Edwin M. Stanton to Major-General John A. McClernand, October 21, 1862

CONFIDENTIAL.] 

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington City, October 21, 1862.

Ordered, That Major-General McClernand be, and he is, directed to proceed to the States of Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa, to organize the troops remaining in those States and to be raised by volunteering or draft, and forward them with all dispatch to Memphis, Cairo, or such other points as may hereafter be designated by the general-in-chief, to the end that, when a sufficient force not required by the operations of General Grant's command shall be raised, an expedition may be organized under General McClernand's command against Vicksburg and to clear the Mississippi River and open navigation to New Orleans.

The forces so organized will remain subject to the designation of the general-in-chief, and be employed according to such exigencies as the service in his judgment may require.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 17, Part 2 (Serial No. 25), p. 282

Colonel William Smyth

THIRTY-FIRST INFANTRY.

William Smyth was born in the year 1824. England, Scotland and Ireland are all represented among the Iowa colonels. Colonel William Smyth is the Irish representative.

His history, so far as I know it, is briefly as follows: He was born in Ireland, and emigrated to this country about the year 1838. A year or two later, he settled in Linn county, Iowa, where he has made his home ever since. He is one of the oldest residents of that county. He came to the State ignorant and poor; but educated himself, and is now wealthy and one of the ablest lawyers in Iowa. He was at an early day district judge of what is now the Eighth Judicial District. He was also one of our Code Commissioners. He is reported as being the only able and responsible man in his part of the State who has no enemies.

William Smyth entered the service as colonel of the 31st Iowa Infantry, one of the twenty-two infantry regiments organized in the State in the summer and fall of 1862. His commission, like those of eleven other Iowa colonels, bears date of the 10th of August, 1862. At the time of entering the service, he had, I am told, no military knowledge or training: he was made a colonel on account of his worth.

The services of the 31st Iowa, up to the arrival of Sherman at Savannah, can be learned in the histories of the 4th, 9th, 25th, 26th and 30th Iowa regiments. It joined these regiments at Helena, late in the fall of 1862, and has served with them ever since. The expedition to Chickasaw Bayou; that up the Arkansas River to Arkansas Post, and also that to near the Yazoo, known as the "Deer Creek raid;" the march to the rear of Vicksburg, and the protracted and exhausting siege of the city; the return march of Sherman to Jackson, Mississippi, in pursuit of Johnson; the movement of Sherman's Corps from the Big Black up the river to Memphis, in the fall of 1864, and thence to Corinth, and the march from Corinth to Chattanooga; the brilliant campaign of Sherman from Dalton to Atlanta; the pursuit of Hood to North Eastern Alabama, at the time he began his disastrous raid north; and, finally, the grand marches from Atlanta to Savannah, and from Savannah to Raleigh, are all embraced in the record of the 31st Iowa regiment.

There is little in the march from Atlanta of special interest; for, previous to the time it was begun, the rebel forces had become so scattered as to make resistance, on their part, feeble and ineffectual. With the exception of the cavalry, the Federal troops marched with little molestation, and with an abundance of supplies. It was rather an agreeable campaign than otherwise. On the other hand, the march from Savannah to Goldsboro was one of great hardship. The advance was made in the face of a foe too feeble, it is true, to offer much serious resistance, and yet strong enough to occasion much anxiety. In addition to this, much of the country over which the march lay, presented strong natural obstructions. One who accompanied General Sherman in his last grand campaign, gives the following picture of one of the advancing columns; and the experiences of all were nearly the same:

"If the head of the column is checked by bad roads, it masses and goes to work with a vengeance, assisting the pioneers. The object is to get the roads in such condition that the artillery-trains can pass. If the bottom be good and the water not sufficiently deep to damage the ammunition in the wagons, and the swamp not more than one mile across, we always bulge through. If our column is checked by the enemy, it deploys into position and fights a little, while other troops push ahead and flank the enemy. If several columns are checked, we deploy into position, (nicest maneuver in the world) press the enemy closely at all points, and, if no advantage occurs, pitch in and whip them like h—1. General Sherman never bothers us upon such occasions, unless we are getting a little too far round, or not quite far round enough, or a little too brisk; for he knows precisely what we are going to do. But if we get a little too fast, he always modestly makes his appearance and says: "Hold up a little there, boys, d—n it! wait till the 14th gets fairly in;" or words to that effect. To be sure, he does not say this so that we can hear him; for he speaks through the regular channel; but then we all know what General Sherman says.

"Advancing in line of battle through woods, brush, over logs, through swamps, down embankments, and over woodpiles, is easily done, because we all know how. We never think of keeping step, or touching elbows — pshaw! Each man knows just where he ought to be, and keeps his eye upon the spot where, theoretically, he is until he gets there. This may cost him a dozen flank movements on his own hook."

Though the above is a facetious picture of General Sherman's progress through the swamps and timber of South Carolina, it has in it less of fiction than of history.

When Sherman left Atlanta, his plan was, to use his own words, "to leave an army in the West, under Major-General G. H. Thomas, of sufficient strength, to meet emergencies in that quarter, while he conducted another army, composed of the 14th, 15th, 17th, and 20th corps and Kilpatrick's Division of cavalry, to the Atlantic slope, aiming to approach the grand theatre of war in Virginia, by the time the season would admit of military operations in that latitude." Hardee abandoned Savannah during the night of the 20th of December, and, twenty days later, the 15th and 17th Corps began embarking at Port Thunderbolt for Beaufort, South Carolina, preparatory to marching "to the grand theatre of war in Virginia." Near Beaufort, the 31st Iowa remained in camp with its brigade till the 27th of January, when it begun the march inland. The grand army moved in three columns, the 17th Corps on the right, the 15th in the centre, and the 14th and 20th Corps and Kilpatrick's Cavalry on the left. As already stated, Colonel Stone's Iowa Brigade, to which the 31st Iowa belonged, was attached to the 15th Corps, whose line of march was nearly due north till arriving at Columbia, after which it was directed north-east toward Fayetteville and Goldsboro, North Carolina. On this march, the 31st Iowa with its brigade met the enemy at three different points — on the Little Congaree Creek near Columbia, at Columbia, and near Bentonville, North Carolina.

The first engagement occurred on the 15th of February, 1865. That morning the 2d Brigade of the 1st Division, Colonel Calleson, led the advance and encountered the enemy soon after leaving camp; but they made little resistance till arriving at the Little Congaree, where, having taken up a strong position, they brought the head of the column to a halt. Next in rear of Colonel Calleson's Brigade was Colonel Stone's, which was at once ordered to the front and deployed in line of battle. The enemy were soon flanked without serious loss, and a crossing over the Little Congaree secured. With little delay, the march was continued in the direction of Columbia, where the army arrived in the afternoon of the 16th instant. Columbia, the South Carolina Capital, situated on the north bank of the Congaree and just below the junction of the Broad and Saluda Rivers, was one of the prettiest cities in all the South. It was formerly the centre of South Carolina politics and South Carolina wealth. When, in marching upon the high ground south of the river, the sight of the boasted city first greeted the eyes of the soldiers, they were filled with wonder at its beauty. Immediately in their front was the Congaree, hidden from view by a broad belt of pine timber; but over the tops of the tall, waving trees were plainly to be seen the handsome buildings and the beautiful surroundings of Columbia.

Only the 15th and 17th Corps marched on the city. The 14th and 20th crossed Broad River at Zion Church, and marched through Alston, destroying the road, and proceeding thence in the direction of Winnsboro. Of the two corps before Columbia, the 15th held the left and the 17th the right. The 3d Brigade, 1st Division, of the 15th, was the first organized command to cross Broad River. It was to the same command that Columbia was formally surrendered by the rebel mayor, on the morning of the 17th of February.

On the afternoon of the 16th instant, General Logan had effected a crossing of the Saluda, and pushed a portion of his command to near the west bank of Broad River. George A. Stone's Brigade was sent forward to the river bank, with instructions to cross the stream that night in pontoons, and cover the crossing of its corps the next morning — perhaps, to move on the city; for that is what was done. "The point determined on for crossing, was about one mile above the wreck of the bridge, and two miles above the city. It was expected to have effected a crossing by mid-night; but the current of the river was so very strong, the engineer did not succeed in getting a line across till three o'clock of the morning of the 17th instant. At ten minutes before four, I sent over two boat-loads of sharp-shooters under Captain Bowman of my staff, with instructions to have them placed as skirmishers, with the centre of the line opposite the landing, and at least seventy-five yards distant. He had particular instructions to keep his men quiet, and not to reply to any firing of the enemy, unless satisfied they meant an attack before the column could cross. I went over with the advance — the 31st Iowa — and made a personal reconnoissance of the ground."

The landing was effected on a crescent-shaped island, one or more bayous separating it from the main land. Here Colonel Stone assembled his command, or all except a portion of the 4th Iowa, which had not yet crossed, and at day-light charged the enemy. The struggle lasted but a few moments; for the main rebel army had already abandoned the city, leaving only a few regiments to delay the crossing. Colonel Stone marched directly on the city, and when near the suburbs, met a carriage flying a flag of truce, and bearing the rebel mayor, Goodwin. Terms of capitulation were tendered and accepted, when the Iowa Brigade, of the 15th Corps, entered and occupied Columbia. It was the proudest day these gallant troops had seen since entering the war.

Of the capture of Columbia, General Sherman says, in his official report:

"Under cover of this brigade, [Stone's] a pontoon-bridge was laid on the morning of the 17th. I was, in person, at this bridge, and at eleven A. M. learned that the mayor of Columbia had come out in a carriage, and made a formal surrender of the city to Colonel George A. Stone, 25th Iowa, commanding 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 15th Corps. About the same time, a small party of the 17th Corps had crossed the Congaree in a skiff, and entered Columbia from a point immediately west."

The night following the capture of Columbia, the greater portion of the city was burned; not, however, by the Federal soldiery, but by that rebel wretch, Wade Hampton, who had, for this very purpose, flooded the place with cotton. A high wind and bad whisky were the confederates of his wicked scheme. The sight was heart-rending. Decrepit old men, and helpless women and children, rushed wildly from their burning dwellings, and cried most piteously for help; but, though the soldiers exerted their utmost, it was long before they could stay the devouring element.

