For The Western Army

Sergt. H. B. Doolittle will leave here on Monday for the seat of war on the Upper Tennessee.  Any letters or packages for officers or soldiers in the army of the West, which may be [entrusted] to him, he will faithfully deliver

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, May 10, 1862, p. 1

Different Results

Yesterday forenoon we were called upon by H. B. Doolittle; who was shot in the leg, arm and abdomen, yet has recovered, and is now able to return to duty.  In the afternoon we attended the funeral of J. S. Christian, who was simply wounded in the leg.  They were both young, strong, and temperate men.  One has outlived three wounds; the other died from the effects of a single one.  It may have been, and we presume it was, that the wound of the latter was most severe; still the former may have received such treatment as tended more to his recovery.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, May 2, 1862, p. 1

Colonel Jacob Lauman to his wife Louise D. (Viele) Lauman, February 17, 1862

FORT DONELSON, TENNESSEE, Feb. 17, 1862.

Dear Wife:

I am again safe. My life is still prolonged. Let me hope it is for some good purpose. We have had a great battle, the fight lasting for three days, but you will hear of it, and the great result to flow out of it long before this reaches you.

I commanded the Fourth brigade of the Second division, and my command made their mark. * * * Poor Jack Slaymaker was killed, gallantly leading his men to the charge on the last day — indeed, the only day the Second were in the engagement. Capt. Cloutman fell, also bravely doing his duty. Harry [Doolittle] was wounded very severely, but the surgeons say he will recover. I left my command to see him and poor Jack last evening. I have ordered Jack's remains to be properly cared for, to send home to his parents, and will see that it is done properly, although my time is so occupied I have scarcely time to write this note, nor do I know when or how it will leave here. I am now in command of Fort Donelson, and my brigade are quartered in the fortifications. We will be ordered forward soon, I hope, and I sincerely trust our success will be the harbinger of a speedy close of the horrid rebellion. I received your two letters just before we were ordered into action, and I had to laugh over your congratulations at my good quarters in Smithland, when for two nights I had been camped under a tree, and it raining and snowing on me, without a tent. But my health is improving. My cold under which I have been suffering is getting better, and I am able to endure a great deal of hardship.

Gen. Smith (Paducah Smith) is a good soldier. The reputation of the Iowa Seventh is as bright as ever, although their loss is trifling. The state may well be proud of their troops.

I lost all of my bedding yesterday, and doubt very much if I find it again. We marched out of camp leaving everything behind, and our friends helped themselves. I will look after Harry — I think he will do well. Dr. Marsh says the wound in his stomach did not penetrate far enough to do any serious injury. I trust this may be so. He is in good spirits, and bore his flag like a hero. Love to all. Good bye.

Yours affectionately,

J. G. Lauman.

SOURCES: Army Service Schools Press, Donelson Campaign Sources Supplementing Volume 7 Of The Official Records Of The Union And Confederate Armies  In The War Of The Rebellion, p. 160-1; Samuel H. M. Byers, Iowa In War Times, p. 104-5

Colonel Jacob Lauman to His Brother, February 19, 1862

FORT DONELSON, TENNESSEE, Feb. 19, 1862.

DEAR BROTHER:

The battle is fought, the dead are buried and the wounded cared for, and we are again settling down to the old routine of military discipline. But what a scene we have passed through, and what a victory we have won! We have already sent off eight or nine thousand prisoners, and we have more yet to send. But such a lot of humanity I never saw before — all butternut color; but they can shoot, as many of our boys can testify.

I have made my report to Gen. Smith, which I suppose will be published, and before this reaches you, you will know more about the battle than I do. I have already seen that the Iowa Seventh was all cut up on the first day's fight. I hope you did not let any of these reports disturb you. We had a hard time. For three nights we lay in the open air without tents, and some without blankets, raining and snowing all night. The last night we remained under arms all night, prepared to repel an assault; but when morning came — and oh! how long it was in coming — the enemy attracted our attention to their white flag, and I received proposals for capitulation, which we promptly forwarded to Gen. Smith, and through him to Gen. Grant. Gen. Grant refused terms and insisted on unconditional surrender, and an hour was given them to consider. At the end of that time the loud shouts of the men gave indications that the surrender was unconditional. Then commenced the rejoicings. I claimed for my brigade the right to enter first, which was accorded; when with drums beating and colors flying we entered the fort. The Rebels were drawn up in line, with their arms in great heaps, and looked quite woe-begone, I assure you, as the victors passed along.

