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

Letter from the Sixth

Altoona [sic], Georgia
June 28th, 1864

Mr. Caverly:–

Yesterday morning at eight o’clock our Brigade made an unsuccessful assault upon the enemy’s works. The loss in the 6th Iowa was fifty killed and wounded, Newton J. Gordon, Co. B, was killed. Mr. C. Fitch, Co. B, wounded slightly in arm. Jesse L. Adkins, Co. H, severely in arm. Jacob S. Miler, Co. B., in arm slightly. A. J. Egbert, Co. B, in shoulder severely. Sergt. O. C. Snyder, Co. H., in shoulder severely. Benj. Bixby, Co. H, Killed. Joseph Ballon, Co. F, Wounded – extent not known. Charles Wright, Co. F, in arm slightly. Lieut. Col. Barnhill, 40th Ill. Inf., Killed. Col. Walcott, 46th O. V. V. I. – commanding Brigade – wounded in arm. Lieut. Col Wright, 103d Ill. Inf. Wounded.

The loss in the brigade – five regiments – will amount to two hundred and fifty killed and wounded.

Although we were repulsed from the ground we had taken, we still hold a line in advance of our original position. – Some prisoners were captured, besides a good many wounded Rebels which fell into our hands. Gordon was killed while rescuing the flag of the 97th Ind., which had been left on the field. No braver or better boy ever lived. Mr. Gregg of Oceola, is here at the Hospital making arrangements to take his son home. His son is doing well and will perhaps start home in a few days. More anon.

Truly yours,
E. F. Alden

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, July 16, 1864


Note: Some names may have been misspelled or abreviated in the original article. For indexing & searching purposes the full names of all persons mentioned in the article are here listed: Edwin F. Alden, Newton J. Gordon, Ur C. Fitch, Jesse L. Adkins, Jacob L. Miler, Andrew J. Egbert, Orcinos C. Snyder, Benjamin Bixby, Joseph M. Ballon, Charles Wright, Rigdon S. Barnhill, George W. Wright, Charles C. Walcutt

Letter from the Sixth Iowa

Altoona [sic], Ga., June 18th, 1864.

Mr. Caverly:–

I saw young Gregg, who lives near your place yesterday. He is in the Field Hospital, near this place. He is severely wounded, but not dangerously so. J. A. Johnson, of Co. B, 6thth Iowa, son C. R. Johnson of Hopeville, was slightly wounded on the 15th inst. No other of the Clark Co. boys hurt as I know of. I have not been with the Reg. for some time. I am on special duty in the Subsistence Department, though I hear from the boys occasionally.

I saw Adjt. King and the other boys of the 15th a few days ago. They were all well. I am now acting as commissary for Field hospital of the Army of the Tenn. at Altoona [sic] Ga., twenty miles from the “Front,” which is at Big Shanty on the Western Atlantic R. R. – More anon.

E. F. Alden

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

From The Sixth

Resaca, Georgia, May 17th, 1864.

Mr. Caverly:–

I just now find the first minute to devote to the “Sentinel.”

We have just fought one of the hardest fought battles of this war, and are again victorious. Ere this reaches you, you will have been advised of the particulars of the fight, but as many of our friends and relatives in Clark, will be anxious about us, I will give you a list of the casualties in Cos. F and B.

I regret to state that David Shearer, of Co. F, is no more. He fell on the 14th, while nobly defending his country’s flag. He was a good soldier, a kind companion, and we all feel that we have lost a dear friend, and our country one of her brave defenders. – Samuel Hart – Recruit, Co. F – severely wounded in hip. Coleman Barber, Co. F, leg amputated. William Hamilton, Co. B, in thigh slightly. Samuel Musselman, Co. B., abdomen slightly. William D. Tull, Co. B, mortally wounded. All the wounded are doing well. The loss in the sixth was five killed and wounded. We have taken some three thousand prisoners. Nearly all of the Rebel dead were left in our possession – we have already buried over eleven hundred of them. Their loss in killed far exceeded ours. They moved most of their wounded. Our army has driven Johnson 35 miles south of Dalton and are still in pursuit. Prisoners are still coming in.

The health of the Reg. is good – I neglected to mention John Campbell, Co. B, who is slightly wounded in the head.

My time is very limited, and my facilities for writing very poor. When we get settled I will write you again. Truly yours,

Ed. F. Alden
6th Iowa Infantry

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, June 4, 1864

Edwin F. Alden

1st Lieutenant

Co. H, 6th Iowa Infantry

He was the Son of C. F. & Abigail Alden, born about 1838 or 1839 in Ohio. When he enlisted in as a 1st Sergeant in Company B, 6th Iowa Infantry on July 1, 1861 he resided with his widowed mother at Hopeville, Iowa. He was then 23 and was a wool carder. He was mustered into national sevice on July 17, 1861 and was promoted to Commissary Sergent on December 21st of that year.

