Newton J. Earp

Fourth Sergeant Newton J. Earp, Marion Co. Enl. Nov. 11, 1861; prom. 8th Corp. Sep. 1, 1863; 7th Corp., date not reported. Reenl. Vet. Dec. 12, 1863, and reapp. 7th Corp.; prom. 6th Corp. Jan. 1, 1864; 4th Corp. May 1, 1864; 6th Serg. July 1, 1864; 4th Serg. Jan. 1, 1865. Mustered out June 26, 1865, Louisville, Ky., under G. O. 27 of 1865, Dep. of Ky., and telegram from Paymaster Gen.'s office dated June 9, 1865, as convalescent in hospital.

SOURCE: William Forse Scott, Roster of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry Veteran Volunteers, 1861-1865, p. 105

Newton J. Earp, 4th Sergeant, Co. F, 4th Iowa Cavalry: Pension Index Card

SOURCE:  Civil War And Later Veterans Pension Index at Footnote.com

Fatal Accident

Mr. Samuel Smith, living in Henry county, came to Mt. Pleasant, Friday last, to see his son off, who belongs to Col. Porters Regiment.  The starting of the train frightened his horse which ran off upsetting the sleight throwing him out and killing him instantly. – Hawk-eye 4^th.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, March 7, 1862, p. 2

Fourth Cavalry

Two battalions of the 4^th cavalry have passed through Burlington on their way to St. Louis.  The Hawkeye says, “the regiment is full, composed of fine looking, able-bodied men, and is well equipped and uniformed.”

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, March 6, 1862, p. 2

John Ralston

In presenting to our readers the history of John Ralston we record the life work of one who has long been recognized as a leading, influential and respected citizen of Monroe county. He is now living retired in Albia, but for many years was engaged in farming and stock raising in Monroe county, and in his business affairs his conduct was so straightforward and honorable that his word was recognized as good as any bond. Mr. Ralston was born in eastern Ohio on the 15th of August, 1830, and is a son of James and Martha Ann (Gordon) Ralston, both of whom were natives of Scotland. The father spent the first eighteen years of his life in the land of the heather, and thence crossed the broad Atlantic in a sailing vessel, eventually becoming a resident of eastern Ohio. He first settled, however, in Virginia, and from that place removed to the Buckeye state. His first wife died during the early boyhood of her son John, who was the youngest of their three children, the others being Andrew and Nettie. After her death James Ralston was united in marriage to Elizabeth Mathers, who was born in 1807 and was a resident of Ohio. Five children graced this marriage: Martha, Samuel, Robert, James and Maggie. A third time Mr. Ralston was married, Miss Mary Reed, a native of Pennsylvania, becoming his wife. There was one son by that union, William. For several years James Ralston continued to make his home in Ohio, but in the fall of 1860 he severed his business connections there and came to Iowa, spending his last days in Madison county, this state, where he died in 1867 at the age of eighty years.

John Ralston spent the years of his minority in Guernsey county, Ohio, and on attaining his majority sought a home in Iowa, for he believed he would have better business opportunities in the western district, where competition was not so great. Here he took up carpentering, but in his earlier years he had taught school in Ohio. In 1860 he became a resident of Madison county and was living here at the time of his enlistment for service in the Civil war. He was in the army the last nine months of the long struggle for the preservation of the Union, being drafted for service, after which he became a member of Company D, Fifteenth Iowa Infantry. He was with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea, and after the close of hostilities was mustered out in Washington, D. C. His brother Robert served throughout the entire period of hostilities as a member of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry. At the close of the war Mr. Ralston returned to his home in Madison county and for twenty years was interested in farming and stock raising. In 1885, however, he took up his abode in Monroe county, settling in Albia, where he is now living. However, he spends about six months each year upon his farm in Madison county. About six years ago he established a tanning factory in Albia, organizing a stock company for this purpose, but eventually he sold out and the factory has since been moved elsewhere.

On the 22d of November, 1862, Mr. Ralston was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Bell, a daughter of William and Mary Bell, who were natives of Ohio. They became the parents of two children, Mary and Emma. The wife and mother, however, died in 1890, passing away at her home in Albia on the 5th of September of that year, after which her remains were interred in the Albia cemetery.

Mr. Ralston has always had firm faith in Iowa and its future. When he came here as a young man he believed that the state was entering upon a period of progressive development and was therefore anxious to ally his interests with those of the early settlers. Taking advantage of the business opportunities, he steadily worked his way upward, brooking no obstacles that could be overcome by determination and earnest purpose. His life record has at all times been one that would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny, and through his well directed business affairs he has not only won a competence, but has also gained the respect and regard of his fellow-men.

SOURCE: S. Thompson Lewis, Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa, p. 615-7

State Items

Water at length has been found at the depth of 980 feed in the Artesian well at Mount Pleasant Insane Asylum.  The Journal of Mt. Pleasant says an abundant supply of water will be procured in a short time.

An Irishman at Mount Pleasant was arrested for selling liquor to soldiers.  He was sentenced by Lieut. Col. Drummond to stand 12 hours on the end of his whiskey barrels.  The sentence was duly executed.

The Dubuque Times says that “Charlie Gilman’s little boy swallowed a silver quarter of a dollar.  The father thinks it would not do him injury if he could get it changed into five cent pieces.  A friend proposes to make him swallow three more quarters, and then present a dollar bill of the State Bank of Iowa, Dubuque branch, and demand specie payment.  Charlie thinks there is no need of this; he says it was a good quarter, and he is quite sure it will pass anywhere.”

A circular from the officers of the Grand Lodge of the I. O. G. T. of Iowa, addressed to subordinate Lodges says that there are Lodges in the 3d, 4th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 15th infantry Regiments and in the 2nd Cavalry.

The gross earnings of the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad for the year 1861, from all sources, were $199,410.11.

An invitation has been extended to the Legislature of Iowa, through the Governor, by J. F. Tracy, Superintendent of the Chicago, Rock Island and Mississippi and Missouri Railroads, to visit Chicago. Mr. T. says that a special train will be at the service of the members, should they see fit to accept of the invitation.

As Mrs. Wienkool, of Lyons, a few days since was filling a coal oil lamp while burning the oil became ignited, and the fire catching in her clothing, she was severely burned before the flames could be extinguished.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, February 18, 1862, p. 2

Enos Rose

Pvt., Co. F, 4th Iowa Cavalry

Keokuk National Cemetery

Keokuk, Iowa

Colonel Edward Francis Winslow

SECOND COLONEL, FOURTH CAVALRY.

Edward F. Winslow was born in Kennebeck county, Maine, on the 28th day of September, 1837. He was raised and educated in Augusta, his native town, where he continued to live till the spring of 1856. In 1856, he came to Iowa, and settled in Mt. Pleasant, where he entered the mercantile business. He was engaged in this business at the time of entering the service, in the fall of 1861.

Colonel Winslow enlisted in the war as captain of Company F, 4th Iowa Cavalry. On the 3d of January, 1863, he was promoted to a majority in his regiment, which rank he held till the 4th of the following July, when he was mustered colonel. Since promoted to his present rank, he has been in command of his regiment but little. He commanded it during the month of July, 1863, and also while it was at home on veteran furlough. At all other times, if we except a few weeks in the fall of 1863, when he was chief of cavalry to the 15th Army Corps, he has been in command of a brigade of cavalry. With the succession of Colonel Winslow to the command of his regiment, a new and more fortunate chapter opened in its history. Prior to that time, the discipline of the regiment was bad, and its efficiency questionable. Indeed, I am told that at one time mutiny was threatened; but, under the new commander, order and confidence were soon restored.

A brief summary of the services of the 4th Iowa Cavalry, subsequently to the time it left Helena in the spring of 1863 to date, may be given as follows: It led the advance of General Sherman's Corps in the march from Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, to Jackson, and thence to the rear of Vicksburg; operated during the siege of the city on the right-rear of the besieging army, and in front of the line held by General Sherman on the Big Bear Creek and the Big Black River; returned with Sherman to Jackson after the fall of Vicksburg, marching thence under General Bussey to Canton; accompanied the expedition across the country to Memphis, which passed through Yazoo City, Lexington, Grenada and Panola, in August; took part in the movement that was made in September, 1863, to divert the attention of the enemy while Sherman was en route with his corps from Memphis to Chattanooga; accompanied the reconnoissance made, in October following, by Major-General McPherson in the direction of Canton; led the van of Sherman's army in the rapid march from Vicksburg to Meridian, Mississippi; came North on veteran furlough in the early spring of 1864; returned to the front in April, and reported at Memphis, from which point it marched on the expeditions of General Sturgis against Forest, and on those of General A. J. Smith against the same rebel leader; marched from Memphis in pursuit of General Price in Missouri, in September, 1864; accompanied General Grierson in his raid from Memphis down the Mobile and Ohio Railroad to Okalona, and thence to Vicksburg; and, finally, reporting to General Wilson, accompanied that officer in his brilliant and successful march through Alabama and Georgia, to Macon.

Two instances are given, where officers of the 4th Iowa, in command of detachments of their regiment, distinguished themselves in rear of Vicksburg. The following occurred just after the investment of the city: "Being ordered to Haines' Bluff on a reconnoissance, the regiment was halted at Mill Dale, and Captain Peters [now lieutenant-colonel] with twenty men of Company B, went to the point indicated in the order, capturing seven men, nine large siege-guns, and a quantity of ammunition, remaining in the works until the gun-boat De Kalb, which had been signaled by Captain Peters, came up and received the prisoners, cannon, &c. Captain Peters and the regiment are justly entitled to the credit of capturing this strong-hold."