My brigade is in the fort, of which I have command. Gen. Smith's division is quartered all around about. The fortifications extend over the country for miles, and the other divisions of the army encamped at other points. The greatest loss was on our right, in McClernand's division. The enemy endeavored to cut through at that point, and fought with great desperation — loss very heavy. But you know all this and more, and this will be stale news to you. I found the pistols I lost at Belmont at Fort Donelson, or others just as good.

Capt. Rhiza will return to Burlington, he informed me today, for a short time. So he informed me, but he may not be able to get off. If he does, I will send a flag, secesh, captured in the fort. They either destroyed or secreted their flags, as none could be found. I have not yet seen the reports of my commanding officer, but Gen. Grant has caused a highly complimentary order to be read to the troops. Gen. Smith is a good officer, and as brave as a lion. I am proud to be under him. I had a good brigade, and I believe they like me. I hope the rebellion will receive such a shock from this that they will not be able to hold up their heads for some time to come. I am obliged to Jennie for her kind and very acceptable letter, and hope she will write again. I received a letter from Gov. Kirkwood covering the resolutions of the legislature of Iowa, and had them read to my regiment last evening. Tell Lou that Harry Doolittle is doing well. I went to the boat to see him, but it had started before I got there. He will remain for the present at Paducah, I suppose. I met, as I was on my way to Dover, where the boat was lying, Drs. Marsh and Nassau of Iowa Second, who gave me this information. Among the hundreds of wounded and dead, it is almost impossible to keep the whereabouts of anyone. I must now bring this to a close. Let Lou see this and it will be the same as though I had written to her. Capt. Slaymaker's remains were forwarded to St. Louis for preparation to send home. I cut off a lock of his hair and sent it to Betty for his friends, fearing something might occur that the coffin could not be opened when it got home. Give my love to all, and if anything should befall me, take good care of wife and little ones, and believe me to be your affectionate brother,

JACOB.

SOURCES: Army Service Schools Press, Donelson Campaign Sources Supplementing Volume 7 Of The Official Records Of The Union And Confederate Armies  In The War Of The Rebellion, p. 161-2; Samuel H. M. Byers, Iowa In War Times, p. 105-6

Voltaire P. Twombly

VOLTAIRE P. TWOMBLY is a name that will ever stand prominent on the "roll of honor" among the heroic young soldiers of Iowa who, in the War of the Rebellion, brought imperishable renown to the "Hawkeye State." Mr. Twombly was born near Farmington, Van Buren County, on the 21st of February, 1842, and received his education in the common schools, finally taking a course in a commercial college at Burlington in 1865. As a boy of nineteen he enlisted under the first call for volunteers, after the firing on Fort Sumter and was mustered into the United States service as a private in Company F, Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, on the 27th of May, 1861. October, 1861, young Twombly was promoted to seventh corporal and detailed as color bearer. At the Battle of Fort Donelson, the first great Union victory, the Second Iowa was pronounced by Major General Halleck, to have "proved itself the bravest of the brave," and had the honor of leading the column which first entered Fort Donelson. In one of the most brilliant charges of the war the Second Iowa swept everything before its resistless charge, losing forty killed and one hundred sixty wounded. As the storm of shot and shell rained on the advancing column, Sergeant H. B. Doolittle who was bearing aloft the colors, fell pierced with three bullets; Corporal G. S. Page caught up the flag and soon fell shot through the head; Corporal J. H. Churcher seized the trailing banner and bore it forward but he was shot through his arm; Corporal H. E. Weaver sprang forward and held aloft the stars and stripes, but soon fell mortally wounded; then Corporal J. W. Robinson, without a moment's hesitation seized the fatal flag and waved defiance to the enemy, when he too was shot down; then Corporal Twombly caught it up and on swept the invincible Iowa regiment through a deadly storm of missiles, never stopping to fire a shot, when down went the flag again, as its youthful bearer was prostrated by a partially spent ball; the next moment he was on his feet bearing aloft the colors, as with a mighty rush the regiment mounted the enemy's earthworks and fired its first volley into the ranks of the terrified and panic stricken enemy. The day was won, and the "unconditional surrender" came the next day. Twombly was promoted to lieutenant for his heroic conduct on the bloody field of Donelson, having carried the colors in the terrible Battle of Shiloh. At Corinth he was severely wounded and again at Jonesboro, in August, 1864. In June he was promoted to adjutant of the regiment and in November he became captain of Company K and in 1865 was acting Inspector General in the Fifteenth Army Corps. He was in Sherman's "march to the sea" and was at the final surrender of the Confederate army under General Joseph E. Johnston, which substantially ended the war. He was at the "Grand Review" of the Union armies at Washington, D. C, on the 24th of May, 1865, and was mustered out on the 12th of July, 1865. In 1880 he was elected treasurer of Van Buren County and at the close of his second term was nominated by the Republican State Convention for State Treasurer and elected, serving by reeleetions, three terms, to 1891.

