Showing posts with label 2nd IL CAV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2nd IL CAV. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Diary of 1st Lieutenant Joseph Stockton, November 1, 1862

On the afternoon of October 23rd we left Columbus by boat on an expedition, destination unknown until we reached New Madrid, Missouri. The force consisted of Companies A, C, I and H. under my command and two sections of Captain Rodgers' Battery, 2d Ill. Artillery. At New Madrid we were joined by Captain Moore's Company of Cavalry (2d Ill.), the whole being under command of Captain Rodgers. We arrived at New Madrid in the morning, disembarked and at once proceeded on our march toward a place called Clarkson where there was a lot of rebels encamped. It was a beautiful day, the sun shone warm and pleasant. We marched about eighteen miles and it being the first march for most of the men, they had blistered feet, but they kept up well. We reached the beginning of the plank road that leads through cypress swamps and through sunken lands which were caused by a great earthquake years before. Although the day had been so pleasant yet it commenced raining at night, and as we had to go without fires it got to be very cold; toward morning it commenced snowing. We started at 2 o'clock a. m. To prevent any noise they left the artillery horses behind and the infantry pulled the guns with ropes while the cavalry led their horses alongside the road. Captain Moore had sent some men forward who had captured the rebel picket, and who, not dreaming of an enemy being so near, had gone into an old log house to keep warm. To me it was a romantic scene; although a bright night the snow was falling lightly, the bright barrels of the guns of the men shining; the quietness of the scene only broken by the tread of the men, the rumbling of the artillery wheels, the cracking of the broken wood caused by the cavalry horses tramping on it; and the danger ahead, made it all most interesting. We reached the town about daybreak and found the rebels asleep. The artillery was posted on the hill commanding the town, while the infantry and cavalry were dispersed so as to surround it. All at once the artillery opened on the barracks and soon the most astonished set of Rebs you ever saw came tumbling out not knowing which way to run. They mounted their horses without any bridles, nothing but the halter, and soon came rushing toward the lane where I had my men posted. We gave them a volley which brought them to a halt and surrender. The fun was soon over and we commenced to gather up our prisoners, our Surgeon Powell doing what he could for the wounded, and the men catching horses, we were soon on our retreat. The artillery horses had been brought up and were hitched to the artillery. I never saw such a cavalcade before—the artillery going ahead, one of the cannons in a wagon, it having been dismounted by its carriage being broken. A company of infantry mounted on horses and mules, then the prisoners surrounded by a guard, then more mounted infantry and lastly, the cavalry. Several houses had been set on fire and women were screaming and crying because their husbands, brothers or sons were being taken away. We camped about ten miles from Clarkson that night, reached New Madrid the next night and Columbus the following day. An incident occurred at Clarkson that may not be to my discredit to relate. In firing into the barracks of the rebels a number of houses were struck by shells which frightened the women and children almost to death. I saw a number of them running out of a house, the children in their bare feet. I ordered my men to keep quiet and went to the women and told them I would help them with their children and lifted a couple in my arms; the poor things were frightened but I told them I would not hurt them; while doing this the shell from our artillery was falling thick around us, but I could not see women and children suffer without helping them.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 3-4

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Major-General Edward O. C. Ord to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, June 24, 1863

HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
June 24, 1863.

Colonel Bush, Second Illinois Cavalry, reports, "Our pickets report that the rebels were at work at Baldwin's Ferry last night." I shall ascertain whether it is true or not. If they are preparing to cross, I will send notice.

E. O. C. ORD,        
Major-General.
General GRANT.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 2 (Serial No. 37), p. 209

Monday, October 21, 2019

Special Dispatch to the Republican, February 9, 1862

FORT HENRY, February 9.

Gen. GRANT has just returned, with his staff, from making an extensive reconnoissance.  He had with him Cols. WEBSTER and McPHERSON, Engineers in Chief.

All the roads were thoroughly examined, and found to be much better than anticipated.  It will be easy to move on the Dover Road, which leads to Fort Donelson, and artillery can be taken along with comparative ease.

Three large iron works are situated near here; the most extensive being the La Grange.

A body of the Second cavalry, under Major Mudd, have just returned from a scouting expedition.  They bring with them thirty secession solders, taken in the skirmish.  Five of the enemy were left dead and one of our men.  A good many fine horses were captured.  The prisoners refuse to reveal anything in regard to affairs at Fort Donelson, but other reports state the garrison there very strong; in a better position and more capable of resistance than those were at Fort Henry.

Reinforcments are constantly arriving and the rebels cannot be less than 12,000 in number.  They have two small forts and three camps, several hundred yards away from the main fortification.

The timber is felled for a mile around, and every exertion is being made to resist desperately.  A much greater battle than that at Fort Henry may be expected.

Gen. PILLOW, from Columbus, is reported in command, and some of the best artillerists from the latter place have just arrived there.

One of the prisoners said that BEAUREGARD has assured them they would be sufficiently assisted.

All the rebels thus far captured have been sometimes, but seldom, being cut in the military style.  They have an abundance of food.

The gunboats Conestoga and Lexington have not yet returned from their cruise up the Tennessee river.

Capt. LAGON, of Gen. GRANT’s staff, has just arrived from an expedition on the steamer B. Up the river, Bring a Southern mail and other important matter.  Also four wagons, some powder, mules, &c., found in a deserted camp.

The following dispatches, saying a great deal in a little, are to be sent to night to Washington, in regard to the confirmation of Gen. SMITH’s nomination as Brigadier General.

To. Hon. E. B. Washburne, Washington City:

By all means get the Senate to re consider Gen. SMITH’s confirmation—there is no doubt of his loyalty and efficiency.  We can’t spare him now

U. S. GRANT, Brig. Gen.

Having entire confidence in Gen. GRANT’S representation, I take great pleasure in cocuring in his recommendation.

JOHN A. McCLERNAND,  
Brig. Gen. Commanding First Division.

SOURCE:  “Special Dispatch to the Republican,” The Missouri Republican, St. Louis, Missouri, Tuesday Morning, February 11, 1862, p. 3.

Special Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune, February 9, 1862

FORT HENRY, Tenn., February 9, 1862
Via. Cairo, the 11th.

A force of the 2nd Illinois cavalry under Major Mudd, made a reconnoissance to-day in the direction of Fort Donelson.  An advance guard of some forty men, encountered a superior number of the rebel cavalry about seven miles on the main road to Dover.  Capt. Brink, ordnance officer, who accompanied the command, with Carson, were in the advance, and discovered the enemy and gave notice to our cavalry who were feeding some distance in the rear.  The rebels advanced on our small force and gave them battle to a cross road.  Some 20 more of our cavalry coming up to the assistance of our struggling little band, the enemy turned and took to flight with a loss of 5 killed and 23 prisoners, among whom was the captain of the rebel band.  Our loss was 1 man wounded and 1 horse killed.

Gen. Grant and staff to-day, also made a reconnoissance to within 4 miles of Fort Donelson, and a complete knowledge of the roads was obtained.

The Reconnoitering transport steamer H. H. Brown, in charge of Capt. Logan, aid to Gen. Grant, with Col. Riggins and Col. A. H. Markland, the military Mail Agent accompanying the army, made another trip to-day to the railroad bridge across the river at Danville, where a large quantity of army stores, wagons, hides and numerous other articles of value were obtained.

From All appearances in every direction from the Fort, the rebel retreat assumed a complete panic and stampede.  At Danville the quarters of the troops gave evidence that they fled while in the act of preparing either dinner or supper.  The cooking utensils contained the allowance of their morsel.  Beds and cabin furniture were strewn about in reckless confusion, and terror and dismay seem to have filled the breast of the occupants.

An unfinished letter from a soldier to his sister, was found, dated the 6th, (the day of the battle) which stated that the 7th regiment left there the night previous for the fort leaving every room for the conclusion that actual force at this place on the day of the capture of this Fort was not less than 12,000.

Col. Markland, by order of Gen. Grant, took possession of eleven bags of mail matter at Danville and closed the office yesterday.

Gen. Grant and staff visited Danville and took possession of a large amount of property of the same character as that taken to-day, besides the ferry steamer J. M. Martin, which was brought down to this point.

The bridge is a magnificent structure of about 1200 feet in length, besides about 400 feet of trestle work.  The piers of the spans, some nine in number, are built of granite, and in the strongest manner.  The trestle work has been partly destroyed to its being used by rebels.

Reinforcements are arriving very rapidly.  The 14th Iowa, the 13th Missouri, a battalion of Birge’s sharpshooters, the 43rd and 17th Illinois regiments, all arrived during last night and to-day.

The gunboats which went up the river after the capture of the fort have not yet been heard from.

SOURCE: “Special Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune,” Chicago Daily Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, Wednesday, February 12, 1862

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Captain Charles Wright Wills: December 8, 1862

Provost Marshal's Office, 4th Division,
Army of the Tennessee, near Tallahatchie, Miss.,
December 8, 1862.

