Showing posts with label 1st IA Lt ART. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1st IA Lt ART. Show all posts

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Captain Charles Wright Wills: May 28, 1864

May 28, 1864, 9 a. m.

Still in rifle pits. We have been treated to a terrific storm of shells, spherical case, and solid shot. The batteries are in plain sight of each other, and the gunners call it a thousand yards between them. I don't think either battery does very fine work, but they make it more than interesting for us. A conical shell from a 12 pound gun passed through a log and struck a Company C man on the leg, only bruising him. Two solid shot fell in my company works, but hurt no one.

Seven p. m.—Talk about fighting, etc., we've seen it this p. m. sure, of all the interesting and exciting times on record this must take the palm. At about 3:45 p. m., a heavy column of Rebels rose from a brush with a yell the devil ought to copyright, broke for and took three guns of the 1st Iowa Battery which were in front of the works (they never should have been placed there); the 6th Iowa boys, without orders, charged the Rebels, retook the battery and drove them back. They came down on our whole line, both ours and the 16th A. C, and for two hours attempted to drive us out. We repulsed them at every point without serious loss to us, but I believe they are at least 3,000 men short. In our brigade Colonel Dickerman, Lieutenant Colonel 6th Iowa commanding, and Major Gilsey, commanding 46th Ohio, are wounded. Besides these I don't think our brigade lost over So. It was a grand thing. I did not lose a man and only three companies of our regiment lost any. When the musketry was playing the hottest, Logan came dashing up along our line, waved his hat and told the boys to “give them hell, boys.” You should have heard them cheer him. It is Hardee's Corps fighting us, and he promised his men a “Chickamauga,” but it turned out a “Bull Run” on their part. It is the same corps our regiment fought at Mission Ridge. Our line is very thin along here, but guess we can save it now. I heard a 40th boy get off an oddity this evening, he said: “If they come again, I am going to yell if there's any danger of their taking us.” “Worlds by Nation Right into line Wheel!” and “if that don't scare them, I propose going.”

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 250-1

Friday, June 21, 2013

Arkansas Correspondence

BIG ROCK, Clinton Co., Iowa, April 28.

EDITOR GAZETTE: – I noticed in the St. Louis Democrat a short sketch of the capture of the rebels and escape of one Charley Baker, at the battle of Pea Ridge.  I claim said Charley as my son.  Having recently had a letter from him giving a little different account of his adventures, I will give it in his own words, and if you think it worth publishing you are at liberty to do so.  As Charles is pretty well known in this part of our country and in part of Cedar, I should like to have it published.  I will here state that Charles was Ward Master in the hospital of the Iowa 4th regiment volunteers.

DAVID C. BAKER.


CAMP NEAR THE BATTL-FIELD,
Benton Co., Ark, March 19.

DEAR ONES AT HOME:  Perhaps you have heard ere this that we have had a fight with “Old Price.”  Yes, one week ago to-day I witnessed a scene I shall never forget, and could I have had time would have written you before; but my time has been all occupied in taking care of the wounded, till to-day I have had a little leisure.  We learned on the 5th ult., that Price was advancing with his force, and commenced making preparations for his reception at our other camp 12 miles south of this.  In the evening we learned he was coming in west of us, going north, intending doubtless to surround us on the north.  We then marched ten miles that night and camped two miles south of here, on the main Springfield and Fayetteville road, and remained there that day, which was the 6th.  The next day, Friday the 7th, we proceeded to this place and it was not over half a mile from where I now write that we met Price and his men, and gave them the best we had.

The first charge we made was about 10 o’clock a. m.  But few of our men were killed, though several were wounded.  The enemy lost a good many and retreated.  At about 1 o’clock our men also retreated to take advantage of the ground, expecting the enemy to advance which they did about 3 o’clock.  Our boys were then ready for them, being in the edge of timber, and Price’s men came up in the open field, not expecting our men so near, when our boys let in upon them, and fought desperately for about 2½ or 3 hours.  Most of our men had then fired their ninety rounds of cartridge, and were ordered to retreat, which was accordingly done.

I have been speaking of our regiment; there were also three companies of 35th Illinois and two pieces of 1st Iowa battery engaged in this charge against Price, who had teen regiments and twelve pieces of artillery.  During this engagement Price’s men retreated once clear behind his artillery, and had it not been for his cannon our men would have slain them all.  Prices men advanced no farther that night, but also retreated back of the battle-field and camped for the night.

The next morning, our men being reinforced, we pitched in upon them and whipped them out nicely, and the vile rebels retreated on the double quick, leaving their killed and a great many prisoners with our men.

Perhaps you would like to know where I was during the fight.  On the morning of the 7th I was with the ambulances by order of the surgeon, about one mile behind the regiment, till after the first charge – we were then ordered up.  While coming one ambulance horse was killed by a shell and one ambulance destroyed.  The wounded were mostly brought by the musicians of our regiment to a house close by the battle-field, by the time I got there.  I commenced dressing the wounds and had taken out one or two balls with a jack-knife before the surgeon arrived.  The wounds were then all dressed, and the wounded men sent to a house two miles off.  The surgeon then left and told me to remain there till he came back.  He went in the direction of the enemy, as I supposed in search of wounded, and did not come back by the hospital where I was then, probably thinking it not safe.  Our men had then retreated, as I said before, to take advantage of the ground, and as the surgeon did not come back and our men had then all left, I felt like getting towards them, and was about to start, when a cavalry officer rode past the house and ordered me to climb to the roof of the house and look over the top (lying down of course) and let his men know when the secesh began to advance.  The secesh were in the timber one-fourth of a mile off from where I was.  I lay on the roof watching their movements for about an hour.  They then planted a battery and commenced throwing shell at the cavalry, and I could then see the men advancing.  By the time I got off the roof the ball and shell were flying thick and fast all around me.  The cavalry were a little beyond me getting out of the way as fast as possible.  I went into the house and sat down.  Soon after two cannon balls came through the house, and one shell hit it and burst.

You perhaps can imagine my feelings when about this time a Captain of Price’s battery came into the house, revolver in hand, and asked me if I was a Federal?  I told him I was.  He then asked me what I was there for?  I told him it was by the order of our surgeon, and that I had been assisting in dressing the wounded.  He told me he would not hurt me, but I must follow him.  He took me to Gen. Price, who was about forty rods off with his force.  He told the Captain to give me to the infantry and place a guard over me, and commanded me to go with them and I should not be hurt.

I was then a prisoner in the Secesh army, and in fifteen minutes I was in front of the front rank, opposite our regiment, in as brisk a fight as seldom occurs, and our boys were just pouring in the buckshot and musket balls all around me.  After the fight I told them I would help dress the wounded if they wished; thinking I would stand a better chance to get away in the hospital than in their ranks.  I then went there and helped them dress their wounded, and some of our boys were brought in.  I dress them too.  When the secesh retreated, I was at the hospital with their wounded and some of our boys, and was left taking care of them.  Soon after the Stars and stripes made their appearance, being supported by our regiment.  I was no longer a prisoner.

Our regiment lost about 40 killed and 180 in all, killed and wounded.  Till yesterday I had the care of seventeen wounded by myself, in the house where I was taken prisoner.  Of course the surgeon sent me medicine, &c., and I did the best I could.  Cannon balls came within five feet of me, and musket balls within two inches.  The 4th Iowa has had a chance to show her bravery, and she has done it!  The secesh said they were devils to fight, and you may judge they did fight bravely, for they were facing twelve of their large cannon for two and a half or three hours, and when Sigel’s men came up the next morning to our aid, we whipped them out completely, for they went by the hospital, where I was, on the double-quick – down South.  That is the last I have seen of them.