The other instance is that where Major Parkell, with a detachment of one hundred and twenty-five men from Companies A, K, F, and I, was suddenly surrounded while on a scout in the vicinity of Big Black River. The enemy, whose strength was estimated at not less than six hundred, demanded instant surrender; but the major, instead, resolved to fight his way out, and succeeded. The fight was short, but most bitter, as I have been informed by Captain Zollars of the regiment; and, indeed, the list of casualties evidences as much. One officer and ten enlisted men were killed, and the wounded and captured numbered thirty-three. Lieutenant Joshua Gardner was one of the killed, and Lieutenant W. J. McConnellee was captured.

The operations of General Sherman in his expeditionary march against Johnson, after the fall of Vicksburg, have been fully detailed elsewhere, and can not be repeated with interest. After returning from that expedition, the 4th Iowa Cavalry rested near the Big Black till the 10th of August, and then left on a raid through the country to Memphis. As already stated, the line of march lay through Yazoo City, Lexington and Grenada. This expedition was commanded by Colonel Winslow, and resulted in the destruction of much of the Mississippi Central Railroad, and the burning of a large amount of railroad stock.

The 4th Cavalry re-enlisted as a veteran regiment in the winter of 1863-4, and, immediately after its return from the Meridian march, came North on veteran furlough. On the expiration of its furlough, Colonel Winslow left in command of it for the front, and was proceeding to Vicksburg, when he received orders from General Sherman assigning him to duty under General Sturgis, at Memphis. The regiment reached Memphis on the 23d of April, and from that time till the last of July following was almost constantly in the saddle and on the scout. Indeed, from that time till its arrival at Macon, Georgia, nearly one year later, the regiment enjoyed little rest. At Memphis, in the spring of 1864, the regiment was brigaded with the 3d Iowa and 10th Missouri Cavalry, and all its subsequent history has been made with those regiments. The brigade, from the time of its organization, has been under the command of Colonel Winslow.

Among the operations participated in by the 4th Iowa Cavalry, that of General Sturgis against Forest, made in the early part of June, 1864, is prominent. If the expedition terminated disastrously, it did not with discredit to this regiment; for few soldiers have ever shown greater patience, endurance and courage in the hour of calamitous defeat than did those of the 4th Iowa Cavalry, and I should add, of the entire 2d Brigade. The "regiment left Memphis on this expedition the 2d or 3d of June, marching by way of La Fayette, Salem, Bucksville and Ripley, where it arrived in the forenoon of the 7th instant. Thus far the march was made in an almost incessant shower of rain; but no enemy had been encountered. That evening, however, Company C of the 3d Iowa Cavalry, while out in search of forage, was attacked by rebel cavalry in considerable force, and a sharp skirmish, lasting nearly an hour, followed. In this skirmish two companies of the 4th Iowa were engaged, and lost four men wounded. On the 8th and 9th, the advance was continued in the direction of Guntown, or Baldwin, without opposition, though evidences of the nearness of the enemy were seen all along the route. The 1st Brigade of Cavalry led the advance on the morning of the 10th instant, and was the first to engage the enemy in the disastrous battle of Guntown, or rather of Brice's Cross Roads; for Guntown was nearly six miles distant from the battle-field.

Guntown, Mississippi, is situated in a region of country which is made up of barren hills and difficult morasses. In this same region of country the Hatchie, Tallahatchie and Tombigbee Rivers take their rise. Just north of Brice's Cross Roads, where the main battle was fought, was one of these swamps; and through this, General Sturgis must march to meet the enemy. The roads, which are narrow and difficult of passage in their best stages, were, at the time in question, in a wretched condition, rendered so from the incessant rains. Indeed General Sturgis, to a large extent, attributed his defeat to the condition of the weather and roads, and in that he was doubtless correct; but he offers no excuse for bolting down into that difficult swamp with his whole train, while the rattle of musketry was telling him of the presence of the enemy in force, not more than two miles in advance.

On the evening of the 9th instant, Sturgis encamped at Stubb's plantation, fifteen miles from Ripley, and some seven miles from where the enemy were first encountered. The march was resumed on the following morning, the cavalry leaving their camp at five o'clock, and the infantry following closely on their heels. The manner in which the engagement opened, and its progress till the arrival of the infantry, General Sturgis gives as follows in his official report:

"On this morning I had preceded the head of the infantry column, and arrived at a point some five miles from camp, when I found an unusually bad place in the road, and one that would require considerable time and labor to render it practicable. While halting here to await the head of the column, I received a message from General Grierson that he had encountered a portion of the enemy's cavalry. In a few minutes more, I received another message, saying the enemy numbered six hundred, and were on the Baldwin road; that he was himself at Brice's Cross Roads, and that his position was a good one and he would hold it. He was then directed to leave six or seven hundred men at the cross-roads to precede the infantry on its arrival, in the march on Guntown, and, with the remainder of his force, to drive the enemy toward Baldwin, and then rejoin the main body by way of the line of railroad, as I did not intend being drawn from my main purpose.

"Colonel McMillen now came up, and I rode forward toward the cross-roads. Before proceeding far, however, I sent a staff officer back, directing McMillen to move up his advance brigade as rapidly as possible, without distressing his troops. When I reached the cross-roads I found nearly all the cavalry engaged, and the battle growing warm; but no artillery had yet opened on either side. We had four pieces of artillery at the cross-roads; but they had not been placed in position, owing to the dense woods on all sides and the apparent impossibility of using them to advantage. Finding that our troops were being hotly pressed, I ordered one section to open on the enemy's reserves. The enemy's artillery soon replied, and with great accuracy, every shell bursting over and in the immediate vicinity of our guns. Frequent calls were now made for reinforcements; but until the infantry should arrive I had, of course, none to give. Colonel Winslow, 4th Iowa Cavalry, commanding a brigade, and occupying a position on the Guntown road a little in advance of the cross-roads, was especially clamorous to be relieved, and permitted to carry his brigade to the rear. * * * * * * * *

"About half-past one P. M., the infantry began to arrive. Colonel Hoge's Brigade was the first to reach the field, and was placed in position by Colonel McMillen, when the enemy was driven a little. General Grierson now requested authority to withdraw the entire cavalry, as it was exhausted and well nigh out of ammunition. This I authorized as soon as sufficient infantry was in position to permit it, and he was directed to organize his command in the rear, and hold it in readiness to operate on the flanks."

The rest may soon be told; for alarm begun to seize on all. The enemy, seeing their successes, pressed their victory with great energy and determination, and the infantry line was hardly formed before it was broken. General Grierson was called on for cavalry to support the right flank, and it no sooner met the enemy in that quarter than it was repulsed. An effort to hold the left was equally unsuccessful. All saw that the day was lost, and acted with indecision and irresolution. Sturgis was already driven from the high ground, and beaten back on his wagon-train. This he made a spasmodic effort to save; but, seeing the enemy in heavy columns swinging by his left flank, he gave the order to retreat. And such a retreat! Every thing but his army, and much of that was lost. For the portion saved, he was indebted chiefly to the cavalry, and in no slight degree to the Iowa cavalry regiments. It is positively asserted that the 2d Brigade, of Grierson's Division, reached Collierville (and the enemy made pursuit to that point) in a less disorganized condition than any other brigade command of the army.

The list of casualties of the 4th Iowa cavalry in the battle at Brice's Cross Roads and in the retreat to Collierville is not given. The regiment's historian, Adjutant Ambrose Hodge, closes his account of this affair as follows:

"On arriving at Collierville, the men had been in the saddle fifty-four consecutive hours, fighting the greater part of the time without feed for their horses or provisions for themselves. The regiment arrived at Memphis, on the 14th instant, the men and horses being completely worn down by excessive labor performed on this march. The distance traveled was three hundred and fifty miles."

Following the disastrous expedition of General Sturgis, was that of General A. J. Smith; and the latter was as successful as the former had been unfortunate. The 4th Iowa Cavalry joined Smith on this march, and fought in the battle of Tupelo; but an account of this expedition has already been given in the sketch of Colonel Woods of the 12th Iowa Infantry. Neither in this, nor in the second expedition of General Smith against Forest, are the losses of the regiment stated. It was during the absence of the 4th Cavalry, or rather of eleven companies of it, in August, that Forest dashed into Memphis, on a hurried call on General Washburne. Company C was left behind, being detailed on provost-duty in the city, and was the only company of the regiment that, actually encountered Forest. In this affair, the company lost Lieutenant L. P. Baker, severely wounded. It is reported as having conducted itself with/much gallantry.

Next, in the history of the regiment, follows the expedition against General Price in Missouri, an account of which has been given in the sketch of Colonel Noble and his regiment. During the Missouri Campaign, Colonel Winslow was severely wounded. He was shot in the leg, while his brigade was charging the enemy, on the Big Blue River, near Westport. Though severely wounded, it is stated he refused to leave his command till the enemy had been driven from the field.

In the charge made on the 25th of October, near the Osage, the 4th Iowa Cavalry captured two hundred and thirty-five prisoners, and two stand of colors, and lost during the expedition four killed and twenty-six wounded. Lieutenant H. W. Curtis, of Company F, was killed in the charge on the Osage, and Major A. B. Pierce, commanding the regiment, was severely wounded in the foot. Among those mentioned for special gallantry during the campaign, were Major Pierce, Captains Drummond, Dana and Lee, all commanding battalions of the regiment, and Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant John S. Keck. Company commanders, in all cases, managed their commands in a manner highly creditable to themselves.

If we except the expedition made by General Grierson through Mississippi, late in December, 1864, there remains but one more important campaign to be recorded in the history of the 4th Iowa Cavalry — that made under General Wilson through Alabama and Georgia.

