COLONEL JOHN SHANE

SECOND COLONEL, THIRTEENTH INFANTRY.

John Shane was born in the county of Jefferson, Ohio, on the 26th of May, 1822, and was educated at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania. After graduating, he taught school for a few years in Kentucky, and then, returning to Ohio, studied law in the office of E. M. Stanton, Esq., now our honored Secretary of War. He was admitted to the bar at Steubenville, in 1848, where he continued in the practice till the year 1855, when he removed to Vinton, Benton county, Iowa, his present home.

Colonel Shane volunteered as a private in Company G, 13th Iowa Infantry; and, on its organization, was elected its captain. This rank he held till the 30th of October, 1861, when he was elected to the majority of his regiment. At the battle of Shiloh, both Lieutenant-Colonel Price and Major Shane were severely wounded. The former soon after resigning his commission, Major Shane was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy. On the 13th of March, 1863, he succeeded General Crocker to the colonelcy of the 13th Iowa Infantry, which position he retained till the expiration of his three years' term of service. The principal portion of the history of this gallant regiment has been made under Colonel Shane; for, with the exception of Shiloh, it was under his command in all its engagements, prior to the fall of Atlanta. It is, however, but proper to state that, for several months after Colonel Crocker left his regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Shane was indebted to him for its marked efficiency; for, although in command of a brigade and nominally absent, the colonel was really the commanding officer of the regiment.

I need not record in full the services of the 13th Iowa, for they are given elsewhere, in connection with the histories of the other regiments of the Iowa Brigade. Dating from the middle of April, 1862, the records of these regiments are almost precisely the same.

Returning from General Grant's march into Central Mississippi in the winter of 1862-3, the 13th Iowa, with its brigade, returned to the line of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, and, for a few weeks, went into camp at La Fayette, Tennessee. About the 20th of January, the brigade marched to Memphis, and on the 22d left that city on transports for Young's Point, Louisiana. Here the regiment remained for several weeks, furnishing heavy details to work on the celebrated Vicksburg Canal, which taps the Mississippi just below Young's Point. The services of the 13th Iowa and of the Iowa Brigade were, from this time till the following September, of the most annoying and fatiguing nature.

In the complicated movements around Vicksburg, which attended its investment and capture, the regiment acted a prominent part; though the services performed were of such a nature as not to challenge special notice. General McArthur's Division, to which the Iowa Brigade was attached, was the last of the 17th Corps to leave the river above Vicksburg, in the march across the country to the river below that city. By the time this division had reached a point opposite Grand Gulf, the brilliant successes of General McClernand and two divisions of General McPherson's Corps had compelled the evacuation of this point; and all that was now required of McArthur was to cross the river, and take possession of the place. This happened on the 6th of May, and, from that date until after the battles of Champion's Hill and Big Black River Bridge, Grand Gulf was held by the Iowa Brigade, and made a sort of base from which Grant's army received its supplies, and where all surplus baggage was stored.

There is an amusing and honest story connected with the occupation of Grand Gulf. Admiral D. D. Porter, since become celebrated on the coast of the Atlantic, had tried nearly one whole day to reduce this strong-hold, with his gun-boat fleet; but he so far failed as not to silence a single gun. He still watched in the vicinity, and, when the garrison, flanked by McClernand and McPherson, were compelled to evacuate, at once entered and occupied the works, and labeled upon the breech of every gun, "Captured by Admiral D. D. Porter, May 6th, 1863." I suppose Admiral Porter did well at Fort Fisher, as, indeed, he did on the Mississippi; but, though he is a brave and efficient officer, General Ben. Butler is not the only one who has had occasion to "blow the froth from his lively porter."

On the 19th of May, at mid-night, the Iowa Brigade was ordered back by forced marches across the neck of land to Young's Point, and sent by boat up the Yazoo, to the assistance of Sherman; but, on its arrival, it was learned that Sherman had sufficient force, and it was ordered again to the left. It retraced its weary steps, and, crossing the Mississippi River near Warrenton, marched to the front, arriving on the evening of the memorable 22d of May, but too late to participate in the general charge.

What is true of the position of Grant's forces before Vicksburg, on the morning of the 22d of May, is not generally known. The left of McClernand's Corps did not extend to the river below the city. A strip of country nearly seven miles in width, between McClernand's left and the river, was held by the enemy; and it was this gap in the line, which McArthur was ordered to fill, and which, when filled, completed the investment of Vicksburg. In coming into this position, the Iowa Brigade skirmished nearly the entire day of the 22d, and, as I have said, arrived before the enemy's works, just after the disastrous charge. But this position was maintained by General McArthur only until the 26th of May, the date of the arrival of General Lauman's command; for in the meantime, the enemy were reported to be concentrating in heavy force in the direction of Yazoo City, and the Upper Big Black, for the purpose of moving on General Grant's rear, to raise the siege; and General Blair, with a picked command, consisting of McArthur's Division and other troops, was ordered out to disperse them. This, with the exception of the march to Monroe, Louisiana, and that one just recently made through the bottomless swamps of South Carolina, is the hardest one the Iowa Brigade ever made. It was made by forced marches, in the heat of a Southern summer's sun, and through dust that was well-nigh suffocating. By those who participated in it, it will never be forgotten. But the march was the only thing of terror connected with the expedition ; for the enemy, who were met only in inconsiderable force near Mechanicsville, were dispersed with but few casualties. The expedition, however, was not without its good results; for, on its return by way of the fertile valley of the Yazoo, almost fabulous quantities of corn and cotton were destroyed. Five thousand head of cattle, sheep and hogs, too, were driven back to Grant's needy army.

After the return of this expedition, the 13th Iowa, with its brigade, constituted a portion of the force with which General Sherman held at bay the rebel General Johnson, on the Big Black. On the 3d and 4th of July, the regiment skirmished with the enemy's advance, and, on their retreat to Jackson, followed in close pursuit. Next follows the expedition under Brigadier-General Stevenson, from Vicksburg to Monroe, Louisiana, which was made in the middle of August, 1863; and an account of which appears in the sketch of General J. M. Hedrick, formerly of the 15th Iowa.

The following Autumn, and the greater part of the following Winter, were passed by the 13th Iowa in camp at Vicksburg. It was at Vicksburg that the regiment re-enlisted as veteran volunteers. Immediately after the march to Meridian, in which the 13th joined, it returned North on veteran furlough. The balance of its history has been made in the three wonderful marches of General Sherman — from Dalton to Atlanta, from Atlanta to Savannah, and from Savannah to Goldsboro and Washington. The regiment bore a conspicuous part in the memorable engagement of the 22d of July before Atlanta. Its loss was eleven killed, forty-two wounded, and ninety-six missing. Among the killed was the brave Major William A. Walker; and among the wounded, Captain George McLaughlin and Lieutenants Wesley Huff, George B. Hunter, and Charles H. Haskins. Captain Pope, and Lieutenants Rice, Parker and Eyestone were captured.

The aggregate loss of the 13th Iowa during the Atlanta Campaign I have failed to learn.

That which has most contributed to give the regiment a National reputation is the part it acted, or a portion of it, in the capture of Columbia, South Carolina, on the 17th of February, 1865. The colors of the regiment, in the hands of Lieutenant-Colonel Justin C. Kennedy, were the first to flaunt from the capitol building of South Carolina.


