Showing posts with label Spanish Fort. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spanish Fort. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Diary of 1st Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Monday, May 8, 1865

Rained very hard during the night, hearing that during the night a boat had come in Luiet Laughridge & I go to the landing. find no boat; cross the bayou & gather a mess of blackberries, dewberries & huckleberries, was on our way back when we see coming down the river the Reb steamer “Jeff Davis” by the time we readied the landing the boat was tieing up we went on board & saw the effect of a shell which had burst in her cabin this while we were besieging Spanish fort. She is quite a nice boat. Took a ride on her from the landing up to the wood yard, & learned from a capt aboard that there were 19 transports & 3 Gunboats to come down & that they would be arriving until tomorrow evening, on my way to camp Lt. Cooper told me the Regt was detailed for fatigue, reached camp at 10 Regt detailed to wood boats. While we load the Jeff Davis these transports & the Gunboat — Ram, “Baltic” come down, the Baltic bring with her their torpedo beat, a strange looking affair small & nearly entirely under water. The Regt woods the Jeff Davis, Magnolia & another boat no name on, & are relieved for dinner, after dinner march back, the gunboats Morgan & Nashville have arrived & lie anchored in the stream the Reb flag flying on the Nashville. Every boat carried a white flag. The “Southern Republic” a double cabined concern, one of the largest class of transports lies at the wood yard. The Regt was relieved & sent to camp without working, soon after getting back rec orders to hold everything in readiness to embark at a minutes warning, waited all P. M. no further orders. after Supper Capt Rankin Luit Harter & self go to the landing see several other boats which had arrived amongst them the Reindeer, Watson, & Admiral, begin to rain hurry to camp, get a little wet but reach quarters in time to miss the hard rain which fell for about an hour, during which time a train of some 20 wagons come in loaded with resin 10 bbls to each wagon, Spend the evening writing & killing fleas.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 599

Friday, February 10, 2017

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Thursday, April 13, 1865

Rained last night & thought myself quite fortunate in having procured enough pieces of Reb tents to make a tent large enough to hold Temp & I, we having no tents they being with the teams none of which were brought over I went out after breakfast although the rain was still falling to see fort Sdney Jonston. just finished, a work that 100 men could have held against 1,000 with ease the more I see of the works the more I am glad we did not have to charge them for it would have been attended with great slaughtr. I wished to visit the city but no one was permitted to go. I visited the cemetery where I saw the graves of about 60 men killed in Spanish fort. Some splendid marble mouments, the grond is all laid out in small lots these fenced & the whole enclosure a beautiful flower garden, the graves ornamented with some of the most beautiful shells I ever saw, I returned to camp at 11. at which time unexpectedly to all the Genl was blown the whole Div moved out. The men had without leave gone to the city so that I had but 14 men when we fell in, did not know where we were to go marched through town in platoons, colors flying music playing many remarks made by the by standers about our no's Streets full of negros & Creoles, saw thousands of bales of cotton marched through Royal St. the whits did not show themselves much, two Brigs of the Div take the wagon (road, an Brig take the R. R. track march out to the 6 mile staton, 2 ½ mile Citizen rides up says off to the left is a squad of Reb. cav. Col Krez goes to rear, to see about, thinks there are bout 25 same cit says we will find more at the station at Whistler where the R. R. shops are. When we approach, the other Brigs are arriving. See them unslingin knap sacks & double quicken to .the front. Our Brig ordered to do the same. Some sharp skirmishes in front. & can see the bridge at 8 mile creek burning, they were destroying the work shops when our men come up. The Reb run & co G. & B. of 33d & a co of 28th Wis were sent back immediately to a bridge across Black Creek just 2 mile from town to guard it. we marched back reaching it about 5 P. M. on the march back met most of my runaway boys. coming up. Several negros come in from the Rebs & report their force at 700 cav & 1 pieces of Artilery. All quiet in the front Rumors. — That Lee has surrendered his army to Grant & with it the Southern confederacy.—A salute of 100 guns was fired in Mobile Bay at 9. A. M. in honor of the fall of the city.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 590-1

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Tuesday, April 11, 1865

No marching orders yet this morning & as our teams had all been called for during the night & sent back to the landing for supplies did not think we would move today. took out the co Books & spent all the forenoon posting the books & making out returns. Some of the men who go to the forts today say the white flag is waving over Mobile. Mr Sperry says he saw it & as near as he could discover from this distance it was a white flag, but the firing in the Bay still continues At 1. P. M. rumors in camp are that Genl Lee has proposed to Genl Grant to surrender the whole so called Southern confederacy with but one condition which is a free pardon to all. Also rumor says Genl Canby has recd orders to make no forward movement until further orders, but the firing in the Bay still continues. A brigade of Steeles men move out at 2. P. M. going I dont know where or how far. The 1st Brig 3d Div 13th A. C. move to Spanish fort. Hear this evening that the Gunboats have advanced to mouth of Spanish river just opposite Spanish fort & are engaging the batteries in the Bay. All the teams are employed today hauling supplies from the landing, a report was arond that Thomas was in Mobile but contradicted as the best glasses show nothing waving above Mobile but the confed flag. Just before dusk without a moments warning the Genl call was blown. Could hear the call all over the corps, & before 15 minutes the 13th A. C. was in the road ready to move not having heard where we were to go I made inquiry & learned it was to Starks Landing below Spanish fort & by the new road across the pontoons 11 miles. At 7. P. M. the column moved & it soon became evident we were on a forced march, when we cross the pontoons at 9. P. M. could see a fire in Mobile which lighted the whole sky. Our Brigade took the wrong road & detained us besides giving us a march of 2 miles extra. men give out almost by companies, we were marched to the landing & there stocked arms at 2. o clock, there were not more than 15 men in my co when we halted remained here about an hour, during which time some of the boys come up. we were moved down on the beech to await transportation, could see the fire yet at Mobile. Regts going on board transports all the while, not certain yet where we are to land.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 588-9

Monday, February 6, 2017

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Monday, April 10, 1865

All the Regts rec orders to be supplied with 5 days rations in their haver sacks. Capt Lacy was in our camp looking well & hearty. Mail is to go out at 10. a. m. until which time spend the time in writing. After dinner Templeton & I go out to see the fortifications, see many pools of blood. Can see Mobile from the forts & see some rebel batteries out in the Bay firing at our gunboats & shelling a pontoon bridge we have across Spanish river See a squad of rebs under guard taking up the torpedos which are thickly strewn, the roads are full, they uncover them & build a fire on them to explode them. the pieces fly about with a wicked noise. Saw one place where in the charge 4 men were Killed by the explosion of one torpdo. The Jonnies had extensive works laid off here which would have taken a year to complete but the works completed are ugly to get to over fallen timber & brush thick abbattis & dead loads of torpedos. About 150 of the men who had been at Spanish fort were captured this morning they not knowing this place had been taken were making their way up here. I was to see them & pronounce them the best looking confeds I ever saw, when the forts here were charged yesterday there were two Genls there, but one was taken & it is supposed the other escaped with some of his men who swam the river, but this evening he was captured. he had secreted himself in an commissary boat & undertook to get out & run for it but there were too many guards with muskets close by to allow that. It is rumored here this evening that about two hundred prisoners were taken, found in their holes close by Spanish fort think this not reliable. A supply train started to Thomas early this morning, saw a small detachment of cavalry from his army who say they saw no rebels between him & no report his men wanting grub. Genl Steeles command is ordered to be ready for a forward movement where to not known, the way to Mobile by land is 130 miles & there is a camp rumor that Steeles corps & Smiths corps are to go to the rear of Mobile & Grangers corps to Thomas Who will opperate somewhere above, heavy firing has been kept up all day in the bay but do not learn with what effect

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 588

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Sunday, April 9, 1865

Revelie this morning on the drums which is the first time while we have been before Spanish fort. Soon as breakfast is over many of the men go out to see the forts. The report on their return the roads & all arond the forts in the very grond we walked over was planted with hundreds of torpedos & it was a wonder that hundreds of men had not been killed, the reason is the caps over the tops put there to protect them had not been removed the Pioneer Corps are taking up dead loads of them, the cannon 30 in no were spiked with wraught iron which is taken out of most of them all ready, directly after breakfast the general blows, it begins to rain, is 12 before we move up on the hill by Div Hd Qtrs when 4 days rations is issued to the men, is 1. P. M. when we start out for Blakely when, we had gone about a mile Lt Rice rides up & tells us the news at the landing is that Petersburg & Richmond is evacuated & Lee fallen back to Lynchburgh, 2 mile out & just outside of Smiths rear the 13th Ind cav is out on review Latter part of the roads very bad & were until 9. P. M. getting to camp, in the evening we are on a forced march for some purpose, as we near Blakely meet some soldiers who say. you need not run yourselves to death for Blakely is ours. on inquiry learned that it had surrendered about ½ hour before having been carried by assault. Our men losst heavily many of them torn to pieces by the explosion of torpedos captured about 2400 prisoners & 25 pieces of artillery, some 100 Ibers we meet 9. ambulance loads of wounded, hear that 2 rams run in & surrendered after the fort had surrendered. The negros in the charge are said to have taken few prisoners on account of one of their men having been shot who was captured, (this is all rumor) a slight sprinkle of rain this evening.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 587-8

