Showing posts with label 7th IA CAV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 7th IA CAV. Show all posts

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Henry D. Woodward

HENRY D. WOODWARD, of the firm of C. T. Haskins & Co., dealers in lumber and hardware, Murray, Clarke County, Iowa, was born in Allegany (now Wyoming County), New York, the date of his birth being May 26, 1844, a son of Horace Woodward who was a native of Vermont. Our subject was reared and educated in the schools of his native county and at the age of 22 years he learned the carpenter's trade. He came to Iowa in 1859, locating in Black Hawk County. He enlisted in the late war in Company A, Fourteenth Iowa Infantry, in which he served two years and eight months during which time he was mostly on detached duty. He re-enlisted as a veteran in Company K, Seventh Iowa Cavalry and took part in most of the engagements with the Indians. Mr. Woodward was married in December 1872 to Miss Barbara O. Shreves, a daughter of John Shreves, of Greenfield, Adair County, Iowa and to this union have been born three children – Loren S., Belle O., and John A. Mr. Woodward left Black Hawk County in 1871, removing to Adair County, where he remained till 1873. He then came to Murray, Clarke County, Iowa, where he has since resided with the exception of two years, which he spent in Adair County and during his residence here has been engaged in the lumber, hardware and furniture business. He has been elected to several local offices, and is at present, a member of the town council and of the school board. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 268

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Private Enos Hammer, Co. G 7th Iowa Cavalry, to his sister, March 21, 1864 [Fragment]

Cottonwood Springs
Monday March 21st

Dear Sister

I take the present time to write you a few lines in answer to yours of the 8th.  I am well and enjoying myself bully.  I was but but a hunting yesterday and went  all over Nebraska Territory all but what it lacked.  It is a snowing a little today but I think [illegible] [a] off in the course of 5 minutes.  Has Ira got religion or not.  I believe you was a [illegible] does Luisa ever talk of getting it.  There has been several revivals out here about a week ago there was a great revival in camp one man got his snoot squished.  An other got the mug put on him.  And they went to the gard house to seek salvation.  There is not much difference in all revivals in [missing text] some talk  of the [missing text] driving us from land of  [kanion] . . .

SOURCE:  Letter listed for auction on www.ebay.com, July 17, 2012.  Only the 1st page of the letter was displayed with a tear in the lower left corner and a watermark in the middle of the page covering some of the text.

Sergeant Job S. Beals, Co. G 7th Iowa Cavalry, to Henry Hammer, July 11, 1864 [Fragment]

Topeka Kansas,
July 11th/64

Respected Cousins,

I take my pen this evening to drop you a few lines to let you know how Enos is as I supposed you would be anxious to know he [does not seem to be getting] better than  when I wrote to you before, he wil be apt to take a change one way or the other pretty soon.  The rest of the Newton boys are all enjoying pretty good health at present.  I have not time to write much at present  I wil writ again in a few days, and let you know how Enos is getting along.  This leaves me well and before it wil . . .

SOURCE:  Letter listed for auction on www.ebay.com, July 17, 2012, only the 1st page of the letter was shown with a watermark over the bracketed text.  No transcription of the letter was offered on the listing.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Letter of Captain Elisha Hammer, Co. G 7th Iowa Cavalry, to his brother, Henry Hammer, July 17, 1864

Topeka Kansas
July 17th 1864
3 o clock P. M

Dear Brother

Enos is about the same as he was when I last wrote. I do not think there is much hope of his recovery still he may. He has every attention that he could have at any place if he should get well I will send him home as soon as he is able to travel.  I have nothing of importance to write

Elisha Hammer

To
Henry Hammer

SOURCE: Letter listed for auction at www.ebay.com, July 21, 2012

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Letter of Enos Hammer of Company G, 7th Iowa Cavalry, June 3, 1864

Topeka Kansas
June 3rd, 1864

Dear Father

I take the present opportunity to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present. We started from Fort Riley the 30th and arrived here this morning. Between here and Fort Riley the country is principally settled by Indians and half breeds they have large farms are pretty nice houses.

It looks curious to see Indians plowing corn. Topeka is the capital of Kansas. It is on the south side of the Kansas River 75 miles below Fort Riley. Our quarters are in the 3rd story of the statehouse. It is about the center of town I have got a big bile boil and it is big again as it ought to be I have not any time to write anymore for we have to clean up

Yours truly,
Enos Hammer

 Write soon and let me know where them folks lives at in Kansas. It may be that we ain't very far from them.

