1864 Civil War Letter — 4th Iowa — Close Calls at Battle of Arkansas Post

Description

This 1864 letter was written by Lieutenant Sheldon C. Treat of the 4th Iowa Infantry. In it he recalls the events of the same date in the previous year, when the 4th Iowa was engaged at the Battle of Arkansas Post. Writing to his sister, Treat first discusses his health and how his diet included “Gov rations which we buy at the commissary.” He then notes that “most all of the old soldiers” of the 4th had reenlisted. “The 4th is in for it,” he writes. Treat believes:
there is a going to be something did before long, as I saw the batteries filling up their caissons today with ammunition and the infantry drawing cartridges. I think likely as not they intend to shoot at somebody and they might get hurt if they stand in the way.
Treat then turns his attention to Arkansas Post with a lengthy description:
Just 1 year ago tonight I marched all night for Arkansas Post and tomorrow it will be one year since the Battle was fought there. I was waked up in the morning after sleeping about 1 hour on the roof of a log shanty, by a round shot which cut the ridge pole in two and scared me as I felt the roof shake. If you could have seen a fellow about my size a getting down out of that I guess it would have made you laugh. I was tickled at it as it scared Capt worse than it did me. It came very near taking his head off. It was very impolite of the rebs to do so after us being out all night in the mud, but we gave them what the Paddy gave the Drum before night—a beating. After Capt got down he said to me, “Treat I don’t know what I should have done if that shot had taken my head off.” Says I, “O never mind Capt, if it had taken your head off I would have throwed you off the end of the shanty without much trouble.” I believe that was the hottest little fight that this Div was ever in. A 12 lb shell burst right over my head there and knocked the man down that I stood beside off a piece, hitting him in the stomach, hurting him so bad that he had to be discharged. It stunted me so I saw stars for about 10 minutes, but it did not hurt me or scare me as bad as the round shot in the morning.
Treat, a member of the 15th Corps pioneer corps, closes his letter with a postscript describing how fifty of his men were at Flint River, and that he had to “run a sawmill and saw out stuff for a pontoon bridge 1,600 feet long.”
The letter was written on four pages of a 7 3/4” x 12 1/4” letter sheet. Excellent condition with light toning and foxing. Creased at the original mailing folds. The letter’s full transcript follows:
Camp at Woodville Ala, Jany 10, 1864
Dear Sister
This is Sunday evening and it is lonely here. I have got nothing to read that is new, so I must write to pass the time. These long winter evenings pass very slow to the Soldiers while in camp with nothing to beguile the time. I have work enough for the day, but not enough to make me sleep all night when they are so long. I am in good health and am blessed with a good appetite. At this time in the year I live by eating. But let us start on a march and then I hold up as I can stand it better than I can to eat as much as I do in camp. About all we get now is Gov rations which we buy at the commissary, where it is to be had at Gov prices or what it costs in the State. We get beef, bacon, flour, rice, beans, hominy, and hard tacks, but we make out to live very well. Just now coffee and tea we get plenty of, and that suits me. In the morning we have beefsteaks for breakfast, beef soup for dinner, and hash made of beef and hard bread for supper. Such living as that I don’t think will founder a fellow. I was down to the 4th yesterday and had a good time. Dick gave me his photograph and I will send it to you to take care of. Don’t lose it. It is not a good one, but I think a good deal of it. Most all of the old soldiers are enlisting again for 3 years on the Veteran call. The 4th is in for it. It has been very cold here the last 10 days, but is easing up a little and today it has thawed some. I guess it will be warmer in dog days.
I suppose you have got a beau tonight and I should like to know who he is, but it ain’t none of my business so you need not tell unless you see fit. There is plenty of girls around here, but they all chew tobacco and snuff too much to suit me. Should like to have you see one of these fair damsels with her pretty mouth filled with the weed and spitting the juice around like some old tar. That is one more accomplishment than most of the ladies have up there. Besides that they smoke and swear. If that don’t place the Southern dames above the yankee women, then it is a wonder. I think, then, three things enough to make them famous in any country—what say you?
I believe there is a going to be something did before long, as I saw the batteries filling up their caissons today with ammunition and the infantry drawing cartridges. I think likely as not they intend to shoot at somebody and they might get hurt if they stand in the way. It is a fine evening out and I hope it will be warm tomorrow. I don’t like cold weather anymore. It chills me through like a young chicken. Just 1 year ago tonight I marched all night for Arkansas Post and tomorrow it will be one year since the Battle was fought there. I was waked up in the morning after sleeping about 1 hour on the roof of a log shanty, by a round shot which cut the ridge pole in two and scared me as I felt the roof shake. If you could have seen a fellow about my size a getting down out of that I guess it would have made you laugh. I was tickled at it as it scared Capt worse than it did me. It came very near taking his head off. It was very impolite of the rebs to do so after us being out all night in the mud, but we gave them what the Paddy gave the Drum before night—a beating. After Capt got down he said to me, “Treat I don’t know what I should have done if that shot had taken my head off.” Says I, “O never mind Capt, if it had taken your head off I would have throwed you off the end of the shanty without much trouble.” I believe that was the hottest little fight that this Div was ever in. A 12 lb shell burst right over my head there and knocked the man down that I stood beside off a piece, hitting him in the stomach, hurting him so bad that he had to be discharged. It stunted me so I saw stars for about 10 minutes, but it did not hurt me or scare me as bad as the round shot in the morning. I hear the cars coming down and I suppose there is a mail on them for us. I have got barracks built for my men and in a nice place. They are made out of logs and mud with large stone chimneys. They are not healthy but are warmer than tents. I still keep my tent and warm it with a pair of coals. It is very comfortable as the weather is now, but if it gets colder than I shall have to build a house for myself. It is bed time.
Give my love to all
S. C. Treat  1st Lieut
1st Div Pioneer Corps 15 AC
Dear Sister, I was ordered to Flint River the morning. I was to have mailed this and now I will fill the sheet. I received your kind letter the morning I left and the pen I am now writing with. It is a good one and I am very much obliged to you for the gift. 50 of my men are down there and I came back here today for my transportation. I have got to run a sawmill and saw out stuff for a pontoon bridge 1,600 feet long. I shall go back tomorrow if I can get my business arranged. I am running this machine now but expect to be relieved in a few days.
The 4th is on a scout down the Tenn River. I received a letter from Mary tonight and shall answer it before long. Today is the 14th and I must go to bed and I think I shall sleep some. I have not had my clothes or boots off for the last two nights. Last night I slept on a cotton bale in the depot at Brownsboro, 10 miles this side of Huntsville, and my head and feet had to stick out of bed as it was not long enough to accommodate me all at once.
Good night.
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