CIVIL WAR LETTER - 15th Iowa Infantry, Writes from Benton Barracks in St Louis

Description

CIVIL WAR LETTER
Civil War Letter by Soldier in
Co. A, 15th Iowa Infantry - Wounded at Shiloh!
This Civil War letter was written by John A. Wheelock (1840-1862), of Lyons, Clinton county, Iowa—the son of Charles Asker Wheelock (1809-1904) and Clarissa Betty (1811-1855). He wrote the letter to his brother, Hiram Wheelock (1835-1910) of Alson, Madison county, Illinois.
John served in
Co. A, 15th Iowa Infantry
early in the war with his younger brother,
Charles Myron Wheelock
(1844-1923). Charles was wounded in the Battle of Shiloh. John appears to have been discharged from the service early due to disability. We learn from this letter that he was suffering from the ague. His grave record indicated he died in December 1862.
He also mention another brother,
Harrison Tyler Wheewlock
(1833-1915) who was serving in Co. C, 26th Iowa Infantry (enlisted 14 Aug 1862; discharged for disability 23 Nov. 1863).
[Note: The first part of the first letter was written by Charles Myron Wheelock.
Transcription
Benton Barracks
St. Louis, Missouri
March 26, 1862
Brother Hiram,
Yours of the 19th came to hand today, Always glad to hear from you. I ain’t got any news to write. I am getting so I feel first rate except a bad cold and sore eyes. We have got where we soldiers just begin to know what soldiering is. We have to get up to roll call 5:00 A. M. and go out and drill before breakfast and then again at 9 A. M. until 11 A. M. And then we have Battalion Drill from two P. M. until 4 and Dress Parade at sunset. So you see that we get put through from morning until night.
Eight men are detailed out of a company every other day for guard. I ain’t been out yet. Expect I will have to in a day or two. They have picket guard. They are out a mile or more and they have guard inside of that. There is 20 thousand men in this camp. Regiments are coming and leaving all the time. They go to Tennessee mostly now. We get our arms tomorrow. They are the Springfield rifle musket. They are here in the barracks now. This regiment is to be equipped and sent away soon. I am ready to go tonight. I want to go down there and whip the Rebels and go home. I would like to be down to [Island] No. 10 and help give them thunder there. We may have a hand there yet. Let us go. I am ready. I have laid around long enough.
Our company trouble has died away for the present. All of the non-commissioned officers have resigned except one so we have got a new set of officers. We shall watch the Captain and if he gives us a chance, we will hop onto him—that is, if he does anything that the law don’t allow.
I don’t know whether we shall get paid here or not but I think we will. There has been several regiments paid since we came in. The weather was cold and wet for three or four days after we came in but it is warm and nice now.
I want to write a few lines to Jane so I will stop. I ain’t got any [more] to write anyway. So write as soon as you get this and address [to] John A. Wheelock, Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Mo., Co. A, 15th Iowa Volunteers
Sister Jane, your kind letter came to hand in due time. I was glad to hear from you. I wrote to you since I came here. You will get that before you do this. I should [have] wrote to you if I had anything to write. I thought that you would hear from me. I ain’t got anything to write that will interest you. I ay have more next time. If we should go down South and get into a battle, I may have more to write. I expect we will go down there soon. I hope so for I am tired of laying around. We have got started now and I want to go and whip the Rebels and go home. I am tired of soldiering.
I don’t like the way we have to live and the way we have to do. I like to be a free man and be where I can do as I am a mind too.
That sausage went first rate. I wish we had some more. We don’t get very good grub. We don’t get enough. You spoke of yours & Henrietta’s likeness. I want you to get them taken and send them to us. I ain’t got any more this time. Tell Henrietta to write. She can read this just as well as if it was wrote directly to her. Write soon. So goodbye for this time. Yours &c.
John A. Wheelock, Co. A, 15th Iowa Vols.
Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri
To Jane
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