Still we tarry by the wayside anxiously awaiting the order to move forward. We did provide three days' rations once, but devoured them without leaving camp. Two divisions, McKean’s and Ross’, have left here, while the remainder of the army has pushed onward. We hear of the advance skirmishing 50 miles in front of us. Think the main force is at Oxford, about 25 miles from here. We're probably waiting for the railroad to be repaired so that supplies can be furnished us when we move. The retreating Rebels destroyed every culvert and bridge as they fell back, and it of course takes time to rebuild so many. The road is not yet in running order to Holly Springs, and everything has to be wagoned to the army, which but a very little rain in this country makes impossible. We suffered three days of cold, drizzling rain last week which most effectually blockaded the roads, but the last three days have been beautifully clear, etc., and travel is again resumed. We will change camp to-morrow to improve our water facilities, probably moving four or five miles back toward Holly Springs. One mile northward is harder to travel than 10 in the opposite direction. My whole company is detached from the regiment as provost guard. It relieves us from picket duty, fatigue, etc., gives us officers' quarters in a house (there are a sofa, two rocking chairs, soft-bottomed chairs, a library, feather bed, etc., in the room I am now writing in and occupy). I've soldiered long enough to never refuse these little good things Providence throws in my way. The detail is permanent, but suppose I can get back to my regiment when I feel disposed. The 7th Cavalry had a little skirmish in front a day or two since; Coe, and a number of others were taken prisoners. Nelson was a prisoner once, I hear, but was retaken by his men, or the 2d Illinois Cavalry. Rumor has it to-day, that our forces have possession of Jackson, Miss., and have captured 3,000 of General Holmes' Army, which was attempting to reinforce Pemberton. Don't think the rumor worth doubting, unless McClernand has got within striking distance. Can't hear a word from his expedition. Wonder what the deuce Banks is going to try to do. Hope we won't fool away his time and the lives of his men in Texas. We've had enough of those coast expeditions. The one under Butler was the only one that paid expenses. Burnside is beaten badly. Will bet that another change of base will be necessary before Richmond is ours. We're out of all patience with that army. We are slow enough in all reason, but they certainly beat us crawling, wonderfully, making slowness the gage. Our men are using this country awfully rough. Such animals as chickens, fences, swine, etc., are entirely unseeable and unfindable within 15 miles of where our camp has been this last week. This alone is not so bad; but if you wink at this amount of license in soldiers, they go farther and insult and almost scare to death women and children, all citizens indiscriminately. Guess that 'tis the intention of the general commanding to reform this matter. Says he is going to hold company officers responsible for the conduct of their men and punish officers, not soldiers, hereafter for outrages committed. I send my boys out as patrols, and whenever they catch a man with poultry or meat of any kind they relieve him thereof, take him under guard to his regimental commander, and Company G eats up the chickens or pork, or potatoes, of course; so you see this provost duty is not so bad as it might be on us. I have also in my charge 35 Rebel prisoners, Louisianians and North Carolinians. Price had three Kentucky regiments, but they have nearly all deserted him, hundreds have taken the oath at different points along our line and gone to their homes. I have an old negro here now that I wish I could send to you to cut the wood and do your errands. He is 63 years old, but is good for twenty years yet.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 133-4

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Brigadier-General Nathan Kimball, June 4, 1863

NEAR VICKSBURG, MISS., June 4, 1863.

Brig. Gen. NATHAN KIMBALL, Commanding Advance Forces:

I have just received information that a portion of Johnston's force has gone into Yazoo City. In penetrating north, therefore, the cavalry going in advance will be in danger of having their rear cut off by this force closing in behind them.

The position of the enemy and his numbers must be well ascertained before going much beyond Mechanicsburg. I do not want to run any great risk of having any portion of the army cut off or defeated. If, therefore, your judgment is against reaching Big Black River Bridge with security, and getting back again, you need not attempt it.

Major Marsh, of the Second Illinois Cavalry, who bears this, has been ordered to the front to relieve Colonel Bush, of the same regiment, who will return to his army corps.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 384

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Second Division, Army of the Tennessee Marker: W.H.L. Wallace Headquarters, Pittsburg Landing Road, Shiloh National Military Park


U. S.

SECOND DIVISION, ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE
BRIG. GEN. WM. H. L. WALLACE, (MORTALLY W’D.)
COL. JAMES M. TUTTLE, 2D IOWA

1ST BRIGADE
COL. JAMES M. TUTTLE, 2D IOWA
2ND BRIGADE
BRIG. GEN. JOHN McARTHUR, (W’D.)
COL. THOMAS MORTON, 81ST OHIO.
3RD BRIGADE
COL. THOMAS M. SWEENY, 52D ILLINOIS, (W’D.)
COL. SILAS D. BALDWIN, 57TH ILLINOIS.
BATTERY ‘A’ 1ST ILL. LT. ARTY., LIEUT. PETER P. WOOD.
BATTERY ‘D’ 1ST MO. LT. ARTY., CAPT. HENRY RICHARDSON.
BATTERY ‘H’ 1ST MO. LT. ARTY., CAPT. FRED. WELKER.
BATTERY ‘K’ 1ST MO. LT. ARTY., CAPT. GEORGE H. STONE.
COMPANIES ‘A’ AND ‘B’ 2D ILLINOIS CAVALRY.
COMPANIES ‘C’ 2D AND ‘I’ 4TH U. S. CAVALRY.

This Division, commanded by Brig. Gen. C. F. Smith, arrived upon this field March 19, 1862 and encamped along, and to the right of the road from Pittsburg Landing to Snake Creek Bridge.

April 2, 1862 Brig. Gen. Wm. H. L. Wallace was assigned to the command of the Division.

On Sunday, April 6, 1862, the 1st and 3d brigades were engaged at the “Hornets’ Nest”; two regiments of the 2d Brigade, under Gen. McArthur, were engaged east of the Peach Orchard; the other three regiments were detached to different parts of the field.  At about 5 P. M. Gen. Wallace was mortally wounded and four of his regiments were surrounded and captured.

On Monday the Division, under the command of Col. Tuttle, was in reserve, supporting the 5th Division of the Army of the Ohio, until about noon.  It then formed in the front line between the divisions of McCook and Crittenden, and was engaged in the Review Field.  The Division had present for duty, of all arms, officers and men, 8408.  Its loss was 270 killed; 1173 wounded; 1306 missing; total 2749.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

From Cairo

CAIRO, April 1. – The rebel camp at Union City has fallen into our hands.

Col. Buford with 1800 men, composed of the 27th Illinois, a detachment of the 2nd Illinois cavalry, and part of the 15th Wisconsin proceeded to Hickman by transports and thence to Union City, where they fell upon the rebel camp yesterday, and completely routed the enemy.  They destroyed all his tents, camp equipage, stores, &c., and brought off one hundred prisoners and one hundred and fifty horses.  The rebels are supposed to have numbered two thousand, and were under command of the notorious H. Clay King.  Their loss is stated at 20 killed.  Our transports on their return to Island No. 10, had rebel flags flying under the Union flags.

There was very heavy firing yesterday, at Island No. 10.  It is supposed our gunboats are at work in earnest.

The weather is clear and war.  River Falling.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 5, 1862, p. 4

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, December 14, 1861

We struck our tents early this morning and at sunup marched down to the landing on the Missouri river, where under the quartermaster a large detail of men worked nearly all day loading our commissariat on board the boats. At sundown our regiment, with a part of the Second Illinois Cavalry, started up the river.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 23

Friday, November 4, 2011

From The Eighth Iowa Regiment

CAMP PITTSBURG, TENNESSEE RIVER,
March 26, 1862.

I wrote you last on board the “War Eagle,” the transport which brought our regiment from St. Louis to this place.  However, as there is some doubt about your having received that letter – the mails being for military reasons retained at Paducah – I will at the risk of repetition narrate the one sad circumstance which cast a shadow over our otherwise pleasant and joyous trip.  For strange as it may appear to one unacquainted with Iowa soldiers, yet it is a fact, that though our boys were nearing a place of comparative safety, and hastening with the rapidity of steam to the very heart of Secessia, where severe fighting with its consequent wounds, sufferings and death, seem inevitable and not far distant, they were as cheerful as if returning to their quiet homes on the peaceful prairies of the Hawkeye State.

On Monday, March 17th, when about twenty-five or thirty miles below Savannah, our boat was fired into by a murderous band of rebels concealed in the rocks and timber along the right bank of the river.  Our first intimation of this ambuscade was a volley of forty or fifty balls into our right bow and across the hurricane deck.  Three men fell – one, Alex Jenkins, Co. G, killed instantly by a ball through the head.  He was just inside the fore cabin and was in the act of picking up his gun when the fatal shot struck him.  Another was Martin Gentzler, of Co. C.  He had fired once and was reloading, when a rifle ball pierced his left breast.  He died in four or five hours.  The third, Wm. Phillips, Company H, was wounded by a rifle ball through the right thigh, missing the bone but inflicting a very severely flesh wound.  Many shots were fired at us after the first volley, but fortunately, except these three, none of our men were injured.

Our field officers were on the hurricane deck, and from the number of balls which whizzed around and past them, they were evidently particularly marked by the rebels.  They all displayed the coolness and courage which our boys believed them to possess.  Our Colonel continued his walk on the deck with the same composure as before the firing commenced, and gave orders to the boys with a calmness becoming one who has stood under shot and shell in several hard fought battles on the burning plains of India.  Our boys and company commanders displayed that coolness and bravery with which we have always accredited them.  Now it may seem a very small matter to be fired into by a few skulking rebels, but I assure you it is exceedingly trying to one’s nerves to have balls whistling around his head and see men fall, killed and wounded, by his side, from the shots of an enemy whose position is only known by the flash and smoke of his rifle.  In an affair of this kind there is nothing of the excitement incident to a general engagement, but our men on the boat were targets to be fired into “at will” by the concealed assailants.  To be conscious that one is thus a target, and yet to stand coolly upon the mark requires true grit and considerable of it.

Gen. Grant, after hearing of this attack, sent a detachment of cavalry to the place.  The cavalry brought back a number of prisoners, and found that the shots fired by our boys had taken some effect – killing four of the rebels and wounding twelve.