On the route from Missouri to the Military Division of the Mississippi, and during the few weeks of rest that the brigade of Colonel Winslow enjoyed before starting on the Macon march, there is little of special interest; and I therefore pass at once to the history of the memorable raid. Brevet Major-General Wilson, with a cavalry corps numbering about twelve thousand men, left Chickasaw on the Tennessee on the 21st of March, 1865, for a destination known to few of his command. The outfit was extensive and had been long in making; and it was known to the command that the expectations of the commanding general were commensurate with his preparations, and that was all. The rest, the future must disclose. The route of the column was nearly south-south-east, till its arrival at Montevallo. From that point, it was south to Selma, and thence, nearly due east, to Montgomery, Columbus and Macon. In this line of march was included four of the most important inland cities of the Confederacy — important as places of note and pride, and as manufacturing points.

Let me state, while I have it in mind, that, on the march in question, the 3d and 4th Iowa Cavalry were attached to the division of General Upton, (the 4th) and the 5th and 8th to that of General McCook. These were the only Iowa troops who accompanied the march.

The enemy first made a determined stand at Six-Mile Creek, between Montevallo and Selma. They had just previously occupied Montevallo, with the expectation of defending it; but, on the near approach of the Federal column, their hearts foiled them, and they fled in the direction of Selma. At Six-Mile Creek, the enemy were under Chalmers, Roddy and Lyon, with the inhuman wretch, Forest, as commander-in-chief. The battle was fought on the last day of March, and on that day the division of General Upton was in the lead of the column. The enemy were found in a strong position, which was defended by artillery; but after some skirmishing they were charged and routed, losing their artillery and more than two hundred prisoners. The second fight was at Ebenezer Church, about twenty miles from Selma. Here the enemy were no more successful; for after a brief engagement they were a second time routed and forced back toward Selma. This battle was fought on the 1st of April. The following day, General Wilson defeated Forest for the third time, and entered and occupied Selma.

Selma, on the north bank of the Alabama, and one of the chief railroad-centres of that State, was defended by two lines of works, each swinging entirely round the city, and resting on the right and left of the river bank. The outer line was guarded by a strong palisade. This strong-hold was captured by two divisions of the Federal troops — Generals Upton's and Long's. General Long took position on the right, and General Upton on the left. Line of battle was formed on the high ground, and, after the usual skirmishing and signaling, an assault was ordered. As In all successful charges, the work was well and quickly done. With less than three thousand men, the outer works were carried, in the face of artillery and nine thousand muskets; and only some two thousand of the latter were in the hands of the citizen militia.

In taking the outer line of works, the 3d Iowa Cavalry was In the front, and the 4th, in reserve; but, in taken [sic] the second line, the 4th held the front. Lieutenant George W. Stamm, of the 3d Iowa Cavalry, who wields a good pen and I believe a good sword, says: "Immediately after we took possession of fortifications, the 4th Iowa Cavalry were mounted, and rushed on the flying foe with an impetuosity which nothing could withstand. Weary, out of breath and heated with our double-quick, we saw them pass us like a whirlwind, scattering death and confusion among the Johnnies, while the brass band that had boldly ventured to the front was playing the enlivening strains of 'Yankee Doodle,' in singular unison with the rattle of musketry and the shouts of victory." Thus Selma was captured, the great military store-house and manufacturing depot for the Confederates, in Alabama. The enemy lost many killed and wounded, and about two thousand prisoners.

Montgomery fell without a struggle, as also did Macon, Georgia; but Columbus, Georgia, made a determined defense. General Wilson appeared before the place at noon of the 16th of April, and that evening carried it, as he had Selma, by assault. Columbus is situated on the east bank of the renowned Chattahoochie; but the works that protected it from the west, and which General Wilson was obliged to carry, were on the west bank of the stream. Both above and below the city, bridges spanned the Chattahoochie: the approaches to each were covered by artillery, mounted in strong forts. Rifle-pits and other defenses commanded the approaches in every other quarter westward. The 2d Brigade of General Upton's Division first approached the city, and when near the works that defended the lower bridge made a charge with the hope of carrying the position and gaining the bridge. They were unsuccessful, being repulsed with much loss. Colonel Winslow's First Brigade now coming up was sent back by the commanding general, and directed to gain, by a circuitous route, a position in rear of the upper bridge. The movement was successfully made, and at dusk in the evening a charge was ordered which resulted in the fall of Columbus. As at Selma, the 3d and 4th Iowa Cavalry were in the front line. Indeed, there was little fighting done during the whole campaign in which these regiments did not have part.

I have already said that the last fighting of the expedition was done at Columbus. After resting here one day, General Wilson marched on Macon; but when near the city, he was advised of the terms agreed on between Sherman and Johnson, and informed that his entrance into the place would not be opposed. The 4th Iowa Cavalry is now in camp at Macon, and the war is virtually ended.

The loss of the regiment during the campaign was not very severe. Captain E. R. Jones, Chief Bugler Tabor, and Sergeant Beezley, were among the killed, and Quarter-Master Sergeant Detrick and Sergeant Stocks among the wounded. The entire loss of the regiment in killed and wounded was, I think, twenty-five. Captain Jones was killed in the charge at Selma.

I never saw Colonel Winslow, but am told he has an intelligent and pleasing countenance, and a feminine voice. He is a man of great energy, great ambition and unlimited self-confidence. All agree that he is a splendid officer. He has both the courage and the skill to handle troops successfully in the face of the enemy. His worst fault, if it can be termed a fault is his self-conceit, which sometimes discovers itself immodestly.

SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 609-20

Colonel Asbury B. Porter

FIRST COLONEL, FOURTH CAVALRY.

Asbury B. Porter was born in the State of Kentucky, in the year 1808. At the time of entering the service, he was a resident of Mt. Pleasant, Henry county, Iowa, where, for several years, he had followed the business of a merchant and trader. He first entered the service in May, 1861, as major of the 1st Iowa Infantry; and in that regiment he made a good record. His conduct at the battle of Wilson's Creek was mentioned by Lieutenant-Colonel Merritt in terms of much praise. Why he was so unfortunate as colonel of the 4th Iowa Cavalry, I am unable to say. He was the first Iowa colonel dismissed the service of the United States, by order of the President. Before receiving his dismissal, however, he had resigned his commission, and returned to his home in Mt. Pleasant. He left the service in the spring of 1863.

The 4th Iowa Cavalry, at the time of entering the service, was made up of a fine body of men. The Mt. Pleasant schools were largely represented in the regiment; and, in addition to this, there was a larger per cent. of men with families and homes than in any other Iowa regiment previously organized. Its outfit, too, was superior, especially as regarded its horses. Colonel Porter served as his own inspector, and, being one of the best judges in the State of a good horse, he mounted his men in magnificent style. The regiment promised much, and yet it accomplished little worthy of special note, under its original colonel.

The 4th Iowa Cavalry served first in Central and Southern Missouri, and then in Arkansas; and the character of its labors were the same as were those of the 1st Iowa Cavalry, while that regiment was stationed in Missouri. They can not be detailed with interest.

Colonel Porter is a short, stocky man, with a broad, oval face, beaming with much good nature. I speak of him as he looked to me in the stage-coach, in the summer of 1863, on our return from the gubernatorial convention. I did not know who he was till after we had parted, and consequently formed my judgment of his character without prejudice. He is familiar and pleasing in his manners, and makes friends readily. I judged him to be intelligent, and of an extremely social disposition, and thought he would be happy and at home with his friends at a beer-table.

SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 607-8

Colonel John Wesley Noble

THIRD COLONEL, THIRD CAVALRY.

John W. Noble was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in the year 1831, and is a son of Colonel John Noble, a distinguished citizen of that State. His education is liberal and thorough, and was acquired at Yale College, New Haven. His profession is the law, which he first studied in the office of Hon. Henry Stansbury of Ohio, and afterward at the Cincinnati Law School. In 1857, he came to Iowa and settled in the city of Keokuk, where he formed a law partnership with Henry Strong, Esq. From that time until the breaking out of the war, he practiced his profession with great success, and in the opinion of most competent judges was, without regard to his age, one of the best read lawyers in his district. In the spring of 1861, the firm of "Strong & Noble" ranked only second in ability and business, to the many law firms in the city of Keokuk. In August, 1861, John W. Noble entered the service as adjutant of the 3d Iowa Cavalry. He held that rank till the 18th of November, 1862, when he was mustered to the majority of the 2d Battalion of his regiment. Early in May, 1864, he was made lieutenant-colonel, and in the following June was mustered colonel, vice Colonel H. C. Caldwell.

For several months before he was commissioned colonel, and while he held the rank of major, Colonel Noble commanded his regiment — or rather the 1st and 3d Battalions of it. These battalions were under his command in rear of Vicksburg, during Sherman's advance on Jackson, on the march to Canton, and the raid made by Colonel Winslow of the 4th Iowa Cavalry from near the Big Black River through the country to Memphis. The last named expedition was made in August, 1863, and we resume the history of the regiment from that date.

On the 26th of August, the 1st and 3d Battalions of the 3d Iowa were embarked on boats for Vicksburg, but they had proceeded no farther than Helena, when they were ordered by General Grant in person, to debark and report to General Steele, then marching on Little Rock. It will be remembered the 2d Battalion of the regiment, with the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Caldwell, had marched with the cavalry division of General Davidson from Arcadia, and that it now formed a part of General Steele's forces. On the arrival of Major Noble the regiment was therefore re-united after a separation of nearly two years. From September, 1863, until the following February, the histories of the 1st and 3d Iowa Cavalry regiments are nearly the same. They served in the same department, and took part in the same operations; but on the last named date, the 3d Iowa having re-enlisted, came North on veteran furlough. Since that time the histories of these regiments have been widely different.

While en route for the front, after the expiration of its furlough, the 3d Iowa Cavalry was stopped at Memphis, and, in the latter part of April, 1864, was brigaded with the 4th Iowa and 10th Missouri Cavalry. These troops constituted "Colonel Winslow's Brigade;" and by their gallantry in six important expeditions they have made their name distinguished.

