Wednesday, 2d–It rained all day. The band from Tipton left for home this morning. Our company held an election this afternoon for choosing non-commissioned officers, sergeants and corporals. It was quite a political battle, the way the boys strove for the different offices.

Tuesday, 1st–We drew our cooking utensils and rations for five days. John Batderf, Joseph Tomlinson and I were put in as cooks for the company. We have company drill four hours a day. It seems that we are in camp this time for business. My bunk-mate is James M. Fossett, a brother of Thomas Fossett. [...]

Monday, 30th–I left home early this morning for Tipton, where at 10 o’clock about one hundred of us, with a band, left Tipton in farm wagons for Wilton, which place we reached at 4 o’clock, all covered with mud. At 5 o’clock we took the train for Davenport and arrived there at 8 o’clock. We [...]

Sunday, 29th–I went to meeting once more before leaving for camp. After preaching I went to Mr. Moore’s, remaining there the rest of the day and stayed over night with John Moore. John presented me with a pocket Bible which he asked me to carry with me.[i] [i] I carried this Bible during my four [...]

Saturday, 28th–We had regular drill this morning and in the afternoon our election of officers. The election resulted as follows: Captain, Samuel S. McLoney; First Lieutenant, John F. Compton; Second Lieutenant, Lorenzo D. Durbin; Orderly Sergeant, Joel H. Clark. I went home this evening for the last time before leaving for Camp McClellan.[i] [i] It [...]

Friday, 27th–Fine weather again. Our company was completed today and we have arranged for election of officers tomorrow.

Thursday, 26th–We had no drill today. Instead of drilling all went to meeting. President Lincoln issued a proclamation asking that the day be observed as a day of fasting and prayer, and our company attended service twice today, in a body. The war has cast a gloom over the whole country; people are beginning to [...]

Wednesday, 25th–It rained all day and we had to drill in a big barn on the edge of town. We drilled in the barn on the “double quick.” On account of the rain, business of all kinds is almost at a standstill.

Tuesday, 24th–More enrolled today than any day yet. Most of the boys are from the surrounding farms, though there are a number of Tipton boys in our company. Our drillmaster keeps us on the drill ground most of the time.

Monday, 23d–The boys are beginning to enlist quite fast. A goodly number enrolled today, and we now have our company almost full. We drill twice a day. We drilled today in “double quick” through the streets of Tipton.

Sunday, 22d–I remained in Tipton all day, going to preaching this morning and to Sunday school in the afternoon.

Saturday, 21st–We had company drill this morning. In the afternoon we had a big loyal mass-meeting in town, and we had speaking by Captain Stearns. He talked of our duty to sustain the Government. Quite a number enlisted as a result of the meeting, and it is hoped that the company may be completed so [...]

Friday, 20th–Captain Stearns of Company A of the Eighth Iowa arrived today from Davenport, coming to encourage enlistments. Several new men enrolled today. We have a fine drillmaster in John F. Compton of New Liberty, Scott county. He is an Englishman, and has served five years in the Queen’s Guards of England.

Thursday, 19th–Nothing of importance today. A few new recruits came in. There is no excitement in getting men to enlist; only plain facts are presented as to our duty to sustain the Government.

Wednesday, 18th–There were more enrollments today, and there is some hope now of raising a company. The weather has become settled and everybody seems more cheerful. We have drill twice a day now, and have a good drill ground out on the town commons.

Tuesday, 17th–Several new men enrolled today and things look more encouraging. I boarded at the tavern today.

Monday, 16th–I returned to Tipton this morning. Our company had no drill today on account of the rain—it rained all day. There were no enlistments. The disagreeable weather seems to make everybody feel gloomy.

Sunday, 15th–This morning I went to church and Sunday School once more.

Saturday, 14th–We had company drill this morning, and some five or six new men enrolled. I went home in the afternoon.

Friday, 13th–We made the entire trip of thirty miles from Davenport last night and reached home by daylight. I went up to Tipton this afternoon and was sworn into the State service, my service dating back to August 10th. Our former captain, Mr. McLoney, and some of the other Inland boys are here, besides four [...]

Thursday, 12th–I attended the Scott County Fair again today. The attendance was about the same as yesterday. A part of the Second Iowa Cavalry is in camp here, Camp Holt. For three days now I have been trying to find some new company in which to enlist, but not caring to go into a company [...]

Wednesday, 11th–I went up to the Fair Grounds and spent the day there. The attendance was good, there being about two thousand present. Business is becoming quite dull. The war seems to put a stop to all improvements, and there is no demand for farm produce. Money is getting scarce, gold having been out of [...]

Tuesday, 10th–I went down town this morning to see about enlisting in a battery which Mr. Little, a business man of Davenport, is trying to raise. He was planning to raise a company of two hundred men to command a battery of heavy cannon. But before night I made up my mind that he would [...]

Monday, 9th–Our company was disbanded this morning, since we could not get men enough to fill it up. Some of our boys enlisted in other companies of the Eighth Iowa. Captain Foster of Le Claire sent word to our captain, McLoney, that he would raise an entire company at Le Claire.[i] [i] At the time [...]