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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

POETIC HISTORY OF THE 7TH IOWA REGIMENT: ARRIVED AT CAMP MONTGOMERY, by                    
First Line: Arrived in good season at our journey's end
Last Line: Whose tribe was assembled through this rebels advice.
Subject(s): American Civil War; Army Life; U.s. - History; Drills & Minor Tactics


Arrived in good season at our journey's end,
On a fine swell of woodland, where labor would blend
To make this place airy and embellish the scene,
Which we had selected in this forest glade green.

Our days were divided by duties, though slight,
They filled up the season from morning till night;
With police and guard duty and four hour's of drill,
It was the business the Seventh was called to fulfill.

No water being handy but what we could bring
From poor dirty creeks and bad tasting springs,
It was Company A who conceived a bold plan
To dig in the earth for this blessing to man.

By means of hard labor we soon did succeed
In obtaining the blessings which we so much need,
For in finding this treasure our bosoms did swell,
When we saw the pure water running into the well.

Our labors were crowned with such speedy success
That others, by these true facts, were impressed
To enter with spirit into this paying game,
When two wells repaid them well for the same.

Now all of the Seventh, by necessity led,
Contrived a nice plan for baking their bread;
And from hasty materials did the best that they could,
By building ovens of sticks and clay mud.

Thus the Summer, in garrison duty, was past,
For three months, at least, flew rather fast,
Bringing Autumn's cool evenings unto us, and lo,
We were ordered to Northeast Corinth, as you know.

Three Companies, now, were ordered to go
In different directions, above and below,
And in the selection there happened to be
Included the companies A, K and C.

The rest of the Seventh was now left behind,
To keep our place good from the evil inclined;
Now Company K was the first one to leave
For her destination, as you may perceive.

Their course was to march five miles to the East,
Down onto the railroad and the pickets increase,
And remain in position till ordered away
To join with their comrades for some bloody fray.

The time had now come for the others to start,
And A, with their consort, for Corinth departs,
With their arms and their baggage and utensils complete;
We pulled up at length in the principal street.

We stood on the platform while our officers go
To General Ord, his opinion to know
Concerning these companies under command,
Who patiently waited for the business in hand.

The clouds in black masses excluded the light,
While rain burst upon us with the darkness of night:
This drenched our good garments and adding its weight
To the other impediments which rain can create.

In different directions through puddles of slush
Our officers led us to the General's house, with a rush;
And he kindly pointed to an empty old house,
Where we should take shelter in the home of the mouse.

We proceeded to measure our length on the floor,
And sleep came to visit our eyelids once more.
Sending all off to Dreamland in whose regions we roam,
Forgetting our lodging till morning had come.

Now all of our comrades soon sprang to their feet,
And in washing their faces shook off their late sleep,
Making ready to travel along the highway
Leading out to our station for the rest of the day.

Captain Smith and his Company filed to the left
On the road out to Hamburg for the present to rest,
And establish his pickets on that part of the line
To watch out for stragglers on the road for some time.

The day was far spent and the sun getting low
When orders came for us to pack up and go
A little way forward to an old cotton field
To the line of our pickets with its duties revealed.

Here with double guard duty by day and by night,
We worked for the Nation, and strove for the right.
Now again we are moving, but the distance is short,
To our new position as I shall report.

Our Company hailed this position with glee
With half of its labors on Company C.
And here we all labored both morning and night,
Together in friendship defending the right.

The voice of our Colonel now bade us return
To join our old comrades, as you may learn,
For the march to Iuka to battle with Price,
Whose tribe was assembled through this rebels advice.





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