From Columbia, the line of march of the 15th Corps lay through Cheraw and Fayetteville, and thence to Goldsboro and Raleigh; but in all this distance the 3d Brigade of Wood's Division failed to meet the enemy, till arriving near Bentonville, on the route from Fayetteville to Goldsboro. In the battles that were fought near Bentonville, on the 20th and 21st of February, the Iowa Brigade took an important part. These were the last battles of the campaign, and decided the fate of General Johnson's army, if, indeed, it had not been decided before. In the march to Goldsboro, near which place the armies of Sherman and Schofield formed a junction, the Iowa Brigade held the post of honor — the rear-guard of its division and corps.

The results of the campaign, as regards Colonel Stone's Brigade, are summed up as follows:

"This brigade has been in four engagements, with the following loss: killed, seven; wounded, sixty-four; and missing, twelve. We have captured and turned over to the provost-marshal one hundred and forty-five prisoners of war. In the capture of Columbia, South Carolina, we took about five thousand stand of arms, immense quantities of ammunition and ordnance stores, and released forty Federal officers confined there. We have marched four hundred and eighty-five miles, built fifteen thousand and thirty-seven yards of corduroy road, and destroyed three miles of railroad."

The following is from the history of the regiment:

"Colonel William Smyth commanded the regiment from the time of its organization till the 13th of August, 1863, at which time, Lieutenant-Colonel Jenkins being at home with wounds received at Vicksburg during the charge of May 22d, the regiment was commanded by Major Stimming, until August 22d, 1863, when Lieutenant-Colonel Jenkins rejoined his command, and commanded the regiment from that date to February 1st, 1864. Lieutenant-Colonel Jenkins then taking command of the brigade, Major Stimming commanded the regiment from that date to March 10th, 1864. Lieutenant-Colonel Jenkins then commanded it to March 20th, at which time he went home on leave of absence, and Major Stimming again commanded to April 20th, 1864. Lieutenant-Colonel Jenkins returning, he commanded until May 1st, 1864, when Colonel Smyth, having rejoined the regiment, commanded from May 1st to September 26th, being then detailed to command the brigade. Lieutenant-Colonel J. W. Jenkins has been in command from that date to the present time. * * The regiment was first armed with Prussian smooth-bore muskets; before taking the field actively, it was armed with Enfield rifle muskets. September 28th, 1864, it was armed with Springfield rifle muskets.

Colonel Smyth resigned his commission after the arrival of his regiment at Savannah. Accordingly, in the march from Beaufort, the 31st was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel J. W. Jenkins, who, during the campaign, was thrice complimented by his brigade commander for gallant conduct.

Colonel Smyth is a large man and rather portly. In his deportment he is kind, candid and dignified. His merit as a soldier consisted in his kind care for his men, and in his great bravery. He was not an apt tactician. I am told he would sit quietly upon his horse under a sharp fire of the enemy, while determining upon the proper command to be given to his regiment for some designated movement. Not long after entering the service, he was ordered by his brigade commander, while drilling his battalion, to throw it into a certain position. Not remembering the proper command, he rode up to his adjutant and enquired: "Lieutenant, what shall I say?"

SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 467-74

JOHN M. HEDRICK

John M. Hedrick, of Ottumwa, was the third and last Colonel of the Regiment. He entered as 1st Lieutenant of Company D, became Captain of Company K, and while in command of his Company in the battle of Shiloh on April 6, 1862, was wounded and captured. After being in captivity for several months he was exchanged and returned to the Regiment on January 7, 1863. He became Major on January 17, 1863, on the resignation of Major Cunningham; Lieutenant-Colonel, on April 22, 1803, on the promotion of Colonel Belknap; and Colonel in 1864, on the appointment of the latter as Brigadier, and remained its Colonel until the close of the war, when he was brevetted as Brigadier-General of Volunteers, a rank which he had won by active service. He was a most brave, zealous, energetic, competent and extremely popular officer. His manner and demeanor attracted his men, and he was beyond question one of the most gallant and brilliant officers in the Service.

While at the front, in the battle of Atlanta, on July 22, 1864, he was fearfully wounded twice. His conduct was witnessed by the Colonel of the Regiment (Belknap) who writes these lines, and he makes this lasting record of General Hedrick's service and fearless courage in that terrible action. He was too severely wounded to remain with the regiment, but was detailed on Court Martial duty at Washington and was retained in service for several months after the muster out of his Regiment.

He resides at Ottumwa, and is a reliable and public-spirited business man, prominent in public and private affairs. But his wound still gives him trouble, and reminds him constantly of his service in the field.

Since the above was written, General Hedrick was on September 29, 1886, stricken with paralysis, caused undoubtedly by the wound received in the battle of Atlanta, and died on October 3.

It is believed that no more fitting tribute can be paid him here than the following account of his funeral services from the Ottumwa Courier, of October 5, 1886, written by his devoted friend, Major A. H. Hamilton.

Resolutions passed at a meeting of the Regiment are also appended.


THE LAST SAD RITES
TO THE LAMENTED GENERAL HEDRICK.

From the Ottumwa Courier, October 5, 1886.

Tuesday at the appointed hour for the funeral services, 9:30 A. M., West Second street, on which the family residence of the lamented dead is situated, was thronged with people and carriages. Great numbers had arrived by teams from all parts of the country, and hundreds came by trains. It being also the opening day of the reunion of the gallant 2d Iowa Infantry, there had arrived during the night and the early morning, soldiers of various Regiments from all parts of this and other states to attend the funeral and to participate in the reunion. General W. W. Belknap, of Washington, D. C.; Dr. W. H. Gibbon, of Chariton, Major H. C. McArthur, and Capt. R. H. Whitenack, of Lincoln, Neb., all old comrades in arms of the deceased, arrived also during the night. Others of General Hedrick's old Regiment were here from abroad, but their names we have not been able at this hour to obtain. To the four mentioned [sic] deceased was knit with a brotherly affection. How strong and enduring this affection was will be found expressed in the short address of General Belknap, which follows further on.

Gen. Belknap brought with him the old silk flag of the 15th .Iowa, carried in the battle of Corinth, which was laid upon the coffin of the dead hero and enshrouded his remains as they were borne to their final resting place.

There were floral tributes of great beauty and abundance. There was a beautiful wreath and four pillows of flowers, containing the following designs and mottoes in flowers: "Our Father," " Courage'' "J. M. H.," and a sword and pen crossed in evergreen, surmounted by the figure "30" in pink flowers - "30" is the printer's finis,

The face of the dead was wonderfully placid and natural. The living brothers and sisters, besides the General's own family, were all present, and also some more distant relatives from abroad. The family residence, though large, could accommodate but a few of the great crowd which assembled in respect for the dead and in sympathy with the bereaved family. The services were opened by a hymn rendered by the choir of the First Methodist Church of this city. The Rev. W. F. Cowles then addressed the Throne of Grace in fervent prayer, after which the Rev. J. B. Blakeney read a lesson from the scriptures and spoke briefly of the deceased and his many virtues, closing with words of comfort to the bereaved. The remains were then viewed by the vast concourse of people, the sad parting leave taken by the family, and the immense procession took up its journey to the grave in our city cemetery. The head of the procession was taken by Co. G. I. N. G, of this city, preceded by Prof. Carl Schwabkey's band. Next came the army veterans, Cloutman Post No. 69, G. A. R., and soldiers of other Posts, and they were followed by the chaplain, hearse, family and relatives in carriages. The friends followed in carriages and on foot. The number of carriages in line was one hundred and sixty.

The business houses of the city were closed and there was an outpouring of the people enmasse to attest their respect and love for the deceased soldier, citizen and friend, and their sympathy with the sorely bereaved family.

Arriving at the cemetery the casket was borne to the open grave and deposited preparatory to being lowered to the final resting place of all that is mortal of the honored dead, when, in the presence of two thousand people, General Belknap in a clear, strong, but tremulous voice, as though his sad heart was struggling for the mastery, delivered the following beautiful and feeling address:

FRIENDS OF OUR FRIEND AND COMRADES OF THE ARMY:

When one who has been called away is bound to some by the bonds of kindred, and to all by the ties of affection, there is a mournful pleasure in the act of love which honors the memory of the dead. It is not for me to intrude upon the sanctity of the sorrow, which falls like a burden upon the broken hearts of those who were of his own household. The bitterness of this bereavement comes, in a measure, to us all. But, knowing him as I did, I willingly recall some memories of the past, and in this solemn hour give the tribute of my best affection to this most noble gentleman. I recall him when in the full flush of beautiful manhood, he joined the 15th Iowa in 1861, and received his commission as captain. Bright as day, quick in movement, and sincere in friendship, he tied himself to the men of his command, and at once captured our regard. On the fearful field of Shiloh, where the crash of the conflict came so suddenly, he bore himself bravely and as a true soldier should. Captured there, he was a prisoner for months, and returned to the Regiment to become its Major, its Lieutenant-Colonel and its Colonel. That General Hedrick filled all these positions with great judgment and military skill, all of his comrades know, and none better than myself. I recall him in that severe siege of Vicksburg, when the fire of the Southern batteries shook the stoutest heart, and well remember that smile of joyful happiness which showed how he welcomed victory, with a cool confidence that could not be disturbed. I recall him, and so do you, my comrades of the Iowa Brigade, when he moved on that bright morning in July, 1864, with the entire 15th Regiment deployed as skirmishers in the advance of the 4th Division upon the opposing works. His figure and form were the perfect development of young manhood, as he moved his men to the charge. I seem to hear now his voice, which, like a clarion, called to the men to be steady, and nerved them for their work, and we remember again that group of Generals — McPherson, Blair and Gresham, who looked with admitted admiration upon his skillful leadership, and united their cheers with his and those of his victorious comrades as they swept up the parapet and captured the work. We recall him again in that bloody assault on July 21st, when the Regiment marched like men up to the blazing mouths of the batteries, and in that battle of giants on the next day — July 22, 1864 — when, in the midst of action, in the extreme front, and with his sword on high, waving in encouragement among his men, he received that fearful wound, which for twenty-two years has been sapping the foundation of his life.

Well do I recall his heroic demeanor on that eventful day. Seeing him come from the line, with the blood streaming from arm and side, I said "Where are you wounded?" "I am shot all over, Col.," he said, but there was no complaint, though with the consciousness that it might prove fatal soon. That battle at great cost ended in victory. I knelt down by the stretchers on which he and his brother lay side by side, during a lull in the fight, and spoke to him of his heroic conduct and cheered him as best I could amid the havoc of action. But he needed no words from me to aid his courage. With a smiling face and a strong heart, he was carried to the hospital, and the President brevetted him Brigadier-General for his great gallantry.

