Colonel James M. Tuttle to his father, James Tuttle, February 18, 1862

FORT DONELSON, Feb. 18, 1862.

Dear Father: Long before you get this, the telegraph will inform you of the particulars of the capture of this very important post, and also the part the Second Iowa took in it. I do not know how the reports will reach you at home, but here we are covered with glory. I have been very busy since the battle, attending to the burying of the dead, and taking care of the wounded. I could find no time to write sooner.

I thought of nothing, while climbing the hill on “double quick” to storm the fort, but to keep my men in order and prevent confusion. When I saw my gallant boys scaling the earthworks and putting the Rebels to the bayonet, and shooting them down with still greater fatality than they had us just before, I felt like clasping each one of our brave boys in my arms. Our loss was very great, but theirs much greater. After the battle was over it was, and still is, terrible to think of. Joel and I were side by side most of the time. He fought bravely, even a little rashly sometimes. He was not touched. I was grazed by a ball which passed through my coat-sleeve and glove, hitting the hilt of my sword and knocking it over my head. The sudden wrenching of it out of my hand, paralyzed my arm during the rest of the engagement. I was afterward standing on a log, beckoning to another regiment behind us to come on, when a cannon ball struck the log, forcing it from under me. I fell backward on a limb, injuring my back very much; I cannot straighten it yet. Tell the Des Moines folks that their company did nobly. Capt. Mills and I were close together most of the time. He fought bravely. Lieuts. Ensign and Godfrey also did bravely. Sergt. Doty was among the bravest of the brave, and died like a hero. George Morse, of Farmington, also died bravely. He was one of the best sergeants of the regiment. We lost some noble young men, one out of every three, either killed or wounded. I was over the battle field to-day, and don't see how any of us escaped alive.  * * * * *

J. M. TUTTLE.

SOURCES: Samuel H. M. Byers, Iowa In War Times, p. 107

Edgar Tarbell Ensign

The law, banking, insurance and public service claimed the attention and energies of Edgar Tarbell Ensign through a long and useful career covering almost seventy-nine years, and his public service covered both military activity and the establishment and development of national forestry interests in the west. Mr. Ensign was born at Moriah, Essex county, New York, September 9, 1839, a son of Charles W. and Harriet (Tarbell) Ensign, the latter a sister of Jonathan Tarbell, who was a lieutenant-colonel of the Ninety-first New York Volunteer Infantry, and became a brigadier general of United States Volunteers in the Civil war.

Edgar T. Ensign, after attending the district school and the village academy of Moriah, New York, became a student in a private school for boys conducted by a Mr. Durkee and his son at Saratoga Springs, New York. In the year 1856 he went to Des Moines, Iowa, where he obtained employment in the banking house of A. J. Stearns & Company, and three years after his removal to the middle west he was there joined by his parents. He had resided in Iowa for only two years when in 1858 he was appointed deputy state treasurer. In May, 1861, however, all business and personal considerations were put aside that he might respond to the country's call for troops to aid in the preservation of the Union. He joined the Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry and was promoted through various grades to the rank of captain. The date of his enlistment was May 4, 1861. He was commissioned second lieutenant on the 1st of June following and first lieutenant on the 1st of December of the same year, while on the 22d of June, 1862, he received the captain's commission. On the 20th of October, 1863, he was commissioned major of the Ninth Regiment of Iowa Cavalry, Volunteers, and was brevetted lieutenant-colonel and colonel of United States Volunteers, March 13, 1865. He resigned from the army on the 27th of October of the same year. His long term of active service was distinguished by the most splendid military qualities. Although wounded at Fort Donelson, Tennessee, he returned to his command and both before and afterward led his men in many a gallant charge.

In 1866 Colonel Ensign took up the study of law and won his LL. B. and A. B. degrees from the Iowa Law School, while subsequently he received the LL. B. degree from the law department of Columbian College, which was later merged into the George Washington University. With his admission to the bar in 1868, he entered upon active practice in Des Moines and the same year was made district attorney. He resided in Des Moines until 1874, when attracted by the opportunities of the west, he came to Colorado Springs and opened a law office. Soon afterward he was appointed commissioner of the United States circuit court and from 1883 until 1893 he was in public office, serving for six years as state forest commissioner and for two years as special agent of the United States general land office in the laying out of forest reserves, afterward known as national forests. His work in forestry was especially noteworthy and his public service in this connection gained for him warm commendation. In 1895 he was active in organizing the Assurance Savings & Loan Association, of which he was president and manager until September, 1917. In the meantime he had entered the field of banking, having become in 1902 one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Colorado City and also of the National Bank Building Company. Elected to the presidency of the First National, he continued to serve in that position for three years, largely shaping its policy and directing its activities during that early period.

