From The Second Iowa Cavalry

CAMP BETWEEN HAMBURG AND CORINTH,

Wednesday, May 7, 1862.

EDITOR GAZETTE:  First allow me to acknowledge the regular receipt of the GAZETTE, of the same dates and as late news as other city dailies, and frequently they come one day ahead of the news dealers; all of which is gratefully acknowledged and fully appreciated by your humble servant.

On Sunday morning, some twenty regiments of infantry, with bands playing and banners floating to the breeze, marched through our camp advancing to the front followed by batteries of light artillery, and some long 30 pounder Parrott field pieces.  Everything betokened a general forward movement; but on Sunday night a heavy rain flooded the country, rendering an advance impossible for a few days.

Capt. Sanford, Co. H, in consequence of impaired health, has resigned, and Lt. Joseph Freeman, of Co. C, has been assigned to the command, which gives general satisfaction.

The wife of Capt. Frank A. Kendrick is on a short visit to camp, having arrived a few days since from Cape Girardeau, Mo., where she had been with friends for some time past.  About the last of April she became a party to a transaction, that whilst it rid the world of a villain, proves her the worthy wife of a Union officer, and shows that the honor of Iowa’s gallant sons may be safely entrusted to her fair daughters. –

[As we have already published the particulars of this heroic act, we omit “Diff’s” description, further than to state the name of the villain killed was Samuel Sloan, and that he left a wife and child.  “Diff” speaks thus of the pistol used on the occasion:– ED. GAZ.]

The pistol used was loaded by Sloan in Mr. Morrison’s store last Spring, to “shoot the first man that should run up a Union flag in Cape Girardeau.”  It was left in the store, and Mr. M. to prevent harm, took it home, where it remained until as above stated.  The ball, loaded by this traitor to his country to murder a Union man, was by the judicious handling of a Union officer’s wife, the means of arresting in his mad career this specimen of Southern Chivalry.

THURSDAY, May 8. – Three dry days, and the engineer regiment having rendered the road passable, orders were received last night to move this morning.  We were up at three o’clock and tents down at sunrise.  The brigade (2nd Iowa and 2d Michigan cavalry,) moved forward, followed by their train.  A camp was selected at this place, (four miles,) and the column without halting passed on to the front.  The country is up hill and down, with occasional ‘sloughy’ levels between them.  The soil is thin and poor.  Pine trees begin to appear interspersed among other timber.  The farms are few, and it would be little harm were they fewer!  From prisoners and the inhabitants we learn the market prices at Corinth, viz: soft hats, $5 to $10; boots, $15 to $25; coffee, $10, and none at that; salt, $15 per sack, &c.; and no money to buy.  Cotton no sale.

Yesterday Col. Elliott visited the enemy with a flag of truce.  He merely got within their lines, and had the privilege of returning.  To-day Beauregard returned the compliment, both of which probably resulted in nothing except information gained by the way.

Our troops were in line of battle to-day a mile beyond Farmington, and within three miles of Corinth.  The 2d Cavalry were skirmishing, and got into close quarters, not without loss.  John Wilson, Co. B, of Marshall county, was killed; shot through the chest and head.  His body is now here, and will be buried to-morrow.  Harry Douthil, Co. D, is severely wounded, shot in the head and leg; and James Slawter, Co. D, through the wrist and calf of the leg.  Lt. Washburne, Co. D, was surrounded and taken prisoner.  He had delivered his arms, retaining one revolver, and as his captors were retreating with him, some of his company rallied and pursued.  The lieutenant, drawing his revolver, wheeled his horse, and broke from them.  A volley sent after him killed his horse, but he made his escape, is safe and sound, and ready for another trial.  A Major of the 7th Ill. Cavalry was killed.  It is now past 10 p. m., and our regiment is just coming in, tired and hungry enough.

The country about Farmington (4 miles from Corinth) is more open.  Our forces will probably move their camps, forage rations, &c., forward to that locality to-morrow and next day, get ready on Sunday, and if the weather continues dry, about Monday, the 12th, the probabilities are that Gen. Halleck will commence sending “Epistles to the Corinthians,” which will speedily convince them of “sin and judgment to come,” and cause them to seek protection under the sheltering stars and stripes and by renouncing their errors find rest in Abraham’s bosom!  For the fulfillment of which anxiously awaiteth all men.

Your obt., &c.

DIFF.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, May 15, 1862, p. 2

From The Second Iowa Cavalry

HAMBURG, Harding Co., Tenn., April 25.

FRIEND SANDERS:  When I left Davenport I promised to write you occasionally.  I have kept my word, though I have only written you once before this, for I understand occasionally to mean when there is occasion for it, or in other words when there is something to write, worth your trouble to print and the public to read.  Such occasions in the army are rare, for generally that which may be written is hardly worth the effort, and everything really valuable or important is prohibited.  Of our travels and exploits as a regiment you have a very faithful and lively reporter in the person of “Diff,” who keeps you fully posted, but I have an item or two which deserves to be published, to the credit of our regiment and satisfaction of their friends.

Many regiments have taken special pains to report the amount of money sent home by the soldiers, and heartily approving the practice, I desire to speak for the 2d Iowa Cavalry.  Last week I took from New Madrid to Cairo, to express to the families of soldiers, fourteen thousand and six hundred dollars, nearly all from our regiment; and full ninety-five per cent. of the amount went to Iowa, and probably not less than six or seven more was sent by private hands and by mail; besides many of our officers being in Cairo at about the same time expressed their own packages.  When it is known that the regiment had nearly four months’ pay due and only received for two months, this amount I think will compare favorably with that sent from any other regiment under same circumstances.

