Letter from Adjt. King

Hedq’r’s 15th Iowa Infantry,
In The Line, Big Shanty, Ga.
June 18th, 1864

Mr. Caverly: –

If a few items in pencil, written under difficulties, in the rain, in the mud, under rebel fire, lying on the ground will be of interest to you and the readers of “The Sentinel,” they are freely given.

The 17th A. C. under command of gen. F. H. Blair, arrived at Ackworth, Ga., the then Headquarters of Gen. McPherson, on the 8th inst., from Huntsville, Ala., having started on the 25th of may. The distance traveled is about two hundred miles. The country is rough, stony, and mountainous; full of creeks and rivers, poor beyond conception. The marching was exceedingly difficult, and officers and men very much worn down thereby.

At Rome, on the 5th inst., we had the pleasure of meeting with Capts. Bennett and others of the 39th Iowa, stationed at that point. Judging from appearances, they enjoy soldiering very well and seem inclined to make the best of hard times. Arriving at our destination, we met. Lieut. Alden and others of the 6th Iowa, and Miles Christy and Homewood of the 8th Iowa Cavalry, all looking well and hearty.

Our corps at once took position on the left of the grand army, and until the present we have been realizing all the trials and dangers pertaining to soldiering, in the face of a defiant, able and energetic foe. On the 15th inst., a general advance of the whole like was made. The fighting was quite severe on both sides, and sometimes raged with terrible fury. Lieut. Grimes, 6th Iowa, was killed in this movement. Our Reg. was fortunate in having no casualties whatever. At midnight the 15th and 13th were thrown forward half a mile in advance to entrench and hold a new position in close proximity to the Rebel lines. The work was completed long before day on the 16th in good style. The firing here was very hot throughout the day, and it seems almost miraculous that no one was killed or seriously wounded. The following were wounded slightly that day: Privates E. H. Nordyke and C. E. Furgerson, Co. A; J. Moss, Co. D; Pat. Murphy, Co. H; O. P. Fleming, Co. I. These men are so slightly wounded as not to be off duty at all.

At 8 P.M. the Regiment was relieved from duty at that point and took up a new position a quarter of a mile to the left, which position it still holds. The weather is cold, wet and disagreeable. The mud is almost without limit. Health is good, duty of all kinds abundant. But, it rains hard, harder, hardest, and I must close.

Respectfully
E. H. King

JUNE 19th. – Since writing the above dispatches have been received stating that Gen. Thomas’ army moved upon the enemy’s left center breaking it, and gaining a position in the rear. In consequence thereof, all the troops have marching orders, and are ready for any movement. Hard fighting is now progressing on the right and left of our position, consequent upon forward movements along the front of Gen. McPherson’s army. In our immediate front, the enemy have abandoned their first line of works, which are now in possession of our troops. The rain though pouring in torrents, does not impede the progress or ferocity of the conflict. At present it is impossible to determine the final result of movements now being made, but the tide is immensely in our favor now, and we feel confident our good fortune will continue.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, July 2, 1864

8th Iowa Cavalry

Organized at Davenport September 30, 1863. Moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., October 17-22, thence to Nashville, Tenn., November 14-16. Attached to Defences of Nashville & Northwestern Railroad, Dept. of the Cumberland, to March, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Cumberland, and to November, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi, to June, 1865. Dept. of Georgia to August, 1865.

SERVICE.--Guard and garrison duty and operating against guerrillas at Waverly and points west of Nashville till March, 1864. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., March 13-17, thence to Chattanooga and Cleveland, Tenn., April 1-15. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May to September. Varnell's Station May 7. Demonstration on Rocky Faced Ridge and Dalton May 8-13. Tilton May 13. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Near Cassville May 19. Stilesborough May 23. Burnt Hickory May 24. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Near Burned Church May 26. Ackworth June 3-4. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 9-July 2. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Nickajack Creek July 2-5. Chattahoochie River July 6-17. McCook's Raid on Atlanta & West Point Railroad July 27-31. Lovejoy Station July 29. Clear Creek and near Newnan July 30. At Kingston, Ga., till Sept. 17. Pursuit of Wheeler Sept. 1-8. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, thence to Franklin, Tenn. Pursuit of Forest September 25-October 10. Pulaski September 27. Florence, Ala., October 6-7. Muscle Shoals near Florence October 30. Near Shoal Creek October 31. Nashville Campaign November-December. Shoal Creek near Florence November 5-6 and 9. On line of Shoal Creek November 16-20. Fouche Springs November 23. Campbellsville November 24. Front of Columbia November 24-27. Franklin November 30. Battle of Nashville December 15-16. Lynnville December 24-25. Pulaski December 25-26. Expedition into Mississippi January 5-21, 1865. Wilson's Raid to Macon, Ga., March 22-May 1. Northport near Tuscaloosa April 3. Occupation of Tuscaloosa April 4. Occupation of Talladeega April 22. Munford's Station April 23. Rejoined Wilson at Macon May 1. Duty at Macon and in Georgia till August. Mustered out August 13, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 15 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 176 Enlisted men by disease. Total 194.

