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

The Twenty-Second Iowa Infantry.

Seven companies of this regiment were raised in Johnson county, one in Jasper, one in Monroe and one in Wapello. It was mustered into service at Iowa City on the 9th of September, 1862. Its first field officers were Wm. M. Stone, colonel; John A. Garrett, lieutenant-colonel; Harvey Graham, major. The regiment was first sent to Rolla, Mo., where it did garrison duty for about four months. In March, 1863, it was sent to Grant's army to take part in the Vicksburg campaign, and was in the First brigade of the Fourteenth division of the Thirteenth army corps, under General McClernand.

At the battle of Port Gibson, Colonel Stone commanded the brigade, and Major Atherton led the Twenty-second regiment, which lost twenty men. At the battles of Champion Hill and Black River Bridge the loss of the Twenty-second was light. Having driven Pemberton's army behind the fortifications of Vicksburg, General Grant determined to assault the works on the 22d of May. Early in the morning the artillery from the fleet and all of the guns in position in the rear opened on the enemy's works and kept up a heavy fire until l0 o'clock. Then the bugles sounded the charge and the assaulting columns moved forward with fixed bayonets. They were met by a terrible fire of musketry all along the lines. Still the troops pressed on and fell before the deadly fire by hundreds. It was impossible to face the terrible volleys which smote the advancing columns. They sought such shelter as they could find and returned the fire, but could not dislodge the enemy.

The Twenty-second led the charge made by the brigade under General Lawler, and a few men, led by Sergeant Griffith scaled the enemy's defenses, entered the fort and captured some prisoners. But most of them were killed or captured; Sergeant Griffith and David Trine alone escaped. Lieutenant-Colonel Graham and several men were captured in the ditch, and the assault was ended.

The loss of the regiment was 164. There were sixteen Iowa regiments engaged in this battle, the Fourth, Fifth, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Twelfth, Seventeenth, Twenty-first, Twenty-second, Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth, Twenty-eighth, Thirtieth, Thirty-first and Thirty-fifth, and the First and Second Iowa batteries.

Before the end of the siege, which followed the assault, Iowa had thirty regiments in Grant's army, which won this greatest victory of the war.

In this campaign the confederacy lost, in killed and wounded, 10,000 men, and in prisoners, 37,000, fifteen general officers, arms and munitions for an army of 60,000, and an immense amount of property, with the strongest fortified city in the limits of the confederacy, opening the navigation of the greatest river of the continent.

No soldiers in this great campaign surpassed those of Iowa. The First Iowa brigade led the advance at Port Gibson; the Seventeenth surpassed all others at Jackson; the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-eighth won immortal honors at Champion Hill; the Twenty-first and Twenty-third covered themselves with glory at Black River Bridge, while the Twenty-second alone, at the assault on Vicksburg, entered the confederate defenses. Colonel Stone resigned soon after the surrender of Vicksburg, having been nominated for governor by the Iowa republicans. The Twenty-second regiment was sent to Texas in November, where it was employed several months, Lieutenant-Colonel Graham having been promoted to colonel, Major White promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and Captain Gearkee, major. In July, 1864, it was transferred to Virginia, and in August became a part of General Sheridan's army and took part in the battle of Winchester. It made a most gallant fight in that great battle and did its full share in winning a glorious victory. Its losses were heavy and among them were several of its bravest officers: 109 were killed, wounded and captured. At the battles of Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek the Twenty-second was engaged and met with losses. These were its last battles, and on the 3d of August, 1865, it was disbanded at Davenport, after having traveled more than 13,000 miles and served in nearly all of the southern states.

SOURCE, Benjamin F. Gue, Biographies And Portraits Of The Progressive Men Of Iowa, Volume 1, p. 106-7

Battle of Sugar Creek

The 4^th regiment Iowa Infantry had only about 500 men in the battle at Sugar Creek, or Pea Ridge, as it is sometimes called, in Arkansas.  Of this number 180 were killed and wounded.  Col. Dodge, of this regiment had three horses shot under him.  He was slightly wounded.  The 9^th Iowa regiment and 1^st and 2d Iowa batteries lost over 2 hundred killed and wounded.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 18, 1862, p. 1

Headquarters Recruiting Depot

DAVENPORT, Iowa, Feb.18, 1862.

General Orders No. 3.

I.  The loss sustained by the troops from this State in recent actions, and other casualties, having probably reduced their strength considerably below the minimum standard, Recruiting Officers are required to prosecute their recruiting operations with the greatest activity and energy.

II.  On the application of Recruiting Officers, they will be authorized to establish branch rendezvous in counties adjoining those in which their principal rendezvous are located.  The application should state the proposed point, and its distance from the principal rendezvous, and the branch should, if practicable, be placed on some Railroad or Stage-line communication therewith.  These branch rendezvous will be placed under the charge of a non-commissioned officer in the recruiting party.  In no case will the price paid for board and lodging exceed that which is paid at the principal rendezvous; and no unnecessary expense will be incurred in travelling between branch and principal rendezvous.  Officers will visit their branch rendezvous once in ten days, and enlist all proper persons who may present themselves for enlistment.

III.  Tri-monthly reports will be promptly rendered to his office on the 10th, 20th and last day of each month, whether any enlistments have been made or not.  Returns of recruiting parties will be promptly made on the last day of the month.

By order,

H. B. HENDERSHOTT,

Captain, 2d Artillery, Sup’t Vol. R. S.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, February 19, 1862, p. 1

Sick And Wounded

The following sick and wounded Iowa soldiers arrived at St. Louis, Saturday, on the Steamer Empress, from Island 10.

Isaiah W Wilson, co B, 2nd cavalry, fever; B Ayers, co A, 5th rheumatism; Geo W Baldwin, co H, do do; W H Messler, co G, 2d, bronchitis; Geo W Ferguson, co D, 5th diarrhea; H Clemens, co A, 5th, fever; A Mart, co K, 5th bronchitis, G Bransfield, co F, 2d cavalry, fractured thigh; J H Kelough, co I, do hernia; H Hagan co H, do; J K Waggoner, do do; C L Bailey, co C, 10th; Samuel Fox, co A, 2d cavalry; D R Crocker, co L, do; A Wakeman, co L, 2d artillery; M Moore co A, 2d cavalry; G W Guilford, co C, 10th; J C Rouse, do; S Hayworth, do; J Smith, do; B Dunbar, do; J Dickens, co I, do; Ag Fillon, co C do; B E Harrington, co H, do; W Gaylord, co F, 2d cavalry, S B Stort, co D do; S Shocklin, co B, 10th; W Case, do; C L. Holcomb, co D do; D F Palmer, co H, 2d cavalry, J fanbank, co C, 10th, C M McCoy, co A, 10th; D Johnson, co H, do; J K Edds, co D, do; C G Bules, co K, 5th; Nathan Warke, 10th.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 3, 1862, p. 2

Thirteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry

The Thirteenth Iowa Infantry was ordered into quarters by Governor Kirkwood, under the proclamation of President Lincoln bearing date July 23, 1861, the organization of this regiment having completed the quota of the State up to that date. The ten companies of which the regiment was composed were ordered into quarters on dates ranging from Sept. 17 to Oct. 11, 1861. The rendezvous designated in the order was Camp McClellan, near Davenport, Iowa, and there the companies were mustered into the service of the United States on dates ranging from Oct. 15 to Nov. 2, 1861, by Capt. Alexander Chambers, United States Army. The total enrollment at muster in was 890, but this number was soon increased by additional enlistment to 898. The regiment was exceedingly fortunate in the choice of its first commander. Col. M. M. Crocker was gifted with rare military genius. He had the advantage of military training at West Point, and, while some of the officers and most of the men of his regiment did not fully appreciate the necessity for his rigid enforcement of discipline from the day he assumed command, it did not take them long to discover that he was just the kind of man they needed to instruct them, and to fit them for the performance of the stern duties of soldiers who were about to enter upon active service in one of the greatest wars in the history of mankind.

The regiment remained only a short time in Camp McClellan. It was transported down the Mississippi river to St. Louis, and went into quarters at Benton Barracks, where troops were being concentrated and fitted as rapidly as possible for an active campaign against the enemy. Here it was armed and equipped, and, on December 11th, was ordered to proceed by rail to Jefferson City, the capital of Missouri, where it remained until early in March, 1862, when it was ordered to return to St. Louis. While the regiment was at Jefferson City it was mainly engaged in preparation for the great campaign which was being planned, and which was to begin in the early spring. There was no considerable body of the enemy in the vicinity of its camp, and the official records do not show that it met with any loss except from disease, but the death rate from this cause was large on account of the men being unused to the hardships incident to camp life in winter. In addition to the deaths from disease, many became incapacitated for further service and were discharged. This was the common experience of all troops during their first year of service.