The men of his command had no truer friend than he. and they trusted him with the firm reliance of devoted faith. The words of discipline which came from him as an officer, came so firmly and yet so gently that it was happiness to obey. His tender words and cheering voice in the hospital smoothed the rough pillow of the dying soldier, and brought to him the blessings of the sick. His career since the war is known to you all. As a man of affairs he was earnest, courageous and true. This gathering of old men and matrons and young men and maidens is a sure tribute to his worth as a citizen, while his comrades of the army bind upon his brow the laurel wreath which he has won, as he leaves them to march without fear and with calm faith, into the presence of the God of Mercy and of the God of battles.

General Hedrick was my fond and faithful friend. I loved him as I did no other man on earth. For years associated with him in camp and fight, in field and march, there never was the shadow of a shade to come between us. The tender memories of his manly love all come to me now, and I bless Heaven that I have known him so long and well.

Two weeks have not passed since I met him in Burlington by appointment, and we journeyed together to Chicago and spent a day there together. We were both interested in the history of our Regiment of which he had the charge, and his last act, in my presence, was to arrange for the publication of the likenesses of all the men of the Regiment in that work. Devoted to his men his last act there was for them and theirs.

Original in his ideas, brilliant in conversation, the life of every circle, and the loved of his friends, my comrades "we shall not look upon his like again." Our hearts go out in sympathetic affection to those who bear his name. No words of ours can be their solace. The blessed memory of his beloved companionship and kindest care is theirs to keep forever. This will be a joy to them in their darkest days, and though some plans in life may fail and hopes be broken, they cannot lose the recollections of this manly, noble life.

Comrades — Trouble may be with us in the passing years, and the vicissitudes of life may bring disaster, but those who have been side by side in the fire of battle are bound to each other by a confiding devotion which no blow can break.

The hour has come. The flag of his Regiment lies upon his bier. The march which he has made will soon be ours. He has crossed the unknown river, and is with that great army whose spotless tents are pitched near the celestial city.

Rev. J. B. Blakeney pronounced the benediction, and the large concourse silently wended their way to their homes.


Resolutions of Respect and Condolence Adopted by Members of the 15th Iowa on the day of General Hedrick's Funeral.

At a meeting of members of the 15th Iowa Volunteers, at the Ballingall House, Ottumwa, Iowa, on October 5th, 1886, Col. Wm. H. Gibbon, of Chariton, was called to the chair and Major H. C. McArthur, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was appointed secretary.

On motion of Ben. Johnston, of Keosauqua, the following resolutions were adopted:

Resolved, That, with all the members of the 15th Iowa, we mourn the death of our brave comrade and commander, Brigadier-General John M. Hedrick. Gifted in a marked degree with ability, both as an officer and a citizen, he fastened himself to us by his generous character, his considerate kindness and thoughtful regard. As a comrade he was our personal friend; as a soldier, he was heroic in every act; as a Commander, he led instead of followed; and as a man he kept the esteem which his kindly ways had won. We shall cherish to the end the memory of his noble life.

Resolved, That we give to his loving widow and children the sincere assurance of the unfeigned sympathy of the Regiment, in this, their most sad hour.

H. C. McARTHUR,
Secretary.


SOURCE: William W. Belknap, History of the Fifteenth Regiment Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry, p. 30-7

COLONEL ALEXANDER CHAMBERS

SIXTEENTH INFANTRY.

Alexander Chambers is thirty-two years of age, and a native of the State of New York. I know little more of his history prior to his entering the volunteer service except that he was a lieutenant of the 18th Regular Infantry, and a resident of Owatonna, Minnesota. After the war broke out, and before he was made colonel, he served as a mustering officer of Iowa troops. He was the United States mustering officer of the following Iowa regiments: the 1st, 2d and 4th Cavalry; and the 1st, 2d, 3d, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 13th and 14th Infantry. Though not an Iowa man, his military services certainly go to the credit of the State. He was commissioned Colonel of the I6th Iowa, in February, 1862, and served with this rank till the winter of 1863-4, when he left the volunteer service and returned to his former position as captain in the 18th Regular Infantry; for he had been promoted to a captaincy, in the summer of 1861.

Colonel Chambers' first engagement, which was also the first of his regiment, was Shiloh. In that action he was slightly wounded. The position of his regiment in the first day's battle was on the right of the l5th Iowa, and the part it sustained sufficiently appears in the sketch of General H. T. Reid. In the closing paragraph of an official statement concerning this engagement, Colonel Chambers says:

"The field officers were particularly cool under a destructive fire, and rendered great assistance. The horses of all the field and staff officers were killed or wounded, evidently showing an intention on the part of the enemy to pick off the most prominent officers. Captains Ruehl and Zettler, both gallant men, were killed or mortally wounded, and 1st Lieutenant Frank N. Doyle, a brave and efficient officer, was also killed. The loss during Sunday's fight was two officers and sixteen non-commissioned officers and privates killed, and nine officers and twenty-four non-commissioned officers and privates wounded, and fifteen non-commissioned officers and privates missing."

Among the wounded officers, were Captains A. Palmer, E. S. Fraser, and E. M. Newcomb; and Lieutenants Lewis Bunde, J. H. Lucas, G. H. Holcomb, and Henry Meyer. It was reported that the regiment did not conduct itself with credit, but its losses tell a different story. The conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel A. H. Sanders was especially gallant, as it ever after was, in the face of the enemy.

It is elsewhere stated that immediately after the battle of Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing, the Iowa Brigade was organized, and that the organization was preserved till the close of General Sherman's campaign through the Carolinas, in the spring of 1865. The 16th Iowa was the junior regiment of this brigade, and much relating to its history will be found in the sketches of Generals Crocker, Reid, Belknap and Hedrick, and Colonels Hall and Shane. But the 16th has a chapter in its history, not to be found in those of the other regiments of its brigade. It fought Price at Iuka; was conspicuous upon the field, and suffered terribly in killed and wounded. Next to the 5th Iowa Infantry, it lost more heavily than any other regiment on that bloody field.

"For some ten days or more before the final move of the rebel army under General Price, eastward from the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, it was evident that an attack upon Corinth was contemplated, or some change to be made in the location of that army. This caused great vigilance to be necessary, on the part of our cavalry, especially that to the southern front, under Colonel Mizner. The labor of watching and occasional skirmishing was most satisfactorily performed, and almost every move of the enemy was known as soon as commenced. About the 11th of September, Price left the railroad — the infantry and artillery probably moving from Baldwin, and the cavalry from the roads north of Baldwin, toward Bay Springs. At the latter place, a halt of a few days seemed to have been made; likely, for the purpose of collecting stores and reconnoitering our eastern flank. On the 13th of September, the enemy's cavalry made their appearance near Iuka, and were repulsed by the small garrison under Colonel Murphy of the 8th Wisconsin Infantry, still left there to cover the removal of stores, not yet brought into Corinth. The enemy appeared again in increased force on the same day, and, having cut the railroad between there and Burnsville, Colonel Murphy thought it prudent to retire to save his force."

How the 16th Iowa became separated from its brigade and fought with Rosecrans at Iuka happened thus: When Colonel Murphy was attacked by the enemy, he sent back for reinforcements: Colonel Crocker was directed to send a regiment to his support. The 16th Iowa was ordered forward, and thus formed a junction with General Rosecrans. In speaking of the part the 16th and other regiments of his command bore at Iuka, General Rosecrans says:

"The 16th Iowa, amid the roar of battle, the rush of wounded artillery-horses, the charges of a rebel brigade, and a storm of grape, canister and musketry, stood like a rock, holding the centre, while the glorious 5th Iowa, under the brave and distinguished Matthies, sustained by Boomer, with his noble little 26th Missouri, bore the thrice-repeated charges and cross-fires of the rebel left and centre, with a valor and determination, seldom equaled, and never excelled by the most veteran soldiery."

So far as I can learn, the killed and wounded of the 16th Iowa at Iuka numbered about sixty-five. Colonel Chambers was wounded and obliged to turn his command over to Lieutenant-Colonel Sanders. Lieutenant and Adjutant George Lawrence, a gallant young officer, was killed. Captain A. Palmer and Lieutenant J. H. Lucas of Company C, were both wounded, as they had also been at Shiloh. Lieutenants Alcorn and Williams were also wounded, both severely. Iuka was the 16th Iowa's second engagement, and their courage and intrepidity, on that field, was a triumphant answer to all insinuations of former ungallant conduct. They were the heroes of their brigade, and when they marched back to re-join it they were looked on with admiration, and received the eager gratulations of their sister regiments.

Next in the history of the regiment is the battle of Corinth, a full account of which Has been given elsewhere; It lost its commanding officer at Iuka, and suffered the same misfortune at Corinth. Lieutenant-Colonel Sanders was severely wounded in the thigh, in the afternoon of the first day's fight. Of this gallant officer's conduct, Colonel, afterward General Crocker says:

"Lieutenant-Colonel Add. H. Sanders, who commanded the 16th, is entitled to great praise. He rode along the line of his regiment, amid the storm of bullets, encouraging his brave boys, who had so lately suffered at Iuka, to remember their duty, and, although severely wounded, remained with his regiment until it marched off the field."

Major William Purcell succeeded Colonel Sanders in the command of the regiment. Its loss in the engagement I have been unable to learn, but, next to the 15th Iowa, it suffered more severely than any other regiment of its brigade. Major Purcell was slightly wounded, but not so severely as to compel him to leave the field. Captain C. W. Williams was taken prisoner. Color-Sergeant Samuel Duffin, and Color-Corporals McElhaney, Eighmey and Karn are mentioned for their gallant conduct on the field.

The pursuit of the defeated and dispirited rebel army to the Hatchie, and the return to Corinth; the march to the Yockona late that same Fall; the trip down the Mississippi to Young's Point, and the operations around Vicksburg; the march to Mechanicsville, up the Yazoo; the expedition to Jackson, and the escape of Johnson; the raid to Monroe, Louisiana, and, later, that to Meridian, Mississippi; the long and tedious march from Clifton on the Tennessee, to North-western Georgia, In the Spring of 1864, and the operations of the Iowa Brigade on the memorable Atlanta Campaign, will be found in the sketches of those officers and regiments, whose histories they help to make up. The 16th Iowa Infantry took part in all these operations.