SOURCE: Dyer , Frederick H., A Compendium Of The War Of The Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1163

Disaster to the 8th Iowa Cavalry

It was the misfortune of a part of this regiment to be in the late Stoneman raid, (something of which we published last week) and if reports are true they have been severely handled. The most of those in the engagement are said to be taken prisoners, killed, or wounded. Wm. Christy, formerly a member of the 15th, received four or five wounds and is a prisoner. He was reported killed but this is contradicted by letters received just before going to press.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, August 20, 1864

Letter from 8th Iowa Cavalry

Camp 8th Iowa Cav., Near
Lost Mountain, June 20th 1864

I now find time to address you again. The 8th Iowa Cavalry have been with Sherman, so far through this campaign and none of the Clark Co. boys have been hurt. They are all well so far as I know. Some of them are dismounted and are doing garrison duty at Kingston, Ga. Among the number present are Geo. Wilson, L. F. Deselm, Wesley Templeton, M. C. Christy, Joel and Geo. Miller, Nelson Homewood, Jos. Cusyan, J. R. Fullerton, William Myers and Samuel Stark.

The Reg. now numbers 295 men mounted for duty. It left Cleveland Tenn., May 3d, 950 strong. The rest of the horses have been killed, wounded, starved, warn out and have died during the campaign. The duty was very hard on man and beast. We were frequently in our saddles all night, our horses often doing without anything to eat. They were not unsaddled, on an average, over three hours out of twenty-four. – The men were as badly used as the horses, but a few days rest brought them all right again – had a weeks rest during a rain storm and all were fresh and vigorous as before.

We have met the rebels in a dozen fields and success has crowned our banner each time. The loss of the Reg. is comparatively small, only fifty killed and wounded. A detachment of the 8th went on a reconnoissance [sic] this morning, and sent back a currier, a short time since, for the ambulances, stating that they had one man killed and several wounded near Powder Springs.

Stoneman’s and McCook’s (the 8th belongs to his command) Cavalry captured Lost Mountain the 17th with but slight resistance. The 8th made two successful saber charges after the mountain was captured with but little loss. We have made several saber charges but the “Johnnies” Never stood till we got close enough to hurt them. Schofield and Hooker have been fighting incessantly for Kinnesaws [sic] and Pine mountains for the last four days and still their artillery is hurling its missiles of death into the rebel works. Johnson’s right and left wings have been turned and are steadily being driven together. – Johnson’s army is in a critical condition. Sherman has out generaled [sic] him on every field, and has flanked him on every field except Dallas. He has won the confidence and esteem of his whole army. The officials feel confident of their ability to take Atlanta, and the rank and file know not defeat. All we ask is that the men at home do their whole duty, forward the one hundred days men as readily as possible to protect our communications and rear and guard our “Hard Tack,” and we will plant the Stars and Stripes over the towers of Atlanta before July closes, or leave our bodies to rest in the mountains and on the plains of Georgia.

The army was cut down to three-fifth rations of bread, coffee and sugar, and two-seventh rations of meat – no beans hominy or rice – making less than half rations, the 20th of May. The men are frequently two days without anything to eat, but they scarcely ever grumble. Nothing that is palatable for man or beast is left in the country. Everything is taken or destroyed. None of the citizens remained behind Johnson’s army except those that were too poor to get away, and by the time our army had passed they had nothing left by which to sustain life. The government will certainly have to feed them. We are on the right wing of our army and all the other Iowa Regiments are on the left and left center. They no doubt have done some hard fighting in the past four days. I have not seen any of [the] 6th, 15th or 39th for some time. [missing text] accounts they were all in the [missing text] hunting “Johnnies,” which is [missing text]ing on a rainy day. Their, [missing text] not over 250 yards apart.

June 22d – Hooker is s[missing text]ing away at Kinnesaw [sic] [missing text]is now trying to take it [missing text]. They are two-thirds of the [missing text] and expect to make the summit [missing text] fall. Johnson’s lines are in the [missing text] of a V, the vertex at the above [missing text] mountain. Schofield’s Corps has been fighting very hard this forenoon.

Hurrah, for old Abe! He is bound to be a Veteran, bounty or no bounty.

Yours truly,
Wm. Christy

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, July 9, 1864.

NOTE: There was a hole in the paper, near the ending paragraphs of this letter, which appeared on the right of the newspaper column causing text to be lost. I have annotated these occurrences with the citation [missing text]. Also this letter when it was printed in the paper was dated 1894, which is an obvious typesetter’s error, I have corrected the date so as not to lead to any confusion.

From the 8th Iowa Cavalry (W. D. K.)

Camp on the N. W. R. R., Tenn. Dec. 31, 1863. – Mr. Editor: – Being in camp today, and having nothing to read, I have concluded to enclose you a dollar greenback for which I wish you to send me your paper, as we get but few newspapers in this God-forsaken land of treason.