From St. Louis, the regiment was conveyed by steamer to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., where it arrived March 23, 1862. Here it went into camp and was assigned to the First Brigade of the First Division, commanded by Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand. The brigade consisted of the Eighth and Eighteenth Illinois, the Eleventh and Thirteenth Iowa, and Battery D, Second Illinois Light Artillery, and was under the command of Col. A. M. Hare of the Eleventh Iowa, who was the senior officer present for duty. The concentration of the Union army under Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, at Pittsburg Landing, the presence of the rebel army under Maj. Gen. A. S. Johnston, at Corinth, Miss., and the fact that a distance of only twenty miles intervened between the two armies, indicated that a great battle was impending.

The compiler of this sketch, while fully realizing the importance of the service rendered by the Thirteenth Iowa in subsequent battles, feels that, in describing the part it took in its first great battle, he is justified in going into greater particularity of detail than the limitation of space under which he is working will permit when he comes to deal with its later achievements.

On the morning of the 6th of April, 1862, the rebel army, which had been advancing during the previous afternoon and night, with the purpose of making an attack before further reinforcements could reach the Union army, was hurled against the advanced lines of General Grant's forces, and one of the greatest battles of modern times was in progress. In his official report, Colonel Crocker describes the part taken by his regiment, as follows:


HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS,
CAMP NEAR PITTSBURG LANDING, TENN., April 8, 1861.

SIR, — I have the honor to report the part taken by the Thirteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry In the engagement with the enemy on the 6th and 7th Inst.

Early in the morning of the 6th, the alarm was given, and heavy firing in the distance Indicated that our camp was attacked. The regiment was formed in front of its color line, its full force consisting of 717 men, rank and file. It was at once ordered to form on the left of the Second Brigade, and proceeded to that position at a double quick, and was then formed in line of battle In a skirt of woods bordering on an open field to the left of a battery. Here it remained for some time Inactive, while the enemy's guns were playing on our battery. In the meantime, a large force of the enemy's Infantry were filing around the open field in front of our line, protected by the woods, and In the direction of our battery, opening a heavy fire of musketry on the infantry stationed on our right, and charging upon the battery. The Infantry and battery to the right having given way, and the enemy advancing at double quick, we gave them one round of musketry and also gave way. At this time, we — as, indeed, all our troops in the immediate vicinity of the battery — were thrown into great confusion, and retired in disorder.

Having retired to the distance of 100 or 200 yards, we succeeded In rallying and forming a good line, the Eighth and Eighteenth Illinois Volunteers on our left, and, having fronted to the enemy, held our position there under a continual fire of cannon and musketry until after 12 o'clock, when we were ordered to retire and take up a new position. This we did in good order and without confusion. Here, having formed a new line, we maintained it under incessant fire until 4:30 o'clock P. M., the men conducting themselves with great gallantry and coolness, and doing great execution on the enemy, repulsing charge after charge, and driving them back with great loss.

At 4:30 P. M.. we were again ordered to fall back. In obeying this order, we became mixed up with a great number of regiments falling back in confusion, so that our line was broken up and the regiment separated, rendering it very difficult to collect it, but finally, having succeeded in forming, and being separated from the brigade, we attached ourselves to the division commanded by Colonel Tuttle of the Second Iowa Volunteers, and formed with his division in front of the encampment of the Fourteenth, Second and Seventh Iowa Volunteers, where it sustained a heavy fire from the enemy's battery until dark, and there remained during the night on our arms. During the day, we were under fire of the enemy for ten hours, and sustained a loss of 23 killed and 130 wounded.

On the morning of the 7th, we were ordered to continue with Colonel Tuttle's division and to follow up and support our forces that were attacking and driving back the enemy. We followed them up closely, moving to support the batteries until the enemy was routed, after which we were ordered to return to the encampment that we had left on Sunday morning, where we arrived at 8 o'clock P. M.

Our total loss in the action of the 6th and 7th is, killed 24, wounded 139, missing 9, total 172. The men for the most part behaved with great gallantry, and the officers exhibited the greatest bravery and coolness; and I call especial attention to the gallant conduct of my field officers, Lieutenant Colonel Price and Major Shane, who were both wounded in the action of the 6th, and acknowledge my great obligations to my Adjutant, Lieutenant Wilson, who during the entire action exhibited the highest qualities of a soldier.

Respectfully, Etc.,

M. M. Crocker,
Colonel Thirteenth Iowa Infantry.

C. Cadle, Jr., A. A. A. G., First Brigade, First Division [see note 1].


Col. A. M. Hare, In his official report as commanding officer of the brigade, makes special mention of the gallant commander of the Thirteenth Iowa as follows: "To Col. M. M. Crocker of the Thirteenth Iowa Volunteers I wish to call especial attention. The coolness and bravery displayed by him on the field of battle during the entire action of the 6th, the skill with which he maneuvered his men, and the example of daring and disregard to danger by which he inspired them to do their duty and stand by their colors, show him to be possessed of the highest qualities of a commander, and entitle him to speedy promotion." [See note 2.]

The compiler of this sketch has a vivid personal recollection of the scenes of confusion described by Colonel Crocker, at the time the Union lines fell back to the point of last resistance. He was in command of his regiment (the Third Iowa Infantry) and joined the Thirteenth Iowa at its last position in support of the batteries which checked the enemy's advance and decided the result of the first day's battle. Every officer and man of those regiments, who was able for duty, was there in line, determined to resist the assault of the enemy to the last extremity. If that line had given way, it would have been difficult, if not impossible, to have retrieved the disaster. By its splendid service in this great battle the Thirteenth Iowa laid the foundation for its future great achievements. By this bloody baptism it was consecrated, and, as will appear in its subsequent history, the regiment repeated its glorious record at Shiloh in all the battles in which it was afterwards engaged.

After the battle of Shiloh, the Thirteenth Iowa was assigned to the Third Brigade of the Sixth Division. The Brigade was composed of the Eleventh, Thirteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth regiments of Iowa Infantry, and was under command of Colonel Crocker. This organization remained intact until the close of the war. Except when upon detached duty, the operations of each of the regiments were identified very largely with those of the brigade, and, therefore, the history of each of these four Iowa regiments is almost inseparably interwoven with that of the brigade [see note 3]. The regiment, with its brigade and division, took part in the advance upon and siege of Corinth, and performed its full part in those important operations which ended in the evacuation of that rebel stronghold on the 30th of May, 1862. It then constituted a part of the garrison left in charge of the works at Corinth, until about the middle of July; and then participated in various expeditions, and was for a time stationed at Bolivar, Tenn., but the official records do not show that it came into contact with any considerable body of the enemy during the remainder of the summer.

On the 12th of September, the regiment and brigade were again at Corinth and, a few days later, marched to join the forces under Major General Rosecrans near Iuka. In the battle of Iuka, which was fought on Sept. 19, 1862, the Sixteenth Iowa was detached from the brigade and took an active part in that fierce engagement, while the other regiments — Eleventh, Thirteenth and Fifteenth — were held in reserve, and did not participate in the battle. Soon after the battle the brigade was ordered to return to Corinth. The rebel forces were being rapidly concentrated for an attack, and it was evident that another battle was soon to occur at or near that place. It was also evident that the enemy would make a desperate struggle to regain possession of Corinth, and all the available Union forces were ordered to concentrate for its defense. The Thirteenth Iowa, with its brigade, was engaged in the battle which was fought there on the 3d and 4th of October, 1862.

While the Thirteenth Iowa performed its whole duty in these two days of battle, the positions to which it was assigned did not bring the entire regiment into close contact with the enemy, hence its loss was comparatively light. Lieutenant Colonel Shane in his official report says that companies A and G were the only part of his regiment actually engaged. Company A, under the command of Captain Kennedy and Company G, commanded by Captain Walker, were on the skirmish line on the first day of the battle, and sustained a loss of one man killed and fourteen wounded. He further says that the officers and men of those companies behaved in a highly creditable manner, and that the rest of the regiment was held constantly in readiness to engage the enemy, had they received orders to advance. Colonel Crocker, who commanded the brigade, describes the positions occupied by the different regiments, gives full credit to all for having complied with his orders, and explains the discrepancy in losses as resulting from the fact that the Fifteenth Iowa sustained the brunt of the attack on account of its advanced position. The entire loss of the brigade in killed and wounded was 149, and the loss by regiments was, in the Eleventh, 21; Thirteenth, 15; Sixteenth, 27, and Fifteenth, 86. In a later report, dated at camp near Corinth, Miss., Oct. 15, 1862, ho describes the part taken by his brigade in the pursuit of the defeated enemy. That the conduct of every regiment — both in the battles and the subsequent pursuit — met with his cordial approval, is indicated In the following extract from his report [see note 4]:

The brigade, during the protracted movements of the battle and pursuit, encountering every hardship and privation Incident to such campaigning, behaved with great fortitude, meeting every danger and hardship cheerfully; and I acknowledge my obligation to all the field officers for their cheerful, hearty and Intelligent cooperation.


