Hunter, are to be delivered to these Generals under certain Conditions which are given in a letter from the President of [...]
Executive Mansion Washington Octo. 24th 1861. Brigr Genl. S. R. Curtis1 Dear Sir On receipt of this, with the accompanying inclosures you will take safe, certain, and suitable measures to have the inclosure addressed to Major General Fremont, delivered to him with all reasonable dispatch–subject to these conditions only, that if, when Gen Fremont shall [...]
Benton Barracks Mo. Oct 22, 1861 General1 I was ordered yesterday by telegraph to march back all the troops I had sent down on the Iron Mountain road, which was no doubt intended as a preliminary for sending them West. The order conveyed also a scathing reproach saying “the whole affair has been grossly exaggerated [...]
Head-Quarters Camp of Instruction, Benton Barracks, (near St. Louis, Mo.,) Oct 20, 1861 His Ecy Abraham Lincoln President In further response to your letter Concerning affairs in this Department I feel it my duty to present, that orders from the Commanding General are draining the Northern and Eastern portions of this State, and pressing them [...]
Head-Quarters Camp of Instruction Benton Barracks, (near St. Louis, Mo.,) Oct 18 1861 General1 I asked by Telegraph a suspension of your order directing the 8th Wisconsin to report at Jeffersonville to Genl Sherman; mainly because General Fremont was draining this point when Thomson was moving against us, to pursue Price2 who was retreating far [...]
Head-Quarters Camp of Instruction, Benton Barracks, (near St. Louis, Mo.,) Oct 16 1861 Brig Genl L. Thomas Sir I am exceedingly embarrassed in the matter of Staff officers. I am entitled to 2 Aids and you know I need them. Yet I have none. I now ask that Geo S. Pierce distinguished in the fight [...]
Head-Quarters Camp of Instruction, Benton Barracks, (near St. Louis, Mo.,) Oct 11th 1861 Honored and dear Sir1 Your excellency’s letter2 the 7th Ins’t desiring me to express my views, in regard to Genl Fremont frankly and Confidentially to the Secretary of War ; was presented by him this morning, and I have complied with your [...]
[Copy] St Louis Oct 10th/61 Brig Geni Saml. R. Curtis Sir Your[s] of the 9th in relation to Mr. Taylor,1 Mail Agt is recd. You say you are informed that I have reproached a Mail Agt for expressing Union Sentiments, and denouncing Secession; in this you are misinformed, the Captain of the boat informed me [...]
Head Quarters Camp of Instruction Benton Barracks Oct 9th 1861 John McCune Esq1 Prest Keokuk & St Louis Packet Co Sir I am informed by an officer of the mail service that you have reproached him for expressing Union sentiments and denouncing secession in the presence of the passengers on your boats. I wish to [...]
Washington, D.C. Oct. 7. 1861 Brig: Genl. S. R. Curtis My dear Sir. Without prejudice, and looking to nothing but justice, and the public interest, I am greatly perplexed about Gen: Fremont: In your position, you can not but have a correct judgment in the case; and I beseech you to answer Gen. Cameron, when [...]
Head Quarters Camp of Instruction Benton Barracks (near St. Louis) Oct 7. 1861 Governor H R Gamble1 Dear Sir Yours of the 5th inst. on the subject of conflicting enrollment by States and United States Officers, is just received. When I have been informed of men brought in this camp who had been previously enrolled [...]
[By special order no. 244, H.Q. Western Division, dated Sept, 23, 1861, “Brigiadier General Samuel R, Curtis Volunteer Service, will extend his Command over the City of St. Louis, and will assume the control during the absence of the Commanding General of the Department, of all matters affecting the public interests in and near St. [...]
Camp of Instruction Benton Barracks Sept 21. 1861 Dr Major I find the skeleton Regiment in camp requires much time and attention. Men come and stay a few days without being mustered in, and slip away from camp cheating the Government out of subsistance and causing insubordination. I have therefore detailed an officer (Lieut Freeman [...]
Headquarters Camp of Instruction Benton Barracks Mo September 18th 1861 General Orders No. 4 Troops are stationed at this post especially to recruit organize and drill, commanders thereof after the first day (which should be devoted to clearing quarters and accoutrements, and airing tents and clothing) officers and men will be expected to conform to [...]
Camp of Instruction Benton Barrack Sept. 19, 1861 Major J. C. Kelton1 Asst. Adt Genl Sir The matter of a Company of Sappers and minors raised in Illinois Commanded by Capt. Snyder has been referred to me, with direction to ascertain whether fraud had been practised to prevent the Company from joining Col Bissels Regiment [...]
Benton Barracks Mo Sept 19. 1861 Dr General In Conformity with your instructions I send a Complete requisition for Clothing nine regiments Iowa volunteers. When in Washington I made a partial requisition for two regiments but nothing has yet arrived. If it does, it does not matter, as we are receiving from Iowa several more [...]
Camp Benton Mo. Sept. 8. 1861 My dear wife I started from Jefferson Barracks at 4 oclock yesterday but got along so slow it was dark when the train left the city. I had sent a wagon with my furniture, so William got here, but I remained at the Everett house, sleeping once more in [...]
Jefferson Barracks Mo. Sept. 2, 1861 My dear wife I have received your nice basket of plums and cake by express. The plums are some of them decayed but the major part are fresh and beautiful. The cake too is nice and plump but a little smeared over with plum juice. I will distribute the [...]
Jefferson Barracks Mo August 31 1861 My dear wife This is the last day of the long month which closes another summer. It has been full of stirring events in which I have extensively participated. The country has been in great commotion and the gloom that has overshadowed us does not seem to lessen. On [...]