An account of the operations against General Forest in the spring and summer of 1864, I have given elsewhere, and I need not detail them here. The 3d Iowa took part in all these operations, and sustained its reputation for gallantry. In the disastrous affair of General Sturgis near Guntown, Mississippi, the regiment lost five killed, eighteen wounded, and forty-nine captured. In speaking of the conduct of his regiment in this engagement, Colonel Noble says:

"My officers and men behaved universally so well that I can not make much distinction among them. But, for their aid in getting a new line to force the enemy at one particular emergency, I deem Captain Curkendall, of Company D, and Lieutenant McKee, of Company B, worthy of particular notice. Major Jones was constantly at his post, and did all a good and brave officer could. If occasion offers, I hope to bring the merits of others of the brave men more prominently forward than I can do now."

Lieutenants Thomas J. Miller and Reuben Delay were both wounded in this engagement and captured.

The loss of the 3d Iowa Cavalry in the expedition made by General Smith against Forest to Tupelo, Mississippi, was one killed, seventeen wounded, and one captured. Major Duffield and Captains Crail, Brown, McCrary and Johnson, are mentioned for special gallantry.

The history of the operations against General Sterling Price in Missouri, in the fall of 1864, is one of great interest, and the brilliant part which the 3d Iowa Cavalry and its brigade sustained in it I give in full.

Colonel Winslow's Brigade had only returned from its second expedition under General Smith against Forest, when it was ordered in pursuit of Price: indeed, it was re-called from Oxford, Mississippi, if I mistake not, for this express purpose. The brigade left its camp near Memphis, at two o'clock on the morning of the second of September, and, crossing the Mississippi, marched to Brownsville, Arkansas, when it arrived on the 9th instant. Here the command rested till the morning of the 18th, awaiting the arrival and organization of the infantry command of Major-General Mower. On the 18th, the march was resumed northward, and, passing through Austin, and Searcy, and crossing the White River fifteen miles below Batesville, and Black River at Elgin, entered Missouri at Poplar Bluffs. Price was now well into Missouri, living liberally, and inviting his rebel adherents to join him. From Poplar Bluffs, Winslow's Brigade marched east to Cape Girardeau, and proceeded thence by boat to St. Louis, where it arrived on the 10th of October.

At this date, there was great alarm, both in Southern Iowa and Eastern Kansas; and the militia in both States were being organized and disciplined to meet the invader. Dollar-men along the border in Iowa, (I do not speak for Kansas) who, during the whole war, had hugged closely to their business and about their firesides, and who had thought of nothing but their per centage, now looked anxiously over into Missouri, and talked loudly of patriotism. I could not pass without paying the patriots this compliment.

Winslow's Brigade rested only one day in St. Louis to refit; then pushed up the Valley of the Missouri River, on the direct road to Independence. The command struck the enemy's trail at Franklin, only thirty miles west from the Mississippi; and at that time Price was at Lexington. On the 22d instant, they reached Independence, where they formed a junction with the cavalry command of General Pleasanton. That same evening the brigade was thrown to the front, and encountered the enemy's rear-guard; for Price was now only a few miles distant from Independence. Of the operations of the 3d Iowa Cavalry that night, Colonel Noble says:

"My regiment, though not having the advance, was dismounted, sent to the front, and immediately engaged the enemy on the Kansas City Road, fighting and driving Clark's rebel brigade a distance of five miles, from five o'clock until nine and one-half P. M., when my command was relieved. The command rested on the field for the night in the face of the enemy, having marched from twelve o'clock on the night of the twenty-first, without water or forage for our animals."

The next morning, the 23d, the 3d Iowa Cavalry was in the saddle by four o'clock, and pressing the enemy. The 10th Missouri and 4th Iowa Cavalry had the advance. It will be remembered that, as early as the 20th instant, General Blunt, under orders from General Curtis, had moved out from Kansas to Lexington and engaged Price's advance. Pleasanton, with his cavalry, soon after struck him in rear, and from that time till the 23d, the date of the battle on the Big Blue, the rebel general was between two fires. It will also be remembered that it was on the Big Blue that the invading army was defeated and disorganized. In this splendid victory, the brigade of Colonel Winslow contributed not a little. Early in the day, Company A, of the 3d Iowa, charged the enemy in a strong position, and captured a stand of colors and several prisoners; and later in the same day, the entire regiment, in company with its brigade, "joined in the gallant mounted charge against the enemy in column of regiments, which was continued through farms and over the prairie for five or six miles." The loss of Price here was extremely severe, and, as I have said, his army was demoralized.

The history of the pursuit, during the two subsequent days, Major B. S. Jones gives as follows:

"Having, at day-light, [the 14th] joined the Army of the Border under General Curtis, we marched early, constantly and rapidly in a southern direction after the retreating enemy, down the line dividing Missouri and Kansas, over extensive prairies, dotted with devastated farms and lonely chimneys, which marked the ravages of war. We marched without halting, until three o'clock A. M. of the 25th, when we reached Trader's Post on the Osage River: there we found the enemy, and eagerly waited for morning. The enemy, having been routed from his position on the river, was followed up at a gallop for several miles by Winslow's Brigade, in the following order: 10th Missouri, 4th Iowa, 3d Iowa, 4th Missouri, and 7th Indiana Cavalry. When he attempted to make a stand, we formed on the open prairie in two lines of battle, supported by eight pieces of artillery.

"My command was formed in line of battle with the brigade, in column of regiments, in their order of march, and constituting the left centre of our whole line. We charged the enemy, breaking his right and centre, killing, wounding and capturing many of his men. Among the captured were Generals Marmaduke and Cabell, the former by Private James Dunlavy, of Company D, and the latter by Sergeant C. M. Young, of Company L — both of the 3d Iowa Cavalry. Companies C, D and E captured three pieces of the enemy's artillery. The whole of my command did nobly on that field, as also on all others, and the highest commendations are due to every man and officer. The remainder of the day was one continual charge upon the enemy, resulting in his complete rout. We rested on the open prairie over night, near Fort Scott, Arkansas."

The charge made by Winslow's and Philip's Brigades, on the 25th instant, against the command of General Marmaduke and near Mound City, was brilliant in the extreme. It was in this charge, and after the rout of the enemy that Marmaduke and Cabell were captured. General Marmaduke was holding Price's rear at the place above designated, and had formed his division in line to check our advance. But he had chosen his position badly. It was at the foot of a gentle slope, and in front of a small creek, skirted with brush. The charge was made down the slope at full run, with the 10th Missouri in the lead, that regiment being followed by the 4th Iowa, and the 4th by the 3d. The sight was a magnificent one. When the 10th came under the withering fire of the enemy, it recoiled slightly; but the 4th dashed on through its line, wheeling partially to the right, and followed closely by the 3d. The 4th Iowa was the first to strike and break the enemy's line. In an instant, the whole rebel line was shattered and fleeing in confusion. The charge was so sudden and impetuous that Marmaduke was left without a command, and a straggler; and thus he was captured. Cabell was captured in like manner. Private Dunlavy, the captor of Marmaduke, was a new recruit, and I am told is a bit of a boy. His home is in Davis county. Sergeant Young is twenty-four years of age, and a native of Ohio.

Immediately after this brilliant charge General Pleasanton issued the following complimentary order:


"General Orders No. 6.

"Head-quarters Cavalry Division,
Fort Scott, Kansas, Oct. 26th, 1864.

"The major-general commanding this division, composed of troops from the Department of Missouri and Winslow's Brigade of cavalry, congratulates the officers and men upon the brilliant success which has crowned their untiring efforts, in this decisive campaign. The battles of Independence, Big Blue and Osage river, have resulted in the capture of Major-General Marmaduke, Brigadier-General Cabell, four colonels and nearly one thousand prisoners, (including a large number of field officers) ten pieces of artillery, seven thousand stand of arms, the destruction of a large portion of the enemy's train, and the routing of their army. The gallant action of Phillip's Brigade of Missouri Cavalry, and Winslow's Brigade, in capturing eight of the enemy's guns on the Osage, was so distinguished as to draw praise from the enemy. ***** The regiments of the 4th Brigade [Winslow's ] are authorized to place upon their colors 'Big Blue and Osage.'

"By command of Major-General Pleasanton, etc."


Resting one day at Fort Scott, Winslow's Brigade continued the pursuit, following Price through Arkansas and the Indian Territory, to a point on the Arkansas River about forty miles above Fort Smith. They failed to overtake the enemy, and soon after turned about, and marched to St. Louis, via Fayetteville and Springfield.

During the Missouri Campaign, the 3d Iowa Cavalry suffered the following loss: six men were killed, and two officers and forty-one men wounded. Lieutenant and Adjutant James H. Watts was shot near Independence, on the 22d of October, and died soon after of his wounds. First Sergeant Lewis G. Baldwin was mortally wounded in the same skirmish. In the battle on Big Blue, Captain J. D. Brown, of Company L, and twelve enlisted men of the regiment were wounded; and, in that known as the Osage, four enlisted men were killed and twenty-four wounded.

In December, Winslow's Brigade left St. Louis and returned to Memphis, where it remained till the 21st instant, and then joined General Grierson in his raid through Mississippi. The route which Grierson followed was as follows: Marching east till he struck the Mobile and Ohio Railroad at Shannon Station, he then turned south and moved down the road until reaching Okalona. From Okalona, he marched south-west, passing through Bellefontaine and Lexington, and arriving at Vicksburg on the 5th of January, 1865. Hood, it should be borne in mind, had already been frozen out at Nashville, (for he is reported to have said that the cold contributed more to his defeat than General Thomas) and was hunting head-quarters in Northern Mississippi and Alabama. The object of Grierson's raid was to destroy Hood's supplies, and his lines of communication, and this was most effectually done. Immense stores and railroad property were destroyed.