It has already been stated that Colonel Chambers resigned his commission in the winter of 1863-4. Subsequently to that date, the 16th Iowa has been commanded by that excellent officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Sanders. Indeed, for many months prior to the resignation of the former officer, Colonel Sanders commanded his regiment; for, on the departure of General Crocker to assume command of the 7th Division, of his corps, Colonel Chambers succeeded him in the command of the Iowa Brigade.

I pass now to the most interesting and exciting chapter in the history of the 16th Iowa — a chapter which, could I write it as it was made, would equal any passage in war-literature. Certainly no regiment in all Sherman's grand army of "ninety-eight thousand nine hundred and ninety-seven men" can furnish an instance of greater and more distinguishing valor, than that of which I write.

How Sherman, having crossed the Chattahoochie, threw his army by a grand right-wheel around Atlanta, with the Army of the Tennessee — Blair, Logan and Dodge — on the left, I have written elsewhere. In the sketch of General Belknap, I have also given an account of the enemy's opening attack, which, for suddenness and desperation, would have done credit to the best marshals of France. The 22d of July, and the assault on Sherman's left, are the day and the battle of which I speak. The 16th Iowa "was posted upon the left of the 11th Iowa, and in the immediate front of the 13th Iowa, the 15th Iowa being upon the left and upon a prolongation of the line of the 13th, the brigade being the left of the 4th Division, which held the left wing of the Army of the Tennessee." The 16th Iowa, therefore, held the extreme left and front of Sherman's victorious legions — a post of honor deserving double honor, on account of its gallant defense. "Companies B and G, under the respective commands of Captain Henry Lefeldt and Lieutenant Timm, were deployed as skirmishers in front, connecting on the right with the skirmishers of the 11th Iowa, and on the left with those of the l5th." This position had been taken up, and these dispositions had been made, (earthworks in front of each regiment having been in the meantime constructed) on the previous afternoon. And it is proper to state in this connection that the left of the Army of the Tennessee had not joined in the general advance made by Sherman's army on the morning of the 22d.

As elsewhere stated, the ground occupied by the Iowa Brigade was open, with the exception of being covered with under-brush; but, immediately after taking up the position, the 11th, 15th, and 16th Iowa had "policed" in their front, from thirty to fifty yards. No enemy could pass that line under cover, and to come within it was almost certain death. The skirmish line was posted in the thicket beyond.

Just before noon of the day in question, General Giles A. Smith, in person, had directed Colonel Sanders to have his regiment ready to fall in at a minute's notice, adding, "you must hold your works to the last, as the safety of the division may depend on the delay occasioned the enemy at this point." This was the last order received by Colonel Sanders from his superior that day. Already the reign of ominous silence, which commonly precedes great battles, portended the approaching conflict, and, hardly had General Smith rode back to his head-quarters, when the roar of musketry along the skirmish line signaled the advance of the enemy. It was sharp and spiteful, and told the brave boys, who sprung for their guns and the trenches, that a desperate struggle was at hand. Instantly the skirmishers, with anxious faces, made their appearance, and came running back to the works. They were sent back by Colonel Sanders, but had scarcely entered the thicket, when they were fired on and again driven back. The enemy were coming in heavy line of battle, and closely on the heels of their own skirmishers, while the 16th Iowa, crouched in their trenches and, with their muskets pointed toward the threatened point, awaited their approach. "When you fire, fire low, but don't fire a gun till you receive my command, no matter how near they come," were the orders of Colonel Sanders, and they were strictly obeyed. Then followed a moment of anxious, protracted suspense and then the opening battle.

The enemy advanced their line boldly into the clearing in front of the Sixteenth's works, and, with bayonets fixed and their pieces at a charge, began raising their accustomed shout, when Colonel Sanders gave the order to fire — first to the rear rank, and then to the front. " The response was a terrific and deadly volley from one rank, followed immediately by another, and then a continuous, rapid firing, as fast as eager, experienced soldiers could load and discharge their guns. The result of our fire was terrible. The enemy's line seemed to crumble to the earth; for even those not killed or wounded fell to the ground for protection. Another heavy line of the enemy advanced, and was repulsed in the same terrible manner. Officers and men worked enthusiastically, and guns became so heated that they could not be handled, the powder flashing from them as the cartridges were dropped in. The officers prepared the cartridges for the men, and helped them load their guns. More splendid firing, or more effectual in its results, was never before witnessed in the army." I have taken the above from Colonel Sander's report; for, should I make the same statement myself, it would pass for fiction.

Simultaneously with the attack on the 16th, the 11th and 15th Iowa were charged in their works. The left of the 15th had no protection, and, as the enemy came swinging round to its rear, it had no alternative but to draw out of its works and retire. The 11th Iowa was dislodged in like manner. But just before this occurred, the enemy in front of the 16th (the 2d and 8th Arkansas and two companies of Texan troops) put up the white flag and surrendered as prisoners of war. When they arrived in Colonel Sanders' rear, he found that he had two prisoners for every man in his ranks. But there were other prisoners to the left, or men whom Captain Smith claimed as prisoners, but who refused to throw down their arms. Learning this, Colonel Sanders hurried down to the left, and began disarming them himself, but he had taken the guns of only two, when he was surrounded by a rebel squad, who demanded: "Surrender, Sir, and we won't hurt you." Startled by such a demand, he turned and looked about him. For the first time he now saw that the works of the 13th and 15th Iowa in his rear were in the possession of the enemy. Believing that he had held his works "to the last," and hoping that he might break away and escape with his regiment to the rear of the 11th Iowa, he sprung away, and, with the exclamation — "I am not talking of surrender now," hurried back to his command. The rebels stared in wonder and none fired at him except a rebel captain, who instantly after was shot dead by Captain Lucas of the 16th Iowa.

On reaching the right of his regiment, the last hope fled; for the works of the 11th Iowa were already in possession of the enemy. The regiment was thus surrounded, and had no choice but to surrender or be butchered. The 16th Iowa was the sixth Iowa regiment to be captured nearly entire. "The regiment numbered, on the morning of the twenty-second, four hundred and twenty-five effective men: of these, a fatigue detail of three officers and eighty men was made in the morning, most of whom were captured afterward, while fighting in front of field-works near by."

During the Atlanta Campaign, or rather up to the 23d of July, the 16th Iowa lost in killed, wounded and captured, three hundred and sixty-eight men. Of these, twenty were killed, and one hundred and six wounded. Private Charles M. Stark was the first man of the regiment killed. He was shot through the head on the 14th of June, and while on picket near Big Shanty, Georgia. From the 14th of June to the 22d of July following, hardly a day passed without adding one or more to the regiment's list of casualties; and to show the character of warfare in which the regiment engaged, it may be stated that, of the twenty killed, nine at least were shot through the neck or head. Quarter-master-Sergeant John W. Drury was the only man killed by a shell, and Corporal James Huntington, the only one killed by a solid shot. Lieutenant George H. Holcomb was one of the killed, and among the wounded were Captains Hugh Skillings and Peter Miller, and Lieutenants Thomas A. Burke and Samuel Duffin: the latter afterward died of his wounds.

The greater part of the enlisted men of the 16th Iowa, who were captured on the 22d of July, were exchanged in September, 1864; but the officers were held until the following Winter and Spring. The regiment has closed the interesting portion of its history in the siege of Atlanta, and in the Savannah and Carolina Campaigns, all of which operations have been fully detailed.

I am told Colonel Chambers is a trim, black-haired, black eyed gentleman, with the airs and deportment of a regular army officer. He was a severe disciplinarian, and, by reputation, ranked well with the Iowa Colonels. After the fall of Vicksburg, he was appointed by the President a brigadier-general; but the appointment failed confirmation in the Senate. His status defeated him; he was neither an Iowa nor a Minnesota man. Iowa would indorse his appointment, provided he was credited to Minnesota, and Minnesota, vice versa. He is the only Iowa officer who was killed by having too many friends.

SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 303-12

BREVET BRIGADIER-GENERAL J. M. HEDRICK.

THIRD COLONEL, FIFTEENTH INFANTRY.

John Morrow Hedrick is a native of Indiana, the State which stands third, in the number of her sons, who, in Iowa, have been honored with colonel's commissions. He is a son of J. W. Hedrick, Esq., a resident of Wapello county, and an intelligent and influential farmer.

General Hedrick was born in Rush county, Indiana, the 16th day of December, 1832. In the year 1846 he accompanied his father's family to Iowa, where he has since resided. His means of education were limited. He never entered the halls of an academy or a college as a student. He acquired his education at the Common Schools, and at his father's fireside; but, notwithstanding his limited advantages, he had, at the age of seventeen, qualified himself for a teacher. From the age of seventeen to that of twenty, he passed his Winters in teaching, and his Summers on his father's farm. In 1852, he entered a mercantile house as clerk. Soon he became a partner in the business, and, ere long, proprietor of the house. With the exception of two years, when he was engaged in the real-estate business, his entire attention, from 1852 till the beginning of the war, was turned to mercantile pursuits. But he was unfortunate in some investments. In 1857-8, he had risked much in land speculations; and, like the great majority of those who at that time dealt in wild lands, suffered pecuniary losses.

In August, 1861, General Hedrick closed out his business in Ottumwa, for the express purpose of entering the service, and, before the close of that month, had enlisted a sufficient number of men to entitle him to a first lieutenant's commission. Before entering the service, he had held commissions as second lieutenant and captain in an independent military company of the city of Ottumwa; but this company existed only in name, and the knowledge of military matters, which he derived from his connection with it, was of no importance: indeed, in this respect, he was as purely a civilian as any officer that has gone out from the State.

General Hedrick was commissioned 1st Lieutenant of Company D, l5th Iowa Infantry, the 20th day of September, 1861, and on the 23d of the following December was made quartermaster of that regiment. While the regiment was at its rendezvous in Keokuk, he was promoted to the captaincy of Company K, and with this rank he entered the field.