SOURCE: Benjamin F. Gue, History of Iowa, Volume 4: Iowa Biography, p. 270-1

Serious Charges

A correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette makes a horrible exposure of the villainous conduct of H. C. Hewitt, the Medical Director of Gen. Grant’s army, every charge of which the correspondent says can be proved by medical witnesses.  If such be the case, he cannot be punished too severely.  He deserves as severe punishment as the man who would give a soldier poisoned food.  One statement related by the correspondent, if true, ought to insure Hewitt at least a drumming out of the army.  He says: “Appeals to the Medical Director, and descriptions of the suffering of their sick by the surgeons elicited only this response, which I give word for word as he repeated the expression to different parties: ‘What of it?  What’s the use of complaining?  What did soldiers enlist for but to sicken and die and be killed?’”  Instances are common where he got drunk when his services were imperatively required.

It appears, too, that he has an opinion of his own in regard to the Union that would suit admirably for a minion of Jeff Davis.  Here him “The Union is gone.  It can never be constructed, and I don’t want it to be.  I think and hope that our difficulties will crystallize into a stronger military despotism, instead of our present form of government, and I hope to be fortunate enough to be one of the crystals.”

This state of affairs must be particularly distressing to the people of Iowa, who are so deeply interested and largely represented in Gen. Grant’s army; it is to be hoped that these charges will be at once sifted, and their truth or falsity be positively ascertained.

There were loud complaints by our committee at Mound City, of the criminal mismanagement at that hospital, such as allowing wounds to remain undressed for a number of days, as in the case of Sergeant Doolittle.  One case is mentioned where a tourniquet was placed on a man’s arm above and wound, and left there for several days!  If anything would justify lynching, it is just such flagrant misconduct as this on the part of men to whom are entrusted the lives of hundreds and thousands of their fellows.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, April 12, 1862, p. 2

From the Davenport Relief Committee

CINCINNATI, March 4, 1862.

EDITOR OF GAZETTE:  I know not whether any other member of our committee has written you anything of the details of our work, and as this is the lonely moment of leisure I have had since our arrival at Cairo, I will endeavor to give you a few items, which you can make use of as you deem best.  The names of the killed and wounded have been reported by telegraph, and therefore it is not necessary for me to report them here.

The committee, after many and vexatious delays, arrived in Cairo at 7 o’clock p.m. on the Friday following their departure, and immediately commenced work to carry out the object of their mission; and although the rain poured down and the mud was inexpressibly deep, yet the committee kept on until they obtained some reliable information of the gallant Iowa 2d, and more particularly of the companies B and C, of our own town.  We finally found the headquarters of our pleasant friend, Quarter-master D. B. Sears, who had taken under his special care young Morrison, of Co. C, from whom we obtained the particulars of our first dispatch, and the probable whereabouts of our wounded soldiers.  We then had the good fortune to meet Dr. Truesdale of Rock Island, who introduced us to R. Bowman, regiment surgeon from the same town, (who, by the way, has since been promoted to brigade surgeon,) and to his kindness we are indebted for comfortable lodgings, provided for us in the hospital under his charge.  The following morning we went abord the steamer Hazel Dell, which arrived during the night with a large number of wounded, among whom was Geo. Hall; and from him we obtained additional particulars, which formed the substance of our second dispatch.  Here too was an opportunity for us to do some work, as there was no persons aboard to dress the wounds of these gallant defenders of the Union.  Dr. Maxwell, L. J. Conter and myself, together with Dr. White of Iowa City, immediately went to work, and while the balance of our committee were ashore and perfecting plans for future operations, we dressed the wounds, and thereby relieved the suffering to a great degree of 83 of our brave boys, all of whom appeared cheerful and bore their sufferings without a murmur.