Friday, January 27, 2017

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Saturday, April 8, 1865

There was tremenduous heavy firing last night from 11 to 1. the sky was lighted with the flash of small arms, could not determine whether it was on the right of Smith or left of Steele, some heavy guns used. After breakfast heavy Guns & rapid firing off to our right. I go out on the left to the bay & take a look at Mobile. The Jonnies throw shells uncomfortably near me out there, returning to camp spent most of this day writing. Capt sent me a paper of the 5th full of good news & rumors of peace propositions from Lee. This afternoon news from Steele is that last night Steele charged on a water battery which the gunboats try to shell him out of & not succeeding the Jonnies charge him 3 times without success he is reported to have taken some prisoners, & later in the evening the report is in that he turned the guns of the captured battery on a ram & brought her in At 5 P. M the batteries all round the line opens on the enemy's work for one hour, the enemy replies quite briskly for a little while but cant stand it long. About 5.30 heavy musketry firing Was heard in front of Smiths Corps & by the yelling it was evident one party or the other was making a charge I was detailed for picket & reported at 7. at Regt Hd Quarters where the detail was formed under the immediate command of Lieut San Cheztereso co F. the picket firing on the right keeps us pretty heavy the Rebs throw a shell occasionally & our batteries throw shells about every 10 minutes. we report with the detail in the pits by the camp of 27th Wis. & wait ½ hour for the coming of the officer of the day whose business it is to relieve the pickets with the new detail, when he come he put part of our detail with a co of the 27th Wis as a reserve & working party. I was ordered to remain with this reserve, we divided the squad into 2 reliefs & making arrangements to work each relief 4 hours the capt lay down leaving me in charge of the 1st relief. Presently. Col Patterson & some other staff officers came through & told us to work with a will for all the saps & paralells must be widened to 6 ft. & finished before morning so that a regt could march through them easily for the works must be carried by assault within three days, the army had been waiting for the fleet to get up & word was it had cleared the channel of torpedos to opposite the fort & would move up in the morning, It is said the engineer who planted the torpedo is taking them out for the fleet. The Off. of the day thinking he needed more men sends in for a detail of two companies. Co D of 27th Wis & Co H. of 35 Iowa came out to work, they bring news that the charge on the right was by Smiths men who took one line of the enemys works & captured 200 prisoners. I rec instructions from the off of the day to work my relief 2 hours as the no of men engaged would finish the work if all worked that long. My 2 hours was up at 11, at which time I waked the capt. & lay down on a rubber blanket to sleep but it was too cold. I went to our camp to get a woolen blanket, & had returned & got into a good nap out of which I was awaked by loud & continued shouting on the right. Could not immagine what was up as the firing had entirely ceased on that part of the line. I looked at my watch which indicated 5 mins after 12, I go forward to the front rifle pits where the picket line is there listen to hear what is said but can distinguish nothing but the commands “cease firing you kill our own men. 2d Brig forward march.” then rose cheering again. The word cease firing passed all along the line. The Off of the day was present. (Capt. Gunn 28th Wis) with whom I jumped the pits and advanced somewhat, but not a jonnie could we hear where not 10 minutes before they had been shooting at us, not yet being satisfied with the looks of things no one was allowed to go to the fort until we see Smiths corps in the middle fort cheering Then Lt. Sanchez, take about a doz of his detail & advances. I did not know he had gone until he was half way over, & followed immediately entering nearly the same time. The Lt. was the first Yank, to mount the work. There was some fear of torpedos which had been reported so thickly strewn about these fortifications which made the men move very carefully for a while, it was half past twelve when we entered the fort. I found it not so strong a position as I had immagined it to be but to assault it would have been an ugly business if resolutely defended. Our shell & shot had handled the inside very rough tearing great holes. The grond nearly every foot of it, was torn up by our Mortar shells & how men could live in there during the heavy cannonading it was several times subjected too is more than I can understand, found 9. pieces of artillery in the fort all in position & spiked. 2 of the guns were splendid 64 lbers. There were bomb proofs enough to about hold the gunners required to work the guns but these were not of the strongest kind, out of one come so strong a stench I was willing to pass it others more inquistive report a no of dead men in it. 8 jonnies come in from the picket line, the Rebs had left in such a hurry they had not taken time to relieve them although they lay within 100 yds of the fort, these say they did not know the forts were to be evacuated, after examining the works to my satisfaction the 94th Ill regt having marched in & unfurled the Stars & stripes I go back to camp bearing no relic but a Reb envelope with stamp on it, on my way in meet floods of yanks going out to see the forts. I was disposed tonight to think the torpedo question on land more talk than cider

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 585-7

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Thursday, April 6, 1865

The Rebs in front of us fired but little during the night, they shelled our working party at the 6 gun battery close by us from the mortar battery. In the Afternoon, I worked the men some. The Rebs were quieter than usual all day, our batteries give them a few rounds in the evening. After dark the mortar battery of the Rebs opens on our working party again. Several bombs are thrown at it by our mortar batteries. Some think by the signs of the times that the Jonnies are silently leaving the place, the news from Grant Sherman & Thomas is good, in honor of which successes by order of Genl Canby a salute of 100 guns is fired by the Gunboats & the land batteries. I am told by those who had an opportunity to know, that during the cannonading the evening of the 4th something blew up in Spanish fort throwing 5 men 10 or 15 ft above the work. Men on picket that night say they said 16 men carried out of the same fort & buried. The battery men say the cannonading killed & wounded 100 rebels. I don't know how they get their information. I am relieved at 8. P. M. by co "C" & march the co to camp, find supper ready. Temp & I put up our tent gather bedding and retire at 11. P. M. at which hour shells are flying freely on the right & centre.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 584-5

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Tuesday, April 4, 1865

Mail was to leave the camp at 12 today; sat down to write a letter before I was ½ through was detailed to take charge of a squad of 30 men with spades for fatigue & report with them at Div Hd. qtrs. I reported with the detail at 11. A. M. some mistake had been made with reference to the detail as the A. A. G. expicted my detail to have axes. waited with the men until he rode to Brig. Hd. qtrs to ascertain how the mistake had occurred, he returned at 12, M. & ordered me to report at a two gun battery. on the left & near Spanish fort. I found the battery & put the men to work to finish it. The 1st Ind heavy Artilery mount 2 30 lb Parrots here while we are at work. These guns are intended to play on the Rebel water battery which annoys us more than all their other guns, while we were at work a staff officer rode around giving orders for all the batteries around the whole line to open out at 5 P. M. & fire 40 ronds to each gun, with intervals of 3 mins. finished the battery a little before 4. but had to hold the detail to tear down a breastwork in front of it which was to come down just before time to open out, at 20 mins before 5 Capt of Battery ordered the work down, men all worked lively as there was danger of the Rebs firing on the party, two men having been wounded here yesterday. Just 3 mins before 5 finished that job & falling the men in started for camp about ¾ mile distant & if the Rebs replied to our batteries in point blank range, had not advanced from the battery more than 200 yds until the whole part of our line was ablaze, walked fast to camp. Rebs did not reply & no accidents occurred. after arrived in camp the Jonnies lifted a few shot over, they tried to sharpshoot our gunners from their fort & sent the balls uncomfortably close. The 33d Mo. & 35th Iowa & 12th Iowa moved in this evening again to our camp our Brig is ordered to the left to fill the places of these Regts. At 8. P. M. fall in & move in the darkness with a little sprinkle of rain 1 mile to the left of our camp, find very poor quarters, lie down almost anywhere for the night.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 583-4

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Sunday, March 26, 1865

Nothing unusual last night. I am relieved at 6. A. M. & marched the pickets to the Regt. which is on the road at 6.45, at which time the train is getting up. The troops move out on 3 roads. Bertrams Brigade on the left, Smiths Corps on the right & Grangers corps in the centre, as we march through the camp ground of 16th Corps am surprised at the completness & extent of the breastwork constructed by them last night. At 12. M. our advance is fixed on by a Reb Picket post, on a hill on which the corps halts & goes into camp at 7, good running water near. We fortify immediately. A negro comes in who reports having seen Steeles army near Blalcely, we are tonight within 2 miles of Spanish Fort a strong position on top of a hill mounting 16 heavy guns besides other bateries about it, the 3 columns fire each a signal gun on their camp ground to denote their situation, this is responded by the Gunboats, in the Bay. Expect to invest Spanish Fort tomorrow. It is rumored that Bertram captured by surprise battery of 6 guns. (doubtful)

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 580

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Thursday, March 30, 1865

At 12. last night the Jonnies made a charge out of their forts on the skirmish line, draw it in on the left where the 7th Vermont was stationed, camps wise all around & on the alert. brisk firing for an hour, some rain falling about this time. At 3. A. M. co C. relieves Co E. on the skirmish line They come in all whole & were not drivn back, reported that about 30 of the 29th Iowa were gobbled by the 7th Vermont giving back & letting the Jonnies in their rear; The day passes so so. Artillery firing from both sides. Reb Mortar boats shell us considerably & heavy firing on the skirmish line all day, some of the heavy guns to be put in position tonight. This evening the reported capture of the men of the 29th is contradicted Co "C" is relieved after dark & bring off 3 prisoners with them, they were out sharp shooting & got to close They talk confidantly & say we can never take Mobile or Spanish Fort which by their act is manned by 6000 reinforcing every night, one Brigade of the 16th A. C. is sent off this P. M. as guard to supply train with rations for Genl Steele who is in the vicinity of Blakely & reports to Genl Canby that he can keep reinforcements from coming here by land or allow it. Genl C. says to allow it. (this is rumor) There is a telegraph from Genl Canbys Hd Qtrs to all the Div Hd Qtrs & to the landing at our new base about 4 miles from our position. The Rebels use heavier guns today. Have a chill this morning & feel quite ill all day.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 581-2

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Friday, March 31, 1865

Rested tolerably last night, At 8. A M. The batteries open on the Forts & keep up a vigorous shelling for 3 hours. P. M. the felled timber front of the forts where our skirmish line is gets on fire. Rebs open on them with shell & small arms. Could not see how the skirmishers could stand the heat & firing but they did it nobly, firing became so heavy at 6. P. M. the men were ordered to arms Co G. was ordered to the forward rifle pits to reinforce Co. B as a support to the skirmishers, Capt Ledyard was on duty as Brig off of the day, which left me in comd of the co. I took them down on the double quick although almost too week to stand. The bullets whistled thick arond but no one was struck. At 11. P. M. the heavy firing ceased & I reed orders to keep my co in the pits all night. I hear of several men being killed but none from our Regt, hear a report that on our right Smith with some of the heavy Parrots disables one of the Enemy's gunboat & drives another off 2 miles, one battery of heavy guns on our left is silenced by the fire save the main Fort. It is rumored that Thomas has made connection with Steele. The Gunboats advance slowly taking out the torpedos, advanced about 100 yds and that Genl Maury commands at Mobile & Genl Gibson at Spanish Fort. We rec mail today one from cous John who is with Thomas & says under date of 10th Feb that the comd was preparing for an expedition against Mobile.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 582

Monday, September 15, 2014

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith, April 11, 1865

Headquarters District Of South Alabama,
Fort Gaines, Ala., April 11, 1865.

I wrote you the day before yesterday, since which time the glorious news from Richmond I alluded to has been corroborated; and meanwhile we have had great success before Mobile. Spanish Fort has been reduced; carried by assault; five hundred prisoners and an equal number of the enemy killed and wounded. “Blakely” has also been carried, and two thousand five hundred prisoners captured. It is now with us only a question of time, though the garrison at Mobile and the fortifications are still making an obstinate defence. The enemy fights with great gallantry, but must ultimately succumb. Our navy, in this siege, has not displayed much enterprise or great gallantry. An excuse may be found in the demoralizing effect of the torpedoes that sunk three of their best ships. The particulars of the news you will get through the public prints before my letter reaches you. I hope my letters do reach you. I write often two or three or four times a week. No letters to me from anybody yet save the three from you dated at Baton Rouge, Vicksburg, and Cairo. I am really heartsick for letters from home.