C. W. BAKER.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, May 1, 1862, p. 2

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Three members of Co. C, 1st Iowa Cavalry Murdered in Missouri

The sad news of the death of three members of Co. C, 1st Iowa Cavalry, murdered by guerillas in St. Clair county, Missouri, was received here yesterday, casting a shadow over our people.  The news came in a private letter from W. A. Clark, of the same company, and the only one of the foraging party who escaped unhurt.  Harbach and Cameron were from Burlington, young men of much promise, twenty one or two years of age.  Higgins about the same age we think was from the northern part of the county.  Stoddard, also about the same age, is from West Point, Lee county.  He is wounded in the arm and will probably recover.  Young Harbach and one brother who was a member of the 1st Iowa – is now in the 11th Regulars with Gen. McClellan.  His father is Captain of 1st Iowa Battery, now with General Curtis in Arkansas.  Below we print Clark’s letter, written to his brother in law, Mr. Fullerton.  Although not intended for print we see no impropriety in publishing it.
__________

OCEOLA, St. Clair Co., Mo., May 28

BRO. NICK: – It becomes my duty to notify through you the friends of some of the wounded and dead of our Company that were shot yesterday while out foraging.  Wm. G. Harbach, dead, M. Higgins, dead, Josiah Cameron and A. Stoddard wounded.  My horse was shot, and two or three balls penetrated my clothes, and a fine come caved me.  I had a comb in my watch pocket, the ball struck it and glanced off and just grazed the skin.

I will give you the particulars.  We started out in the morning after forage, 12 miles.  We got out all right, loaded the wagons and started back, and were eight miles from camp when we stopped at a creek to water our horses.  Harbach and Cameron were sitting in the wagon.  Higgins, Stoddard and myself were setting on our horses by the side of them talking when some twenty Jayhawkers, concealed in the brush, fired into us, killing Harbach, wounding Cameron, Higgins Stoddard and I supposed that I was wounded, but I am happy to say that I was not hurt.  My horse was shot from his head back to his tail.  Several shots went thro my coat, pants and hat.  I run my horse after he was shot some two miles before he fell, I then jumped over into a field where there was a man plowing; I jerked the harness of the horse and jumped on him bare back and rode about four or five miles as hard as he could run, when I overtook another foraging party.  I sent two of the men to camp for help.  It was but a little while before our men could be seen on a full gallop coming to our assistance.  I went back with them.  We found Harbach dead, Cameron wounded in the leg, it has since been amputated above the knee, Higgins wounded, has since died, Stoddard wounded in the arm.

I intended to start with the body of Harbach home this evening but could not get ice, and therefore could not start, but will bury here for the present.  The boys propose to send to St. Louis for a metallic coffin.  I will then fetch the body home.

We take no more prisoners.  We are going to shoot every man that we catch in the brush.

P. S. – Since I wrote the above Josiah Cameron has died.  We will be obliged to bury them here for the present, as the weather is so warm and there is no ice here.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, June 7, 1862, p. 1

Monday, October 22, 2012

The Great Battle of Pea Ridge

Although we have already given very full accounts of this bloody and desperate battle from several Western papers, we find so many interesting items not before published, in the New York World, Tribune and Herald, worth reprinting, that we have concluded to give a part of them, not withstanding our limited space:


IOWA BATTERY CAPTURED AND RETAKEN

Meantime the fight was raging furiously in the extreme right on both sides of the Fayetteville road.  The First and Second Iowa Batteries, planted on an eminence overlooking the declivity in the road, were kept busy plying shrapnel and canister into the ranks of the enemy, who appeared in immense numbers on all sides, as if to surround the right of our line, and thus completely environ us.  In order to defeat this object a severe struggle took place for the occupancy of a rising knoll on the east side of the road.  The enemy gained upon us, and it was not until our men were half stricken down that they yielded the point.  Word had been passed back to General Curtis that the enemy was pressing hardly on the right flank, and that our batteries had been left on the hill, and the enemy were now turning it upon us.  Colonel Carr, fearing that no reinforcements would arrive, collected his strength and mustered his entire force for a last desperate charge, resolved to retake to position or perish in the attempt.  A heavy firing on our centre and a cheer from the advancing division of General Davis favored the effort, and our troops marched up to the battery amid a storm of shot from their own guns, and after a desperate hand-to-hand struggle, finally drove the enemy down the ravine in hopeless confusion.  Col. Carr received a wound in the arm, but remained on the field.

The great leader of the rebels – the ubiquitous Ben McCulloch – was among the slain.  He who had contemptuously spoke of the Southerners as the “natural masters” of the Northern men, lay a victim to his presumption, his life fast ebbing by the hands of those whom he styled a nation of “craven hearted cowards.”  The loss on both sides of this conflict was severe.  Our loss in killed and wounded could not have been less than three hundred; that of the enemy must have been double.  Lieut. David, who commanded the battery, was the last to leave his pieces and among the first to regain them.  He bears a wound in the arm, and several marks of the hostile bullets.  Many of our officers were wounded, but, fortunately, none seriously.  Lieut. Col. Herron, of the Ninth Iowa, was wounded in the foot, and while in the hands of the Surgeons, was taken prisoner by the advancing enemy.  Col. Herron fought with great spirit and was the most conspicuous figure in the repulse.  The command then devolved upon Major Coyle, who gallantly led the regiment on the advance receiving a severe wound in the shoulder.


DEVOTION OF AN ARTILLERYMAN.

One of the most signal instances of superhuman bravery is connected with the loss of these guns.  One of the cannoneers, who has been long noted for his wonderful pluck, remained hat his posted to the last.  Placing himself in front of the piece, he disdained to save himself, but with navy revolver, stood calmly awaiting the hooting crowds of rebels.  He emptied every barrel of his pistol, and then, with his short sword, defended his piece until he was struck down by the blows of the rebels.  His body was afterwards found near the piece, with seventeen balls and his head cloven open with a tomahawk.


A BOWIE-KNIFE CONFLICT.

While the fight was raging about Miser’s farm house on the ridge, on Friday morning a soldier belonging to the 25th Missouri and a member of a Mississippi company became separated from their commands, and found each other climbing the same fence.  The rebel had one of those long knives made of a file, which the South has so extensively paraded, but so rarely used, and the Missourian had one also, having picked it up on the field.

The rebel challenged his enemy to a fair, open combat with the knife, intending to bully him, no doubt, and the challenge was promptly accepted.  The two removed their coats, rolled up their sleeves, and began.  The Mississippian had more skill, but his opponent more strength, and consequently the latter could not strike his enemy, while he received several cuts on the head and breast.  The blood began trickling rapidly down the Unionist’s face, and running into his eyes, almost blinded him.  The Union man became desperate, for he saw the Secessionist was unhurt.  He made a feint; the rebel leaned forward to arrest the blow, but employing too much energy, he could not recover himself at once. – The Missourian perceived his advantage, and knew he could not lose it.  In five seconds more it would be too late.  His enemy glared at him like a wild beast; was on the eve of striking again.  Another feint; another dodge on the rebel’s part, and then the heavy blade of the Missourian hurled through the air, and fell with tremendous force upon the Mississippian’s neck.  The blood spurted from the throat, and the head fell over, almost entirely severed from the body.  Ghastly sight, too ghastly even for the doer of the deed!  He fainted at the spectacle, weakened by the loss of his own blood, and was soon after butchered by a Seminole who saw him sink to the earth.