The regiment with its brigade joined in the pursuit of the retreating rebel army but did not succeed in overtaking it. After an arduous march, the pursuit was abandoned at Ripley, Miss., and the troops returned to Corinth, reaching their camp on the evening of October 11th. After a rest of about three weeks they again took up the line of march with the forces under General Grant, and moved south along the line of the Mississippi Central Railroad, the objective point of the expedition being Vicksburg. The object of the expedition was defeated, however, by the capture and destruction of the depot of supplies at Holly Springs by the rebel General Van Dorn, who, by a skillful movement of his cavalry, succeeded in getting in the rear of the Union army and compelling the surrender of the troops which had been left to guard the supplies. Thus forced to retreat to avoid starvation, the regiment, together with the entire Union army, marched toward Memphis, suffering greatly for want of sufficient rations. They finally reached Memphis and an abundant supply of food on the 13th day of January, 1863. Here the regiment and brigade embarked on steamers and started down the river January 20th, reached Duckport, La., on the 25th, moved thence to Milliken's Bend, where they landed and went into camp. Here they remained but a short time, and then moved to Lake Providence and engaged in the work of cutting the canal which was to connect the lake with the Mississippi river. That work was not completed until March 16th, when the great campaign for the reduction of the rebel stronghold at Vicksburg may be said to have begun.

During the entire campaign, which ended with the surrender of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, the Thirteenth Iowa with its brigade performed most arduous and important service. It was moved from point to point, was part of the time engaged with the army of observation, in the rear of the lines of Union troops engaged in the siege, watching the rebel force under General Johnston who was constantly threatening an attack for the purpose of raising the siege, and part of the time with the investing forces in the intrenchments, assisting in the prosecution of the siege, but everywhere doing its full duty and sustaining its well won reputation for bravery and efficiency. During this campaign Colonel Hall of the Eleventh Iowa was in command of the brigade, Colonel Crocker having been promoted to Brigadier General and placed in command of a division in another part of the army. Colonel Shane was in command of the Thirteenth Iowa throughout the campaign.

During the remainder of the summer the regiment engaged in various expeditions, the longest and most arduous of which was that under General Stevenson, against Monroe, La. While the troops suffered the greatest hardships upon this expedition, marching through a swampy and malarious region, the results accomplished were not commensurate with the suffering endured. Upon returning from this expedition, Sept. 3, 1863, the regiment went into camp at Vicksburg, where it performed garrison duty for the next five months. The official records show that from Nov. 30, 1863, to March 11, 1864 there were 404 men of the Thirteenth Iowa Infantry who re-enlisted and were re-mustered into the service of the United States, for a period of three years or during the war, from the date of the expiration of their original term of service, thus giving to the regiment the title of a veteran organization [see note 5].

On Feb. 4, 1864, the regiment started on the famous Meridian expedition, which penetrated into the heart of the State of Mississippi and resulted in the destruction of many miles of railroad track, locomotives and rolling stock, besides great quantities of supplies which had been accumulated at Meridian for the use of the rebel army. During the expedition there was much fighting between the Union and rebel cavalry, but the infantry did not become engaged to any considerable extent, and, aside from the hardships incident to a winter campaign without tents, and living for the most part upon such food as could be procured from the country through which they marched, the suffering and loss of the infantry was small, as compared with that of the cavalry, which led the advance. The regiment returned to Vicksburg March 4th, and, on the 7th, those who had re-enlisted received the welcome order to embark for their homes in Iowa, they having been given a furlough for thirty days, to begin upon reaching the State. The non-veterans — those who had not re-enlisted — were left at Vicksburg and subsequently rejoined the veterans upon their return from furlough.

Upon the expiration of their thirty days in Iowa, the veteran portion of the regiment re-assembled at Davenport, the designated rendezvous, accompanied by a large number of recruits, and proceeded to Cairo, Ill., thence to Clifton, Tenn., where they landed and took up the line of march across the State of Tennessee and part of Alabama and on to the mountains of Georgia, to re-inforce Sherman. At Decatur, Ala., May 27, 1864, the regiment, with the rest of the Crocker Brigade, was attached to the Fourth Division of the Seventeenth Army Corps. General Crocker, who had commanded the division, was compelled on account of poor health to relinquish his command, and was succeeded by Gen. W. Q. Gresham. The regiment now moved forward with this command to Rome, Ga., arriving there June 5th, and thence by way of Kingston and Allatoona to Ackworth, where on June 8th the Seventeenth Army Corps took its place in line with the Army of the Tennessee, commanded by Gen. James B. McPherson, and became a part of the great army commanded by Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman, consisting of the armies of the Tennessee, the Ohio and the Cumberland. One of the greatest campaigns in the history of warfare had now begun and, through it all, the Thirteenth Iowa was destined to bear a conspicuous and honorable part.

From June 11th to July 20th, the regiment and brigade were in front of Kenesaw Mountain, participated in the operations there and at Nick-a-jack Creek, and on across the Chattahoochee river to Sandtown, and then, passing to the extreme left of the line on the 20th of July, after a heavy skirmish with the enemy, took position about three miles from Atlanta. In all these movements the regiment had lost a number of men, killed and wounded, on the skirmish line, but had not been engaged in close combat with the enemy. Now, however, it was again to participate in a series of battles that would leave it decimated in numbers, and place it in the foremost rank with the military organizations of the Union army engaged in that tremendous struggle for the possession of the fortified city of Atlanta. In the first of these battles, the gallant Major Walker was in command of the regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Wilson being at that time on detached duty, and Colonel Shane having succeeded Colonel Hall as brigade commander, that officer having assumed temporary command of the division when General Gresham fell, severely wounded. The conduct of the regiment in this battle is well described in the brief report which follows:


HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH IOWA VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,
IN THE FIELD BEFORE ATLANTA, GA., July 21, 1864.

Lieut. O. D. Kinsman, A. A. A. General 3rd Brigade 4th Division 17th Army Corps.

SIR, — I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry in the engagement of July 21, 1864:

At 8 o'clock A. M., the regiment was In position In front of the brigade, with the Fifteenth Iowa Infantry on Its left, and supported by the Sixteenth Iowa Infantry; Its front was protected by temporary works thrown up on the night of the 20th.

About 8 o'clock A. M. I received orders from Col. John Shane, commanding brigade, to advance at once on the double quick to the front, to assist Brigadier General Force, commanding a brigade in the Third Division, Seventeenth Army Corps, who was fighting for the possession of a high hill in his front and to the left of this regiment. The men seized their arms and sprang promptly over the works, advancing in good order to the crest of a hill less than one hundred yards from the enemy's works, In the face of a heavy fire. Here I was ordered to halt, and held the position, exposed to a very destructive fire of musketry, grape and canister, until, the enemy having withdrawn to his works, and General Force having gained possession of the hill, I was ordered to retire to the position I originally occupied, which was done steadily and without confusion.

Although the men had no previous notice of the advance, there was no disorder, although it was made over an open field with no protection. I regret to say that. though the engagement lasted but thirty minutes, the loss In officers and men was severe, seventeen enlisted men killed, and four officers and seventy-seven enlisted men wounded,

I cannot close without awarding to the regiment the credit due it for the impetuosity and gallantry of the advance, the stubborness with which it held the position it gained, and the steadiness and good order In which It retired when ordered. I forward herewith a list of the casualties [see note 6].

Respectfully submitted,

WILLIAM A. WALKER,
Major Commanding Thirteenth Iowa Vol. Infantry.


On the next day, July 22, 1864, — a red letter day in the history of the Atlanta campaign and of the war, — the regiment again went into action, this time under the command of Colonel Shane. The desperate character of the fighting in that battle Is best described by the official report of Colonel Shane, which Is here given In full:


HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,
IN THE FIELD NEAR ATLANTA, GA., July 22, 1864.

To Lieut. O. D. Kinsman, A. A. A. G., Third Brigade, Fourth Division, Seventeenth Army Corps.

SIR, — I have the honor to herewith submit my report of the part taken by this regiment in the battle of this day.

At 12 o'clock M. this regiment was In position on the extreme left of the Army of the Tennessee, and in support of the Eleventh and Sixteenth Regiments of Iowa Infantry.

Early in the morning of the 22d, company F had been detailed by orders from Colonel Hall, commanding brigade, as picket, and as soon as skirmishing commenced on the picket line, five more companies were detached by orders from brigade headquarters, two of which were deployed on the right of the Eleventh Iowa Infantry, two on the left of the Sixteenth Iowa Infantry, and one on the left of the Fifteenth Iowa Infantry, respectively supporting the flanks of those regiments, leaving but four companies under my command when the battle commenced.

Immediately after the commencement of the battle, and after it had become apparent that the enemy were approaching in heavy force In front and on each flank, I received orders to move my command to the rear and form in line on the west side of the works occupied by the first brigade, fronting east, from which direction the enemy were then approaching. This movement was made and position occupied in good order, but had Just been completed when I was ordered to form in line facing to the south with my left resting on the rifle-pits, to repel the enemy approaching from the south; this movement was also made, but scarcely had been completed when the enemy attacked us in front and in heavy force on either flank.