I sailed up Mobile Bay yesterday through the fleet and close in sight of the city, whose spires and housetops, wharfs and boats, reminded me of the distant views I used to have of Vicksburg during the siege.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 386-7

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, April 4, 1865

Headquarters District Of South Alabama,
Fort Gaines, Ala., April 4, 1865.
My Dear Wife:

As to Mobile, in my judgment, it is going to be a long siege. The general impression was that there would be a speedy evacuation, but the attack has been so long delayed, that the enemy have had full opportunity to fortify and are making a most obstinate resistance. They have filled all the approaches by land and water, with torpedoes ingeniously contrived, and concealed in every channel and avenue; so thickly strewn, that though we have picked up a large number, three fine gunboats and many lives have already been lost by them. The torpedo is made of wood, thickly coated on the outside with pitch and tar so as to be quite waterproof, is somewhat in the shape of a cigar, and eighteen inches thick, tapering at both ends, in which there is a vacuum, the middle portion being filled with from fifty to one hundred pounds of gunpowder, which is ignited through brass tubes with copper ends, by means of friction and percussion powder. They are anchored just below the surface of the water, and sometimes several are attached by strings or wire. A vessel in passing over them produces the necessary friction, and the explosion, if immediately underneath the vessel is generally sufficient to blow a hole through the bottom and sink her. These I have described, are the water torpedoes; those used upon the land are generally an eight-inch shell, that is, a cannon ball, hollow, eight inches in diameter, filled with powder and the fuse so arranged that a pressure of ten pounds will explode them. They are concealed in the sand just below the surface, and the tread of a horse's foot, or the passage of a wheel, is sufficient to explode them, or even the pressure of a man's foot if put down hard. A staff officer, riding the other day, woke up from a state of insensibility to discover himself fifteen feet from the roadway, and the mangled remains of his horse that had been blown to atoms, he, by strange chance, escaping with the temporary loss of his senses and the bruises of his fall. The immense number of these shells and torpedoes scattered in every possible place on land or in water, renders the approaches to Spanish Fort, that at present is the key to the position, most difficult, and has made the navy timid and wary in the management of their ships, while our troops on shore have found a secret foe hard to combat. Every man feels that he is literally walking on the thin crust of a volcano. We have, however, thoroughly invested the fort, the garrison of which now is supposed to number some six or seven thousand men, and will soon be able to cut it off entirely from Mobile. We shall then, I think, resort to sapping and mining, and it will become a question of time as at Vicksburg. Meanwhile, our forces under Wilson, will attack from the other side, and the result, in my mind, though far off, is not doubtful. Still, we may have trouble from another quarter. As you know, I am not one of those who have been sanguine as to the speedy termination of the war, and have doubtless, by free expression of opinion in that regard, sacrificed a reputation I might have had for a wiseacre. I think before long we shall have something from Kirby Smith, and that when Richmond is evacuated, the war will have to be begun anew. The obstinate resistance they are making at Mobile, fortifies my preconceived opinions, that are of no great value, for all is in the hands of God, who will bring these troubles to a close in His own good time. Still, you must be patient, and not expect an early raising of the siege.

I am comfortably situated at this time. I have a great deal of responsibility and a highly honorable position, if I have rank enough to hold it. All the time, or nearly all the time I was a colonel, in fact, I may say all the time I was a lieutenant-colonel, I exercised the rank of colonel; all the time, or nearly all the time I was colonel, I exercised the rank, duties, and responsibilities of a brigadier-general. And all the time I have been brigadier-general, the duties of a major-general have been thrust upon me. I have recently, as you perceive by the copies of orders I sent you, relieved Major-General Granger, and the labor, expense, and responsibility devolved upon him, now rests with me, with this difference — he had more staff and $1,200 per annum more pay. But I shall never get any more rank because I am a volunteer officer. The brevet I would not give a fig for; they are so common that they do not confer honor, and they do not, under any circumstance, the old rule in that regard being changed, give more pay.

Although in April, the weather is not yet unpleasantly warm, except in the sun; indeed, I make it a point to keep a little fire, that is a good guard against malaria. The birds, among them my old friend the mocking-bird, have come and I send you blossoms that will fade before they reach you, but will carry some fragrance from the little island by the sea that is now my home.

I have just been called from writing to receive a visit from Capt. J. R. Madison Mullany, an old officer of the navy now commanding the U. S. S. Bienville, and commanding the squadron here. He is a very gallant officer and lost an arm, amputated close at the shoulder, in the capture of these forts. A recommendation of him to you will be the fact of his being a sincere and devout Catholic, and I was pleased to find him a courteous and finished gentleman, as most officers of the old navy were.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 383-5

Friday, June 25, 2010

Major David W. Reed

Major David W. Reed, was born in Cortland, N. Y., April 2, 1841; removed, with his parents, to Iowa and settled on a farm in Allamakee County in 1855; entered Upper Iowa University in 1860, and on the 15th day of September 1861 enlisted as a private in "University Recruits." This company was mustered into the United States service October 24th, as "C," 12th Iowa Infantry. He was present with his company at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and Shiloh. After the regiment was surrounded at Shiloh he received gunshot wound, shattering the right thigh; was taken prisoner but was left on the field and was recaptured on Monday, and sent to the hospital at Mound City. In August he returned to duty with the Union Brigade and served with it in battle of Corinth and as Sergeant Major of that organization until January 1863. Upon the reorganization of the regiment he was elected 2nd Lieutenant of Company C, and was present with his company during the Vicksburg campaign and participated in all its engagements; was in command of his company August 1st to 10th; in command of Company F, August 10th to 31st, of Company C, September 7th to 24th, and of Company I, during the Brownsville expedition, October 6th to 31st; was commissioned 1st Lieutenant December 14, 1863, and in June 1864 was detailed as Acting Adjutant of the regiment and served as such in all the campaigns of the regiment until February 1865. At Tupelo his horse was killed under him, and at Nashville he led the left wing of the regiment in the capture of a battery of the enemy and received special mention by regimental and brigade commanders. In February 1865 he was commissioned Captain of Company C, and was immediately detailed as Acting Field Officer. In this capacity he served at Spanish Fort and was breveted for gallantry in this engagement. From January to September 1865 he served as Inspector on the staff of General L. F. Hubbard. In October was detailed, with his company to garrison Center, Ala.; was in command of that Post until November when he was directed to take command of the Post of Blue Mountain. He was commissioned Major 12th Iowa November 21, 1865, and was mustered out with his regiment January 20, 1866. On his return home he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1868, and the same year was elected County Recorder. He held that office ten years and in 1879 was appointed Postmaster at Waukon, Iowa, and held that office until 1887. He was Supervisor of Census, for 2d Iowa district, in 1890. He was married to Miss Ellen E. Manson in 1866; removed to Chicago January 1891. In 1895 was appointed Secretary and Historian of the Shiloh National Military Park Commission. He has three children — a son and two daughters — the son, Milton E. Reed, is Lieutenant — Senior Grade — in United States Navy.

SOURCE: David W. Reed, Campaigns and battles of the Twelfth Regiment Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry, p. 250

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Nineteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry

The State of Iowa had sent into the field eighteen full regiments of infantry at the time President Lincoln issued his proclamation calling for 300,000 more volunteers, early in July, 1862. In prompt response to that call, and as the first contribution from Iowa under it, the Nineteenth Regiment was organized. The ten companies selected to compose the regiment were ordered into quarters by Governor Kirkwood between the dates Aug. 1 and Aug. 19, 1862, and were assembled at the designated rendezvous, Keokuk, Iowa, and there mustered into the service of the United States by Lieutenant Charles J. Ball, United States Army, on the 17th, 18th, 20th, 21st and 23d days of August, 1862. The aggregate strength of the regiment at muster in was 983 [see note 1].

The name "Lincoln" was chosen for its first camp, in honor of the President. In that camp, in the short interval that elapsed before the regiment took the field, the officers and men eagerly applied themselves to the study of their duties as soldiers, and learned something of the rudiments of the art of war, in which they were afterwards to become proficient, learning their hard lessons by actual experience in the severe training they received in active campaigns against the enemy.

The regiment was fully equipped for service in the field before leaving the State. On the evening of Sept. 3, 1862, Colonel Crabb received orders to embark his regiment and proceed to St. Louis, Mo., and, upon his arrival there, to report to the commanding officer at Benton Barracks. When the regiment reached the latter place it was at once assigned to quarters and was placed in the Brigade commanded by Brigadier General F. J. Herron, of Iowa. Oh the morning of September 11th, the regiment left Benton Barracks and proceeded by rail to Rolla, Mo. Upon its arrival at Rolla the regiment marched five miles from that place on the road leading to Springfield, and established its first camp in the State of Missouri. An active and aggressive campaign against the enemy was then about to begin, in which the men of the Nineteenth Iowa were to have their fortitude, courage and endurance put to the severest test. September 16th, the regiment took up the line of march toward Springfield, where it arrived after a toilsome march of 125 miles. There it remained until October 11th, engaged in constructing fortifications and guarding rebel prisoners. It then marched to Cassville, Mo., where the Army of the Frontier was organized and the Nineteenth Iowa was assigned to the division commanded by Brigadier General Herron of Iowa. The details of the operations of the regiment, in this and subsequent campaigns, can not be fully given in this sketch, on account of limitation of space to which the compiler is subjected, but he hopes to include all the main features of its service [see note 2].