Our Battalion (the 3d) have just returned to camp after being on a four days’ scout. We went from here to Fort Donelson and made a raid back through a portion of country in which it was reported a large force of guerrillas made they headquarters, but could get no fight out of them. We are stationed here to guard the Railroad and the workmen who are repairing it, and to clean out the various bands of guerrillas that infest this country. We have taken a great many of them prisoners and treated them as prisoners of war, and in return they have taken some of our boys prisoners, and we have just heard that they have shot them. The boys say they will have revenge – they are exasperated, and woe be to the guerillas they capture hereafter, for death will be their portion. These guerillas are a set of men, who, under the name of Confederate soldiers, murder every Union soldier they can capture and every Union man they can find in this country.

This is one of the poorest countries I ever saw. I would not give one county of Iowa for all of this State, and I have seen a good portion of it.

The intelligence of the people is in unison with the country. A poorer set of ignorant devils I never saw in any country. We have seen grown men and women who never saw the flag of our country and looked upon it with astonishment. They believed that Iowa Soldiers were a set of cutsthroats [sic] who would kill all the women and children we came across. Such a thing as a school-house does not exist here. And this is the kind of material Jeff Davis and the Copperheads of the North have deluded with the doctrine of coercion – men who cannot read – men who never read the Constitution of the country – men who never traveled outside their own township. Poor deluded wretches who do as the leaders of this infernal rebellion bid them.

We have had no general engagement as yet. The material we have to fight are too cowardly to come out and fight like men but fire on us from behind logs and rocks and then run like deer before the hounds.

The health of the Regiment is now very good.

Yours respectfully,

W. D. K.
Co. F, 8th Iowa Cavalry

[Hawkeye.

- Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, January 30, 1864

From the 8th Iowa Cavalry (H. F. Mc.Manis)

Waverly Tenn. Jan 13th 1864.

Editor Sentinel : –

Thinking that some of your readers would like to hear from this little band of Hawk-eyes that started out in freedom’s cause, I drop you a line which you may publish if you think it worthy a place in your paper.

We – the first battalion – have gone into winter quarters here, within ten miles of the Tennessee river, on the Nashville and Rendelsburg road. The 2nd battalion is fifty miles east of here, and the 3rd twenty-one miles east. The road is finished and cars running 40 miles, and they expect to finish to the river by May.

As the 8th Iowa were the first Federals in this part of the state the Citizens were much surprised on our arrival. The secesh heard that we were coming and burned the jail two days before our arrival. The day before we arrived, we came on the guerrilla, Capt. Phillips, and some of his men while at dinner. They escaped leaving two horses and three mules. We have taken a number of prisoners since we came here. Bands of guerrillas composed of the ignorant classes lurk around our camp at night, fire on our pickets, and then run away to their homes; when our scouts call on them they are good loyal men, “Constitutional Democrats,” and neither arms nor ammunition can be found. They are like some of the traitors of Clark Co. **** Such men are prolonging this h–l born rebellion.*** The secesh here acknowledge their cause to be hopeless. Their money is worthless, requiring 75 dollars of it to pay for a pair of boots.

The health of the regiment is good – only some 20 in the hospital. The boys are anxious for an engagement, feeling confident in such an event of success, for we are commanded by as good officers as any Iowa regiment. We have some refugees in camp from west Tenn. They say there are enough loyal men in Tenn. to whip the secesh, if they had arms.

Uncle Sam has called for 300,000 more men and he must have them. Shall the little State of Iowa be disgraced by a Draft? I feel confident that it will not.

Yours &c.
H. F. Mc.Manis

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, January 30, 1864

From the 8th Iowa Cavalry

From the Burlington Hawk-eye

Camp of the 8th Iowa Cavalry, Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 30, 1863.

The health of the regiment is very good; we have here about eight hundred men, and the sick report yesterday was but seven out of the 800. We are all in good spirits, and ready for any duty. – Though we have seen some of the hardships of a soldier’s life since we left Davenport, we are still willing to deprive ourselves of the comforts of home and associations of friends until the last traiter, both North and South, is driven from our soil, or willing to accept the terms of our Government. We have been here nearly two weeks. We arrived here on the 17th, after a march of fourteen days from Louisville. Since we arrived in Tennessee we have had most all kinds of weather, and for a few days past it has been cold enough to pass for reasonable winter in Iowa, but we get along very well and to-day, though quite cool, it is very pleasant.

There is one thing I was to say to those who have friends in the army; that is write to them very often. On last Friday night it rained very hard all night, and in the morning the camp was all afloat and there was scarcely a tent but what was drenched with water. Clothes and blankets all wet and the men standing around the camp fires, we would frequently hear the expression, “well, boys, if I get some good letters from home to day, it will be all right, But what was our disappointment when the mail came to find four letters for Co. D So of course, many of us were disappointed, but we were still hopeful that they would come to-morrow. I tell you, dear friends, I believe a letter is nowhere so much appreciated as when received in the army. A few words from a father or mother, a brother, sister or friend, is calculated to make the soldier cheerful and contented, but I do not complain, only some times we think they might write a little oftener.

We have orders to march to-morrow morning at six o’clock, but where we will go I can not tell. The boys from Burlington, and all those enlisted under Lieut. J. C. Power, are well, and in good spirits, and I am happy to inform the friends of Lieutenant, that we have not been disappointed in him, but find him a constant friend to his men, and well worthy the position he occupies.

- Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, December 12, 1863