Keokuk June 27. 1861
Lieut. Co. Jas. M. Tuttle1
DrSir
I find locations along the line of rail road much more pleasant and much better for the drill and discipline of the men than our Camp at St. Joseph and therefore recommend you to keep only the most orderly and best commanded companies at that point.
Company drills should be kept up and guard duty should be better learned by the officers and Sentinels. I especially desire Major Crockers2 attention to be given to this latter duty. I have ordered our 3d Regiment to be ready to move Saturday morning at Sunrise and design to have them located near together near the center of the line. Capt. Herron3 is still in Command. They have muskets like ours except they are bright. I shall not trouble our men to change for such. The brown are as good as the bright and less trouble to keep them clean.
But they have no cartridgees and I want you to send them a share of what you have in boxes. Say 5 boxes. I will send to Capt. Van Vliet4 and try everywhere to supply you more abundantly with cartridges as soon as possible.
I hope the accession of the 3d Regt will make the duties of our Regiment a little easier and give more time to drill. Above all things try to keep up the discipline of the men. There is so much temptation and excitement along the line, there is great danger the discipline will be relaxed and our men become demoralized. Do all you can to counteract this. Check the disposition manifested to take responsibilities Learn the men never to mave without orders, and the officers not to act without ample reason or the orders of superiors.
If officers become insubordinate arrest them and when men transgress have them also arrested and punished. A few bad men must not impair the reputation of the good and brave men under our command.
I may write you again before leaving for Washington. Give my regards to all especially the major & adjutant believe me
truly yours
Saml R. Curtis
Col. Cog
P.S. Send our Quartermaster or some judicious officer down to Leavenworth with my letters to Capt. Van Vleit. I leave the letter open that you and he may see the importance of it.
[In letter to Col. Smith, dated Keokuk, June 27, 1861, Curtis expressed anxiety concerning the 3rd Iowa because it was not “furnished with Cartridge boxes and bayonet seaboards,” and more importantly it had “no field officers.” The 3rd Regt, was ordered to move at 5 A. M. Saturday morning, June 29, via steamboat, to Hannibal, Missouri.]
1. James M. Tuttle. Keosauqua. Iowa. Lt. Col. 2nd Iowa Vol. Inf. May 31, 1861; col., Sept. 6. 1861; brig. gen. Jane 22, 1862, was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for governor, 1963.
2. Marcellus Monroe Crocker, Des Moines,. Iowa. U. S. Military Academy. 1849. was Capt. Co. Dd., 2nd Iowa Vol. Inf. until his election as major May 31, 1861. He was elected It. col. Sept. 6. 1861 : and Col. 13th Iowa Inf. Dec. 30, 1861. Raised to a brig. gen. Nov. 29., 1862, he died August 26, 1865. of lingering illness.
3. Richard G. Herron, Dubuque, Iowa, Capt. Co. A, 3rd Iowa Inf., resigned March 8, 1862
4. Stewart Van Vliet. U. S. Military Academy, 1840, in the quartermaster corps in Mexican war, was a major in corps August 3. 1861; later was raised to brig. gen. of volunteers.