The Indiana in the Civil War Message Board

Life in winter camp: letter from the 8th Indiana

Chaplain Arthur Sanford of the 8th Indiana Infantry wrote a series of letters to the Indianapolis Daily Journal chronicling the experiences of the regiment in the Trans-Mississippi Theater. In this letter he describes life in a winter camp and the duties of a chaplain.

Arthur Sanford was a Presbyterian minister who served as chaplain for two Indiana infantry regiments, the 8th and the 36th. His service with the 8th was from September 1861 to August 1862 and with the 36th from April 1863 to February 1864. Sanford resigned his post of chaplain in February 1864 due to health problems. He died in Detroit, Michigan on November 28, 1887.

This letter appeared in the Indianapolis Daily Journal on January 14, 1862 on page 2 columns 1and 2. The spelling and punctuation are unchanged from the original publication.

Correspondence 8th Regiment.

Camp Lamine, Mo., Jan 8th, 1862.

Ed. Journal: Although still without my “Sibley tent,” the obtention of which is quite problematical, I will, nevertheless, venture a line for the purpose of keeping our friends posted as to our locality and condition.

We are still in camp some two miles below Lamine bridge, on the west bank of the river, and except heavy daily details for labor on the fortifications at the bridge, guard duty, and the supplying ourselves with forage and fuel, we are in a state of “masterly inactivity.” Company and squad drill will probably be soon inaugurated as a permanent institution; but our camp is entirely too small for maneuvering a battalion. Our camp is on high, rolling ground, well protected from the wind by timber on every side; fuel convenient and plenty; the Lamine furnishes us with excellent water; and, altogether, we could probably have found no eligible situation for winter quarters in Western Missouri. The most serious drawback upon our comfort is the lack of capacious, comfortable tents for the men. They still inhabit the small ordinary tents, issued to them at Camp McClellan, many of which are well night worn out, or are of too limited capacity to be conveniently fitted up for winter use: we still hope this will be soon remedied. The health of the men is steadily improving. There are but two seriously sick, and they are now convalescent.

The number in hospital is diminishing, and there are very few cases which are considered dangerous. Assistant Surgeon Bruce, of Winchester, Ind., is always at his post in camp, and ready at a moment’s warning, day or night, to render medical aid to all who need it, and the success attending his treatment of the men seems to demonstrate his skill and efficiency.

Of the moral status of the regiment it is proper that I should speak with some caution, in view of the relation I sustain. I think, however, that it is to some extent improving. Profanity is either decreasing or is practiced at a greater distance from my presence. Gambling, which, at a game called “chuckaluck,” was a few weeks since extensively in vogue, is prohibited by regimental order, rigidly enforced by the company officers, and the men seem resigned to, if not pleased with, the prohibition.

Eight Sabbaths have intervened since I entered upon my duties as Chaplain. Four of them have been occupied in marching; upon one, the order for preaching was recalled to permit me to go seven miles, at the special request of his Captain, to attend the funeral of one of our soldiers; on two we had public service, including short sermons, at which nearly every officer and man in the regiment were in attendance, except those necessarily on duty, and the quiet, order, decorum and apparent interest that characterized their behavior far exceeded that which I have frequently witnessed on similar occasions in civil life. Last Sabbath a continued snow storm rendered service impracticable.

I visit our sick in the hospitals as frequently as I have opportunity, and when consistent, introduce religious exercises, and these visits seem to be gratefully appreciated by the patients; and, at all events, I deem them an essential part of my duty. Through the agency of benevolent associations and individuals I have been enabled to distribute a considerable amount of religious reading, and have arrangements for a stated supply and an increase of the amount; and am happy to say that the men generally avail themselves of it with avidity.

Two things every faithful Chaplain will learn in a very brief experience. First, that although regular public services, when practicable, are very important in forming and perpetuating religious influences, yet it is by exhibiting on all the thousand occasions that occur, a deep interest in the temporal, as well as spiritual interest and welfare of the soldier, and demonstrating it in all his private intercourse, by all those words and acts of kindness for which he has constant opportunity, that he is to win their confidence and esteem, and thereby give efficacy to his public labors.

Second, he must not wait for opportunities to come along, but always be on the alert to make and improve them. Work systematically when he can, but work without system when he can do no better.

How long we shall remain here is not known, but there are no present indications of a removal.

A. W. Sanford, Chaplain.