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 [...]

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 [...]