Civil War Letters, Diary-Journal 30th Wisconsin Infantry, Guarding the Draft
22 Letters:11 Soldier, 11 Family: Bounty Jumpers. In Wisconsin was a Union Army training facility during the Civil War. With more than 70,000 recruits receiving training there.
Later, a hospital and a stockade for Confederate prisoners were located at the camp. The THIRTIETH WISCONSIN INFANTRY was organized at Camp Randall in Madison and mustered into service on October 21, 1862.
The regiment was detailed to duty at Green Bay and other points of Wisconsin to enforce the draft until March 1863. The regiment mustered out on September 20, 1865. It had lost 69 men, including two officers.
On May 2, 1863, Cos. D, F, I and K were ordered to the upper Missouri as guards for transports in the Indian expedition under Gen. G and E were sent to Superior and Bayfield to keep close watch on the Chippewa Indians, who were stirred up by the Sioux outbreak in Minnesota. In August, detached companies were used for maintaining order during the enrollment under the conscription act, furnishing guards for conscripts, recruits and deserters. During the Civil War, certain men found a way to make a career out of deserting; they were known as bounty jumpers.
They were paid to substitute for men who had been drafted. From there, most bounty jumpers would stay only a few days, or mere hours, before deserting and repeating the process with another person who was willing to pay for their military substitution.
Most deserters were sent to work camps for the duration of the war, while others were branded or tattooed so their crime was visible for all to see. Enlisted on August 11, 1862 and was mustered into Co. He was mustered out on August 21, 1865. Were offering a wonderful and extensive archive of 11 letters and a diary/journal from Nash, and 11 additional letters from family members and friends. Nashs diary takes the reader through 1862 and his letters through most of 1863. He provides descriptive accounts of poor rations soap found in bread the building of a large prison and guard house at Camp Randall, residents fearing soldiers, observations that the Irish residents were Copperheads, the English Union, his guard duty at Fort Howard to prevent trouble with the draft, schooner accidents, substitutes, likely bounty jumpers, being imprisoned at Camp Randall, and being caught digging tunnels to escape and the hunting of deserters. The diary/journal provides extensive content of his travels with the regiment, receiving their guns and turning in their old ones, providing security at the local sheriffs office during the draft and digging a grave for a fallen soldier. While most of the family letters are general in nature, the highlight is contained in one from his son with details about President Lincolns order to draft 300,000 men, and many men skedaddling and deserting. 4 pp, 5 x 8, Camp Randall, January 6, 1863, to his brother Lewis, We have been having very pleasant weather with an occasional rainstorm to moisten up the earth and make this camp an indescribable mud hole; there has been a light fall of snow today. It will not amount to much, I guess. The health in camp is not very good. E died in the hospital today; the disease was first measles, then congestion of the lungs.Quite a number of our Co. Sergeant Martin, Erysipelas, will probably get well. David Chambers is very sick. The surgeon thinks there is no prospect of his getting well. Benjamin Taylor, sick with measles.
Wade quite sickWe have had very poor bread ever since we have been here but the boys have not complained. A few days since some of the 25. Found quite a piece of soap in the bread. It was taken to Surgeon Hoyt. As soon as he saw it, he solved the problem immediately.
Forty of our 60 were to be ready to go any time. Our destination is Lafayette Co.Near Mineral PointThe Captain was down town today. He said the governorwas having a dispute as to whose business it was to dispatch us from the Regt. Eliot has command of the Western Department in the place of Pope. I was on guard day before yesterdayThere is a prospect that part of our Regt.
Will be sent to Milwaukee soon but no certainty of it. We will no doubt remain here in the state somewhere all summer as the twenty-seventh left for the South on Monday.
They were in camp at Milwaukee. Hank Wade is promoted to a corporal. He and four other boys went off on Monday to get some deserters. 3 ½ pp, 7 ¾ x 11 ¾, Camp Randall, Madison, Wis.