ZOUAVE TACTICS SUCCESSFUL.

One of the Texan soldiers was advancing with his bayonet upon a Lieutenant of the 9th Iowa, whose sword had been broken.  The officer saw his intention, avoided the thrust, fell down at his foeman’s feet, caught hold of his legs, threw him heavily to the ground, and before he could rise drew a long knife from his adversary’s belt and buried it in his bosom.

The Texan, with dying grasp, seized the Lieutenant by the hair, and sank down lifeless, bathing the brown leaves with his blood.  So firm was the hold of the nerveless hand that it was necessary to cut the hair from the head of the officer before he could be freed from the corpse of his foe.


NATURE OF THE CONTEST.

It only remains for me to notice the character of the struggle out of which we have just come with victory.  Probably there never was such a motley assemblage of warriors collected together under one head as met under this traitor Van Dorn.  The represented the scum of the whole Southwest, from the filibusters of New Orleans to the rude savages of the Indian Nation.  Texan Rangers, whose boast it has been that they would rather fight than eat, and whose life has been one lone predatory warfare of plunder and cruelty.  Uncouth and brutal Arkansans, who have grown up amid murders and homicides.  Ignorant and infatuated Missourians, led on by designing and intriguing politicians.  These were the men which formed the staple of the Southern army, and these are the men who prate of high toned chivalry, who talk contemptuously of the Northern mudsils.  Men who are crying like blind maniacs for their “rights.”  Take the whole rebel army as we saw it and it was one vast congregation of reckless, vicious, ignorant and embruted devils.

Opposed to them were the gallant sons of Iowa, descended mainly from Puritan fathers.  Immortal Iowa! What a page in the volume of American history is reserved for thee!  Long, long will a nation remember how her champions of freedom, like their sires of the Revolution, ragged and barefooted, remained after the expiration of their term of service to lay their lives a sacrifice upon the altar of their country and Wilson’s Creek; how they left their mark upon the foe at Belmont; how they scaled the hights [sic] of Donelson; and last, but not least, how they crushed, with the might of Spartans, the advancing hordes at Sugar Creek, in the wilds of Arkansas.  There, too, stood the patient, courageous sons of Germany, face to face with an insolent and unprincipled foe, contending for those principles of liberty and justice for which they have until now striven in vain.  Honor to these men and their great leader for the part they sustained in this momentous day.  Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio were represented there, and nobly will they bear the wreaths of triumph.  For the first time the loyal Missourians have given an unequivocal and decided test of their ability to cope with the braggart rebels and traitors under the banner of General Price.  They have deserved well of their country.


A GALLANT UNION COLONEL.

Lieut. Col. Herron, of the 9th Iowa, was surrounded by ten or twelve of the enemy, and ordered to surrender.  He indignantly refused, and, with his revolver in one hand, and his sword in the other, kept his enemies at bay, by placing his back against a tree.  He killed and wounded four of the Rebels, when, having been twice wounded himself, his sword was knocked  from his grasp, and his arms seized from behind.  He would have been killed, had not a Southern Captain, from admiration of his courage, ordered his life to be spared.  Even while the Colonel was a captive, a Creek Indian stole up, and was about to plunge a knife into his side, when the Captain drew a revolver, and blew out the treacherous creature’s brains.

Lieut. Col. Herron is still a prisoner, but it is supposed he will be kindly treated and cared for until he is exchanged, which, it is to be hoped, will be at an early day, as our country requires the services of such brave and patriotic men has he has proved himself to be on this trying and important occasion.


AN ADVENTUROUS SCOUT.

A very interesting story is told of a well-known Missouri scout who was [employed] to discover the whereabouts of the enemy during the night.  He was furnished with a horse, citizen’s saddle, a complete suit of butternut clothing, taken from some of their prisoners, and a dispatch purporting to be written by General Van Dorn to Gen. McCulloch, and was started out on the Fayetteville road and made a circuit round to the Bentonville road.  He relates that when near Bentonville he descried a courier dashing along on horseback, when he reined up to the side of the road, and cried out, “Halt! Who comes there?”  The usual reply of “a friend” was given, when the courier advanced and whispered the countersign “Lexington.”  “All right,” said the scout, and was soon on his way with the magical word which was to pass him through the camp of McCulloch.  He rode along the entire line, being asked several questions, all of which he answered as best he could, and in the gray of the morning he returned to our camp with the accurate information of the position and strength of the enemy.  McCulloch, McIntosh and Pike it appears were along the Keetsville road, with Price on the left resting on Sugar Creek.  Van Dorn was at Price’s headquarters.


BATTLEFIELD HORRORS.

The appearance of the hill and woods shelled by Gen. Sigel’s Division attests the terrific shower of missiles that fell upon them.  Walking over the ground immediately after the flight of the enemy and the pursuit by our forces, I found it thickly strewn with dead and wounded, most of them having fallen by the deadly artillery projectiles.  Tree after tree was shattered or perforated by shot and shell, and many were filled with grape and canister balls.  One tree was pierced through and through by a solid shot, its top shivered by a shell, and the base of its trunk scarred by 17 canister and rifle balls.  In one place lay the fragments of a battery wagon wherein a shell had exploded, utterly destroying the wagon and killing two mules which had been its motive power.

A ruined caisson and five cannon wheels were lying near it.  Two dead artillery men were stretched on the earth, each killed by a grape shot, and by their side was a third, gasping his last, with his side laid open by a fragment of a shell.  On the hill, where the cannonade had been severe, trees, rocks and earth bore witness to its fierceness.  Fifteen wounded Rebels lay in one group, and were piteously imploring each passer-by for water and relief for their wounds.  A few rods from them was another, whose arm had been torn off by a cannon shot, leaving the severed member on the ground a few feet distant.  Near him was the dead body of a rebel whose legs and one arm had been shattered by a single shot.

Behind a tree, a few yards distant, was stretched a corpse, with two-thirds of its head blown away by the explosion of a shell, and near it a musket, broken into three pieces.  Still further along was the dead body of a rebel soldier, who had been killed by a grape shot through the breast.  A letter had fallen from his pocket, which on examination, proved to be a long and well written love epistle from his betrothed in East Tennessee.  It was addressed to Pleasant J. Williams, Churchill’s regiment, Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Around him in all directions were his dead and dying comrades, some stretched at full length on the turf, and others contorted as if in extreme agony.  The earth was thickly strewn with shot and fragments of shell.


THE WOODS ON FIRE.

The bursting of the shells had set fire to the dry leaves on the ground, and the woods were burning in every direction.  Efforts were made to remove the wounded before the flames should reach them, and nearly all were taken to places of safety.  Several were afterward found in secluded spots, some of them still alive, but horrifically burned and blackened by the conflagration.


STRIPPING THE DEAD.

The Rebels, in nearly every instance, removed the shoes from the dead and mortally wounded, both of their own army and ours.  Of all the corpses I saw, I do not think one-twentieth had been left with their shoes untouched.  In some cases pantaloons were taken, and occasionally an overcoat or blouse was missing.  A large number of the killed among the rebels were shot through the head, while the majority of our dead were shot through the breast.  The rebels wherever it was possible, fired from cover; and as often as [a] head appeared from behind a tree or bush, it became a mark for our men.  The union troops generally stood in ranks, and except when skirmishing made no use of objects of protection.


SORTIE ON THE LEFT.