We are now camped in the timber about a mile and a half from the river.  Immense numbers of troops – infantry, cavalry, artillery and sharpshooters – are here, now, and boat loads more coming every day.  I have no idea how many men are here, but I know for miles in all directions the timber is full of camps.  I have been in the camps of the 2d, 3d, 6th, 7th, 8th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th Iowa regiments.  They are scattered about within a circumference of three or four miles.  The 2d, 7th, 12th and 14th Iowa are in Col. Lauman’s Brigade.  The other regiments are brigaded with Illinois, Ohio and other troops.  Our regiment belongs to the 3rd Brigade, 2d division, now under command of Col. T. W. Sweeney, of the 52d Ill.  Our brigade is composed of the 7th and 52nd Ill., 8th Iowa infantry, and a squadron of the 2d Ill. cavalry.

Orders have just been received from headquarters, to the effect that when ordered to march the transportation of each regiment shall be reduced to thirteen wagons and two ambulances.  Ten days provisions are to be taken – three days in haversacks and seven in wagons.  Each team is to carry its own forage for ten days.  Two Sibley or wall tents are allowed for the hospital.  This order means that all tents, officers and men’s, are to be left behind, and we are to lay out in the balmy night air of Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana, till the rebellion is completely crushed out.  All baggage not absolutely necessary will be left.  This certainly looks like a forward movement, including a fight or two, was intended and expected.  We are expecting an order to advance every day.  The sooner it comes the better we will like it, for we are all persuaded that speedy and energetic action will give us the opportunity of a speedy return home.

I know nothing certainly of our movements, but I hope to date my next letter from Memphis or its vicinity; and if fighting must be done, to record a victory or two of the Union army of the Northwest, and the illustrious valor of the Iowa 8th.

Yours truly,
C–.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, April 3, 1862, p. 2

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Capture of the Rebel Camp at Union City

100 Confederates taken Prisoners

Union City taken by the Federals

CAIRO, April 1.

The rebel camp at Union City has fallen into our hands.  Col. Buford, with 1,800 men, composed of the 27th Ill., a detachment of the 2nd Ill. cavalry, and part of the 15th Wis., proceeded to Hickman by transports from vicinity of Island No. 10, and crossed to Union City, where they fell upon the rebel camp yesterday, and completely routed the enemy without the loss of a man.  They destroyed all the tents, camp equipage, stores, &c., and brought off over 100 prisoners and 150 horses.

The rebels are supposed to have numbered 2,000, and were under command of the notorious Clay King.  Their loss is stated at 20 killed.

Our transports on their return to Island No. 10 had the rebel flags flying under the Union flags.

There was very heavy firing yesterday at Island No. 10.  It is supposed our gunboats are at work in earnest.

Weather warm and clear.  River falling.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, April 3, 1862, p. 2

Thursday, July 14, 2011

From Cairo

Special to the Chicago Tribune.

CAIRO, March 6.

At 12 o’clock Wednesday last our pickets were driven in at Columbus, by rebel cavalry, numbering 80.  Captain Paulding, of the gun-boat St. Louis, lying at the landing, sent a messenger to Colonel Buford asking if he should shell the woods in the rear of the town, and having returned with an affirmative answer the St. Louis steamed across the river, and the mortar boat took position and shelled the woods vigorously for an hour.

The 2d Illinois cavalry was, at last accounts, in hot pursuit of the rebels.

At 12 o’clock last night, and again at 4 o’clock this morning, heavy cannonading was distinctly heard at Columbus, apparently in the direction of New Madrid.  Many of the inhabitants of Columbus are returning, who report that they left the town weeks ago, in fear of the depredations of the rebel army.

The Rev. Gen. Polk’s headquarters upon the bluff, present an entertaining spectacle being filled with champaign bottles, cigar boxes, perfumery cases, toilet articles, and other unmilitary utensils.  Col. Buford still remains in command of the town.

Adjt. [Habn], of the 23d Illinois passed through here last evening, en route for Chicago.

The mortars of the fleet are all mounted.

The Cumberland and Tennessee rivers are now in pursuance of Gen. Halleck’s orders, open for commercial navigation. – The Express in the first boat to avail itself of the new order, and left last night for Fort Henry, with passengers and freight.

A gentleman just arrived from Florence, Alabama, says the rebels of that section stand in mortal terror of the gun-boats. – He asserts that there were but two regiments at Pittsburg when the late skirmish took place.  The majority of the people thereabouts are strongly Union.

The reports in regard to Gen. Pope and his force are very conflicting.  The first is a rumor of the evacuation of New Madrid.  Second, that his forces had been shelled out by the rebel gun-boats.  Third, that Gen. Pope had not been within 18 miles of the place.

The rebel army there numbers 40,000 men, having been swelled by large reinforcements from Columbus and Memphis.  They have also 8 wooden gun-boats lying at the landing.

Steamers are rapidly arriving and departing.

The weather is very cold here.  There was quite a heavy fall of snow last night.

From late rebel papers I glean the following facts:

Gen. Polk, previous to the evacuation of Columbus, ordered every bridge on Mayfield creek and other creeks to be destroyed.

The Memphis Appeal says, “Columbus, we can positively state, is not to be evacuated and will not be unless at the point of the bayonet.”

The steamer Cambridge was sunk on the 23d near Grand Glaize, Arkansas, and 42 lives lost.

Heavy rains have fallen in South Alabama.

The machinery from the various workshops in Nashville was removed prior to the evacuation to Chattanooga.

The wheat and all ground crops in the South promise well.

[General] Bragg is in command at Mobile.

The people of the South are warmly urging and demanding Jeff Davis to take the field.

A bitter contest is going on at Memphis as to whether the town shall be burned at the approach of our gun boats.

A letter written to Memphis from Va. States that Jeff. Davis complains of lack of weapons, and Southern manufacturers cannot even supply the want.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, March 8, 1862, p. 1

Sunday, May 22, 2011

A Mousing Letter Well Answered

THE OFFICIAL LETTER.

ILLINOIS CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION,
SPRINGFIELD, Jan., 23, 1862.

Dear Sir:– I am instructed by the Committee on Military Affairs to enclose you a copy of the subjoined resolution, adopted by the Constitutional Convention, Now in session in this city, and to request your immediate answer; in order that the Committee may report to the convention at an early day.  In responding to this communication, I am instructed to request you to make such suggestions as your observation and experience may dictate with reference to the present and future comfort of your command.

I have the honor to by, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

JAMES W. SINGLETON.
Chairman of Com. on Military Affairs.


THE RESOLUTION.

Resolution, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire whether the soldiers sent into the field from this State, have been and continue to be provided for in all respects as the troops sent into the field from other States have been provided for; and if the Committee find that the Illinois troops have not been thus provided for, that they be instructed to inquire further, whether the neglect is justly chargeable to any person or persons holding office under this State, and to report the fact to this Convention.


AND THE REPLY IT GOT.

PADUCAH, Ky., Feb. 16, 1862.

James W. Singleton, Esq. Chairman Committee on Military Affairs, Springfield, Ill.

DEAR SIR:  Your circular, dated January 23, 1862, enclosing a resolution of the Illinois Constitutional Convention, came to had to-day.  Should I give you the information the resolution calls for, I should make as great an ass of myself as the Convention has of you by asking you to attend to that which is none of your business, and which is also not the business of the Convention.  If I am rightly informed, you were elected to make a Constitution for the State of Illinois.  Why in h-ll don’t you do it?  Comparing the equipments of the soldiers of the several States is about as much your business as it would be my business to inquire into the sanity of the members of the Convention.  Suppose the facts are as your resolution seems to imply – that we are not as well equipped and armed as soldiers from the other States – can you, as a member of that Convention be of any service to us?  But I know and you know that the resolution was for a different purpose – a purpose for which every member of the Convention should blush with shame – to make political capital.

If the Committee on Military Affairs are so very anxious to exhibit their ability in inquiring into war matters, I would suggest, as the resolution permits me to make suggestions – that it inquire into the history of the Mormon War, in which its venerable chairman played so conspicuous a part.

I have the honor to be, sir,

Your obedient servant,

QUINCY McNEIL,
Major 2d Illinois Cavalry.

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

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Latest from Fort Henry

Special to Chicago Journal

FORT HENRY, Tenn., Feb. 9.

A detachment of Cavalry, some 250 strong, hand an engagement to-day about seven miles east of Fort Henry, on the road to Fort Donaldson [sic]. The Union troops were under command of Major Mudd, of the 2d Illinois cavalry. Carson and Brink, of Grant’s Staff, were in the engagement. Five rebels were left dead on the field. Thirty prisoners and thirty horses were captured. One man of the 2d cavalry was wounded.

The 49th Illinois and the 52 Indiana regiments arrived here to-day.

A detachment of the 32d Illinois regiment yesterday evening destroyed a portion of the Louisville, Clarksville and Memphis Railroad. The road is incapacitated for rebel transportation for the present.

Captain Lagon, of General Grant’s Staff, brought down five wagons and other [property]. The rebel camp at the railroad bridge had been previously evacuated.


SECOND DISPATCH

FORT HENRY, Feb. 10.

This morning a box of cartridges exploded in one of the tents of the infantry encamped near the parapet. The arm of one of one of the privates was broken.