April 28, 1863, to his brother, There has been some great improvement here within a few weeks past. The camp ground has been cleaned up. All the old rubbish has been burnt up or carted off the ground. A large prison and guardhouse has been built here on an acre of groundfenced in with a fence sixteen feet high.Around this fence on the outside, three feet from the top is a walk for sentinels and a sentinel box at each corner; inside of this enclosure is barracks for prisoners and a jail to lock up the most unruly onesWe could not have got a better Col. He is rather strict in some tings butfor the good of the Reg. Without good discipline, such as we have had, we would have been a very different appearing Regand more than probable we should have been down South before thisWe have drill every day nowabout an hourand Battalion drill in the afternoon from two oclock until four, then dress parade at five oclock.
Drills us now entirelyHe was rather a poor hand to give commands at first but is getting rather better now. 3 ½ pp, 5 x 8, Camp Randall, Madison, June 9, 1863, to his mother, Nothing but the regular routine of camp life occurs to excite us. We are much more content than we would have been had we not such good quarters. It is altogether probable we will remain here a great length of time. We may be sent to different parts of the state when the draft is made but anything more than that will not in any probability be required of us.
Now you will probably ask why I dont try and get a furlough and come home. A great many of the boys have gone and it is the intention of the officers that all of the boys will have a chance to go during this month. A, recd orders at 6 oclock P. To be ready to march in a short time.
We are now all ready to go. We will probably not go until morning. We think we are to go to Dodge Co. An enrolling officer was shot there today. This will probably put a stop to furloughs. 3 ½ pp, 5 x 8, Camp Randall, Madison, June 16, 1863, to his father, We are still here in Camp Randall enjoying poor rations and drill these warm days. The weather is very warmThe thermometer indicating from 90 up to 98 in the shadeUs boys have the privilege of going to the Lake Mendota almost every night to bathe; it is only about a half mile from campMost of us boys have bought palm leaf hot which we wear in drill and the like which adds much to our comfortOur old Col. Charles Catlin was here Sunday on his way to Hudson on a furlough.I may get a chance to go home sometime in July if we remain here in camp. I hardly think we will be called away until fall. One hundred and twenty paroled prisoners are expected here the first of July. If they are like those that have been here, we will have some trouble with them.
6 pp, 5 x 8, New Diggings, Lafayette Co. July 20, 1863, to his father, Our Co. Left camp last Wednesday at 11 oclock A. And started east on the R. At Milton Junction, we took the Chicago and Northernthrough Janesville.
At Clinton Junction, we laid over about an hour, then took the train west on the Racine and Mississippi river through Beloit to Freeport where we arrived at about 9 P. Here we had to change cars onto the Chicago and Galena R. We went into the cars and stayed all night until 4 oclock the next morningThe major joined us with Co. They had been up in Washington Co. We started west at 4 oclockand arrived at Scales Mound at 5 ½ oclock.
Here we stopped and had our breakfast of coffee and crackersAt 9 a. We took up our line of march northward to Schulsburg, 9 miles distant. We arrived there at 1 p. It was so warm and dusty that we had to stop often. We quartered in the Courthouse.We remained there until the next day noon when Co. A started for this placeAfter a few hours warm and dusty walking, the first platoon went on to Benton. Three miles farther on, everything has gone quietly so far no trouble yet.
The enrolling officers are getting along well. They will probably get through this week. Then I think we will go back. This place is a small village carrying on quite a mineral business. The richest mine in the whole region is situated here yet everything looks to be twenty years behind the times.
The people were very much afraid of us soldiers. The women especially in walking around the place. They would [be] looking through the half opened door or window and catch a glimpse of usI guess as they get more acquainted with us, they will begin to think we are human beingsSome of the ladies brought us a nice lot of pies, cakes, tarts, picklesThe major bought a beef Saturdayso we have all the fresh meatsomething we had not had in Camp Randall in a long time. We are quartered in a building for men used as a hotel. The people here are either Irish or English.
