Showing posts with label David W Reed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label David W Reed. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Acceptance of The Iowa Monuments at Shiloh National Military Park on Behalf of the United States

Address:
Colonel Cornelius Cadle, Chairman Shiloh National Military Park Commission

Governor Cummins, Gentlemen of the Iowa Shiloh Commission, Ladies and Gentlemen:

When I was notified that Iowa would dedicate her monuments here today, I so advised the Secretary of War and asked that either he or the Assistant Secretary of War Colonel Robert Shaw Oliver, who was a Union soldier in our civil war, should receive these monuments from you, Governor Cummins. In reply, Mr. Taft asked me to express his regrets that his official duties, as well as those of the Assistant Secretary of War, would prevent their attendance today, and directed me as Chairman of the Shiloh National Military Park Commission to receive, from you, sir, on behalf of the United States, these magnificent monuments that the state of Iowa has placed here in commemoration of what her soldiers, dead and living, did on this field over forty-four years ago.

When we fought here, we fought for the preservation of the Union. We did not realize that we were making history in that first great decisive battle of the war, nor that the work of the Union soldiers would result years afterward in making the United States one of the greatest of nations.

The last line of one of the verses of “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean,” reads, “The world offers homage to thee.” This should be amended to read: “The world offers homage, honor and respect to thee.”

For now no one of the great world nations decides upon an important matter without first considering, “What will the United States say.”  We, who are living of the army, that fought here and at Corinth, Vicksburg, Atlanta, the March to the Sea, and the campaign of the Carolinas, to the end of success, are glad that our work resulted in a united nation and resulted too in making us a world power.

Upon this monument is inscribed in the granite, just finished apparently by the figure “Fame,” lines written by Major S. H. M. Byers, an Iowa soldier, that would be imperishable even if not cut in the stone and are applicable to this occasion:

“Brave of the brave, the twice five thousand men
Who all that day stood in the battle’s shock,
Fame holds them dear, and with immortal pen
Inscribes their name on the enduring rock.”

I, sir, as an Iowa soldier in the battle of Shiloh, feel a pride and honor to receive for the United States these monuments, and to assure you that they will be cared for hereafter by the government.

And now, Mr. Chairman, I will describe briefly our park; its inception and the work that we have done to beautify and maintain this historic battlefield.

The Shiloh National Military Park was established by act of Congress, approved December 27, 1894. The bill was drawn by our friend and comrade, Colonel D. B. Henderson, and provided that a national military park should be established on the battlefield of Shiloh; that the armies who fought there, the army of the Tennessee, commanded by General U. S. Grant, the Army of the Ohio, commanded by General D. C. Buell, and the Army of the Mississippi, commanded by General A. S. Johnston, “may have the history of one of their memorable battles preserved on the ground where they fought;” that three commissioners should be appointed, one from each of the armies engaged, and a secretary and historian, all of whom should have served in the battle of Shiloh, and that the commissioner appointed from “Grant's Army of the Tennessee” should be the chairman.

There were appointed by Mr. Daniel S. Lamont, then secretary of war, Colonel Cornelius Cadle, of the Army of the Tennessee, chairman; General Don Carlos Buell, of the Army of the Ohio; General Robert F. Looney, of the Army of the Mississippi, and Major David W. Reed, of the Twelfth Iowa Infantry, as secretary and historian.

General Buell, at his death on November 19, 1898, was succeeded by Major James H. Ashcraft of the Twenty-sixth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry.

Colonel Looney, at his death, November 19, 1899, was succeeded by Colonel Josiah Patterson of the First Alabama Cavalry.

Upon Colonel Patterson's death on February 12, 1904, he was succeeded by General Basil W. Duke of Morgan's Cavalry.

The commission as now constituted consists of myself, Major Ashcraft and General Duke and Major Reed.

The act of Congress required us to restore the battlefield to as near as possible the condition existing at the time of the battle. The park includes about 3,650 acres, the absolute fighting ground of April 6 and 7, 1862. The roads then existing, public and camp, have been placed in thorough condition, as you have seen from riding over them.

Two hundred bronze cannon such as were used at Shiloh and mounted on iron gun carriages mark the position of artillery fighting.

The eighty-three Union organizations encamped on the field when the battle opened have their camps marked with a tablet in shape like a cross section of a wall tent.

Every headquarters, Union and Confederate, are marked with a monument of shell, suitably inscribed.

About four hundred iron historical tablets describing the battle lines of both sides have been erected.

Mortuary monuments have been erected for the commanders who were killed or mortally wounded in the battle, as follows:

Union: Wallace, Peabody and Raith.

Confederate: Johnston and Gladden.

Five burial trenches where the Confederate dead were buried, by order of General Grant upon Tuesday following the battle, have been suitably, and I think properly, marked.

The first day tablets are square; the second day, oval. The colors of the Army of the Tennessee are blue, the Army of the Ohio, yellow and the Army of the Mississippi, red.