Col. Osterhaus was sent with his brigade in the morning along the high land, in the direction of Leestown, for the purpose of intercepting the reinforcements of the enemy, and to discern his strength along the line of Sugar Creek.  This was one of the most spirited and successful attacks of the battle and resulted in a complete diversion of the enemy from the overpowered forces of Col. Carr, on the Fayetteville road.

Our cavalry penetrated along the main ridge beyond the road by which the enemy had come and were on the point of seizing some of the enemy’s wagons when a brigade of rebel cavalry and infantry attacked them.  Then followed one of the most sanguinary contests that has ever been seen between cavalry.  Most of the fighting was done at close quarters.  Pistols and carbines having been exhausted, our sabers were brought into requisition.  The rattle of steel against steel, our sabers against their muskets and cutlasses, was terrific.  Nothing like it has been heard before.  The rebels were Texan Rangers, and fought like demons.  The slaughter was awful, our Missouri cavalry cleaving right and left, leaving in front of their horses winnows of dead and wounded.  The enemy fell back in dismay and our forces pursued them along the road for about a mile when they opened a battery upon the mass of friend and foe plowing through them with solid shot and shell.  Colonel Osterhaus had succeeded in his attempt and retired, bringing off his dead and wounded in safety.


THE SCALPING SAVAGES AGAIN.

Of the statement that the Rebels gave the Indians large quantities of whiskey in which gunpowder was dissolved, previous to leading them into battle, there is now another version.  The enemy say the savages did not receive any liquor from them, but that the Indians discovered several barrels of whisky and appropriated it to their own use.  Of course they drank hugely; and while their stipulative stimulus contributed largely to their fighting propensity, it exercised no very favorable influence upon their discrimination.

They were less timid and more bloodthirsty after their intoxication; but it so enlarged their ideas of nationality and restored to recollection their wrongs from the white race that they determined to make no narrow distinctions in regard to geographical lines.  Consequently they butchered and scalped Arkansan or Louisianian with as much self-complacency as an Indianian or and Illinoisian – doubtless a very pleasant and commendable proceeding on their party, but which the Southerners  from some mental obliquity fail to appreciate.


THEIR FAILURE AS WARRIORS.

The Indians during the battle, displayed very little, if any, courage, and beyond the drunken fray displayed at the expense of those who had induced them to take part in the war, they did nothing commendable.  Their fighting was a failure.  They had little relish for it, and they therefore confined themselves to robbing the dead, killing the wounded and scalping alike their friends and foes.

The experiment of enlisting the Indians in the Rebel service will hardly be tried again, I think.  The enemy evidently deem it a hazardous business, and one that, on the whole, admits of little compensation.  Some of the prisoners are greatly incensed against the savages and talk of hunting them to death.

An Arkansan, who had been wounded and partially scalped by one of the Cherokees, is so enraged against them as to be in danger of apoplexy when their name is mentioned.  Speaking on the subject this morning, he remarked that it was a pretty idea to coax a set of red devils into the army to give them an opportunity of scalping you; and, as for himself, he intended to kill every Indian he could find hereafter, no matter where and under what circumstances.


THE MANNER OF M’CULLOCH’S DEATH.

Concerning the death of McCulloch and McIntosh there seems to be but one opinion.  Both of them were mortally wounded on Friday, during the heavy fighting by Gen. Jeff. C. Davis against the center column of the enemy.  It will be remembered the Rebels gave way, and the two Southern chieftains made the most determined efforts to rally them in vain.

McCulloch was struck with a minié rifle ball in the left breast – as I am assured by one who says he saw him fall, and after he was taken from the ground – while waving his sword and encouraging his men to stand firm.  He died of his wounds about 11 o’clock the same night, though he insisted that he would recover; repeatedly saying with great oaths that he was not born to be killed by a Yankee.

A few minutes before he expired his physician assured him he had but a very brief time to live.  At this Ben, looked up incredulously, and saying, “Oh, Hell!” turned away his head, and never spoke after.

I presume if Ben be really dead, the Southern papers will put some very fine sentiment into his mouth in his closing moments; but the last words I have mentioned are declared to be correct by a prisoner.  They are not very elegant nor dramatic, but quite expressive, and in McCulloch’s case decidedly appropriate.


HOW M’INTOSH DIED.

It is reported that McIntosh was stuck near the right hip with a grapeshot, while giving an order to one of his aids, and hurled from his horse.  The wound was a ghastly one, and tho’ it must have been very painful, McIntosh uttered no groan, but calmly gave directions for his treatment.  A few minutes after he fell into a comatose state, from which he never recovered – passing through Death’s dark portal while his attendants supposed he still lay beside the golden gates of Sleep.


REBEL HATERED OF SIGEL.

The Secessionists, so far as I can learn from the prisoners here, are very bitter against Sigel, on account of his nativity no less than of his ability.  They attribute their defeat mainly to him, and say they would not have cared if they had been repulsed by an American, but to be overcome by a “d----d Dutchman” is more than they can endure with patience.


EXTRACTS FROM CONFEDERATE LETTERS.

A number of rebel letters have been found upon the battle-field and in the deserted camps of the enemy, and as they show the feelings and confidence of the confederates, I will make brief extracts from two of them, written evidently by officers of intelligence.  The two epistles must have been completed before the battle, and not being mailed to the parties addressed, were dropped in the confusion of a precipitate retreat.

The first letter is from a Texas captain to his wife, and reads thus:


“NEW FAYETTEVILLE, Ark, March 5, 1862.

“Thank God, dear Mary, we’ve got the Yankees in a trap at last.  They cannot escape us now.  We have more than twice as many men as they and we have a plan to cut them off, and annihilate them.  Before a week has past, you will hear of a terrible defeat of the Lincolnites, such as one will offset to some extent our mortifying surrender at Donelson.  We are certain of success, and I hope I will be able to bring five or six Yankee prisoners to Galveston next summer.

“The northern men will not fight when they can avoid it, but we intend to make them this time, or cut their throats.

“The coming battle will free Arkansas and Missouri from the invaders, and we will then march on to St. Louis, and take that Abolition city, and give the oppressed Southerners there an opportunity to be free once more.  We here that we would be welcomed in St. Louis by at least 50,000 people who have long suffered from the tyranny of the mercenary Dutch.”


The second letter from a Louisiana Major to his sister, a resident of New Orleans, and bearing date, “Little Rock, February 27,” is quite different in tone, as will be seen from this quotation:


DEAR SISTER CARRIE: You asked me in your last letter what I thought of the prospect of our dearly beloved cause.  To be candid, I have little hope for its success now, though last December I felt confident we would be recognized before the coming June.  I don’t like the Yankees a bit.  I have been educated to hate them, and I do hate them heartily; but I must acknowledge the South has been sadly mistaken in their character.  We have always believed that the Yankees would not fight for anything like a principle; that they had no chivalry, no poetry in their nature.  Perhaps they have not; but that they are brave, determined, persevering, they have proved beyond question.  *  *  *

The trouble with them is that they never get tired of anything.  They lost all the battles at first, and after Manassas we despised them.  This year has inaugurated a new order of affairs. – We are beaten at all points.  We do nothing but surrender and evacuate; and while I hate the Licolnites more than ever, I respect them – I can’t help it – for their dogged obstinacy and the slow but steady manner in which they carry out their plans.

I have lost heart in our cause.  There is something wrong – somewhere.  Jeff. Davis and our political leaders are either knaves or fools.  They drew us into our present difficulties, and now have now way of showing us out of them.

