William F. Wright Civil War Diary
Scope and Contents
The diary contains daily entries beginning on May 27, 1861, in Iowa and ending on December 25, 1861, in St. Louis at Benton Barracks. The pages are numbered from 1 to 119; misnumbered pages resulted in no page 63. There are two entries for December 25, one of which is out of order on page 93. The diary’s binding has failed, and the pages are loose.
Wright’s friend Henson Thomas wrote two brief diary entries on July 2nd and August 7th on the endpaper in the back of the volume. On page 120, Wright transcribed a letter that A.M. Sullards, a Missouri Confederate soldier, wrote in Fillmore, Andrew County, Missouri, on July 18th. The letter was left as a taunt for the Union soldiers: “…to inform you that I am one of them Damd rebels. And I hope when this letter comes to hand you may have time to read it. And I think I shal be near by…near enough to nock your life out of you.”
On the first page of his diary, Wright recorded his name; place of birth; birthdate; military information; and if necessary to please return the diary to J.C. Wright of Somerset, Warren County, Iowa. He began his diary in Iowa on May 27th when he left Somerset for Indianola to enlist (page 7). Wright noted each religious service he attended. His diary also reveals the soldiers’ opinions of the officers under which they served.
From July to December 1861, the 3rd Iowa Infantry traveled across northern Missouri to Wyandotte, Kansas, and returned east to Quincy, Illinois, and Benton Barracks via railroads and steamboats. On several occasions, the men slept in the rail cars instead of pitching tents to save time. Wright noted the frequent lack of rations after arriving in Missouri. He often served as company cook and described himself as “head cook and bottle washer” on July 15th. Sometimes the men received only flour rations, but they traded with local residents for milk and vegetables.
The 3rd Iowa Infantry arrived in Hannibal on June 29th. From Hannibal, where Wright saw his first prisoners of the war, they traveled to Camp Herron near Utica in Livingston County on July 1st. Along the rail journey, Wright noted the beautiful large homes with slaves working in the fields. Company G remained in Livingston County through July until August 7th. They were tasked with guarding the Utica Station House and the Grand River Bridge. Wright reported that scouts and guards engaged with the enemy, most likely bands of bushwhackers. Despite being readied for an attack on several occasions, Wright’s company did not meet the enemy.
On August 8th, Wright’s company traveled by rail east from Chillicothe to Brookfield in Linn County. The encampment became crowded, and the soldiers sank wells in order to increase the water supply. On the 15th, the company left for Macon City [now Macon] in Macon County where they met the 16th Illinois. During the night they marched 14 miles to Kirksville in Adair County accompanied by an artillery company. Wright noted that the town was nearly deserted. The company remained near Kirksville through August 30th. Enemy actions were limited to engagements with their scouts and one corporal was killed on August 19th.
Wright’s company marched 16 miles from Kirksville to Wilson Town [township] on August 30th. They moved often in the next two weeks, camping on the Salt River (Aug. 31), on the North River near Bethel in Shelby County (Sept. 1), staying in abandoned houses in Shelbina (Sept. 2), and returning to Brookfield via rail (Sept. 3). While Wright’s company was in Brookfield, other companies of the 3rd Iowa near Shelbina were attacked. They escaped by rail to Macon, where Wright’s company met them on September 6th. The following day, they returned to Shelbina and made temporary repairs to the railroad tracks and a bridge.
Company G traveled west by rail to Cameron, Missouri, on September 15th and marched to Liberty in Clay County on September 17th. They participated in the skirmish at Blue Mills Landing (Battle of Liberty) and Wright described some of the fighting. His observation the next day represented the toll taken on families living in a border state during the Civil War: “The most shocking scene that I have ever witnessed is one of the dead men whose face has been skinned, said to have been done by his brother-in-law.”
Due to reports of an impending attack on Kansas City, Wright’s company marched west on September 21st. They detoured around an enemy ambush near the river and took a boat to Fort Leavenworth. Another boat took them to Wyandotte, Kansas, where Company G quartered on the upper floor of a hardware store. On the 28th, they marched to Kansas City and quartered in houses. The regiment remained in Kansas City for almost a month with no attack.
Wright’s company traveled east with many wounded via rail and arrived at Quincy, Illinois, on October 19th. Three slaves who ran away from Lexington accompanied Wright and his friends on the journey. Upon arriving in Quincy, they took the three men to an African American church. Wright obtained a furlough and left his company on November 5th for Iowa. He wrote brief entries recording with whom he dined and stayed during his furlough. Wright joined his regiment at Benton Barracks in St. Louis on November 27th.
