Correspondence of the State Register
Sedalia, Pettis Co., Mo.
Lest you should conclude that the First Iowa Cavalry is defunct, I have taken it upon myself to give you some intimation of its whereabouts and present occupation; and in order to do this satisfactorily, it will be necessary to speak of what we have been doing.
We arrived here on the 26th of January, since which time our headquarters have been here, and we have been engaged in suppressing the various guerilla bands that infest the western counties of this State. We have visited successively Saline, Fayette, Benton, Sinclair, Bates, Henry and Johnson counties, dispersing and capturing the different squads of “bushwhackers” who lurk in the dense thickets and deep “canons” peculiar to this section of country, which afford them protection, and from whence they sally out to commit deeds of rapine and murder at which humanity shudders and mercy weeps, and which must remain a stain upon the 19th century.
On the night of March 27th, about 11 P.M., we received orders to march to the relief of Major Foster at Warrensburg, in Johnson county, who commands that post occupied by the State Militia. Accordingly, companies A, F and G of the 1st Iowa Cavalry (the balance of the regiment being at Clinton in Henry county,) and two pieces of the 1st Mo. Battery, all under the command of Capt. J. D. Thompson, started for Warrensburg, where we arrived on the evening of the 28th. The following morning we proceeded up the Blackwater River, in search of Quantrill’s band which was threatening to attack and burn the town of Warrensburg. We expected to find them encamped at an old mill on a small creek that empties into the Blackwater just above Murray’s Ford, on the Clinton and Lexington road. We advanced upon the mill by three different routes, but failed to find any signs of “Secesh.” We had proceeded about two and a half miles on our way home, Co. F. in advance, when we came suddenly upon a body of armed rebels, about 60 in number, commanded by one Col. Parker. No sooner did they discover the uncomfortable proximity of the “Feds” than they gave leg bail, and we (Cos. F and G) gave hot pursuit, Co. A having gone another road to attempt cutting off their retreat. The Secesh dashed into the brush as usual, and of course we followed through chapparal [sic], brush, bogs, mud, sloughs, gulches and creeks and over hills, logs, ravines and rocks, for about four miles, they firing as they ran, and we replying with revolvers whenever they permitted us to get within range. They were well mounted and were familiar with the crossings of the creeks, so they had a decided advantage over us, and it was only our best mounted men who were able to keep up with our chivalric but nomadic foes. The chase was a quite exciting one, stirring even the current of my phlegmatic nature. The road, or rather path, through the brush was strewn with hats, caps, blankets, shot-pouches, shot-guns, pistols, sabres, Springfield muskets and Enfield rifles, abandoned by the Southern bloods to facilitate their hegira. Some of the last mentioned articles almost tempted me to dismount and appropriate one to my own immediate use, but want of time and the idea that they were of course empty, prevented me from so doing. I afterwards learned that many of the guns thrown away were still loaded. After crossing the creek at the old mill the rebels struck across the hill to the river at a point that had formerly been fordable, but now obstructed by drift-wood, when they scattered in all directions except the one they came. “Twas here the brave Jirard, of Co. F, fell, being so close upon the enemy that his face was burnt with the powder that sped the fatal buck-shot. A part of the rebels ran up the river, a part down the river, and a few through the river, but not being able to get their horses up the opposite bank, which was steep and miry, they abandoned them and turned to the strength of their own legs for the balance of the journey, while not a few of them ensconced themselves beneath logs, sought retirement from this troublous world in tree-tops and tangled underbrush, or courted modest obscurity by sinking quietly into some friendly gutter near by. Of this latter class was the gallant Col. Parker, who was brought back to a consciousness of existence by the announcement that if he didn’t “get up out of that he would be shot.” We killed 10 of the rebels, captured 15 prisoners, about 20 horses, a lot of arms, equipments, &c. One of our men was killed, one (Corporal Johnson) severely wounded, thigh shattered and leg broken below the knee; one man wounded in the foot, accidentally.
Several incidents occurred, of interest to us, but probably would not prove as interesting to you. We returned to Sedalia last night, bringing the prisoners with us.
H. H.
– Published in the Daily State Register, Des Moines, Iowa, Friday, April 11, 1862
Sedalia, Pettis Co., Mo.