If the South had known what would have been the result of Secession, no State, unless South Carolina, would have gone out of the Union. – We all thought we could go out in peace; I know I did, and I laughed at the idea of the North attempting to keep us in the union by force of arms.  It was not possible, we said.  We had too many friends in the Free States.  Such a step would be followed by a revolution in the North, and the turning of old Lincoln and all the Abolitionists out of office.  *  *  *

Oh, well, it cant be helped, Carrie.  We are in for it.  It is too late to retreat.  We must fight the thing out.  *  *  I cannot help believing we will be overpowered.  We are growing weaker every day, and the North stronger.  I fear to look at our future.  We can’t be subjugated, we all say.  I hope not; but if we do not fly the country, I fear we will experience something like subjugation  *  *  *

May be I’m gloomy to-day; I reckon I am. – Who wouldn’t be?  I intend to fight as hard as I can but I can’t see any way out.  *  *  *  Tear up this letter.  Don’t let mother or father or any of our relatives see it.  I have expressed my heart to you because you are my dear sister, and I always tell you what I believe.


I have selected freely from the above letter because it seems to me to be the most sensible and truthful one I have seen during all the time I have been in the army.  No doubt there are hundreds of Southerners who feel, think, and believe as the Louisiana Major does, but who have either too much pride to speak out, or too little moral courage to be candid.  They must see they have placed themselves in a position from which they cannot retire and from which they have not the power to extricate themselves.


SATURDAY’S DECISIVE ACTION.

The masterly arrangement of our six batteries on the last day of the fight, and the ordering forward of all the infantry so as to bear upon the enemy at a short range with their death-dealing musketry, was the movement which gave us our triumph.  Rebels could not avoid the dreadful cross-fires of the artillery, and the continuous volleys of musketry.

Their officers besought them to stand firm; to remember the sacredness of their cause, and the deadly wrongs of the South; to recall the valorous deeds of their ancestors on other fields, the honor of Secessia, the reputation of Slave-ownia for valor and chivalry, and a great many other things that would have required the aid of a system of Mnemonics.  But the dull fellows would not remember; or, if they did, they received no benefit from the recollection beyond certain excellent performances on foot; and in that short exercise they actively and promptly indulged.

Running is generally advantageous to [hygiene] and there is little question it proved so on Saturday to the fugacious Southerners. – They would have found that remaining much longer behind must have seriously disagreed with their physical well being.


STERLING PRICE RAVING MAD.

Sterling Price is said to have blasphemed and raved like a drunken sailor and a madman after his retreat from the field on Saturday; swearing his troops and those from Arkansas were all cowards to allow themselves to be driven off like kicked curs by one-half their number.  He became so personally offensive in his remarks that some of his officers threatened to resign and others to shoot him; whereupon he altered his tone, and asked to be pardoned for hastiness of speech and loss of temper, resulting from mortification over so terrible a defeat.

For several months past, Price has been excessively irritable and abusive, and as he has recently augmented his potations in a geometrical ratio, many of his own men believe him insane, and think him a fitter candidate for the lunatic asylum than promotion in the army. – He appears to have grown extremely morose and violent of speech, and every new repulse increases his frailty.  He denounces everybody and everything; is as inflammatory as gunpowder on the Yankees, and sometimes indulges in the amiable wish that the entire country was consigned to that mythical subterranean region chiefly remarkably for its lakes of sulphurous fire.

Price is hardly the man to become insane; he has too much of the animal in his nature; but I have no doubt he is madder than the raving gods in the Vida; and it must be confessed the events of the past few months have not been such as to improve the natural infirmities of his temper.

Perhaps Sterling had better imitate the philosophic German in the popular story, who declared he would not “pine away for Katy’s sake,” but in the event of a certain sentimental crisis in his life he would “bite himself mit a shnake.”


HEADQUARTERS FIRST AND SECOND DIVISIONS,
CAMP PEA RIDGE, ARK., March 15.

To the Officers and Soldiers of the First and Second Divisions:

After so many hardships and sufferings of this war in the West, a great and decisive victory has, for the time, been attained, and the army of the enemy overwhelmed and perfectly routed.  The rebellious flag of the Confederate States lies in the dust, and the same men who had organized armed rebellion at Camp Jackson, Maysville and Fayetteville; who have fought against us at Boonville, Carthage and Wilson’s Creek at Lexington and Milford, have paid the penalty of their seditious work with their lives, or are seeking refuge behind the Boston Mountains and the shores of the Arkansas river.

The last days were hard, but triumphant.  Surrounded and pressed upon all sides by an enterprising, desperate and greedy enemy – by the Missouri and Arkansas mountaineer, the Texas Ranger, the finest regiment of Louisiana troops, and even the savage Indian – almost without food, sleep or camp-fires, you remained firm and unabashed, awaiting the moment when you could drive back your assailants or break through the iron circle by which the enemy thought to crush or capture us all, and plant the rebellious flag on the rocky summit of Pea Ridge.

You have defeated all their schemes.  When at McKissicks’ farm, west of Bentonville, you extricated yourselves from their grasp by a night’s march, and secured a train of two hundred wagons before the enemy became aware of the direction you had taken, instead of being cut off, weakened and driven to the necessity of giving battle under the most unfavorable circumstances, you joined your friends and comrades at Sugar Creek, and thereby saved yourselves and the whole army from being separated and beaten in detail.

On the retreat from Bentonville to Sugar Creek – a distance of ten miles – you cut your way through an enemy at least five times stronger than yourselves.  The activity, self-possession and courage of the little band of six hundred will ever be memorable in the history of this war.

When, on the next day, the great battle began, under the command of Gen. Asboth, you assisted the Fourth Division with all the cheerfulness and alacrity of good and faithful soldiers – that division on that day holding the most important position – whilst Col. Osterhaus, co-operating with the Third Division, battered down the host of McCulloch on our left, and Major Paten guarded our rear.

On the 8th, you came at the right time to the right place.  It was the first opportunity you had of showing your full strength and power.  In less than three hours you formed in line of battle, advanced and co-operated with our friends on the right, and routed the enemy so completely that he fled like dust before a hurricane.  And so it will always be when traitors, seduced by selfish leaders and persecuted by the pangs of an evil conscience, are fighting against soldiers who defend a good cause, are well drilled and disciplined, obey promptly the orders of their officers, and do not shrink from dangerous assault when, at the proper and decisive moment it is necessary.

You may look with pride on the few days just passed, during which you have so gloriously defended the flag of the Union.  From two o’clock on the morning of the 6th, when you arrived from Keetsville in the common encampment, you marched fifty miles, fought three battles, took not only a battery and a flag from the enemy, but more than a hundred and fifty prisoners – among them Acting Brigadier General Herbert, the commander of the Louisiana forces and his major; Col. Mitchell, of the Fourteenth Arkansas; Colonel Stone, Adjutant General of Price’s forces, and Lieut. Col. John H. Price, whose life was twice spared, and who has now for the second time violated his parole, and was arrested with arms in his hands.

You have done your duty, and you can justly claim your share in the common glory of this victory.  But let us not be partial, unjust or haughty.  Let us not forget that alone we were too weak to perform the great work before us.  Let us acknowledge the great service done by all the brave soldiers of the Third and Fourth Divisions, and always keep in mind that “united we stand, divided we fall.”  Let us hold out and push the work through – not by mere words and great clamor, but by good marches, by hardships and fatigues, by strict discipline and effective battles.

