A Damned Iowa Greyhound: The Civil War Letters of William Henry Harrison Clayton

8. “I Long to Get upon Old Chequest Again”

CHAPTER 8 ((1 Long to Get upon Old Chequest Again» The combination of Lee's surrender and the loss of Mobile convinced virtually all the Confederates still active in the field that they had lost the war. Consequently, throughout April and May of 1865, the commanders ofthe various departments ofthe Confederacymade their peace with the Union. As a result, the victorious northern army began the process of demobilization. While some Union regiments would remain in federal service as occupation forces in the former Confederacy, most units prepared for an early release from their enlistments. The members ·of the 19th Iowa who had enlisted in 1862 fell into the early-release category. They remained in Mobile, awaiting the orders that would send them back to their homes in Iowa. Clayton wrote five letters home before he returned to Van Buren County; in them he gives his favorable impression of Mobile and expresses his fervent hope that the War Department would spare the veterans of his regiment from a campaign back in Texas, the state ofhis captivity. His wish came true, ending his letters on July 9, 1865. ~ Spanish Fort, Ala. April 30th, 1865 Dear Brothers: You will doubtless begin to think that I am negligent about writing , it being nearly two weeks since I last wrote, but I think you will pardon me this time. I have not had anything of importance to write about, and if that is not a sufficient excuse, the fact that ((letter pa- per" was "played out," certainly will be. There has been no chance of getting any since we left Navy Cove, no sutlers being allowed with the army, until recently. One arrived here today, and others will soon follow. I was much pleased at receiving your letter ofthe 8th and one from cousin Ellen written on the 2nd. They both reached here in the mail of the 26th. I ought to have written to Ellen before this time, and would have done so had I known that she would remain so long. I supposed that she had returned to Council Bluffs some time since. I will write, and direct to that place. This is a rather stale place for news at present. The forts at this place and Blakely have been partly disabled, all of the guns found in them have been sent over to the city. It is the general opinion that the greater part of the force here will leave soon, probably a battery of field artillery and a regiment of negroes will hold the post. Two regiments of our brigade have occupied Blakely for over a week past, Col. Bertram having command of both points. But I think that we will be on the move again, before a great while, our destination, as usual, being a matter of dispute. Some think that Montgomery is the place, others talk of an expedition to Texas, Galveston being the point designated,l and still others think the Mississippi the place. Well, in three months from June this time we will have a better idea of the destination aimed at. Those of us, who are fortunate enough to see that time will have a serious notion of travelling northward. Many seem to think that we will be home by the Fourth of July but I cannot see it exactly in that light, though I sincerely hope that their predictions may come true. The news of the assassination of the President2 cast a deep feeling of sadness in the minds of all. Coming as it did, so soon after the cheering news of the surrender of Lee, and of our own successes at this place, we were not prepared for it, and when the chaplain made it known that he would make a few remarks in regard to it (on the evening of the receipt of the news) every man in the regiment went to hear him, all being anxious to know all the particulars concerning the affair. I must take back part of what I said when I told you that we had no news. The paymaster has arrived at Mobile bringing money to pay offthe troops. That is about the best news that a soldier gets. We have 166~ ((I Long to Get upon Old Chequest Again" 8 months pay now due us, but do not expect to get more than 4 or perhaps 6 months pay, at present. I will write...