"Head-quarters 4rn Division, 17th Army Corps,
"Near Columbia, S. C., February 17, 1865

“Brigadier-general W. W. Belknap:

"SIR: — Allow me to congratulate you, and through you, Lieutenant-Colonel J. C. Kennedy, 13th Iowa Veteran Volunteers, and the men under his command, for first entering the city of Columbia on the morning of Friday, February 17th, and being the first to plant his colors on the Capitol of South Carolina.

"I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

"Your obedient servant,
"Giles A. Smith,
"Brevet Major-General Commanding."


Lieutenant-Colonel Kennedy is a resident of Vernon, Linn county, Iowa. He is thirty-two years of age, and a native of the State of New York. His name will live in American history.

Colonel Shane is one of the largest of the Iowa colonels, his weight being two hundred and ten pounds. He has sandy hair, (perhaps red) a florid complexion and blue eyes, looking out through a large, round, good-natured face. He is of an easy, jovial nature, relishes a joke, and is fond of good living. He ranked fairly as a soldier, and was popular with his command.

At home and in private life, he is much respected. He is economical, and has secured a snug property. I am told he was one of the few officers of our army who honestly made money in the service.

From the organization of the Republican Party in his county, he has been a prominent, working member. He was a delegate to the State Convention which re-nominated the Hon. Samuel J. Kirkwood for Governor of Iowa.

SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 265-70

Astronomical Observations

Professor Mitchell was once made famous in the scientific world by his discovery of a method of observing right ascensions and north declinations. He seems to be still practicing his scientific theories. His “observations” in Alabama show the rebels that a sword is as handy to him as a telescope, and that he can make right ascensions without an observatory, and northern declinations without a parallax. – {N. Y. Post.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 2

BRIGADIER-GENERAL M. M. CROCKER

FIRST COLONEL, THIRTEENTH INFANTRY.

Marcellus M. Crocker is a native of Johnson county, Indiana, where he was born on the 6th day of February, 1830. At the age of ten years, he accompanied his father's family to Illinois, whence, after a residence of four or five years, he removed to Jefferson county, Iowa. The extent of his early education I have failed to learn; but, at the age of sixteen, he was appointed, through the recommendation of General A. C. Dodge, a cadet in the military academy at West Point. He is not however a graduate of that Institution. After an attendance of some two years and a half, his health failed him, and he was compelled to leave the Academy. Late in 1849, he returned to Iowa, and began the study of law in the office of Judge Olney, at Fairfield. He commenced the practice of his profession in 1851, in the town of Lancaster, Keokuk county, where he remained till the spring of 1855, and then removed to Des Moines, his present home.

General Crocker entered the service as captain of Company D, 2d Iowa Infantry. He had recruited his company in April, 1861, for the three month's service, (as was the case with nearly every captain of the 2d Iowa) but, the State's quota for that term of service having been already filled, he was assigned to the 2d Iowa, and, at the rendezvous of the regiment in Keokuk, was elected its major. With that rank he entered the field. Four months later, he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, vice Tuttle, promoted, and on the 30th of October following, was transferred from his regiment, and made colonel of the 13th Iowa Infantry. In the winter of 1862-3, he was appointed and confirmed a brigadier-general. His promotions were rapid and richly merited; for, with her splendid galaxy of military heroes, Iowa can not boast a better nor truer soldier than General Crocker.

During his colonelcy of the 13th Iowa, General Crocker took part in two engagements — Shiloh and Corinth. In the former, he commanded his regiment, and in the latter the Iowa Brigade — the oldest and not the least distinguished brigade command in the Army of the Tennessee. In the former, his conduct was gallant in the extreme; and how he escaped without injury is really wonderful. I have spoken elsewhere of the confusion that reigned on the field in the afternoon of the first day's battle. At about four and a half o'clock it was at its hight [sic], and was so wild and terrible as to beggar description. At that hour, Colonel Crocker was conspicuous. I am told that his splendid example of courage contributed not a little toward the establishment of the new line, which successfully resisted the enemy's further advance that night. The progress of the battle on the left, I have given in the sketch of Colonel W. G. Williams. To show its opening and progress on the right, I quote from the official report of Colonel Crocker; for that gives the clearest and most intelligible account of any that I have seen:

"Early on the morning of the sixth, the alarm was given, and heavy firing in the distance indicated that our camp was attacked. The regiment was formed in front of its color-line, its full force consisting of seven hundred and seventeen men, rank and file. It was at once ordered to form on the left of the 2d Brigade, and proceeded to that position at a double-quick, and was then formed in line of battle in a skirt of woods, bordering on an open field, to the left of a battery. Here it remained for some time inactive, while the enemy's guns were playing on our battery. In the meantime, a large force of the enemy's infantry were filing around the open field in front of our line, protected by the woods, and in the direction of our battery, opening a heavy fire of musketry on the infantry stationed on our right, and charging upon the battery. The infantry and battery to the right having given way, and the enemy advancing at double-quick, we gave them one round of musketry, and also gave way. At this time we, as indeed all of our troops in the immediate vicinity of the battery, were thrown into great confusion, and retired in disorder. Having retreated to the distance of one or two hundred yards, we succeeded in rallying and forming a good line, the 8th and 18th Illinois volunteers on our left, and, having fronted to the enemy, held our position there under a continual fire of cannon and musketry, until after twelve o'clock, when we were ordered to retire and take up a new position. This we did in good order, and without confusion.

"Here having formed a new line, we maintained it under an incessant fire, until four and a half o'clock, P. M., the men conducting themselves with great gallantry and coolness, and doing great execution on the enemy, repelling charge after charge, and driving them back with great loss. At four and a half o'clock, we were again ordered to fall back. In obeying this order, we became mixed up with a great many other regiments, falling back in confusion, so that our line was broken, and the regiment separated, rendering it very difficult to collect it."

This was the last order to retire that was given that afternoon, and the last ground yielded to the enemy; for the new line, when formed, was held successfully. It should, however, be stated that, it was now near night, and there was little more fighting that evening. It was in this new position that Colonel Hare, of the 11th Iowa, was wounded and retired from the field. During the day, he had commanded the 1st Brigade of McClernand's Division. After he was wounded and left the field, the command of the brigade was then turned over to Colonel Crocker — "his able and gallant successor."

In closing his report of the battle of Shiloh, Colonel Crocker says:

"During the day, we were under- fire of the enemy for ten hours, and sustained a loss of twenty-three killed, and one hundred and thirty wounded.

"On the morning of the 7th, we were ordered to continue with Colonel Tuttle's Division, and to follow up and support our forces that were attacking, and driving back the enemy. We followed them up closely, moving to support the batteries, until the enemy was routed, after which, we were ordered to return to the encampment that we had left on Sunday morning, where we arrived at eight o'clock, P. M. Our total loss in the action of the 6th and 7th is killed, twenty-four; wounded, one hundred and thirty-nine; missing, nine: total, one hundred and seventy-two. The men, for the most part, behaved with great gallantry. All the officers exhibited the greatest bravery and coolness; and I call especial attention to the gallant conduct of my field officers, Lieutenant-Colonel Price and Major Shane, who were both wounded in the action of the 6th, and acknowledge my great obligations to my adjutant, Lieutenant Wilson, who, during the entire action, exhibited the highest qualities of a soldier."

The last gun was fired at Shiloh, before two o'clock in the afternoon of the 7th, and that same evening, the main portion of Grant's army marched back to their former encampments, where, having buried the dead and cared for the wounded, they rested.