Nineteen dead bodies of rebels are reported to have been found in one of the trenches of Fort Henry. Our troops captured, near the railroad bridge, a thousand dollars worth of hides and twelve boxes of beef, and the telegraph office batteries at Danville.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, February 13, 1862, p. 1

Friday, June 25, 2010

Cairo Budget

CAIRO, April 30. – Heavy firing from the flotilla was distinctly heard at Tiptonville during Sunday and Monday, but no particulars have yet been received. The enemy’s foraging parties from Corinth are scouring the whole country along the line of the railroad. Gen. Halleck’s entire army has commenced advancing. Deserters contradict previous reports that the rebels were evacuating Corinth, but say that Beauregard has assured his troops that he will make a stand there and chastise our forces and drive them north. River has risen an inch in 24 hours. Loss of Government property would have been immense both here and at posts up and down the river, but for the energy and perseverance of Gen. W. K. Strong and Capt. Pennock, U. S. N., who have been indefatigable in their efforts to successfully to remove all stores out of the reach of the water. The Memphis Appeal and Avalanche of Saturday last have been received but give no news. The fall of Ne Orleans is referred to but no particulars given. Later arrivals from Pittsburg report that Gen. Pope’s division is within five miles of Corinth. His advance is continually skirmishing with the enemy. The whole army has advanced further into the interior and is fully equal to the approaching struggle. Col. Hogg of the 2d Illinois Cavalry, yesterday burnt the Rail Road bridge over the Obion River. CAIRO, April 30. – The packet delight arrived from Tiptonville this morning with a cargo of sugar, molasses and tobacco, reports an alarming stage of water below; hundreds of houses upon the river bank are submerged and washed away thousands of cattle, sheep, and hogs; many families are leaving in flatboats, and everywhere along the river there is great suffering in consequence of the unprecedented flood. The whole of Columbus is overflowed and the water running into the windows of houses. Hickman is also suffering greatly. The fortifications at Island 10 and those upon the main land opposite are as yet above the flood, excepting batteries known as the upper batteries on the Tennessee shore. Here there is an unbroken expanse of water from the Mississippi to Devil Lake. A large amount of cannon and heavy ordnance stores captured from the rebels on the main shore are still lying in the bayou which sets in from the Mississippi. These cannot be removed until the water subsides. An arrival from Tiptonville and New Madrid this morning reports a heavy and continuous cannonading herd throughout Monday night and Tuesday in the direction of Fort Pillow. – There has also been no boat up to-day or since the boat that left there on Monday noon. It is somewhat apprehended that the rebel fleet has been reinforced by the fugitive gunboats from New Orleans and an attack on our fleet has been made. Such an attack was not expected when the last boat left and Com. Foote was fully prepared to meet the enemy. No news to-day from the Tennessee. The Water in the Ohio rose another inch last night, and in the Mississippi half an inch. In several places it is now from six to ten inches above the top of the levee. The Mayor with large gangs of hands is raising the low places and throwing up additional embankments wherever needed. It is confidently believed that in this way the danger will be averted through a very slight storm of wind would inevitably inundate the city within the levee, and the surface water is accumulating rapidly and in many places is several feet deep. The principal streets away from the levee are navigated in skiffs and dugouts. Large trains of freight cars standing upon the levee are occupied as dwellings by families who have already been driven from their houses. The steamer Diligence which arrived this morning from Tiptonville, brought as passenger a refugee from Memphis, which place he left on Sunday. He came by way of the Memphis and Ohio Railroad to Humboldt; thence across the country to Ashport, and from thence up the river. He represents Humboldt as occupied by a small rebel force, who are engaged in throwing up defensive works. Humboldt is a small town, at the intersection of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad, and the main trunk road running south from Columbus parallel with the Mississippi to New Orleans. The refugee brings Memphis papers, which however contain but little matter of interest further than the confirmation of the surrender of New Orleans. The Avalanche grumbles that the rebel government suppresses the details in regard to the affair, and says that nothing but the barren facts of the surrender are known. The same paper says that the Southern people are fast losing all confidence in their river defenses, and it is generally admitted that the Federal army can be no longer successfully resisted. It also insinuates a lack of confidence in the stability of the Southern Confederacy, by advising its patrons to invest whatever money they have in real estate while purchases can be made with the currency now in circulation, which is principally rebel treasury notes. The conscription law is being enforced, and Union citizens are secreting themselves or flying to avoid its operations. Memphis is represented by this refugee to be in the highest state of excitement, in anticipation the advent of the Yankees from either side at any moment. Merchants of strong and avowed secession proclivities are removing their goods to places of concealment and security, and large numbers of families are moving away. All the public stores have been put in readiness for immediate destruction at the slightest notice. The idea of burning the town is abandoned; the determined opposition of the property owners and municipal authorities being too great to be overcome. It is currently stated in Memphis that Beauregard has not to exceed 80,000 effective men at Corinth, and there is no hopes of his successfully resisting Gen. Halleck, who is believed to have an army at least 200,000 strong, admirable armed and disciplined, and composed of the best fighting stock in the North. A common expression is that Halleck is fooling with Beauregard, as a cat plays with a mouse preparatory to gobbling it up. The Southwest is admitted to be conquered, and the people are gradually preparing themselves to submit. The fall of New Orleans destroyed their last hope of success. When my informant left Memphis, it was reported that the rebel gunboat fleet from New Orleans were in sight and were bound up the river to join Hollis’s fleet at Fort Pillow. This has undoubtedly been accomplished, as I stated in my former dispatch and may account for the heavy cannonading heard in that direction on Monday and Tuesday. There has been no arrival from the Fort of from Pittsburgh. LATER – 7 P.M. – The steamer Glendale just in from Paducah, reports that a steamer had just arrived from Pittsburg Landing. The latter reports a serious skirmish between our advance party of the army, 5,000 strong, and a large body of rebels, five miles from Corinth – The Union forces were victorious. No mention is made of the losses on either side. The Federal Troops took 29 prisoners. Cannonading was still heard when the steamer left. The Glendale is chartered by the city of Cincinnati, and has on board twelve surgeons and an abundance of hospital stores and delicacies for sick and wounded soldiers. She is now coming look to after the comfort of disabled troops for the State of Ohio.

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

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Washington News

WASHINGTON, April 23 – The Bill reported from the Committee on Military Affairs, authorizes and requires the President to convene a board to consist of two officers of the corps of Engineers, one ordnance, one artillery officer, two officers of the Navy, two members selected by reason of their scientific and practical attainments, and an officer of the corps of engineers as secretary, whose duty it shall be to examine and consider our system of sea coast and land fortifications, with special reference to such changes as may be recommended by the Commission, to be commenced and prosecuted with out the previous assent of Congress.

The bill further provides that the amount appropriated at this session for fortifications, shall be expended under the direction of the President upon such defensive works as shall be recommended by the Commission, and authorizes the President to accept any sums of money, loaned or advanced by the several States, for the construction of defensive works for the protection of the States making such loans, upon such terms as shall be agreed on between the proper authorities.

The board is also required to examine and consider the propriety of constructing a Navy Yard and depot on the northern lakes – of a foundry for heavy ordnance, and also an armory and arsenal of construction west of the Allegheny mountains, and for an additional arsenal of deposit and repairs, and shall, subject to the approval of the President, locate the same at such points, as shall, from purely military considerations, appear best for the defence of the country.

The bill also provides that there shall be added to the number of cadets, of both the military and naval academies, a number equal to the present number allowed by the existing laws in those schools, to be selected one from each Congressional District and Territories, by the Academy board, from among such applicants as shall apply for admission, and who upon examination, shall be deemed best qualified; provided the number added shall have their expenses defrayed by their parents or guardians, who shall be required to deposit with the Superintendents of the Academies, each year, the estimated amount of money necessary to pay all expenses for one year, the cadets being subject to all the rules and regulations established from time to time, for the government of said Academies.

Horace Maynard, who returned from Tennessee and took his seat to-day, has declared himself in favor of a stringent confiscation act against the rebels. Several other border state members will support one.

The Senate Committee on Territories have instructed its Chairman to report a bill identical with that reported in the House by Mr. Ashby, organizing the Territory of Arizona. One section extends the Wilmot Proviso over every Territory now organized.

The following has been issued from the War Department.


ADJUTANT GENERAL’S OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, April 15.

GENERAL ORDER NO. 40

The Secretary of War has observed with some surprise that the commanders of one or two military departments, considering themselves empowered to do so, have undertaken to accept the resignations and otherwise discharge from the service of the United States, officers commissioned or appointed by the President on the volunteer staff of the army, all such discharges are irregular, and unless confirmed by the President are of no effect. None but the President can discharge an officer appointed by himself, and, as he has not delegated this power to any General, no General must attempt to exercise it.

By order of the Secretary of War.
(Signed.) L. THOMAS, Adjutant General, &c.


By General Orders issued from the War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, April 18, by the direction of the President, Brigade Surgeon, J. H. Thompson, U. S. Volunteers, is dismissed from the service as an alarmist, on the recommendation of his commanding General, Major General Burnside. On the recommendation of Brigadier General Sumner, commanding 2d Army Corp, approved by Major-General McClellan, commanding the Army of the Potomac, Major Van Seemhan, Capt. Botlicker, and Capt. Camp, 68th Regiment New York Volunteers, Lieut. Lombard, Battalion Adjutant, 2th [sic] Illinois Cavalry, and Assistant Surgeon Williams, 1st New York Artillery, are stricken from the rolls of the army for being captured by the enemy while straggling, without authority, beyond the outposts of the army, March 29th, 1862.

The headquartes of Lieut.-Col. Wm. Hoffman, 8th Infantry, Commissary of Prisoners, is transferred from New York City to Detroit, Michigan.

This morning the Senate Military Committee passed upon several nominations. Among those reported for confirmations was Gen. Shields, to be Major-General, and Col. Crittenden, of Kentucky, to be Brigadier-General.