October 17th, the regiment again marched southward and, from that date until December 7th, performed a wonderful series of marches and countermarches, in pursuit of a vigilant and elusive enemy. Major Bruce thus tersely describes those remarkable marches, which led up to and culminated in the battle of Prairie Grove:

October 17th, broke camp at Cassville, Mo.; marched southward four miles and camped for the night. October 18th marched southeward [sic] 31 miles and camped on Sugar Creek, Benton County, Arkansas; lay on our arms all night. General Blunt's division was camped near by. At 5 o'clock p. m. of the 20th broke up camp; made a night march over the Pea Ridge battle ground, and on to White River; crossed the river; water three feet deep, clear and cold. Oh the 22d marched 15 miles; halted and prepared supper. We were then within a distance of six miles from Huntsville, Ark.; fell in again at 6 p. m„ and made a night march of 14. miles to White River at a point below where we had first crossed, arriving at 2 a. m. on the morning of the 23d of October; bivouacked until 7 a. m. when, without waiting for breakfast, crossed White River, marched forward, much of the time on double quick, reaching the telegraph road at Bloomington at 12 m.; formed at once in line of battle, expecting an attack; remained in that position three hours and were then ordered forward on the main road to Cross Hollow, Ark., where we arrived at 5 p. m., and went into camp, having made a forced march of 100 miles in three days and three nights over a very rough and mountainous country, and having compelled the enemy to retreat across the Boston Mountains. Left Cross Hollow November 4, 1862, marched 15 miles and camped on Pea Ridge battle ground; November 5th, marched 20 miles and camped three miles south of Cassville. November 6th marched 32 miles and camped on Cane Creek. November 10th left camp on Cane Creek and marched 17 miles to Wilson's Creek. From there marched 12 miles and camped at Ozark, Mo. On the 14th Nov., marched 14 miles and camped on Sawyer's Creek. November 17th, again marched towards Ozark; reaching that place at 9 p. m. we marched four miles farther and bivouacked for the night. November 18th, marched 15 miles and camped on James River. It rained continually on this march and the roads were in a very bad condition. November 22d left camp on James River, marched 5 miles to Twin Springs and went into camp there. This camp was afterwards called Camp Curtis, and is 12 miles south of Springfield, Mo. On the 3d of December, at 2 p. m., broke up camp and started to reinforce the First Division under General Blunt, who was holding the enemy in check at Cane Hill, Ark.; marched 18 miles to Cane Creek and bivouacked for the night. On the 4th of December, marched 28 miles to Cassville and bivouacked for the night. December 5th, marched 24 miles to Pea Ridge, Ark. December 6th, marched 34 miles to Fayetteville, and rested a few hours. Left Fayetteville at 5 a. m. December 7th, marched 12 miles to Illinois Creek. Here we met the enemy, under General Hindman, and fought the battle of Prairie Grove [see note 3].


At the commencement of the battle, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel McFarland was in command of the regiment, and was killed early in the engagement. The command then devolved upon Major D. Kent, who continued in command until the close of the battle, and from whose official report the following extracts are made:

. . . The Nineteenth Regiment was ordered into line of battle at 12 o'clock m., Lieutenant Colonel Samuel McFarland commanding. By order of Colonel Orme, three companies were detached and deployed as skirmishers. The companies were A, B, and C, and owing to circumstances, Lieutenant Root, the acting Adjutant of the regiment, was ordered to take command. The skirmishers advanced under a heavy fire to a cornfield on the right of Company E, First Missouri Light Artillery, and were ordered to hold it at all hazards, which was done, until ordered to fall back and form in line of battle. The regiment was then ordered to the left of the white house on the hill to support the Twentieth Wisconsin, which was hotly engaged. The Nineteenth, led by Lieutenant Colonel McFarland, advanced steadily up the hill and across the orchard back of the house, when the Twentieth Wisconsin gave way. The Nineteenth still advanced to the fence adjoining the woods, when the enemy, who lay concealed, arose to their feet, three regiments deep, and poured a destructive fire upon us from three sides, which caused the regiment to waver and fall back to the battery on the left of the road leading up the hill. Here Lieutenant Colonel McFarland fell, shot through the body. I then took command and rallied what was left of the regiment, which had met with severe loss in the charge. I then left the men I had rallied in charge of Captain Roderick, Company K, and went to rally some scattered troops. While I was absent Colonel Orme rode up and ordered Captain Roderick to fall in and rally with the Ninety-fourth Illinois, and this force, led by Colonel Orme in person, drove back the enemy with great slaughter and held their position until ordered to fall back and reform. In the retreat of the Twentieth Wisconsin the color bearer was shot and let fall the colors, when the enemy made a desperate effort to get them, but a portion of the Nineteenth Iowa rallied and, getting possession of them, carried them off the field with their own.

Officers and men behaved nobly and fought desperately as if the fate of the battle depended on them alone. I will mention especially Captain Roderick of Company K, whom I left in charge of some scattered troops; also Captain Richmond of Company H, and Captain Taylor of Company G, also Lieutenant Brooks of Company D, who brought the colors off the field, and in doing so, was badly wounded. Others are equally meritorious, but they are too numerous to mention at present. . . .


Of the conduct of the three companies while on the skirmish line, Lieutenant Root made a supplementary report, which Major Kent embodied with his own, and which reads in part as follows:

. . . I advanced them to the right of Company E, of the First Missouri Battery, when the right wing, under Captain John Bruce, was attacked by a superior force of the enemy, but a few well directed shots drove them back. I would here notice the bravery of Captain Bruce and the men under him. After advancing up near the woods, the enemy came out of cover, showing a heavy body of infantry and two battalions of cavalry, who met with a warm reception from the right, under Captain Bruce, which made them scatter. At this time I received an order from Colonel Orme to fall back to the cornfield, so as to let the battery shell the woods, which was done in good order and held until I was ordered to rejoin the regiment [see note 4].


Major Kent reports the loss of the regiment in this battle as follows: Killed, commissioned officers 3, enlisted men 42; wounded, commissioned officers 5, enlisted men 140; missing 2. Total loss, 192. The battle of Prairie Grove was one of the most hotly contested of the war. The official report of General Herron states that he took into the engagement 3,500 men and that his total loss was 953. He speaks in the highest terms of the bravery of the Nineteenth Iowa and its gallant commander, Lieutenant Colonel McFarland, who was killed while leading his regiment in a desperate charge [see note 5]. The remarkable record of its exhausting marches in pursuit of the enemy, the fact that this was the first experience of the regiment in battle, and that it fought against greatly superior numbers, would alone have given it an honored place in history, had its service terminated with the battle of Prairie Grove.

The regiment bivouacked for the night on the battlefield and moved forward at daylight, expecting to renew the attack, but it was discovered that the enemy had retreated during the night, thus admitting defeat. The regiment then went into camp on the battlefield and engaged in the duty of burying the dead with the honors of war, and giving the wounded such care and attention as could be rendered in the field hospitals. The officers and men of the Nineteenth Iowa had thus had ample opportunity to become acquainted with the hardships and horrors of war, in but little more than three months from the date of their muster into the service. Death had sadly diminished their numbers at the very beginning of the long term for which they had enlisted, but had not affected their courage or determination to go forward in the faithful discharge of their duty as soldiers.

Soon after the battle, the Army of the Frontier engaged in another arduous expedition, in which the Nineteenth Iowa participated, and which resulted in the capture of Van Buren, Arkansas, together with a number of prisoners, five steamboats and a large amount of commissary stores. Returning from this expedition, the regiment, again went into camp at Prairie Grove, where it remained until January 2, 1863, when it again took up the line of march, moving from point to point and watching the movements of the enemy. February 15, 1863, the regiment, with two companies of the First Iowa Cavalry, was stationed at Forsyth on the Arkansas river, which place they occupied during the remainder of the winter. The regiment left Forsyth April 22d, and after a series of marches reached Salem, Mo., where it was temporarily attached to the First Division under the command of General Ewing. June 3d, the regiment marched to Rolla, from which place it was conveyed by rail to St. Louis, where General Herron's division was being concentrated, and embarked on steamers for Vicksburg, Miss. The regiment was then conveyed down the river, arriving at Young's Point June 10, 1863, and from that place moved to the rear of Vicksburg, where the siege was in progress, and was assigned to a place in the line of investment on the right of General Herron's division, which occupied the extreme left of the line of General Grant's army. During the remainder of the siege the Nineteenth Iowa performed its full share of duty. In his official report Lieutenant Colonel Kent describes in detail the arduous character of the work performed — advancing under cover of the night, digging rifle pits, planting batteries and siege guns to bear upon the enemy's works, skirmishing with the enemy and driving him from his advanced lines to his heavy fortifications and, upon the 4th of July, 1863, when the glad news of the surrender was received, the marching of his regiment inside the formidable works, which, fortunately, were not carried by assault, involving as it would have done, a costly sacrifice of life. The report highly commends the conduct of the officers and men during the siege and makes special mention of the constant and untiring energy of Major Bruce in the performance of his duties.

On the 12th of July, 1863, the regiment with its division participated in an expedition which resulted in the capture of Yazoo City on July 14th, the enemy evacuating the place on the approach of the Union troops, a number of prisoners being taken, together with the armament of the works, commissary stores and a large amount of cotton. The regiment engaged in several other expeditions within a radius of a hundred miles of Vicksburg, involving much hard marching, and the confiscating of horses, mules and cattle for the use of the army. On July 23, 1863, the regiment embarked on steamer at Vicksburg and was conveyed to Port Hudson, La., arriving there on the 26th, and remaining until August 12th. A number of men died from disease while at this camp, and there was a great deal of sickness. The next movement of the regiment was by steamer to Carrollton, La., where the entire Thirteenth Army Corps was encamped.

On the morning of the 5th of September, the regiment with its division started up the river upon an expedition to the mouth of Red River, where the enemy was seriously obstructing navigation, and had.captured a number of Federal transports. The regiment arrived at Morganza, twenty miles below the mouth of Red River, September 7th, disembarked and went into camp. The enemy was in force 12 miles from Morganza. Detachments from General Herron's division were sent out in the direction of the enemy, and frequent skirmishes had occurred, when, on the 12th of September, the Nineteenth Iowa, Twenty-Sixth Indiana and two pieces of artillery, were ordered to the front. This detachment moved out six miles, driving the enemy's pickets before it. It occupied this advanced position, skirmishing daily with the enemy, until September 29th, when the battle of Sterling Farm was fought, in which the regiment suffered heavy loss in killed, wounded and prisoners. Lieutenants Kent of company H, and Roberts of company K, were killed on the field. Captain Taylor, of company G, was mortally wounded. Major John Bruce wrote the official report of this engagement, which was so disastrous to that portion of the regiment which was engaged. As will be seen from the report which follows, there were but 260 of the Nineteenth Iowa engaged in the battle, that being the number present for duty at the time the regiment was sent to the front.


Headquarters Nineteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry,
Brownsville, Texas, Oct. 1.5, 1863.

GENERAL: I have the honor to submit to you a report of the part taken by my regiment in the engagement at Sterling Farm, fought on the 29th of September, 1863, in Point Coupee Parish, Louisiana. On the 5th day of September, the Second Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, commanded by Major General Herron, of which command the Nineteenth Iowa formed a part, embarked on board transports, and proceeded up the river to disperse a force under General Taylor, which was then on the west side below the mouth of Red River, seriously threatening the navigation of the Mississippi.

