“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, [...]

Keokuk June 28. 1861 Capt R. G. Herron Comg 3d Regt Iowa Vois In persuance of my former order you will direct your Command to move at five o’clock tomorrow morning via steamboat with ten days rations to Hannibal Missouri and take position on the line of operations where you may be directed. You will [...]

Keokuk June 27. 1861 Lieut. Co. Jas. M. Tuttle1 DrSir I find locations along the line of rail road much more pleasant and much better for the drill and discipline of the men than our Camp at St. Joseph and therefore recommend you to keep only the most orderly and best commanded companies at that [...]

Camp Lyon, Near the City of St. Joseph1 June 21, 1861. Messrs. Austin A. King, and others– Gentlemen: Your note of the 18th has been received, and I embrace the very first leisure moment to reply thereto. In regard to my mission here, I have to say that I am sent here by my Government [...]

St. Joseph, June 18, 1861.1 Col Curtis: Dear Sir: The undersigned, citizens of Missouri, fully aware of the delicate duties enjoined upon you, as the military commander of this post, and feeling a deep solicitude for the preservation of as much peace and quietness among the people in the surrounding country, as the extraordinary circumstances [...]

Head Quarters Department of the West, St. Louis Arsenal, June 12th 1861′ To Col S. R. Curtis Keokuk, Iowa A terrible secession movement, headed by Gov. Jackson, has commenced. I want you to come at once, with all the force you can command, to Hannibal, Mo. and move over the road from there to St. [...]

Keokuk June 9th. 1861 Genl N. Lyon1 Dr Sir Yours of the 6th is received. AH the Iowa Call 3 regiments each over 1000 strong are here. Two thousand muskets and 40 rounds of cartridges are distributed, I am ready to cooperate therefore although as yet we lack tents haversacks and knapsacks and many other [...]

Head Quarters Iowa troops Keokuk June 8 1861 Genl L. Thomas Adt Geni U.S.A. Dr Sir Three regiments each over a thousand strong are now assembled here, and earnestly and anxiously awaiting Complete equipment. I command the 2nd (The first for 3 years) and it is already pretty well advanced in company and battalion drill. [...]

Keokuk loway June 5. 1861 Major Ebenezer S. Sibley Acting Quarter Master Genl Dr Sir You will recollect that I was authorized by the Secretary of War to procure an outfit for the Iowa troops. The arms and accoutraments have been procured and bills for transportation are presented.1 I have turned the main business over [...]

Head Quarters 2nd Regt. Iowa Volunteers Keokuk June 3. 1861 Hon S Cameron Secy of War Dr Sir It is needless for me to suggest that as far as possible appointments should be made from the graduates of the Military Academy to military positions. Your recent order to Governors in this respect will do good. [...]

Head Quarters 2nd Regiment Iowa Volunteers Keokuk, June 2nd 1861 General Order No. 3. The roll calls for duty will be as follows : Revelie at 5 o’clock a.m. Breakfast at 6’/2 oclock Surgeons call (For mustering and providing for the sick) at 7 o’clock Guard Mounting at 8 o’clock. Dinner at 12 o’clock M. [...]

Head quarters Iowa Volunteers Keokuk May 27. 1861 Genl. L. Thomas Adt Genl U.S.A. I wrote you from Des Moines last week saying I had Commenced to muster the 2nd Iowa Regiment. I have now the honor to report that the 1st and 2nd Regiments are here mustered in, and the 3d will be here [...]

War Department May 7. 1861. In the absence of regular officers for the purpose the Hon. Col. Samuel R. Curtis of Ioway late of the U.S. Army, is hereby appointed to muster into the Service of the United States the quota of Militia of the State of Ioway called out under the requisition of the [...]

Washington May 1, 1861 My dear wife I am very glad to receive my clothes by S. Rankin Esq who arrived safely last night. I had really become rather shabby in my feelings if not in appearance. I will now be able to dress up when I go to call on friends. I think you [...]

[Washington] Sunday Apl 28, 1861 My dear wife Yours of the 20th giving me news of the progress of the volunteering was duly received The probability is, the required regiment was made up in a few days, and a large reserve remains ready for service if called for. It is easy now to get volunteers [...]

Washington Apl 27, 1861 My dear wife I arrived here with the N York regiment on Wednesday after a steady foot march of a day and a night assisting to haul canon build railroad and chasing the garilla forces that we found in our way. I have visited all the heads of departments and reported [...]

…the means of travel has been cut off and the people through the Country are hostile and arming. Annapolis April 23d 1861 My dear wife We the 7th New York Regiment and a Regiment from Massachusetts under the command of Genl Butler have landed and are encamped in the beautiful grounds of the Navy yard [...]

With the first shots fired on Fort Sumter, April 12, and the capitulation of that Charleston, South Carolina, post two days later, the long dreaded “irrepressible conflict” burst into flames. No longer doubting, hesitant, and divided, the North leaped to its feat in one spontaneous demonstration of will and a determination to Save the Union! [...]

Washington March 17, 1861 My dear wife I have not had an hour of peace and quiet since the adjournment. I have new friends coming daily, and new matters to be attended to-directed by every mail. I did hope to be at home to-day: but could not leave till I had secured some places beyond [...]