Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-05-31

lMeeelng of the y1en 0f che o5th
IoWe VoIanteep 1nGhnsry.
At . meeting Of the men ofthe S7th Iowa
Volunteer Infantry, being convened near
Camp Mcclellan, Nay 26th, 1855, the io'-
lowing business was transacted:
William Potter WAS called to the Chaif'
and A. Danskin WAS chosen to act as Sec
retary.
The chairman briefly stated that the o.
ject ofthe meeting was TO take some action
in regard to certain wrongs under when 'ne
regiment was suffering. On motion, It Vas
Resolrcd, Thst ons man from each com
pany be appointed Committee to consider
the matter, and report to Subsequent meet
ing.
Resolved, that the following named men
compose that committee
Malahan, Washburne, Haneox, Howard,
Gof, Potter, Brown, Pasksll, Cartwright,
and Litalejohn.
On motion, it was agreed to adjourn 20
meet at, or near the Bridge 1t Davenport,
at 6 o'clock P. N.
Pursuant 70 agreement IN adjournment
meeting of the men Of the 37th Iowa met,
when the conmittee formerly appointed
presented the following as the result Of their
l
The undersigned, committee appointed
to draft statement and suitable resolutions
to be adopted BY the non-commissioned o.
icers and privates Of the S7th Regiment,
Iowa Volunteer Infantry respectfully report
the following
"This regiment was organized under
special order Of the War Department, and
was to be composed of men over the age ol
As years. Composed as this regiment was OF
old men, it was not expected that the rigid
discipline would be enforced, as is usual in
regiments made up Of young men. TO our
| as'onishncnt, after our arrival in st. LOUIS,
not only was the strictest discipline enforced,
but in addition to this, the most disgracefnl
punishment was inflicted on the men for tri-
vial Offences, and this, too without trial.
Private soldiers were loaded with balls and
chains, like felons and most infamous Of all,
13 privates were placed upon their backs un-
der the hydrant and the water flooded into
their faces and ears, until they were appar-
emily dead. One man in part lost his hear
ing from the effects of this punishment, and
another died shortly after being thus punish
ed. This put stop to this cruel barbarism
In this connection we blush to state the fact,
but truth cOmpels us to do so, that the Rev
cieHu Jhuics NHItc, Nudptalu Vi Tue Te8l-
| ment, stood over these victims while being
punished, and when one was like to be re-
leased, cried out, "he can stand little more y
The Colonel, while at st. Louis OCCASION
ally relieved himself of his extra bile by
abusing the men at "guard mounting" in the
public streets of st. Louis, and threatening
them with punishment in the presence of the
| citizens.
While the regiment was stationed at Al
Al.
to an island opposite that city to guard the
pest house, where Die small pox patients
were kept, and number took that loath-
some disease and several died. When the
regiment moved from Alton there wete but
about 2s4 efficient men for duty, the balance
were either on the sick list or in the hospital
Believing as we then did, (and we have
not changed our minds,) that the duty We
were able to perform did not Justify our
remaining in the service rs arcgiment, 1os,
the fact that if all the worthless men, who
done no duty, were discharged, that not
more than enough would be left to make
three ordinary companies, and could be COM
mandcd by three captains and six lieuten-
ants, saving the expense Of all our field and
staff officers, and seven captains and four.
teen lieutenants as we'll as the pay Of the
worthless men. After consultation, we got
up and signed the following petition:
PETITION OF THE TnrRrY- SEVENTH IOWA voLuN-
TIERS.
To His Ercellency, abraham Lincoln, Presi-
dent and Commander in hief Of the Ay-
myand Macy Of the United States:
| SIR:-The undersigned non.commission-
ed officers and privatss Of the 37th Iowa
Volunteer Infantry would respectfully rep
resent that they were mustered into the SER
vice Of the United States on or about the
18th day Of December, 1862; that prior to
their being mustered into said service with
few exceptional they we're not examined as
required by law that men badly ruptured,
others crippled, others who had nearly lost
their eye sight, and others who were quite
deaf, with large number who were afflicted
with incurable chronic diseases, uniting
them for service, were mustered into said
regiment; that consequently but little if any
moro than one-half Of said regiment have
been fit for dnty At any one time since be-
ing in the service that the residue were ei-
thcr in hospital or excused from duty on
account Of their inability; that since the or
ganization of the regiment about one hund-
red of the men have died, larger number
have been discharged for incompetency,
whilst number have deserted.
We would further represent that, with
the exception Of about fifty men, the regi-
ment is composed of men over As years of
aye, while many are over 60 and some over
20 years Of age that large majority Of the
members Of said regiment are farmers, own
ing improved farms that some Of them had
sons in the army at the time they enlisted,
and that some had sons left at home to At
tend to theirfarms who have since enlisted
in the army and left home, thus leaving
their farms neglected and uncultivated ior
want Of help that we are satisfied that our
services at home, raising grain, would be
much moro valuable to our country than
any service we could perform in our present
situation; that the regiment is now SO much
reduced that not more than 800 men arc fit
to do guard or garrison duty, whilst our
muster-rolls show over 600 men. rs we are
informed and believe; that we believe that
the regiment is burthen to the government
as large sum is psidto field, staff and line
officers to keep the regiment together, whilst
oil the duty it is able to perform could be
performed BY three good companies.
Your petitioners would therefore respect
fully but earnestly urge upon your Excellen-
cy the propriety Of bordering said regiment to
be disbanded and mustered out Of service at
m early day, that w may be able to return
to our homes in time to raise crops the pres
ent season, ,--and IS In duty bound your pc.
titioners will ever pray, &c.
Rock ISLAND BARRAcks, April 28, 1864.
While this petition was being circulated,
the officers took every method in their pow
er to prevent it being signed, and snatched
one having over thirty names on it. Two
hundred and nfty lone names were signed to
the petition. The original was sent to our
Colonel accompanied BY note from ene Of
the petitioners, requesting him to forward
the same through the proper channel to the
President
i After receiving the petition, the Colonel
Ct dress parade, stated that he had received
the petition, but would not forward it until
he had ascertained If Ill the names were
rightfully there. The roll Of names on the
petition were called by the Captains Of the
several companies, and al asked II they
: wanted their nAd1os fskoa nH-kuf facO o.