On the 8th of September the division was halted near Morganza, La., landed and proceeded to the interior, met the enemy's pickets about two miles from the river, drove them in, and drove the rebels back ten miles across the Atchafalaya. I was left with my regiment and two pieces of artillery to protect the transports at the river. The division returned to the transports on the 11th. On the 12th, the Nineteenth Iowa, Twenty-sixth Indiana, and two pieces of artillery, the whole under command of Lieutenant Colonel Leake of the Twentieth Iowa, were ordered out to feel the enemy. We met the enemy's pickets one mile from the river, drove them in, and soon found the enemy in considerable force. We skirmished with them and drove them back across the Atchafalaya. We then fell back to Sterling Farm seven miles in the interior from where the transports lay; from this point our advance and pickets skirmished almost daily, with the advance of the enemy. On the 29th, the enemy, having received reinforcements, turned our right and attacked us in the rear, cutting off our retreat. He at the same time attacked us on the front. My regiment was first called into action, met the enemy boldly and at short range, delivered a deadly volley, which compelled him to fall back. They, however, rallied again in overwhelming force, and after a firm and desperate struggle in which we were well supported by the Twenty-sixth Indiana, we were completely overpowered and compelled to surrender, many of our men, however, refusing to give up until their guns were taken from their hands by the rebels. The rebels were commanded by General Green in person and consisted of three brigades, in all a force of 5,000 men; our entire force there was about 500 men. My regiment had only about 260 in the action; many having been left sick in convalescent camps at Carrollton, La., they were not on the expedition. The fight was short, but deadly, considering the numbers engaged, the cane and high weeds concealing the lines until they approached within pistol shot. Many of our men escaped and came straggling into camp for two days afterwards. In the action we had killed two officers and eight enlisted men, wounded one officer (since died) and sixteen enlisted men, and eleven officers and 203 enlisted men taken prisoners. The loss in the Twenty-sixth Indiana was not so much as ours. The enemy's loss was fifty killed in the field and many more wounded. Great credit is due to the officers and men of my regiment, who fought bravely and desperately against fearful odds. The rebel officers acknowledged it was to them a dearly bought victory and were much chagrined at finding so small a capture after so vigorous a resistance. I was not in the engagement, having been ordered to New Orleans a few days prior. The regiment was at the time commanded by senior Captain Wm. Adams, Company B, who was taken prisoner.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN BRUCE,
Major Comd'g Nineteenth Iowa Vol., Infantry.

To N. B. Baker, Adjutant General of Iowa [see note 6].


The remainder of the regiment returned with the division to Carrollton, October 11th. Those who had escaped capture, together with those who had recovered from sickness and were again able for duty, now exceeded the number of those who were held by the enemy as prisoners of war.

On October 23d the regiment started upon an expedition, the objective point of which was Brownsville, Texas. The part taken by the Nineteenth Iowa in that important expedition is described in the official report of its commanding officer as follows:


Headquarters Nineteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry,
Brownsville, Texas, Dec. 1, 1863.

GENERAL: I have the honor to submit to you an account of the part taken by my regiment in the expedition against Texas, which was under the command of Major General Banks, and started from New Orleans on the 24th of October, 1863. On the 23d my regiment embarked on the steamer General Banks. The entire fleet consisted of sixteen vessels and three gunboats, all loaded with troops, provisions and munitions of war. On the 27th, the fleet sailed through the southwest pass, and came to anchor outside the bar. Went to sea on the 29th. On the 30th, we encountered a severe storm from the north. Our ship being overloaded, as well as old and frail, labored and strained alarmingly. The sea, striking very heavily under the guards and fantail, threatened to tear off the latter, rendering it necessary, in order to save life, to lighten the ship. This was at once done by heaving overboard eleven mules, one. battery wagon, forage, etc., after which she rode easier, but her leakage constantly increased, requiring the unremitting working of the pumps. On the 31st of October our fuel was nearly exhausted, and we were taken in tow by the Empire City. On the 1st day of November, we came in sight of land, and at 6 p. m. came to anchor off the bar at the Island of Brazos Santiago. On the 2d of November, we were the first of the fleet to cross the bar, and about noon effected a landing. The Nineteenth Regiment was the first command landed and its colors the first that floated on the breeze of that desolate island. I was at once ordered out, moved six miles to the front, and held the advance for three days, until a large part of the force was landed and came up. On the 6th of November our orders were to move forward, and after two days march up the Rio Grande, crossing the battlefields of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, we entered Brownsville, Texas, on the 7th, without opposition. The enemy had a small force, which evacuated the place on our approach. Previously, however, they fired the barracks of Fort Brown, and many private buildings, which were smouldering ruins when we took possession of the town. We captured a large amount of cotton, and stopped a large trade going on between Mexico and the so-called Confederate States. Colonel Wm. McE. Dye, of the Twentieth Iowa, commanding our brigade (Second Brigade, Second Division, Thirteenth Army Corps), was made commander of the post, and his brigade went into barracks in the town, where we still remain.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN BRUCE,
Major Commanding Nineteenth Iowa Infantry.

To N. B. Baker, Adjutant General of Iowa [see note 7].


On the 1st of January, 1864, the regiment was still quartered in barracks at Brownsville, Texas. At that date, according to the report of Major Bruce, it had the aggregate number of 691 still borne upon its rolls, present for duty and absent, but among the absent were 213 of its officers and men who still languished in rebel prisons; and adding to these the sick and disabled in hospitals, and those upon detached duty, there were less than 400 men then present with the regiment and able for duty. On the 10th of March, 1864, Major John Bruce was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment. The regiment remained in Brownsville during the winter. On the 30th of March it left the barracks and encamped on the plain east of the town and near Fort Brown. In addition to the ordinary details for guard and picket duty, heavy details were now made for the purpose of restoring the ruined and dismantled fort. About the time the repairs were completed, guns mounted, and the fort put in good condition for defense, orders were received to prepare for its abandonment. Of the withdrawal of the troops from the Mexican frontier, Major Bruce wrote as follows:

About the 5th of July, we began to prepare for the evacuation of the place. This occupied considerable time. War material which had been collected had to be removed, and many refugees from the State, fleeing from rebel conscription and intolerance, had taken up their residence here. Even Mexican citizens, seeking asylum from the troubles of their own Government, sought the protection of the Stars and Stripes. These persons had to have time for the removal of their families and effects, and had to be provided with transportation to New Orleans and other places. The friends of the Mexican Government saw, with deep regret, the preparations for the evacuation of the line of the Rio Grande by the United States forces. During the occupation the most friendly relations were cultivated and maintained between our army and the Mexican army at Matamoras, then under command of General Cortinas, who adhered to the Mexican Government as represented by President Juarez. The occupation of this line by the United States forces inspired confidence among the friends of Mexican independence and operated as a strong moral power in staying the advance of the French in Northern Mexico. A sentiment of true sympathy, amounting in many cases to regret, pervaded our entire army that our international relations would not permit us at that time to give substantial aid to our sister republic in her struggle against French domination. During the progress of evacuation we were frequently threatened by the enemy. He attacked our pickets and made other demonstrations, but did not venture a general engagement for the possession of the place. On the 28th of July the evacuation of the town and fort took place. The whole command, under General Herron, marched out and camped the first night at San Martino. Afterwards the division halted at White's Ranch, and I was detained with my regiment at that place several days, covering the embarkation of the troops. On the 3d of August, I moved to the Island of Brazos Santiago, and the next day embarked on the steamer Corinthian with orders for New Orleans. Thus the line of the Rio Grande Was abandoned, except that a garrison was left to hold the Island of Santiago. Arrived at New Orleans on the 7th day of August, and was ordered into camp at Carrollton. Here we were much gratified at meeting the officers and men of the regiment who had been captured at the battle of Sterling Farm, on the 29th of September previous, and who had, on the 22d of July, been exchanged and were awaiting our arrival to join, the regiment. Ten officers, and one hundred and seventy enlisted men returned to us at this time. An account of their treatment by the enemy while prisoners, furnished me by S. F. Roderick, senior Captain of the regiment, who was one of their number, Is herewith submitted. . . . [See note 8.]


The report of Captain Roderick describes in detail the hardships endured by himself and the other members of his regiment, while confined in rebel prisons for a period of nearly ten months. They were moved from one place to another, and covered a distance of over 800 miles on foot, during the time they were in the hands of the enemy. The place where they were confined the longest was at Camp Tyler, Texas. This was a stockade, the walls of which were sixteen feet high; there was no shelter or protection of any kind from the weather, except some rude structures of logs and poles, built by the prisoners, and the food furnished was barely sufficient to sustain life. When they were first placed within the stockade they were entirely without shelter, and, for forty-eight hours, without food. They then received ten days' rations of corn meal, but had nothing to put it in, and for over thirty days had no vessels in which to cook the meal furnished them, except what they could borrow from their guards. The weather was cold, only a few of the men had blankets, and all were poorly clad, many of them being without shoes. Of course sickness was the inevitable result of such exposure and lack of food, and medical treatment was entirely inadequate. Near the close of his account Captain Roderick says: "At this time the scenes of human misery and suffering are beyond my power of description, and will only be known when some abler hand than mine shall write the history of the stockade at Tyler, Texas." The capacity for endurance of such hardships among these men of the Nineteenth Iowa was most remarkable, for the account states that, out of the 206 men of the regiment in confinement, there were but two deaths, while one deserted, thirty made their escape and one hundred seventy-three were exchanged [see note 9].

On the 14th of August, the regiment embarked at New Orleans, with orders to proceed to Pensacola, Florida, where it arrived on the 16th, and went into camp. From that place it took part in several expeditions, in one of which it lost one man killed in a skirmish with the enemy. December 6th the regiment again embarked and was conveyed to Fort Gaines, where it remained until the 14th, when it again embarked and, on the 15th, landed at East Pascagoula, Miss., and there joined the troops under command of General Granger, with Whom the regiment co-operated against the enemy. There were frequent skirmishes, but no general engagement, and the regiment sustained no loss. On Dec. 26, 1864, the regiment occupied a fortified position five miles from East Pascagoula, where it remained until the close of the year.