Horatio King, Buchanan’s Postmaster General, was nominated to-day as Commissioner under the District Emancipation act, in the place of ex-mayor Berrett.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 3

Thursday, July 2, 2009

2nd Illinois Cavalry

Organized at Camp Butler, Ill., and mustered in August 12, 1861. (Co. "M" mustered in December 30, 1861.) Moved to Fort Massac August 29, 1861; to Cairo, Ill., October 3, 1861 (6 Cos.), and to Paducah, Ky., November 1, 1861 (5 Cos.). Attached to Military District of Cairo, Dept. of Missouri, to February, 1862. Unattached, Army of Mississippi, to April, 1862 (Cos. "G," "H," "I" and "K"). District of Columbus, Ky., to November, 1862 (Cos. "E," "F," "G," "H," "I," "K" and "M"). (Cos. "A" and "B," 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Army Tennessee, to March, 1862. 2nd Division, Army Tennessee, to July, 1862.) Cavalry, District of Jackson, Tenn., to November, 1862 (Cos. "A," "B," "C" and "D"). Cavalry, 4th Division, Right Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1863. Unattached, 13th Army Corps, Army Tennessee, to August, 1863 (Detachment). District of Columbus, Ky., 6th Division, 16th Corps, to May, 1863 (Detachment). 4th Brigade, District of Memphis, Tenn., 5th Division, 16th Army Corps, to August, 1863 (Detachment). Cavalry Brigade, 13th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to September, 1863 (7 Cos.). 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, Dept. Gulf, to December, 1863 (7 Cos.). District of Columbus, Ky., 6th Division, 16th Army Corps, to December, 1863 (Detachment). Waring's Cavalry Brigade, Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to January, 1864 (Detachment). 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to June, 1864 (Detachment). 3rd Brigade, Cavalry Division, Dept. of the Gulf, December, 1863, to January, 1864 (7 Cos.). 4th Brigade, Cavalry Division, Dept. of the Gulf, to June, 1864 (7 Cos.). Unattached, Defences of New Orleans, La., to August, 1864. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, Dept. of the Gulf, to September, 1864. 3rd Brigade, Cavalry Division, Dept. of the Gulf, to February, 1865. Separate Cavalry Brigade, District of West Florida, to March, 1865. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, District of West Florida, to April, 1865. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Military Division West Mississippi, to June, 1865. Dept of Mississippi to November, 1865.

SERVICE.--Duty in Military District of Cairo till February. 1862. Expedition to Belmont, Mo., November 6-7, 1861. Battle of Belmont November 7. Bertram, Mo., December 11. Charleston, Mo., December 13. Expedition to Camp Beauregard and Viola, Ky., December 28-31. Moved to Paducah, Ky., January 1, 1862. Expedition toward Fort Henry January 15-26. Operations against Fort Henry February 2-6 (Cos. "A" and "B"). Springfield February 12. Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 12-16 (Cos. "A" and "B"). Advance on Columbus, Ky., March 2 (6 Cos.). Operations against New Madrid and Island No. 10, Mo., February 28-April 8 (Cos. "G," "H," "I" and "K"). New Madrid March 2-3. Action, and capture of Columbus, Ky., March 3 (6 Cos.). Union City, Tenn., March 31 (Cos. "H" and "I"). Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7 (Cos. "A" and "B"). Monterey April 28-29. Purdy April 29. Advance on and siege of Corinth April 29-May 30 (Cos. "A," "B," "C" and "D"). Expedition down Mississippi River to Fort Pillow, Tenn., May 19-23 (Cos. "G," "H," "I" and "K"). Expedition from Clifton in pursuit of Biffle's, Forest's and Newsome's Cavalry July 22-23. Gayoso, Tenn., August 4. Trenton, Tenn., August 7. Merriweather Ferry, Obeon River, August 16 (Co. "C"). White Oak Ridge August 19. Bolivar August 30 (4 Cos.). Somerville September 14. Battle of Iuka, Miss., September 19 (Detachment). Expedition from Bolivar to Grand Junction and LaGrange, and Skirmishes, September 20-22 (Cos. "C," "H," "K" and "M"). Expedition from Columbus, Ky., to Covington, Durhamsville and Fort Randolph, Ky., September 28-October 5 (Cos. "D" and "L"). Battle of Metamora, or Hatchie River, October 5 (Co. "A"). Island No. 10 October 17 (Co. "L"). Woodville October 21 (Detachment). Clarkson October 28 (Co. "D"). Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign October 31, 1862, to January 10, 1863. Reconnoissance from LaGrange to Colliersville, Tenn., November 5 (5 Cos.). Reconnoissance from LaGrange to Lamar, Miss., November 5 (2 Cos.). LaGrange November 6. Worsham's Creek, Miss., November 6 (2 Cos.). Carthage Road, near Hartsville, November 28 (Co. "H"). Holly Springs, Miss., December 20 (Cos. "C," "F," "G," "H," "I" and "K"). Ripley December 23 (Cos. "H" and "M"). Knob Creek, near Ripley January 8, 1863. Horn Lake Creek, February 8, 1863. Moscow Station, Tenn., February 14. Expedition from Young's Point, La., to Greenville, and Cypress Bend, Ark., February 14-29 (Detachment). Fish Lake, near Greenville, February 23 (Detachment). Expedition from Helena, Ark., to Yazoo Pass by Moon Lake, and Coldwater and Tallahatchie Rivers, February 24-April 8 (Co. "E"). Near Bloomington, on Hatchie River, February 27. Operations against Fort Pemberton and Greenwood March 13-April 5 (Co. "E"). Fort Pemberton March 24 (Co. "E"). Operations from Milliken's Bend, La., to New Carthage March 31-April 17 (Detachment). Roundaway Bayou, Richmond, March 31 (Detachment). Richmond April 4 (Detachment). Scout from LaGrange, Tenn., into Mississippi April 10-11 (Detachment). James' Plantation, near New Carthage, April 8 (Detachment). Dunbar's Plantation, Bayou Boeuf, April 15 (Detachment). Expedition from Perkins' Plantation to Hard Times Landing April 25-29. Fort Pillow April 26. Phelps' and Clark's Bayous April 26. Choctaw Bayou, on Lake Bruin, April 28. Turning Grand Gulf April 25-30 (4 Cos.). Battle of Port Gibson May 1. Willow Springs May 3 (Co. "C"). Near Black River May 5 (Detachment). Sandy Creek May 5 and 9 (Detachment). Utica May 9 and 10 (Cos. "A" and "E"). Coldwater May 11. Raymond May 12 (Cos. "A" and "E"). Hill's Ferry May 13 (Detachment). Jackson May 14 (Cos. "A" and "E"). Walnut Hill May 15. Champion's Hill May 16. Siege of Vicksburg May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. Haines Bluff May 23 (Detachment). Mechanicsburg May 29 (Detachment). Expedition to Satartia June 2-8. Satartia June 4. Coldwater, near Hernando, Miss., Juno 19. Hernando June 20. Moscow Station, Tenn., June 29. Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 5-10 (4 Cos.). Ripley July 7. Near Baker's Creek July 7. Bolton's Depot and near Clinton July 8. Near Jackson July 9, Brookhaven July 18. Scout from Fort Pillow, Tenn., August 3 (Detachment). Denmark August 3 (Detachment). Expedition from Fort Pillow to Jackson, Tenn., September 19-25 (5 Cos.). Moved to Dept. of the Gulf August, 1863 (7 Cos.). Sterling's Plantation on Bayou Fordoche, near Morganza, La., September 29. Western Louisiana Campaign October 3-November 30. Carrion Crow Bayou October 18. Opelousas and Barre's LandIng October 21. Washington October 24. Carrion Crow Bayou November 3. Rogersville, Tenn,, November G (Co. "M"). Carrion Crow Bayou and Vermillionville November 11. Obion River, near Union City, Tenn., November 19 (Detachment). Merriweather Ferry, near Union City, November 19 (Detachment). Camp Platt, La., November 20. Bayou Portage, La., November 23 (Detachment). Vermillionville, La., November 25. Camp Pratt November 25. St. Martinsville December 3 (Detachment). Okolona, Miss., December 9 (Detachment). Madrid Bend, La., December 9 (Detachment). Expedition from Union City to Trenton, Tenn., January 22-27, 1864 (1st Battalion). Smith's Expedition from Colliersville, Tenn., to Okolona, Miss., February 11-26 (5 Cos.). Prairie Station, Miss., and Okolona, Miss., February 21. Ivy's Hill, near Okolona, February 22. Hopefield, Ark., March 14. Red River Campaign March 14-May 22. Advance from Franklin to Alexandria, La., March 14-26. Bayou Rapides March 20. Monett's Ferry and Cloutiersville March 29-30. Natchitoches March 31. Crump's Hill, Piney Woods, April 2. Natchitoches April 5. Bayou de Paul April 8. Sabine Cross Roads April 8. About Cloutiersville April 22-24. Monett's Ferry, Cane River Crossing, April 23. Alexandria April 28 and May 2-9. Retreat to Morganza May 13-20. Near Alexandria May 14. Mansura May 16. Near Moreauville May 17. Yellow Bayou May 18. Steamer "City Belle" May 30. Regiment united at Baton Rouge, La., July, 1864. Operations near Baton Rouge July 3-25. Near Barton's Ferry, Amite River, July 25 (Detachment). Bayou Letsworth August 11. Expedition to Clinton August 23-29. Olive Branch, Comite River and Clinton August 25. Expedition from Baton Rouge to Clinton, Greensburg, Osyka and Camp Moore October 5-9. Clinton October 6. Lee's Expedition from Baton Rouge to Brookhaven, Miss., and Skirmishes, November 14-21. Davidson's Expedition from Baton Rouge against Mobile & Ohio R. R. November 27-December 13. Campaign against Mobile and its defences March 17-April 12, 1865. Steele's march from Barrancas, Fla., to Fort Blakely March 18-31. Near Evergreen March 24. Muddy Creek March 26. Near Blakely April 1. Operations against Fort Blakely April 1-9. Expedition from Blakely to Claiborne April 9-17. Expedition from Blakely to Georgetown, Ga., April 17-30. Moved to Mississippi May, thence to Shreveport, La., June 14-21; thence to San Antonia, Texas, July 9-August 2. Mustered out November 22, 1865. Discharged at Springfield, Ill., January 3, 1866.