We now found it impossible to get passes to enable us to reach our wounded at Mound City, Paducah and other points, unless we enlisted in the service as volunteer surgeons and nurses, and placing ourselves exclusively under the direction and control of the military authorities, which we immediately did, not knowing where we would be ordered to.  But after a delay of an hour or so we received our orders to proceed. – Drs. Maxwell and McCarn to report themselves at Paducah, and Gifford, Linderman, Center and myself to report to Surgeon Franklin at Mound City hospital.  Here the committee became divided, having to take different boats to reach the two points.

We arrived at Mound City about 8 p.m., delivered our papers to Dr. Franklin, who received us very cordially, saying that he was glad to see us, that there was plenty of work for us to do, and ordered supper and lodgings to be prepared for us; and also ordered us to report to him at 7 o’clock in the morning, and he would assign us to duty.  After receiving our instructions, we went in and through the hospital, which contained from 800 to 1,000 wounded soldiers.  Here indeed can be seen the dark side of war, a reality of suffering which no pen can describe or tongue tell, and yet these noble men bear it all with a heroism that is hardly imaginable.  Occasionally we found one whose sufferings were so intense that he would implore his attendants to put an end to his life as the only relief to him.  We soon found all of our Iowa boys that had been sent to this point, and were much gratified to find that all from Cos. B and C were in a condition promising ultimate recovery.  H. B. Doolittle is the most seriously wounded, being shot in the lower part of the abdomen, though the left shoulder and through the calf of the leg. – He seemed to be getting along very well until Monday morning, when erysipelas set in, and he was removed to a ward in the hospital set aside for these cases.  As this was a very unfavorable place for him, by the advice of Dr. Maxwell, who had now joined us here, we obtained a private room and immediately removed him thither, when he commenced improving immediately.  As all the rest of our boys are getting along well, I will not stop to particularize their cases, but proceed with the details of our work.  We did not confine our labors to the Iowa boys, but when we saw them properly cared for, assisted others were most needed, working early and late in assisting to dress wounds, at which Mr. Center proved himself equal to the task, and up to Tuesday morning Mr. Center and myself had dressed or assisted in dressing the wounds of 180 sufferers.  Tuesday morning orders were received from headquarters to remove 500 of the wounded by boat to Cincinnati.  This order entailed more work on us, but we succeeded in getting all of Cos. B and C that were here, and some others of the Iowa 2d to the number of 16, on board of one boat and in comfortable quarters; and then, through the kindness of Dr. Dunning, post surgeon, secured the appointment of Dr. Maxwell as first assistant surgeon, and myself as ward master on the boat, which gave us a position that enabled us to do all that could be done for our Iowa boys.  Through proper exertions we also procured permission for Mrs. J. C. Magill, who formerly lived in Davenport and who was hear rendering invaluable service, to go with us on the boat in the capacity of matron, and in this we were very fortunate, as the accommodations of the boat for preparing food for so many were very limited.  But for her exertions the men would have suffered with hunger, and the particular interest she took in the boys of the 2d Iowa entitle her to the thanks or some more valuable testimonial from our citizens.

We arrived at Cincinnati at 12 o’clock Sunday, and by means of the ample arrangement of the sanitary committee of this place, in two hours, had our whole charge transferred to the hospital, which is a mile from the landing.  Our boys are now very comfortably, and I may say pleasantly situated.  The building in which they are is divided into small rooms, capable of accommodating from five to twelve patients, and well ventilated, thereby avoiding that sickening and polluted atmosphere which always exists in large hospitals, with large rooms filled with patients.  On my visit to the boys to-day I found them all in the best of spirits, anxious to get well and return to their regiment, to again pay their compliments to the secesh, who, by the way, express themselves unable to return them in so pointed a manner.  We are enjoying the hospitalities of Mr. Doolittle, brother of our gallant color bearer, while here.

I regret to have to inform you that Dr. Maxwell is quite sick from exposure and over exertion, in performing his duties on our trip up the river; but is better to-day, and will probably be able to get out to-morrow or next day.  I was quite exhausted myself, but a day’s rest has sufficiently restored me to enable me to perform my duties.