Only a portion of the 3d Iowa Cavalry accompanied General Grierson on this expedition. Colonel Noble commanded the detachment, which consisted of eleven commissioned officers and three hundred and nine enlisted men. From Vicksburg, the 3d Iowa returned by boat with its brigade to Memphis, and soon after sailed for Louisville, Kentucky, where the regiment was again united. The regiment's next and last campaign was that made under Brevet Major-General Wilson from Chickasaw on the Tennessee River, to Macon, Georgia, A history of this brilliant march will be found in the sketch of Colonel Winslow, of the 4th Iowa Cavalry.

The enemy were first met on this march at Six-Mile Creek, twenty miles from Montevallo. Here the 3d Iowa charged and broke the enemy's line, and captured one hundred prisoners. The subsequent engagements were those at Ebenezer Church, Selma and Columbus; and in all of them the regiment was conspicuous. Its loss, from the time it left Chickasaw till its arrival at Macon, was about forty, or nearly twenty per cent larger than the loss of either of the other regiments of the brigade. Captain Thomas J. Miller of Company D, who fell at Columbus, was the only commissioned officer of the regiment killed. He was a young man of steady habits, and of much promise. Entering the service as a private of Company D, from Davis county, he was first orderly to Colonel Bussey, then sergeant, and then lieutenant and captain. It will be remembered that he was severely wounded on Sturgis' disastrous expedition against Forest. I am told that he said, when his regiment returned to the front from its veteran furlough, that he should never return alive. He was killed by the concussion of a shell, which grazed his breast as it passed him, and while he was standing in front of his company, just before the charge was ordered. Captain B. F. Crail was severely wounded in the first engagement at Six-Mile Creek, and Lieutenant J. J. Veatch slightly, at Ebenezer Church. These were all the casualties among the commissioned officers. Sergeant John W. Delay of Company I, was killed at Columbus.

And thus the 3d Iowa Cavalry closes its brilliant history in the War of the Rebellion; for Lee has surrendered, and Johnson; and Davis, the head of the Confederacy, is captured.

Colonel Noble is a small, black-haired, black-eyed man, with good education, good ability, and of remarkable energy and .courage. All declare him to be a perfect gentleman, and a model soldier.

I am told that, as soon as news came of the firing on Fort Sumpter, Colonel Noble began studying military law and tactics. From that time forward, he devoted his entire energies to military matters; and, to-day, he is the best versed in military law of any officer from Iowa. He has, in addition to his many other excellent traits, a kind heart, and is watchful of the interests of his men. He has no superior among the Iowa colonels.

SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 597-606

Brevet Brigadier-General Edward Winslow

Colonel, 4th Iowa Cavalry

COLONEL GEORGE AUGUSTUS STONE

TWENTY-FIFTH INFANTRY.

George Augustus Stone is a native of New York State, and was born in the town of Schoharie, on the 13th of October, 1833. In 1839 his father removed with his family to the then Territory of Iowa, and settled in Washington county. Here young Stone resided, attending common school a principal portion of the time, till 1849, when he removed to Mt. Pleasant. After completing his studies at the Mt. Pleasant schools, he was received into the banking house at that place, and, in 1851, was appointed cashier of the bank, which position he held till the spring of 1861. Early in the spring of 1861 he assisted in recruiting Company F, 1st Iowa Infantry, Captain Samuel M. Wise, and on its organization was elected its first lieutenant. He served with his regiment in Missouri during its three month's term of service, and took part in the battle of Wilson's Creek.

Lieutenant Stone's term of service in the 1st Iowa expired in August, and, in the following October, he was commissioned a major in the 4th Iowa Cavalry, with which regiment he served till the 10th of August, 1862, when he was promoted to the colonelcy of the 25th Iowa Infantry.

In November, 1862, Colonel Stone's regiment arrived at Helena, Arkansas, whence it sailed, in the latter part of December following, on the expedition against Vicksburg by way of Chickasaw Bayou. Chickasaw Bayou was its first engagement. Its second was Arkansas Post, and there, like the 26th Iowa, it suffered severely, losing in killed and wounded more than sixty. The regiment was attached to Hovey's Brigade, of Steele's Division — the division which did the fighting and captured the strong-hold. It served as a support to the 76th Ohio, and just in rear of that regiment charged through an open field in the face of a withering fire from the enemy's artillery and musketry. Passing the enemy's obstructions, it advanced to within one hundred yards of their works; and in that position engaged them for nearly three hours, and until the garrison surrendered. So cool and gallant was its conduct, that a Texan colonel, captured with the garrison, remarked: " I was almost sure those were Iowa troops."

Five commissioned officers were wounded in this engagement — Captains Palmer and Bell, and Lieutenants Stark, Orr, and Clark. Nine enlisted men were killed, among whom were Sergeant Zickafoose, and Corporals Wilson and James W. Thompson. Adjutant S. P. Clark, who was wounded severely in the leg, was conspicuous for his cool and gallant conduct "He earned and received the praise of the entire regiment." Privates Hiram Payne and B. F. Weaver, who bore the colors of the regiment, earned and received equal praise.

After the Deer-Creek-Sun-Flower-&c. expedition, the 25th Iowa marched with Sherman, via Jackson, to the rear of Vicksburg; but, like the 26th Iowa, failed to meet the enemy till it arrived before the doomed city. Being in the same division with the 26th Iowa, its services before Vicksburg were nearly the same as those of that regiment. In the charge of the 22d of May, it was one of the front regiments in the charging line, and, with its colonel in the advance, moved against a strong fort on the north side of the city. It passed unfalteringly through the galling fire that met it as it moved upon and along the hights in plain view and within shot range of the enemy, but was unable to carry the rebel works, and after holding its position till night was, with the balance of the division, ordered to retire to the position it occupied in the morning. On that day, Private Isaac Mickey, of the enlisted men of the regiment, most distinguished himself.

An account of the march on Jackson, Mississippi, and the evacuation of that city by Johnson, after the fall of Vicksburg, having been given in other parts of this volume, I need simply state that the 25th Iowa took part in those operations. After the termination of that expedition, the regiment returned with its division to the Big Black River, where it remained till the 23d of September following, when it moved with General Sherman on the march to Chattanooga. The 1st Division of the 15th Corps, to which the 25th Iowa was attached and which was commanded by Brigadier-General P. J. Osterhaus, was the only one that engaged the enemy on this march. The fighting, which was not severe, took place at and between Cherokee Station, Alabama, and Tuscumbia, and, to give an idea of its character, I quote from the official statement of Colonel George A. Stone:

"On Sunday evening, October 25th, at Cherokee, our division received marching orders for 4 A. M. next day; and accordingly the division moved at the hour indicated, in the direction of Tuscumbia, in light marching order, and in fine fighting condition. The 1st Brigade, Brigadier-General C. R. Woods commanding, had the advance, and ours, the 2d Brigade, Colonel A. J. Williamson commanding, the rear. General Osterhaus' orders were very imperative and strict concerning the tactical arrangement of battalions, as the enemy, but some three miles in front of us, was composed entirely of cavalry, and our equal fully in numerical strength. About two miles from camp we met the enemy's skirmishers, and here formed line of battle, the 1st Brigade on the right, and the 2d on the left, with one of the other divisions of our corps as a reserve. My position was on the extreme left, and, n accordance with orders, I formed a square to repel cavalry, first, however, having covered my front properly with skirmishers. Our skirmishers pushed the enemy so vigorously and our lines followed so promptly, that, after a short resistance, he fell back to another position some four miles to his rear, and made another stand. The same disposition was made again by our division, the same sharp, short fighting, and the same result — the retreat of the enemy. We continued this skirmishing during the entire day, and renewed it on the 27th, literally fighting them from Cherokee to Tuscumbia. We entered the town at 3 P. M. on the 27th."

The 25th Iowa in these operations lost only one man — Sergeant Nehemiah M. Redding — who was killed on the skirmish line. Other regiments suffered more severely. In this connection I should state that there had been fighting on the 21st of the same month, on the entrance of Osterhaus' Division into Cherokee Station. It was in the affair of that day that the lamented Colonel Torrence, of the 30th Iowa, was killed.

Returning to Cherokee on the 28th instant, Colonel Stone marched thence with his regiment back to Chickasaw Landing, and crossed the Tennessee with his division, on the 4th of November. The march from that point to Chattanooga was continued without incident. The division of Osterhaus not arriving till the evening of the 23d of November, and being too late to operate with Sherman above Chattanooga, was ordered to report to General Hooker, who, on the following day, was to assault the enemy on Lookout Mountain. For the part taken by the 25th Iowa in the engagement on and around Lookout Mountain, on the 24th of November, I again quote from a statement of Colonel Stone:

"At 9:30, A. M., I had orders to go to the front, just under a point of rocks on Lookout Mountain, to support the guns of Battery I, 1st New York Artillery, now in position, and two of which guns were protected by being hastily casemated. This position I retained during the day, and on account of the admirable place for defense, and the inability of the enemy to sufficiently depress his guns, I found at dark I had not lost a man.

"Nothing could exceed the grandeur of this battle from the point at which we viewed it. [The position of the 25th Iowa was at a point on the north end of Lookout Mountain]. Every gun from Raccoon Mountain to Moccasin Point was in plain view, and our lines of infantry so close that acquaintances were easily recognized. At 12 M., the grand attack began, and soon the smoke of the battle hung over and enveloped the mountain, like a funeral pall; and the whole battle, like a panorama, passed around and before us."

This was the first battle whose progress the 25th Iowa had witnessed without being engaged; and the recollections of that afternoon will never be effaced from the memories of the regiment. But the scenery of the following night was even more terribly magnificent; for the fighting continued around and up the mountain until long after mid-night.