The Irish are nearly all copperheads while the English are good UnionPorter and I went over to the smelting works about two miles northwest of here on the Trevor River. We were well paid for our trouble, although we had to wade the river once. 6 pp, 5 x 8, Camp Randall, Madison, September 2, 1863, to Friends at Home Our duty here is very light at present and our rations are much better now than they have been previously. There is quite a prospect of our company being sent to Milwaukee in a short time.
I came very near not getting it as he did not put the company or Reg. This is the most important part of the directions. 4 pp, 5 x 8, Camp Randall, Madison, September 21, 1863, to his father, Your soldier boy is getting along. Drill of a half hour in the a. And a battalion drill of two hours in the p.
C arrived here in camp last week. We have four companies here nowI presume I will get a furlough but I presume it will be when the weather gets to be very wet, cold and unpleasantI have only twenty-three months more to serve and then I think Uncle Samuel will have to dispense with my services for a short time. Is so strict that a person get out of camp only about once a weekCorp. Abe Vanmeter is going to start for Hudson tomorrow on business, I believe.7 pp, 5 x 8, Fort Howard, Wis. November 18, 1863, to his brother, in pencil, We left Milwaukee yesterday at 12 oclock P. Came up the Lacrosse R. Junction, then took the Chicago and Northwestern R. To this place where we arrived at 9 oclock P.
Last nightWe went into the quarters hereLittle did we think a year hence we would be here again. We are sent here, I suppose, to present any trouble in the draft and will probably not stay more than a week or so. B came up with usfor the same purpose. The place here looks very natural through there has been some improvements.
A bridge has been built across the river, a short distance above here. And depot have been improved very muchWe are in much more comfortable quarters here than we were in Milwaukee. I went on board of her.
Everything looked perfectly natural, the cabin and all. She looks a very little older perhaps. I did not see the captain. Last Wednesday, a schooner left Milwaukee loaded heavily with wheat. A number of us boys remarked when she was going out that if there should be a storm we guessed the wheat might get spilled. Sure enough, that night it was storming enough and the next morning we learned that she stuck [in] the Michigan shoreand splitin two and went down. The next night, a propeller foundered out about ten miles. A schooner saw herThey could not render any assistance and all were lost. There were many other like accidents happenedlast week. 4 pp, 7 ½ x 9 ¾, Camp Randall, Madison, Wis. December 1, 1863, to his father, Our company with the exception of twenty that were left started from Ft. Howard at 7 ½ oclock yesterday morning. We arrived at Milton Junction at 3 ½ p. After a very slow tedious ride in a car with twice the number there ought to have beenThose twenty that were left at Ft.Howard will probably remain until next March. Wilson was left in command there. B were left in Fon du lac. The rest are here in campAll the substitutes are brought here and housed in the prison.
A scheme some of them had in project to get out was discovered yesterday. They had got under the barracksand undergroundThey had dug about four rods when discovered. The spade they used was carried in by a woman under her dress. She had been allowed to go in to see her husbandOne of Co. Was on guard in Camp Washburn at the guard house when one of the prisoners belonging to the 35.Assaulted him and attempted to take away his gun and get away when the guard struck the prisoner over the head which resulted in death. I believe nothing was done with the guard.
One of our boys recd a paper from Hudson this morning with the list of persons drafted in St. The boys are all rejoicing to hear that so many of the Big Boys in Hudson are drafted. 3 ½ pp, 7 ¾ x 9 ¾, Camp Randall, Madison, Wis. We are required to remain at the guard quarters all the whileThe drafted men are coming in some every day.
The prison is getting well filled with substitutes. They have made many attempts to get away but none of them have succeeded.
One of them was shot by a guardHe was shot through the arm and thigh. He was trying to climbkind of ladderThey will be sent South soon.