I must now go back to Paducah, to report the work of our committee there.  Drs. Maxwell and McCarn reported themselves to Gen. Sherman, who is a very gentlemanly person, giving them every attention, and who gave them permission to visit all the hospitals and labor where most needed. – They found quite a number of Iowa boys, some who had been sick for some time, and were out of money or means of any kind to help themselves with, and to whom they gave immediate assistance.  Dr. Maxwell was assigned to duty on board a steamer loaded with the wounded and ordered to Mound City.  On the passage down he had some very important duties to perform, in the way of surgery.  On arriving at Mound City the hospital was so full that no more patients could be received, and the boat proceeded to Cairo for further orders, but the Doctor stopped at Mound City as instructed.

The day we left for this place, Mr. Gifford and Dr. McCarn started for Fort Donelson, and as to what they have accomplished I know not, as I have not heard from them since; but I have no doubt they will be able to make a good report.  Judge Linderman and Mr. Center we left at Mound City with H. B. Doolittle.

It is a very happy and to our boys a very fortunate affair that our citizens took such an interest in their welfare, for without the aid of volunteer surgeons and nurses, not only from Davenport but various other points, many of our soldiers would have suffered and died from want of care.  I do not mean by this any disrespect of inefficiency to our army surgeons, for in most cases they are unceasing in their labors to alleviate the suffering of our soldiers, but Government had made no adequate preparations for an emergency like this, and although it seemed as though the labor that has been performed by the ladies in all the various localities, in preparing bandages, &c., was labor thrown away; yet the last two weeks has proven quite the contrary, for all has been used, and more too, and it is now very difficult to procure adequate supplies for the wants of the different hospitals.  When we left Mound City there was not a bandage or hospital supplies of any kind that could be spared, and we had to go back to Cairo, to get what we had for the trip, which was a very short allowance. – There is much more to be said on this subject, but time will not permit, but I would say to the ladies, keep on preparing and furnishing these hospital supplies, and your labors will be rewarded in the comfort which is thereby given to the wounded soldiers.

L. C. BURWELL.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, March 8, 1862, p. 2

Henry B. Doolittle

The Cincinnati Commercial thus alludes to our gallant fellow citizen who was so badly wounded while carrying the colors of the noble 2d Iowa regiment in storming Fort Donelson:

Henry B. Doolittle, formerly of this city, for the past three or four years a resident of Davenport, Iowa, volunteered, early in May last, in the 2d Iowa Regiment.  Previous to the battle at Fort Donelson this regiment had charge of prisoners in McDowell’s College, near St. Louis, (some 1600 rebels.)  Mr. Doolittle was color bearer for the 2d Iowa Infantry, and in the charge on the 16^th inst., under Gen. Smith’s command, was shot in the abdomen, two inches below the navel, also in right leg below the knee, and in the right shoulder.  The surgeons pronounce him in a critical condition.  He is now at Mound City in the Hospital.  His brother, who resides here, has gone to remove him, if possible, to this place.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, March 5, 1862, p. 1

From The Iowa 2d Regiment

FORT DONELSON, Tenn.,

Feb. 20 1862

EDITOR GAZETTE:– Last Thursday morning we found ourselves on the Cumberland river slowly approaching the scene of contest.  At ten o’clock we stopped to wood.  Col. Tuttle said “come boys” and in a moment a lively scene presented itself as officers and men all turned out to prevent our being delayed while wooding.  We all feared we would be too late to participate.  In a few moments we were on our way up the narrow deep stream, the trees on the bank putting forth their buds in the warm sunshine.  We thought we had seen the last of cold weather this winter.

Thursday night we arrived at our destination and felt grateful that we were allowed to remain on board till morning, as it had stormed, rained and snowed and frozen up in a manner that would have done credit to an Iowa climate.  We marched at once to the left wing of the assailing army, taking two days rations and leaving our knapsacks and blankets aboard the McGill.  You that have seen the cold blustering weather of Iowa can imagine our reflections as we flocked around our fires?  We had no axes and could not find much loose wood.  All night long it snowed and blowed and we bade sleep good-bye.  We were half frozen, and in the best kind of a humor to hurt somebody.