The time at Benton Barracks from November 27th to December 25th was not very exciting for Wright as he often lamented having nothing to do. Some of the men played instruments, danced, drank, read, and wrote letters to pass the time. He noted regiments moving in and out of camp and participating in a review for Gen. Halleck. Wright and a few others in the company still cooked. Their rations varied but were sometimes lean. For example, on December 17th the men had bread and coffee for breakfast, soup for dinner, and tea for supper. Wright recounted a visit to Good Samaritan Hospital to see friends there. The hospital had a good reputation, and his friends lauded the care they received.
On Christmas Eve, Wright reported that they been ordered to be ready to march with little notice. He presumed that they would march south and be in their tents once again. On Christmas Day, he wrote of getting ready to leave as he was “sick of this place” (p.101). He also became introspective: "Have been in the U.S. service for nearly 7 months. During this time I have passed through some very exciting and dangerous scenes... Must acknowledge that I do not like a sol[dier’s] life. Would be far from following it from choice but believe that it is my duty, as we are engaged in a just and noble cause, trying to sustain one of the best governments ever formed." (p.93)
Diary Timeline and Highlights
11 June, Keokuk, Iowa: “This is the day set apart for the celebration of [Stephen] Douglas and [Elmer] Ellsworth funeral… There were about 3000 volunteers. The Masons, Odd Fellows, Druids, and others to the number of several thousands formed the procession.” p.9
24 June, Keokuk, Iowa: First pay day, “At 5pm our arms were…distributed to the company.” p.14
29 June, on riverboat south: Quincy, Illinois is “the most beautiful town I have ever seen.” Arrived in Hannibal, Missouri. p.17
30 June, Hannibal: Described Lover’s Leap and its legend; saw his first prisoner of war. p.18
1-10 July, Camp Herron, near Utica, Livingston County, Missouri
1 July: “I was surprised to see so many fine residences, also quite a number of slaves…in the fields who cheered lustily as we passed.” Arrived in Utica, Livingston County. p.19
2 July: Three prisoners taken; “They took the oath and were discharged. One is yet detained under guard.” p.19 3 July: Received news that “one of our men was taken prisoner by the enemy. Cartridges were distributed…had orders to be ready in 5 minutes for an attack.” Word came that he had been taken by a squad of their own men. “Went to bed sleeping on our arms, as the word had got out that we would be attacked before morning.”[no attack] p.20 4 July: Tells of Independence Day celebration in Utica and in Chillicothe [Livingston Co. seat], where they traveled by special train. p.21 11 July-5 August, near Utica at Grand River Bridge (over 400 ft long) and other camps 12 July: Home Guards in camp report 700 enemy soldiers within 2 hours of camp; Illinois units engaged near Hannibal; low on cartridges. p.27 13 July: 2nd regiment stopped on way to Chillicothe and left more ammunition; Yellow Creek bridge destroyed about 30 miles away. p.28 14 July: 24-hour guard duty, on 2 hours, off 4 hours. p.30 15 July: Remainder of Iowa’s 3rd Reg arrived from skirmish at Monroe Station, its headquarters to be at Chillicothe; his company left to guard the bridge; low on food, sent flour out to be baked into bread and ate bean soup; “I was head cook and bottle washer.” p.31 16 July: Rations arrived, railroad repaired and trains running. p.31-32 17 July: Low on food again; men grumbling about it. p.32 18 July, Utica Station House: Guarding it from possible attack as a spy arrived and reported 500-800 men at Spring Hill readying to attack it and the bridge [no attack]. p.33 20 July, Camp McCoy near Utica 21-28 July, returned to Grand River Bridge 22 July: “There was an old man took dinner with us today who said that he was 95 years old, was in the revolutionary War for two years. His name is Chapman. He is now on his way from Canady [Pemiscot Co., Mo.] to Kansas, having that distance afoot with the exception of about three miles.” p.35-36 23 July: “We received news that Federal troops were beaten in Virginia, which was sad news to us.” p.36 29 July: On cooking duty, traded boots and shoes for milk and cornbread. p.39 31 July: Supplies (shovels, spades, picks) arrived to erect embankments to defend the bridge. p.40 3 Aug: Ordered to move their tents closer to the bridge. p.42 4 Aug: Scouts exchanged fire with enemy, no large skirmish; 106 degrees in the shade. p.42-43 5 Aug: Ordered to pack and move to headquarters at Chillicothe. p.44 6 Aug, Camp Williams near Chillicothe 7 Aug: Ordered to pack and head east, arrived via rail at Brookfield, Linn County, and joined other companies from 3rd Iowa Infantry Regiment. p.45-46 8–15 August, Brookfield, Linn County 8 Aug: Camping near tracks out of