Columbus has fallen – Memphis will follow, and if you do in future as you have done in these past days of trial, the time will soon come when you will pitch your tents on the beautiful shores of the Arkansas river, and there meet our iron-clad propellers at Little Rock and Fort Smith.  Therefore, keep alert, my friends, and look forward with confidence.

F. SIGEL,
Brig. Gen. Com’nding First and Second Divs.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 1

Sunday, September 23, 2012

List of the Killed and Wounded [during the Battle of Pea Ridge]

FOURTH IOWA.

Company A – Geo. A. McCoy, killed; Chas. Wilkinson, mortally wounded, dead; Wm. Lillibridge, wounded in leg; R. M. Sansbury, wounded in face, dangerously; S. Q. Payne, wounded in hand and leg; J. Fowler, wounded in face, severely; Geo. M. Miller, wounded in abdomen, slightly; David L. Jacox, wounded in leg; Henry Blenker, wounded in leg and face, severely; Corporal John M. Bannon, wounded in leg, slightly; First Sergeant Geo. A. Henry, wounded by a limb from a tree, slightly; Corporal A. B. Henry, wounded in face, slightly.

Company B – Geo. W. Tucker, wounded in arm slightly.

Company C – Corporal T. S. Reed, wounded in shoulder, slightly; Wm. A. Madison, wounded in thigh, slightly, R. N. Farnsworth, do; S. Slaughter, wounded in hip, seriously; James F. Robinson, wounded in abdomen, dangerously; O. F. Gilbert, do; R. C. Darby, wounded in left breast, dangerously; Henry Hummer, wounded in mouth, severely; Henry Lemon, wounded in thigh, slightly; Geo. W. Bike, wounded in forehead, slightly; Abram Moody, wounded in knee, slightly; John Strain, wounded in face, slightly; T. Baker, wounded in arm, slightly.

Company D – M. Lawrence, wounded in shoulder, severely; John Markham, wounded in head, slight; Samuel Martin, in arm slight; J. H. Picket, wounded, slight; A. J. Rumley, wounded in hand; Seth Rowe, wounded in hand; Lewis Solomon, arm, slightly; F. M. Smith, wounded in back, slightly; A. Tucker, in hand, slightly; J. Swinehout, do; R. S. Weedon, wounded in hand, slightly; First Corporal, J. W. Whetstone, killed; W. H. Harrison, do; J. N. Ketchum, do; H. E. Vaugh, do; John H. Williams, do; Captain George Burton, wounded in arm severely by grapeshot; First Sergeant J. P. Finley, wounded in hand, missing; Second Sergeant Fred. Teale wounded in shoulder; slightly; Fifth Sergeant Chas. A. Gilham, wounded in the leg severely; Corporal J. J. Childers wounded in the breast, Corporal Chas. M. Little, wounded in the thigh; J. C. Arnold, wounded in the head, slightly; H. B. Burns, wounded in the heel, slightly; W. T. Colwell wounded in the neck and missing; Merrick Davis, wounded severely; R. E. Haywood, wounded in the shoulder, slightly; C. W. Hawley, wounded in both thighs severely; J. M. Hannon, wounded in the hand slightly; Wm Hawkins, wounded in the arm slightly; Willis Hine, wounded in both thighs severely.

Company E – Third Sergeant Edwin W. Barnum, killed; Jeptha W. Bell, do; H. P. Cornish, do; S. H. James, wounded dangerously in abdomen; H. A. Barrett, wounded in thigh severely; Martin Foster, do in chest, slight; J. Hannon, do in thigh and leg severely; Isaac reeves, do in foot slight; Charles W. Green, do in hand slight; James Breck, do in arm slight; Philip L. Taylor, do in leg severely.

Company F – Abram Holmes, Wm. Debusk, James Stuman, killed; musician A. G. Williams, wounded in side; wagoner W. W. Crandall, wounded in arm, slight; Caspar Armheart, wounded in side, slight; Anderson Bird, do in breast, slight; Albert Benedick, do in face, slight; Wm. Logan, do in hand, slight; J. H. Dorrence, do in head , slight; A. P. Heatt, do in face, slight; A. P. Heatt, do in arm, slight; Sylvanus Heit, do in leg, severely; O. F. Smith, do in leg severely; J. W. Smith, do in head and shoulder, severely; Elisha Steward, do in hand, slight.

Company G – Jos. M. Milisop, wounded in arm severely; Herman Obenhoff, do; Henry Rose, do; L. T. Sipp, do, in leg, severely; G. Goble, do in arm, severely; Fred. Breck, do in arm, slightly; C. W. Powers, do, shoulder do; P. B. Smith, do mouth do; L. H. Barton, do abdomen do; A. Levi do arm do; J. B. Russell, do hands do; W. W. Robinson, do foot do.

Company H – James Lewellyn and Geo. Rose, killed; Capt. E. Y. Burgan, wounded, in head, slight; Lieut. L. Porcher, do, leg, two shots, badly; Corp. A. Moore, do, thigh, slight; James M. Campbell, do, in thigh, badly; W. W. Bartlett, do, in face, slight; Freakes, do, in foot, do; A Freshom, do in hip, do; W. L. Harlin, do, in hand, badly; G. W. Hight, do in thigh, slight; C. D. Lawrence, do in thigh, badly; Silas A. Merker, do in wrist, slight; John S. Pergrin, do, in knee, slight; J. W. Ratliff, do; Alpheus Walkup, do, in hand, slight.

Company I – First Lieutenant Robert S. Jackson, killed; Alford O’Connor, killed; Samuel Williams, do; First Sergeant G. A. Robinson, wounded in arm severely; Second Sergeant J. Keplinger, do; Fourth Sergeant M. Nelson, wounded in hand severely; First Corporal B. S. Everett, wounded in hip severely; Second Corporal H. S. Trumbull, wounded in face, severely; Sixth Corporal James A. Harper; wounded in shoulder and lung, dangerously; John S. Atkinson, in leg, slightly; H. Erickson, in arm; J. Easter, in shoulder slightly; Charles Morgan, in face severely; Philip Miskimmins, wounded in hip slightly; William Moore, in leg slightly; Samuel H. Moore, in head severely; Nathan Coppal, wounded In knee severely; Thomas Church, wounded in leg slightly; Samuel S. Messenger, missing.

Company K -  Edwin A. Richardson, killed; 2d Lieutenant Jas. T. Crittenden, wounded in the breast mortally; 1st corporal N. D. King, wounded in knee; 2d corporal Thos. J. Jacks, wounded in leg slight; Isaac M. Bimms, wounded in hip; A. M. Brooks, wounded in leg, slight; Walter S. Bradwell, Wm. Chenowith, A. L. Scott, do; Jno. Ewing, wounded in shoulder, severely; Geo. H. Heimer, wounded slight; Benj. L. St. Clair, wounded in head slight; Ira Sleeth wounded in leg slight; Ferdinand Verges, wounded in arm slight; Joseph Van Gunde, wounded in foot severely.

Field and Staff Officers – Col. J. Galligar, wounded in hand slightly by grapeshot; Lieut. J. A. Williamson, Adjutant, slightly wounded in shoulder by grapeshot.