Shiloh, as has already been stated, was the 15th Iowa's first battle; and the part taken by the regiment in this engagement has been already given. Captain Hedrick here distinguished himself, and was wounded and taken prisoner. At the time the regiment made its partially successful assault against the enemy, and just when the left wing was overpowered and forced back by overwhelming numbers, he was wounded, and instantly surrounded and captured. Being taken to the rear he, with about two hundred and fifty other officers, was forwarded to Corinth, and thence by rail to Memphis; where he arrived on the night of the 8th, near mid-night. Hustling the prisoners rudely from the cars, the Confederates huddled them, both officers and men, into a large store-room, where they guarded them that night, and where, for the first time since their capture, they issued them rations. It had been more than fifty hours since they had tasted food, and now they received only raw bacon and rotten bread.

But in the meantime the issue of the battle having been decided, the enemy became apprehensive, not only of the capture of Corinth, but of Memphis; for a fleet of Union gunboats was, at that very time, lying only a few miles above the city. The Union prisoners were therefore, on the morning of the 9th, hurried on board the cars, in order to be sent South; but for some reason the train did not leave till evening.

At that time, the fiendish cruelties practiced by the Confederates upon all Union people within their lines, had not purged the city of Memphis of all Union sentiment; for, during the entire day of the 9th, hundreds of her citizens crowded closely around the carefully-guarded train, which contained the prisoners, speaking kind words and, whenever occasion offered, tendering more substantial testimonials of their sympathy. But the story of the sufferings of Union prisoners of war has been often told, and need not be here repeated.

The sojournings of Captain Hedrick in the South, and the route he traveled with his brother officers, may be given with interest. Leaving Memphis on the evening of the 9th of April, he was taken, first to Jackson, Mississippi; from Jackson to Meridian; from Meridian to Mobile; from Mobile up the Alabama River to Selma; and from Selma to Talladega, where for two weeks he was quartered with his brother officers in a vacant Baptist College. From Talladega he was taken back to Selma, where he remained two months; from Selma to Montgomery; from Montgomery to Atlanta; from Atlanta to Madison; and from Madison to Richmond, via Augusta, Columbia, Raleigh and Weldon. At Richmond Captain Hedrick was paroled, after a prison-life of six months and seven days, and entered our lines on the 18th day of October, 1862.

After remaining several weeks with his family at Ottumwa, he learned that he was exchanged, and at once returned to his regiment. He re-joined it on the 9th of February, 1863, at La Fayette, Tennessee, and was immediately promoted to the majority, his commission dating the 17th of January, 1863. On the 22d of the following April he was made lieutenant-colonel; and with this rank he won his chief laurels. When, after the fall of Atlanta, Colonel Belknap was made a brigadier-general, Lieutenant-Colonel Hedrick was promoted to the full colonelcy of the 15th Iowa Infantry, his commission dating the 20th of August, 1864. He was breveted brigadier-general in the spring of 1865, for gallant services in the Atlanta Campaign.

As has already been stated, the l5th Iowa saw its hardest service in General Sherman's campaign against Atlanta. Just before returning home on veteran furlough, the regiment had accompanied General Sherman on the Meridian march, which, however, is celebrated only for the rapidity of the movement, and the large amount of rebel property destroyed; and still earlier the regiment had joined in the siege of Vicksburg, and in the subsequent march on Jackson; but in none of these movements was it in any general engagement. It did not accompany its corps on the march through Bruinsburg, Port Gibson, Raymond and Jackson, to the rear of Vicksburg; but with its brigade was stationed at Grand Gulf.

In the march to Monroe, Louisiana, which, considering its length, is the hardest with one exception that was ever made by the Iowa Brigade, the 15th Iowa was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Hedrick. The expedition was commanded by Brigadier-General Stevenson, and left Goodrich's Landing above Vicksburg, about the middle of August, 1863. The line of march, which was almost due west, lay across the broad bottom-lands that, for nearly fifty miles, stretch westward from the Mississippi. These bottom-lands, lying as they do below Lake Providence, had in the previous Spring received rich deposits from the Lake Providence Canal; and the road, which was narrow and straight, was bordered with the most luxuriant vegetation, in many places the weeds being twelve feet high. There was hardly a breath of air stirring, and, from morning till night the troops for the most of the way had no protection from the burning rays of the sun. The weather too was dry, and the dust almost suffocating. In addition to all this, the timber and the rank and dense vegetation was thickly inhabited by snakes of all kinds, and of the most fabulous size — enemies which the troops held in much greater terror than the few hostile rebels who hovered in their front. The only alleviating circumstance in this expedition seemed to be that the country had never been ravaged by our army, and supplies were abundant. Of the two hundred and eighty-one men of the 15th who started on this march, sixty had to be brought back to the river in wagons and ambulances. Several too, who were unable to bear the fatigue, were left within the lines of the enemy, in care. of Surgeon Gibbon.

The fruits of the expedition, which was some twenty days out from Vicksburg, were small. Monroe, the terminus of the Vicksburg and Monroe Railroad, was entered without opposition, the enemy abandoning the place, crossing the Washita, and destroying their pontoons. A few prisoners were captured, and a small quantity of Confederate stores destroyed.

The march of the Iowa Brigade with the greater portion of its army corps from Clifton, Tennessee, to the front at Kenesaw Mountain, has already been given. On the morning of the 2d of July, 1864, the 17th Army Corps formed the left of Sherman's army before Kenesaw. The Iowa Brigade held the right of its corps. Already, Sherman had despaired of dislodging the enemy from their strong-hold in his front, and that night he ordered a flank movement to the right, by way of Nick-a-jack Creek. Just at dusk, the 17th Corps, which was to hold the advance, broke camp, and, with the division of Giles A. Smith in the lead, took up its line of march down the valley, just in rear of the main line of works in the centre and on the right. The movement was a surprise to the enemy; and yet, the character of the country to be passed, which was broken and heavily timbered, enabled them to make much resistance. Keeping a considerable force of cavalry with light artillery constantly in the front, they would halt at every commanding point along the road, and, with their artillery, supported by their cavalry, dismounted, harass [sic] the advance. These positions, in nearly every instance, had to be charged.

During two days of this march, (the 4th and 5th of July) Lieutenant-Colonel Hedrick, with four companies of the 15th Iowa, and four of the 16th, as skirmishers, led the advance. On the second day's march, the following incident occurred: on a heavily-wooded point, the enemy was found in position, and the reserves brought up and deployed, for a charge. Instantly, as the charge was ordered, the Iowans swept recklessly down through the ravine, and up the opposite slope to the crest, where the enemy had just shown themselves. They gained the point, and now for the pursuit. With a shout, they started down through the brush, each man striving for the lead, when — bang! bang! bang! went the enemy's artillery from the hill not more than seventy-five yards in advance. A deadly volley of musketry followed, when the boys, returning as quickly as they went, reported to their officers: "Damn 'em, they are right up there!"

Soon after discovering Sherman's movement to Nick-a-jack Creek, the enemy evacuated Kenesaw and Marietta, and hurried to their left, where, on the morning of the 6th, they showed sufficient force to prevent a further advance; for their position was a strong one on the hills that lay on the east side of Nicka-jack Creek, and near where that stream forms a junction with the Chattahoochie. From the 6th of July to the 10th, the time was passed in skirmishing with the enemy; but, in the meantime, General Sherman had entered Marietta, and passed up the Chattahoochie fifteen miles to Roswell, where he secured a crossing. That stream was now passed, and the capture of Atlanta made certain. This happened on the morning of the 10th instant; and in the afternoon and evening of the same day, the enemy abandoned their works on the Nick-a-jack, and crossed the Chattahoochie. A tedious march up the valley past Marietta, and the 17th Corps also crossed the river at Roswell, and led the advance to Decatur, which was entered with little opposition, on the evening of the 19th instant. (In giving the movements of the 17th Corps, I am also giving the movements of the 15th Iowa, and of the other regiments of the Iowa Brigade.)

The advance from Decatur to the south-east side of Atlanta, on the 20th, was fiercely contested; but the enemy, at nightfall, had been successfully forced back to their defenses around the doomed city. On the following morning, followed the fierce assault of the 21st, which was unsuccessful, and in which the 15th Iowa lost some fifty in killed and wounded; but the great battle of the campaign, and the one in which the l5th Iowa suffered most, and most distinguished itself, was that fought on the afternoon of the day following.

After the engagement of the 21st, the Iowa Brigade marched to the extreme left of its corps, and took up a position as a sort of picket-reserve; and in this position it was assaulted near the hour of dinner-call, on the following day; but a description of this engagement has been already given.

Colonel Hedrick was wounded in the early part of the engagement, and just before his regiment was forced back. He was shot with a minnie ball directly over the spine, in the small of the back. The ball, striking and cutting his sword belt in two, was turned slightly to the left; and, passing down across the ilium, came out near the lower point of the hip. Completely paralyzed by the wound, he was at once placed upon the shoulders of two men to be taken to the rear when he instantly received another shot through the left fore-arm. The first wound was supposed to be mortal; and, but for his vigorous constitution, it must have proven so. For many weeks he was kept upon his back, and even now he can not move about without the aid of crutches. Having partially recovered, he was detailed on a court-martial in the city of Washington, where he is still serving.

Since the battle of the 22d of July, before Atlanta, the 15th Iowa has been commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Pomutz, a Hungarian by birth, and, I am told, a good officer. The services of the regiment, since the fall of that place, are comprised in the march from Atlanta, via Savannah, to Raleigh and Washington.

Of General Hedrick as a military man, I dare not speak as I otherwise would, were he not my fellow-townsman. All who know his military history concede that he is an officer of great worth.

In person, he is tall and slender, with spare features, dark-brown hair, and large, dark eyes. He is an energetic and rapid talker, and expresses his opinions with great positiveness; which he can do with safety, since he has much general information. He has a firm step, and a hearty laugh; is hopeful, cheerful and self-confident, and endures reverses with great fortitude. He is as much esteemed as a citizen, as he is admired as a soldier.

SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 295-302

BRIGADIER-GENERAL W. W. BELKNAP.

SECOND COLONEL, FIFTEENTH INFANTRY.

William Worth Belknap, the successor of Colonel Reid to the colonelcy of the 15th Iowa Infantry, is a son of the late General Belknap, who, as a colonel, distinguished himself in the Mexican War. Entering the United States Army in 1812, the late General Belknap continued in the service till the day of his death. For his efficient services in the Mexican War, he was made a brevet brigadier-general. He died in Texas soon after the publication of peace, and near the fort bearing his own name. He was, at the time of his death, traveling in an ambulance from one portion to another of his command.