Observing that they were getting into the rear and flank of the Fifteenth Iowa, which was on my right, and that that regiment was falling back, leaving my whole line exposed to a front, rear, and enfilading fire, I ordered the command to retire by the left flank across the works, and to form on the north side, fronting west, to repel the anticipated assault of the enemy from that quarter. This movement was effected in comparatively good order, but owing to the numerous detachments. Independent commands, and stragglers, which at that time thronged the road, my regiment was for a short time in some confusion; but order was soon restored, and we formed as directed, but not too soon, as the enemy were then within rifle range and approaching our position from two directions in heavy force, when a well directed fire from the Eleventh, Thirteenth and Fifteenth regiments routed them in confusion and for the time being drove them from that part of the field. No sooner, however, had this been accomplished than the enemy were discovered approaching us from the rear In force, when the command was ordered to take position on the west side of the rifle-pits, face by the rear rank, and repel the enemy attacking from the east. This position was soon occupied, and the enemy came on with shout and cheer, and a fierce and desperate hand to hand fight ensued. In a few moments the enemy were driven from the ground, and fled in disorder.

Their withdrawal from the front was but the signal for a renewed attack from the rear, when the command again crossed the rifle-pits, about faced, and contributed materially in repulsing the enemy for the third time. Thus the contest continued, until the enemy brought to bear on us, at short range, a battery, raking our whole line with grape and canister with terrible effect, when we received orders to take up the position occupied by us on the 21st, where we still are.

The two companies — A and G — detached in the beginning of the contest and posted on the right of the Eleventh Iowa, and the two companies — D and K — detached at the same time and posted on the left of the Sixteenth Iowa, have failed to report; and I regret to say that, from all the Information I have been enabled to obtain in regard to them, I am reluctantly led to the conclusion that about three-fourths of the men composing those companies were, while supporting and bravely fighting side by side with the Eleventh and Sixteenth regiments Iowa Infantry, killed or captured, including all the commissioned officers on duty with them at the time. Our loss in officers and men killed, wounded and missing was very heavy in proportion to the numbers engaged. In the engagement of the 21st, the regiment lost In killed, wounded and missing 94 enlisted men and 5 officers out of 400 officers and men engaged; and in this day's battle our loss in killed, wounded and missing foots up at present 9 officers and 139 enlisted men out of 300 that went into the fight, among whom I regret to say was Major Walker killed, than whom a truer soldier, a cooler officer, a more steadfast friend, and more honest man did not live; his premature and early death has cast a gloom and a shadow over the regiment, and a vacancy has been created that but few men can fill so acceptably, so faithfully and successfully as he. Ever faithful, ever ready, he was always at his post, and was always the same — a soldier and a gentleman.

I cannot close this report without acknowledging my indebtedness to Adjutant Rood, Sergeant Major Myers, and the line officers of the regiment, who ably seconded and assisted in all the movements of the command, and who bore themselves throughout the trying scene as brave men and gallant officers.

And to the non-commissioned officers and enlisted men of the regiment too much credit cannot be awarded. Although repeatedly almost surrounded by overwhelming numbers, and subjected at times to a withering fire of grape, canister and musketry, not one man showed signs of wavering or despair, but on the contrary every man clenched his arms with a determination to repulse the enemy at all hazards [see note 7].

Very respectfully,

JOHN SHANE,
Colonel Commanding Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry.


Again, on July 28th, the Thirteenth, and the little remnant of the Third Iowa Infantry, under the command of Colonel Shane, met the enemy in deadly combat and again nobly maintained the honor of the flag. In his official report of this engagement Colonel Shane makes special mention of the conduct of Captains J. C. Kennedy and John Archer, and commends them for having exhibited the very highest qualities of soldiers and officers, and extols his entire command for bravery and fortitude under the fire of the enemy [see note 8].

Although greatly reduced in numbers, the regiment was constantly on duty during the closing scenes of the campaign, participated in the operations at Jonesboro, Lovejoy and East Point, and, later, in the pursuit of Hood as far as Gaylesville in northeastern Alabama, returning to Marietta, Ga., early in November. The regiment's losses during the campaign aggregated 331, about sixty per cent of the number with which it had entered upon the campaign at Ackworth, Ga., on the 8th of June, 1864. Such is the record of its heroic service during that memorable period of the great struggle for the preservation of the Union.

The original term of service of those who had not re-enlisted being about to expire, they were sent to Chattanooga, Tenn., and were there mustered out of the service on Nov. 2, 1864. Colonel Shane, Adjutant Rood and Quartermaster Kennedy of the Field and Staff and several of the line officers were also mustered out. These officers and men had served their country faithfully for three years, and the beginning of the end of the war was near at hand. While they parted from their comrades of the veteran regiment with regret, it was with a feeling of just pride that they reviewed the glorious record they had helped to make, and they returned with honor to their homes in Iowa. Lieut. Col. J. C. Wilson was promoted to Colonel of the regiment, and other promotions were made to fill vacancies, as shown in the subjoined roster.

From Marietta the regiment moved to Atlanta, and on the 15th of November started on that great march through Georgia to Savannah and the sea. Arrived at Savannah, the regiment took part in the siege operations before that city and, upon its evacuation, it was among the troops that entered the city on the 22d of December, 1864. On Jan. 6, 1865, the regiment embarked on steamer and proceeded to Beaufort, S. C, where it arrived the next day. From Beaufort the regiment marched to Pocotaligo, where it remained until January 29th, when it started on the long and toilsome march through the Carolinas. On the 17th day of February, 1865, a detachment of 75 men of the Thirteenth Iowa, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Kennedy, entered the city of Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, and planted the colors of the regiment on the dome of the Capitol. Continuing the march from Columbia, the regiment reached Bentonville, N. C. It took part in the battle of Bentonville, but was not closely engaged, though it had three men wounded on the skirmish line. This was its last battle.

At Goldsboro, N. C, the regiment found a large number of recruits from Iowa waiting to join it. The long march was continued by way of Raleigh, Petersburg and Richmond, and ended at Alexandria, Va., near Washington, May 19, 1865. A few days later the regiment took its place in line and marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in that magnificent review, the greatest military pageant of modern times. After the review the regiment remained in camp near Washington until June 7th, when it was conveyed by rail to Parkersburg, Va., and thence by steamer to Louisville, Ky., where it remained until July 21, 1865, and on that day was mustered out of the service of the United States. A few days later it was conveyed to Davenport, Iowa, by rail, and there, on the 29th day of July, 1865, the regiment was disbanded and the survivors returned to their homes.

In the subjoined roster will be found a brief personal record of service of every officer and enlisted man of the regiment, in so far as such record was obtainable from the official records in the office of the Adjutant General of the State of Iowa and in the War Department at Washington. The difficulties encountered in making up these revised rosters are explained in the introductory article of this volume. It is particularly to be regretted that the record of battles in which each soldier was engaged could not have been recorded opposite his name in the roster, but, as only the names of those who were killed, wounded, captured or missing, or those who received special mention in the official reports, appear in the records, and as only a minority of those who survived at the close of the war were living at the date this compilation was undertaken, it was found impossible to make these records of personal service as comprehensive as they might have been made had the work been undertaken soon after the close of the war. The compiler, in order to keep within the prescribed limitation of a brief historical sketch, has given only the outlines of the history of this splendid military organization, but he has endeavored to preserve the most conspicuous features of its service.

The State of Iowa sent many regiments into the field during the great War of the Rebellion and, without an exception, they rendered heroic service and reflected great honor upon the Commonwealth. Among them all the record of the Thirteenth Iowa Infantry Volunteers stands conspicuous. None rendered more effective or important service. Those of future generations who can trace their lineage to one of these heroic soldiers may justly claim an ancestry that has no superior among those who have achieved military fame and honor in any age or country. Their loyalty and devotion and the supreme sacrifices they made will not be forgotten while true patriotism and brave deeds are honored among men.


SUMMARY OF CASUALTIES.

Total Enrollment 1788
Killed 74
Wounded 313
Died of wounds 38
Died of disease 186
Discharged for wounds, disease and other causes 306
Captured 88
Transferred 34
Buried in National Cemeteries 185


[Note 1.] War of Rebellion Official Records, Series 1, Part 1, Vol. 10, Page 131.

[Note 2.] War of the Rebellion Official Records, Series 1, Part 1, Vol. 10, Page 124.

[Note 3.] After the close of the war, a semi-military organization, composed of the survivors of this brigade, was organized under the title of "Crocker's Iowa Brigade." This organization is still maintained. It holds biennial re-unions. Gen. W. W. Belknap was its first commander; at his death Col. H. H. Rood succeeded him, and at this date (1908) remains in command of the famous old organization.

[Note 4.] Reports in War of the Rebellion Official Records, Series 1. Part 1, Vol. 17, Pages 358-362.

[Note 5.] See Adjutant General of Iowa Report for year 1865, Vol. 1, Pages 356 to 366 Inclusive.

[Note 6.] Adjutant General's Report 1865, Vol. 2, Page 1080.

[Note 7.] Adjutant General's report 1S65. Vol. 2, Pages 1081-2-3.

[Note 8.] Adjutant General's report 1865, Vol. 2, Page 1083.


SOURCE: Roster & Record of Iowa Soldiers During the War of the Rebellion, Volume 2, p. 553-62

BRIGADIER-GENERAL M. M. CROCKER

FIRST COLONEL, THIRTEENTH INFANTRY.

