The Daily Gazette Davenport, Iowa Friday Morning August 8, 1862 Part 1 >From the 16th Iowa Regiment. Camp Near Bolivar, Tenn., August 1, 1862 Editor Gazette.-A non-commissioned officer don't know more than high privates the reasons for army or regimental movements, or I might tell you why the 16th Iowa has transferred itself from the neighborhood of Corinth to the present locality. But last Sunday afternoon we understood that a portion of our Division was going to Bolivar, Tenn., to reinforce Gen. Ross, who holds possession of the place and was threatened if not hemmed in by a large rebel force. In the evening the order came for marching. We were ordered to be ready to leave, with all our camp equipage, at 3 o'clock Monday morning, for Bolivar-the 3d, or Iowa Brigade, composed of the 11th, 13th, 15th, and 16th Iowa regiments, and the 2d brigade, composed of two Michigan and Wisconsin regiments. As the call was to sound at 1 o'clock, and a great deal of packing had to be done in leaving a camp where we had been so long stationary, the time for sleep was brief. It was a little after daylight when we left our pleasant camping grounds, occupied nearly ever since the evacuation of Corinth, and where we had expected to remain weeks longer and provided ourselves with comforts accordingly. But the order to march was cheerfully obeyed, especially as a fight ahead was in prospect. The only persons to bid us good bye were two colored washerwomen, interested in various little accounts, and the sutler and his brother, left behind. Messrs Will Chambers, Spearing and Hope, who had been in camp two weeks on a visit, also departed soon after the regiment, on the cars. This was our first march. The day was hot, yet we made nearly twenty miles, the boys suffered for water at times, sweating like horses, and at our dinner halt scarcely able to drag their legs, the feet of some already beginning to blister. Some few fell back, but not so many as from at least two regiments ahead of our brigade. They dropped off in squads from the 15th, and made sanguinary attacks on orchards, but little of the fruit of which is yet ripe. Our men carried heavy knapsacks, which next day were crowded into wagons to the great relief of the men. We camped in a field at nearly dark, under orders for reveille at 2 and march at 4 next morning. Our baggage train did not get in, and the boys tumbled off to sleep in a dew almost as heavy as rain, supperless. Early next morning, after a slight breakfast, the little army was again on its way, the 16th this day, as it did the day following, leading the column, and our baggage train ahead of the others. After marching a couple of hours, we waited a couple of hours to build a bridge over the Hatchee, here a narrow little stream. The river was soon dotted over with soldiers bathing. Had a good many long rests during the day, waiting for the artillery and baggage trains, the bridges being bad and the road very hilly. Many of us saw for the first time large pine trees and fields of cotton shrubs. Started at 5 o'clock next morning, and had a pleasant day's march, notwithstanding blistered feet. At noon we were in a drenching rain, and arte our lunches under dripping trees. It came after a few hours' hot marching, and it was refreshing to be thus ducked. Camped in a beautiful place, near large corn fields. We had green corn and chickens for supper-some of us! A march of nine miles from this camp would take us to Bolivar and Thursday morning we started out even more cheerfully than usual. About ten o'clock we reached Bolivar, quite a large place, once the rival of Memphis, and containing a good many aristocratic looking residences. It has sent four companies to the rebel army, and is said to be strongly secesh.-Gen. Ross has been in command, but Gen. McClernand arrived yesterday, just before we did, and is in command. The rebels are in considerable force about twenty miles off, and have been burning railroad bridges and captured one of our trains and fifty men, between here and Corinth.-They had expected us on this train, or as many of us as one train would carry, and were probably more disappointed than we were. We marched through Bolivar without stopping, and pitched our tents two miles the other side, where we have a nice camp in the woods. The boys appear really improved by the trip. We left about fifty sick and convalescents at our old camp hospital, with Dr. Phillips, we being accompanied by Surgeon Lloyd. Gen. Tuttle was in command of our forces on this march, and Col. Crocker commanded our brigade. Letters to the he regiments named should be directed to Bolivar, Tenn. You can find it on the map, and tell your readers its location, as my sheet is full. ~~Corporal. ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann List Adm: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES ACC Scott Co, IAGenWeb Project