Lest you should conclude that the First Iowa Cavalry is defunct, I have taken it upon myself to give you some intimation of its whereabouts and present occupation; and in order to do this satisfactorily, it will be necessary to speak of what we have been doing.
We arrived here on the 26th of January, since which time our headquarters have been here, and we have been engaged in suppressing the various guerilla bands that infest the western counties of this State. We have visited successively Saline, Fayette, Benton, Sinclair, Bates, Henry and Johnson counties, dispersing and capturing the different squads of “bushwhackers” who lurk in the dense thickets and deep “canons” peculiar to this section of country, which afford them protection, and from whence they sally out to commit deeds of rapine and murder at which humanity shudders and mercy weeps, and which must remain a stain upon the 19th century.
On the night of March 27th, about 11 P.M., we received orders to march to the relief of Major Foster at Warrensburg, in Johnson county, who commands that post occupied by the State Militia. Accordingly, companies A, F and G of the 1st Iowa Cavalry (the balance of the regiment being at Clinton in Henry county,) and two pieces of the 1st Mo. Battery, all under the command of Capt. J. D. Thompson, started for Warrensburg, where we arrived on the evening of the 28th. The following morning we proceeded up the Blackwater River, in search of Quantrill’s band which was threatening to attack and burn the town of Warrensburg. We expected to find them encamped at an old mill on a small creek that empties into the Blackwater just above Murray’s Ford, on the Clinton and Lexington road. We advanced upon the mill by three different routes, but failed to find any signs of “Secesh.” We had proceeded about two and a half miles on our way home, Co. F. in advance, when we came suddenly upon a body of armed rebels, about 60 in number, commanded by one Col. Parker. No sooner did they discover the uncomfortable proximity of the “Feds” than they gave leg bail, and we (Cos. F and G) gave hot pursuit, Co. A having gone another road to attempt cutting off their retreat. The Secesh dashed into the brush as usual, and of course we followed through chapparal [sic], brush, bogs, mud, sloughs, gulches and creeks and over hills, logs, ravines and rocks, for about four miles, they firing as they ran, and we replying with revolvers whenever they permitted us to get within range. They were well mounted and were familiar with the crossings of the creeks, so they had a decided advantage over us, and it was only our best mounted men who were able to keep up with our chivalric but nomadic foes. The chase was a quite exciting one, stirring even the current of my phlegmatic nature. The road, or rather path, through the brush was strewn with hats, caps, blankets, shot-pouches, shot-guns, pistols, sabres, Springfield muskets and Enfield rifles, abandoned by the Southern bloods to facilitate their hegira. Some of the last mentioned articles almost tempted me to dismount and appropriate one to my own immediate use, but want of time and the idea that they were of course empty, prevented me from so doing. I afterwards learned that many of the guns thrown away were still loaded. After crossing the creek at the old mill the rebels struck across the hill to the river at a point that had formerly been fordable, but now obstructed by drift-wood, when they scattered in all directions except the one they came. “Twas here the brave Jirard, of Co. F, fell, being so close upon the enemy that his face was burnt with the powder that sped the fatal buck-shot. A part of the rebels ran up the river, a part down the river, and a few through the river, but not being able to get their horses up the opposite bank, which was steep and miry, they abandoned them and turned to the strength of their own legs for the balance of the journey, while not a few of them ensconced themselves beneath logs, sought retirement from this troublous world in tree-tops and tangled underbrush, or courted modest obscurity by sinking quietly into some friendly gutter near by. Of this latter class was the gallant Col. Parker, who was brought back to a consciousness of existence by the announcement that if he didn’t “get up out of that he would be shot.” We killed 10 of the rebels, captured 15 prisoners, about 20 horses, a lot of arms, equipments, &c. One of our men was killed, one (Corporal Johnson) severely wounded, thigh shattered and leg broken below the knee; one man wounded in the foot, accidentally.
Several incidents occurred, of interest to us, but probably would not prove as interesting to you. We returned to Sedalia last night, bringing the prisoners with us.
H. H.
– Published in the Daily State Register, Des Moines, Iowa, Friday, April 11, 1862
