May 1863
1st The Cavalry are reconnoitering ahead we march at 8.A.M. road bad march 32 miles & bivouac for the night
2d march 8 miles to the St Francis River near which we begin to come up with the cavalry line after line of cav. & artilery are thrown accross the road all these we pass & march to the front a spirited skirmish of about 30 minutes lost one 1st Lt killed one Serg't & one Corp. several wounded the secesh take to their heels & as they have destroyed all means of crossing & the river being deep & swift all we can do is turn back which we do & march 12 miles rations is becoming scarce & it stands us in hand to travel
3d march 28 miles & bivouac in Bloomfield out of rations get a little pickled pork of the 32d Iowa who has guarded this place while we were out the roads are very bad rain
4th bury our Lt this morning & then march 14 miles rainy afternoon roads bad have fresh beef only for tonight
5th march 20 miles over very wet swampy roads ran start of the day
6th march 16 miles & arrive at the Cape glad to get Home once more find all things right it has rained every day since we left here 8 days ago we have marched 180 miles & have driven Marmaduke once more from Mo. it is considered the hardest scout the 37th ever made such Horrible roads so little to eat, so much rain together with marching night & day made it pretty hard but I donot see[?] but[?] we stand it pretty well after all
7th Arainy day but being in camp we donot mind it much this is a splended little town the inhabitants are mostly Germans
8th this is a beautiful day the first one for a long time P.M. after writing the above we have orders to march pack up & march to the Levee Embark on board the transport J. C. Swan for St Louis
9th a beautiful morning arrive at 12.M & march to Camp Gamble (3 miles) have inspection pitch our tents &.c.
10th pleasant day this is indeed a beautiful camp no wonder the Secesh chose this for their camp of instruction two years ago
11th this has been a magnificent day this morning at 10 Oclock we marched to Washington Avenue where the procession was formed for the celebration of the taking of Camp Jackson (now Camp Gamble) two years ago today here we received Major Gen. Curtiss as he passed our Reg. he took off his hat & bowed (a thing he didnot do to any other) as he recognized the old 37th who followed him to victory at Pearidge he is deserving more praise than he receives by far then we marched down Washington Avenue to 6th street followed that to Olive St up Olive St to Camp Jackson where the celebration was conducted in peace & Harmony I may safely say there was more Shoulder straps here than the Army of the Frontier could ever boast of but the City is much pleasanter than the field where a soldiers life is real not fancy parades & Sham Battles toward night a few drunken Home Guards have a quarrel among themselves
12th weather fair
13th This has been a beautiful day. I have visited the Wesleyan Cemetery it has once been a beautiful yard but for want of care (like everything in Mo.) it is sadly dilapidated still there is some magnificent Edifices left untouched by the hand of decay[?] as yet the flowers are in full bloom nearly one half has been used as a burying place for Soldiers they are burried in rows a short board at the head of each grave with the initials of the soldiers name & his No then a Register is kept by the Sexton bearing each Soldiers description all for the benefit of his friends it is a sad sight to see so many young men pass off but it is the will of an alwise & almerciful Creator who knows what is for the best & we have no right to complain they are at rest gone from a world of sin & sorrow gone to a last long rest gone to that bourne from which no traveler returns
14th this is a beautiful morning break up camp at 6.A.M. march four miles to the Iron Mountain R.R. Embark at 9.A.M. run to Pilot Knob disembark march one mile bivouac for the night today we have passed over some very rough country & through some beautiful little towns Desoto among the rest with a beautiful though small Church the people along the R.R. seem to be intensely Loyal flags were flying at almost every House
15th this is a fine day we move into a suitable camp draw shelter tents turn over our others we have pontoons here for quite a long bridge & now we are prepared for an active Campaign in Dixey & expect soon to have one every thing goes to show for it
16th today I have been over the mountain to Ironton it is a pretty little town beautiful day roads are excelent the country around here is very Hilly
17th fair day draw soft bread have Regimental inspection
18th it is a beautiful day all Nature looks smiling & gay the summer is upon us in all its beauty, the Spring is fast going, but we gladly exchange it for beautiful summer with all its shady bowers & handsome flowers Excelent fruits &.c.
Oh, sweet, indeed, the jentle spring,
When the Earth is robed in flowers;
And beautiful, the summer day,
With all its leafy bowers.
Evening_ this afternoon Serg't. Sands & I have been to what is called the Knob it is a picturesque place, from the top one can look round upon the Hills below for miles around then the Iron works it is quite a sight to see them lower the car-loads at lightning speed by means of pulleys
19th "Camp Illinois" this is a beautiful morning
20th the weather is fair our Camp is cleared off so it looks quite decent our (2d) Div'n is all here now except one Batery, the 3d Div'n Brig. Gen. Orme (formerly of the 94th Ill.) Com'd'g. is still at Rolla where we left them the 24th of April Gen. Van Dever has his family here & seems to be making preparations to stay some time
21st Changed "Camp Herron" weather fair Reg in good Health
22d this morning Srg't Sands & Tripp start Home on furlough weather fine
23rd weather fair
24th weather beautiful roads Excelent rather dusty
25th still it is fine weather lay in Camp Herron drill twice per day dress parade once per day
26th this is a splendid day roads are in Exelent condition
27th weather fair Health of the Regiment Excelent
28th a beautiful day
29th rain part of the day, go to Ironton & the Knob Geo. Kennicott has been our 2d Lt three weeks 1st Serg't Wm B. O. Sands 2d A. J. Higgison 3d G. I. Tripp 4th T. J. Stow 5th D. H. Jones Serg't Geo. H. Merrill has been promoted to 2d Lt of Co. H. of this Reg.
30th rainy disagreeable day Lt Geo. H. Merrill is detailed as A.S.P.M. of this Div'n 2d Army of the Frontier the 24th Mo. Inf't & the 34th Iowa Inf't. have been attached to this division Gen Van Dever is here & in command Gen. Herron in command of this Army of the Frontier but is now Home (Pitsburgh P.a.) to bury his Father who has suddenly died Gen. Orme is temporarily in command in the absence of the Com'dg. General for the past two weeks we have had beautiful weather until yesterday now it is rainy & the roads are muddy & slippery
31st very heavy rain last night but this morning it has cleared off & is now a beautiful day Spring has surly left us & now comes summer with its rich Warmth[?] & its beautiful flowers [illegible] &.c.