Immediately after this engagement, the Iowa Brigade was organized, and placed under the command of Colonel Crocker. It was composed of the 11th, 13th, 15th and 16th Iowa regiments, and afterward, as I have already said, became one of the most distinguished brigade commands in the Army of the Tennessee. Under its first commander, it acquired that discipline and efficiency, for which it was noted under each of the general's successors—Chambers, Hall and Belknap. It has distinguished itself on half a score of battle-fields, and once saved the Army of the Tennessee from calamitous defeat It has a most brilliant record. With this brigade, Colonel Crocker fought at the battle of Corinth; but an account of that engagement will be found In the sketches of other officers.

In the winter of 1862-3, the colonel was made a brigadier-general. His sterling qualities as a soldier, and his continued gallant deportment earned the promotion. After receiving his commission, he continued with his brigade till the latter part of April, 1863, when, by order of General McPherson, he succeeded General Quimby in the command of the 7th Division, 17th Army Corps — the division which fought so gallantly, and lost so heavily at Jackson and Champion's Hill. He joined his division at Bruinsburg, just after it had crossed the Mississippi, and commanded it in the two above engagements.

On the evening of the 13th of May, the 7th Division bivouacked, with its army corps at Clinton, ten miles west of Jackson. The following night it was to camp in Jackson. The character of the country between Clinton and Jackson, the condition of the roads, and the state of the weather on the morning of the 14th instant, I have given elsewhere. Crocker's Division led the advance. This post of honor was granted by McPherson, at the general's own request, which barely anticipated a similar one from Logan. The march was made, and the enemy encountered about two and a half miles west of the city. Their line of battle was along a high ridge, and extended from north to south, as far as the eye could reach. The rain was falling in torrents, and, until it partially ceased, the two armies stood and watched each other. In half an hour it broke away, when General Crocker, pushing forward the 12th Wisconsin Battery, saluted General Johnson. Tuttle's Division of Sherman's Corps, which had in the meantime come up on the south side of the city, opened on the enemy at nearly the same instant. The 2d Iowa Battery, Lieutenant Reed, tired the first gun on the south side of Jackson. The enemy's force was about ten thousand, and the principal portion of it was in Crocker's front; but he pushed his leading brigade, which was drawn up in a continuous line, to the farthest point that afforded cover, and then ordered a charge. It was a magnificent sight, for the conduct of the brigade was magnificent. The battle was bloody, but not protracted: in ten minutes after the order to charge was given, the enemy were fleeing in total rout; nor did they stop until they had crossed Pearl River.

For so great results, the Federal loss was small — only two hundred and eighty-six; but all, except six or eight of the casualties, were from the 2d Brigade of Crocker's Division. The press of Illinois gave Logan the credit of fighting the battle of Jackson. It was all wrong. His command was not under fire; nor did it lose a man, even by a stray shot. The general himself was at the front, where he always was, when there was any fighting to be done; but he was only a spectator. He sat quietly on his horse, caressing his huge mustache, till word came of the flight of the enemy across the river, when he rode into the city. In his official report, General McPherson says: — "Colonel Sanborn was directed to send the flag of one of his regiments, which had borne itself most gallantly in the battle, and place it on the Capitol of the State of Mississippi, and shortly before four o'clock the flag of the 59th Indiana was proudly waving from the dome." The 59th Indiana "bore itself gallantly," but it did not fire a gun at Jackson. The 10th Missouri, 17th Iowa and 80th Ohio made the charge, and captured the city; and why the flag of the 59th first waved from the dome was, the regiments entitled to the honor bad been left on the field, and could not be reached. Had General Crocker delayed five minutes longer, the colors of the 95th Ohio of Tuttle's Division, would have flaunted from the rebel Capitol.

As soon as the fighting was done, General Crocker rode down his line to the 17th Iowa, and to the other regiments of the brigade, and thanked them for their gallantry; and as he looked back on the hill-slope, where were lying the dead and wounded, his eyes filled with tears, and his voice choked with emotion. "Noble fellows," he said, "I am sorry, but we can not help it."

Two days after the battle at Jackson, General Crocker commanded his division at Champion's Hill. His own, with Hovey's and Logan's Divisions, fought that battle — the bitterest of the whole campaign, if we except the charge on the 22d of May; but an account of this engagement has been already given.

In June, 1863, General Crocker came North on sick leave. His health, always bad, had been rendered much worse by the hardships and exposures of the recent campaign, and he accepted his leave, at the urgent request of General Grant. There is a story connected with this sick leave, which illustrates the kind-heartedness of General Grant, and which affords me pleasure to relate. On the return of General Quimby in the latter part of May, he resumed command of his old division, when General Crocker was placed temporarily upon the staff of General Grant. Crocker's tent being near that of Grant, the attention of the latter was attracted by the severe and almost incessant coughing of the former during the night; and, on meeting him the morning after, General Grant said: "General Crocker, was that you whom I heard coughing so last night?" "Yes," replied the general. "Well, then, my dear fellow, you must go straight home, for you will die here."

The general was at his home in Des Moines, at the time the Union Gubernatorial Convention was held in that city. During its session, he visited the hall of the Convention, and the eclat with which he was received, was a flattering testimonial of the esteem in which he was held by his State. He was the choice of the Convention for Governor of Iowa, and was earnestly solicited to accept the nomination; but his answer was: "If a soldier is worth any thing, he can not be spared from the field; and, if he is worthless, he will not make a good Governor." The argument was unanswerable, and his name was reluctantly dropped.

Early in July, 1863, General Crocker returned to the field, and was given a division command, and made Commandant of the District of Natchez. While commanding at Natchez, he made his expedition to Harrisonburg, Louisiana. "The expedition consisted of the following troops: the 2d Brigade, 4th Division, Colonel C. Hall, 14th Illinois, commanding; the 3d Brigade, 4th Division, General W. Q. Gresham commanding; Company F, 3d Illinois Battery, and the l5th Ohio Battery, with the 17th Wisconsin Infantry, mounted, commanded by Colonel Mallory." At Harrisonburg, the enemy were reported in considerable force, and intrenched [sic] in strong works. The object of the expedition was to destroy these works and ordnance property, and capture or disperse the rebel garrison. It resulted in the capture and burning of one small steamer on Black River at Trinity, the capture and destruction of Fort Beauregard at Harrisonburg, the destruction of all ammunition and six pieces of artillery; and the capture of about twenty prisoners and two six-pound brass cannon. There was no battle — only trifling skirmishing.

In the fall of 1863, General Crocker returned to Vicksburg, where he joined Sherman on the Meridian march. In the following Spring, he joined his corps (the 17th) in its march across the country to Georgia; but, on account of ill health, was relieved, and, early in the summer of 1864, was tendered a command in New Mexico, with head-quarters at Fort Sumner. Believing the climate would be beneficial to his health, the general accepted this command, since which time he has served in that department.

General Crocker is about five feet ten inches in hight, with a slender, nervous form, which can never pass one unnoticed. He has a passionate temper, and is plain-spoken, often saying things which, in his calmer moments, he would leave unsaid.

