Showing posts with label Veatch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Veatch. Show all posts

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Diary of 1st Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Tuesday, May 16, 1865

Quite unwell this morning, with a severe attack of flux Keep my bed all day, & at night feel no better. Lt Loughridge was in town but could learn no news. A boat had arrived from New Orleans & brings important dispatches for this Army but they are secret This evening 300 Negros Ft. Pillow prisonors are brought down the river which proves they were not all killed at least, at 8. P. M. hear loud chearing soon learn the cause to be a dispatch recd from Wilson through Smith announcing the capture of the Traitor Jeff Davis. There is a rumor that Texas is surrendered but needs confirmation, & it is the Opinion that this Corps will go then whether or no, & it is said Hawkins Div of negros will be transferred to the corps in place of Veaches Div to be left at Mobile Smart Thunder shower this P. M.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 602

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Wednesday, March 22, 1865

Fine day; lay in camp all day quite a no of the men out to forage, see some Rebs. Capt sent back with detail for rations. Men pull the wagons. Evening Genls Granger & Veach have Hd Qtrs in our camp. Heavy artillery heard all day supposed by some to be Steele fighting Genls. Canby Smith & Osterhaus are at Fish river Foragers sees the ruins of a large turpentine factory. destroyed by fire about 2 weeks ago, which accounts for the big smokes we had noticed & find 100 prs good new drawers & 200 prs negro's cotton pants

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 579

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Friday, March 24, 1865

Fatigue party goes out at 5. a. m. to unload boats, spend A. M. going to the Commissary for grub. and writing. P. M. go with Lt Loughridge to camp of 8th Iowa, while there this Regt rec's orders to be ready to march at daylight tomorrow morning with 4 days rations in their haver sacks. Genl Smiths whole corps rec's the same orders. We see post of the line of breastworks about this camp, which are good & strong & 9 miles in extent, seems as though these things come by magic, they rise so quick. Genl Veachs Div gets in this P. M.; After dark the train comes in, there is a big shout when the train crosses the pontoons. They lost by bushrangers 14 men drivers. & as many mules Lt Loughridge & I were out after Tattoo to learn the cause of the cheering when the train was coming in, & hear some sweet music in another Regt. Word in camp that in a skirmish 3 miles from camp this P. M. several men were wounded. 2 ambulance loads said to have come in.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 579-80

Monday, January 16, 2017

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Saturday, March 18, 1865

Regt on the road at 6. at 7.30 made Bon secure bayou, see great heaps of oyster shells more low ground today. they bay & gulf one place at the neck not more than 3/4 of a mile apart. Hear heavy guns all P. M. supposed to be the fleet at Mobile, move about 10 miles today. We see one happy wench, we were the first yankees she had seen. After dark a squad of 15, belonging to the Div. 2 of whom belong to our Regt get into camp. They were at Ft. Gaines Hosp. crossed to Morgan & finding their Regt gone pushed on & walked all the way from the Cove today. They report Genl. Veaches Div. coming right on & Genl Smiths Corps landing at the Cove & will start Monday The Estimate is 10000 men with us & 20000 more to follow & we expect to form junction with Steele, who started from Pensacola the 17th with between 20000 and 25000 men

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 578

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Monday, March 20, 1865

Regt in line to move at 6. Rec orders to wait. At 12. I am sent with a detail to corderoy the road. The train all stuck in the mud. men pull the wagons out with ropes. At 3. I am relieved and report to the Regt. At 3.40 Regt in line to guard a train of 20 wagons, (all that had been got over) to the other Brigade ahead, as they are out of rations. Met Genl Grangers ambulances one mile out, begins to rain before we get through rains hard & is very dark. Get through at 9. The train sticks in the mud & is hard to get through, hear cannonading on the Bay all P. M. we are now in the turpentine orchards, hundreds of pounds of resin on the trees, get supper at 9, raining, retire at 10. Genl Veaches Div has overtaken our rear. The Regt moved 6 miles today.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 578-9