Regiment lost during service 8 Officers and 50 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 173 Enlisted men by disease. Total 234.

SOURCE: Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1021-2

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Medical Abuses in the Donelson Army – The Truth about the Neglect of the Sick and Wounded

{Special Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette}

SAVANNAH, Tenn., March, 31.

There has been some public complaint of the medical management in this District, and subsequent Congressional inquiry, finally abandoned “for want of facts.”

Let me furnish a few facts. I propose to state nothing except what I am prepared to prove, by abundant testimony, before any committee of investigation, Congressional or otherwise.

Surgeon H. C. Hewitt, of New York city, (a person who has at some time, I believe, had some sort of connection with the regular army,) has been, by virtue of the date of his commission, the Medical Director of Gen. Grant’s army, at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, and up to this point, in the Southern campaign. To the miserable incompetency and inefficiency of this man are traceable nearly all the abuses and neglects in the medical departments here that have been such fruitful sources of just complaint.

Take this as Surgeon Hewitt’s opening performance. It occurred at Paducah, before the advance up the Cumberland.

A private of the Ninth Illinois, who had been shot through the shoulder on one of the reconnoitering expeditions from Paducah, was bro’t into the hospital, four days after the wound had been received. Examination showed that the ball had passed through the pectoral muscle, shattered the bone, and injured the main artery of the arm. The parts were very much swollen and inflamed. Dr. Hewitt began by passing his fingers, unoiled, entirely through the wound thus causing the most exquisite pain, and almost throwing the unfortunate soldier into spasms. Subsequently the artery commenced bleeding very copiously. Dr. Hewitt undertook to tie it up, and instead of the artery, succeeded in tying up the nerve. Fifteen minutes afterward the soldier was dead. The doctor then got drunk, went reeling through the streets of Paducah in a state of beastly intoxication,, finally fell into a mud-hole in the main thoroughfare of the city, lost his spectacles, covered himself with filth, and wound up by being placed under arrest by Gen. Smith.

At Fort Henry, His courtesy to the captured rebel surgeons was in such marked contrast with his rudeness to those of our own army, as to provoke some comment. Offended at this, he denounced everybody that objected to his course as a d----d mobbite and no gentleman, and declared with emphasis – directing his remarks to Division Surgeon Fry, brother of the gallant Col. Fry of Kentucky, who distinguished himself in Zollicoffer’s defeat at Cliff Creek – that “if any man there dared doubt the honor and chivalry of Tilghman and his companions, he would challenge him to fight a duel.” Altercation followed, which ended in his calling Dr. Fry a liar, and in Dr. Fry’s promptly knocking him down.

No official notice was taken of the affair, except that Dr. Hewitt, without giving Dr. Fry any notice, selected a military commission, composed of one Missouri and two Illinois Colonels, to investigate it. He had the witnesses summoned himself, and of course made the best showing he could. The Missouri member of this self-selected jury of his at once gave verdict that the Medical Director should be stripped and required to endure thirty blows from Dr. Fry’s cane! The others agreed that Dr. Fry had only erred in waiting too long before resenting the insults but finally decided that Dr. Hewitt should present a written apology to Dr. Fry for insulting him and [that then] Dr. Fry should hive him a written apology for [striking] a superior officer. Dr. Fry refused to do anything of the kind, and there the matter rested.

I may as well add the fact – of little importance in itself, but showing the nature of the man – that some weeks afterward the Medical Director of our “grand army” was again knocked down, this time by a Second Lieutenant, for claiming some forage that he had no manner of claim to, and trying to interfere with the rightful owner in taking it away. As before, nothing further was heard of it.

At Fort Donelson, the Medical Director ordered surgeons to accompany their regiments into the midst of the battle, and yet forbade them to perform any operations on the field. Some surgeons having violated his orders, and by timely operations saved the lives of wounded soldiers, he rebuked them bitterly for their disobedience, telling them it was [their] duty to send back their wounded to him. What [other object] he had in breaking the custom by sending [his] surgeons into the fight, is not apparent.

Out of the numerous just causes for complaint, after the battle, one or two may be selected.

The day of the surrender, when his service were more urgently needed than at any other time, he again got drunk – so drunk as to be unable to walk without staggering, much less to perform surgical operations. He was seen in this condition by hundreds of soldiers and officers, including at least one Major General.

A large number of the wounded, together with many who had become sick from the effects of the terrible exposure and the excitement, where put aboard the steamer, Thomas E. Tutt. This steamer the Medical Director sent down to Mound City, without a Surgeon or assistant on board, and with the sick and wounded absolutely dependent on the charity of accidental passengers for nursing and medical attendance.

Much needless suffering grew out of the Medical Director’s unwillingness to give any information to Brigade and Regimental Surgeons, inquiring after their wounded and seeking to wait upon them. On this point I happen to give this extract from the report of one of the three Division Surgeons.

“The Surgeons of this Division generally complain of discourteous treatment on the part of Medical Director H. C. Hewitt, when manifesting an earnest solicitude for the wounded, and making inquiries as to the time and manner of their removal, and their ultimate destination, the Surgeons were rudely and offensively repulsed, without the desired information. They also complain that in the exercise of arbitrary power, they were deprived of the privilege of attending their own men, or dressing their wounds, when taken to the boats. The report of such conduct is to me a matter of deep regret, and against it I beg leave to protest.”

A subsequent portion of the same report expresses the fear that the mortality would be greatly and needlessly increased, (we all know how sadly the fear became a reality,) by sending of, on crowded steamboats, patients on whom amputations or other severe operations had been performed, where the hurry of moving, the displacement of dressings, and the pain of the incessant jarring, must add fearfully to their dangerous condition. There were plenty of good houses that might have been taken for hospitals for these men; there was abundance of surgical and, volunteer as well as from the officers; nurses could have been detailed to any extent required; there was no danger from the enemy; and in short, there was no excuse for the virtual murder of these wounded heroes, save the Medical Director so commanded.

There were other glaring cases, in which Surgeons who had little or no sickness in their regiments, asked permission to wait on their own wounded, so long as they were kept at Donelson, and were surlily [sic] refused and ordered back to their regiments; but enough has been given to illustrate the character of the medical management after our great victory.

After the present expedition up the Tennessee had begun, there was a great deal of sickness among the men, caused by their privations, lack of air, exercise, opportunities for bathing, cooking and the like on board the transports. The arrangements for some of the sick were miserable. Appeals to the Medical Director, and descriptions of the suffering of their sick by the surgeons elicited only the response, which I give word for word as he repeated the expression to different parties: “What of it? What’s the use of complaining? What did soldiers enlist for but to sicken and die and be killed?” And that as an answer to just complaints of neglect to our sick soldiers, from the Medical Director of one of the largest armies we have in the field!

At this time, when the sickness incident to a change of climate is at its hight [sic], there are divisions in our army almost absolutely destitute of the commonest medicines for the prevailing diseases. The depots at the headquarters of the Department in St. Louis are doubtless crowded with ample medical stores, but of what avail are they to the poor fellows dying her on the banks of the Tennessee? It is the duty of the Medical Director to have the proper supplies issued – Take this chance conversation I chanced to hear between a regimental surgeon and his surgeon of Division as an illustration of how the Medical Director performs his work.

“Pneumonia is very prevalent in our regiment. I want some medicines for it.”

“We have none. The medical director pays no attention to my requisitions.”

“Can’t you give me some syrup of squills?”

“I have none. Sent in requisitions for it long ago, but they are unnoticed.”

“Let me have some ipecac.”

“I have none.”

“Some opium or some of the fluid extracts.”

“I have none.”

“Diarrheas and dysenteries are very common. Can you let me have some morphia, or tannin, or kino?”

“Of one I have a very little, of the rest none at all.”

“Can you give me some quinine for our intermittents?”

“I have none.”

“Some Stimulants?”

“I had none, till to-day I succeeded in getting a barrel of common whiskey from a commissary.”

I do not mean to say that there was not the profusest abundance of all these things somewhere – perhaps in purveyor’s boats not three miles off – but I do say, that after repeated requisitions on the medical director, he left one entire division, as indicated above, destitute of the commonest remedies for the three commonest diseases of the camps.

As illustration of the way the Medical Director has been discharging other portions of his duty, take the following: A “sick leave” was granted to Assistant Surgeon Crane, of the Second Illinois Cavalry, and forwarded to the Medical Director through the proper channels, for approval. He indorsed it, “From the within it would appear that Dr. Crane is too ill to perform his duties. Service in the field now requires vigor, and I therefore recommend Dr. Crane to resign.”

Another sick-leave was granted to Surgeon Austin of the 23rd Indiana, drawn up in precisely the same terms, giving precisely the same reasons for granting the leave, and forwarded to the same Medical Director. He promptly approved it. And more: After remaining at home some time Dr. Austin returned and tendered his resignation, assigning as a reason, that his diseases would permanently disable him from discharging the duties of a Surgeon in the army. The Medical Director, after having recommended the Surgeon to resign because he asked for a short leave, prevailed upon the other, who had returned from a sick-leave convinced that he ought to resign, not to carry out his determination, promising him that he should be relieved from field service and given some easy place at a post hospital. The promise was fulfilled, and Dr. Austin is at Paducah, while his regiment is here without either surgeon or assistant.