His mode of discipline is severe and uncompromising, and a careless blunder he would never excuse. On one occasion, while in command of the Iowa Brigade, a general review was ordered, and great pains was taken to avoid all mistakes. One can imagine then what must have been the general's mortification to see Colonel ____, of his leading regiment, ride past the reviewing officer, with his sword at a protracted "present." That was bad enough; but next followed Colonel ____, whose regiment passed with arms at a "right-shoulder-shift." When the review was over, the regimental commanders were summoned to the general's head-quarters, when, beginning with the chief in rank, he administered the following rebuke: — "Now, Sir, aren't you a pretty man — and pretend to be a military man—and educated at a military school! " " But—" (began the colonel, wishing to apologize) "Hush up, Sir. I'm doing the talking here." It all ended in a friendly chat, and in an order for a new review; and there was no more mistakes.

As a military man, General Crocker has been pre-eminently successful, not only as a disciplinarian, but as a bold and able leader. As a division commander, he has no superior in the State, and, what is a little remarkable, this fact is universally conceded.

Nor was the general less successful as a civilian, than he has been as a soldier. Though young, he ranked, at the time of entering the service, among the best lawyers of Des Moines — the city which boasted one of the ablest bars in the State. C. C. Cole, (now Judge of the State Supreme Court) J. A. Kasson, (now Congressman from the 5th District) C. C. Nourse, (Attorney General of the State) T. F. Withrow, (State Supreme Court Reporter) P. M. Cassady, (General Crocker's law-partner) General Williamson, Polk, Jewett, W. W. Williamson, Finch, St. John, Ellwood, Rice, Clark, Mitchell, Ingersoll, Smith, Phillips, White, McKay and Brown, was Des Moines' roll of attorneys in the spring of 1861, and of these the general ranked among the very best, as an advocate and circuit practitioner. Some say that, in these respects, he led the Des Moines Bar.

SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 255-64

Review: The Stonewall Brigade in the Civil War

The Stonewall Brigade in the Civil War
By Patrick Hook & Steve Smith

The First Virginia Brigade, and composed of the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 27th and 33rd Virginia Infantry Regiments, and the Rockbridge Artillery Battery. The brigade and its commander, Thomas J. Jackson, would earn their more famous nicknames during the first large scale battle of the Civil War at the First Battle of Bull Run, when in the face of an overwhelming federal attack General Bernard Bee reportedly said, “Look yonder – there stands Jackson like a stone wall; lets go to his assistance. Rally behind the Virginians!” Historians have bickered for nearly a century and a half over the meaning of Bee’s words, but, from that day forward the First Virginia Brigade would forever be known as “The Stonewell Brigade”, and its leader as “Stonewall” Jackson.

“The Stonewall Brigade in the Civil War” is a brief history of the regiment written by Patrick Hook and Steve Smith. A comprehensive history of the Stonewall Brigade it is not, but for such a short book its authors have packed it full of information. Formed primarily of men from the Shenandoah Valley, the first section in the book covers the origin of the brigade and the many local militia units that coalesced to form it. The next section, and the bulk of the book, gives a thumbnail sketch of each of battle the Stonewall Brigade participated in, along with orders of battle for the brigade in each engagement. That is followed by a section covering the equipment and uniforms of the Stonewall Brigade and that is in turn followed by a section of short biographical sketches of the men who led the brigade. The final section is the authors’ assessment of the brigade.

Hook & Smith have filled the book with photographs, maps and illustrations; the only thing I find lacking is the absence of any type of notation. They do however include a reference, or bibliographic, section which I assume they have used as their source material, as well as a handful of internet resources. For anyone interested in The Stonewall Brigade, this book is a great place to start.

ISBN 978-0-7603-3050-0, Zenith Press, © 2008, Paperback, 128 pages, Photographs, Illustrations, Maps, References & Index. $21.99

Mr. Gregory, the rebel advocate . . .

. . . admitted in a recent debate in the British House of Commons, on mail-clad vessels that if the Warrior and met the Merrimac, it was a matter of grave doubt whether the angular sided vessel would not overcome her vertical sided antagonist; but that if the Warrior and Monitor had met, there is little doubt that the smaller vessel would have plunged her shot into the unprotected parts of the Warrior, and would, in fact have overcome the pride of the British navy.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 2

Letter From Baltimore

BALTIMORE, April 12th, 1862.

EDITOR MESSENGER – Sir: Without previous notice, I venture to write you a few lines for publication in your paper.

My recent trip to this city was very pleasant, with the exception of some inconveniences arising from being thrown “out of time” on the Baltimore & Ohio Rail Road. Recent heavy rains caused much injury to the road-bed on this line, and for some days trains made only irregular trips. All is now in order, and each train departs and arrives “on time.” Those who have not yet passed over the B. & O. Road, this side of Cumberland, since its partial destruction by the rebels will find, on making the trip, quite a different state of affairs existing along the line, so far as the road itself is concerned, compared with that of even one year ago.

At Martinsburg I counted twelve locomotives, still standing where left by their destroyers. Some of them, I presume are rendered entirely worthless, having been burned until the rods and other smaller parts are warped and twisted into almost every conceivable shape. How many more there may be thus left as the footprints of an inexcusable mob, I cannot say, as I only saw those standing upon the “side-track.” I learned from one acquainted with the place that there were many more.

At Harper’s Ferry the work of destruction seemed to have reached its highest point. In all the buildings still standing I could only see one which seemed to be occupied, save those used by our troops stationed at the place. The large brick hotel, where many a hungry traveler has refreshed the “inner man,” is gone – nothing left but a mass of rubbish. The Government buildings are all destroyed with one exception – that being probably the largest. The machinery was taken from this, but the walls and roof are uninjured. This building is now occupied as a government stable. The “Odd Fellow’s” Hall, which some may remember having seen standing back on the hill with the end towards the river with “I. O. O. F.” plainly in sight, is now used by the Quartermaster’s department. The “trestling” along the bank of the river here being of stone and iron was not much injured. Among the buildings escaping destruction is the “Engine House,” the “Headquarters” of John Brown. Strange to say, it still stands, and the traveler naturally says, as he looks upon it, “John Brown must have been crazy.” And so it does seem, for a man might as well try to fortify himself in the Athens market house as in this “Fort,” selected by John Brown. Almost every trestle from Cumberland to “Point of Rocks” was destroyed. The fine bridge at the Ferry has been replaced by temporary trestle work, which seems to answer every purpose. The "piers” of the bridge were not injured. Two other bridges crossing the Potomac – one at Berlin and the other at “Point of Rocks” – were also badly burned, nothing being left but the stone piers to mark the place where those noble structures once stood. The company is seemingly doing everything in its power to thoroughly repair the road. Vast numbers of men are engaged upon its re-construction. The Government seems determined not to allow this great thoroughfare to be again closed, as it has furnished men sufficient to guard it its entire length. Already vast amounts of freights are coming from the west, and from present appearances, the full capacity of the road will be required to do the business offered.