Friday, January 6, 2017

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Sunday, February 19, 1865

Pass Port Hudson in the night also Battan Rouge, all day passing through the richest contry I ever saw. fine plantations splendid houses & villages of negro houses in regular order with streets; land at Carrolton at 3. P. M. go off & look around but few troops here. Saw flowers in bloom, & oranges on trees. town all the way from here to New Orleans which place we land at at 4 P. M. Gnl Reports. we then cross & disimbark at Algiers at 4.30. any amount of Black troops, & our Brigade which is again disorganized. Hear that Genl Steele is removed. Genl Veach assigned the comd of a Div, raining when we land and 10. P. M. before our things get to camp. no wood & no fire. More than 200 sailing vessels lieing in river here and about 50 to 100 steamboats some 20 gunboats, no end to small craft. Some troops leave on a steam sailing vessel for 3d time wrecked and loss 15 men

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 574

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Tuesday, February 21, 1865

Was over in town A. M. Regt. expected to leave P. M & Genl V— would not forward application for discharge. P. M. Regt drew twins, "Belle ve Dere" our ship, come but the Capt would not take on more than two Regts. The 77th Ohio embarked Storm comes up about 5 P. M. Men all get wet, but make merry. Go to bed about 8, the storm still raging. Seagulls plenty

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 575

Sunday, December 25, 2016

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Thursday, February 9, 1865

Cool & raw today. a. m. spent running about. Called to see Charlie who is mending rapidly. Cory pretty sick H. Bowman back to the Co. Genl. Car relieved from the command of the Detached Brigade & Genl Veach late comdg at Memphis assigned to comd the Brigade The 29th Iowa left at 6.30 A. M. on the cars. P. M. drew & issued clothing. Boxing up surplus clothing to ship to Keokuck Subject to the order of Co commanders. Evening cool

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 573

Thursday, June 27, 2013

James C. Veatch's Headquarters Monument: Shiloh Naitonal Military Park


U. S.

* * *

HEADQUARTERS, 2D BRIGADE,
4TH DIVISION
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE;

COL. JAMES C. VEATCH,
25TH INDIANA,
COMMANDING

* * * * *

ESTABLISHED MARCH 18TH, 1862

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

From Washington

Special to Tribune.

WASHINGTON, March 28.

The Quartermaster of Gen. Blenker’s division states that a party or rebel soldiers, numbering about 500, visited Fairfax H. H. yesterday, there being at that time no troops there, and with arms in their hands drove away the soldiers and destroyed the Union flags.  A part of the German division was ordered there from Centerville to guard the town from such marauders.

The President will to-morrow send into the Senate the nomination of Bayard Taylor as Secretary of Legation to St. Petersburg.

The President placed at Minister Cameron’s disposal a [frigate] to convey him to Europe, but he has declined the courtesy.

It is said that Secretary Stanton authorized Judge Thomas, of Boston, to say that as soon as officers of rank could be convened without injury to the service, Gen. Stone shall be tried by a court-martial.


Herald’s Dispatch.

The Union troops advanced yesterday upon the rebel outposts beyond Warrenton junction driving the enemy, estimated at 10,000, before them along the line of Gordonsville railroad.  The road beyond Warrenton Junction is utterly destroyed, bridges gone, the cross ties burned and the rails bent into every conceivable shape. – The Union troops are in excellent health, and are pushing after the retreating rebels as rapidly as circumstances will allow.  The telegraph lines follow the advancing army, and offices are established from day to day.

An excursion party went out on the Manassas Gap road about five miles beyond the junction, cutting away fallen trees and clearing obstructions from the track.  The road was otherwise in perfect order, and the water stations uninjured.  They also proceeded on the road to Gordonsville as far as Bristor station, at which point the bridge over Broad river is destroyed.

James Crockett, who has been an engineer on the Manassas Gap road nine years, accompanied the party.  He remained with the rebels until the recent evacuation of Manassas, and brought down the reinforcements of Gen. Johnson when the rebels were retreating at Bull Run last July. – He states that the rebels commenced evacuating Manassas on the 3d of March.  The troops moved off very hurriedly, and were in such great fear for being routed by the advancing Union troops that their officers threatened instant death to every man who fired a hut, alleging as a reason that the smoke would have drown the federal advance.

