Colonel Jacob Lauman to his wife Louise D. (Viele) Lauman, February 17, 1862

FORT DONELSON, TENNESSEE, Feb. 17, 1862.

Dear Wife:

I am again safe. My life is still prolonged. Let me hope it is for some good purpose. We have had a great battle, the fight lasting for three days, but you will hear of it, and the great result to flow out of it long before this reaches you.

I commanded the Fourth brigade of the Second division, and my command made their mark. * * * Poor Jack Slaymaker was killed, gallantly leading his men to the charge on the last day — indeed, the only day the Second were in the engagement. Capt. Cloutman fell, also bravely doing his duty. Harry [Doolittle] was wounded very severely, but the surgeons say he will recover. I left my command to see him and poor Jack last evening. I have ordered Jack's remains to be properly cared for, to send home to his parents, and will see that it is done properly, although my time is so occupied I have scarcely time to write this note, nor do I know when or how it will leave here. I am now in command of Fort Donelson, and my brigade are quartered in the fortifications. We will be ordered forward soon, I hope, and I sincerely trust our success will be the harbinger of a speedy close of the horrid rebellion. I received your two letters just before we were ordered into action, and I had to laugh over your congratulations at my good quarters in Smithland, when for two nights I had been camped under a tree, and it raining and snowing on me, without a tent. But my health is improving. My cold under which I have been suffering is getting better, and I am able to endure a great deal of hardship.

Gen. Smith (Paducah Smith) is a good soldier. The reputation of the Iowa Seventh is as bright as ever, although their loss is trifling. The state may well be proud of their troops.

I lost all of my bedding yesterday, and doubt very much if I find it again. We marched out of camp leaving everything behind, and our friends helped themselves. I will look after Harry — I think he will do well. Dr. Marsh says the wound in his stomach did not penetrate far enough to do any serious injury. I trust this may be so. He is in good spirits, and bore his flag like a hero. Love to all. Good bye.

Yours affectionately,

J. G. Lauman.

SOURCES: Army Service Schools Press, Donelson Campaign Sources Supplementing Volume 7 Of The Official Records Of The Union And Confederate Armies  In The War Of The Rebellion, p. 160-1; Samuel H. M. Byers, Iowa In War Times, p. 104-5

Colonel Jacob Lauman to His Brother, February 19, 1862

FORT DONELSON, TENNESSEE, Feb. 19, 1862.

DEAR BROTHER:

The battle is fought, the dead are buried and the wounded cared for, and we are again settling down to the old routine of military discipline. But what a scene we have passed through, and what a victory we have won! We have already sent off eight or nine thousand prisoners, and we have more yet to send. But such a lot of humanity I never saw before — all butternut color; but they can shoot, as many of our boys can testify.

I have made my report to Gen. Smith, which I suppose will be published, and before this reaches you, you will know more about the battle than I do. I have already seen that the Iowa Seventh was all cut up on the first day's fight. I hope you did not let any of these reports disturb you. We had a hard time. For three nights we lay in the open air without tents, and some without blankets, raining and snowing all night. The last night we remained under arms all night, prepared to repel an assault; but when morning came — and oh! how long it was in coming — the enemy attracted our attention to their white flag, and I received proposals for capitulation, which we promptly forwarded to Gen. Smith, and through him to Gen. Grant. Gen. Grant refused terms and insisted on unconditional surrender, and an hour was given them to consider. At the end of that time the loud shouts of the men gave indications that the surrender was unconditional. Then commenced the rejoicings. I claimed for my brigade the right to enter first, which was accorded; when with drums beating and colors flying we entered the fort. The Rebels were drawn up in line, with their arms in great heaps, and looked quite woe-begone, I assure you, as the victors passed along.