FIRST IOWA BATTERY

Wm. Hall, R. Parkhurst, G. Gustavinson, killed; Capt. J. A. Jones, wounded; Lieut. O. W. Gambell, wounded severely; K. W. Henry, slight; W. F. Connor, P. J. Duvall, Thos. Brown, J. B. Nelson, C. Woodmansere, Samuel Black, James Molesworth, John Easton, E. Skinnike, W. Seden, wounded severely.  Engaged in the battle, 114; killed 3; officers wounded, 2; enlisted men wounded 11.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 22, 1862, p. 4

Monday, August 6, 2012

Colonel Grenville M. Dodge to Samuel J. Kirkwood, Governor of Iowa, March 10, 1862


PEA RIDGE BATTLE GROUND, March 10th, 1862.

Gov. S. J. Kirkwood: We have fought a hard battle here, lasting two days; the first day's fight was terrible; it was mostly with the Fourth division, composed of Fourth and Ninth Iowa infantry, First and Second Iowa batteries, Thirty-fifth Illinois and Twenty-fifth Missouri. The loss in the division was 600 killed and wounded, mostly among the Iowa troops; they saved the day and made the victory the next morning easy; this division was opposed to Generals Price, Rains and McIntosh, with 15,000 infantry and 18 pieces of artillery. The Fourth division had only some 4,000 engaged, while our other forces were fighting McCullough, and the re-enforcements sent to us went to the First division, but we held the ground, whipped the enemy and Iowa got the glory of the fight. The Fourth Iowa lost 160 out of 548 engaged; Ninth Iowa lost 220 out of 700 engaged; First Iowa battery lost 16 out of 110 engaged, and Third Iowa battery lost 18 out of 140 engaged; they also lost 3 of their pieces. The second day we attacked early in the morning with our entire army, driving everything before us, and the enemy fled in all directions in great confusion, leaving several pieces of artillery, great quantities of small arms and at least 500 prisoners. Gen. Van Dorn attacked with 40,000 infantry and 70 pieces of artillery; we had 12,000, and 50 pieces of artillery. The fighting was terrible, especially among our troops. The Fourth Iowa fought all day steadily, and did not give an inch, although they had at one time concentrated upon them 12 pieces of artillery and six regiments of infantry; our ammunition gave out at night; when we fixed bayonets and charged across the field the enemy did not dare again meet us. It was a trying time for the Fourth; no ammunition and still under a galling fire. Every one gives great credit to the Iowa troops. No man from Iowa flinched. I saw some troops run; one or two parts of regiments came to our support, but fell back at the first fire. In my brigade there was not a field officer except one but was wounded. Lt.-Col. Herron, of Ninth Iowa, in Vandever's brigade, was wounded and taken prisoner. Our Iowa batteries did noble service; mine had two officers wounded in the morning. The Third Iowa cavalry suffered terribly in a charge; had 47 killed. They were put into it by a Dutchman, and out of all military usage. Lt.-Col. Trumbull was severely wounded in the charge. They had very few wounded; a large part of my wounded was from canister and grape; those of the Ninth Iowa from bullets. I was better protected from bullets, though under a hotter fire than any of them. I posted my men behind an open field and made the enemy cross it to reach us. They poured their grape and canister from 12 to 18 guns into us all the time, but could not get them to bear as well as on the Ninth Iowa. I never saw men fight as the Iowa troops did. I have sent a list of the killed and wounded to Adjt. Gen. Baker to have it published. A large number of my wounded will die; several have already, and it is impossible to get any accommodation; many lay on the field all night.

G. M. DODGE,
Colonel Fourth Iowa Infantry.

SOURCES: Samuel H. M. Byers, Iowa In War Times, p. 121

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Important News from Curtis’s Division


CHICAGO, March 13. – Special dispatch to the Evening Journal from St. Louis says:  Private letters received to-day from officers in Curtis’s army, that the rebels in McCulloch’s army are in the rear of the Federal army and another battle is soon expected.  In the late fight at Sugar Creek, the 4th Division stood the brunt of the battle.  The 4th and 9th Iowa, and 1st & 3d Iowa batteries are terribly cut up – 180 out of 400 in the 4th Iowa were killed and wounded.  Every field officer in Dodge’s Brigade were wounded.  Gen. Dodge had three horses killed under him and one wounded.  Capts. Burton and Burman and Lieut. Crittenden were wounded.  Lieut. Jackson was killed.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 3

Sunday, November 20, 2011

The Twenty-Second Iowa Infantry.

Seven companies of this regiment were raised in Johnson county, one in Jasper, one in Monroe and one in Wapello. It was mustered into service at Iowa City on the 9th of September, 1862. Its first field officers were Wm. M. Stone, colonel; John A. Garrett, lieutenant-colonel; Harvey Graham, major. The regiment was first sent to Rolla, Mo., where it did garrison duty for about four months. In March, 1863, it was sent to Grant's army to take part in the Vicksburg campaign, and was in the First brigade of the Fourteenth division of the Thirteenth army corps, under General McClernand.

At the battle of Port Gibson, Colonel Stone commanded the brigade, and Major Atherton led the Twenty-second regiment, which lost twenty men. At the battles of Champion Hill and Black River Bridge the loss of the Twenty-second was light. Having driven Pemberton's army behind the fortifications of Vicksburg, General Grant determined to assault the works on the 22d of May. Early in the morning the artillery from the fleet and all of the guns in position in the rear opened on the enemy's works and kept up a heavy fire until l0 o'clock. Then the bugles sounded the charge and the assaulting columns moved forward with fixed bayonets. They were met by a terrible fire of musketry all along the lines. Still the troops pressed on and fell before the deadly fire by hundreds. It was impossible to face the terrible volleys which smote the advancing columns. They sought such shelter as they could find and returned the fire, but could not dislodge the enemy.

The Twenty-second led the charge made by the brigade under General Lawler, and a few men, led by Sergeant Griffith scaled the enemy's defenses, entered the fort and captured some prisoners. But most of them were killed or captured; Sergeant Griffith and David Trine alone escaped. Lieutenant-Colonel Graham and several men were captured in the ditch, and the assault was ended.

The loss of the regiment was 164. There were sixteen Iowa regiments engaged in this battle, the Fourth, Fifth, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Twelfth, Seventeenth, Twenty-first, Twenty-second, Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth, Twenty-eighth, Thirtieth, Thirty-first and Thirty-fifth, and the First and Second Iowa batteries.

Before the end of the siege, which followed the assault, Iowa had thirty regiments in Grant's army, which won this greatest victory of the war.

In this campaign the confederacy lost, in killed and wounded, 10,000 men, and in prisoners, 37,000, fifteen general officers, arms and munitions for an army of 60,000, and an immense amount of property, with the strongest fortified city in the limits of the confederacy, opening the navigation of the greatest river of the continent.

No soldiers in this great campaign surpassed those of Iowa. The First Iowa brigade led the advance at Port Gibson; the Seventeenth surpassed all others at Jackson; the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-eighth won immortal honors at Champion Hill; the Twenty-first and Twenty-third covered themselves with glory at Black River Bridge, while the Twenty-second alone, at the assault on Vicksburg, entered the confederate defenses. Colonel Stone resigned soon after the surrender of Vicksburg, having been nominated for governor by the Iowa republicans. The Twenty-second regiment was sent to Texas in November, where it was employed several months, Lieutenant-Colonel Graham having been promoted to colonel, Major White promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and Captain Gearkee, major. In July, 1864, it was transferred to Virginia, and in August became a part of General Sheridan's army and took part in the battle of Winchester. It made a most gallant fight in that great battle and did its full share in winning a glorious victory. Its losses were heavy and among them were several of its bravest officers: 109 were killed, wounded and captured. At the battles of Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek the Twenty-second was engaged and met with losses. These were its last battles, and on the 3d of August, 1865, it was disbanded at Davenport, after having traveled more than 13,000 miles and served in nearly all of the southern states.