In the engagement on Lookout Mountain, the regiment suffered no loss: nor did it, in that of the following day on Mission Ridge. In the latter it was not engaged, being detached, with the 26th Iowa, for the purpose of anticipating an attack, which it was supposed two regiments of rebel cavalry designed making on the left. But it followed in pursuit of General Bragg's flying forces to Ringgold, and engaged the enemy there in their strong works, on the morning of the 27th of November.

Ringgold, which is planted among the broken, irregular hills of Northern Georgia, is about twenty-five miles south of Chattanooga. On a line of these hills the enemy had taken up an intrenched position in considerable force, which, contrary to the expectation of General Osterhaus, they held stubbornly. To dislodge them it became necessary to deploy the division so as to carry the works by assault. The position of the 25th Iowa, in the assaulting line, was at the front and on the extreme left in an open field. On the hill in its front were the enemy, protected by abattis and breast-works. A point of this hill, which was rocky and in places precipitous, extended down to the field where the 25th stood in position. Up this the regiment was to charge. On rugged points, both to the right and left, the enemy's infantry were posted, so as to rake by a right and left flanking fire the assaulting party. In front of the regiment were two rebel colors, defended doubtless by two rebel regiments. This then was the position of the 25th Iowa, when the advance was sounded.

The contest now began along the whole line, and lasted for about an hour; when the enemy, no longer able to withstand the cool, steady valor of their assailants, fled from their works and hastened on to Dalton.

The loss of the 25th Iowa at Ringgold was twenty-nine wounded. None were killed. Of the twenty-one officers who entered the fight, seven were struck.

After the battle at Ringgold, the 25th Iowa marched back to Chattanooga, and thence, via Bridgeport, to Woodville, Alabama, where, with its brigade, it went into Winter quarters. It remained in Winter quarters, however, only about a month; for, on the organization of General Matthies' temporary Division to march to the relief of Knoxville, it was assigned to that command, and on the 11th of February, 1864, broke camp and again took the field. It was rumored when the division left Bridgeport, that it was to march only to Chattanooga, where, being relieved by other troops, it would be permitted to remain on guard-duty. But there was in store no such good fortune; for, on the morning of the 16th instant, it resumed the march eastward in the direction of Cleveland.

It was now the season of the year when the Southern Winter was breaking, and the alternating rain and sunshine, and cold and heat did not contribute to the good nature of the troops; and, as they trudged on through the mud, their minds soured at what they called the injustice of the commanding general. "He don't care a d—n, as long as he can ride a horse," and "If I could catch him a-foot, if I didn't give him an appetite for his hard-tack," and other like expressions were not unfrequently heard on this march. No veteran infantry trooper will wonder at these spiteful ebullitions; for it should be remembered that these troops were all of the 15th Corps, who, during the three past months, had marched nearly four hundred miles, and fought in three hard battles.

After the march to Cleveland, which resulted in nothing of special interest, the 25th Iowa returned to Woodville, where it remained till its division left for the front to join General Sherman in his grand campaign against Atlanta. The events of that campaign, in which the 25th Iowa took an honorable part, will be found elsewhere, as will also the history of Sherman's march from Atlanta to Savannah, and from Savannah to Raleigh, North Carolina.

In the operations of General Sherman in his march from Savannah to Raleigh, the capture of Columbia, South Carolina, is conspicuous. The credit of this affair belongs to the Iowa Brigade of the 15th Corps, to which the 25th Iowa Infantry was attached.

The question as to who was entitled to the honor of having first planted the American Flag on the Capitol buildings at Columbia, has been in some doubt. It is claimed by Justin C. Kennedy of the 13th Iowa, and by Colonel George A. Stone. The following I believe to be correct history: The 15th Corps' Iowa Brigade, commanded by Colonel G. A. Stone, forced the enemy back and captured the city; but in the meantime, Lieutenant-Colonel Kennedy, with a few men, crossed the Congaree in a rickety boat, and, hurrying on to the city, succeeded in first gaining both the old and new Capitol buildings. The banner of the 13th Iowa, in the hands of Colonel Kennedy, was the first to wave from the buildings; but the first American Flag was that belonging to the 31st Iowa, which was planted by the hands of Colonel Stone. But Iowa's brave sons should not allow jealousies to sully their fair lame. It is enough for the State to know that her soldiery received the surrender of Columbia.

For several weeks after the battles around Chattanooga, Colonel Stone commanded the Iowa Brigade. He also commanded this brigade on the march from Savannah to Goldsboro and Raleigh. He is an excellent young officer — prompt, precise and sprightly. He is a middle-sized man, with black hair, and merry, brown eyes. In appearance, he is quite youthful I never saw him but once, and that was while I was in the service, and just after he had succeeded to a brigade command. A stalwart captain was riding by his side, and both were enveloped in ponchos; for it rained in those days about Bridgeport. The captain I took for the commander, and the colonel for an aid, or orderly.

The colonel is proud and ambitious, and is happily free from that self-importance — a sort of pseudo-dignity — which seems to afflict army officers conversely in proportion to their merit.

SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 407-14

Newton J. Earp

Fourth Sergeant, Co. F, 4th Iowa Cavalry

Marion Co. Enl. Nov. 11, 1861; prom. 8th Corp. Sep. 1, 1863; 7th Corp., date not reported. Reënl. Vet. Dec. 12, 1863, and reapp. 7th Corp.; prom. 6th Corp. Jan. 1, 1864; 4th Corp. May 1, 1864; 6th Serg. July 1, 1864; 4th Serg. Jan. 1, 1865. Mustered out June 26, 1865, Louisville, Ky., under G. O. 27 of 1865, Dep. of Ky., and telegram from Paymaster- Gen.'s office dated June 9, 1865, as convalescent in hospital.

Source: William Forse Scott, Roster of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry Veteran Volunteers, 1861-1865, p. 105

Iowa Sick and Wounded Soldiers

HOSPITAL STEAMER “EMPRESS,”
KEOKUK, Easter Sunday.

Dear Sir: I have not been able to write you hitherto in consequence of press of business; but I know, though in much haste, snatch a moment to give you a little information that may be of interest. I arrived at St. Louis in company with Dr. Hughes, on Tuesday morning, when we waited on Dr. Wright, the Medical Director at that post, who assigned me to assist Dr. McGogin at the Fourth Street Hospital. I however found time to visit the other principle hospitals in the city, and make out a list of the sick and wounded Iowa soldiers that I found there. There are one or two other places for the reception of the sick there, but I was told there were only a few old chronic cases in them, and my time did not allow me to see them. The lists I send you contain the names of nearly all the sick and all the wounded at St. Louis belong to Iowa regiments. The day before yesterday I was ordered to proceed on board the above steamer to assist in taking charge of the Wounded, &c., who were sent up to the hospital now established at this point, where we have just arrived. The “Estes House” is engaged as a hospital to which place they are now conveying the poor fellows as fast as possible. We had about 300 on board for this place, who will be under the charge of Dr. Hughes, assisted by Dr. Hamline, of Mt. Pleasant, and myself. I need not consume your time or my own in talking about the nature of the cases, for they are of course of all kinds; neither need I enter upon a detail of the casualties, &c., that have occurred among our State Troops, that I have gleaned by conversing with the men as I doubt not you have heard of them from other and more reliable sources. I will however mention one rather touching incident that happened a few days ago on board this boat. A young woman from St. Louis had accompanied her husband, a soldier, to the scene of action. Upon the sudden assault on our lines, he rushed out of his tent to join his regiment, leaving his young wife in the tent. The poor fellow fell, killed early in the action, and a bullet passed through the tent slightly wounding his wife in the breast. She did not, however, know of the fate of her husband when she came on board the boat, but expected to meet him at St. Louis. Two days ago she was indiscreetly told of his death, when the shock to her feelings occasioned the rather premature birth of her first child, who, with the mother, I am happy to say is doing well. Poor thing, God help them!

I ought to apologize for my scrawls, but as part of the list was copied off on board while under way, and this is written in great hasted and with a shocking pen you must excuse.

Yours truly, PHILIP HARVEY

C DUNHAM, ESQ.


List of sick and wounded Iowa soldiers on board the hospital boat “Empress,” bound for Keokuk, Iowa:

David J Palmer, (Corp) gun shot wound, co. C, 8th regt; W Logan, gun shot wound, co. B, 8th regt; J M Williams, amputated arm, co F, 8th regt; Jacob Walker, gun shot wound, co B, 8th regt; Amos Merritt, gunshot wound, co B, 8th regt; J L Christian, gunshot wound, co. B, 8th regt; Jacob Harr, gun shot wound, co. G, 8th regt; Chas Fox, gunshot wound, co. I, 8th Regt; Julius Gardner, gun shot wound, co D, 8th regt; J L Billings, gunshot wound, co. H, 8th regt; J F Boyer, gastrics, co. C, 8th regt; E B Plumb, (Lieut) pleurisy, co. C, 8th regt; Luther Calvin, gun shot wound, co. H. 8th regt, Maxon Ogan, gunshot wound and fractured leg, co. D, 8th regt; John Cochran, gun shot wound, co F, 8th regt; Jas Marshall, gun shot wound, leg amputated, co. C, 8th regt; Malvin Dean, gun shot wound, co. E, 8th regt; Elias Blizzard, gunshot wound, co H, 8th regt; Jas L Davis, gun shot wound, co. H, 8th regt; B F Wolfe, (Corp) gun shot wound, co. E, 8th regt; John A Rowan, gun shot wound, co. B, 8th regt; G M McCulloch, gun shot wound, co. B, 8th regt; Fellman Scott, sick, (died April 16th) co. H, 6th regt; Commodore Norris, gun shot wound, co. I, 8th regt; Z Blakely gun shot wound, co. D, 8th regt; Randolf Murray, gun shot wound, co. B, 8th regt; Mathew Mahoney, diseased leg, co. C, 8th regt; Michael Glenn, gun shot wound, co. C, 8th regt; Jas G Day, gun shot wound, co I, 15th regt, Daniel Welsh, gun shot wound, co. A, 15th regt; Geo H Kuhn, gun shot wound, co. I, 15th regt; Alfred Wilcox, gun shot wound, co. K, 15th regt; Wm H Laid, gun shot wound, co. I, 2d regt; H Burcell, gun shot wound, co. C, 15th regt; G De Hart, gun shot wound, co. A, 15th regt; S P Angry, gun shot wound, co. C, 15th regt; N M Larimer, ague, co. B, 6th regt; Jas Clark, gun shot wound, co. H, 15th regt; Henry Elmer, gun shot wound, co D, 15th regt; J L. Warner, gun shot wound, co. C, 15th regt; C L Kirk, gun shot wound, co C, 15th regt; H B Wyatt, gun shot wound and fever, co. K, 15th regt; Archibald McGee, gun shot wound, co. F, 15th regt; Chas E Dunn, gun shot wound, co G, 2d regt; J H Stanley, gun shot wound, co. C, 13th regt; John Johnson, gun shot wound, co. H, 15th regt; J W Ellis, gun shot wound, co. H, 15th regt; J T Tumblier, gun shot wound, co. C, 15th regt; D Hoff, gun shot wound, co. C, 15th regt; James White, gun shot wound, co. G, 15th regt; J M Youngblood, gun shot wound, co. C, 15th regt; J M Long, gun shot wound, co. K, 15th regt, W F Grove, gun shot wound, co. D, 15th regt; A Clark, gun shot wound and fever; Milton Pottroff, gun shot wound, co. I, 15th Regt; M N Humbiers, amputated arm, co. G, 15th regt; Levi Randal, gun shot wound, co. K, 15th regt; Victor Porter, Pen davis, R Clugman, and Morris Falsley of co E, 15th regt, gun shot wounds; Jas Johnson, pneumonia, co C, 6th regt; H G Vincent, gun shot wound, co. H, 15th regt; W H Vanlandenham, gun shot wound, co. C, 7th regt; Levi S. Hatton, gun shot wound, co. E, 6th regt; R M Littler, (Capt) amputated arm, co. B, 2d regt; J L Cole, gun shot wound, co B, 16th regt; Marion Raburn, gun shot wound 15th regt.


List of sick and wounded Iowa soldiers at the Fourth street Hospital, St. Louis, Mo., April 16, 1862:

Frank Keyser, gun shot wound in chest, co. K, 12th; Sam’l Plattenburg, gun shot wound in ankle, co. F, 12th; Robert C Cowell, gun shot wound in arm, Jno M Clark, gun shot wound in hip, and Edwin H Bailey, gunshot bruise, of co. D 12th; Lieut. M P Benton, fever, (convalescent,) co B, 8th; Ben T Smith, dysentery, (convalescent) co. A, 8th; Robert Denbow, fever, (convalescent,) co. D, 5th; Chas Walrath, dysentery, co. K, 5th; Wm R Peters, debility, co. E, 5th; Wm Phillips, gun shot wound, (slight) co. H, 8th; Ad Bowers, small pox, co. G, 12th; Jas Hall, pneumonia, co F, 14th; Seldon Kirkpatrick, debility, co. E, 2d; Oscar Ford, lumbago, co. A, 8th; Melvin Hempstead, debility, co. F, 12th; Robert A Bennett, chronic [diarrhea], co. D, 2d; Fred’k Maggons, billous fever, co F, 8th; David H Goodwin, debility, co. H, 8th; Wm H Cowman, pneumonia, co, E, 8th; Edw’d M Manning, gun shot wound, co. B, 2d; Joseph Reynolds, chronic bronchitis, co. C, 8th; V G Williams, gun shot wound, co. K, 6th; Elisha Gardner, do, co. F, 6th; Thomas Fullerton, do, co. E, 6th; Thos H Morris, do, co. B, 6th; Joseph Conway, do, co. A, 2d; Wm H H Renfro, do, co. F, 16th; John L Cook, do, (in jaw) co. K, 6th; Andrew Lirson, do, co. H. 8th; Frank N Crull, do, co. H, 8th; Andrew Byers, do, co. A, 6th; Clark Tripp, do, co. F, 6th; John A Clark, do, co. A, 6th; John T Tichenor, do, co. B, 8th; Lieut L E Bunder, do, co B, 16th; A S Fuller, do, co. G, 12th; Wm H Swan, do, co. G, 3d; Isaac G Clark, do, co. D, 12th; Horace E Cranal, do, co. D, 3d; Wm H Bowers, do, co. C, 12th; A Biller, injured ankle, co. E, 12th; S W Larrabee, gun shot wound, co. K, 12th; Thos Spain, do, co. H, 12th; O Derney, do, co. B, 12th; Thos Quivey, chronic diarrhea, co. C., 12th; James H brown, general debility, co. G, 12th; J W Christ, do, co. H, 12th.


List of sick and wounded Iowa soldiers in the Fifth street Hospital, St. Louis, April 16, 1862.

Casper Brady, Gun shot wound, co. D, 2d; W H Royston, do, co. C, 2d, V Hall, pneumonia, co. G, 12th; Joel Woods, typhoid fever, co. I, 12th; Jno Hartman, gun shot wound, co. I, 6th; D H Collins, diarrhea, co. A, 11th; Geo. Godfrey, gun shot wound, co. H, 3d; M H Stone, do, co. H, 7th; Thomas B McHenry, do, co. K, 8th; E Chrisenden, do, co. E, 11th; E J Campbell, do, co. C, 11th; W S Whitmore, do, co. E, 6th; K L Miller, do, co. I, 11th; Henry Joules, do, co. B, 12th; Alex Presho, do, co. H, 12th; Charles W Henderson, do, co. H, 3d; Ellison Hess, do, co. B, 6th; J W Scranton, do, co. H, 16th; E A Ward, do, co. H, 12th; John Boardman, do, co. D, 6th; J W Conville, do, co. D, 14th; Geo. Reed, do, co. C, 6th; John Kepper, do, co. A, 2d; Wm Butler, do, co. E, 16th; G F Stratton, do, G B Summers, do, and J K Moray, do, of co. D, 6th; WF Green, do, co. G, 6th; Kennith Kaster, do, co. H, 16th; John Marion, do, co. A, 13th; Jno S Heubich, do, co, I, 2nd; Jasper H Smith, do, co. A, 16th; Penny L Foot, do, co. G, 6th; Perry C Kinney, do, co. F, 12th; Thos Townsend, do and Wm Arnold, do, of co. K, 6th; Jno H Talbot, do, co. H, 3d; Charles Johnson, do, co. E, 12th; Thos Smith, do, co. E, 6th; Joseph Pattee, do, co. F, 6th; Jacob Harney, do, co. E, 12th; Jno Multon, do, co. K, 12th; Jos J Learaway, do, co. A, 12; S J Burns, do, co. A, 9th; J F Lyon, do, co. H, 8th; Patrick Larkin, do, co. H, 3d, P B Halverson, do, and G Kunvertin, do, co. D, 3d.


List of Sick and wounded Iowa soldiers at the Seventh street Hospital, St. Louis, April 17th, 1862:

Benj. Esley, rheumatism, co. H. 15th; Hardy Clayton, gun shot wound in thigh, co. F, 12th; Wm Cox, do, jaw fractured, co. F, 3d; Geo H Kelley, do, across the shoulders, co. D, 2d; M Kellogg, do, fractured arm, co. D, 3d; J H. Cobb, (musician) do, back, slight, co. I, 11th; William Kerr, (corp.) do, head, slight, co H, 11th; Orson Adams, do, arm fractured, co. B, 12th; A T Gardner, diarrhea, co. H, 12th W D Carpenter, measles, co. F, 16th; J Carpenter, gun shot wound, neck, slight, co. F, 16th; H D Carpenter, do, leg, slight, co. F, 16th; S P Plummer, do, arm, slightly, co. A, 6th; T Eaton, do, hand at Donelson, co., I, 12th; A Larson, diarrhea, co. B, 12th; Seth Paup, fever, co. I, 12th; Marion Rolf, (corp) fever, co. I, 12th; Garry Green, do, (convalescent) co. I, 12th; J L Dupray, (Sargt) dislocated ankle, (convalescent) co. I, 12th; Wm Maynard, gun shot wound, shoulder, slight, co. B, 12th; Wm. Spates, pneumonia, co. C, 15th; Wm McCord, consumptive, co. F, 15th; Daniel Clark, pneumonia, (convalescent) Engineer.


List of sick and wounded Iowa soldiers at the House of Refuge, St. Louis, April 17, [1862]:

A W Grainger, serg, rheumatism, co A, 7th; B Bryant, sick since Jan 16, co B, 7th; H Dobbins, sick since Jan 25, co A, 12th; William J. Blades, compound fracture of leg, co M, 3d cav; Maurice Askern, sick since Jan 16, co K, 3d cav; Francis L Elliott, general debility, co H, 2d; W J Gladwin, hernia; F C Flinn, rheumatism, co F, 2d; G W Greenough, pneumonia, co I, 2d; Joseph James, debility, co I, 3d; Fred Dose, gun shot wound in leg, at Wilson’s creek, co G, 1st S Durham, chronic diarrhea, co C, 6th; C C Wilson, pneumonia, co B, 12th; Martin Halleck, erysipelas, co E, 5th; H D Lynes, pneumonia, co A, 3d cav; James A Howard, arm amputated, co B, 2d; Robert B Partridge, pneumonia, co E, 2d; Edward J Taylor, gun shot wound in hand (Belmont) co B, 7th; Geo M McMurray, typhoid, co G 2d.

The above are all cases prior to April 1st, 1862.

