Left Monmouth July 1st 1861 as a volunteer in a company of Dragoons. G.W. Palmer Captain[,] S[.] Douglass 1 Lieut.[,] Alex Holt 2nd Lieut.[,] [[MS. illegible]] O.S. Reached La Harpe Monday night, had exceeded Carthage at noon of Tuesday[.] [[ ] ] Carthage would not give us dinner[.] Stopped overnight in Mendon. The citizens gave us plenty to eat and good beds to sleep in[.] Left Mendon at 12 oclock Tuesday night and reached Quincy at sunrise in the morning, eat breakfast at a Hotel & went into camp at the fair ground one mile south of the city. Fair Ground shaded by trees, near river[,] and on the bluffs so that we can see the enemy’s country, fixed up stalls for our horses and sleeping places for our selves. Drew our first rations Consisting of Bread[,] Bacon[,] Coffee[,] Soop[,] Candles & salt & sugar[.] At first we thought we would not get enough to eat but our bellies were filled sooner than we expect. Thursday Drilled on horse back & went through the usual camp duties. Friday we were sworn into the U.S. Service[.] All took the oath except three[,] two Martin Boys[,] Brothers & Doctor Collins of Mercer Co. [[MS. illegible]], who left the Company[,] some say because he did not get an officer. The boys all seemed to feel happiness after having taken the oath [ ] to defend the flag and the honor of the Government. Saturday visited Col[.] Palmer’s Camp of the 16 Regiment[.]

At noon an order came into our camp for a company to go down [ ] and take charge of the camp of the 14th regiment as they were required to go to Palmyria in Mo[.] reach there at 1 P.M. after staying there an hour or two Col[.] Palmer sent us word that he would send a company from his regiment to take charge of the camp and that we might return to our own quarters. Returned at 6 P.M.

July 12

Drilling on foot and horseback[,] [[ ] ] nothing of interest occurred.

Saturday 13

Capt[.] Jeff C. Davis [ ] of the U.S. army arrived to [ ] muster us into service, he is to give us the oath on Monday. After noon went to [ ] Col[.] Palmer’s Camp to get [bugles?]. While there saw a Secessionists who was held as a prisoner, a hard looking fellow we proposed to be a lawyer. Friday night went in company with 5 others of the company on an excursion to cross the river, to visit a barge that had been laying there some time. men had been seen there, in morning and evening[,] Suspected that all was not right with them. Started at dark, got two Germans that were drunk to row us over. sopd [stopped] at the Camp of Col[.] Grant’s regiment just oposite Quincy. Guards hailed us and asked our business. We saw the Col[.] who said he knew nothing of the barge But [ ] would give us assistance if we should need any. We proceeded down the river through creeks and over bars[.] We were obliged to get out of the boat several times and push her over sand bars. We came very near being stave to pieces two or three times on the snags that were in the river. After rowing three or four miles we arrived at the barge. We boarded her, but found nothing in her. The hatches were open and 6 inches of water in her[.]

Capt[.] Palmer’s Company from Monmouth and Young America arrived here today. They are going to St[.] Louis and will start this eve at 6 oclock. Mr[.] Scott and myself went down to see the boys of [[MS. illegible]] Palmyria[.] We crossed the river with others. While we were gone stopped 8 times.

20th July

Mr[.] [Qumby?] returned to day from Monmouth with 10 wagon loads of Provisions sent to the boys by the people [ ] at home[.] Our commissioned officers got their uniform to day[,] they are all very fine[.] A Company of Dragoons came in to day from Warsaw. They came down the river on a boat. They had no saddles and led their horses to the Camp. The horses are not as good as ours. Capt[.] Palmer sick[.] Confined to his bed but improving[.]

21st July Sunday

Most of our Company went to church at Quincy to day. Lieut[.] Douglas & Holt put on their uniforms for the first time. Looked very gay. Afternoon Mr[.] Flagg came into camp and informed Capt[.] Palmer that he was placed in command of the Brigade[.] he will take his quarters at the Quincy house in the morning. C[.]E[.] Dewey & Joseph Suggs came into Camp last night at 12 o clock. Mr[.] Dewey came to make us a visit and Jo Suggs is on his way to Cairo to join Col[.] [Daniels?] Regiment . Our boys got each a red shirt yesterday, they have them on and look well. The shirts put them in good spirits as new clothes genrly please soldiers[.] Sunday eve and raining, I am now [visiting?] in the Quartermasters Department[.]