It was while still a resident of Des Moines that Colonel Ensign was married on the 17th of October, 1872, to Miss Lilla Butin, a daughter of Dwight L. and Charlotte C. Butin, of Baldwinsville, New York. She survives her husband and remains a resident of Colorado Springs, the Ensign home having been at No. 1415 North Nevada avenue for more than thirty-five years. There were no spectacular phases in the life of Colonel Ensign. It was ever a hard fought battle for progress, for advancement and for right and he came off victor in the strife. Whatever he undertook, the integrity of his purpose was never questioned and the Memoriam of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, to which he belonged, said: "The life career of Colonel Ensign as a gentleman, a soldier and a friend is worthy of emulation by all." His demise occurred on the 15th of February, 1918.

SOURCE:  Wilbur Fiske Stone, Editor, History of Colorado, Volume 4, p. 523-4

Letter FromThe Capital

DES MOINES, Feb. 24.

DEAR HAWK-EYE: – The legislation of the present session will be, when complete, of a more important, tangible character, (especially that which bears upon the subject of taxation,) than that of any of its predecessors since our State emerged from the territorial regime.  The new obligations which “the state of the Union” has devolved upon us will give hue and shape to nearly everything which passes from the hands of our law-makers.  Greater labors and responsibilities than have ever before presented themselves have had to be faced by the Committee on Ways and Means, and they have come fairly and squarely up to the work.  Hon. W. H. Holmes, the able and well known Senator from Jones county, (an able legislator, by the way, and a model of legislative ability, business, prudence, integrity and industry,) as at the head of that Committee in the Senate; while the house Committee is “called from refreshment to labor” by Hon. E. G. Bowdoin, of Floyd County, a member of the last House, and a gentleman to whom “Linkensale” paid on of his finest tributes in the columns of the Hawk-Eye, at the last regular session.  He was then Chairman on Schools and State University, and has now been advanced to the leading position among his compeers of the house – a place for which his education and business habits abundantly qualify him – (I might say, parenthetically, or in a whisper, perhaps – if you won’t tell anybody – that both these gentlemen are mentioned by their friends in connection with higher and more responsible duties, before they are many months older.)

Financially, the “Ways and Means” have taken four highly important steps, in the presentation of the following bills, all but one of which have passed both Houses and are now the law of the State – while the remaining one only needs the concurrence of the Senate in a few merely verbal amendments.  These measures are as follows:

1st.  An Act by which the State assumes annually the assessment and collection of her portion of the National Tax, amounting this year to the sum of $452,088.

2d.  An Act authorizing the State and County Treasurers to pay out, and receive for all taxes and for the principal and interest of the School Funds, the demand Treasury notes of the United States, and the bills of the Branches of the Iowa State Bank, the latter so long as they are redeemed in specie.

3d.  An Act authorizing the Governor to apply our claim against the General Government in payment of the Federal tax, as far as it will go, and for levying immediately, in addition to the tax of 1861, on the valuation of that year, a tax of two mills on the dollar, to raise money to pay the balance of the Federal tax after the application aforesaid, and to pay the Warrants issued and to be issued on the War and Defence Fund, amounting to some $250,000.

4th.  An Act authorizing the reception of the Warrants on the War and Defence Fund in payment of State taxes and the Federal tax just levied; also providing that large Warrants may be returned to the Auditor, and that he may issue new ones in lieu thereof, in sums of one, two and three dollars.

These Committees have further agreed on and will soon report a bill for an act providing for the better collection of taxes, by making either township collectors or assistant collectors in each township.

It is also proposed, and with much probability of its passage, to provide for taxing for State purposes all salaries and incomes from whatever source derived, where the property from which income is derived is not subject to taxation.