town, rumored to be headquarters for western troops which may number 10,000. p.46-47 9 Aug: “Around 2 o’clock a.m. the Col. passed on the grand round. We had to fall in and salute him, which caused some hard swearing among the boys to think that they had to be called out at that time of night to salute a man who they did not like.” p.47-48 10 Aug: Wright’s 28th birthday; “This evening the adjutant struck a man in Co. H with his sword, which caused some excitement among the boys. There seems to be a general dislike of the Col throughout the regiment.” p.48 11 Aug: The colonel put several men in the guard tent for breaking ranks and greeting members of the 4th Iowa Reg at the depot. p.49 12 Aug: “The colonel left this morning for St. Louis and I hope that he will never come back.” p.50 15 Aug: Ordered to pack 3 days rations, arrived via rail at Macon City [Macon Co.] at 7pm, met the 16th Illinois. p.50-51 16 Aug: Marched out of Macon City in the night accompanied by an artillery company. p.51- 17-30 Aug, near Kirksville, Missouri 17 Aug: Marched 14 miles to Kirksville; town almost deserted; got flour rations for supper. p.52 18 Aug: “The secession women are leaving town.” p.52 19 Aug: “Six of our scouts were surrounded by 25 of the enemy. They killed Corporal Dix. The others made their escape after killing 3 or 4 of the enemy.” Prisoners taken. p.52 21 Aug: Got ague medicine at hospital. p.53 22 Aug: 16th Illinois and Home Guard arrived. p.53 23 Aug: “The hardest sight which I have yet seen is two men of the Ill. 16th tied to a post for breaking into a secession store in town. They have to stand for 12 hours in the hot sun. A guard over them with orders to prick them with their bayonets if they say a word. The guards must obey orders at risk of their lives.” p.54 24 Aug: Two companies went out to aid a surrounded scouting party, but the enemy was gone; N. Wilson from the enemy camp was allowed into camp with colonel’s permission. p.54 27 Aug: Got more medicine from hospital; daily ration was 3 biscuits. p.55 28 Aug: Teams returned from Lancaster [Mo.], where they obtained food and supplies from three secession stores. p.56 30 Aug: Left Kirksville, marched 16 miles to Wilson Town [township, Adair Co.]. p.56-57 31 Aug, Salt River 1 Sept, Bethel, Shelby County: Town citizens fed them; camped on North River near town. p.57 2 Sept, Shelbina: Left Bethel for Shelbin; fired upon near Shelbyville, “John Miles of Co. A was shot dead and another quite wounded;” stayed in abandoned houses. p.58 3 Sept, Brookfield: Returned to Brookfield via rail; “The train was fired into, 3 balls passed through the car in which I was sitting;” camp was nearly deserted as most troops had left for Paris [Monroe Co., Mo.]. p.58-59 5 Sept, Brookfield: Received report that some of the 3rd Iowa were surrounded at Shelbina. p.59 6 Sept, Macon: Ordered to break camp; took train to Macon City where they found the rest of the regiment from Shelbina, having slipped out by rail when the enemy asked them to surrender; “There were 3500 of the enemy with 3 pieces of artillery. Our boys numbered 700 with no artillery.” p.59-60 7 Sept: Returned to Shelbina to find it abandoned; railroad tracks damaged, telegraph wires cut, train cars burned, and bridge over Salt River burned; they temporarily repaired the tracks and bridge; men were allowed to loot the town. p.60 8 Sept: Traveled by rail to Hunnewell [Shelby Co.] where they expected to remain for 4 days. p.61 9 Sept: Ordered to pack and board train to Salt River Bridge [Shelby Co.] “where we pitched our tents for the 8th time;” “I presume that there are about 1000 men now in camp…” p.61-61 12-14 Sept, at Macon City 12 Sept: Arrived at Macon City via rail; “…droped into a Brewery. There are quite a number of the boys there. Some were trading their shoes, some shirts and others drawers for beer. I do not know whether they were their own clothes or whether they had stolen them.” p.62, 64 [no p.63] 13 Sept: “The 16th Ill came up from Salt River last night also a part of the 39th Ohio came up from St. Louis.” p.64 14 Sept: More companies of the 39th Ohio arrived. p.64 15-26 Sept, various locations in western Missouri 15 Sept: Traveled west by rail to Cameron, Missouri, then marched 10 miles south and camped. p.65 16 Sept: Marched through Haynesville, camped near Centerville. p.65 17 Sept: Skirmish at Blue Mills Landing (Battle of Liberty). Marched 10 miles to an orchard near Liberty [Clay Co.]