Direct
Co. G 7 Iowa
Topeka Kansas

Monday, October 1, 2012

Letter of Enos Hammer of Company G, 7th Iowa Cavalry, January 11, 1864

Cottonwood, N. T.
Jan 11 1864

Dear Father

I see myself today to write you a few lines to let you know that I am getting some better. I don't know whether I will get to come home yet or not Elisha don't want me to go but the doctor was down here last week and talked with me a little while and told me to come down to the hospital, and he would fix it up and I went down there this morning and carefully examined me so I don't know what he is going to do he will ____ if the Capt. hant played thunder with it so Jim may know how things are working out here I have $100 and I would like to know what to do with it I don't have anything to do only read and such like that.

Several of the boys are sick one of the boys from Story County has got something like the spotted fever the doctor told me he thought he wouldn't get well.

We have had right smart of snow and cold weather here for quite some time but it is getting warmer for the last few days. Sergt. Wellman has lost use of his left arm and leg it was caused by being wounded in the side the cook is getting some grub for dinner the Capt. is talking of reducing Jim Allen to the ranks of a private for staying at the sutlers all the time but he does his duty all the time by standing guard every night Job Beals got a letter from Jesse about a week ago he has had the lung fever but was about well but was unable to work you need not be afraid of me a gambling or drinking whiskey or anything of the kind for I am down on luck as any old strict Quaker

I must bring my letter to a close and remain as ever

Enos Hammer

To Henry Hammer

Please rite soon for I haven't heard from home for a long time. you can rite 2 times as week

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

The Seventh Iowa Cavalry

This regiment was made up largely of companies raised for other organizations, and was not fully organized until July 1863.  Its field officers were: Colonel, Samuel W. Summers; lieutenant-colonel, John Pattee; majors, H. H. Heath, George W. O’Brien and John S. Wood.  The regiment was sent to Omaha, where it remained until July 1864, but many of its companies were scattered at posts on the western frontier.  In Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas they marched and were in several skirmishes at times with the Indians. At Julesburg, in Colorado, Company F, under Captain O'Brien, fought a band of Indians, killing fifty-five of them and losing thirteen men. Colonel Heath fought and defeated the Indians in a battle near Alkali late in the fall, and for a long time had command at Fort Kearney. The Seventh cavalry was not sent south during the war.

SOURCE: Benjamin F. Gue, Biographies And Portraits Of The Progressive Men Of Iowa, Volume 1, p. 123

Friday, January 29, 2010

Iowa Colonels and Regiments: Appendix

SAMUEL M. POLLOCK, second colonel, 6th Cavalry, is a native of Ohio: age, thirty-five.

HERMAN H. HEATH, second colonel, 7th Cavalry, is a native of New York: age, forty-two.

HUGH J. CAMPBELL, second colonel, 18th Infantry, is a native of Pennsylvania: age, thirty-three.

JOHN Q. WILDS, second colonel, 24th Infantry, (mortally wounded at Cedar Creek, Virginia) is a native of Pennsylvania: age, forty.

GUSTAVUS A. EBERHART, second colonel, 32d Infantry, is a native of Pennsylvania: age twenty-nine.


IOWA COLONELS OF THE ONE-HUNDRED-DAYS’ SERVICE.

STEPHEN H. HENDERSON, 44th Iowa Infantry, is a native of Tennessee: age, thirty-six.

ALVAH H. BEREMAN, 45th Iowa Infantry, is a native of Kentucky: age, thirty-six.

DAVID B. HENDERSON, 46th Iowa Infantry, Is a native of Scotland: age, twenty-six.

JAMES P. SANFORD, 47th Iowa Infantry, is a native of New York: age, thirty-two.


SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 652

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Colonel Samuel W. Summers

SEVENTH CAVALRY.

Samuel W. Summers is a Virginian, and the only native of that State who has held a colonel's commission from Iowa. He was born in the year 1820. In about the year 1842, he came West and settled in Van Buren county, Iowa, where he began the practice of law. A few years later, he removed to Ottumwa, Wapello county, where he continued his law practice, and where he still resides.

In Colonel Summers' experiences may be seen the difficulties and discouragements under which a young attorney labored, In the early history of Southern Iowa. Fees were small, and credit was small. Law cases were scarce, and money still more so. Indeed, at that day things were done on a small scale in this Western Country. If I allude to a few items of a personal character, the colonel will excuse me; for they will certainly do him no discredit. For three or four years after coming to Ottumwa, he looked poor, lived poor, and was poor. A five-dollar fee in those days was enormous, and to get it all at once, and in cash was extraordinary good fortune. He had little business and little money. I have been told by old resident-merchants that it was no uncommon thing for him to ask credit for the cheapest articles of merchandize. He was never refused; for the first fee he received was sure to find its way into the pockets of his creditors. They say it was fully four years before he could keep his head above water long enough to take a long breath. But his perseverance and economy at last conquered, and, in 1858, he had acquired a respectable property.