I have another little incident which I consider it a pleasure and a duty to relate, as a public acknowledgment of personal obligation, as follows:  Some weeks ago while on a trip from New Madrid to Cairo after the mail for Gen. Pope’s division, I was compelled to leave my horse at Sikeston, when some rascal, being a better judge of horseflesh than of morals, stole my horse, to recover which it cost me several days of anxiety and tedious travel, besides considerable money.  Yesterday Lt. Col. Hatch and Capt. Sanford, Co. H, presented me with seventy dollars in behalf of the officers of their regiment, to reimburse me for the expense of the above, and for my late trip to Cairo as express messenger.  The value, to me, of this compliment is not at all expressed in figures.  The good feeling and sympathy that prompted it, and of which the act is evidence, is worth more to me than treasury notes.  I only hope I may always deserve their confidence and they always enjoy their prosperity their liberality deserves.

As predicted in my last the general health of our men is much improved.  The more frequent our changes and the nearer the prospect of battle, the better the health.  I have known men quite sick in hospital to rally under marching orders and be able to travel in twenty-four hours, or at least they would travel and do when permitted, so reluctant are they to be left behind.

Having passed over my ground proper, leaving country, scenery, exploits and trophies for “Diff,”

I remain yours, &c.,

C. G. TRUSDELL,

Chaplain 2d Iowa Cavalry.

__________

FRIEND SANDERS:  On Tuesday last the 22d, after a week of entire seclusion, the sun rose in all his former brightness and glory, giving a more cheering prospect to things generally.

Lieut. Col. Hatch, in command of the 2nd cavalry, with the staff and two companies, had been transferred from an over-crowded boat, to the Platte Valley.  After taking aboard forage, she steamed up to Mound City, and took on coal for the trip.  Col. Hatch and Major Love visited the two hospitals at Cairo and reported everything kept in A No. 1, style – eight hundred sick and wounded in one and five hundred in the other.  Mound City is beautifully submerged, the water being up to the windows of the houses.  The Hospitals being large high building suffer none, except the basement, which is not occupied.

In the evening we left Mound City for this place, passing Paducah in the night.  Next morning we found ourselves on a swollen but most beautiful river.  The Tennessee is a narrow stream, the banks rising at this high stage of water from ten to one hundred feet above the water level, with generally level bottoms extending from a quarter to two miles from the river.  In some places the bluffs approach to the water’s edge.  About 9 o’clock we landed at Fort Henry.  It is not more than four feet above the water at present, and gunboats had a fine range for their guns at that Fort.  The rebels had commenced works on top of a high ridge, half a mile from the river, a few miles above, in a much stronger position, but the sudden appearance of our gunboats caused them to skedaddle.

Here is a navigable river flowing for near three hundred miles through a fine, rich soil, and a climate second to none, possessed of unusual natural advantages, in the heart of a country long settled, yet we pass along near two hundred miles and witness not a single town, not even in name, and on average I do not think one plantation in five miles.  What a commentary on “the institution.”  Were it in free Iowa, what a different scene would it present, thousands of happy homes, some cities and scores of thriving villages.

On Thursday morning, the 23d, we arrived at Pittsburg Landing.  We soon got orders to move up five miles to this place, and disembarked.  Gen. Pope’s division is on the left flank at this place, with the cavalry on the extreme left.  The right is thrown out for the river below the landing, while the centre is held by Gen. Buell’s division.  Our lines must, I think, present a front of eight or ten miles.

At the place where our troops poured back to the river on the 6th, there is a fine rolling bluff, perhaps a hundred feet high, over which it is said our troops swarmed by thousands.  Less than half a mile above is a slough running up back of the bluff.  Our gunboats took position at the mouth of the slough and saved our army.

The battle-field presents a view of the rough side of war, many of the rebels being buried on top of the ground, which has washed off, leaving here an arm, there a leg, and again a skull exposed to view, while the stench arising from the shallow graves is far from pleasant.

The day we arrived, the cavalry got orders to move five miles out on the Corinth road.  The 1st battalion is now camped there.  A rain set in during the night and continuing, the order was suspended in the morning.  To-day is clear again, and a few days will make the roads passable.  The engineers are at work on the road.

I do not know the number of our forces here, and wouldn’t tell if I did; but we have enough to whip Beauregard’s rebel hoards, and crown with victory the decisive battle of the Mississippi valley.  Within ten days you may chronicle the glorious result.

For 2nd cavalry, address to Gen. Pope’s division, Tennessee river.  Hoping to give you details of the battle after the victory, I am yours,

DIFF.

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

Iowa Colonels and Regiments: Appendix

SAMUEL M. POLLOCK, second colonel, 6th Cavalry, is a native of Ohio: age, thirty-five.

HERMAN H. HEATH, second colonel, 7th Cavalry, is a native of New York: age, forty-two.

HUGH J. CAMPBELL, second colonel, 18th Infantry, is a native of Pennsylvania: age, thirty-three.

JOHN Q. WILDS, second colonel, 24th Infantry, (mortally wounded at Cedar Creek, Virginia) is a native of Pennsylvania: age, forty.

GUSTAVUS A. EBERHART, second colonel, 32d Infantry, is a native of Pennsylvania: age twenty-nine.


IOWA COLONELS OF THE ONE-HUNDRED-DAYS’ SERVICE.

STEPHEN H. HENDERSON, 44th Iowa Infantry, is a native of Tennessee: age, thirty-six.

ALVAH H. BEREMAN, 45th Iowa Infantry, is a native of Kentucky: age, thirty-six.

DAVID B. HENDERSON, 46th Iowa Infantry, Is a native of Scotland: age, twenty-six.

JAMES P. SANFORD, 47th Iowa Infantry, is a native of New York: age, thirty-two.


SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 652