The next day passed gloomily away till about one o’clock when Col. Lauman and Gen. Smith appeared and the order was given to “fall in.”  We were informed that it was expected that the left wing of the 2d Iowa should take the outer works at a charge bayonet without firing a shot.

The order was given and we marched out in an open field and ranged in line of battle for the breastworks, half a mile distant.  We kept a good line until we were half way up the hill to the breastworks.  Here the timber had been felled and formed an almost impassible obstacle to a line of infantry.  Their fire opened upon us, when the boys rushed forward over logs and through the brush up the hill in a manner that would have given a gymnast credit.  Their fire was well aimed and took effect on many of our brave comrades.  George Howell, of company C, was the first to fall, and others followed rapidly.  Capt. Slaymaker fell some 25 yards from the breastworks and died most gloriously, flourishing his sword over his head as he raised upon his elbow, cheering his men forward, telling them to “Charge, Charge, go on, go on, give it to them,” until he expired.  Not for one moment did the column falter, but on they rushed leaping over their dying comrades regardless of their sufferings, of danger, of every thing but the  success of our arms.  Revolving rifles poured a shower of bullets into our ranks by direct and flank fire, from behind their embankments.  In fifteen minutes from the time we had the order to fall in our men were over the works, fighting a hand to hand fight with the few of the enemy that dared brave our bayonets.  The right wing soon came up and fired at us after we had carried their embankments.  Other regiments followed, but as we were in the advance I cannot tell anything of them.  Lieut. Holmes fell on the inside of the breastwork while in advance of the men and was carried from the field.  Sergeant Doolittle fell while gallantly carrying the colors with the advance.  Corporal of company I, raised the banner to support it but a moment, when he fell.  Corporal of company F, grasped it and raising it aloft, feeling at the time that he was sealing his death warrant.  It was a courageous action in one so young to hold his life so cheaply.

In a few moments the enemy had retreated through the woods to an inner work. – Some of the bravest lingered and fired from behind trees.  Numbers of men and officers had fallen.  We were reforming one line when Gen Smith. Came up and told the men, “that we could go through,” and asked if we would go.  He was answered by cheers, and away we went on the run across the hollow to the top of the next hill.  Here we halted and opened a fire on them taking aim and picking off the rebels from behind the trees.  The Col. was stunned by a cannon ball.  Maj. Chipman had been wounded in the beginning of the engagement and the few remaining officers could not control the men if they had wished to. – The enemy had adopted the Indian style of fighting, and the 2d soon convinced them that that was a game that was understood by all parties.

No one is conscious of such music as we heard that day, except those who have been on the battle field.  The cannon ball, grape shot, Minnie ball and musket ball, each as a tone of its own.  Not for a moment did it cease, and many a note was sounded much closer to our ears than was agreeable.  Yet all were cool, loading and firing with precision.  Men fell dead without a groan while their comrades fought on as if it were an every day affair.  Lieut. Bing held his ear close to a soldier’s mouth to hear what he had to say, a Minnie ball whistled between them, cutting the Lieut’s hair.  The sentence remained unfinished.  The artillery was brought up and our men were withdrawn to the breastworks, while our cannon opened on their batteries. – Then we carried off our noble Capt.

We held our position till night when hostilities ceased.  The 2d remained all night and thought that that was the severest part of our work.  All needed sleep, but there we stood, no supper and shivered and stamped our feet all night long.  It was a beautiful night, with the full moon in a clear sky, but so cold that our whiskers were gray with white frost and filled with ice.  It was a long night, but not for a moment would we think of leaving what had cost us so dear.  Our left wing made the charge.  We alone had driven them from their works and held them until reinforcements could be brought up.

The 7th Iowa, 14th Iowa, 25th Indiana, and 52d Illinois were on hand, but the enemy did not attempt to make a charge on us.  Our presence, after one bayonet charge, was all that was required to hold the position.  The enemy was completely discouraged.  Sunday morning we prepared to try the next fortress, having replenished our cartridge-boxes.  Cheer after cheer went up from the enemy’s camp.  Far away over the hills we heard their shouts, and supposed that reinforcements had forced through the lines above us to their relief.  Judge of our surprise when an officer came, as fast as his horse could run, shouting, “They have surrendered!”  Shout after shout went up as he passed, loud enough to wake the dead.  Would that it had but for a moment, that they might know that they were not sacrificed for Liberty’s cause in vain.  What joy filled our hearts when we were ordered to lead the army into the fort, and plant our banner on its ramparts.  It was a greater honor than we had dared hope to win; and when we beheld it flying aloft of their white flag, we experienced the greatest pleasure imaginable.  The Confederates appeared joyous, and received us with cheers, and as we filed back past our troops, regiment after regiment cheered for the 2d Iowa.