The guns of the rebels, he says, were of small caliber and few in number.  They had numerous quantities of stores, which could not be removed and were burned after the main body of the army had left.  The inhabitants of Fredericksburg are in great consternation, expecting an immediate attack from Union troops, many are leaving with their effects.  It is expected there that the rebels will fall back towards Richmond, between which place and Fredericksburg they will give battle.  Their depot at Aquia Creek was not burnt as late as Monday, for it was then plainly visible from the vessels of our Potomac flotilla.

On Friday last a schooner from Baltimore came up the Rappahannock, having on board a large quantity of stores and clothing for the rebel troops.


Times’ Dispatch

The President to-day nominated Gen. Cadwalader as Major Gen. of volunteers. – He will take the field at once.

Francis Gallagher, of Baltimore, a prominent lawyer there and well know in this city, was killed at the battle of Winchester on Sunday last, while fighting for the cause of the Union.

The Senate committee agreed, yesterday, to reduce the tax upon newspaper advertisements, proposed in the tax bill from 5 to 3 per cent and decided to establish an ad valorem tax of 3 per cent upon paper instead of the proposed 5 mills per pound.

To-day the president nominated, on the recommendation of the Indiana delegation the following cols., of Indiana volunteers, as Brig. Generals:

A. P. Hovey, W. Kimball, W. P. Benton, J. C. Veitch and P. H. Hackleman.

Secretary Chase means to carry out the principle announced some time ago, that commerce shall follow the flag, and he has accordingly issued instructions to the Treasury Agents, Collectors and surveyors on the Ohio and Mississippi, dispensing with applications to the Secretary, for licenses to trade, and authorizing the shipment of all goods not intended to aid the rebellion to all places occupied by our troops.  In the valley States applications for permits can be made henceforth, direct to the Collectors or Surveyors of the different ports.


WASHINGTON, March 29.

A military department to be called the middle department, and to consist of the States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the eastern shore of Maryland and Virginia, and the counties of Cecil, Hartford, Baltimore and Annandale, has been created.  Maj. Dix, U. S. volunteers, is assigned to the command – headquarters at Baltimore.

No troops in the U. S. Service will hereafter pass through the city of New York without reporting to the U. S. military authorities entrusted with the duty of providing subsistence and transportation in that city.


Special to N. Y. Times.

The Times’ correspondent, writing from Warrenton junction for two days past, says the rebels have been crowded steadily towards the Rappahannock.

Four of the N. Y. 66th, Col. Pickney, were captured night before last while on picket duty.  Shots were exchanged constantly with the rebels during yesterday.  Two brigades of the rebels being closely pursued, retreated across the Rappahannock towards Gordonsville, and blew up the Railroad bridge.  The rebels are now south of the Rappahannock river.


Special to the Commercial.

The commissioners appointed by the war department, to adjust the claims of contractors, have made many important reductions in the final settlement of some bills.  The commissioners will save the treasury millions of dollars.

The committee on bankrupt law held a long session last evening, and agreed to report Mr. Condling’s [sic] bill, with some amendments.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, March 31, 1862, p. 1

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

COLONEL JAMES BAIRD WEAVER

FIFTH COLONEL, SECOND INFANTRY.

James B. Weaver was the fifth colonel of the 2d Iowa Infantry. He is a native of the city of Dayton, Ohio, where he was born on the 12th of June, 1833, and a son of Abram Weaver, Esq., formerly a county officer and politician of Davis county. He accompanied his father's family from Ohio to Michigan, and thence to Iowa, where he arrived in 1843. In the year following, he settled in Davis county, where he has since resided.

Colonel Weaver's early education was limited — only such as the West, at that early day, afforded. At the age of nineteen, he began the study of law, which he pursued for two years in Bloomfield, and then, with the late lamented Colonel James Baker, entered the Cincinnati Law School. Leaving that University in the spring of 1856, he returned to Iowa; and, from that date until the commencement of the war, practiced his profession in Bloomfield, Davis county. Soon after establishing himself in practice, he was married to Miss Clara Vinson, a lady of intelligence and worth.