Business in this city is anything but brisk, save in those channels where the Government operates. All eyes are now trained toward Yorktown, and, as much depends upon the success of our army there, everything like business here, as elsewhere in the East, will stand still until the result of that battle is known. The Government is doing a large business here, by way of building gunboats, and fitting out other vessels of war. Two large “Iron-plated” boats are now under way in the “basin,” in sight from the place where I am now writing. “Federal Hill” presents quite a war-like appearance. A large Fort – earthwork – has been built here, mounting fifty-six guns, varying in size from a six to a sixty-four pounder. This Fort is near the center of the city and can, if necessary, be burned to the ground. The Fort is now occupied by six companies of the 3rd New York regiment, from Albany. They claim to be the oldest three years regiment in the service. They lost seventeen men in the battle at Great Bethel. Fort Marshall, in the lower part of the city, on the road toward Philadelphia, is occupied by the balance of this regiment. Several regiments are stationed in and around the city, and the streets glisten with brass buttons. How much “secesh” there may still be lurking around this city, waiting for a favorable opportunity to burst forth in its former strength, I cannot say; but in justice to the masses here, I must say that I believe the civil power now fully sufficient to maintain order. Many who, in the onset of our National difficulties, unhesitatingly spoke and acted for the rebels now measure their language, seemingly disposed to claim the friendship of “Union men,” as also to put themselves in good shape to rejoice at the triumph of the Government, whenever rejoicing shall become popular.

Every regiment passing through this city is fed by the citizens. A large dining hall, convenient to the R. R. station, has been fitted up, where those men who are fighting to maintain the rights of all the people, as they pass along, can eat and drink without money.

A large reading room, called the “Union Reading Room,” has been fitted up for the benefit of the soldiers stationed here. At this place they can peruse all the daily papers of the city, as well as nearly ten hundred others, from different parts of the country, all without cost to them. This room furnishes many a poor soldier with such news as he now most needs, without constantly calling on his pocket for a half-dime to buy a paper. Besides this, he can here often find a paper published at his own home – thus giving him, besides the news of the day, a history of events transpiring among those so near to him. The Messenger, with many other Ohio papers makes it regular appearance at the “reading room.”

A few more days will decide much either for or against our country. If favorable then our difficulties will soon end – if otherwise, renewed energy, on the part of our rulers, with the people, will be necessary. I have no fears for the result. For the benefit of those persons who may visit Baltimore this season, and who have formally stopped at the “Howard House,” I would inform them that the above named house is now closed. The “Maltby House” is now the resort of Western men.

Your Friend,
F. M. C.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens Ohio, Thursday, April 24, 1862

The Vandals

The Richmond Examiner Thinks that the object of the Yankees in burning our Court Houses, is to destroy our land titles so as to prevent the real owners from establishing their titles after they have robbed our people of them. Let our people, therefore, secure them against destruction by early removal of them from danger, or drive the scoundrels from our soil.

– Published in The North Carolina Weekly Standard, Raleigh, North Carolina, Wednesday, April 16, 1862, p. 3

Emancipation In The District

WASHINGTON, April 16.

The President’s message on the emancipation of slavery in the District of Columbia is as follows:

Fellow Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives:

The act entitled an act for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia, has this day been approved and signed. I have never doubted the constitutional authority of Congress to abolish slavery in the District, and I have ever desired to see the national capital freed from the institution in more satisfactory way. Hence there has never been in my mind any question on the subject, except one of expedience arising in the view of all the circumstances. If there be matters within and about this act which might have taken a course or shape more satisfactory to my judgment, I do not attempt to specify them. I am gratified that the true principles of compensation and colonization are both recognized and practically applied in this act. In the matter of compensation, it is provided that claims may be presented within ninety days of the passage of the act, but not thereafter; and there is [no] saving for minors, femmes covert, insane or absent persons. I presume there is an omission by mere oversight, and I recommend that it be supplied by an amendatory or supplemental act.

(Signed) Abraham Lincoln.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 18, 1862, p. 1

The grand jury of the United States court . . .

. . . for the western district of Virginia have sent a memorial to the President of the United States, asking that Gen. Rosecrans be made a Major General. They state that in the discharge of his duties, as a commander of the department of Western Virginia, he has not only proved himself a skillful and accomplished soldier, “but a man possessing rare qualifications in the difficult task of restoring to our people the ordinary and peaceful operations of our civil government and laws, and that his promotion having been earned by meritorious service and good conduct, it is due to the General and the Government, and will be hailed by the people of Western Virginia as the just and suitable reward of an officer who has won for himself their most grateful admiration and warm personal regard.”

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 2

COLONEL JOSEPH JACKSON WOODS

TWELFTH INFANTRY.

J. J. Woods, of the 12th Iowa Infantry, has a checkered history, which will be read with interest. He is a native of Ohio, and was born in Brown county, the 11th day of January, 1823. In 1833, he removed with his father's family to Rush county, Indiana, whence, after a residence of two years, he returned to his native county.

Colonel Woods is a West Point graduate. Having completed his preparatory course at Augusta College, Kentucky, he entered the West Point Military Academy in 1843. He was a successful scholar, and graduated in 1847, the third in his class. Receiving a 2d lieutenant's commission in the 1st United States Artillery, he sailed, on the 10th of October, 1847, under orders for Vera Cruz; but, on the fourth day out, the vessel on which he had taken passage was wrecked near the Great Bahama. After several days of peril and hardship, he reached Nassau, New Providence, and sailed thence to Charleston, South Carolina, where he passed several weeks with a former class-mate, by the name of Blake. Re-embarking again for Vera Cruz, he reached that place on the 5th of January, 1848. In August of the same year, after having had yellow fever, he was recalled and ordered to report at Governor's Island, New York Harbor. He was promoted to a 1st lieutenancy the 29th of October, 1848, and soon after sailed with Companies L and M of his regiment for Oregon: these were the first troops sent by our Government to that Territory. He remained in Oregon till the winter of 1853; and, during his stay in the Territory, was stationed at Fort Vancouver, Astoria, and Middle Oregon. At the last named place he had command of the Dalles. In the winter of 1853, he was ordered to New York City on recruiting service, where he remained till the following October, when he resigned his commission. Soon after, he purchased a farm in Jackson county, Iowa, on which he has since resided.

In August, 1861, Colonel Woods was tendered the lieutenant-colonelcy of the 9th Iowa Infantry; but this position he declined, and was, on the 23d of the following October, commissioned colonel of the 12th. From that date till the expiration of his three year's term of service, he served in command, either of his regiment, or of the brigade to which it was attached. He left the army in the fall of 1864, with the respect and good-will of his regiment, and with the high personal consideration of his superior officers. His services merited recognition at Washington; but, with him as with some others, modesty blocked the wheels of promotion.

The 12th Iowa Infantry, like the other Iowa regiments which were captured with it in the first day's battle at Shiloh, has a bright record. Its first battle was Fort Donelson. It had been present at the capture of Fort Henry; but, like the other infantry troops, took no part. The late gallant Admiral Foote captured Fort Henry with his three wooden and four iron-clad gun-boats, and received the surrender of General Tilghman ; and no one will dispute with him that honor.

General Smith, in whose command was the 12th Iowa, operated on the bluffs on the west bank of the Tennessee, and General McClernand, on the east. Had McClernand moved two hours sooner, he would have invested the fort, and captured five thousand prisoners; but he floundered in miry swamps, and nearly the entire rebel garrison escaped to Fort Donelson before he came up. It was said the blunder was General Grant's; but, if it was, he retrieved it a few days after at Fort Donelson.