Sunday night we slept soundly in the log huts within the fort.  Our killed all died in a few moments, with the exception of Capt. Slaymaker, all were buried on the battle-field, on the top of the hill.  Their graves are marked by a board, bearing name, camp, and regiment.  Our men all died bravely.  Not a shriek nor groan mingled with the din of battle.  They dying quietly expired, and the wounded were borne from the field without the least exhibition of their great suffering.  Their bravery detracted much from the horrors of the scene.  It was not like the many descriptions of battles that I have read.  But for the pools of blood we might have supposed our comrades were sleeping.

Sunday morning I for a few moments left the company as they stood on the breastworks, and strolled over the battle ground.  It wanted some hours of day and the full moon shone peacefully upon the [corpses].  I have read of the glaring eyes and gaping mouth of dead soldiers, but here lay my friends asleep; the eyes are closed, the mouth retains its natural position.  This is not like the dead of our homestead.  I could not but kneel by some of those that I thought must still be alive, but their foreheads were cold; they slept the sleep that knows no waking.  There in the silent repose lay friend and foe side by side.

One of the rebels, a religious character, saw their fire take deadly effect on our little band of 300 men, saw them rush boldly into what appeared certain death.  His heart failed him and he was convinced that they were in the right or they would not face death in that manner.  He surrendered, when he might have escaped.  While planting our flag on the fort a negro remarked to his master, “Why massa, you said these ar’ folks is Yankees and they jes looks like you is.” From what he had heard he supposed we were men in the form of demons.  We have possession of Clarksville, and the 2d will move their [sic] tomorrow.

N. A. H.,

Company C, 2d Iowa.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 28, 1862, p. 2

Killed and Wounded in Company C

A private letter received in town from Fort Donelson, gives the following names of the Killed and severely wounded.

KILLED.

Capt. J. S. Slaymaker,

George Howell,

Edward Peterson,

____ Myers,

C. H. Lenhart.

SEVERELY WOUNDED.

Lieut. W. H. Holmes,

Sergt. H. B. Doolittle.

Total loss – 5 killed and 25 wounded.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 21, 1862, p. 1

The Second Regiment at Fort Donelson

The following letter has been kindly handed to us for publication.  It is from a Sergeant in the late Captain Slaymaker’s Company at Fort Donelson, to his sister [of] this city.  The letter was evidently written in haste but fully confirms what we have before heard of the desperate valor of the Second regiment on that occasion, and the severe loss suffered by one of our own companies. – It is as follows:

FORT DONELSON, Feb. 15th, 1862.

DEAR SISTER: I was in my first battle – the first of the Second Regiment.  We took a fortress, driving out the sharp-shooters, armed with six-barreled revolving rifles.  In fifteen minutes after we received the order we were across their breast works.  We drove them at the point of the bayonet.  The battle lasted two hours and a half, but seemed very short to us all.  Capt. Slaymaker, George Howell, Peterson, Myers, and Lenhart were killed; Lieut. Holmes and Doolittle severely injured.  Total loss five killed twenty-five wounded.

Two bullets passed through my clothing but did not draw blood.

I am tired.  We landed here on Friday morning, and it is now Sunday night, and I have not slept.  We have 10,000 prisoners. – The Second to-day had the greatest honor, and was the first to plant the red, white and blue in the enemy’s stronghold.

Mr. Morrison, flour dealer on Brady street, received a letter last evening from his son, James, also a member of Capt. Slaymaker’s company, in which he states that Lt. Holmes was struck in the leg by a musket ball, and is feared the limb will require amputation.  Capt. Slaymaker was killed while bravely leading on his men, shouting “Come on, my boys; give it to them!” a spent ball stuck him, and the noble soldier perished.  Mr. Morrison was slightly wounded in the foot.  He states that it is thought there are not more than two hundred sound men left in the regiment fit for duty.  All honor to the brave Iowa Second!  Its first meeting with the enemy has been a terrible but glorious one.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 21, 1862, p. 1