Eight men from the Wis. Arrived here today to get some deserters. They are here in the prison. Our boys that were left at Fort Howard are still there. They expect to remain there until FebWe will have to go to different parts of the state when the next draft takes place.The archive includes an additional 11 letters, most with family related content, but two being war-date, a period poem written in memory of a female baby. The highlight of this grouping is found in a 4 pp, 7 ¾ x 10, Pike, August 3, 1862. Son William writes to Father Nash: There is considerable excitement here if not more.
Some are trying to swear their names off the militia roll and others are skedaddling to parts unknown, the latter class are mostly composed of deserters from the armySince the recent army orders with regard to absentees, they, B & H, have become scarce and hard to be found. I do not think this state will have to resort to a draft to fill her quota of 300,000 menEnlisting is going on with considerable vigor, although but few have gone from here in answer to the Presidents last call.
The authorities flatter the people that if this call for men is promptly met, it will be the last. Unless the war is conducted upon different principles than heretofore, I fear the very levy will not accomplish the desired object. The rebels are making unparalleled efforts to mass a large army in & about Richmond so as to drive our forces from Virginia. That done, they will be recognized by foreign powers.I should not wish to discourage volunteering because the government needs more men down into the malarias swamps about Richmond, there to dig their own graves, when I have ample testimony for believing that there are thousands of loyal men that are acclimated and ready to work & perhaps fight if we will only hold out to them the right of inducement, freedom. The Tribune of July 26 contains the speech of Senator Chandleron the conduct of the war, which is well worth reading. I will send you the paper & you can judge for yourself A letter from another person, possibly a family member, continues on the same pages.
Finally, a diary/journal, approximately 80 pp, kept by Nash, lists nearly 450 names of men who appeared to have entered Camp Randall, along with the dates of entry and contains about 20 pp of interesting diary content. 6 deserter arrived here from HudsonJan. Helped dig the graveJan 25. At 11 oclock we had a general review by Gen.
Ordered we went to tour for himA few of the most important events occurring in my soldier life of 1862. I enlisted in Sam Harriman Co. Went into camp on the north side of Willow River near where the old mill stoodWe remained there until Oct. Arrived at Camp Randall Oct. 9 oclock pmDrill every day when the weather would permit. We had quite a snow storm. Left for the SouthThe ground is covered with snow. We recd our guns today.Went down to the city with our old guns; left them at the state armory. We were ordered today to get ready to leave camp tomorrow... We have got ourselves ready this morning with four days rations. Depot took the cars east and at Milton Junction in an hour and a half. Then took the train northward.
Howard at 2 oclock amNov. Crossed the river to the cityThe Co. Started back into the country.
Porter and I were left at the sheriffs office as a sort of guard. Came back and went over to the fortNov. Porter & I attended the Episcopal Church in the a. And the Presbyterian Church in the p. I was quite unwell so the Capt.Had me go over to the Fort. It was some time before I did any duty aside from cooking. The River is frozen over sufficiently, strong to cross. There is about two inches of snow on the ground.
Matthews Porter and I attended the Pres. Ch this eve in the city of G. BArrived at Milton Junction at 5 a.
But we were awakened in about an hour byfire in the barracksDec. I suppose according to custom this is the day commonly called Christmas. A fine dinner was furnished us today by the patriotic ladies of the city of MadisonBelow is a list of articles bought by me while in the service of the United States of America commencing from the time I left Hudson Oct.
Folds, expected toning, but overall in excellent condition. The diary is disbound with some loose pages. Our goal is to please every customer. We are pleased to be members of The Manuscript Society, Universal Autograph Collectors Club and The Ephemera Society. The item "Civil War Letters, Diary-Journal 30th Wisconsin Infantry, Guarding the Draft" is in sale since Tuesday, September 05, 2017.This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\Civil War (1861-65)\Original Period Items\Correspondence, Mail". The seller is "bminnocci6mtm" and is located in Boston, Massachusetts. This item can be shipped worldwide.