After the fall of Fort Henry, the 12th Iowa, with its division, marched across the country to the rear of Fort Donelson, on the Cumberland. The distance is twelve miles. One strong and important point in the long line of rebel defenses — that line extending from Bowling Green, Kentucky, down past Fort Donelson and Fort Henry, and across the country to Columbus — had been wrested from the enemy. Fort Donelson captured, and the country south, to the vicinity of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, including the city of Nashville and the railroad connecting Bowling Green with Columbus, must be yielded by the Confederates. Columbus, too, must be evacuated, and the Mississippi abandoned as far south as Memphis. Then, with prompt and energetic movement on the part of the Federal forces, the Memphis and Charleston Railroad could be cut, the strategic point of Corinth occupied, and Kentucky and West Tennessee restored to Federal authority. The issue at Fort Donelson was therefore watched with impatience and anxiety.

General Grant, with the divisions of Smith and McClernand, arrived in rear of Fort Donelson in the evening of the 12th of February, 1862. That night the troops slept on their arms, as they also did on every subsequent night, until the fort capitulated. The division of Smith, filing to the left from the Dover road, swung round against the enemy's right, and that of McClernand, filing to the right, formed line in front of the enemy's left. The right and left of these divisions remained connected; for the division of General Wallace, which was to occupy the centre, had not yet arrived, but was on its way up the Cumberland River. The 12th Iowa was still under Smith, and was attached to the 3d Brigade, commanded by Colonel J. Cook. The 4th Brigade of the same division, in which were the 2d, 7th, and 14th Iowa regiments, was next on the left and constituted both the left of the division and the left of the Federal forces.

"Thursday morning, at half past eight o'clock, (I quote from Colonel Woods' report) we marched down to, and up the Dover road about half a mile, when we filed to the left, and formed line of battle: threw forward the flanking companies as skirmishers, and marched forward down a long slope that lay in front, the grape, shot and shell of the enemy flying thickly around us all the time. Our skirmishers advanced to the top of the hill that lay in front of us. The battalion halted at two-thirds of the distance to the top of the hill, where it was protected from the enemy's fire by the ridge in front." This position was held by the 12th Iowa the following night; and that night and the following one will never be forgotten by the regiment. A fierce north-east storm set in late in the afternoon, and raged with great fury, and the men, though drenched with the rain, and chilled with the cold, were allowed no fires, and suffered most bitterly. That morning the 12th Iowa had lost its first man killed in battle — private Edward C. Buckner. He was shot through the head on the skirmish line, and killed instantly. In the wet and cold of the following night, the sad event was talked over by the men, and they wondered who would be the next to fall.

The entire day of the 14th, (Friday) and the forenoon of the following, were passed by the 12th Iowa in skirmishing with the enemy; and, during this time, the regiment was gallantly supported by the 50th Illinois, and by Birge's Sharpshooters. No assaults were attempted on Friday, for the division of General Wallace, and the gun-boat fleet had not yet come up. The fighting on the south side of Fort Donelson closed about noon on Saturday, the 15th instant; when the enemy, having routed McClernand, returned to their works in triumph. It was at this hour that General Pillow sent his laconic report to Nashville: "On the honor of a soldier, the day is ours." "At about two o'clock in the afternoon of Saturday, the 12th Iowa, 50th Illinois, and Birge's Sharp-shooters were ordered to make a feint-attack, to draw the enemy's fire. The men went cheerfully to the work assigned them; and kept up a warm fire on the enemy, while Colonel Lauman's brigade, on our left, advanced on the enemy, and got possession of a part of the enemy's outer works, and hoisted thereon the American flag." From that hour until night-fall, the 12th Iowa was sharply engaged, and during that time, the regiment suffered nearly its entire loss. It moved to the support of Colonel Tuttle by the left flank, and, marching through the deep ravine in its front, and over the fallen timber, arrived at the top of the hill, just as the 25th Indiana commenced falling back. The regiment entered the rebel works to the right of Colonel Tuttle, and held its position till morning, when the Fort and its garrison were surrendered.

The casualties of the regiment in this engagement were thirty—all, with the exception of three, being sustained on Saturday afternoon. Two only were killed. Among the wounded, was Lieutenant-Colonel Coulter, who "behaved with the utmost coolness and bravery, and performed his duties regardless of the danger to which he was exposed." Major Brodtbeck and Surgeon Parker received special mention for their good conduct. "Every commissioned officer performed his duty without flinching." Sergeant-Major Morrisy, and Color-bearer Sergeant Grannis, and many others, deserve special mention for their coolness and gallantry. Privates Buckner and Stillman were the two men killed: the former was shot in the eye, and the latter in the right temple. With the exception of the 2d Iowa Infantry, no troops are entitled to more credit, for the part they sustained in the capture of Fort Donelson, than this regiment.

The next engagement of the 12th Iowa was Shiloh, where, for holding its position too long, it was captured. It has been matter of wonder why General Grant and Admiral Foote, after the fall of Fort Donelson, did not push on directly to Nashville. The people of that city, and the rebel troops there stationed, would be in the utmost consternation; and it was believed that the place could be occupied with little or no opposition. Both Grant and Foote appreciated the situation, and were anxious to advance against the city; but Halleck, the general commanding the Department, would not give his consent. They called him the old wheel-horse. Some said he was good only on the hold-back, and, to succeed, he must have a down-hill enterprise. As it was, the enemy, in their mad fright, destroyed some two million dollars' worth of property which might have been appropriated by the Government. General Johnson's army, too, on the march from Bowling Green, might probably have been captured. A week after the fall of Fort Donelson, General Buel [sic] occupied Nashville; after which, General Grant proceeded up the Tennessee River to Savannah and Pittsburg Landing.

At the battle of Shiloh, the 12th Iowa was attached to the 1st Brigade, 2d Division, commanded by General Wallace. General Smith was absent at Paducah. Colonel, afterwards General Tuttle commanded the brigade. The part taken by the regiment in this engagement is elsewhere given. It formed a part of that line which, though at last broken, was held with such obstinacy as to save Grant's army from total rout.

After receiving orders to fall back, Colonel Woods says, in his official report:

"Seeing ourselves surrounded, we nevertheless opened a brisk fire on that portion of the enemy who blocked our passage to the Landing, who, after briskly returning our fire for a short time, fell back. A brisk fire from the enemy on our left was going on at the same time. Seeing the enemy in front falling back, we attempted, by a rapid movement, to cut our way through; but the enemy on our left advanced rapidly, coming in behind us, pouring into our ranks a most destructive fire. The enemy in front faced about, and opened on us at short range, the enemy in our rear still closing in on us rapidly. I received two wounds, disabling me from further duty. The command then devolved on Captain Edgington, acting as field officer. The enemy had, however, already so closely surrounded us that their balls, which missed our men, took effect in their ranks beyond us. To have held out longer would have been to suffer complete annihilation. The regiment was therefore compelled to surrender as prisoners of war."

The regiment's list of casualties was great, though the exact number I am unable to give. The killed and wounded numbered about one hundred and fifty. Of the conduct of his regiment, Colonel Woods says: — "Captains Earle, Warner, Stibbs, Haddock, Van Duzee and Townsley performed well their part, as did all the lieutenants in the action, in a prompt and willing manner. The non-commissioned officers and men stood bravely up to their work, and never did men behave better." Lieutenants Ferguson and Moir, two brave and worthy officers, were both killed. As already stated, Colonel Woods was twice wounded, and taken prisoner. He was shot through the left leg and right hand. The former wound disabled him, so that he could not march to the rear with the other prisoners, and the fortunes of the following day restored him to liberty; for he was re-captured by our forces. Over four hundred of the 12th Iowa were captured, and, of these, eighty died in Southern prisons. That is the saddest page in the history of this noble regiment.