My brigade is in the fort, of which I have command. Gen. Smith's division is quartered all around about. The fortifications extend over the country for miles, and the other divisions of the army encamped at other points. The greatest loss was on our right, in McClernand's division. The enemy endeavored to cut through at that point, and fought with great desperation — loss very heavy. But you know all this and more, and this will be stale news to you. I found the pistols I lost at Belmont at Fort Donelson, or others just as good.

Capt. Rhiza will return to Burlington, he informed me today, for a short time. So he informed me, but he may not be able to get off. If he does, I will send a flag, secesh, captured in the fort. They either destroyed or secreted their flags, as none could be found. I have not yet seen the reports of my commanding officer, but Gen. Grant has caused a highly complimentary order to be read to the troops. Gen. Smith is a good officer, and as brave as a lion. I am proud to be under him. I had a good brigade, and I believe they like me. I hope the rebellion will receive such a shock from this that they will not be able to hold up their heads for some time to come. I am obliged to Jennie for her kind and very acceptable letter, and hope she will write again. I received a letter from Gov. Kirkwood covering the resolutions of the legislature of Iowa, and had them read to my regiment last evening. Tell Lou that Harry Doolittle is doing well. I went to the boat to see him, but it had started before I got there. He will remain for the present at Paducah, I suppose. I met, as I was on my way to Dover, where the boat was lying, Drs. Marsh and Nassau of Iowa Second, who gave me this information. Among the hundreds of wounded and dead, it is almost impossible to keep the whereabouts of anyone. I must now bring this to a close. Let Lou see this and it will be the same as though I had written to her. Capt. Slaymaker's remains were forwarded to St. Louis for preparation to send home. I cut off a lock of his hair and sent it to Betty for his friends, fearing something might occur that the coffin could not be opened when it got home. Give my love to all, and if anything should befall me, take good care of wife and little ones, and believe me to be your affectionate brother,

JACOB.

SOURCES: Army Service Schools Press, Donelson Campaign Sources Supplementing Volume 7 Of The Official Records Of The Union And Confederate Armies  In The War Of The Rebellion, p. 161-2; Samuel H. M. Byers, Iowa In War Times, p. 105-6

We are indebted to . . .

. . . W. Scofield, A. A. A. General, for Colonel Lauman’s Report and for a list of the casualties in the 7^th and 14^th Regiments Iowa volunteers, and to Dr. W. R. Marsh, Surgeon 2d Iowa for a list of the casualties in this Regiment.  Of course these reports came by mail.  We have long since ceased to look for any such thing by telegraph.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 1

From The 2d Iowa Regiment

FORT DONELSON, March 1, 1862.

MR. EDITOR:– To “go away from home to learn the news” is emphatically true, as relates to this locality.  Although it is now two weeks since the fight at this place, which resulted so gloriously in replanting the old flag in this part of secessia, we have been unable to get a glimpse of a newspaper to learn what has been going on, except in one or two instances, were we were fortunate enough to get hold of a well thumbed edition of a Chicago daily, whose cash valuation exceeded by far the amount to be discovered in the pockets of any one solder found in these parts since pay-day.  We could well bear this privation if we could get an occasional glimpse of our old friend the Gazette, which despite our many inquiries of the Post-master, fails to come to hand.  In fact the last copy we have received bears the date of Feb. 15^th, which in this age of steam, we are compelled to say is very much behind time.

Since I last wrote you there has been no change in the location of the Iowa Regiments.  The 2d, 7^th, 12^th and 14^th, all that have been here, yet remain, and from appearances there is no immediate forward movement in contemplation as far as I can see.  A portion of Gen. Buell’s division have passed here within the last few days en route for Nashville, and as we understand the rebels intend making a stand, a few miles inland from the above named place, we may expect to hear of a battle, and I guess another rebel defeat.  With the exception of about twenty regiments, which remain to hold this important point, all our forces which were here at the battle, with additional forces which arrived here since that time, have gone up the river, to what point, or what for, we cannot learn until we get a late newspaper.