Marcellus M. Crocker is a native of Johnson county, Indiana, where he was born on the 6th day of February, 1830. At the age of ten years, he accompanied his father's family to Illinois, whence, after a residence of four or five years, he removed to Jefferson county, Iowa. The extent of his early education I have failed to learn; but, at the age of sixteen, he was appointed, through the recommendation of General A. C. Dodge, a cadet in the military academy at West Point. He is not however a graduate of that Institution. After an attendance of some two years and a half, his health failed him, and he was compelled to leave the Academy. Late in 1849, he returned to Iowa, and began the study of law in the office of Judge Olney, at Fairfield. He commenced the practice of his profession in 1851, in the town of Lancaster, Keokuk county, where he remained till the spring of 1855, and then removed to Des Moines, his present home.

General Crocker entered the service as captain of Company D, 2d Iowa Infantry. He had recruited his company in April, 1861, for the three month's service, (as was the case with nearly every captain of the 2d Iowa) but, the State's quota for that term of service having been already filled, he was assigned to the 2d Iowa, and, at the rendezvous of the regiment in Keokuk, was elected its major. With that rank he entered the field. Four months later, he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, vice Tuttle, promoted, and on the 30th of October following, was transferred from his regiment, and made colonel of the 13th Iowa Infantry. In the winter of 1862-3, he was appointed and confirmed a brigadier-general. His promotions were rapid and richly merited; for, with her splendid galaxy of military heroes, Iowa can not boast a better nor truer soldier than General Crocker.

During his colonelcy of the 13th Iowa, General Crocker took part in two engagements — Shiloh and Corinth. In the former, he commanded his regiment, and in the latter the Iowa Brigade — the oldest and not the least distinguished brigade command in the Army of the Tennessee. In the former, his conduct was gallant in the extreme; and how he escaped without injury is really wonderful. I have spoken elsewhere of the confusion that reigned on the field in the afternoon of the first day's battle. At about four and a half o'clock it was at its hight [sic], and was so wild and terrible as to beggar description. At that hour, Colonel Crocker was conspicuous. I am told that his splendid example of courage contributed not a little toward the establishment of the new line, which successfully resisted the enemy's further advance that night. The progress of the battle on the left, I have given in the sketch of Colonel W. G. Williams. To show its opening and progress on the right, I quote from the official report of Colonel Crocker; for that gives the clearest and most intelligible account of any that I have seen:

"Early on the morning of the sixth, the alarm was given, and heavy firing in the distance indicated that our camp was attacked. The regiment was formed in front of its color-line, its full force consisting of seven hundred and seventeen men, rank and file. It was at once ordered to form on the left of the 2d Brigade, and proceeded to that position at a double-quick, and was then formed in line of battle in a skirt of woods, bordering on an open field, to the left of a battery. Here it remained for some time inactive, while the enemy's guns were playing on our battery. In the meantime, a large force of the enemy's infantry were filing around the open field in front of our line, protected by the woods, and in the direction of our battery, opening a heavy fire of musketry on the infantry stationed on our right, and charging upon the battery. The infantry and battery to the right having given way, and the enemy advancing at double-quick, we gave them one round of musketry, and also gave way. At this time we, as indeed all of our troops in the immediate vicinity of the battery, were thrown into great confusion, and retired in disorder. Having retreated to the distance of one or two hundred yards, we succeeded in rallying and forming a good line, the 8th and 18th Illinois volunteers on our left, and, having fronted to the enemy, held our position there under a continual fire of cannon and musketry, until after twelve o'clock, when we were ordered to retire and take up a new position. This we did in good order, and without confusion.

"Here having formed a new line, we maintained it under an incessant fire, until four and a half o'clock, P. M., the men conducting themselves with great gallantry and coolness, and doing great execution on the enemy, repelling charge after charge, and driving them back with great loss. At four and a half o'clock, we were again ordered to fall back. In obeying this order, we became mixed up with a great many other regiments, falling back in confusion, so that our line was broken, and the regiment separated, rendering it very difficult to collect it."

This was the last order to retire that was given that afternoon, and the last ground yielded to the enemy; for the new line, when formed, was held successfully. It should, however, be stated that, it was now near night, and there was little more fighting that evening. It was in this new position that Colonel Hare, of the 11th Iowa, was wounded and retired from the field. During the day, he had commanded the 1st Brigade of McClernand's Division. After he was wounded and left the field, the command of the brigade was then turned over to Colonel Crocker — "his able and gallant successor."

In closing his report of the battle of Shiloh, Colonel Crocker says:

"During the day, we were under- fire of the enemy for ten hours, and sustained a loss of twenty-three killed, and one hundred and thirty wounded.

"On the morning of the 7th, we were ordered to continue with Colonel Tuttle's Division, and to follow up and support our forces that were attacking, and driving back the enemy. We followed them up closely, moving to support the batteries, until the enemy was routed, after which, we were ordered to return to the encampment that we had left on Sunday morning, where we arrived at eight o'clock, P. M. Our total loss in the action of the 6th and 7th is killed, twenty-four; wounded, one hundred and thirty-nine; missing, nine: total, one hundred and seventy-two. The men, for the most part, behaved with great gallantry. All the officers exhibited the greatest bravery and coolness; and I call especial attention to the gallant conduct of my field officers, Lieutenant-Colonel Price and Major Shane, who were both wounded in the action of the 6th, and acknowledge my great obligations to my adjutant, Lieutenant Wilson, who, during the entire action, exhibited the highest qualities of a soldier."

The last gun was fired at Shiloh, before two o'clock in the afternoon of the 7th, and that same evening, the main portion of Grant's army marched back to their former encampments, where, having buried the dead and cared for the wounded, they rested.

Immediately after this engagement, the Iowa Brigade was organized, and placed under the command of Colonel Crocker. It was composed of the 11th, 13th, 15th and 16th Iowa regiments, and afterward, as I have already said, became one of the most distinguished brigade commands in the Army of the Tennessee. Under its first commander, it acquired that discipline and efficiency, for which it was noted under each of the general's successors—Chambers, Hall and Belknap. It has distinguished itself on half a score of battle-fields, and once saved the Army of the Tennessee from calamitous defeat It has a most brilliant record. With this brigade, Colonel Crocker fought at the battle of Corinth; but an account of that engagement will be found In the sketches of other officers.

In the winter of 1862-3, the colonel was made a brigadier-general. His sterling qualities as a soldier, and his continued gallant deportment earned the promotion. After receiving his commission, he continued with his brigade till the latter part of April, 1863, when, by order of General McPherson, he succeeded General Quimby in the command of the 7th Division, 17th Army Corps — the division which fought so gallantly, and lost so heavily at Jackson and Champion's Hill. He joined his division at Bruinsburg, just after it had crossed the Mississippi, and commanded it in the two above engagements.

On the evening of the 13th of May, the 7th Division bivouacked, with its army corps at Clinton, ten miles west of Jackson. The following night it was to camp in Jackson. The character of the country between Clinton and Jackson, the condition of the roads, and the state of the weather on the morning of the 14th instant, I have given elsewhere. Crocker's Division led the advance. This post of honor was granted by McPherson, at the general's own request, which barely anticipated a similar one from Logan. The march was made, and the enemy encountered about two and a half miles west of the city. Their line of battle was along a high ridge, and extended from north to south, as far as the eye could reach. The rain was falling in torrents, and, until it partially ceased, the two armies stood and watched each other. In half an hour it broke away, when General Crocker, pushing forward the 12th Wisconsin Battery, saluted General Johnson. Tuttle's Division of Sherman's Corps, which had in the meantime come up on the south side of the city, opened on the enemy at nearly the same instant. The 2d Iowa Battery, Lieutenant Reed, tired the first gun on the south side of Jackson. The enemy's force was about ten thousand, and the principal portion of it was in Crocker's front; but he pushed his leading brigade, which was drawn up in a continuous line, to the farthest point that afforded cover, and then ordered a charge. It was a magnificent sight, for the conduct of the brigade was magnificent. The battle was bloody, but not protracted: in ten minutes after the order to charge was given, the enemy were fleeing in total rout; nor did they stop until they had crossed Pearl River.

For so great results, the Federal loss was small — only two hundred and eighty-six; but all, except six or eight of the casualties, were from the 2d Brigade of Crocker's Division. The press of Illinois gave Logan the credit of fighting the battle of Jackson. It was all wrong. His command was not under fire; nor did it lose a man, even by a stray shot. The general himself was at the front, where he always was, when there was any fighting to be done; but he was only a spectator. He sat quietly on his horse, caressing his huge mustache, till word came of the flight of the enemy across the river, when he rode into the city. In his official report, General McPherson says: — "Colonel Sanborn was directed to send the flag of one of his regiments, which had borne itself most gallantly in the battle, and place it on the Capitol of the State of Mississippi, and shortly before four o'clock the flag of the 59th Indiana was proudly waving from the dome." The 59th Indiana "bore itself gallantly," but it did not fire a gun at Jackson. The 10th Missouri, 17th Iowa and 80th Ohio made the charge, and captured the city; and why the flag of the 59th first waved from the dome was, the regiments entitled to the honor bad been left on the field, and could not be reached. Had General Crocker delayed five minutes longer, the colors of the 95th Ohio of Tuttle's Division, would have flaunted from the rebel Capitol.