This last act is intended to apply to all the officers of State, Supreme and District Court Judges, County Treasurers, Bank officers, private brokers, &c., and, in fact, to all persons who derive a valuable or stated income from any source not already subject to taxation.

The citizens of this town are now deploring the loss of two noble boys – Weeks and Doty – who fell in that gallant Charge of the Iowa 2d, at Fort Donelson.  Fifteen of the Company (B) were wounded – some of them badly.  It is reported that Edgar Ensign, 1st Lieutenant, fell so severely wounded that his life is in great danger.  He will be remembered by most visitors to the Capital as the very obliging and gentlemanly deputy of State Treasure Jones.  A slightly built and retiring youth, he did not seem to be fitted or destined for the stern duties of the battle-field; but it is stated that the noble fellow was shot down far in advance of his men, while waving his sword and shouting to the Company to follow him!

I suppose, Hawk-Eye, that you saw that article from the Springfield (Mass.) Republican in relation to the alleged oppressive taxation in the northwestern part of the State.  Well, I only allude to it for the purpose of saying that my big-hearted friend, Doc. Cutler, of Wright county, called the attention of the House to the fact and moved the appointment of a Committee of Investigation.  The motion prevailed and the Committee are now at work, and the slander will ere long be wiped out, or the means adopted to dry up the above.

The other day the question of repealing the Supervisor system was up in the Senate, and after a great deal of discussion, pro and con, the subject was indefinitely postponed.  Bills and resolutions to the same effect lie upon the table of the House, but as soon as they are reached they will likewise be sent to the tomb of the Capulets.  The Supervisors can, therefore, safely rely upon carrying their heads upon their shoulders another two years at least.

As a good deal is said about the congressional apportionment, let me guess how the districts will be arranged – though I do not know but you have published something approximating to the same opinion.  I guess the Districts will be as follows.

1st District – Allamakee, Winneshiek, Howard, Mitchell, Floyd, Chickasaw, Fayette, Clayton, Butler, Grundy, Bremer, Blackhawk, Buchanan, Delaware and Dubuque.

2d District – Jackson, Jones, Linn, Johnson, Cedar, Clinton, Scott and Muscatine.

3d District – Washington, Louisa, Jefferson, Henry, Des Moines, Davis, Lee and Van Buren.

4th District – Appanoose, Wayne, Lucas, Monroe, Wapello, Marion, Mahaska, Keokuk, Iowa, Poweshiek, Jasper, Marshal, Tama and Benton.

The 5th District will embrace all the remainder of the State, part of Nebraska and Dacotah, the Pembina District of Minnesota and several other terra incognitos too numerous to mention.  The idea of such a big district to canvass, is rather appalling to some of the candidates for Congressional honors, but Eaton, the Chairman of the Committee, says they have got to stand it.  The order of numbering the Districts may be change[d], but I think they will be organized as I have stated.

I enclose you a list of the acts which have been enrolled up to this date.  The number may seem small, but a great many bills are either engrossed for a third reading or in an advanced state of preparation in the hands of committees.

DACOTAH.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

Iowa Legislature

(Special to Burlington Hawk-Eye)

DES MOINES, Feb. 19, 1862.

The following communication was received from Adjutant General Reed [sic], and read in the House with great cheering:

ADJUTANT GENERAL’S OFFICE, Feb. 19.

Hon. C. C. CLARK, Speaker, SIR:  I have just received the following dispatch from Chicago:

To Adjutant General BAKER:  The Second Iowa acquitted themselves with great bravery at Fort Donelson, led the last and most successful charge, and have suffered terribly.  Besides the Second there were the 7^th, 10^th, 12^th and 14^th Iowa regiments in the fight.

The friends of Colonels Tuttle, Lauman, Persell, Wood and Shaw will rejoice that the glory of the fight and victory belong, and are attached to their names, and to the brave officers and soldiers under their command.

Another glorious page has been recorded in the history of Iowa, by her gallant troops in the field.  With great respect, I have the honor to rejoice in the glory of Iowa, and the triumph of Union arms.

(Signed)

N. B. BAKER, Adj’t General.     

The assembly immediately passed a joint resolution ordering the Governor and Adjutant General to procure flags to be presented to the Iowa Regiments, with such inscriptions thereon of their glorious achievements, as they may determine.