Monday

went down to Quincy House there all day. [[MS. illegible]] day 24th at Camp. Major of the [[MS. illegible]] very busy not time to write in journal.

Monday July 29th

Rec’d orders from Genl Pope last week to go to Mexico Mo[.] as soon as we all get saddles[.]

Cameron Smith Smith

Capt[.] Smith with 60 of his company answered the call[.] We let them have our saddles and they marched down town where they were armed with sabres[,] old horse pistols, and Muskets. They were marched down to the ferry and were carried across the river, and are now on their way to Palmyria. They all went away in fine spirits. Damn the people of Quincy, they are not patriotic enough. Augustus Scott came here on yesterday, he thinks of staying with us.

for Deserting we are to keep them as Deserters [[ ] ] until further orders. Reced 1 pr Boots and one [[MS. illegible]] shirt each.

[ ] 3d Saturday

Drill on horse back[.]

Sunday.

Went down to Mr[.] [Woils?] where Mother was. Evening Bill Oliver got into a [rucus?]. (a Corporal) got his eyes Blacked and was put in the guard house. 3 of Capt[.] Burnaps men in Guard house[.] O.S. put in for disobeying orders and getting drunk, he was deprived of his office. Reced orders to go to Mexico[.]

Monday Aug[.] 5th

We have been packing up our clothes and pulling down our tents and getting ready to start in the morning. We are to go by Rail Road. Went down to the cars this eve to see Mother off. She went home this evening with [C.] Dewey. The boys are most all out to night,--as it is the last night in Quincy.

[ ] Tuesday Aug[.] 6th

Left Quincy 7 o clock am[.] arrived at Palmyria at 11 o clock[.] stoped 2 hours waiting for train. Stoped at Salt River Bridge 40 miles from Quincy. Took on Co[.] L. 16th [[MS. illegible]] Regiment . They were guarding the bridge[.] [Left?] them at Macon City. At Macon City we received orders to come on to Brookville where we are now in camp. We stoped at Brookville at 10 o clock at night. Went to bed on the prarie, with our saddles for pillows & the heavens above for a covering[.] Some slept so soundly [snoring?] like

8th Thursday Aug[.] 8th 1861

Started in the morning at 2 o clock[.] went South 15 miles. riding past a house we saw a man jump up and run out of the house[.] We took after him but he ran into the woods and we lost him[.] Women were much frightened, returned at noon of the 8th[.] Col[.] [ ] Williams in camp, 1 mile East of town. Iowa Regiment[.] we will move tomorrow and camp beside him[.]

Aug[.] 9th

Moved our camp on the Right of Col[.] Williams & had a dress parade in the evening. At [[ ] ] night helped to guard a lot of Government mules &c to be used on Government wagons.

[ ] 10th

Morning[.] Drill on horse, diging [sinks?] for the men.

11 Sunday

Raining[.] no drill, in camp all day. Sunday eve[.] about one hundred men of Colonel Williams Regiment stripped off all their clothes and ran out in the rain. They formed in Column and marched around the Camp. It looked quite comical and caused much merriment[.] Col[.] Williams is hated by almost every man in the Regiment.

Monday

Capt[.] Burnap went to St[.] Louis, Lieut[.] Holt Officer of the guard[.]

Tuesday.

Lieut[.] Douglass appointed Officer of the guard. He was excused for being sick. Lieut[.] Parks of Burnaps company took his place.

Wednesday Aug[.] 12 [ ]

Drill on horse[.] water at 7 a.m. Drill at 8 ½ a.m. Dinner 12 pm[.] Water at 12 ½ P.M. Drill 2 P.M. Water[,] to bed 9 P.M.

[ ] Thursday Aug[.] 15th

recd news of the , Mo[.] Genl Lyon of the federal troops killed, Genl Seigel in command[.] Ben McColloch and Genl Price of the rebbel troops killed[,] also 900 of the Rebbels. Col. Williams said to be under arrest[,] charged with cowardice, tyrany, and Drunkness. Capt[.] Burnap Retd from St[.] Louis, was there but an hour, saw Gen[.] Pope[.] Pope told him that we were to be in St[.] Louis on Saturday where our uniform and arms were waiting for us. We have a span of Government mules and wagon in use at the camp.

Thursday eve 500 of Col[.] Williams troops went to hudson[,] from there about 40 miles north. 3000 secessionists there with 6 peices of artillery. a fight expected. We expected an attack on the camp, and had Picket Guards out on horse[.] Col[.] Williams furnished us with Muskets & [[MS. illegible]][.] nothing of interest hapened during the night[.]