As soon as the fighting was done, General Crocker rode down his line to the 17th Iowa, and to the other regiments of the brigade, and thanked them for their gallantry; and as he looked back on the hill-slope, where were lying the dead and wounded, his eyes filled with tears, and his voice choked with emotion. "Noble fellows," he said, "I am sorry, but we can not help it."

Two days after the battle at Jackson, General Crocker commanded his division at Champion's Hill. His own, with Hovey's and Logan's Divisions, fought that battle — the bitterest of the whole campaign, if we except the charge on the 22d of May; but an account of this engagement has been already given.

In June, 1863, General Crocker came North on sick leave. His health, always bad, had been rendered much worse by the hardships and exposures of the recent campaign, and he accepted his leave, at the urgent request of General Grant. There is a story connected with this sick leave, which illustrates the kind-heartedness of General Grant, and which affords me pleasure to relate. On the return of General Quimby in the latter part of May, he resumed command of his old division, when General Crocker was placed temporarily upon the staff of General Grant. Crocker's tent being near that of Grant, the attention of the latter was attracted by the severe and almost incessant coughing of the former during the night; and, on meeting him the morning after, General Grant said: "General Crocker, was that you whom I heard coughing so last night?" "Yes," replied the general. "Well, then, my dear fellow, you must go straight home, for you will die here."

The general was at his home in Des Moines, at the time the Union Gubernatorial Convention was held in that city. During its session, he visited the hall of the Convention, and the eclat with which he was received, was a flattering testimonial of the esteem in which he was held by his State. He was the choice of the Convention for Governor of Iowa, and was earnestly solicited to accept the nomination; but his answer was: "If a soldier is worth any thing, he can not be spared from the field; and, if he is worthless, he will not make a good Governor." The argument was unanswerable, and his name was reluctantly dropped.

Early in July, 1863, General Crocker returned to the field, and was given a division command, and made Commandant of the District of Natchez. While commanding at Natchez, he made his expedition to Harrisonburg, Louisiana. "The expedition consisted of the following troops: the 2d Brigade, 4th Division, Colonel C. Hall, 14th Illinois, commanding; the 3d Brigade, 4th Division, General W. Q. Gresham commanding; Company F, 3d Illinois Battery, and the l5th Ohio Battery, with the 17th Wisconsin Infantry, mounted, commanded by Colonel Mallory." At Harrisonburg, the enemy were reported in considerable force, and intrenched [sic] in strong works. The object of the expedition was to destroy these works and ordnance property, and capture or disperse the rebel garrison. It resulted in the capture and burning of one small steamer on Black River at Trinity, the capture and destruction of Fort Beauregard at Harrisonburg, the destruction of all ammunition and six pieces of artillery; and the capture of about twenty prisoners and two six-pound brass cannon. There was no battle — only trifling skirmishing.

In the fall of 1863, General Crocker returned to Vicksburg, where he joined Sherman on the Meridian march. In the following Spring, he joined his corps (the 17th) in its march across the country to Georgia; but, on account of ill health, was relieved, and, early in the summer of 1864, was tendered a command in New Mexico, with head-quarters at Fort Sumner. Believing the climate would be beneficial to his health, the general accepted this command, since which time he has served in that department.

General Crocker is about five feet ten inches in hight, with a slender, nervous form, which can never pass one unnoticed. He has a passionate temper, and is plain-spoken, often saying things which, in his calmer moments, he would leave unsaid.

His mode of discipline is severe and uncompromising, and a careless blunder he would never excuse. On one occasion, while in command of the Iowa Brigade, a general review was ordered, and great pains was taken to avoid all mistakes. One can imagine then what must have been the general's mortification to see Colonel ____, of his leading regiment, ride past the reviewing officer, with his sword at a protracted "present." That was bad enough; but next followed Colonel ____, whose regiment passed with arms at a "right-shoulder-shift." When the review was over, the regimental commanders were summoned to the general's head-quarters, when, beginning with the chief in rank, he administered the following rebuke: — "Now, Sir, aren't you a pretty man — and pretend to be a military man—and educated at a military school! " " But—" (began the colonel, wishing to apologize) "Hush up, Sir. I'm doing the talking here." It all ended in a friendly chat, and in an order for a new review; and there was no more mistakes.

As a military man, General Crocker has been pre-eminently successful, not only as a disciplinarian, but as a bold and able leader. As a division commander, he has no superior in the State, and, what is a little remarkable, this fact is universally conceded.

Nor was the general less successful as a civilian, than he has been as a soldier. Though young, he ranked, at the time of entering the service, among the best lawyers of Des Moines — the city which boasted one of the ablest bars in the State. C. C. Cole, (now Judge of the State Supreme Court) J. A. Kasson, (now Congressman from the 5th District) C. C. Nourse, (Attorney General of the State) T. F. Withrow, (State Supreme Court Reporter) P. M. Cassady, (General Crocker's law-partner) General Williamson, Polk, Jewett, W. W. Williamson, Finch, St. John, Ellwood, Rice, Clark, Mitchell, Ingersoll, Smith, Phillips, White, McKay and Brown, was Des Moines' roll of attorneys in the spring of 1861, and of these the general ranked among the very best, as an advocate and circuit practitioner. Some say that, in these respects, he led the Des Moines Bar.

SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 255-64

COLONEL JOSEPH JACKSON WOODS

TWELFTH INFANTRY.

J. J. Woods, of the 12th Iowa Infantry, has a checkered history, which will be read with interest. He is a native of Ohio, and was born in Brown county, the 11th day of January, 1823. In 1833, he removed with his father's family to Rush county, Indiana, whence, after a residence of two years, he returned to his native county.

Colonel Woods is a West Point graduate. Having completed his preparatory course at Augusta College, Kentucky, he entered the West Point Military Academy in 1843. He was a successful scholar, and graduated in 1847, the third in his class. Receiving a 2d lieutenant's commission in the 1st United States Artillery, he sailed, on the 10th of October, 1847, under orders for Vera Cruz; but, on the fourth day out, the vessel on which he had taken passage was wrecked near the Great Bahama. After several days of peril and hardship, he reached Nassau, New Providence, and sailed thence to Charleston, South Carolina, where he passed several weeks with a former class-mate, by the name of Blake. Re-embarking again for Vera Cruz, he reached that place on the 5th of January, 1848. In August of the same year, after having had yellow fever, he was recalled and ordered to report at Governor's Island, New York Harbor. He was promoted to a 1st lieutenancy the 29th of October, 1848, and soon after sailed with Companies L and M of his regiment for Oregon: these were the first troops sent by our Government to that Territory. He remained in Oregon till the winter of 1853; and, during his stay in the Territory, was stationed at Fort Vancouver, Astoria, and Middle Oregon. At the last named place he had command of the Dalles. In the winter of 1853, he was ordered to New York City on recruiting service, where he remained till the following October, when he resigned his commission. Soon after, he purchased a farm in Jackson county, Iowa, on which he has since resided.

In August, 1861, Colonel Woods was tendered the lieutenant-colonelcy of the 9th Iowa Infantry; but this position he declined, and was, on the 23d of the following October, commissioned colonel of the 12th. From that date till the expiration of his three year's term of service, he served in command, either of his regiment, or of the brigade to which it was attached. He left the army in the fall of 1864, with the respect and good-will of his regiment, and with the high personal consideration of his superior officers. His services merited recognition at Washington; but, with him as with some others, modesty blocked the wheels of promotion.

The 12th Iowa Infantry, like the other Iowa regiments which were captured with it in the first day's battle at Shiloh, has a bright record. Its first battle was Fort Donelson. It had been present at the capture of Fort Henry; but, like the other infantry troops, took no part. The late gallant Admiral Foote captured Fort Henry with his three wooden and four iron-clad gun-boats, and received the surrender of General Tilghman ; and no one will dispute with him that honor.

General Smith, in whose command was the 12th Iowa, operated on the bluffs on the west bank of the Tennessee, and General McClernand, on the east. Had McClernand moved two hours sooner, he would have invested the fort, and captured five thousand prisoners; but he floundered in miry swamps, and nearly the entire rebel garrison escaped to Fort Donelson before he came up. It was said the blunder was General Grant's; but, if it was, he retrieved it a few days after at Fort Donelson.

After the fall of Fort Henry, the 12th Iowa, with its division, marched across the country to the rear of Fort Donelson, on the Cumberland. The distance is twelve miles. One strong and important point in the long line of rebel defenses — that line extending from Bowling Green, Kentucky, down past Fort Donelson and Fort Henry, and across the country to Columbus — had been wrested from the enemy. Fort Donelson captured, and the country south, to the vicinity of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, including the city of Nashville and the railroad connecting Bowling Green with Columbus, must be yielded by the Confederates. Columbus, too, must be evacuated, and the Mississippi abandoned as far south as Memphis. Then, with prompt and energetic movement on the part of the Federal forces, the Memphis and Charleston Railroad could be cut, the strategic point of Corinth occupied, and Kentucky and West Tennessee restored to Federal authority. The issue at Fort Donelson was therefore watched with impatience and anxiety.