Colonel Summers never held a public office. I think he never sought one. There was no money in it. He was always to be found in his office, and attending to his business. In 1860 he accepted the nomination for district judge of his district on the Republican ticket; but a few weeks later he withdrew his name from the canvass. He never commanded any thing but the business of his office, and the pockets of his clients, till he commanded his regiment. He was commissioned colonel of the 7th Iowa Cavalry the 8th of January, 1863, and on the 25th of July following, was mustered into the United States service. Like Colonels Wilson and Pollock of the 6th Iowa Cavalry, Colonel Summers was stationed during his whole term on the Western Frontier. It might have been an arduous, but was not a very dangerous service; for his antagonists were "the red men of the forest" to fight and chase whom, some have regarded as amusement. There is, of course, nothing brilliant about his military record. He was in the service about two years, and the principal portion of that time had his headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska Territory, where he slept on a downy bed, and ate at a bountiful board. He was mustered a citizen in the spring of 1865, in consequence, I am told, of his regiment being reduced below the minimum of a regimental organization.

The 7th Iowa Cavalry, from the day it went on duty in Nebraska, till the time Colonel Summers left it, was broken up into detachments, and stationed at different points in the vast stretch of country lying between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains. But to give a detailed account of the movements made by the different detachments of the regiment, is impossible in the limited space to which I am confined. I can only allude to some of the most important ones.

In February, 1864, the regiment was stationed as follows: Company A, Captain E. B. Murphy; Company D, Captain W. D. Fouts, and Company H, Captain D. S. Malven, were stationed at Fort Kearney, under Major John S. Wood. Company G, Captain E. Hammer; Company F, Captain J. S. Brewer, were stationed at Cottonwood Springs. Company E, Captain J. B. David, at the Pawnee Indian Agency. Company B, Captain John Wilcox, at Dacotah City, and Company C, Captain J. C. Mitchell, at Nebraska City. Companies I, K, L and M, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Pattee, were stationed at Forts Randall and Sully, and at Sioux City. These last named companies were those which accompanied General Sully on his Indian expeditions up the Missouri River in the summer and fall of 1864. The heroes of Plum Creek and Julesburg belonged to the 1st and 2d Battalions of the regiment; but in neither of these affairs was there more than two hundred and fifty men engaged.

Plum Creek is on the road from Fort Kearney to Denver, and some thirty miles west of the former place. It consisted of only some half-a-dozen dwellings or ranches at the time of which we speak. When the place was attacked in the fall of 1864, Colonel Summers, with a small detachment of his regiment, was stationed at Fort Kearney, having a few weeks before relieved Major Wood of his regiment. Word was sent to the colonel of the approach of the Indians, accompanied with a request that he hurry to the relief of the place. He at once began making preparations to march; but one thing after another delayed, till nearly two hours had elapsed before his regiment was in the saddle. The weather was dry and excessively hot, and, to spare his horses, he moved with much leisure. Indeed, it is said ten hours were consumed in traveling the thirty miles. In the meantime the Indians had completed their work and fled. Some of his officers, who had no care for government property, were clamorous to hasten the march, fearing that the Indians would be off before their arrival; but the colonel was resolute, preferring to forego the prospect of glory, rather than run down and ruin his horses. One of his officers in particular, Captain Edward B. Murphy of Company A, was so restive that the colonel had to threaten to put him under arrest before he could be restrained; but this same captain, Colonel Summers has since said, was one of the best officers of his regiment.

The colonel was more fortunate at Julesburg; for there the Indians came within striking distance, and lost by their rashness one of their boasted chiefs. Julesburg is situated in the extreme north-east corner of Colorado Territory. It is four hundred miles west from Omaha, and two hundred east from Denver, and is on the main thoroughfare from the Missouri River to California.