The 12th Iowa was re-organized in the winter of 1862-3, that portion of it which had been captured having been previously exchanged. The regiment was again led to the front by its unassuming colonel, and assigned to the 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 15th Army Corps. The command of the brigade was given to Colonel Woods. A detailed account of the movements of the regiment need not be given here; for a full history of operations in the rear of Vicksburg will be found elsewhere.

The 12th marched with its corps from Milliken's Bend, via Grand Gulf to Jackson, and thence to the rear of Vicksburg, where it participated in the long and arduous siege. On the fall of that city, it marched back with Sherman to Jackson, and, after the flight of Johnson, assisted in the almost total destruction of the place.

The regiment's next important services were rendered in Northern Mississippi, in the spring of 1864; though I should not omit to state that it marched with Sherman on his trip to Meridian.

It re-enlisted as a veteran regiment, in the winter of 1863-4, and came North on veteran furlough; after which, it was assigned to the command of General A. J. Smith, and, under that general, fought at the battle of Tupelo, July 14th, 1864. Its conduct in this engagement, and in saving Smith's train from capture and burning the day before, between Pontotoc and Tupelo, made it one of the star regiments of the expedition.

The previous reverses, sustained by the army stationed at and near Memphis, under General Sturgis, are stated in the sketches of other officers. The expedition in question left La Grange, on the line of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, on the 5th of July, 1864; and, proceeding in a southeasterly direction, passed through Ripley and Pontotoc, and thence on to Tupelo. The heat and the dust rendered the march extremely painful and exhausting; but the brave men endured the hardships with great fortitude, for they were to retrieve our arms in that quarter from disgrace.

On the 13th instant, the 12th Iowa was assigned the duty of guarding the supply-train, a task which was not without its dangers, and which, on account of the hilly and timbered country through which the march lay, required the greatest vigilance. The country, too, was full of scouting parties of the enemy. Early in the afternoon, Lieutenant-Colonel Stibbs, commanding the regiment, was informed by one of his flankers that, the enemy's cavalry, in large force, were advancing rapidly through the timber on his right. It proved to be Maley's Mississippi Brigade. Learning their intended point of attack, the colonel threw his regiment in their front, and, concealing his men in the dense brush, ordered them to hold their fire till they received the proper command. Soon, the enemy came dashing through the woods, firing their carbines, and shouting like demons. They were allowed to approach within less than twenty paces, when a well-directed volley from the regiment checked them, and a second one drove them back in confusion, with the loss of their colors. They continued a scattering fire for fifteen or twenty minutes, and then retired.

In this affair, the loss of the 12th Iowa was one man killed, and twelve wounded. Among the latter, was Captain C. L,. Lumbardo. The battle of Tupelo opened the next morning.

On Thursday, the 14th instant, Smith's army was put under arms at three o'clock in the morning, and was soon after marched out and formed in line, on the right of the Pontotoc road. The position of the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, to which was attached the 12th Iowa, was as follows: "On the extreme right was stationed the 6th Indiana Battery, four guns; next in line, on the left, was the 33d Wisconsin, of the 4th Brigade; next, the 33d Missouri; next, the 2d Iowa Battery, four guns, commanded by Lieutenant J. Reed; and on the left of the brigade, in the most advanced position of our front line of battle, was the 12th Iowa, the 7th Minnesota being in reserve."

Immediately after the line was formed, skirmishers were thrown out; and soon, the enemy, moving from their cover in the timber, appeared in force, and formed for the encounter. The battle opened with artillery, which was fired with great rapidity and precision. The range was short, and the screeching [sic] of shells, and the whistling of grape and canister, was frightful. In the meantime, the enemy pushed their infantry forward, and engaged the whole Federal front. The 12th Iowa was protected by an old fence thrown down for a barricade, from behind which it did terrible execution, repelling every rebel assault. And thus the fighting continued for upward of two hours, when the regiment, having exhausted its ammunition, was sent to the rear. In half an hour, it returned with replenished cartridge..boxes, and, taking up its former position, again engaged the enemy. As the battle progressed, the enemy made charge after charge, confident of victory. They would approach within fifty yards of the Federal line, when, met by terrible volleys of canister and musketry, they would stagger for a moment, and then retire precipitately. To whip Smith's forces, was to be a "fore-breakfast spell"; but they must have thought their breakfast a long way off. Finally, they were charged in turn by the 12th Iowa in the van, the 35th Iowa, the 33d Missouri, the 33d Wisconsin and two companies of the 7th Minnesota. They could not face the valor of these veterans, and fled to the woods, leaving the bloody field in possession of the Federal forces. Nor did they return that day to renew the contest.

Of the second day's fight, and of the results of both days' battles, Lieutenant-Colonel Stibbs says:

"On the morning of the l5th instant my regiment was assigned a position to the left of the Pontotoc road, and formed the left centre of the brigade line. We had a substantial breastwork of cotton-bales in our front, which served as an admirable protection against the enemy's sharp-shooters. We took full part in the fight and charge of the day, losing one man killed and three wounded. Our loss during the three days' fighting was one officer and eight men killed, one officer and fifty-four men wounded, and one man missing."

Lieutenant A. A. Burdick, acting regimental quarter-master, was killed by a shell, while assisting to bring forward ammunition. He was a gallant young officer, and held in the highest esteem by his regiment. Sergeant Robert Fowler and Corporal G. R. Holden were also killed.

Being without supplies, General Smith could not continue the pursuit; and he therefore moved back in the direction of Memphis. Indeed, I am informed that the object of the expedition was accomplished on the battle-field of Tupelo — Forest and his command had been routed. The enemy's cavalry followed on the return as far as Oldtown Creek, giving the rear guard much trouble; but so skillfully and successfully was the march conducted, that not a single wagon of the long train was lost. The expedition arrived at La Grange on the 20th instant; and from that point all the wounded were sent forward to Memphis.

The entire Federal loss in the fighting at Tupelo was about six hundred, while the enemy's was estimated at not less than two thousand.

After General Smith's operations against Price in Missouri, in which the 12th Iowa took part, we next find the regiment with that general before Nashville. In the battles fought south of the last named city, it figured conspicuously; and its gallantry became the more noted, from the fact that it went into the fight without a single line officer: each company was commanded by a sergeant. Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. Stibbs commanded the regiment, and Captain, now Major Knee was acting major — both brave and true men. The regiment's conduct at Nashville is deserving of the greatest praise; for its colors were among the first to be placed upon the enemy's strong redoubts. It accomplished much, with but small loss — two killed and eighteen wounded. The 12th Iowa last operated with General Smith, in the reduction of Mobile, or rather the strong forts, by which that city was defended.

Colonel Woods has a slender, stooping form, brown hair, a light complexion, and mild, blue eyes. He is, in appearance and in fact, the most unassuming of the Iowa colonels. He speaks slowly and kindly, and was accustomed to give his commands with great coolness and deliberation. The officers and men of his regiment at first thought he lacked style and energy; but they soon learned he possessed great worth as a commanding officer. He is the farthest removed from every thing that distinguishes regular army officers.

SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 243-54

From a letter, dated Huntsville, Ala., and written by . . .