. “3 P.M. we started from Liberty about 600 strong in the direction of the river. The enemy scouts were retreating as we went forward.”Provides more details on the battle and casualties. p.65-67 18 Sept, Liberty: “We are resting today. I have been helping to make coffins…The most shocking scene that I have ever witnessed is one of the dead men whose face has been skinned, said to have been done by his brother-in-law.” p.68 19 Sept: Arrived in Centerville; the wounded were sent to the railroad. p.68 20 Sept: Marched 16 miles to Plattsburg [Clinton Co.], Missouri. p.69 21 Sept: Gen. Sturgis ordered them to Kansas City; marched 18 miles, camped in Smithville. p.69 22 Sept: Marched 17 miles to Parkville; “Heard that there were 2000 Secesh…in ambush on the Mo. river;” took a boat to Ft. Leavenworth. p.69 23–27 Sept, Wyandotte, Kansas 23 Sept: Took steamboat from Ft. Leavenworth to Wyandotte; Co. G quartered in the upper floor of hardware store. p.70 24 Sept: “Our wounded men were brought over from Kansas City.” p.70 25 Sept: Supplemented breakfast with collected paw paws. p.70 26 Sept: Expecting an attack on Kansas City; more Kansas troops arrived. p.71 27 Sept: “Some blankets distributed amongst the cos today.” p.71 28 Sept-17 Oct, Kansas City, Missouri 28 Sept: Marched to Kansas City upon receiving reports that an enemy attack was imminent; all quiet upon arrival; quartered in houses; “When in the free state of Kansas the boys behaved very well, but since we have again come into Mo. they have begun their old tricks.” p.71-72 30 Sept: Brig Gen James Lane visited. p.72 2 Oct: Received the first pay since entering U.S. service ($10 each). p.73 3 Oct: Received news that Thomas Nicholls died on Sept. 26th. p.74 4 Oct: “Last night some of Montgomery’s men came in bringing 15 yoke of cattle and 5 wagons…which they took from the enemy.” p.74 7 Oct: He and a friend “had their likeness taken” downtown. p.74 18 Oct: Boarded a boat to St. Jo[seph, Mo.]; “Took three slaves with us who had run away from Lexington.” p.78 19 Oct–5 Nov, Camp Wood near Quincy, Illinois 19 Oct: Left St. Jo via rail and arrived at Camp Wood. p.79 20 Oct: Took the former slaves to the superintendent of the Colored People’s Church in Quincy. p.79 25 Oct: The ladies in town cooked dinner and hosted a dance. p.80 3 Nov: There are over 200 patients at the hospital. p.83 5-26 November, on furlough (records his travels and activities). p.83-90 27 Nov–25 Dec, Benton Barracks, St. Louis 27 Nov: St. Louis is “the largest town that I have been in. Some of the principal streets are paved with cast iron.” He joined his regiment at Benton Barracks. p.90 1 Dec: “One of Co. K was killed by accident. One of his comrades cocked his gun not knowing it was loaded and shot the top of his head off. It was the most horrible sight that I have yet seen.” p.95-96 18 Dec: Visited friends at Good Samaritan Hospital. p.99 19 Dec: “The boys all packed up their knapsacks with the expectation of leaving St. Louis but were disappointed as they were only marched about 7 miles out and back for exercise.” p.99 25 Dec: "Have been in the U.S. service for nearly 7 months. During this time I have passed through some very exciting and dangerous scenes... Must acknowledge that I do not like a sol[dier’s] life. Would be far from following it from choice but believe that it is my duty, as we are engaged in a just and noble cause, trying to sustain one of the best governments ever formed." p.93Dates
- 1861 May-Dec
Creator
- Wright, William F., 1837-1905 (Author, Person)
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Biographical Sketch
William F. Wright was born in Wattsville, Carroll County, Ohio, on August 10, 1837. He lived in Somerset, Warren County, Iowa, when he responded to President Lincoln’s first call for troops. Wright enlisted in May 1861 and was assigned to Company G of the 3rd Iowa Infantry Regiment. He then traveled with other recruits to Keokuk, which was a staging area for the Iowa troops. On June 29th, his regiment marched to the Mississippi River to board the steamboats which took them to Hannibal, Missouri. From July to December, Wright traveled across Missouri into Kansas and Illinois and then spent Christmas 1861 in St. Louis at Benton Barracks. He rose to the rank of sergeant in 1863 and mustered out of service in 1864.
After the war, Wright married and three children survived him upon his death in Pittsburgh, Kansas, on February 15, 1905. Before he moved to Kansas in 1883, he lived in Pawnee County, Nebraska, where he was a state representative and a probate court judge. His obituary extolled his faith and missionary spirit (The Pittsburg Daily Headlight, February 16, 1905).
Extent
0.07 Cubic Feet ( (1 folder))
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The diary entries are chronological.
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There are no physical or technical restrictions.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased in 2021.
Processing Information
Processed with funding from The Stuart Foundation, Inc. by Kristina Perez, 2021.
Creator
- Wright, William F., 1837-1905 (Author, Person)
- Title
- William F. Wright Civil War Diary
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- EAD by Kristina Perez using ArchivesSpace
- Date
- 2021
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center Repository