Early in January, 1865, the regiment returned to Pascagoula, where it remained until the close of the month and was then conveyed to Dauphin Island, Ala. Here preparations were begun for the next campaign, the results of which were to prove so important to the cause of the Union. Upon the arrival of the Sixteenth Army Corps from Tennessee, active operations against the enemy began. The regiment was assigned to a brigade composed of the Twentieth Wisconsin, Ninety-fourth Illinois, Twenty-third and Nineteenth Iowa regiments of Infantry and Battery "C" First Missouri Light Artillery. This was the First Brigade of the Second Division of the Thirteenth Army Corps. On the 27th of February the 'troops and camp equipments were conveyed by transports to Navy Cove near Fort Morgan. On the 17th of March the troops moved forward, the Thirteenth Corps taking the advance. The roads and the weather were bad. The men were frequently called upon to assist in getting the artillery over the almost impassable roads. It was hard and toilsome work, but the endurance of the soldiers was equal to the task. On the 22d of March, the advance had reached Fish river when the enemy's cavalry was encountered, but was able to offer only feeble resistance and the column moved on, arriving in front of Spanish Fort on the 26th. On the next day the rest of the army arrived, and by night the fort was completely invested, the First Brigade holding the extreme left of the line. Oh the 27th a general advance was ordered. The Nineteenth Iowa led the advance of its brigade. The enemy made a stubborn resistance, but finally fell back to the fort and its immediate defenses. Then commenced a series of regular siege operations, in which the Nineteenth Iowa performed its full share of duty under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John Bruce, whose official report of the part taken by his regiment is here given, as follows [see note 10]:


Headquarters Nineteenth Regiment, Iowa Infantry Volunteers,
Spanish Fort, Ala., April 14, 1865.

LIEUT. A. J. ROCKWELL, A. A. A. General, First Brigade,
Second Division, Thirteenth Army Corps.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by my regiment in the attack upon and reduction of Spanish Fort and its defenses. On the 27th of March, about noon, I was ordered forward; crossed the creek, deployed in line of battle, advanced Companies A and D in skirmish line through the thick brush, holding my line well out on my left to the bay. After ascending the hill, and in view of the fort, the enemy opened on my line with artillery, wounding a number of my men. Here we hastily threw up a line of works, and in the meantime Faust's Battery came up, opened on the enemy vigorously, and in a short time he ceased to return the fire. I again advanced, under orders, to get a position as near as possible to the enemy's works. The enemy, observing the movement, opened upon me with musketry, from his rifle pits, and from the front. He also opened with his artillery. In the advance I had a number of men killed and wounded. Under cover of the fallen timber, I protected my line as well as I could, while the artillery in my rear was playing with good effect on the rebel works. Darkness came on and I was ordered to throw up a line of defenses where I then was, which I did. After this the operations assumed the nature of a siege. We advanced our lines under cover of the night, by parallels, drove the enemy out of his pits, and occupied them. On the night of the 8th of April, the enemy abandoned his works, and we took possession of them. Annexed to this report, find list of the killed and wounded of my regiment. My casualties were but few after the advance of the first day.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN BRUCE,
Lieut. Col. Nineteenth Iowa Inft., Commanding Regt.


With the fall of Spanish Fort ended the battle history of the Nineteenth Iowa. On the 9th of April, Fort Blakely was captured by the troops under General Steele, and on the night of the 10th, Mobile and all its defenses were evacuated by the enemy. During the following month the regiment was employed, with other troops, in dismantling the forts around Mobile. It then moved to Dauphin Island, and remained there until June 14th, when it was ordered to return to Mobile and, soon after its arrival there, the officers and men were rejoiced by receiving the glad news that they would soon be permitted to return to their homes. On the 10th day of July, 1865, the regiment was mustered out of the service of the United States at Mobile, Alabama; on the 17th it embarked on. steamer for New Orleans, and was conveyed from there to Cairo, Ill., by steamboat, thence by rail to Davenport, Iowa, where it was disbanded Aug. 1, 1865, and the officers and men bade each other good-bye and returned to their homes. The day before the regiment disbanded, its commander issued the following address [see note 11]:


Headquarters Nineteenth Iowa Infantry Volunteers,
Davenport, Iowa, July 31, 1865.

FELLOW SOLDIERS; OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE NINETEENTH REGIMENT, IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

On the eve of separation, it is perhaps no more than proper that I should address to you a few parting words. We have been together for three long, eventful years – years of surpassing interest in the history of our country, and of the world. Inspired by a common patriotic impulse, we joined hands on the altar of our country, and common sufferings, sacrifices and dangers have united us in the affectionate memory of the heart. You have borne yourselves well in the great struggle. No commanding officer has ever spoken of you otherwise than in commendation of your gallant services.

You have endured with patience and fortitude the hardships and dangers to which you have been exposed; you have cheerfully performed every duty required of you, whether on the field of battle or in the pauses of the conflict. You return from the victorious fields of the republic, conscious of having done your part in bearing aloft the banner of your country's nationality, and planting it on every hill and valley throughout the land. You will receive the congratulations of your friends, and a grateful country will not forget your services. Go, then, my comrades, put off the panoply of war, and enter the pursuits of peaceful industry; prove yourselves good citizens, as you have good soldiers. Forget not the principles for which you have victoriously contended, and for preserved life, health, and good government, forget not the debt of gratitude due to Almighty God. With the most profound sentiments of respect for the memories of our honored dead, and the liveliest feelings of kindly regard for all who have survived, I bid you, comrades all, farewell. I part from your command without the consciousness of one unkind feeling toward anyone of you. God bless you and grant you long life and health. May home soon gladden your eyes and cheer your hearts, and may demostic [sic] happiness meet you smiling at your gates.

JOHN BRUCE,
Lieut. Col. Nineteenth Iowa Volunteers.


Well and faithfully have the survivors of this splendid regiment observed the parting injunction of their gallant commander. In their various avocations in life they have remained true to the principles for which they fought. Many of them have answered the last roll call since the close of the great struggle for the preservation of their government, and comparatively few remain to peruse this brief sketch of the service performed by the regiment to which they belonged; but the children of the living and the dead, and their posterity to the latest generation, will refer with just pride to the record of personal service of their ancestors, as shown in the brief paragraphs in connection with their names in the roster which follows this history. The commonwealth of Iowa has, performed a high duty in thus preserving, not only the history of this splendid regiment, but the names of the men who marched and fought under its colors, and brought them back to their state to be placed among the clusters of honored flags which adorn the rotunda of its Capitol. With the lapse of time the Republic for which these brave men fought and suffered will grow stronger and more enduring, and with its growth and strength will increase the love and reverence for the memory of those who, in the time of their country's greatest need, rallied to her defense and saved her from destruction at the hands of a portion of her own rebellious children.


SUMMARY OP CASUALTIES.

Total Enrollment. 1132
Killed 58
Wounded 198
Died of wounds 40
Died of disease 93
Discharged for disease, wounds or other causes 209
Buried in National Cemeteries 85
Captured 216
Transferred 43


[Note 1.] Adjutant General's Report, State of Iowa, Vol. 1, 1863, Original Roster of the Regiment, pages 682 to 717.

[Note 2.] The compiler of this sketch has gleaned much of his material from the carefully prepared histories of the operations of the regiment, found in the reports of the Adjutant General of Iowa, for the years 1864, 1866 and 1867, pages 461 to 466, 284 to 286 and 589 to, 592, written by John Bruce, Major, Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel, Nineteenth Iowa Infantry, and Brevet Colonel and Brigadier General. The student of the military history of Iowa is referred to these histories for a more extended account of the operations of this regiment.

[Note 3.] Report of Adjutant General of Iowa 1864, pages 463-4.

[Note 4.] Report of Adjutant General of Iowa 1866, pages 281-2.

[Note 5.] Report of Adjutant General of Iowa, Vol. 2, 1863, Report, page 832.

[Note 6.] Report of Adjutant General of Iowa for year 1864, pages 461-2.

[Note 7.] Report of Adjutant General of Iowa for year 1864, page 462 and map No. 43, War of the Rebellion Records.

[Note 8.] Report of Adjutant General of Iowa for year 1866, pages 282, 284 and 285.

[Note 9.] Report of Adjutant General of Iowa, 1866, pages 283-4.

[Note 10.] Report of Adjutant General of Iowa for year 1866, page 286.

[Note 11.] Report of Adjutant General of Iowa for year 1867, Vol. 2, page 591.


SOURCE: Roster & Record of Iowa Soldiers During the War of the Rebellion, Volume 3, p. 225-34

Monday, February 15, 2010

Eighth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry

The Eighth Regiment of Iowa Infantry was organized in compliance with the proclamation of the President, dated July 23, 1861, and the proclamation of the Governor of Iowa, calling for the necessary number of volunteers to fill the quota of the State under that call. Davenport was designated as the place of rendezvous for the companies composing the regiment, and they were there mustered into the service of the United States, between the dates of August 31 and September 4, 1861, by Lieut. Alexander Chambers of the regular army. The names of its first Field and Staff and Company Officers will be found in the subjoined roster. The subsequent changes on account of death, wounds, resignation, or whatever cause, will also be found noted in the roster, in the paragraph opposite the name of each officer, together with his record of personal service. Under the provisions and limitations of the act of the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, by authority of which this compilation is made, the sources from which information has been obtained have been mostly from the records and reports forwarded by the officers of the various regiments, and other organizations, to the Adjutant General of the State and, by his clerical force, recorded in many huge volumes. Many of these reports, muster rolls and returns exhibit evidence of great care and minute attention to details, though a considerable number are very imperfect, and in many cases it has been found impossible to give the complete record of individual service. Only brief historical sketches have been provided for, and, laboring under the disadvantage of such limitation, the compiler of this sketch is painfully aware of his inability to do full justice to this regiment, or to any of the Iowa organizations which had a long record of service in the great War of the Rebellion.

The Eighth regiment had the usual experience of those which had preceded it, in the short time it remained in rendezvous at Davenport. Its officers realized the importance of fitting themselves for the responsible duties which they had been called upon to assume, and the necessity of incessant study, in order that they might become capable of imparting to the men under their command such instruction as would, at the earliest possible moment, enable them to perform the active duties of soldiers in time of war.

The time for such preparation was exceedingly limited, and being without arms or uniforms, and supplied with only the most crude camp equipage, they were in a raw and unprepared condition when, on the night of September 24, 1861, orders were received to be in readiness to embark early the next morning for St. Louis. The order was promptly obeyed, and the regiment was soon on board the steamer "Jenny Whipple" and on its way south.

At Keokuk, arms of poor quality, but the best the government was at that time able to procure for its fast increasing army, were issued, and the regiment proceeded on its way. Arriving at St. Louis, it disembarked and marched to Benton Barracks, where troops were being rapidly concentrated, and instructed and equipped as fast as possible for the arduous work which was before them. The time was utilized to the best advantage, and on October 15th the regiment left St. Louis, on board flat cars, and proceeded to Syracuse, Mo. The regiment was fortunate in having for its first commander a capable and thoroughly trained soldier of the regular army, Col. Frederick Steele*, who insisted upon good discipline, which the men could not at that time appreciate as they did later, when they came to understand more fully the necessity for it.