The Following occurred subsequently:

Wm Murphy, pneumonia, co M, 3d cav; Wm Hines, pneumonia, co D, 8th, Albert Boyler, ague, Nich Zachans, gun shot wound in leg, co E 15th, Lyman Drake, ague, co H, 15th; Geo Parker, Catarrh, co K, 2d; Wm Dougherty, gun shot wound, co I, 8th; Wm Turner, do do; Wm Rogan, gun shot wound in leg, slight, co D, 2d; H G Tieman, do, co G, 16th; W Aurlong, do, co H, 5th; Jno. F Reynolds, pneumonia, co D, 6th; Geo McMurry, fever, co G; Cyrus Treater, do co C; Robt Lock, do co e, 2d; chas Stearns, dysentery, co A, 8th; Geo Wright, fever, co D 16th; Thos Lenchan, do co B, 15th; Sebra Howard, fever, co I, 2d regt; Francis Clair, chronic rheumatism, co C, 7th; Chris. A Russell, debility, co D, 4th cavalry; Wm R. Peters, do 5th infantry co E; Richard Martin, do co D, 12th; Robert A Bennett, do co D, 2d; Wm. A. Meeker, fracture, co A, 11th; Edward I Taylor, corp. gunshot wound, co B 7; Wm H. Alexander, hepatitis, co F, 13th reg’t. Elisha cook, debility co D 15th; Martin B Meter, pneumonia, co H 15th, Grastus Nordyke, fracture, co A 15th; David Ditch, chronic diarrhea, co D, 5th; H Hansyel, chronic rheumatism co C, 15th; Benjamin Zane, gun shot wound in [leg], co H, 3d, James M. Allen, gun shot wound in thigh; James M Ripley, do, co H 11th; John H Zollner, do, foot, co. H, 11th, Wm A. Gordon, do, sick, co. H, 11th; Thomas C Nelson, sick, co. F, 12th, Geo Kint, sick, co. F, 12th; B K Wintermute, gun shot wound, co H, 11th; Isaac E Cooper, do, co. K, 11th; James N Hamiel, do, in leg, co. H, 2d.

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

4th Iowa Cavalry

Organized at Camp Harlan, Mount Pleasant, September to November, 1861. Companies muster in "A," "E" and "F" November 23, "B," "C," "D," "I," "K" and "M" November 25, "G" November 27, "L" December 24, and "H" January 1, 1862. Duty at Camp Harlan till February, 1862. 1st Battalion moved to St. Louis, Mo., February 26, 2nd Battalion February 28 and 3rd Battalion March 3, 1862. At Benton Barracks, Mo., till March 10. Ordered to Rolla, Mo., March 10; thence to Springfield, Mo., and duty there till April 14. Attached to 2nd Division, Army of Southwest Missouri, Dept. of Missouri, to July, 1862. District of Eastern Arkansas, Dept. of Missouri, to December, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, District of Eastern Arkansas, Dept. of Tennessee, to January, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, 13th Corps, Dept. of Tennessee, to May, 1863. Unattached, 15th Army Corps, Army of Tennessee, to August, 1863. Winslow's Cavalry Brigade, 17th Corps, to May, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Corps, to July, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, District of West Tennessee, to November, 1864. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, Wilson's Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi, to December, 1864. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, District of West Tennessee, to February, 1865. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi, to June, 1865. Dept. of Georgia to August, 1865.

SERVICE.--Expedition to Salem, Mo., March 12-19, 1862 (Cos. "F" and "L"). Ordered to join Curtis at Batesville, Ark., April 14. Skirmish at Nitre Cave, White River, April 18 (Detachment Cos. "G" and "K"). Talbot's Farm, White River, April 19 (Detachment Cos. "E," "F," "G" and "K"). Skirmish, White River, May 6. Little Red River June 5. (Co. "F" detached for duty with Chief Commissary and as provost guard at Helena, Ark., May, 1862, to April, 1863.) Mt. Olive June 7, 1862 (Co. "F"). Gist's Plantation July 14, 1862 (Co. "F"). March to Helena, Ark., June 11-July 14, Duty at Helena till April, 1863. Polk's Plantation September 20, 1862 (Detachment Co. "D"). Expedition from Helena to LaGrange September 26 (2 Cos.). Jones' Lane or Lick Creek October 11 (Detachment Cos. "A," "G" and "H"). Marianna and LaGrange November 8. Expedition from Helena to Arkansas Post November 16-21, and to Grenada, Miss., November 27-December 5. Oakland, Miss., December 3. Expedition to Big and Little Creeks March 6-12, 1863. Big Creek March 8. St. Charles and St. Francis Counties April 8. Moved to Milliken's Bend, La., April 28-30. Reconnoissance to Bayou Macon May 1-4. March to New Carthage May 5-8. (Co. "G" detached on courier duty at Young's Point, La., during May.) Fourteen-Mile Creek May 12-13. Mississippi Springs May 13. Hall's Ferry May 13 (Detachment). Baldwyn's Ferry May 13 (Detachment). Jackson May 14. Haines Bluff May 18 (Co. "B"). Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May 18-July 4. Engaged in outpost duty against Johnston between Big Black and Yazoo Rivers. Mechanicsburg May 24 and 29. Expedition from Haines Bluff to Satartia and Mechanicsville June 2-8 (Detachment). Barronsville June 18. Bear Creek or Jones' Plantation June 22 (Cos. "A," "F," "I" and "K"). Big Black River, near Birdsong Ferry, June 22 (Detachment). Hill's Plantation, near Bear Creek, June 22. Messenger's Ferry, Big Black River, June 26. Advance on Jackson July 5-10. Siege of Jackson July 10-17. Near Canton July 12. Bolton's Depot July 16. Bear Creek, Canton, July 17. Canton July 18. Raid from Big Black on Mississippi Central Railroad and to Memphis, Tenn., August 10-22. Payne's Plantation, near Grenada, August 18. Panola August 20. Coldwater August 21. Expedition to Yazoo City September 21-October 1 (Detachment). Brownsville September 28. Morris Ford, near Burton, September 29. Expedition toward Canton October 14-20. Brownsville October 15. Canton Road, near Brownsville, October 15-16. Near Clinton and Vernon Cross Roads October 16. Bogue Chitto Creek October 17. Robinson's Mills, near Livingston, October 17. Louisville Road, near Clinton and Brownsville, October 18. Expedition to Natchez December 4-17 (Detachment Cos. "C," "H," "I," "K," "L" and "M"). Near Natchez December 7. Meridian Campaign February 3-28, 1864. Big Black River Bridge. February 3. Raymond Road, Edwards Ferry, Champion's Hill, Baker's Creek and near Bolton's Depot February 4. Jackson and Clinton February 5. Brandon February 7. Morton February 8. Meridian February 9-13. Hillsborough February 10. Tallahatta February 13. Meridian February 14. Near Meridian February 19. Veterans on furlough March 4 to April 24. Reported at Memphis, Tenn., April 24. Non-Veterans at Vicksburg, Miss., till April 29; then moved to Memphis. Sturgis' Campaign against Forrest April 30-May 12. Sturgis' Expedition to Guntown, Miss., June 1-13. Ripley June 7. Brice's Cross Roads, near Guntown, June 10. Ripley June 11. Smith's Expedition to Tupelo, Miss., July 5-21. Near Ripley July 7. Cherry Creek July 10. Plenitude July 10. Harrisburg Road July 13. Tupelo July 14-15. Old Town or Tishamingo Creek July 15. Smith's Expedition to Oxford, Miss., August 1-30. Tallahatchie River August 7-9, Hurricane Creek and Oxford August 9. Hurricane Creek August 13, 14 and 19. College Hill August 21. Oxford August 22. (Forrest's attack on Memphis August 21--Co. "G.") Moved to Little Rock, Ark., September 2-9. Campaign against Price in Arkansas and Missouri September 17-November 30. Moved to Batesville and Pocahontas, Ark.; thence to Cape Girardeau, St. Louis, Jefferson City and Independence, Mo., Trading Post and Fort Scott, Kansas, Pea Ridge and Fayetteville, Ark., Tahlequah and Webber's Falls, Ind. Ter., returning via Pea Ridge, Springfield and Rolla to St. Louis. Engaged at Brownsville September 28. Morris Bluff September 29 (Co. "D"). Little Blue October 21. Independence October 22. Westport, Big Blue and State Line October 23. Trading Post October 25. Marias des Cygnes, Osage, Mine Creek October 25. Charlot Prairie October 25. At St. Louis till December 9; then at Louisville, Ky., till February, 1865. (A detachment at Memphis, Tenn., September 1 to December 20, 1864. Scout near Memphis November 10. Skirmish on Germantown Pike, near Memphis, December 14, Detachments of Cos. "A" and "B." Grierson's Raid on Mobile & Ohio Railroad December 21, 1864, to January 5, 1865. Okolona, Miss., December 27, 1864. Egypt Station December 28. Franklin January 2, 1865. Rejoined Regiment at Louisville, Ky., January 15, 1865.) Dismounted men of Regiment moved from Memphis, Tenn., to Louisville, Ky., January 2, 1865. Moved to Gravelly Springs, Ala., February, 1865, and duty there till March 20. Expedition to Florence March 1-6. Wilson's Raid to Macon, Ga., March 20 to May 10. (Co. "G" escort to General Upton, Commanding Division.) Montevallo March 30. Near Montevallo March 31. Six-Mile Creek March 31. Ebenezer Church April 1. Selma April 2. Fike's Ferry, Cahawba River, April 7. Wetumpka April 13. Columbus, Ga., April 16. Capture of Macon April 20. Duty at Macon and Atlanta, Ga., till August. Mustered out at Atlanta August 10, 1865, and discharged at Davenport, Ia., August 24, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 51 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 5 Officers and 194 Enlisted men by disease. Total 254.

SOURCE: Dyer , Frederick H., A Compendium Of The War Of The Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1161