William, the subject of this sketch, was born in the year 1830, at Newburg, New York. He was named after General William J. Worth, a warm friend of his father's family. In about the year 1856, he came to Iowa, and located in the city of Keokuk. Prior to coming to Iowa, General Belknap had studied the law, and, soon after settling in Keokuk, he entered upon its practice. As a lawyer, he was quite successful. He is one of the few young attorneys, who, settling at that day in the city of Fast Living and High Prices, was able to secure a paying practice, and establish himself as a permanent resident. He was engaged in the practice of his profession at the outbreak of the war, and till as late as the fall of 1861, when he abandoned it to enter the service.

In compliment for his successful efforts in assisting to recruit the 15th Iowa Infantry, he was commissioned major of the regiment. With this rank he accompanied it to the field. On the promotion of Lieutenant-Colonel Dewey to the colonelcy of the 23d Iowa Infantry, he was made lieutenant-colonel, and still later — the 22d of April, 1863 — was commissioned colonel, vice Colonel Reid, promoted to a general officer.

If we except General Belknap's services at the battle of Corinth, where he distinguished himself, his military record, that has made his name familiar in Iowa, and secured his appointment as brigadier-general, was almost wholly made in General Sherman's campaign against Atlanta. The same is true of his old regiment. Brigaded with the 11th Iowa, the 13th and 16th ever since the spring of 1862, the history of the l5th Iowa is almost identical with that of these regiments. It took part in the battle of Corinth, October 3d and 4th, 1862; but, with this exception, the l5th, with the balance of the Iowa Brigade, escaped every hard-fought battle until the spring of 1864; and this, too, notwithstanding it was always in the front, and present in the Department that, of all others, was characterized by its bloody battle-fields and vigorous campaigns.

Of the different regiments of the Iowa Brigade, the l5th most distinguished itself at the battle of Corinth. The following is from Colonel Crocker's report, the brigade commander:

"The execution of the order to move back had just commenced, when the enemy, in greatly-superior force, attacked the front of the line (the 15th and 16th Iowa). The officers and men of these regiments, acting with signal determination and bravery, not only held the enemy in check, but drove him back, and held their position, until notice was received that the artillery had passed safely to the rear, when they were ordered to fall back and form in line of battle on the right of the second line, which they did in good order, the enemy declining to follow. This engagement lasted three-quarters of an hour. The firing was incessant, and the regiments, especially the l5th, suffered severely. I deem it my especial duty to particularly mention Lieutenant-Colonel Belknap, who commanded the 15th regiment. This regiment was under the hottest fire, and Colonel Belknap was everywhere along the line, mounted, and with sword in hand encouraging, by voice and gesture, his men to stand their ground." * * *

The opening of General Sherman's campaign in the spring of 1864, forms a new and sanguinary chapter in the history of the Iowa Brigade. Returning from veteran furlough, the brigade proceeded to the front at Kenesaw Mountain, after which, for nearly sixty days, it was almost constantly under fire; and its scores of killed and wounded, during this period, are witnesses of its conspicuous gallantry. From the time the enemy was flanked at Kenesaw Mountain, till he was forced back to and into his entrenchments at Atlanta, there were few engagements in which this brigade did not take part. But the greatest battle of the campaign was precipitated, just at the time it was supposed the contest for the Gate City had closed.

During the greater part of the night of the 21st of July, 1864, the rumbling of artillery, and the confusion so common in the movements of large bodies of men, were distinctly heard by our troops, in the direction of the enemy; and it was supposed by many that, General Hood was evacuating Atlanta; McPherson thought otherwise, and was anxious and watchful. In the disposition of our forces in this engagement, the 17th Army Corps held the left, and on the extreme left of this corps, was the Iowa Brigade. The position held by this brigade, was a commanding ridge on the east side of the McDonough road, and almost at right angles with the main line of battle, which was west of, and nearly parallel with, the above named road. The head-quarters of the 15th Iowa were not more than two and a half miles north of the Atlanta and Macon Railroad, and about three miles south-east of the city of Atlanta. The country on every side was broken, and for the most part, heavily wooded; but that portion lying in the direction of the Macon road, was more especially so. In this dense timber, General Hood had massed his forces on the evening of the 21st instant. At a little after twelve o'clock on the afternoon of the 22d, Colonel Belknap and Lieutenant-Colonel Hedrick had just seated themselves for dinner, when the first gun of the sentinels was fired. The suddenness of the enemy's attack was unprecedented. Colonel Belknap had barely time to buckle on his sword, and hurry from his head-quarters to the front of his regiment, when the line of skirmishers was driven in. Almost at the same instant, the enemy was seen coming at double-quick, and in a line of battle, nearly at right angles with that of General Blair's along the McDonough road. In the suddenness of his attack, the rebel general was aping Napoleon. He doubtless expected to force in our line, as one would slide in the sections of a telescope, thus crowding the Army of the Tennessee together in hopeless confusion; but he had reckoned without his host. The Iowa Brigade, having hastily formed, met and repulsed the assaults of the enemy in their front; when, his centre being repulsed, his left and right wing swung round to the Federal front and rear. And in this way, is accounted for the almost incredible story of our troops fighting, first on the one, and then on the other side of their intrenchments. Subjected to a galling artillery-fire, and now well-nigh surrounded, Colonel Belknap had no other alternative than to retire, which he did, in a north-westerly direction, and across the McDonough road. During that afternoon, the 15th Iowa fought in seven distinct positions; and its losses are proof of the stubbornness with which each was contested. The following were among the gallant dead: Lieutenants Logan W. Crawford and E. M. Gephart. The latter was killed in the regiment's fourth position. Seeing, as he thought, a small detachment of the enemy in cover not far distant, he rallied a few volunteers, and rushed out to capture them; but they proved to be quite a large force. He turned to retreat to his regiment, but was shot before he reached it. He was a young man of much promise.

The loss of the 15th Iowa in killed, wounded and missing, was one hundred and fifty-three. Lieutenant-Colonel Hedrick was severely wounded, as was also his brother, Captain Hedrick. Lieutenant W. P. L. Muir was wounded for the fourth time in the head, and was captured. Lieutenants Evans and Scheevers were also severely wounded.

At one time during the engagement, the 15th Iowa was assaulted by the 45th Alabama Infantry, Colonel Lampley. The 15th in this instance was protected by earth-works, and literally slaughtered its assailants, while they were rushing to the onset with the most determined bravery. Only a few of the entire rebel regiment reached the foot of the works, and of these, one was killed, and the others either wounded or captured. Colonel Lampley was captured by Colonel Belknap in person. Connected with this charge of the 45th Alabama, was an amusing incident. A young boy, of the genuine chivalry, was among the party that reached the foot of the works. After the assault had been repelled, and the firing had slackened, Colonel Belknap stepped up on the works to secure his prisoners ; but he had no sooner exposed his person than the young boy fired on him. The ball passed under his chin and cut through his whiskers. He was enraged and, seizing the boy by the hair of the head, dragged him over the works; but, in spite of himself he could not help admiring the pluck of the young rascal.

For his gallantry in this and in other battles of the campaign, Colonel Belknap, on the recommendation of General Sherman, was appointed a brigadier-general. After receiving his commission, he succeeded Colonel Hall of the 11th Iowa, in the command of the Iowa Brigade, which he has held ever since.

General Belknap is about five feet, eleven inches in hight, and rather portly. His eyes, which are dark-blue and very expressive, are his handsomest feature. In his manners he is rather dignified; but he is educated and refined, and a favorite in the social circle.

In the legal practice, he did not excel as an advocate. He made no pretensions to oratory; but, in preparing a case for trial, he had few equals. It was a rare thing for a demurrer to be sustained to one of his pleadings.

At the time of entering the army, he was reputed an able and honorable business-man. In the army he has been known as a good disciplinarian, a brave officer, and a warm friend to the soldier. His neighbors in Keokuk look upon his brilliant military career with much pride.

SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 289-94

COLONEL JOHN SHANE

SECOND COLONEL, THIRTEENTH INFANTRY.

John Shane was born in the county of Jefferson, Ohio, on the 26th of May, 1822, and was educated at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania. After graduating, he taught school for a few years in Kentucky, and then, returning to Ohio, studied law in the office of E. M. Stanton, Esq., now our honored Secretary of War. He was admitted to the bar at Steubenville, in 1848, where he continued in the practice till the year 1855, when he removed to Vinton, Benton county, Iowa, his present home.

Colonel Shane volunteered as a private in Company G, 13th Iowa Infantry; and, on its organization, was elected its captain. This rank he held till the 30th of October, 1861, when he was elected to the majority of his regiment. At the battle of Shiloh, both Lieutenant-Colonel Price and Major Shane were severely wounded. The former soon after resigning his commission, Major Shane was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy. On the 13th of March, 1863, he succeeded General Crocker to the colonelcy of the 13th Iowa Infantry, which position he retained till the expiration of his three years' term of service. The principal portion of the history of this gallant regiment has been made under Colonel Shane; for, with the exception of Shiloh, it was under his command in all its engagements, prior to the fall of Atlanta. It is, however, but proper to state that, for several months after Colonel Crocker left his regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Shane was indebted to him for its marked efficiency; for, although in command of a brigade and nominally absent, the colonel was really the commanding officer of the regiment.

I need not record in full the services of the 13th Iowa, for they are given elsewhere, in connection with the histories of the other regiments of the Iowa Brigade. Dating from the middle of April, 1862, the records of these regiments are almost precisely the same.

Returning from General Grant's march into Central Mississippi in the winter of 1862-3, the 13th Iowa, with its brigade, returned to the line of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, and, for a few weeks, went into camp at La Fayette, Tennessee. About the 20th of January, the brigade marched to Memphis, and on the 22d left that city on transports for Young's Point, Louisiana. Here the regiment remained for several weeks, furnishing heavy details to work on the celebrated Vicksburg Canal, which taps the Mississippi just below Young's Point. The services of the 13th Iowa and of the Iowa Brigade were, from this time till the following September, of the most annoying and fatiguing nature.

In the complicated movements around Vicksburg, which attended its investment and capture, the regiment acted a prominent part; though the services performed were of such a nature as not to challenge special notice. General McArthur's Division, to which the Iowa Brigade was attached, was the last of the 17th Corps to leave the river above Vicksburg, in the march across the country to the river below that city. By the time this division had reached a point opposite Grand Gulf, the brilliant successes of General McClernand and two divisions of General McPherson's Corps had compelled the evacuation of this point; and all that was now required of McArthur was to cross the river, and take possession of the place. This happened on the 6th of May, and, from that date until after the battles of Champion's Hill and Big Black River Bridge, Grand Gulf was held by the Iowa Brigade, and made a sort of base from which Grant's army received its supplies, and where all surplus baggage was stored.