Colonel Weaver entered the service, as first lieutenant of Company G, 2d Iowa Infantry, and with that rank fought at the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh. He was made major of his regiment, vice N. W. Mills promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and, after the death of Colonels Baker and Mills, was promoted to the colonelcy. His commission as major was received the day before the first day's fight at Corinth, and that of colonel, in the latter part of the same month.

If we except the part taken by the 2d Iowa Infantry in the early part of General Sherman's campaign against Atlanta, the history of the regiment, while under the command of Colonel -Weaver, has in it little of general interest. From the fall of 1862 to the fall of 1863, it was stationed on garrison-duty at and near Corinth, Mississippi; and, if we except the few expeditions in which it took part during this time, the routine of its camp-life was only occasionally broken by droll camp-scenes and incidents.

In garrison-duty, the day begins something as follows:— awakened in the morning by the braying of mules, the impudent clatter of drums, and the shrill whistle of fifes, the soldiers hurry on their clothes and assemble on the company parade grounds for "roll-call." But there is always some delinquent: some lazy fellow throws back his blanket and, sitting upright, rubs his eyes and yawns lustily. He begins to wonder if he will have to "police" to-day, or stand picket, or — what he will have to do, when the command "fall in" is sounded, and instantly the trumpet-voice of the orderly begins calling, "Buckmaster;" "Bunner;" "Brown;" "Brooks;" — he hurries on his pants and out into line, but only in time to find his name passed, and himself checked as absent from "roll-call." The day begins badly; for the thing he most dreaded is now upon him — he is the first on the list of those detailed for "policing," and he curses his ill luck.

Next follows the morning ablutions and toilet, and then breakfast. The 2d Iowa at Corinth were gentlemen; for, in those days, they had black men for their cooks, their "hewers of wood and drawers of water." The soldiers chatted and laughed, while their servants fried the bacon, and made the coffee. "Guard-mounting," "company-drill," "dinner-call," and "retreat," followed each other, until finally "tattoo" closed the day. Generally, the history of one day was repeated in that following.

Of all the troops sent out from Iowa, there has been no regiment, where the enlisted men have maintained Bo much independence in their relations with their officers, as have those of the 2d Iowa, — none, where the members would endure less of style in their field- and line-officers. In every other respect, the discipline of the regiment was most commendable. In the summer of 1863, while the 2d Iowa was stationed with its brigade at Corinth, General T. W. Sweeney, (afterwards dismissed in disgrace from the service for threatening to shoot General Dodge, and a surgeon) issued an order, embracing the following points: — 1st. There must be no familiarity between enlisted men and their officers. 2d. If any enlisted man have any business with the commanding officer of his company, he must transact it through the orderly-sergeant. The orderly-sergeant, on entering his officer's tent, must remove his hat, and taking the position of a soldier, make known his business. He must never seat himself, or talk about other matters than those relating to the business in question; and, that being attended to, he must leave promptly, and with the proper salute. Violations of the order were to be reported by company-officers, and all offenders severely punished.

This was a new article in the regiment's code of discipline, to which it would not yield submission. But Colonel Weaver, always anxious to comply with orders, added one of his own; and, with a rhetorical flourish, held his company-officers responsible for all infringements of the former. Both were read to his regiment on dress-parade, and were greeted with three groans. One stormy night not long after, when the colonel was in bed, a shot was fired through his quarters, the ball passing within four or five inches of his person. For some reason or other, no more was said about the obnoxious order, and the men visited the tents of their company-officers as usual.

After Vicksburg had fallen, and Port Hudson, and the Mississippi had been opened from its mouth to its sources, there was little need for the magnificent army of General Grant, in its old field of operations. On the west side of the Mississippi, the power of the Confederacy was inconsiderable: its chief strength lay on the east side of the river. Rosecrans successfully engaged Bragg at Murfreesboro, and forced him back across the tail of the Cumberland Mountains, to and beyond Chattanooga. Then, himself defeated, he was beaten back to Chattanooga, and there beseiged. After the fall of Vicksburg, therefore, Chattanooga became the chief point of interest, in military operations in the South West. General Grant's victory at Vicksburg was the consummation of success in that quarter, and he therefore planned immediate relief for the Army of the Cumberland, at Chattanooga.