The secret of the different action in the two cases is supposed to be that one doctor is a favorite with the Medical Director, and the other is not; but it remains to be decided how far such extraordinary conduct is in accordance with official oaths, common honor, or plain duty to the army.

I might fill columns with such details, might tell of brutality to parents looking for wounded sons, and and [sic] insult to surgeons who earnestly wanted to do their duty, but surely I have given enough.

Only let me add this Medical Director has on three or four occasions, each time in the presence of numerous witnesses, expressed this sentiment in almost precisely these words: “The Union is gone. It can never be reconstructed, and I don’t want it to be. I think and hope that our difficulties will crystallize into a strong military despotism, instead of our present form of government, and I hope to be fortunate enough to be one of the crystals.”

There are pictures, studiously drawn in neutral tints, which are all the more effective from their very lack of coloring. I have sought to make this simple recital such a picture. It were easy to make the facts above presented, and weave them into the bitterest of invectives against an incompetent, inefficient and unfaithful officer in the most responsible of positions. I have not thought it necessary. The facts are ample of themselves. Only let those who have control in these matters remember that we are here, if not the largest, certainly the second in size of all our national armies, with the enemy’s best General and his most formidable force hardly two day’s march from us; and that at the head of the surgical department for this army, so soon expecting to be engaged in the decisive contest of the war, we have an officer notorious for stupid blunders, cold-blooded neglect of the wounded, expressed disloyalty, and drunkenness when most needed on the field.

I have only to add, that for every statement made above I have chapter and verse, date and place, and names of witnesses.

AGATE.

– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862, p. 1

Thursday, May 21, 2009

COLONEL AARON BROWN

SECOND COLONEL, THIRD INFANTRY.

Aaron Brown was born in Mississippi, about the year 1822, and is the only native from that State who has held a colonel's commission from Iowa. He entered the service from the county of Fayette, Iowa, and was the first lieutenant of Captain Carman A. Newcomb's company. He was made captain, April 8th, 1862, and promoted to the majority of his regiment, after the resignation of Major William M. Stone. I am unacquainted with Colonel Brown's history, prior to his entering the service.

In resuming the history of the 3d Iowa, I shall go back to its encampment at Shiloh, where it rested immediately after the battle. It was the same whence it had marched on the previous Sunday morning to the bloody field. Its dead comrades it had gathered and buried; and now it rested and contemplated the scenes of the past conflict. It had won military glory; but was this an equivalent for its dead comrades just buried? All were sad, and yet all hearts swelled with secret and inexpressible joy at their miraculous escape from harm. Shiloh had taught the regiment a new lesson—to respect the valor of the enemy, and, needlessly, not to seek a new encounter; and such has been the experience of every regiment that has once met the enemy in a desperate engagement. No one will a second time leave his cot in the hospital to be present in battle, and yet there are hundreds of instances where this thing has been done by novices. Good soldiers soon learn to do their whole duty, and no more.

During the siege of Corinth, and for several months after, the 1st Brigade of the 4th Division was commanded by General Lauman; but neither the 3d Iowa, nor any other regiment of the brigade, met the enemy during the environment of that place. I of course, except the affairs on the skirmish line. Before the fall of the city, there was but one affair in front of the 3d Iowa, which approached to any thing like an engagement : this was the charge of the 8th Missouri, of General Sherman's command, to capture a block house, known as Russel's House. The charge was successful, and gave the regiment an enviable reputation; and it sustained its name well, for it was this same regiment that so distinguished itself nearly a year after, at Raymond, Mississippi. The position of the 4th Division before Corinth was to the left of General Sherman, that general holding the extreme right of the besieging army. While the 3d Iowa was lying in the trenches before Corinth, it was joined by Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, who had but just recovered from his sickness. "All welcomed him joyfully."

Much was expected of General Halleck at Corinth. He had command of the finest army that had ever been marshaled in the South West. The enemy, in his disasters at Shiloh, had lost his best general; his troops were dispirited; and it was expected, nay demanded, that Beauregard and his army be either routed or captured. But, if General Grant had been lazy in pressing the enemy after his defeat at Shiloh, so was Halleck cautious not to push him to a new engagement. He thought he would capture the whole thing, never dreaming, I suppose, but what Beauregard was fool enough to sit still and be surrounded.

But, presto change! At a quarter before six, on the morning of the 30th of May, a deafening explosion was heard in the direction of Corinth, and, instantly, dense clouds of smoke were seen rising over the city. But few wondered at the cause. Pope had told Halleck several days before that Beauregard was evacuating; and that time Pope told the truth. Many privates, even, could have told as much. Pope had begged eagerly for permission to swing the left wing against the enemy's works; but, No! The severe jar that all had just felt was caused by the explosion of the enemy's magazines. And so the enemy escaped, and the government gained — a little, sickly, strategical point. The whole army was at once put under arms, and marched, a part into Corinth and a part in pursuit of the enemy. With the divisions of Sherman and Hurlbut, there was a strife to see who would be first in the city: who was the winning party, I never learned. I only know that we, of Pope's command, were put in pursuit.

Corinth fell on the 30th of May, 1862, and, seven days later, Memphis was surrendered to Captain, now Rear-Admiral Charles H. Davis. On the 2d of June, and before the fall of Memphis, the 4th and 5th Divisions, under General Sherman, left Corinth, and marched west in the direction of the last named city. The object of this movement was, I believe, to co-operate with the fleet of Ellett and Davis in the capture of Memphis, and ultimately to open up the railroad between that place and Corinth. The news of the fall of Memphis reached these troops while they were camped on the high bluffs that overlook the Big Hatchie—that stream which, four months later, General Hurlbut's Division was to render historic. Before them, where they were then encamped, lay the future battlefield of Matamora.

After considerable delay at La Grange and Moscow, General Sherman resumed the march to Memphis, where he arrived with his command on the 21st of July. The 3d Iowa led the van of its division into the city. On the 6th of September following, General Hurlbut was ordered back in the direction of Corinth; and, on the departure of his division from Memphis, the 3d Iowa was again in the van.

On the 13th of September this command was encamped at a point on Spring Creek, where it remained till the 19th instant, when a detachment of it, consisting of the 1st Brigade and two battalions of the 2d Illinois cavalry, under General Lauman, marched south to create a diversion in favor of General Grant. It will be remembered that this was the date of the battle of Iuka; and the reason of this movement on the part of General Lauman will be found elsewhere. General Lauman's scouts came on the enemy in the vicinity of La Grange. They were moving north in force; the column, on the march, was a mile and a half in length. The force of Lauman being unequal to engage them, that general beat a hasty retreat, and marched till he came within supporting distance of General Hurlbut; but the enemy, although they pursued, declined to give battle. Northern Mississippi was at this time full of scouting parties of the enemy: they were actively developing their plans for the re-capture of Corinth and the destruction of General Grant's army. Price was disheartened by his defeat at Iuka; but Van Dorn resolved to strike again at Corinth.

While General Hurlbut was encamped near Bolivar, Tennessee, on the 3d of October, 1862, he received orders to march promptly in the direction of Corinth; and the next morning reveille beat at one o'clock. Soon after the column was in motion. He had his own division, and, in addition to these troops, the 68th Ohio and 12th Michigan, two regiments of Ross' command that had come down from Jackson. The march was to be made in light trim — only two wagons to the regiment. The ambulances were to go along, and the men knew that all this meant fighting. The march was pushed rapidly, and, just beyond Pocahontas, the cavalry van-guard came on the enemy's pickets. That night the column reached the Big Muddy, about two miles west of the Hatchie, and that same forenoon Van Dorn and Price had been repulsed and utterly routed at Corinth. All that afternoon, the enemy had been in rapid retreat in the direction of the Hatchie; but of all this General Hurlbut was ignorant.

The 1st Brigade had just stacked their arms, and were preparing supper, when it was reported that the cavalry in front were engaging the enemy. Instantly orderlies began flying to and fro, and for a time there was much apprehension; but the firing soon ceased and all remained quiet till morning. That night General Ord arrived from Jackson via Bolivar, and reported the defeat of the enemy and his subsequent retreat in the direction of the Hatchie. He would probably be met on the morrow, and all nerved themselves for the conflict. General Ord, who was the ranking officer, now assumed command of the forces. In the early part of the engagement which followed he was wounded, and retired from the field, leaving Hurlbut in command of the Federal forces. To Hurlbut, therefore, belongs the credit of that brilliant victory.

The battle of the Hatchie, or Matamora, was fought on the 5th of October, 1862, and was an unequal and most desperate engagement. It was good fortune for the 4th Division that the enemy had been previously routed and demoralized; and also that he was being hard pressed by Rosecrans: had this not been so, General Hurlbut and his command must have been certainly crushed. Even after the demonstration of the Federal cavalry of the previous evening, on the west bank of the Hatchie, the enemy never dreamed that there was any considerable force to resist his advance. He supposed it was a small cavalry command, sent forward to harrass him on his retreat. Therefore, on the morning of the 5th, he began pushing his infantry across the Hatchie with all confidence; his surprise can be imagined, when he met the division of Hurlbut. Beating a hasty retreat back across the bridge, he took up a strong position on the bluffs opposite; but the particulars of this engagement appear in the sketch of General Lauman. The 3d Iowa was one of the regiments that was filed to the right, into the pocket, and, with the other troops there stationed, was subjected to a murderous fire, without being able to protect itself, or return it. But for the movement round the bluffs to the left, General Hurlbut must have been defeated before Rosecrans came up.

