th of June we took the cars for the South. Stopped
three weeks at Alton, Illinois, and drilled constantly. Early in July we
went into camp for a short time in the United States Arsenal at St.
Louis, Missouri, and were here armed with Enfield rifles and received new
blue uniforms. We now had a very extravagant opinion of ourselves, of our
fighting qualities in particular, and did not take the least pains to
conceal that opinion from others. This is what a St. Louis paper said of
us:

ARRIVAL OF COLONEL MARSH'S REGIMENT FROM ALTON.

At 11 o'clock a. m., of Saturday, the steamer, "City of Alton," from
Alton, landed at the Arsenal the Twentieth Illinois Regiment, Colonel
C. C. Marsh commanding. The boat brought also the entire camp
equipage and stores of the Regiment. The spontaneous greeting
tendered by our Missouri soldiers was hearty and enthusiastic. Cheers
upon cheers of welcome rent the air and were responded to by the
Illinoisans in magnificent style. The guests were assigned the
western lawn of the Arsenal grounds for their camping site. Tents
were speedily pitched, baggage distributed, and the newly arrived
volunteers were soon perfectly at home. They are aching for active
service wherever desired, and, we understand, are already under
orders for "a forward movement." Other Regiments in Illinois are also
in eager anticipation of lively "business" in Missouri or Arkansas.

Colonel Marsh's Regiment is evidently in first-class condition and
consists of strikingly vigorous and hardy men. They are brim full of
health and energy and fun. The Regiment numbers nine hundred and
sixty-one men rank and file. Success and joy to them.

We left the Arsenal in a few days and for six months were engaged in
"business" in southeast Missouri. On October 21 we met the Confederates in
force, under Jeff. Thompson, at Fredericktown and succeeded in thoroughly
convincing them that they were whipped.

February 6, 1862, we entered Fort Henry and ten days later marched in
triumph into Fort Donelson. April 6 and 7 we had position in the Union
lines at Shiloh and after that took a hand in the siege of Corinth.
September 1 were engaged in the sharp little battle of Britton's Lane. In
the winter of 1862-3 were in the campaign in the mud in northern
Mississippi. Were at Oxford when General VanDorn took Holly Springs and
burned our supplies. In the spring