A joint resolution by Mr. Lane, of Scott, passed both Houses, tendering the thanks of the General Assembly and the people of Iowa, to our troops engaged at Fort Donelson, for their bravery.

A resolution was also adopted, authorizing the Governor to send three persons immediately to Cairo and Donelson, to look after our sick and wounded.  In obedience to this resolution, Gov. Kirkwood, Surgeon General Hughes and Dr. S. C. Brownell, of Des Moines, start to-morrow.

The bill restricting and defining the duties and powers of city courts was passed.

Also the bill for the issue of Auditors warrants, the particulars of which were sent yesterday.

SENATE. – Mr. WOOLSON presented a petition from the citizens of Henry county asking protection from quacks who have been appointed in the army.

Mr. Potter of Story and Mr. Esteb of Wayne, both democrats, appeared and were sworn in.

Mr. HATCH of Polk, Presented a bill to locate the Deaf and Dumb Asylum at Des Moines, which was referred.

The report of the Auditing Board was received and referred.

Mr. Jennings presented a bill defining the duties of Boards of Supervisors, providing that their powers may be delegated to the Clerk of the Board and that Supervisors shall have no hand in any contracts.

T. H. S.

DES MOINES, Feb. 20.

SENATE. – The President announced a special Committee on Senatorial and Representative Districts, Mr. Gue, of Scott, as Chairman.

A special Committee of five was appointed to examine into the expenditure of the annual appropriation to the Agricultural College and Farm for seeds, &c.

Mr. McCRARY, of Lee presented a petition from the Dean of the State Medical Department, asking aid from the State.  Referred to a special Committee with Mr. Shaffer, of Jefferson as chairman.

Mr. NEAL presented a bill providing that no publication shall be made of constable sales, or sheriff sales under three hundred dollars.  Publications over that sum two weeks, at option.  Referred to the Special Committee of Five.

Mr. Smith, of Jasper, presented a bill repealing the act for the sale of the State bonds.  Referred to the committee on Ways and Means.

HOUSE. -  The House passed a resolution instructing our Congressional delegation to use their influence to have Adjutant-General Baker appointed a Brigadier General.

The Military Committee reported a bill authorizing the Governor to pay the expenses of all the wounded Iowa soldiers on their return home, out of the contingent fund.

Both Houses adjourned over to give their Railroad and Des Moines river land Committees an opportunity to hold a joint session.

Information has been received at headquarters by Gen. Baker that 38 were killed and 150 wounded in the 2^nd Iowa.  The telegraph indicates that Captains Slaymaker of Davenport, and Cloutman of Ottumwa, were killed, and Major Chipman, Lieut. Holmes, of Davenport and Lieut. Ensign of Des Moines, wounded.

In the 12^th Regiment were 3 killed and 24 wounded.  In the 14^th regiment 6 killed and 50 wounded.  No particulars of the 7^th yet received.

Senator Udel of Appanoose county, and Representative Kellogg of Decatur, accompany the Governor, besides those sent you last night.

T. H. S.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 22, 1862, p. 3

Lieut. Ensign

It now transpires that Lieutenant Edgar Ensign, was wounded four times before he submitted to be taken from the field.  He was struck once, twice and even tree times in nearly the same place; but his martial spirit was unsubdued.  He still kept his place at the head of his company, waving his sword, and exhorting the boys to follow on to victory!  He was finally struck the fourth time, and was brought down to the earth on his right side.  Still, determined to make the best use of his failing energies, he transferred his sword to his left hand, and waved it over his prostrate body, urging the boys at the same time not to mind his condition, but to move on to the charge!  Glad are we that this young officer, whom for five years we have known and prized, is in a fair way of recovery.  We would like to take him to our heart and congratulate him on the possession of heroism which the God of Battles alone can confer on any man! – Des Moines Register 11^th.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, March 14, 1862, p. 2 

LIEUTENANT EDGAR ENSIGN . . .

. . . is still at Monroe, Jasper county, lingering with serious sickness. From last accounts, he was not improving. We regret to hear this bad news from the gallant young officer.

– Published in the Daily State Register, Des Moines, Iowa, Friday, April 18, 1862