SOURCE, Benjamin F. Gue, Biographies And Portraits Of The Progressive Men Of Iowa, Volume 1, p. 106-7

Saturday, November 19, 2011

The Twenty-First Iowa Infantry.

This regiment was organized in August, 1862, and numbered 976 men. The companies were recruited chiefly in the counties of Dubuque, Black Hawk, Worth, Clayton and Delaware. Its field officers were Samuel Merrill, colonel; C. W. Dunlap, lieutenant-colonel; and S. G. Van Anda, major. The regiment was mustered into service at Clinton, and in September was sent to Rolla, Mo., and in October was placed in a brigade with the Thirty-third Missouri and the Ninety-ninth Illinois, with some cavalry and artillery, under command of Gen. Fitz Henry Warren, of Iowa. In January, 1863, a force of 1,000 men with artillery was sent to reinforce the garrison at Springfield, under command of Colonel Merrill. On the morning of the 11th it encountered General Marmaduke's army near Hartsville, retreating from Springfield. A sharp engagement took place, lasting several hours, when Merrill retreated, having exhausted his ammunition, with a loss of but seventy-eight men. The enemy had not less than 2,500 men in this battle and gained no advantage, and lost several good officers. The Twenty-first regiment was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Dunlap and fought bravely, losing twenty-one men. Among the wounded was Colonel Dunlap. In February the regiment made a very hard march from Houston to Iron Mountain, in which it suffered greatly from cold, hunger and insufficient clothing, many of the men being without shoes. In Maroh the regiment was sent down the river to Milliken's Bend, and soon after joined McClernand's corps for the Vicksburg campaign. At the battle of Port Gibson, April 30, 1863, the Twenty- first Iowa was in the advance, four companies supporting the First Iowa battery, Captain Griffith, and had a lively fight with the enemy on that day. In the severe battle which came on the next day the Twenty-first fought well in Colonel Stone's brigade with the Twenty-second and Twenty-third and lost quite a number of men, Lieutenant-Colonel Dunlap being again wounded. At the battle of Black River Bridge on the 17th, the Twenty-first made a fine charge and fought with great courage. Colonel Merrill in command, was severely wounded. Its loss was about eighty in killed and wounded. In the assault on Vicksburg, May 22d, the Twenty-first was prominently engaged and Lieutenant-Colonel Dunlap was among the slain and Major Van Anda was wounded; the total loss of the regiment was 113. After the surrender of Vicksburg it was sent with the army that pursued Johnston and lost fifteen men at Jackson. In August the regiment was sent to Texas, now under command of Captain Crooke, who had been promoted to major. After many changes of place the regiment was finally sent to join the expedition against Mobile and took an active part in the campaign, after which it was mustered out of the service.

SOURCE, Benjamin F. Gue, Biographies And Portraits Of The Progressive Men Of Iowa, Volume 1, p. 104 & 106

Thursday, September 1, 2011

The Battle of Pea Ridge


From a letter in the Chicago Tribune, dated Springfield, Mo., March 11, we clip the following:

On Friday the engagement became general, and continued so.  The most exposed position being occupied by Col. Carr’s division, the greatest loss was suffered by them.  Col. Dodge’s brigade, of this division, consists of the Fourth Iowa and First Iowa battery, the Thirty-fifth Illinois, Col. Phelps’s twenty-fourth [sic] Missouri, known as the “Lyon Legion.”  The second brigade commanded by Col Vandever, of the Ninth Iowa, consists of his own regiment, the Dubuque battery, and Col. Carr’s regiment of cavalry.

A letter from Col. Dodge says the losses in the 4th and 9th Iowa, the 35th Illinois and Phelps’ 25th Missouri are from 150 to 200 to each regiment killed and wounded.  The 12th and 17th Missouri, 3d Iowa Cavalry and the 8th Indiana lost about 40 men each.  The 1st and 2nd Iowa batteries lost about 20 each.

Among our wounded are Gen. Asboth, in the arm; Col. Carr, also in the arm; Lt. Col. Galligan of the 4th Iowa; and Lieut. Col. Herron and Major Coyle of the 9th Iowa.  Col. Dodge had three horses shot under him.

Lieut. Col. Herron was wounded in the foot and taken prisoner.

Major Black of the 37th Illinois, wounded in arm.

Lieut. Crittenden, Co. 3, 3d Iowa cavalry, severely wounded.

Major Coyle, 9th Iowa, in shoulder.

Lieut. Porcher, Co. H. 4th Iowa, severely wounded in thigh.

Color Sergeant Teale, 4th Iowa, shot in the arm.

Captain Burger, Co. H. 4th Iowa, wounded in the head.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 18, 1862, p. 1

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Battle of Sugar Creek


The 4th regiment Iowa Infantry had only about 500 men in the battle at Sugar Creek, or Pea Ridge, as it is sometimes called, in Arkansas.  Of this number 180 were killed and wounded.  Col. Dodge, of this regiment had three horses shot under him.  He was slightly wounded.  The 9th Iowa regiment and 1st and 2d Iowa batteries lost over 2 hundred killed and wounded.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 18, 1862, p. 1

Monday, August 22, 2011

From St. Louis


ST. LOUIS, March 12.

The following general order will be issued in the morning:


HEADQUARTERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

In compliance with orders of the President of the United States, the undersigned assumes command of the Department of the Mississippi, which included the present Department of Missouri, Kansas and the Department of Ohio, and the country West of the North and South line drawn through Knoxville, Tenn., and East of the Western boundaries of the State[s] of Missouri and Arkansas.

The headquarters of the Department of the Mississippi will remain till further orders, at St. Louis.  Commanding officers not in the Department of Missouri, will report at these headquarters the strength and position of their several commands.

(Signed)

H. W. HALLECK,
Maj. Gen. Commanding.


A special to the Democrat from Rolla of the 12th, says Wild Billy Price, a desperate thief, of a guerrilla of the rebels has been taken prisoner and is now in custody at Springfield.

No Further news from General Curtis’ command.


Special to Evening Journal.

ST. LOUIS, March 13.

Private letters received to-day from officers in Gen. Curtis’ army, say that the rebels in force are still in the rear of the Federal army, and another battle is soon expected.

In the late fight at Sugar Creek, the fourth division stood the brunt of the battle.  The 4th and 9th Iowa and the 1st and 3d Iowa batteries are terribly cut up.  180 of 500 of the 4th Iowa were killed and wounded.  Every officer in Dodge’s brigade were wounded.  Gen. Dodge had three horses killed under him and one wounded.  Capts. Burton and Bershman and Lieut. Crittenden were wounded.  Lieut. Jackson killed.


Gen. Halleck forwarded to headquarters to-day the following:


HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
ST. LOUIS, March 13th, 1862.

EDWIN STANTON, Secretary of War, Washington:

Our artillery and cavalry yesterday attacked the enemy’s works, one and a half miles west of Paris, Tenn.  The enemy was driven out with a loss of one hundred killed wounded and prisoners.  Our loss is Capt. Bullis, of the artillery and four killed and five wounded.

A Cavalry force cent out from Lebanon, attacked one of Price’s guerilla bands, killed 13, wounded 5 and captured over 20 prisoners, among whom is Brig. Gen. Campbell.

Signed,

H. W. HALLECK,
Major General.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, March 14, 1862, p. 1