Washington Correspondence

WASHINGTON, April 18, 1862

FRIEND DUNHAM:– The Iowa people here are anxious, as you are at home, to hear from our soldiers at Pittsburgh, and think it very strange that nothing at all has appeared in any of the newspaper correspondence from there concerning them. I suppose, however, you will have heard something of interest ere this reaches you, but for fear that you may not have done so, I send you a few items gleaned from a letter just received from there by Hon. J. F. Wilson.

Col. J. M. Tuttle was acting Brigadier in that engagement, commanding the 2d, 7th, 12th and 14th Iowa. On the fall of Gen. Wallace about noon on Sunday, Col. Tuttle assumed his command. The brigade of Col. Tuttle composed as above stated, drove back the enemy four times. The last time the enemy managed to get in their rear, but the 2d and 7th cut their way back again with much effort. – The 12th and 14th, together with the 8th Iowa were all captured.

Col. Crocker is highly spoken of for his gallantry during the fight. Doubtless others earned similar honors, of which we may hear when we have further intelligence. He had been previously recommended by our delegation for appointment as Brigadier. The delegation have now recommended Col. Tuttle for similar appointment.

Our troops have behaved with such uniform gallantry that it pains us to hear of the disreputable conduct attributed of the 16th at Pittsburg, and I trust further information may remove the cloud that now rests upon their reputation.

I see in the papers that it is said that the new article of war, with reference to slaves, has not been made efficient, through the negligence of Adj. Gen. Thomas. This is not so. It was sent a month ago to some parts of the army, and is now in force in nearly or quite all portions of the Federal lines. It is, however, quite possible that something more may have to be done in order to have the spirit of that article lived up to, for a large portion, especially of the regular officers of the army, will practically nullify it by excluding all negroes from their lines, after the nonsensical mode of Hallack [sic] in his famous 3d order. Some of them gave it out in advance of the final passage of the new article of war, that they should do that. When men exhibit and doggedly persist in such a spirit, practically nullify, to a great extent, laws that are supreme over them, out of tenderness to an institution which is the sole cause of the war in which they are engaged, is it anything strange that Men should have frequent and reasonable ground of complaint at halting and half-measures in high quarters – at conduct that inevitably leaves the impression that the heart of this or that commander is not in the cause? IOWA.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 1