There is an amusing and honest story connected with the occupation of Grand Gulf. Admiral D. D. Porter, since become celebrated on the coast of the Atlantic, had tried nearly one whole day to reduce this strong-hold, with his gun-boat fleet; but he so far failed as not to silence a single gun. He still watched in the vicinity, and, when the garrison, flanked by McClernand and McPherson, were compelled to evacuate, at once entered and occupied the works, and labeled upon the breech of every gun, "Captured by Admiral D. D. Porter, May 6th, 1863." I suppose Admiral Porter did well at Fort Fisher, as, indeed, he did on the Mississippi; but, though he is a brave and efficient officer, General Ben. Butler is not the only one who has had occasion to "blow the froth from his lively porter."

On the 19th of May, at mid-night, the Iowa Brigade was ordered back by forced marches across the neck of land to Young's Point, and sent by boat up the Yazoo, to the assistance of Sherman; but, on its arrival, it was learned that Sherman had sufficient force, and it was ordered again to the left. It retraced its weary steps, and, crossing the Mississippi River near Warrenton, marched to the front, arriving on the evening of the memorable 22d of May, but too late to participate in the general charge.

What is true of the position of Grant's forces before Vicksburg, on the morning of the 22d of May, is not generally known. The left of McClernand's Corps did not extend to the river below the city. A strip of country nearly seven miles in width, between McClernand's left and the river, was held by the enemy; and it was this gap in the line, which McArthur was ordered to fill, and which, when filled, completed the investment of Vicksburg. In coming into this position, the Iowa Brigade skirmished nearly the entire day of the 22d, and, as I have said, arrived before the enemy's works, just after the disastrous charge. But this position was maintained by General McArthur only until the 26th of May, the date of the arrival of General Lauman's command; for in the meantime, the enemy were reported to be concentrating in heavy force in the direction of Yazoo City, and the Upper Big Black, for the purpose of moving on General Grant's rear, to raise the siege; and General Blair, with a picked command, consisting of McArthur's Division and other troops, was ordered out to disperse them. This, with the exception of the march to Monroe, Louisiana, and that one just recently made through the bottomless swamps of South Carolina, is the hardest one the Iowa Brigade ever made. It was made by forced marches, in the heat of a Southern summer's sun, and through dust that was well-nigh suffocating. By those who participated in it, it will never be forgotten. But the march was the only thing of terror connected with the expedition ; for the enemy, who were met only in inconsiderable force near Mechanicsville, were dispersed with but few casualties. The expedition, however, was not without its good results; for, on its return by way of the fertile valley of the Yazoo, almost fabulous quantities of corn and cotton were destroyed. Five thousand head of cattle, sheep and hogs, too, were driven back to Grant's needy army.

After the return of this expedition, the 13th Iowa, with its brigade, constituted a portion of the force with which General Sherman held at bay the rebel General Johnson, on the Big Black. On the 3d and 4th of July, the regiment skirmished with the enemy's advance, and, on their retreat to Jackson, followed in close pursuit. Next follows the expedition under Brigadier-General Stevenson, from Vicksburg to Monroe, Louisiana, which was made in the middle of August, 1863; and an account of which appears in the sketch of General J. M. Hedrick, formerly of the 15th Iowa.

The following Autumn, and the greater part of the following Winter, were passed by the 13th Iowa in camp at Vicksburg. It was at Vicksburg that the regiment re-enlisted as veteran volunteers. Immediately after the march to Meridian, in which the 13th joined, it returned North on veteran furlough. The balance of its history has been made in the three wonderful marches of General Sherman — from Dalton to Atlanta, from Atlanta to Savannah, and from Savannah to Goldsboro and Washington. The regiment bore a conspicuous part in the memorable engagement of the 22d of July before Atlanta. Its loss was eleven killed, forty-two wounded, and ninety-six missing. Among the killed was the brave Major William A. Walker; and among the wounded, Captain George McLaughlin and Lieutenants Wesley Huff, George B. Hunter, and Charles H. Haskins. Captain Pope, and Lieutenants Rice, Parker and Eyestone were captured.

The aggregate loss of the 13th Iowa during the Atlanta Campaign I have failed to learn.

That which has most contributed to give the regiment a National reputation is the part it acted, or a portion of it, in the capture of Columbia, South Carolina, on the 17th of February, 1865. The colors of the regiment, in the hands of Lieutenant-Colonel Justin C. Kennedy, were the first to flaunt from the capitol building of South Carolina.


"Head-quarters 4rn Division, 17th Army Corps,
"Near Columbia, S. C., February 17, 1865

“Brigadier-general W. W. Belknap:

"SIR: — Allow me to congratulate you, and through you, Lieutenant-Colonel J. C. Kennedy, 13th Iowa Veteran Volunteers, and the men under his command, for first entering the city of Columbia on the morning of Friday, February 17th, and being the first to plant his colors on the Capitol of South Carolina.

"I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

"Your obedient servant,
"Giles A. Smith,
"Brevet Major-General Commanding."


Lieutenant-Colonel Kennedy is a resident of Vernon, Linn county, Iowa. He is thirty-two years of age, and a native of the State of New York. His name will live in American history.

Colonel Shane is one of the largest of the Iowa colonels, his weight being two hundred and ten pounds. He has sandy hair, (perhaps red) a florid complexion and blue eyes, looking out through a large, round, good-natured face. He is of an easy, jovial nature, relishes a joke, and is fond of good living. He ranked fairly as a soldier, and was popular with his command.

At home and in private life, he is much respected. He is economical, and has secured a snug property. I am told he was one of the few officers of our army who honestly made money in the service.

From the organization of the Republican Party in his county, he has been a prominent, working member. He was a delegate to the State Convention which re-nominated the Hon. Samuel J. Kirkwood for Governor of Iowa.

SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 265-70

BRIGADIER-GENERAL M. M. CROCKER

FIRST COLONEL, THIRTEENTH INFANTRY.

Marcellus M. Crocker is a native of Johnson county, Indiana, where he was born on the 6th day of February, 1830. At the age of ten years, he accompanied his father's family to Illinois, whence, after a residence of four or five years, he removed to Jefferson county, Iowa. The extent of his early education I have failed to learn; but, at the age of sixteen, he was appointed, through the recommendation of General A. C. Dodge, a cadet in the military academy at West Point. He is not however a graduate of that Institution. After an attendance of some two years and a half, his health failed him, and he was compelled to leave the Academy. Late in 1849, he returned to Iowa, and began the study of law in the office of Judge Olney, at Fairfield. He commenced the practice of his profession in 1851, in the town of Lancaster, Keokuk county, where he remained till the spring of 1855, and then removed to Des Moines, his present home.

General Crocker entered the service as captain of Company D, 2d Iowa Infantry. He had recruited his company in April, 1861, for the three month's service, (as was the case with nearly every captain of the 2d Iowa) but, the State's quota for that term of service having been already filled, he was assigned to the 2d Iowa, and, at the rendezvous of the regiment in Keokuk, was elected its major. With that rank he entered the field. Four months later, he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, vice Tuttle, promoted, and on the 30th of October following, was transferred from his regiment, and made colonel of the 13th Iowa Infantry. In the winter of 1862-3, he was appointed and confirmed a brigadier-general. His promotions were rapid and richly merited; for, with her splendid galaxy of military heroes, Iowa can not boast a better nor truer soldier than General Crocker.

During his colonelcy of the 13th Iowa, General Crocker took part in two engagements — Shiloh and Corinth. In the former, he commanded his regiment, and in the latter the Iowa Brigade — the oldest and not the least distinguished brigade command in the Army of the Tennessee. In the former, his conduct was gallant in the extreme; and how he escaped without injury is really wonderful. I have spoken elsewhere of the confusion that reigned on the field in the afternoon of the first day's battle. At about four and a half o'clock it was at its hight [sic], and was so wild and terrible as to beggar description. At that hour, Colonel Crocker was conspicuous. I am told that his splendid example of courage contributed not a little toward the establishment of the new line, which successfully resisted the enemy's further advance that night. The progress of the battle on the left, I have given in the sketch of Colonel W. G. Williams. To show its opening and progress on the right, I quote from the official report of Colonel Crocker; for that gives the clearest and most intelligible account of any that I have seen:

"Early on the morning of the sixth, the alarm was given, and heavy firing in the distance indicated that our camp was attacked. The regiment was formed in front of its color-line, its full force consisting of seven hundred and seventeen men, rank and file. It was at once ordered to form on the left of the 2d Brigade, and proceeded to that position at a double-quick, and was then formed in line of battle in a skirt of woods, bordering on an open field, to the left of a battery. Here it remained for some time inactive, while the enemy's guns were playing on our battery. In the meantime, a large force of the enemy's infantry were filing around the open field in front of our line, protected by the woods, and in the direction of our battery, opening a heavy fire of musketry on the infantry stationed on our right, and charging upon the battery. The infantry and battery to the right having given way, and the enemy advancing at double-quick, we gave them one round of musketry, and also gave way. At this time we, as indeed all of our troops in the immediate vicinity of the battery, were thrown into great confusion, and retired in disorder. Having retreated to the distance of one or two hundred yards, we succeeded in rallying and forming a good line, the 8th and 18th Illinois volunteers on our left, and, having fronted to the enemy, held our position there under a continual fire of cannon and musketry, until after twelve o'clock, when we were ordered to retire and take up a new position. This we did in good order, and without confusion.

"Here having formed a new line, we maintained it under an incessant fire, until four and a half o'clock, P. M., the men conducting themselves with great gallantry and coolness, and doing great execution on the enemy, repelling charge after charge, and driving them back with great loss. At four and a half o'clock, we were again ordered to fall back. In obeying this order, we became mixed up with a great many other regiments, falling back in confusion, so that our line was broken, and the regiment separated, rendering it very difficult to collect it."