On the 21st of October, the regiment began the march to Springfield, Mo., with Lieutenant Colonel Geddes** in command, Colonel Steele having been assigned to the command of a brigade. On this march the men suffered greatly, not having become inured to the hardships of a soldier's life, and unable to care for themselves under such conditions, which, at a later period, those who had the physical vigor to enable them to survive these early privations had learned to do. The regiment remained at Springfield until November 4th, when it marched to Sedalia, Mo., again enduring great hardship from exposure. Two companies, E and K, were sent to Fort Leavenworth as guard to a drove of cattle and a wagon train conveying supplies. The other eight companies remained at Sedalia during the winter, to which place the two companies on detached service did not return until about the first of March. This winter campaign in Missouri cost the regiment many valuable lives, while many more were permanently disabled and subsequently discharged. It is a well known fact that, in the first year of the war, more deaths and disabilities resulted from sickness than from conflict with the enemy upon the battlefield. While there may 'have been some exceptions, this statement would apply to most of the early regiments from Iowa. The men who thus suffered and died, and those who were so enfeebled as to be no longer able to serve, are entitled to the same honor as those who were killed and wounded in battle.

March 11, 1862, the regiment was ordered to St. Louis, and from there it was conveyed by boat to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn. On its way up the Tennessee river the boat was fired into by rebels concealed in the woods, and two men were killed and three wounded. Upon its arrival at Pittsburg Landing, the regiment went into camp and was assigned to the Third Brigade of the Second Division, Army of the Tennessee. The brigade was under command of Col. T. W. Sweeny, and the division was commanded by Brig. Gen. W. H. L. Wallace. In this great battle, the Eighth Iowa Infantry rendered such conspicuous and important service, and suffered such great loss, that the compiler of this sketch feels impelled to quote here the complete official report of its commanding officer, notwithstanding the fact that it will necessitate making only brief quotations from later official reports.


VINTON, BENTON COUNTY, IOWA, Nov. 13, 1862.

SIR: In compliance with your request, I have the honor to submit for your information a report of the part taken by the Eighth Iowa Infantry at the battle of Shiloh, fought on April 6, 1862. About 8 o'clock on the morning of the 6th, I ordered the regiment under arms, and formed line of battle in front of my encampment, awaiting orders to proceed to the front. At this time, the firing on our advanced line had become general, and it appeared to me evident that we were being attacked in force by the rebel general. After remaining under arms about half an hour, during which time I had ordered the baggage belonging to the regiment to be loaded on the wagons, and an extra supply of ammunition to be issued to the men, I was ordered by Colonel Sweeny, brigade commander, to proceed to the front. On arriving at our advanced line, I was ordered by Colonel Sweeny to take position on the left of the brigade to which I was attached, for the purpose of protecting a battery immediately in front. Here the regiment remained about one hour, exposed to a severe fire from artillery of shell and grape, killing and wounding several of my men. About 11 A. M., I was ordered by Colonel Sweeny, through his aid, Lieutenant McCullough, of the Eighth Iowa, to leave my position, and take ground to my left and front. This change of position brought my regiment on the extreme right of General Prentiss' division, and left of General Smith's, the latter being the division to which my regiment belonged. I was thus entirely detached from my brigade, nor did I receive any order from my brigade or division commander during the remainder of that day. On arriving at the point I was ordered to defend I formed my regiment in line of battle, with my center resting on a road leading from Corinth to Pittsburg Landing, and at right angles with my line. Here I immediately engaged a battalion of the enemy, and after a severe conflict of nearly an hour's duration, in which I lost many of my men, the enemy were driven back with heavy loss. At this time Captain Hogin, Company F, was killed and Captain Palmer, Company H, severely wounded. About 1 P. M. General Prentiss placed a battery in position immediately in front of my regiment, with instructions to defend it to the last. The precision of its fire, which was directed by the General in person, made great havoc in the advancing columns of the enemy. It therefore became an object of great importance to gain possession of the battery. To this end they concentrated and hurled column after column on my position, charging most gallantly to the very muzzles of the guns. Here a struggle commenced for the retention and possession of the battery, of a terrific character, their concentrated and well directed fire decimating my ranks in a fearful manner. In this desperate struggle my regiment lost 100 men in killed and wounded.

The conspicuous gallantry and coolness of my company commanders, Captains Cleaveland, Stubbs and Benson on the left; Captains McCormick and Bell in the center, and Captains Kelsey and Geddes, and Lieutenant Muhs on the right, by reserving the fire of their respective companies until the proper time for its delivery with effect, and the determined courage of my men, saved the battery from capture, and I had the satisfaction of sending the guns in safety to the rear. In this attack, I was wounded in the leg, and Major Andrews severely in the head, and I do here take pleasure in acknowledging the courage and coolness displayed by my field officers, Lieut. Col. J. C. Ferguson and Major J. Andrews, and the able assistance rendered by them on that occasion. About 3 P. M. all direct communication with the; river ceased, and it became evident to me that the enemy were driving the right and left flanks of our army, and were rapidly closing behind us. At this time, I could have retreated, and most probably would have saved my command from being captured, had I, at this time, been ordered back,, but I received no such order, and I considered it my duty to hold the position I was assigned to defend, at all hazards.

General Prentiss' division having been thrown back from the original line, I changed front by my left flank, conforming to his movement, and at right angles with my former base, which was immediately occupied and retained for some time by the Fourteenth Iowa, Colonel Shaw. In this position, I ordered my regiment, to charge a battalion of the enemy (I think the Fourth Mississippi), which was "done in good order, completely routing them. We were now attacked on three sides by the rebel force, which was closing fast around us. The shells from our gunboats, in their transit, severing the limbs of trees, hurled them on my ranks. It now became absolutely necessary, to prevent annihilation, to leave a position which my regiment had held for nearly ten consecutive hours of severe fighting, successfully resisting and driving back the enemy in every attempt to take the position I was ordered to hold and defend — with a loss of near two hundred in killed and wounded — I ordered my regiment to retire. On retiring about three hundred yards, I found a division of the rebels, under General Polk, thrown completely across my line of retreat. I perceived that further resistance was useless, as we were now completely surrounded. Myself, and the major portion of my command, were captured at 6 P. M. of that day, and I claim the honor for my regiment of being the last to leave the advanced line of our army, on the battlefield of Shiloh, on Sunday, April 6, 1862.

I cannot conclude this report without bearing testimony to the gentlemanly conduct and dignified bearing of my officers and men during their captivity. Our captors had felt the effects, and well knew the courage of my regiment in the field, but had yet to learn they could conduct themselves as well under other and very trying circumstances. Not having received any reliable information as to the true amount of casualties at the battle, and during our imprisonment, I shall forward an official list, as soon as practicable, of killed and wounded, and of such as died in southern prisons, through privation and neglect. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. L. GEDDES,
Colonel Eighth Iowa Infantry.

His Excellency,
Samuel J. Kirkwood,
Governor of Iowa.


The morning reports, published officially, show that the Third Brigade of the Second Division had 2,131 present for duty on the morning of April 6th, and the official reports of casualties in the battle show that the brigade suffered a loss of 1,247, or about 60 per cent of the entire number engaged. Of this number, the Eighth Iowa lost 493.

There were six regiments in the brigade and its total loss was about 60 per cent of the entire number engaged, while the loss of the Eighth Iowa Infantry, which fought detached from its brigade, exceeded 80 per cent of its number engaged, in killed, wounded and captured. The highest duty of a soldier is implicit obedience to orders. Colonel Geddes, when confronted with the fact that the troops upon his right and left flanks were being driven back, but receiving no order to retreat, simply changed front at right angles with his former line, conforming to the movements of the remnant of General Prentiss' division, and stubbornly continued to hold his ground. To these troops, then acting under the orders of General Prentiss, is due the credit of delaying the advance of the rebel forces in their front long enough to enable the scattered and disintegrated Union forces in their rear to rally and form the line of last resistance, as night was fast coming on, on that hard fought first day's battle at Shiloh.

The truth of history demands that the credit of saving the day for the Union army at Shiloh be given to those gallant regiments (three of them from Iowa) who so gallantly stood their ground, without hope of reinforcement, and with the full knowledge that it was only a question of time when they would be completely surrounded by overwhelming numbers, and compelled to surrender. To concede this honor is no discredit to the gallant men who, profiting by the delay thus afforded, rallied behind the concentrated Union artillery, and hurled death and destruction upon the advancing columns of the enemy, and at last turned what had seemed certain defeat into victory.

Almost the entire number of the Eighth Iowa Infantry which had gone into action on that Sunday morning, and had escaped being killed, were captured, and entered upon a long and weary term of imprisonment, during which many of them died. Most of those who were wounded before the enemy got in the rear of the regiment had been sent to the field hospitals, but those who were wounded later, and were considered by the enemy able to be moved, were compelled to go along with the prisoners, and many of them died in prison. The few who succeeded in eluding the enemy in the confusion and darkness of that first night, together with those who had been sick in hospital, on detached duty and furlough, when the battle was fought, were afterwards placed in an organization called the "Union Brigade," in which they remained until the captured officers and men were exchanged, when the brigade was disbanded and they rejoined the regiment. A sketch of the operations of the Union Brigade will be found in its appropriate place in this work, in which the history of service of the officers and men of the Eighth Iowa Infantry who served with that organization will be found. The prisoners were paroled October 18th, and exchanged November 10, 1862.

During the winter of 1862-3, the regiment was re-organized at St. Louis, and was sent from there to Rolla, Mo., where it spent the remainder of the winter. In the spring it returned to St. Louis and was sent to Vicksburg, where it arrived about April 1st and was assigned to the Third Brigade of the Third Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, commanded by Gen. W. T. Sherman. Early in May it participated in that brilliant series of movements around Vicksburg ending in the assault upon Jackson, and then marched to Vicksburg and became part of the investing force up to the 22d of June. During this time it participated in the siege operations carried on by its brigade, and took part in the assault on the rebel works on the 22d of May. June 22d it became part of the force, under the command of Gen. W. T. Sherman, constituting a line of circumvallation to guard against the threatened attack of the rebel General Johnston's army and the re-inforcement of the rebel forces under General Pemberton, then defending the formidable forts and earthworks around Vicksburg. The regiment remained on this duty until the surrender of the rebel stronghold on July 4th. Immediately after the surrender, the regiment was ordered, with the other troops under Sherman, to go in pursuit of Johnston, who was retreating towards Jackson. They participated in the operations which led up to the short siege and subsequent evacuation of that place on July 17, 1863. It then became part of a force under General Steele which drove the enemy out of Brandon, Miss., and captured that place. At the conclusion of Colonel Geddes' official report of the operation of this regiment during the Vicksburg campaign, he says: "From the 2d of May to the 25th of July, we marched without tents or transportation, over three hundred miles, engaged the enemy at Vicksburg, twice at Jackson, and at Brandon, and, although during the operations of this ever memorable campaign, both officers and men of the regiment suffered much exposure and hardship of a very trying character, they endured all without a murmur, and with a fortitude which elicited on several occasions the unreserved commendations of the commanding general."