The disproportion in killed and wounded of the 3d Iowa was unprecedented: two only were killed, while nearly sixty were wounded. One of the former was Lieutenant Dodd. He was struck by a shell just before reaching the bridge, and killed instantly. Captains Weiser and Kostman were wounded, as also were Lieutenants Hamill, Foote and C. E. Anderson. The latter was wounded just at the close of the battle, after having done his duty nobly. In their conduct in the battle, the men of the regiment vied with the officers; and their names should all be recorded, to go down in honor to posterity.

After the fighting had closed and the result of all three battles learned, there was both sadness and rejoicing. The 3d Iowa, with its division, marched back to Bolivar, and there tendered and received congratulations. General Hurlbut was lavish of his praises to all his troops: — "Comrades in battle, partakers of the weary march and long watches! the title of the Fighting Fourth, earned at Shiloh, has been burnished with additional splendor." He was now Mr. Hurlbut, and no longer General. His heart was as warm and tender as a woman's. But he had covered himself with glory, had been made a major-general, and was now taking leave of his division.

After the battle of the Hatchie, the seven subsequent months were not eventful to the 3d Iowa Infantry. General Lauman succeeded General Hurlbut in the command of the 4th Division, and under him the regiment remained, and, in the following spring, followed him to Vicksburg. It had in the meantime made many fatiguing marches, the most important of which was that under General Grant, through Central Mississippi to the Yockona. For many weeks it was stationed on guard-duty at Moscow, on the line of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. During these seven months, there had been many changes in the regiment, the chief one of which was the resignation of Colonel Williams, and the promotion of Major Brown to that rank.

On the 18th of May, 1864, the 3d Iowa left Memphis for Vicksburg. Its days of rest and quiet camp life had passed, and now, for many months to come, it was to endure the hardships and breast the dangers of active field service. With its brigade it sailed up the Yazoo River, at day-light of the 21st of May. The object was to open up communication with Sherman, then just forcing the enemy back into his inner-works at Vicksburg. It is claimed that companies G and K, of the 3d Iowa, were the first to occupy the enemy's strong works at Haine's Bluff; but about this there must be some mistake.

One incident in the passage of the 3d Iowa from Memphis to Vicksburg, I must not omit to mention. The Crescent City, on which the regiment was embarked, had arrived, in the afternoon of the 19th instant, at the bend of the river near Island No. 65, and was sailing on unsuspectingly, when it was suddenly opened on with two howitzers from the eastern bank. Thirteen men of the regiment were wounded at the first discharge, one of them mortally; but, before the guerillas had time to re-load, a gunboat came up and drove the wretches from their cover. This circumstance will be remembered, when I state that the 41st and 53d Illinois, having landed and pursued the guerillas without being able to overtake them, returned and burned to the ground the village of Greenville, some two miles below the scene of murder. If reports were true, its fate was merited, and for other reasons; for it was said that, early in the war, a father and his son, Union residents of Greenville, were headed up in barrels by the fiendish citizens, and rolled down the steep bank into the Mississippi.

Before Vicksburg, the services of the 3d Iowa were the same as those of the other troops, buried in the heated trenches around that beleaguered city.

I now hasten to the most eventful chapter in the history of the 3d Iowa Infantry — its charge on the enemy's works at Jackson, Mississippi, on the 12th of July, 1863. Vicksburg had fallen, and the 3d Iowa had marched with the forces of General Sherman against Johnson [sic], who, for several weeks, had been raising the siege—with official dispatches. On the advance of Sherman, Johnson had fallen back and planted himself behind his works at Jackson; and there he was on the 12th of July, in a state of siege, confronted and watched by three corps—the 9th, under Parke, on his right; the 15th, under Steele, in his front; and the 13th, under Ord, on his left. General Lauman was in Ord's command, and his division held the right of Sherman's army. And thus matters stood on the morning of the 12th of July.

At the date above mentioned, it was thought by General Ord that the position of Lauman's Division was too much retired. He therefore ordered it forward, so that its left should dress on the right of General Hovey, whose division, from right to left, came next in order. Its right was to be thrown forward so as to correspond with the advance on the left. The object was to shorten and strengthen the line, and not to bring on an engagement; nor would one have followed, but for the aspirations of an ambitious general, who was charged by his own men with hunting for promotion among the slaughtered and mangled soldiers of his command.

The scene of this merciless butchery is south of the city of Jackson, and between the New Orleans and Jackson Railroad and Pearl River. "At about 9 o'clock in the morning," (I quote from Major Crosley's official report) "the 3d Iowa, 41st and 53d Illinois Infantry, and the 5th Ohio Battery of six guns crossed the New Orleans and Jackson Railroad, at a point about two miles south of Jackson, and one mile from the enemy's works. After crossing, line of battle was formed, skirmishers thrown out, and the line ordered forward. After advancing about one-fourth of a mile, the line was halted; and the battery, placed in position one hundred yards in our rear, opened fire with shell, and continued to fire rapidly for about twenty minutes. The enemy replied promptly with two guns, getting our range the first shot. As soon as the battery ceased firing, the line again moved forward. We advanced half a mile through timber and a dense under-growth, our skirmishers meeting with no opposition, when, coming to the edge of an open field, the line was again halted. Here we were joined by the 28th Illinois, which took position on our right." There the line should have rested; but General Lauman now coming up, ordered it forward.

This was now the position: In front were open, undulating fields, cleared of every thing that could afford protection or cover, even down to corn-stalks; about four hundred yards in advance were the enemy's skirmishers, backed by reserves, and, a little further on, a strong line of works, so constructed as to give the enemy a concentrated fire on a charging column. Behind these works, in addition to two brigades of infantry, were fourteen cannon—more than two full batteries, whose dark mouths spoke almost certain death to assailants. There was in addition, a formidable abattis, constructed with occasional gaps, to pass which, it would be necessary for the charging party to break its line and assemble in groups. This formidable strong-hold was to be carried by less than one thousand men, and that, too, without any diversion in their favor.

The brigade advanced in compliance with orders, until it had reached, forced back and occupied the position of the enemy's skirmishers. The order had been to move forward; but Colonel Pugh, the brigade commander, believing there must be some mistake, again reported to General Lauman — this time in person. He explained to the general the point his command had reached, the position of the enemy, and the character of his works, and then waited for further orders; but they were still the same — to move forward. There could be no mistaking the general's purpose. All, from field-officers to privates, saw the situation; but, although the movement filled them with amazement, there was no faltering. Literally, they were to enter the jaws of death; but they would not sully their good name by disobeying orders.

The order to advance was given, and the whole line moved forward at double-quick and in perfect order, when — but what need of further recital? They were, of course, repulsed. Many, passing the abattis, advanced to within pistol-shot range of the enemy's works; they could go no further, and, after struggling a few moments, retreated precipitately. As soon as the exhausted, bleeding troops reached the edge of the timber, whence they had advanced before encountering the enemy's skirmishers, they rallied promptly, and, soon after, were marched back to the point on the railroad at which they had crossed in the morning. All the dead, and nearly all the wounded, were left upon the field; nor would the enemy allow them to be reached and rescued by flag of truce; and there they lay, mangled and bleeding, beneath the rays of the scorching sun, comrades in agony, as they had long been comrades in battle.

The escape of any from death was almost miraculous; and yet, in the 3d Iowa, the loss was only about fifty per cent. The regiment went into the engagement with an aggregate of two hundred and forty-one officers and men, and lost, in killed, wounded and missing, one hundred and fourteen. Company B lost all three of her officers, killed — the two Ruckmans and Lieutenant Hall. Colonel Brown was severely wounded. The loss of the 53d Illinois was greater than that of any other regiment. Among others, it lost its gallant colonel. He was struck by a charge of canister, and fell from his horse, literally torn in pieces. It is said that General Lauman wept when he looked on the remnant of his old brigade.

After the lamentable affair at Jackson, the 3d Iowa returned with its division to Vicksburg, and sailed thence to Natchez. In the following Winter it again returned to Vicksburg, and accompanied General Sherman on his march to Meridian. The regiment re-enlisted as veterans, and came North in the early spring of 1864. Returning to the front, it was ordered to join General Sherman, already on the march against Atlanta. Before the fall of that city, Colonel Brown, and a majority of the field- and line-officers resigned their commissions. In re-officering the regiment, a lieutenant was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy: it was entitled to no colonel, on account of the fewness of its numbers. On the memorable 22d of July, 1864, before Atlanta, the regiment was again put in the thickest of the fight, and lost heavily. Among the killed was its lieutenant-colonel, who had only the day before received his commission. The regiment was soon after consolidated with the 2d Iowa Infantry, and lost its organization as a regiment.

In closing this sketch of Colonel Brown and his regiment, I will add an extract from a letter of Captain J. H. Reid, of the 15th Iowa:

"Our men, captured on the 22d of July, were taken through Atlanta that day, and their names reported to the provost marshal-general, when they were marched to East Point the same night. In passing through the city, whenever a shell fell in the streets from our batteries, they cheered and sang, 'Rally Round the Flag.' Rebel officers told them to dry up, they were prisoners of war; but they answered, 'We will always cheer a Yankee shell.' A squad of rebel cavalry was passing through the streets with the flag of the 3d Iowa Infantry, captured after the color-sergeant fell, literally pierced through and through with bullets. Some of that regiment among the prisoners saw their old flag in the hands of the enemy. They made a rush for it, wrested it from its captors, and, amid torrents of threats and curses from the guards, tore it into a thousand shreds."

I never saw Colonel Brown; but, from what I can learn of him, he must be a large man, with phlegmatic temperament, and an easy-going disposition. He may not be a brilliant man, but he was certainly a brave and faithful officer.

SOURCE: Stuart, A. A., Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p 97-108