At the time the attack was made on Julesburg, Colonel Summers, with Major O'Brien and Captain Murphy of his regiment, chanced to be at Fort Rankin, near that place. On the evening before the attack, a stage-driver, or teamster, came in and reported that the Indians were in the neighborhood, and had fired on a train, then approaching from the west; but the man was known to be unworthy of belief, and little attention was paid to his story. The next morning, however, the Indians made their appearance on the prairie, and Colonel Summers collected and mounted his men to give them battle. Including the commands of Major O'Brien and Captain Murphy, he did not have more than one hundred men; and the Indians did not number less than five hundred; but they were concealed behind some of the small hills that abound in that region, and he could not learn their strength. He accordingly rode boldly out to fight them, and moved in three detachments: Major O'Brien was on the right, Captain Murphy in the centre, while he held the left.

Immediately on coming among the hills of which I have spoken, he found himself confronted by a superior force; but he opened the fight with great vigor. It had not progressed long, however, before, looking to the right, he saw that Major O'Brien was nearly surrounded, and the major, instead of falling back was endeavoring to fight the Indians off. The colonel at once sent word to him and to Captain Murphy to fall back to the fort. But in the meantime, the Indians had moved so far round to his own right and rear that, should he attempt to reach the fort, he would probably be captured; and he therefore, with a few of his men, made his escape to a ranch only a few miles away. The Indians pursued Major O'Brien and Captain Murphy to the fort, and a severe fight ensued for its possession; but they were finally beaten off. It was through the courage of these officers only that the place was saved from capture. Julesburg was then sacked, after which, the Indians left. The next day, Colonel Summers went upon the field, and, finding the dead body of an Indian chief, who had fallen by his own hands, stripped him of his toggeries. I understand that he brought them to his home as trophies, but have never had the pleasure of seeing them.

The loss of the 7th Iowa Cavalry at Julesburg was about fifteen; and all who were wounded and left upon the field were murdered, and their bodies most shockingly mutilated. Sergeant Alanson Hanchet, a brave and powerful man, after killing seven Indians, was shot from his horse and left upon the field. When the fight was over, the inhuman wretches beat a hole in his head, and, filling it with powder, blew It to atoms: they afterwards chopped his body into inches. Nearly all the wounded had their legs and arms severed.

Soon after this affair, Colonel Summers started for .Omaha; but before leaving, the citizens of Julesburg assembled and passed resolutions, thanking him for his defense of the place. They were grateful testimonials, and have been published in several of the papers of Southern Iowa.



I have been told that many of the officers of the 7th Cavalry have made frequent complaint because they were kept on duty in the Indian country. Had this regiment served at the front, there is no doubt it would have made a record, equal to that of any other Iowa Cavalry regiment.

Colonel Summers is a slender, spare man, of great activity, and weighing about one hundred and forty pounds. He does not have the appearance of vigorous health; and yet, he is one Of the hardiest men of my acquaintance. I have never known him to be sick. He has a small, restless, black eye, sunk well in his head, and wearing, at will, a most unfriendly leer. You would know, to look at him, that he was a sharp, shrewd man. He is sociable and agreeable, and would be generous and liberal, if he loved money less. "Keep what you get," is his motto. He will do any thing to accommodate a friend, except to disembowel his wallet, or put his property in peril, by attaching his name to a note or recognizance.

The colonel is very common in his manners and dress, and temperate and economical in his habits.

SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 633-8

Saturday, February 14, 2009

7th Iowa Cavalry

Organized at Davenport April 27 to July 13, 1863, Companies "A" to "H." Company "I" organized as Sioux City Cavalry November 14, 1861, and three Companies organized for 41st Iowa Battalion assigned as Companies "K," "L" and "M." Regiment moved to Omaha, Neb., June, 1863, and assigned to duty at various points in Nebraska and Dakota, as garrison, guarding lines of telegraph and travel, escorting trains and protecting Emigrants, having frequent combats with Indians in the Departments of Missouri, Kansas and the Northwest. Sully's Expedition against hostile Sioux Indians August 13-September 11, 1863. Actions at Whitestone HIll September 3 and 5. Niobrara December 4, 1863 (1 Co.). Sully's Expedition against hostile Sioux Indians July 25-October 8, 1864. Actions at Tah kah a kuty July 25. (Cos. "K" and "M"). Two Hills, Bad Lands, Little Missouri River, August 8 (Cos. "K" and "M"). Scout on Smoky Hill Fork, Kansas, August 1-5 (Co. "H"). Smoky Hill Crossing August 16 (Co. "H"). Operations against Indians in Nebraska August 11-November 24, 1864. Fort Cottonwood August 28 and September 18 (Co. "B"). Near Fort Cottonwood September 20. Detachment of Company "C." Operations against Indians in Nebraska and Colorado Territories September 29-November 30 (1st Battalion). Cow Creek near Fort Zarah December 4 (Detachment). Julesburg, Indian Territory, January 7, 1865 (Co. "F"). Rush Creek February 8 (Co. "D"). Mud Springs February 8-9. Rush Creek February 9. Boyd's Station June 3 (Co. "E"). Cow Creek Station, Kansas, June 12 (Co. "O"). Horse Creek, Dakota Ter., June 14 (Cos. "B" and "D"). Tongue River August 29 (Co. "F"). Duty on the plains till June, 1866. Mustered out June 22, 1866.