In order to open and protect new lines of communication between Nashville and Chattanooga, and to render that one already open more secure, Corinth was to be evacuated, a large extent of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad abandoned, and General Dodge's command ordered across the country to the Nashville and Decatur Railroad. Hence it was that the 2d Iowa, with its brigade and division, was transferred from Corinth to the line of the above named road. General Dodge's command left Corinth and crossed the Tennessee, at Eastport, with the rear of General Sherman's Corps, then on its way to Chattanooga.

The 2d Iowa marched directly to Pulaski, Tennessee, where were established the head-quarters of the regiment. Pulaski was also General Dodge's head-quarters. Colonel Weaver was made commandant of the post, and held the position during the following winter, and until just before the expiration of his term of service. The services of the 2d Iowa were, in the meantime, the same as those of other troops, stationed on rail road guard-duty. The regiment however, marched on no expeditions, and was, at no time, attacked by the enemy. It was at Pulaski that the 2d re-enlisted, and from that point left for Iowa on veteran-furlough.

Soon after its return from Iowa, the 2d Iowa, with the balance of Dodge's command, took the field. Leaving the non-veterans at Pulaski, the regiment, in the latter part of March, 1864, marched to the front, by way of Elkton, Huntsville and Bridgeport. It had been so long stationed in camp that the news of its assignment to the front was hailed with much satisfaction, and demonstrations of joy, along the line of march, such as song-singing and the like, were frequent. The Elk river was to be crossed at Elkton, and there was no bridge and no boats; but that was no obstacle; for the regiment, and indeed the whole brigade, stripping off all but their shirts, waded the stream, amid shouting and laughter. There are always some wags in every regiment, and at such times as these, they crack their jokes and make much sport.

On arriving at Huntsville, General Sweeney's Division, (the 2d) to which was attached the 2d Iowa, was joined by that of General Veatch. These troops constituted General G. M. Dodge's command—the celebrated left wing of the 16th Army Corps. They proceeded from Huntsville to Chattanooga, and from Chattanooga, over the battle-ground of Chickamauga, on to Dalton.

At Dalton, General Johnson was strongly intrenched, with the finest rebel army ever mustered in the South West; and so confident was he of his strength that he had boasted he would march on Chattanooga, and, having driven the Federal forces from that place, would move on and capture Nashville. But Dalton was to fall with but little bloodshed. General McPherson, moving through Snake Creek Gap, gained Johnson's left flank, and compelled him to evacuate his strong works and fall back to Resaca. In this flank movement, the first in General Sherman's "flanking campaign," the 2d Iowa took part. Soon after, Colonel Weaver was mustered out of the service, and returned to his home in Bloomfield. His three year's term expired on the 28th of May, 1864. From that time to the present, the 2d Iowa Infantry has been commanded by Colonel Noel B. Howard.

Colonel Weaver is one of the handsomest of the Iowa colonels. He has a symmetrical, well-developed person, which, with his dignified address, intelligent countenance, and dark-blue eyes, makes him interesting and pleasing. He is too small for a great man, and yet, with his dignity and self-assurance, he impresses a stranger favorably.

Intellectually, he is rather brilliant; I am told he is a graceful and interesting public speaker. His worst fault is an affectation in delivery.

He has some vanity, and was proud of his position as colonel of the 2d Iowa. For instance: just after being commissioned a lieutenant, it is said he returned to Bloomfield and attended church in full uniform, sporting the whole regulation outfit. "From his walk," said an officer of his regiment, " you could tell that he was colonel of the 2d Iowa."

He was a good and brave officer, and there are few who were as cool as he in battle. At Shiloh, while the 2d and 7th Iowa were running that terrible gauntlet, on the afternoon of the first day's fight, Captain Moore, of company G, was shot through both legs and disabled. Lieutenant Weaver stopped, picked him up, and bore him from the field. Under the circumstances, not one man in five thousand would have imitated his example. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and is one of the few officers who abstained from the use of liquor in the service.

SOURCE: Stuart, A. A., Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 71-76