This was the last order to retire that was given that afternoon, and the last ground yielded to the enemy; for the new line, when formed, was held successfully. It should, however, be stated that, it was now near night, and there was little more fighting that evening. It was in this new position that Colonel Hare, of the 11th Iowa, was wounded and retired from the field. During the day, he had commanded the 1st Brigade of McClernand's Division. After he was wounded and left the field, the command of the brigade was then turned over to Colonel Crocker — "his able and gallant successor."

In closing his report of the battle of Shiloh, Colonel Crocker says:

"During the day, we were under- fire of the enemy for ten hours, and sustained a loss of twenty-three killed, and one hundred and thirty wounded.

"On the morning of the 7th, we were ordered to continue with Colonel Tuttle's Division, and to follow up and support our forces that were attacking, and driving back the enemy. We followed them up closely, moving to support the batteries, until the enemy was routed, after which, we were ordered to return to the encampment that we had left on Sunday morning, where we arrived at eight o'clock, P. M. Our total loss in the action of the 6th and 7th is killed, twenty-four; wounded, one hundred and thirty-nine; missing, nine: total, one hundred and seventy-two. The men, for the most part, behaved with great gallantry. All the officers exhibited the greatest bravery and coolness; and I call especial attention to the gallant conduct of my field officers, Lieutenant-Colonel Price and Major Shane, who were both wounded in the action of the 6th, and acknowledge my great obligations to my adjutant, Lieutenant Wilson, who, during the entire action, exhibited the highest qualities of a soldier."

The last gun was fired at Shiloh, before two o'clock in the afternoon of the 7th, and that same evening, the main portion of Grant's army marched back to their former encampments, where, having buried the dead and cared for the wounded, they rested.

Immediately after this engagement, the Iowa Brigade was organized, and placed under the command of Colonel Crocker. It was composed of the 11th, 13th, 15th and 16th Iowa regiments, and afterward, as I have already said, became one of the most distinguished brigade commands in the Army of the Tennessee. Under its first commander, it acquired that discipline and efficiency, for which it was noted under each of the general's successors—Chambers, Hall and Belknap. It has distinguished itself on half a score of battle-fields, and once saved the Army of the Tennessee from calamitous defeat It has a most brilliant record. With this brigade, Colonel Crocker fought at the battle of Corinth; but an account of that engagement will be found In the sketches of other officers.

In the winter of 1862-3, the colonel was made a brigadier-general. His sterling qualities as a soldier, and his continued gallant deportment earned the promotion. After receiving his commission, he continued with his brigade till the latter part of April, 1863, when, by order of General McPherson, he succeeded General Quimby in the command of the 7th Division, 17th Army Corps — the division which fought so gallantly, and lost so heavily at Jackson and Champion's Hill. He joined his division at Bruinsburg, just after it had crossed the Mississippi, and commanded it in the two above engagements.

On the evening of the 13th of May, the 7th Division bivouacked, with its army corps at Clinton, ten miles west of Jackson. The following night it was to camp in Jackson. The character of the country between Clinton and Jackson, the condition of the roads, and the state of the weather on the morning of the 14th instant, I have given elsewhere. Crocker's Division led the advance. This post of honor was granted by McPherson, at the general's own request, which barely anticipated a similar one from Logan. The march was made, and the enemy encountered about two and a half miles west of the city. Their line of battle was along a high ridge, and extended from north to south, as far as the eye could reach. The rain was falling in torrents, and, until it partially ceased, the two armies stood and watched each other. In half an hour it broke away, when General Crocker, pushing forward the 12th Wisconsin Battery, saluted General Johnson. Tuttle's Division of Sherman's Corps, which had in the meantime come up on the south side of the city, opened on the enemy at nearly the same instant. The 2d Iowa Battery, Lieutenant Reed, tired the first gun on the south side of Jackson. The enemy's force was about ten thousand, and the principal portion of it was in Crocker's front; but he pushed his leading brigade, which was drawn up in a continuous line, to the farthest point that afforded cover, and then ordered a charge. It was a magnificent sight, for the conduct of the brigade was magnificent. The battle was bloody, but not protracted: in ten minutes after the order to charge was given, the enemy were fleeing in total rout; nor did they stop until they had crossed Pearl River.

For so great results, the Federal loss was small — only two hundred and eighty-six; but all, except six or eight of the casualties, were from the 2d Brigade of Crocker's Division. The press of Illinois gave Logan the credit of fighting the battle of Jackson. It was all wrong. His command was not under fire; nor did it lose a man, even by a stray shot. The general himself was at the front, where he always was, when there was any fighting to be done; but he was only a spectator. He sat quietly on his horse, caressing his huge mustache, till word came of the flight of the enemy across the river, when he rode into the city. In his official report, General McPherson says: — "Colonel Sanborn was directed to send the flag of one of his regiments, which had borne itself most gallantly in the battle, and place it on the Capitol of the State of Mississippi, and shortly before four o'clock the flag of the 59th Indiana was proudly waving from the dome." The 59th Indiana "bore itself gallantly," but it did not fire a gun at Jackson. The 10th Missouri, 17th Iowa and 80th Ohio made the charge, and captured the city; and why the flag of the 59th first waved from the dome was, the regiments entitled to the honor bad been left on the field, and could not be reached. Had General Crocker delayed five minutes longer, the colors of the 95th Ohio of Tuttle's Division, would have flaunted from the rebel Capitol.

As soon as the fighting was done, General Crocker rode down his line to the 17th Iowa, and to the other regiments of the brigade, and thanked them for their gallantry; and as he looked back on the hill-slope, where were lying the dead and wounded, his eyes filled with tears, and his voice choked with emotion. "Noble fellows," he said, "I am sorry, but we can not help it."

Two days after the battle at Jackson, General Crocker commanded his division at Champion's Hill. His own, with Hovey's and Logan's Divisions, fought that battle — the bitterest of the whole campaign, if we except the charge on the 22d of May; but an account of this engagement has been already given.

In June, 1863, General Crocker came North on sick leave. His health, always bad, had been rendered much worse by the hardships and exposures of the recent campaign, and he accepted his leave, at the urgent request of General Grant. There is a story connected with this sick leave, which illustrates the kind-heartedness of General Grant, and which affords me pleasure to relate. On the return of General Quimby in the latter part of May, he resumed command of his old division, when General Crocker was placed temporarily upon the staff of General Grant. Crocker's tent being near that of Grant, the attention of the latter was attracted by the severe and almost incessant coughing of the former during the night; and, on meeting him the morning after, General Grant said: "General Crocker, was that you whom I heard coughing so last night?" "Yes," replied the general. "Well, then, my dear fellow, you must go straight home, for you will die here."

The general was at his home in Des Moines, at the time the Union Gubernatorial Convention was held in that city. During its session, he visited the hall of the Convention, and the eclat with which he was received, was a flattering testimonial of the esteem in which he was held by his State. He was the choice of the Convention for Governor of Iowa, and was earnestly solicited to accept the nomination; but his answer was: "If a soldier is worth any thing, he can not be spared from the field; and, if he is worthless, he will not make a good Governor." The argument was unanswerable, and his name was reluctantly dropped.

Early in July, 1863, General Crocker returned to the field, and was given a division command, and made Commandant of the District of Natchez. While commanding at Natchez, he made his expedition to Harrisonburg, Louisiana. "The expedition consisted of the following troops: the 2d Brigade, 4th Division, Colonel C. Hall, 14th Illinois, commanding; the 3d Brigade, 4th Division, General W. Q. Gresham commanding; Company F, 3d Illinois Battery, and the l5th Ohio Battery, with the 17th Wisconsin Infantry, mounted, commanded by Colonel Mallory." At Harrisonburg, the enemy were reported in considerable force, and intrenched [sic] in strong works. The object of the expedition was to destroy these works and ordnance property, and capture or disperse the rebel garrison. It resulted in the capture and burning of one small steamer on Black River at Trinity, the capture and destruction of Fort Beauregard at Harrisonburg, the destruction of all ammunition and six pieces of artillery; and the capture of about twenty prisoners and two six-pound brass cannon. There was no battle — only trifling skirmishing.

In the fall of 1863, General Crocker returned to Vicksburg, where he joined Sherman on the Meridian march. In the following Spring, he joined his corps (the 17th) in its march across the country to Georgia; but, on account of ill health, was relieved, and, early in the summer of 1864, was tendered a command in New Mexico, with head-quarters at Fort Sumner. Believing the climate would be beneficial to his health, the general accepted this command, since which time he has served in that department.

General Crocker is about five feet ten inches in hight, with a slender, nervous form, which can never pass one unnoticed. He has a passionate temper, and is plain-spoken, often saying things which, in his calmer moments, he would leave unsaid.

His mode of discipline is severe and uncompromising, and a careless blunder he would never excuse. On one occasion, while in command of the Iowa Brigade, a general review was ordered, and great pains was taken to avoid all mistakes. One can imagine then what must have been the general's mortification to see Colonel ____, of his leading regiment, ride past the reviewing officer, with his sword at a protracted "present." That was bad enough; but next followed Colonel ____, whose regiment passed with arms at a "right-shoulder-shift." When the review was over, the regimental commanders were summoned to the general's head-quarters, when, beginning with the chief in rank, he administered the following rebuke: — "Now, Sir, aren't you a pretty man — and pretend to be a military man—and educated at a military school! " " But—" (began the colonel, wishing to apologize) "Hush up, Sir. I'm doing the talking here." It all ended in a friendly chat, and in an order for a new review; and there was no more mistakes.

As a military man, General Crocker has been pre-eminently successful, not only as a disciplinarian, but as a bold and able leader. As a division commander, he has no superior in the State, and, what is a little remarkable, this fact is universally conceded.

Nor was the general less successful as a civilian, than he has been as a soldier. Though young, he ranked, at the time of entering the service, among the best lawyers of Des Moines — the city which boasted one of the ablest bars in the State. C. C. Cole, (now Judge of the State Supreme Court) J. A. Kasson, (now Congressman from the 5th District) C. C. Nourse, (Attorney General of the State) T. F. Withrow, (State Supreme Court Reporter) P. M. Cassady, (General Crocker's law-partner) General Williamson, Polk, Jewett, W. W. Williamson, Finch, St. John, Ellwood, Rice, Clark, Mitchell, Ingersoll, Smith, Phillips, White, McKay and Brown, was Des Moines' roll of attorneys in the spring of 1861, and of these the general ranked among the very best, as an advocate and circuit practitioner. Some say that, in these respects, he led the Des Moines Bar.

SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 255-64