On July 1st, 1862 he was a 6th Corporal. He transferred to Company H of the 16th Iowa Infantry on October 14, 1862 and two days later was promoted to 2nd Sergeant & on January 1, 1863 he was again promoted, this time to 1st Sergeant, and the very next day received another promotion, to 2nd Lieutenant. His last promtion came on June 22, 1863 to 1st Lieutenant. He was mustered Out November 7, 1864

Edwin F. Alden married Martha J. Johnson, August 15, 1863 in Clarke Co., IA. By 1870 the couple had 3 children: Harry J., Lucy C. & Emma K. Alden. Sometime between 1866 & 1870 he and his family moved to Fletchall Towonship, Worth Co., Missouri where he operated a hotel. In 1877 Edwin and Martha Alden’s family was increase by the bith of a son, William Alden. By 1880 the family had removed to Grant City, Missouri where Edwin became a dry goods merchant.

SOURCES: Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System; Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion, Vol. 1 p. 796 & 799; 1856 Iowa State Census for Doyle Twp., Clarke Co., IA; 1860 Federal Census for Hopeville, Doyle Twp., Clarke Co., IA; 1870 Federal Census for Fletchall Twp., Worth Co., MO; 1880 Federal Census for Grant City, Worth Co., MO; Clarke County Iowa Early Marriages 1852-1873, p. 1;

The 6th Regiment. Letter from Lieut. Alden.

Owing to the disturbance of mail arrangements, this letter did not reach us until yesterday. Ed.


Jackson Mississippi
July 18th 1863

Dear Sentinel:

After a long silence, I will again write you a few lines, in regard to the where-a-bouts and doings of the 6th Iowa.

Immediately after the capitulation of the Rebel Garrison at Vicksburg, your division was ordered to Big Black River, where we arrived on the evening of the 4th of July, at the only point of crossing above the R. R. Bridge, where a strong force of Jacksons Rebel Cavalry was posted to prevent our crossing. Gen. Smith selected our regt. And ordered us to cross the river at Bridsing Ferry, and to hold the position till he could send us support. The only means of crossing was two canoes lashed together, but the scouts [now] coming in, pronounced the river fordable, and Col. Corse determined to cross the stream by wading. We arrived at the river at 9 P.M. and to our consternation found it had risen 3 feet, so that it would have been madness to attempt a crossing on foot. Half a doz. Men were selected, and ordered to cross the river in the canoe, and ascertain if the enemy was still there. When they had got into the middle of the stream a volley of musketry was fired upon them, and they were compelled to retreat to the west side again. Fortunately none in the boat was hurt. A brisk fight was then kept up all night across the stream, and at daylight it commenced in earnest, and at 9 A. M. we had driven them from the river. The most of our army crossed that day. Our loss was one killed, and 9 wounded. We buried 7 rebels and found several of their wounded, tho' they had taken the most of their wounded away.

We arrived at this place in front of the enemy’s works on the10th inst., and our Regiment was again put in the front. We skirmished with the rebels from 3 p.m. until dark, having driven their pickets a half a mile. At 4 o’clock on the morning of the 11th, our Regiment was deployed as skirmishers, and moved forward, fighting over the ground from which the enemy retreated, until we were within half a mile, and in sight of the enemy’s works. Our loss on the 11th was three killed and nine wounded. On the morning of the 16th our regiment was again placed in the front, and ordered to charge the enemy’s works (it was then thought they were evacuating, which was not the case) which we did with credit to ourselves, as the following letter from Gen. Smith, commanding the first Division will show:


H’d Quarters 1st Div. Army Corps
In front of Jackson, Miss.
July 16th 1863

John M. Corse, Col. Commanding the 6th Iowa Infantry

Sir:

The valor of your noble Regiment has been conspicuous, even amidst the universal good conduct that has marked the operation of all the troops of the 7th Division during our advance upon Jackson, and since our arrival here. I cannot too highly commend the gallantry you have displayed in the two successful charges you have made. The true heart swells with emotions of pride in contemplating the heroism of those who, in their country’s cause, can go forward under the iron hail of half a dozen rebel batteries and exposed to a murderous fire of musketry from behind strong entrenchments, and capture prisoners under their very guns. Such has been the glorious conduct of the Sixth Iowa this morning, and those who shared your dangers and emulate your value, will join with me in tendering to you and the brave men you command my warmest thanks and most hearty congratulations.

Most truly yours,

Wm. S. Smith
Brig. Gen. Commanding


The loss in our Regiment on the 16th was 29 wounded, 3 killed and 7 missing. Cap. Minton, of Company “F,” was severely wounded in the breast, arm, back and neck. The surgeons think he will recover. Lieut. A. C. Rarick, of Company “F,” wounded slightly in the neck. – Thomas Gray; Com. “F,” in leg, slightly. [Elam] Ford, Co. F, in ankle, slightly. – H. C. Stewart, in leg, severely. Joseph Wry, in hip severely.

Charles Griggs, Company “B,” Killed. William Brown, Company B, wounded in arm, severely. Corp. J. C. Lucas, in both legs severely.

The following men are missing since the engagement of the 16th, supposed to be prisoners

James. M. Laughlin, Com. B, F. B. Johnson, James Wilson and A. N. Sharp of Co. F.

The rebels evacuated this place on the night of the 16th, leaving large lots of ammunition and commissary stores behind them. We succeeded in capturing most of their rear guard – about two thousand men.

Our wounded are all doing well.

My facilities for writing are poor and having but little time I will cut this short.

Yours truly,

Ed. F. Alden

- Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, August 15, 1863