General Grant, with the divisions of Smith and McClernand, arrived in rear of Fort Donelson in the evening of the 12th of February, 1862. That night the troops slept on their arms, as they also did on every subsequent night, until the fort capitulated. The division of Smith, filing to the left from the Dover road, swung round against the enemy's right, and that of McClernand, filing to the right, formed line in front of the enemy's left. The right and left of these divisions remained connected; for the division of General Wallace, which was to occupy the centre, had not yet arrived, but was on its way up the Cumberland River. The 12th Iowa was still under Smith, and was attached to the 3d Brigade, commanded by Colonel J. Cook. The 4th Brigade of the same division, in which were the 2d, 7th, and 14th Iowa regiments, was next on the left and constituted both the left of the division and the left of the Federal forces.

"Thursday morning, at half past eight o'clock, (I quote from Colonel Woods' report) we marched down to, and up the Dover road about half a mile, when we filed to the left, and formed line of battle: threw forward the flanking companies as skirmishers, and marched forward down a long slope that lay in front, the grape, shot and shell of the enemy flying thickly around us all the time. Our skirmishers advanced to the top of the hill that lay in front of us. The battalion halted at two-thirds of the distance to the top of the hill, where it was protected from the enemy's fire by the ridge in front." This position was held by the 12th Iowa the following night; and that night and the following one will never be forgotten by the regiment. A fierce north-east storm set in late in the afternoon, and raged with great fury, and the men, though drenched with the rain, and chilled with the cold, were allowed no fires, and suffered most bitterly. That morning the 12th Iowa had lost its first man killed in battle — private Edward C. Buckner. He was shot through the head on the skirmish line, and killed instantly. In the wet and cold of the following night, the sad event was talked over by the men, and they wondered who would be the next to fall.

The entire day of the 14th, (Friday) and the forenoon of the following, were passed by the 12th Iowa in skirmishing with the enemy; and, during this time, the regiment was gallantly supported by the 50th Illinois, and by Birge's Sharpshooters. No assaults were attempted on Friday, for the division of General Wallace, and the gun-boat fleet had not yet come up. The fighting on the south side of Fort Donelson closed about noon on Saturday, the 15th instant; when the enemy, having routed McClernand, returned to their works in triumph. It was at this hour that General Pillow sent his laconic report to Nashville: "On the honor of a soldier, the day is ours." "At about two o'clock in the afternoon of Saturday, the 12th Iowa, 50th Illinois, and Birge's Sharp-shooters were ordered to make a feint-attack, to draw the enemy's fire. The men went cheerfully to the work assigned them; and kept up a warm fire on the enemy, while Colonel Lauman's brigade, on our left, advanced on the enemy, and got possession of a part of the enemy's outer works, and hoisted thereon the American flag." From that hour until night-fall, the 12th Iowa was sharply engaged, and during that time, the regiment suffered nearly its entire loss. It moved to the support of Colonel Tuttle by the left flank, and, marching through the deep ravine in its front, and over the fallen timber, arrived at the top of the hill, just as the 25th Indiana commenced falling back. The regiment entered the rebel works to the right of Colonel Tuttle, and held its position till morning, when the Fort and its garrison were surrendered.

The casualties of the regiment in this engagement were thirty—all, with the exception of three, being sustained on Saturday afternoon. Two only were killed. Among the wounded, was Lieutenant-Colonel Coulter, who "behaved with the utmost coolness and bravery, and performed his duties regardless of the danger to which he was exposed." Major Brodtbeck and Surgeon Parker received special mention for their good conduct. "Every commissioned officer performed his duty without flinching." Sergeant-Major Morrisy, and Color-bearer Sergeant Grannis, and many others, deserve special mention for their coolness and gallantry. Privates Buckner and Stillman were the two men killed: the former was shot in the eye, and the latter in the right temple. With the exception of the 2d Iowa Infantry, no troops are entitled to more credit, for the part they sustained in the capture of Fort Donelson, than this regiment.

The next engagement of the 12th Iowa was Shiloh, where, for holding its position too long, it was captured. It has been matter of wonder why General Grant and Admiral Foote, after the fall of Fort Donelson, did not push on directly to Nashville. The people of that city, and the rebel troops there stationed, would be in the utmost consternation; and it was believed that the place could be occupied with little or no opposition. Both Grant and Foote appreciated the situation, and were anxious to advance against the city; but Halleck, the general commanding the Department, would not give his consent. They called him the old wheel-horse. Some said he was good only on the hold-back, and, to succeed, he must have a down-hill enterprise. As it was, the enemy, in their mad fright, destroyed some two million dollars' worth of property which might have been appropriated by the Government. General Johnson's army, too, on the march from Bowling Green, might probably have been captured. A week after the fall of Fort Donelson, General Buel [sic] occupied Nashville; after which, General Grant proceeded up the Tennessee River to Savannah and Pittsburg Landing.

At the battle of Shiloh, the 12th Iowa was attached to the 1st Brigade, 2d Division, commanded by General Wallace. General Smith was absent at Paducah. Colonel, afterwards General Tuttle commanded the brigade. The part taken by the regiment in this engagement is elsewhere given. It formed a part of that line which, though at last broken, was held with such obstinacy as to save Grant's army from total rout.

After receiving orders to fall back, Colonel Woods says, in his official report:

"Seeing ourselves surrounded, we nevertheless opened a brisk fire on that portion of the enemy who blocked our passage to the Landing, who, after briskly returning our fire for a short time, fell back. A brisk fire from the enemy on our left was going on at the same time. Seeing the enemy in front falling back, we attempted, by a rapid movement, to cut our way through; but the enemy on our left advanced rapidly, coming in behind us, pouring into our ranks a most destructive fire. The enemy in front faced about, and opened on us at short range, the enemy in our rear still closing in on us rapidly. I received two wounds, disabling me from further duty. The command then devolved on Captain Edgington, acting as field officer. The enemy had, however, already so closely surrounded us that their balls, which missed our men, took effect in their ranks beyond us. To have held out longer would have been to suffer complete annihilation. The regiment was therefore compelled to surrender as prisoners of war."

The regiment's list of casualties was great, though the exact number I am unable to give. The killed and wounded numbered about one hundred and fifty. Of the conduct of his regiment, Colonel Woods says: — "Captains Earle, Warner, Stibbs, Haddock, Van Duzee and Townsley performed well their part, as did all the lieutenants in the action, in a prompt and willing manner. The non-commissioned officers and men stood bravely up to their work, and never did men behave better." Lieutenants Ferguson and Moir, two brave and worthy officers, were both killed. As already stated, Colonel Woods was twice wounded, and taken prisoner. He was shot through the left leg and right hand. The former wound disabled him, so that he could not march to the rear with the other prisoners, and the fortunes of the following day restored him to liberty; for he was re-captured by our forces. Over four hundred of the 12th Iowa were captured, and, of these, eighty died in Southern prisons. That is the saddest page in the history of this noble regiment.

The 12th Iowa was re-organized in the winter of 1862-3, that portion of it which had been captured having been previously exchanged. The regiment was again led to the front by its unassuming colonel, and assigned to the 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 15th Army Corps. The command of the brigade was given to Colonel Woods. A detailed account of the movements of the regiment need not be given here; for a full history of operations in the rear of Vicksburg will be found elsewhere.

The 12th marched with its corps from Milliken's Bend, via Grand Gulf to Jackson, and thence to the rear of Vicksburg, where it participated in the long and arduous siege. On the fall of that city, it marched back with Sherman to Jackson, and, after the flight of Johnson, assisted in the almost total destruction of the place.

The regiment's next important services were rendered in Northern Mississippi, in the spring of 1864; though I should not omit to state that it marched with Sherman on his trip to Meridian.

It re-enlisted as a veteran regiment, in the winter of 1863-4, and came North on veteran furlough; after which, it was assigned to the command of General A. J. Smith, and, under that general, fought at the battle of Tupelo, July 14th, 1864. Its conduct in this engagement, and in saving Smith's train from capture and burning the day before, between Pontotoc and Tupelo, made it one of the star regiments of the expedition.

The previous reverses, sustained by the army stationed at and near Memphis, under General Sturgis, are stated in the sketches of other officers. The expedition in question left La Grange, on the line of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, on the 5th of July, 1864; and, proceeding in a southeasterly direction, passed through Ripley and Pontotoc, and thence on to Tupelo. The heat and the dust rendered the march extremely painful and exhausting; but the brave men endured the hardships with great fortitude, for they were to retrieve our arms in that quarter from disgrace.

