The Eleventh Regiment

We learn  from the Bayonet, the paper published by the Eleventh at California, Mo., that Companies C, D, F, G and I, are at Fulton, Calloway county, under Col. Hare; Cos. A, B, H, and K are at California, Moniteau county; and Co. E is at lookout, Cole county.  There have been twenty-eight deaths in the regiment since its organization.  In the hospital at California there are about thirty patients, and nearly all of them are convalescent.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 21, 1862, p. 2

Col. Hare

This gallant officer, the commander of the 11th regiment, arrived at his home in Muscatine on Friday evening. He was wounded in the right hand and arm at the late battle. The ball struck the middle finger while grasping his sword, tore it partly off, passed up and around his arm, and was taken out about six inches above the hand. The wound is severe, and may disable the hand. The Muscatine Journal says he “is accompanied by his servant, a lively contraband, who appears to regard his new master as one of the shining lights.”

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, April 21, 1862, p. 1

From the 11th Iowa - Continued . . .

Since the above was in type, the following has been received. Although not so late as the letter we published yesterday from the same correspondent, it will be found of interest:–

PITTSBURG LANDING, April 8, 1862.

FRIEND SANDERS: – The most terrible battle of the war thus far – the most terrible ever fought on this continent, and both for the numbers engaged, the fierceness of the contest and the multitudes killed and wounded, one of the most fearful of modern times – has been fought at this place during the last two days. The battle commenced at daylight on Sabbath day, and raged with scarcely a moment’s cessation until dark. Shells were thrown at short intervals from two of our gunboats during the night, and on Monday morning the fight was renewed, if possible, with greater desperation and lasted until night.

The attack was made by the rebels, under Beauregard, Bragg and Johnson [sic]. Our officers seemed to be taken at unawares, and we were driven back inch by inch during the first day, retreating in all five or six miles. At dark on Sabbath evening it seemed that all was lost and that our whole army of 100,000 or more men would be captured or driven into the river. Our men fought bravely, nearly without exception; but the country is nearly all heavily timbered and broken, and the enemy understood the ground better than we did. It was the general impression all day on the Sabbath that we were outgeneraled. Buell and his forces were not here, and they enemy knew it. In a Memphis paper left by the enemy in the camp of the 11th, the fact is states that the attack would be made on the Sabbath, that Buell could not get here, and that victory was sure to the South; and inasmuch as everything was stake, exhorting the people pray for success.

But, thank God, the victory is ours. Buell arrived with the head of his column on Sabbath evening, landed a large force during the night, and all Monday and Monday night fresh troops were pouring in, which gave new life to our exhausted regiments, and proved too much for the enemy. The enemy, being nearly surrounded, fought desperately, and maintained their ground all the forenoon, but soon after noon began to retreat and soon to run. Our cavalry and artillery followed them closely – how far I do not know – it is said fifteen miles last night, and fresh troops were still arriving this morning and joining in the pursuit.

Of course, it is impossible to give any detailed account of this great battle at present. It is safe to say that many thousands on both sides were killed and wounded. I will venture to guess that 5,000 of our men – either dead or wounded – were at the landing on the boats this morning, and most of the dead were left on the field.

I know little except of the 11th Iowa. They stood their ground alone, except as a battery was in their rear, against at least six times their number, until their ammunition was exhausted, and retired only when they were ordered.

Col. Hare was in command of the brigade and was not with the regiment, but with three other regiments, which, strangely were taken to another part of the field. He was slightly wounded. Lt. Col. Hall was in command of the 11th. His horse was killed almost at the first fire, and he was slightly wounded, but bravely kept his position during the two days, and led his men three times into the terrible fight.

Major Abercrombie was wounded and had to retire. Lt. Compton, of Co. E, was killed – the only one of our commissioned officers. Lieut. Miles, of Co. F, was wounded seriously, perhaps mortally. Lieut. Magoun [sic], of Co. H, was wounded, but not dangerously. Lieut. Hinsman, of Co. K, was wounded; I do not know how seriously.

