Excerpts from my Great Grandfather Valentine L. Spawr's Civil War Diary

Company C, 14th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment

Valentine L. Spawr
Born 1835, Died 1882.

The diary is entitled "A Record of Passing Events Kept By Me and Recorded Each Day as They Transpired." In transcribing the diary, I will replicate all spellings exactly as printed in the diary.

Sunday, June 28th, 1863. -- But little of consequence occurred today except the calling to of a steamer that attempted to pass the port without calling, and they fired a shot across her bow which caused to haul to and retreat in double quick. It rained today as it has done every day for weeks, and it is very warm between showers. I will give a short description of our camp : it is situated a half mile up the river from the city of Columbus on a very high hill, said to be two hundred feet perpendicular from the water's edge. We are camped inside the fortifications that constitute Fort Hallack, and it is a good work, garrisoned with between 2,000 and 3,000 troops.

Monday, June 29th. -- Heavy rain this forenoon. Myself and F. S. Smith took a walk this morning and were caught outin the rain and got thoroughly wet. Another steamer attempted to pass port without stopping and our guns called her to in double quick.

Tuesday, June 30th. -- This is the day for grand review of all infantry troops at this port, consequently this forenoon was spent in preparation for the same. Formed battalion at 3 o'clock p. m., went one and one-half miles from the fort to form the brigade which was to be reviewed by Brigadier General Asboth, and about the time that the troops formed it commenced raining and blowing and of all the storms it beat all. Rain poured down in torrents on the unprotected soldier.

Wednesday, July 1st. -- It rained again today as usual and we had no battalion drill. The weather remains very warm between showers.

Thursday, July 2d. -- Today passed without anything of consequence. I sent to the cityof Columbus today to see the place. This afternoon we drilled two and a half hours on battalion drill. It has been reported for several days that Gen. Price is in force only 30 miles from here marching on us to give us battle, but is not credited by most of the soldiers here. Some wish he would come; I would rather fight him here than any other place.

Friday, July 3d. -- A day of no importance much. We had a good battalion drill of some two hours and omitted dress parade. Camp is all preparation for the Fourth tomorrow. There is to be a grand celebration one and one-half miles southeast of town which we soldiers will partake in. There is a heavy cloud rising in the west tonight and I think that we will get rain, our tents are not very good protection against rain. Tonight I received a letter from home and answered same.

Saturday, July 4th. -- A fourth of July on the sacred soil of Kentucky. Bills are out for a grand celebration. Soldiers were marched out. Oration by Judge Bullock an dothers, but no dinner appeared and the Colonel of the Wisconsin 31st Vol. told the boys that they were fooled and we will return to camp and make out a dinner of hard tack and sow belly and invite the poor critters to come and take dinner at camp, for we have plenty such as it is and good enough what there is of it. We started back to camp about two and one-half miles and it was the warmest day I ever saw, I think, and by the time we got to camp there was not half of the men in the ranks. It was so hot they could not stand it and had to lie down. Some got in at one o'clock and some not until four and five."

Transcribed and submitted by greatgrandson