One hundred and ten monuments have been erected by the various states at a cost of about $213,000. I think that I can safely say that those erected by Iowa are the most artistic.

SOURCE:  Alonzo Abernathy, Editor, Dedication of Monuments Erected By The State Of Iowa, p. 253-5

Monday, September 17, 2012

Dedication Exercises at the Twelfth Iowa Regimental Monument: Shiloh National Military Park

November 22, 1906
_____

11:10 A. M.


Address:
Major D. W. Reed, Twelfth Iowa Regiment
Secretary of the Shiloh National Military Park Commission

Ladies and Gentlemen:

General Tuttle, marching toward the sound of battle, led his regiment along the road here to our right, and as he came to this spot where I stand he saw in the fringe of woods beyond him a rebel battery going into position. He immediately turned, ahead of his brigade, down that ravine, and formed his brigade in this ravine which we see just at our rear. The “Sunken Road” ran immediately behind this monument. In this position, the Twelfth Iowa, with the rest of the brigade, held the Confederates at bay all day long. The fight which has just been described at the Seventh regimental monument applies to this regiment also. Just to our left is a tablet, where Colonel Dean, of the Second Arkansas, was killed, within a few steps of the Fourteenth Iowa.

It is unnecessary to talk of what the Twelfth did. Their record has been told among the other regiments. They held a position here that was practically impregnable. A gallant Iowa officer coming here lately, in looking over it said, “I have always thought that the record of the Hornets’ Nest Brigade was a myth, but I see now, in looking over this position, that an overruling Providence directed General Turtle, at the head of the right men, to the right place, at the right time, to save Shiloh on this bloody battlefield.” The fringe of woods up yonder represents the position held by Ruggles’ batteries. His sixty-two guns, playing upon this position from three o'clock to five o'clock, failed to move the Union forces from their position.

I thank you, gentlemen.


Benediction:
Rev. Dr. A. L. Frisbie of Des Moines, Iowa

“We give thanks to thee, thou who art over all, for all these instances of thy care and direction, and that thou didst devise all means by which we have been protected. Now lead us still, as thou hast led us; lead us on, that we may ever attain the better things — the better life — the diviner prosperity and that true freedom in which we shall share and share justly, and dwell happily together in the name of Christ, our Lord. May thy peace abound toward us forever more, in His name.  Amen.”

SOURCE:  Alonzo Abernathy, Editor, Dedication of Monuments Erected By The State Of Iowa, p. 226-7 


See Also:

Friday, June 25, 2010

Major David W. Reed

Major David W. Reed, was born in Cortland, N. Y., April 2, 1841; removed, with his parents, to Iowa and settled on a farm in Allamakee County in 1855; entered Upper Iowa University in 1860, and on the 15th day of September 1861 enlisted as a private in "University Recruits." This company was mustered into the United States service October 24th, as "C," 12th Iowa Infantry. He was present with his company at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and Shiloh. After the regiment was surrounded at Shiloh he received gunshot wound, shattering the right thigh; was taken prisoner but was left on the field and was recaptured on Monday, and sent to the hospital at Mound City. In August he returned to duty with the Union Brigade and served with it in battle of Corinth and as Sergeant Major of that organization until January 1863. Upon the reorganization of the regiment he was elected 2nd Lieutenant of Company C, and was present with his company during the Vicksburg campaign and participated in all its engagements; was in command of his company August 1st to 10th; in command of Company F, August 10th to 31st, of Company C, September 7th to 24th, and of Company I, during the Brownsville expedition, October 6th to 31st; was commissioned 1st Lieutenant December 14, 1863, and in June 1864 was detailed as Acting Adjutant of the regiment and served as such in all the campaigns of the regiment until February 1865. At Tupelo his horse was killed under him, and at Nashville he led the left wing of the regiment in the capture of a battery of the enemy and received special mention by regimental and brigade commanders. In February 1865 he was commissioned Captain of Company C, and was immediately detailed as Acting Field Officer. In this capacity he served at Spanish Fort and was breveted for gallantry in this engagement. From January to September 1865 he served as Inspector on the staff of General L. F. Hubbard. In October was detailed, with his company to garrison Center, Ala.; was in command of that Post until November when he was directed to take command of the Post of Blue Mountain. He was commissioned Major 12th Iowa November 21, 1865, and was mustered out with his regiment January 20, 1866. On his return home he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1868, and the same year was elected County Recorder. He held that office ten years and in 1879 was appointed Postmaster at Waukon, Iowa, and held that office until 1887. He was Supervisor of Census, for 2d Iowa district, in 1890. He was married to Miss Ellen E. Manson in 1866; removed to Chicago January 1891. In 1895 was appointed Secretary and Historian of the Shiloh National Military Park Commission. He has three children — a son and two daughters — the son, Milton E. Reed, is Lieutenant — Senior Grade — in United States Navy.

SOURCE: David W. Reed, Campaigns and battles of the Twelfth Regiment Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry, p. 250