Killed and mortally wounded 1 Officer 29 Enlisted men; by disease 1 Officer 93 Enlisted men. Total 124.

SOURCE: Dyer , Frederick H., A Compendium Of The War Of The Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1162-3

Friday, August 8, 2008

Letter from the 7th Iowa Cavalry

Fort Kearney
Feb. 17th, 1864

Mr. Editor :–

It seems somewhat strange that something from the Seventh Iowa Cavalry does not oftener appear in your columns. The Seventh by some has been lightly spoken of. But by old regulars, I am authorized to say that it will compare favorably with almost any other regiment in the field for good discipline, or in any other respect, though I must say there is yet room for improvement. As far as fighting is concerned the Seventh has not played much of a hand. We may yet have a change to show our fighting propensities, and I do not know of a boy in the regiment who would not welcome the day that sends us South. The companies are scattered almost from one end of Nebraska Territory to the other. Companies G and F being stationed at Cottonwood Springs, A, D and H at Fort Reamey [sic, should read Kearny], and the other companies on the Missouri River at different points above Omaha City. I don’t suppose there is another regiment in the field that guards more territory than the Seventh Iowa Cavalry. Its daily performed line of duty, too, is excessive. The civil law being of little force, the ordinary duties of the civil authorities are naturally devoted upon the military. Co. B, I understand, has recently had some difficulties with the Indians up about St. James, but I have not been able to learn the result.

A Word on our career since leaving Iowa. After crossing the muddy Missouri River we were stationed in camp for a few days, near the village called Omaha City. After having recruited our horses &c. we found that we were to be scattered to the four winds over Nebraska Territory. It fell to the lot of three companies A, D and H, to go to Fort Kearney. About the last of August, all things being ready, we gathered up our traps, turned our horses’ heads to the far west and commenced our wearisome journey. Not however without first getting the example of Lot’s wife, casting our eyes back towards home and its endearments. Our march was not accompanied with anything very adventurous. I might however say that we were one night aroused by the sound of the sentinel’s carbine and the report was instantly afloat though camp that the Indians were upon us. The boys were instantly under arms, falling into line with the speed scarcely imaginable for new troops. But no Indians. Nothing of the kind could be found, and after an hours scouting through the brush on the Platte, the boys returned to camp much dissatisfied at their novel disappointment. We arrived at Fort Kearney in due time and found it a very commodious home for the soldiers, though somewhat lonesome. The boys soon made themselves quite proficient in hunting, as the buffalo were quite plenty here at that time. Most of the boys have become excellent riders. The Nimrodian laurels belong to on John A. Guy who soon became so will skilled that while riding at full sped he brought down two large buffaloes in fifteen minutes time.

Platte River is about one mile wide, sometimes exceeding that, but seldom falling short of it. The channel is so shallow that it can be forded in almost any place. It is interspersed with numerous low islands which are covered with thick underwood and grape vines forming a good retreat for wolves &c. The one thing most remarked about this river is that in the summer season while it has plenty of water with heavy current, in others there is none. At the crossing at Fort Kearney when we came here, there was not a drop of water in the channel, but in a few weeks after our arrival the water came down with all the violence of a mill race, yet no rain had fallen to produce this effect.

The health of the three companies stationed here is very good. Some few cases of fever have occurred, but thanks to the care of Dr. A. J. Willy, none have died. The moral condition of the soldiers here is not as good as it might be. We have not been favored with a chaplain, from what reason I am not able to say. I suppose Uncle Sam thought we were coming out west where there was no danger, and consequently would not need a spiritual overseer. The post is at present under the command of Major H. H. Heath, who spares no pains to keep the soldiers under him in good discipline causing a thorough inspection of arms once a week. The horses and horse equipage are in excellent condition, although the former have several times been jaded by extensive scouting.

Solic[i]ting pleasant dreams for the Editor, his subscribers, and the good citizens of the very interesting and business city of Oceola, I am yours, and a prisoner yet.

Soldier.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, March 12, 1864