Funeral Notice

The burial ceremonies of the soldiers, members of Cos. B and C of the 2d Iowa Regiment who were killed at the battle of Fort Donelson, will take place this afternoon, Saturday.  The bodies are expected to arrive by train from the east this morning. – They are George W. Howell, C. H. Lenhart, Edward Peterson and --- Myers, of Co. C, and Corporal James W. Page and William Guthrie of Co. B.  The bodies will be conveyed from the railroad depot under the escort of the 16^th Iowa Regiment, to Metropolitan Hall, where short religious services will be conducted by the clergymen of this city, after which the cavalcade will proceed to Oakdale Cemetery.  The services at Metropolitan Hall will be at 2 o’clock in the afternoon.  Body seats in the hall will be reserved for the military.  Carriages will be in attendance for all members of the 2d Iowa who are hear and able to attend.  The cavalcade will be under the direction of Col. Chambers of the Iowa 16^th.

Com.

JOHN L. SWITS,

DAVID S. TRUE,

JOHN L. DAVIES,

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, March 8, 1862, p. 1

Killed and Wounded in Company C

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

KILLED.

Capt. J. S. Slaymaker,

George Howell,

Edward Peterson,

____ Myers,

C. H. Lenhart.

SEVERELY WOUNDED.

Lieut. W. H. Holmes,

Sergt. H. B. Doolittle.

Total loss – 5 killed and 25 wounded.

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

The Dead Of Fort Donelson

The report of the death of Captain Slaymaker received mournful confirmation by the letter which we publish this morning.  It has been truly said, ‘Death loves a shining mark,’ and seldom has this adage received a more striking exemplification that this sad event.  The advices that give us this intelligence also tell us of the loss of four others of that company, and the wounding of twenty more.

JONATHAN SMITH SLAYMAKER was born on the 31st of March, 1836, at Margeretta, York county, Pa.  On the paternal side, he was descended from an old German family of Pennsylvania; while his maternal grandfather, Jonathan Smith, was long president of the United States bank at Philadelphia, and Gen. Persifor F. Smith, distinguished in the Mexican war, was his uncle.  Among his first occupations, Capt. Slaymaker was engaged as civil engineer on the Pennsylvania Central R. R., the experience there acquired being of service to him in the position he has so recently filled.  Coming to this city in 1856, he remained here, with short intervals, till the breaking out of the war.  At this time, he was among the first to volunteer for the war and was elected by his company first lieutenant, and was with his company mustered into service on the 28th of May.  On the resignation of Capt. Brewster, on the 5th of October, Lieut. Slaymaker was chosen to succeed him, and in that capacity led his company at the ever to be remembered charge at Fort Donelson, which proved so fatal to him.  Of all who have gone from this county to the seat of war, none has left behind a larger circle of will-wishing friends, by all of whom he was admired, not more for his truly soldiery qualities than for the modesty and quiet dignity which eminently characterized him in whatever position he might be placed.  Beloved by all his company, and fearless of danger, he was no doubt foremost in the fight, and perished where the balls fell thickest and fastest.  When this war is over, and its heroes are reviewed, none will stand higher in the esteem of those who have known or heard of him than the modest and gentlemanly captain of Company C.

GEO. W. HOWELL, of this township, is also reported among the dead.  He was a native of New York, and was about twenty-one years of age at the time of his death.  He is the son of Mr. Howell, cotton-batting manufacturer near Duck Creek.  This death has plunged into sorrow a numerous family, of whom he was almost the idol.

EDWARD PETERSON, another of the killed, was a native of Germany, and aged about 20 years.

C. H. LENHART, enlisted at Keokuk.  He was a native of Ohio, and aged about 25 years.

There is no person named Myers mentioned in the Adjutant General’s report.  There is a Martin L. Minor, of Andalusia, mentioned, which may be the person, but it is more probably some person who has joined the company since it left the State.

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

The Second Regiment at Fort Donelson

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

FORT DONELSON, Feb. 15th, 1862.

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

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

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

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

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