Thirty of our regiment are known to be dead, and two hundred or more wounded. How any escaped is a mystery, as a perfect storm of bullets was rained upon them for nearly an hour. They escaped in a measure by lying flat on their faces and sides, and only rising partly to fire. In their rear, as I happen to know by most sensible demonstrations, balls were flying altogether too thick to be agreeable. It is believed that our wounded were brought off the field. The dead have since been buried near where they fell.

The 16th Iowa, who were in another part of the field, I learn were badly cut up, but I do not know the particulars.

The 12th Iowa were nearly all taken prisoners, as also several other regiments – I do not know how many.

Let us thank the God of battles and of all righteousness, that so many of us are left alive and well, and that in this most terrible fearful conflict the victory is on the side of liberty, truth and justice.

The rebel Gen. Johnson [sic] is said to be killed and Beauregard to be a prisoner – minus an arm. I do not know the truth of these reports. You will get all the facts probably from others sooner that I can give them. I will give you more when I can find time to write.

Yours,
CHAPLAIN

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport Iowa, Friday Morning, April 18, 1862, p. 2

COLONEL ABRAHAM M. HARE

FIRST COLONEL, ELEVENTH INFANTRY.

Abraham M. Hare, the original colonel of the 11th Iowa Infantry, is a native of Ohio, where he was born about the year 1812. He was one of the earliest settlers of Muscatine, Iowa, having established himself in that place before the year 1839. For several years after settling in Muscatine, he carried on the hatter's business; and later, opened a hat and cap store. He was successful in business, and, in the course of a few years, acquired a respectable fortune. I am told he stands among the wealthy and most exemplary men of Muscatine. He had some knowledge of military matters before entering the service, having been a major of militia in Ohio.

He was mustered colonel of the 11th Iowa on the 1st day of November, 1861, and served with his regiment until the battle of Shiloh, when he resigned his commission, on account of a wound received in that engagement.

But little of the history of the 11th Iowa Infantry was made under Colonel Hare. The regiment was recruited mainly from the counties of Muscatine, Iowa, Hardin, Marshall, Louisa, Cedar, Keokuk, Washington, Henry, Clinton and Linn: Muscatine is the most largely represented. It was mustered into the United States service, by companies, in the months of September and October, 1861, and the following Winter, served in Missouri. Shiloh was its first battle, and the only one it was engaged in during the colonelcy of Colonel Hare: indeed, it was not under him in that engagement; for he was in command of the brigade to which it was attached. Lieutenant-Colonel, afterward Colonel Hall commanded the regiment, and made the report of the engagement. The 11th and 13th Iowa were attached to the same brigade at Shiloh, and the part the regiment sustained in the engagement, may be seen in the sketch of Brigadier-General M. M. Crocker.

Among the killed at Shiloh, the 11th Iowa lost Lieutenant John F. Compton, Sergeants Henry Seibert, Ezra McLoney and George E. Daniels; and Corporals William F. Hough, George J. Barns, and Martin A. McLain. Captain Charles Foster was wounded, as also was Sergeant E. D. Akers, who was not long after promoted to the captaincy of his company. The regiment lost heavily in killed and wounded, but the exact number I have been unable to learn. The rebel General A. Sidney Johnson fell in front of the 11th Iowa, and was doubtless killed by this regiment.

Colonel Hare was quite severely wounded near the close of the first day's battle, and left the field. He was wounded where his brigade made its last stand; and in speaking of him General McClernand says: — "Colonel A. M. Hare, commanding the 1st Brigade, who had borne himself through the day with great constancy and courage, was here wounded, and the command of the brigade devolved on his able and gallant successor, Colonel Crocker."

Colonel Hare is a large, athletic man, of billious-sanguine temperament, and dark complexion. His hair once black, is now streaked with gray; his eye though mild, is penetrating. He is determined in purpose, and kind-hearted, a fact universally attested by the "boys" of his regiment. He is cool, deliberate and fearless in battle, and unostentatious in manners. It is doubtless owing to this peculiar trait of character that I am unable to get further details of his history. He seems satisfied with having done his duty.

SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 235-6

From the 11th Iowa Regiment

PITTSBURG LANDING, April 9, 1862

FRIEND SANDERS:– I send herewith a list of the killed and wounded of the Iowa 11th in the recent battle at this place. The whole number is not so large as reported to you yesterday, nor near so large as might have been expected, from the positions occupied, the great numbers opposed, and the length of time during which our men were under fire. It seems a miracle that any escaped. I will venture to say that no regiment fought more bravely. It is even said by those who ought to know, that the first serious check received by the enemy was given by the 11th Iowa, certain it is that before this regiment and Taylors battery, the enemy was held at bay for hours, and by it was twice driven back. There is every reason to believe that if the 11th could have been relieved by another regiment as resolute, long enough to procure ammunition, the left wing of the enemy – outnumbering us six to one – would have been turned; and with proper support the whole rebel army would have been flanked, and the terrible disaster of the day mostly have been prevented. There must have been great want of generalship somewhere. I am told by those on our extreme left, where the battle commenced, that there were no pickets out more than half a mile – no mounted pickets out at all. And this when Beauregard – a Frenchman, an admirer and pupil of Bonapart [sic], and a man known to be in favor of offensive operations – was, as all the country knew, within a few miles, with an army equal probably to our own! It is not surprising that this camp was taken by surprise – the enemy marching in the night through the timber almost within our lines, before anybody seemed to know or imagine that he could be coming. I do not of course, know that the fact concerning the pickets was as above stated, but such is the report by men who were well situated to know the facts in the case. But if such were the fact, and nobody here seems to doubt it – the fearful carnage of Sabbath last, and the almost total rout of this great Federal army, resulting as it might have done in prolonging the war for months and years, throws a responsibility on some one of no common magnitude.

It is also said, and there is too much reason to believe it, that the immediate commander-in-chief, of all these brigades and divisions, was at Savannah on Sabbath morning, and did not arrive until 10 o’clock a.m. – five or six hours after the battle commenced. How this was I cannot tell, but it was too evident that there was no general plan of battle on our side during the forenoon, and very little at any time on the Sabbath. Our tens of thousands of brave men – for none ever fought more bravely in such circumstances – came too near being driven pell mell into the river.

But thank God, night came, and Buell too, with his thousands who had not witnessed the defeat of April 6th, and a great victory has been achieved – so great it is believed here, that no other great battle will have to be fought in the West.

Of the comparative valor of different regiments I cannot speak particularly. I only know that the 11th did their duty nobly, being led into battle by their brave Lieut. Colonel, whose horse was killed almost at the first fire – at three different points, twice on the Sabbath, and once on Monday. Neither is it proper to institute comparisons between different companies and officers. The report of the commanders alone will be good authority on this point. All did nobly, so far as I can judge.

The 13th Iowa also, and two other regiments, who were brigaded with the 11th, but were led by Col. Hare, a little to our left, though recoiling at the first fire, afterward rallied, and did their part well.

If there were time I could mention many daring deeds of the 11th, such as the taking of a rebel flag, led by Capt. Foster’s company – a portion of which I inclose [sic] and many other acts of cool bravery. But of these perhaps more at another time.

I have been over the field since the battle, only a short distance. The scene is too dreadful. Miles and miles of the woods are literally covered with dead men, dead horses, broken carriages, guns, &c., &c.

As to the number of killed and wounded, no correct estimate can yet be made. Probably 20,000, perhaps more have fallen in this fearful conflict.

The wounded of our regiment were all brought off the field, and on Monday p.m. our dead were buried.

The scene at the landing as the wounded were brought to the boats or laid on the bluff, beggars all description. All available space on several large boats was occupied, and by 5 p.m. on Monday I judged there were at least 1,000 wounded men lying under the bluff, many in the mud and out in the rain for two days without covering – a most appalling sight. No adequate preparation has been made for such numbers of suffering men, as evidently no such battle was expected here. The whole scene, from Sabbath morning till Monday, and even Tuesday night, seems like some dreadful nightmare. And yet no one human eye has seen more than a tithe of it, and no finite mind can even comprehend it. May a God of infinite mercy spare our land from any more such scenes as this.

Yours most truly,
CHAPLAIN, ELEVENTH IOWA

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, April 17, 1862, p. 2