Beschreibung:

Handwritten memoir by Wesley Hobbs written in diary format shortly after the Civil War, covering in detail his wartime service with the Union Army, and briefly events before and after the conflict Author: Hobbs, Wesley Calvin Place: Iowa & Wisconsin Publisher: Date: 1866-1868 Description: Autograph manuscript, in ink. 154 pp. (numbered 1-161, but with discrepancies in pagination, complete). Written on both sides of leaves of lined paper in a notebook. 20.5x13 cm (8¼x5¼"), disbound. Exceptional memoir giving a first-hand account of events during the Civil War by an Iowa native born in 1842. After giving a brief history of his forebears, Hobbs outlines his early life, punctuated by ill health, and his acceptance at Burlington University. His academic career was brief, however, for after a little more than a year, "at the breaking out of the Southern Rebellion enlisted in the Army... On the ninth day of July 1861 I joined a company at Camp Warren, Burlington Iowa... we were mustered in to the United States service as Company "K" 6th Regt. Iowa Vol. Inftr. On this company were my brother James H. Hobbs [two years younger than Wesley], my college chum Arthur B. Wilson and several others from our village (New London)." Though Hobbs' college career was brief, his native intelligence shines through in his writing, as he traces his wartime service through nearly two years of boredom and terror, mud and marching. About 100 pages of the memoir are taken up with his time in the military, with a brief break when he managed to get married before reenlisting. He finally left the army in April of 1863. The final 25 pages are taken up with his life from then until 1868. Hobbs died in 1884, at age 42, having survived the war but not his prevalent ill health. He was elected to the Iowa General Assembly in 1875 and found success as an attorney before his untimely death The manuscript is titled at the top of the first page: A Sketch of the life of Wesley C. Hobbs, written by himself for his own exclusive use, A.D. 1866. A few excerpts: Thus we had the honor of raising the first American flag in the capitol of Missouri after the breaking out of the rebellion. While at this place we received the long expected and much needed clothing. It consisted of a short jacket, pantaloons of a dark blue cloth with an overcoat of sky blue and underclothing and shoes and stockings. The manner of putting on these clothes I cannot forbear relating. The company was ordered into ranks and we were marched down to the Quartermaster's tent. We were furnished first with the shirts drawers and stockings after which Captain White ordered us to "about face" and marched us to a creek about a quarter of a mile from the Q.M.s Here every man was required to divest himself of his old clothing and wash himself thoroughly in the creek. After this ablution we put on our new underclothing and marched back. We presented a picture ludicrous in the extreme as we marched along clad only in shirts drawers and stockings. When we were again at the Q.M.'s we received the remainder of our uniforms. About this time a sad occurrence happened at Jeff. City. The Gov. of Indiana had furnished the soldiers of that state with uniforms of a gray color. This uniform was similar to that worn at that time by the Rebels of Missouri. And it was this similarity that led to the accident which I am to relate. An Indiana regiment in moving their Camp were obliged to pass through the camp of an Illinois regiment. Seeing this regiment advancing the Illinoisans supposed them to be Rebels and immediately drew up in line of battle to await the attack which they supposed was intended. The Indiana Col. supposed that they were thus drawn up to honor them by "presenting arms" and marched steadily ahead. When they had arrived within gunshot the Illinois regiment fired upon them killing and wounding several. The Indiana Col. then supposed that the Illinoisans must be rebels in disguise and ordered his regiment to retu