Sherman's army soon after started for Chattanooga, but the Third Division of the Fifteenth Corps was left.to guard the railroad. The Eighth Iowa was stationed at Pocahontas, Tenn., from the last of October, 1863, to the first of January, 1864, on which date three-fourths of the men re-enlisted as veterans.

The following month General Sherman organized the famous Meridian expedition, which penetrated far into the interior of Mississippi and inflicted great damage upon the enemy in the destruction of railroads and immense quantities of supplies which were found stored at Meridian. The Eighth Iowa Infantry participated in this remarkable expedition, marched over three hundred miles and bivouacked in the open air, living upon such provisions as could be gathered from the country through which they marched. Returning to Vicksburg, the re-enlisted veterans were sent to their homes in Iowa on furlough, while the non-veterans participated in the ill-fated Red River expedition, in which they performed good service and suffered great hardships. The veterans returned to Memphis, Tenn., at the close of their thirty days' furlough, and upon their arrival there were assigned to provost guard duty under the command of Lieut. Col. W. B. Bell, Colonel Geddes being at the same time appointed Provost Marshal of the District of West Tennessee. In the discharge of this important duty, the regiment won the commendation of General Marcy, Inspector General United States Army, who pronounced it equal in equipment and discipline to any regiment in the volunteer or regular army. It was while performing this duty that the regiment had a severe engagement with the rebel General Forrest's cavalry which made a daring raid into the city of Memphis on the 21st day of August, 1864, and at 4 o'clock in the morning had made its way into the very center of the city.

The following extracts from the official report of Lieut. Col. W. B. Bell will show how well the troops under his command acquitted themselves in defeating and driving the rebels from the city and pursuing them into the adjacent country:

When the first alarm was given, by the enemy firing on the streets, my command turned out promptly from their several barracks throughout the city, and skirmished with the enemy wherever they found him, killing and wounding several, and taking six prisoners. Lieut. D. W. Stearns, with the headquarters' guards, numbering twenty men, attacked a force of the enemy who were attempting to release the prisoners in Irving Block, and, in connection with the prison guard, drove them off. A few minutes afterwards, I arrived at regimental headquarters. Adjutant Campbell had already ordered Company C and Headquarters' guard to report at regimental headquarters.

In compliance with General Buckland's order, I pursued the enemy with the Headquarters' guard commanded by Lieutenant Stearns, and Company C commanded by Lieutenant Boyer, leaving Major Stubbs and Adjutant Campbell to assemble the balance of the regiment.
On crossing Beal street, I was joined by Company F, commanded by Lieutenant Irwin, which increased my command to seventy men. With this force, I moved briskly forward after the enemy, who were retiring on the Hernando road. On arriving at the mouth of a lane, I sent forward a line of skirmishers under Lieutenant Stearns and advanced in line of battle for some distance, when my skirmishers were driven in.

Sergeant Ostrander and privates A. M. Walling, I. E. Newman, Charles Smith and Peny Clark watched their opportunity, and fired a volley on the flank of the enemy, killing the rebel captain Lundy, and wounding several others. Then by making a circuit they safely joined their command. At this time General Dustan came up and assigned to my command fifty of the One Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois, commanded by Lieutenant Chatfield. I then moved forward some distance, halted, formed line of battle, and moved through the orchard on the left side of the road, and into the woods a short distance beyond, when we met the enemy, and firing commenced on both sides about the same time. A brisk, spirited, and severe engagement ensued. * * *

During the engagement, the troops under my command, one and all, behaved gallantly. Captain Geddes, who was on detached service, joined my command at the first, and throughout the engagement did good service. By the death of Lieutenant Irwin, who fell bravely leading his company, the regiment lost a good soldier, a pleasant companion, and an excellent man. Annexed is a full list of casualties.


In this engagement the regiment's loss was 43, which, considering the fact that only a small portion of the regiment was engaged, was very heavy. Lieutenant Colonel Bell moved promptly with the few men he found to be immediately available, and rendered most important service in promptly moving to the attack without waiting to rally his entire regiment. The regiment remained in Memphis until in January, 1865, when it was ordered to New Orleans, where it was encamped for some time on the old battlefield eight miles below the city. It next took passage for Mobile and, shortly after its arrival there, joined General Canby's army. The regiment was now a part of the Third Brigade, Third Division of the Sixteenth Army Corps, and its brigade was under the command of its colonel, James L. Geddes, while the regiment was commanded by Lieut. Col. W. B. Bell. The maneuvers leading up to the beginning of the siege of Spanish Fort were participated in by the Eighth Iowa; and in the siege operations, lasting from March 27th until April 8, 1865, when the assault was made and the fort captured, the regiment bore a most conspicuous part and suffered heavy loss. Lieutenant Colonel Bell gives a graphic account of the terrific fighting during the assault, and the desperate resistance made by the enemy. After describing in detail the passage of his regiment through an almost impassable swamp, during which it was under a heavy fire from the enemy, he says:

As soon as the regiment gained the crest of the hill, where our skirmishers were, the fight commenced in full force, but of such a character that it is difficult to describe. The regiment moved by the right flank in rear of the enemy's rifle pits, and carried them for a distance of 500 yards, either killing, wounding, or capturing the entire force of the enemy occupying the same. One thing that was very much in our favor was, the enemy's works, from their extreme left for a considerable distance up, consisted of a series of small pits, without direct connection with each other. This enabled us to attack them in detail, and we had carried a considerable portion of their works before their main force was aware that we had turned their left. We here witnessed the spectacle of dying in the last ditch, as quite a number of the rebels refused to surrender, and were shot in their ditches, and on the other hand, quite a number of them who were taken prisoners ought, in justice to our men, to have been killed, as they would first fire at our men after being ordered to surrender, then throw up both hands and surrender. * * * Soon after this, Colonel Geddes came up and directed me to place my command outside the enemy's works, and — facing toward them, and using them for breastworks — to throw out a company as skirmishers to my right and front, which orders were promptly complied with. * * * Soon after this, Captain Kettenring, of my command, in charge of the skirmish line, reported the enemy advancing in heavy column. They advanced within thirty or forty yards of us, calling out, "We surrender," and then fired on us. When they got within twenty-five yards of us, I ordered my command to fire and fix bayonets, which was done with a will. The enemy broke and ran, but soon after rallied and returned, and when within fifty yards of us halted. I ordered two companies to give them a volley, which caused them to break, and we saw them no more. Soon after this Colonel Geddes returned, formed his brigade and marched it through the fort, and to the bay beyond, after which, by his directions, I moved my command to camp. I claim for my regiment the honor of making the attack, and of being the only regiment that engaged the enemy inside of his works, also of capturing three stands of colors, five pieces of artillery, and four hundred and fifty prisoners, seven of them commissioned officers. * * *

Where all do their duty it is a difficult and delicate matter to make any discrimination. The several companies of the regiment were commanded by the following officers: Company A, Captain Muhs; Company B, Captain Kettenring; Company E, Lieutenant Clark; Company F, Lieutenant Harper; Company G, Lieutenant Vineyard; Company H, Lieutenant Bell; Company I, Sergeant Taylor; Company K, Captain Weeks. I would respectfully present to the favorable notice of the Colonel commanding brigade, the following named officers: Capt. Henry Muhs, who was conspicuous for his coolness while in command of the skirmish line; Lieut. Henry Vineyard, commanding Company G, in skirmish line, who was wounded in the arm early in the engagement, but continued in command of his company, until he received a wound which broke his leg, and will probably prove fatal; Captain Weeks, who was conspicuous for his bravery throughout the engagement; Captain Kettenring, who was severely wounded while bravely leading his company; Lieutenant Gardiner, who took command of his company after Captain Kettenring was wounded, and led it through the engagement with ability, and Sergeant Betz, Company G, who took command of his company after Lieutenant Vineyard was wounded, and handled it well. I am under obligations to Adjutant Marsden for valuable assistance rendered me in communicating instructions to the command. In addition to the names above mentioned, many enlisted men deserve honorable mention, but they are so numerous that it would make this report too voluminous.


Then follows the long list of the killed and wounded, another addition to the total record of its losses, that had now grown to an aggregate of fearful proportions. But the fighting days of this gallant regiment were now practically ended. The non-veterans (those who had not re-enlisted) had been mustered out of the service at the expiration of their original three years' term, and the regiment was now designated as the "Eighth Iowa Veteran Infantry Volunteers." And they had fully earned the title of veterans. The remainder of its service was in doing garrison and guard duty at different points in the South. From Mobile it was sent to Montgomery, Alabama, the place in which some of its members had been confined in prison after the battle of Shiloh. Prom Montgomery it was sent to Tuscaloosa and, during the winter of 1866, it was stationed at Selma, another point which many of the survivors had good reason to remember, on account of their experience in prison there.

On the 20th of April, 1866, the regiment was mustered out of the service at Selma, Alabama, after serving a 'little over four years and eight months. It was the last regiment from Iowa to be mustered out of the service. Among all the splendid volunteer organizations which Iowa sent into the field during the great War of the Rebellion, none reflected greater honor upon the State than the Eighth Iowa Infantry. At the time this sketch is written only a small number of the men who once marched and fought with this gallant regiment are living, and, a few years hence, none will be left to tell the story of their long and faithful service to their country, but the compiler of this sketch will hope that he has been able to preserve for their posterity, as well as for all the coming generations of the patriotic sons and daughters of Iowa, the most important events in the history of the regiment, and that in the subjoined roster they will find a record of individual service of progenitors that will be held as a priceless legacy.


SUMMARY OF CASUALTIES.

Total enrollment 1589
Killed 50
Wounded 228
Died of Wounds 45
Died of Disease 141
Discharged for wounds, disease and other causes 340
Buried in National Cemeteries 91
Captured . 394
Transferred 50


* Col. Frederick Steele was promoted to Brigadier General Feb. 1, 1862.

** Lieut. Col. J. L. Geddes was promoted to Colonel Feb. 7, 1862, and succeeded Colonel Steele in command of regiment.


SOUCE: Roster & Record of Iowa Soldiers During the War of the Rebellion, Volume 1, p. 1061-9