The boys are all taking a rest since the battle, and we are happy to state, from reports from below, that our wounded are well taken care of at the different Hospitals, and are doing well, being cared for as though they were at home; this in a very great degree, is attributable to the promptness with which the friends at home of the various companies engaged in the fight, responded when notified by the telegraph that Fort Donelson was taken.

During the past week, we have visiting us, delegations of citizens and officials, from Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa.  Among the number from our own state is, His Excellency Gov. Kirkwood, Surgeon Gen. Hughes, Hon. Mr. Kellogg of the House, and Dr. McCarn of your city, whose cheerful countenance was gladly welcomed by his old friends, the members of Cos. B, and C.  He arrived her on the 27^th, and since that them has been busily engaged in ascertaining the wants and conditions of the Iowa boys; particularly those hailing from our town.  Today he intends ascertain the possibility of removing the bodies of our gallant dead, to Davenport.  It is likely he will take the bodies of Messrs. Page, and Guthrie of Co. B, and Howell, and Peterson of Co. C, back with him.  The Dr. spent yesterday and last night with us, and this morning I had the pleasure of riding around these most extensive fortifications with him, and of pointing out the different places where the Federal troops attempted to make a breach in the rebel lines, and the place where the Iowa 2d did make the breach, which turned the scale of the battle in our favor.  He expressed great surprise, as all do who visit this spot, - that any body of men could cross the enemies entrenchments without being almost annihilated.

The presence of Gov. Kirkwood was warmly greeted by the Iowa Troops.  He visited the quarters of the different regiments and congratulated the men for their gallantry and success.  Thursday evening he spent at our Regimental Head Quarters, and in response to a serenade from our brass band, made an appropriate little speech, which was enthusiastically received, by the Iowa 2d.  Surgeon Gen. Hughes, Hon. Mr. Kellogg, Col. Tuttle, Lieut. Col Baker, and Dr. Marsh, also answered in like manner to the calls of the crowd.  Our Iowa visitors also honored our dress parade with their presence and expressed much gratification at our proficiency in drill and discipline.

At the solicitation of the Governor, Col. Tuttle gave him our regimental colors to take home with him, to be place in the Hall of Representatives, where all can see the veritable stars and stripes, which first waved over the entrenchments of Fort Donelson, planted they by the gallant sons of the Hawkeye State.

We understand a former resident of Davenport, in the person of Capt. Schuyler, was among the rebels who escaped on the boat with the notorious Floyd, who made such an inglorious retreat, leaving so many of the chivalry of the South to our tender mercies.  We rather guess he heard the Davenport boys were about, and had not impudence enough to stay and meet those from whose friends he had received so many kindnesses.  He may not be so lucky next time.

Affairs hereabout are beginning to assume regularity.  The regiments are settled down to regular camp duty, and are anxious as ever to meet the foe and wipe out the last vestige of rebellion.  It is generally conceded that the backbone of secession, if not broken short off, is seriously dislocated, and beyond the help of Southern surgery.

We understand by the gentlemen from below that Cairo is crowded with the friends of the troops here, who started from home for the purpose of visiting Fort Donelson, but were stopped by the peremptory order of Gen. Grant, which forbids civilians from visiting this place at the present time. – Although this may seem harsh, it is evidently proper, as the great rush would interfere much with the discipline and general routine of military duties.  Among the number there, are many of the officers’ wives, who no doubt are greatly disappointed and indignant that they are denied the privilege of seeing their dears.  All such can expend their sympathy with the wounded and sick soldiers at Cairo and Mound City.

Among the trophies left behind, by the enemy in surrendering this place, are any amount of “love letters” which tender missiles cause the boys much amusement, and of which Capt. Bob, and Orderly Suiter have a sufficient number saved up for future reference, to be dealt out as occasion may require.

Among the arrivals from below I recognize the Clerk of the Court for Scott County.

Hoping to receive a Davenport GAZETTE soon.

I remain as ever,

Jules.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, March 8, 1862, p. 2