Showing posts with label 35th IL INF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 35th IL INF. Show all posts

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

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

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

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Further Particulars from the Battle at Pittsburgh

CAIRO, April 14. – The first fighting at Pittsburg on Sunday morning last was opened by Col. Peabody sending Major Powell with one hundred and thirty men to reconnoitre; they met a large force of the enemy and were driven back; 300 were then sent out and they were driven back again. The enemy then attacked our men while breakfasting; they rushed to arms and pitched in to fight on their own hook. Gen. Grant was down on the steamer Tiger. – Col. Peabody was shot in the thigh.

Gen. Prentiss is reported to have said that he would sooner be taken prisoner [than] to retreat.

The rebel Col. Bushrod Johnson, who violated his parole given at Donelson, was taken prisoner.

A son of Gov. Sam Houston is wounded and a prisoner in St. Louis. Also a son of Pierre Soule has been taken prisoner.

The government has bought the steamers January and City of Louisiana for floating hospitals.

Col. Wood’s cavalry has gone to St. Louis; only 115 men of his regiment that are not taken prisoners, except what were in hospitals on Friday.

The Iowa 14th reported not taken prisoners.

One half of the 14th and 35th Illinois were taken prisoners.

The Missouri 19th went into the fight on Sunday with 600 men, and only ninety could be found at evening.

The 18th Missouri, 61st Illinois and 16th Wisconsin were in the centre of Prentiss’ division held their position for four hours in the middle of the day on Sunday.

Adj. Gen. Bilman of Prentiss’ division said he could muster only seventeen hundred men out of sever regiments on Sunday evening.

One of our sick men left in one of our tents is reported to have been hauled out thirty yards and his throat cut on Sunday night from ear to ear. Another had his boots stolen off his feet.

A man who helped bury the dead says he counted on a certain spot 170 dead rebels and only 38 Federals, they never put in less than two rebels to one Federal.

The rebels hauled off their dead Sunday night.

A surgeon visited 34 regiments of Grant’s army to ascertain the loss, and says the average killed is 34 to each regiment killed, and one hundred wounded.

Gen. Grant informed a surgeon just before leaving on Friday, that our loss was 1,500 killed 5,000 wounded and 3,500 prisoners. I have this from the surgeon. It seems too small.

We have one thousand rebel prisoners. Five hundred are wounded. The dead are buried.

Twenty five hundred wounded loyal troops lien in the transports at Pittsburgh receiving medical care.

Every facility is given by Gen. Strong to friends to help them in search of wounded and killed.

– Published in the Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Tuesday April 15, 1862 and also in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 19, 1862