On the 13th instant, the 12th Iowa was assigned the duty of guarding the supply-train, a task which was not without its dangers, and which, on account of the hilly and timbered country through which the march lay, required the greatest vigilance. The country, too, was full of scouting parties of the enemy. Early in the afternoon, Lieutenant-Colonel Stibbs, commanding the regiment, was informed by one of his flankers that, the enemy's cavalry, in large force, were advancing rapidly through the timber on his right. It proved to be Maley's Mississippi Brigade. Learning their intended point of attack, the colonel threw his regiment in their front, and, concealing his men in the dense brush, ordered them to hold their fire till they received the proper command. Soon, the enemy came dashing through the woods, firing their carbines, and shouting like demons. They were allowed to approach within less than twenty paces, when a well-directed volley from the regiment checked them, and a second one drove them back in confusion, with the loss of their colors. They continued a scattering fire for fifteen or twenty minutes, and then retired.

In this affair, the loss of the 12th Iowa was one man killed, and twelve wounded. Among the latter, was Captain C. L,. Lumbardo. The battle of Tupelo opened the next morning.

On Thursday, the 14th instant, Smith's army was put under arms at three o'clock in the morning, and was soon after marched out and formed in line, on the right of the Pontotoc road. The position of the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, to which was attached the 12th Iowa, was as follows: "On the extreme right was stationed the 6th Indiana Battery, four guns; next in line, on the left, was the 33d Wisconsin, of the 4th Brigade; next, the 33d Missouri; next, the 2d Iowa Battery, four guns, commanded by Lieutenant J. Reed; and on the left of the brigade, in the most advanced position of our front line of battle, was the 12th Iowa, the 7th Minnesota being in reserve."

Immediately after the line was formed, skirmishers were thrown out; and soon, the enemy, moving from their cover in the timber, appeared in force, and formed for the encounter. The battle opened with artillery, which was fired with great rapidity and precision. The range was short, and the screeching [sic] of shells, and the whistling of grape and canister, was frightful. In the meantime, the enemy pushed their infantry forward, and engaged the whole Federal front. The 12th Iowa was protected by an old fence thrown down for a barricade, from behind which it did terrible execution, repelling every rebel assault. And thus the fighting continued for upward of two hours, when the regiment, having exhausted its ammunition, was sent to the rear. In half an hour, it returned with replenished cartridge..boxes, and, taking up its former position, again engaged the enemy. As the battle progressed, the enemy made charge after charge, confident of victory. They would approach within fifty yards of the Federal line, when, met by terrible volleys of canister and musketry, they would stagger for a moment, and then retire precipitately. To whip Smith's forces, was to be a "fore-breakfast spell"; but they must have thought their breakfast a long way off. Finally, they were charged in turn by the 12th Iowa in the van, the 35th Iowa, the 33d Missouri, the 33d Wisconsin and two companies of the 7th Minnesota. They could not face the valor of these veterans, and fled to the woods, leaving the bloody field in possession of the Federal forces. Nor did they return that day to renew the contest.

Of the second day's fight, and of the results of both days' battles, Lieutenant-Colonel Stibbs says:

"On the morning of the l5th instant my regiment was assigned a position to the left of the Pontotoc road, and formed the left centre of the brigade line. We had a substantial breastwork of cotton-bales in our front, which served as an admirable protection against the enemy's sharp-shooters. We took full part in the fight and charge of the day, losing one man killed and three wounded. Our loss during the three days' fighting was one officer and eight men killed, one officer and fifty-four men wounded, and one man missing."

Lieutenant A. A. Burdick, acting regimental quarter-master, was killed by a shell, while assisting to bring forward ammunition. He was a gallant young officer, and held in the highest esteem by his regiment. Sergeant Robert Fowler and Corporal G. R. Holden were also killed.

Being without supplies, General Smith could not continue the pursuit; and he therefore moved back in the direction of Memphis. Indeed, I am informed that the object of the expedition was accomplished on the battle-field of Tupelo — Forest and his command had been routed. The enemy's cavalry followed on the return as far as Oldtown Creek, giving the rear guard much trouble; but so skillfully and successfully was the march conducted, that not a single wagon of the long train was lost. The expedition arrived at La Grange on the 20th instant; and from that point all the wounded were sent forward to Memphis.

The entire Federal loss in the fighting at Tupelo was about six hundred, while the enemy's was estimated at not less than two thousand.

After General Smith's operations against Price in Missouri, in which the 12th Iowa took part, we next find the regiment with that general before Nashville. In the battles fought south of the last named city, it figured conspicuously; and its gallantry became the more noted, from the fact that it went into the fight without a single line officer: each company was commanded by a sergeant. Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. Stibbs commanded the regiment, and Captain, now Major Knee was acting major — both brave and true men. The regiment's conduct at Nashville is deserving of the greatest praise; for its colors were among the first to be placed upon the enemy's strong redoubts. It accomplished much, with but small loss — two killed and eighteen wounded. The 12th Iowa last operated with General Smith, in the reduction of Mobile, or rather the strong forts, by which that city was defended.

Colonel Woods has a slender, stooping form, brown hair, a light complexion, and mild, blue eyes. He is, in appearance and in fact, the most unassuming of the Iowa colonels. He speaks slowly and kindly, and was accustomed to give his commands with great coolness and deliberation. The officers and men of his regiment at first thought he lacked style and energy; but they soon learned he possessed great worth as a commanding officer. He is the farthest removed from every thing that distinguishes regular army officers.

SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 243-54

2nd Iowa Light Artillery

Organized in Iowa at large and mustered in at Council Bluffs, Ia., August 18, 1861. Ordered to St. Louis, Mo., October, 1861, and duty at Benton Barracks till February, 1862. Attached to Dept. of Missouri to March, 1862. Artillery Division, Army of Mississippi, to April, 1862. 3rd Division, Army of Mississippi, to April, 1862. Artillery, 2nd Division, Army of Mississippi, to October, 1862. Artillery, District of Corinth, to November, 1862. Artillery, 2nd Brigade, 8th Division, 13th Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. Artillery, 2nd Brigade, 8th Division, 16th Corps, to April, 1863. Artillery, 3rd Division, 15th Corps, to December, 1863. Artillery, 1st Division, 16th Corps, to December, 1864. Artillery, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division (Detachment), Army of Tennessee, Dept. of the Cumberland, to February, 1865. Artillery, 1st Division, 16th Corps, Military Division West Mississippi, to March, 1865. Artillery Brigade, 16th Corps, to August, 1865.

SERVICE.--Moved to Commerce, Mo., February 26, 1862. Operations against New Madrid, Mo., March 6-15. Actions at New Madrid March 3-4 and 13. Operations against Island No. 10 and pursuit to Tiptonville March 15-April 8. Riddell's Point March 18. Tiptonville April 8. Expedition to Fort Pillow, Tenn., April 13-17. Moved to Hamburg Landing, Tenn., April 18-22. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Action at Farmington May 9. Occupation of Corinth and pursuit to Booneville May 30-June 12. Expedition to Rienzi June 30-July 1. Duty there till August 18. March to Tuscumbia August 18-22. Moved to Iuka September 8-12. Battle of Iuka September 19. Battle of Corinth October 3-4. Pursuit to Ripley October 5-12. At Corinth till November 2. Moved to Grand Junction November 2. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign November, 1862, to January, 1863. At LaGrange and Germantown, Tenn., till March 14. Moved to Memphis, thence to Young's Point, La., March 14-29. At Duckport till May. Moved to join army in rear of Vicksburg, Miss., May 2-14. Mississippi Springs May 13. Jackson May 14. Siege of Vicksburg May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. Expedition to Mechanicsburg May 26-June 4. Satartia June 4. Advance on Jackson July 5-10. Siege of Jackson July 10-17. At Big Black till November. Expedition to Canton October 14-20. Bogue Chitto Creek October 17. Ordered to Memphis, Tenn., November 7, and guard Memphis & Charleston Railroad at La-Grange till February, 1864. Ordered to Vicksburg, Miss. Meridian Campaign February 6-March 2. Return to Memphis and duty there till September. Sturgis' Expedition to Ripley April 30-May 9. Smith's Expedition to Tupelo, Miss., July 5-21. Camargo's Cross Roads, near Harrisburg, July 13. Harrisburg, near Tupelo, July 14-15. Old Town Creek July 15. Smith's Expedition to Oxford, Miss., August 1-30. Tallahatchie River August 7-9. Hurricane Creek August 13-14. Mower's Expedition up White River to Duvall's Bluff, Ark., September 1-7. March through Arkansas and Missouri in pursuit of Price September 17-November 16. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., November 24-December 1. Battle of Nashville December 15-16. Pursuit of Hood December 17-28. At Eastport, Miss., till February, 1865. Moved to New Orleans, La., February 9-22. Campaign against Mobile and its defences March 17-April 12. Siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely March 26-April 8. Fort Blakely April 9. Occupation of Mobile April 12. March to Montgomery April 13-25. Duty there and at Meridian, Miss., till August. Mustered out August 7, 1865.

Battery lost during service 3 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 29 Enlisted men by disease. Total 32.

SOURCE: Dyer , Frederick H., A Compendium Of The War Of The Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1164