. . . WILL. B. PICKERING, who by the way, is Private Secretary of Gen. MITCHELL, we are permitted to extract the following:

“Gen. Mitchell’s forces took possession of this place last Saturday morning, at 6 o’clock, taking the citizens entirely by surprise. This is certainly a lucky capture. We captured 21 first-class locomotives and a few cars, belonging to the Memphis & Charleston R. R. The 8th Brigade, to which the [18th] Ohio belongs, has captured Decatur, twenty five miles below. Six hundred bales of cotton were taken.”

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens Ohio, Thursday, April 24, 1862

CAPT. TOBIEN’S German and Swede company . . .

. . . from Rock Island county, suffered very much. Out of 65 men, who went into the fight on Monday morning, only 35 are fit for duty. The following are the named of some of the killed wounded, and missing. It is dated the 8th inst.:

Killed - Lt. Jno Oppendick, Moline; Corporal John A Warneke, Rock Island; H. P. Johnson, Peter Heisel, Jno Beck, butcher, Rock Island; Nicol Beil, Clinton county, Iowa; Andrew Lindau, Gottfr Willie, Louis Thuerler, Hampton; Henry Otto, Edgington; John Otto, Davenport.

Wounded – Capt. John Tobien, in the neck, not dangerous; Sergeant Rhode, Davenport, slightly; Corporal Swan Swanson, and Wollin, Rock Island, slightly; Frederick Forcelious, Rock Island, seriously in the breast; Andrew Anderson, leg, not dangerous; John Mink, Edgington, hip, probably will recover; Ferd. Schindler, Rock Island, slightly; Fred Cramer, Iowa, shoulder; G. Guelck, Edgington, shoulder, not dangerous; Claus Peters, Moline, leg; C Meyens, hip, slightly.

Missing - John J. Rohwer, Davenport.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 18, 1862, p. 1

Something Up

Amid these tidings of carnage, which will cast their shadows upon every household in the land should not the nation pause? Has not the sacrifice been already enough? Is it not the duty of the wise and the good men of all sections to exert their influence to bring to a termination this unnatural and suicidal strife between those who should live together as brothers, with a common ancestry and a common fame? Or will madness rule until only exhaustion brings peace? –{State Sentinel, April 10.

Why should the nation pause in the suppression of the rebellion and the enforcement of the laws? Why should the nation pause until the rebels have time to recuperate and reorganize their disorganized and fleeing armies? The nation has already paused too much and too long. Had President Buchanan not paused so long it would doubtless have been far better. The Sentinel well knows that there is now but one method to terminate this “unnatural and suicidal strife,” and that is by vigorous and overwhelming war. This unholy rebellion can not be put down by “pauses and compromises,” but only by “coercion” at the point of the bayonet or by the sword. There is no other cure for the disease. Does the Sentinel thinl that the sacrifice has been enough to give up and let the rebels have their own way, unless they will kindly propose a compromise that will acknowledge the Union dissolved or humiliated? If not, what would it have the nation do after the “pause?” –{Hancock Democrat.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 2

Drawing Near to Memphis

Special to Chicago Tribune.

WASHINGTON, April 16.

The following dispatch has been received at the Navy Department:


CAIRO, April 15.

“The Flotilla has been within three-quarters of a mile of Fort Pillow, and thence returned to take up a position two miles further up. The Rebel gunboats escaped below the fort. There are ten of these boats below the Fort. Our mortar-boats are in position, and had opened fire. This is up to 6 o’clock last evening. Gen Pope’s command occupy the Arkansas side of the river.”

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 18, 1862, p. 1

One of our generals . . .

. . . had been very frequently applied to with requisitions for Spiritus vini Gallici, the abbreviations Spir. vini Gal. only being used, and the general not knowing what was meant, but supposing that the applicants (surgeons of course) only wanted some kind of medicine, granted every application. He applied to the medical purveyor to know why he had not supplied the army with this Spir. vini Gal., and why so many requisitions had to be made for the article. “Well, I’ll be d----d,” said the purveyor, “I’ve just found out how so much liquor has been finding its way into our army; it is upon your signing the requisitions for French brandy;” and to doctor had his laugh heartily at the cruel expense of the general.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday April 26, 1862, p. 2

Letter of Nelson Davenport, Company G, 34th Iowa Infantry

Saint Louis Nov. the 25, 1862

Dear wife I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at present and hope that these few lines will find you and the children all well. We landed here yesterday morning after a long and tiresome ride on an old steamboat. We left Burlington on Saturday morning and come to Montrose and stayed there and expected to stay there until morning but all of the regiment but three companies was on another boat and they got to Keokuk about the same time that we got to Montrose and the boat was ready to start for this place and the colonel sent the cars for us about twelve o’clock at night and we had to get up and get on the cars and go to Keokuk. I must tell you now that our captain fell into the river at Montrose but he had good luck to get out again there was three or four boys fell into the river but there was none drownded, one man lost his gun. The thirty third reg. is here in St. Louis but I have not had a chance to see any of the boys that came from thare, but if we stay here long I will go and see them if I can. The thirty six will be here in a few days. There was a man come down on the boat with us that belonged to the company that the boys is in that come from Montrose and he says that Henry Andrews is dead he had the measles and went home and he took cold and died. No more at present but write as soon as you get this and let me know how you are getting along direct your letters to

St. Louis 34th Iowa regiment company G.
Nelson Davenport

Review: The Bonfire: The Siege and Burning of Atlanta

The Bonfire: The Siege and Burning of Atlanta
By Marc Wortman

Marc Wortman hasn’t so much written a book about the siege and burning of Atlanta as he has written a history of Atlanta covering approximately fifty years from its founding until its surrender to the army of William Tecumseh Sherman and its ultimate destruction. In doing so he has won the award for the most misleading book title of 2009, for his is not a book solely focused on “The Siege and Burning of Atlanta.” A full third of the book passes by before Mr. Wortman comes to the outbreak of the Civil War, and nearly another third of the book passes by before his narrative makes its way to the Atlanta Campaign, the siege of the city, its surrender and burning.

What Mr. Wortman has done very well is given us a very detailed look at the history of Atlanta, seen through the eyes of its citizens; its wartime mayor, James Montgomery Calhoun (a first cousin once removed of Senator and United States Vice President John C. Calhoun), Mrs. Cyrena Stone a diarist with Union sympathies, and Robert Gadsby, a slave in title only, who may or may not have been the illegitimate son of Daniel Webster. It is interesting that Mr. Wortman chose three Atlantans with Unionist leanings as the main characters in a book about the siege and burning of Atlanta; Margaret Mitchell’s Atlanta, this isn’t.

The military history of the Atlanta Campaign, the siege of the city, its surrender and burning, have taken a backseat in Mr. Wortman’s tome. Despite its title the siege and burning of Atlanta are not the main focus of this book. It’s narrative, rather, is driven by Atlanta’s Unionist inhabitants, which in and of itself is worthy of study. But in a book with a title, “The Bonfire: The Siege and Burning of Atlanta,” one would expect to find a book solely dedicated to military operations instead of only a third of its 361 pages of text.

Mr. Wortman’s book is well researched and written in an easily read style. It transitions easily from topic to topic, giving the book a nice narrative flow. “The Bonfire” is a great bargain for the book buyer, as it is several books all rolled up into one; a history of Georgia, the Indian removal (The Trail of Tears), the founding of Atlanta, an abbreviated genealogy of the Calhoun family, a biography of Robert Gadsby, and a history of the campaign for Atlanta, its siege and burning.

ISBN 978-1-58648-482-8, Public Affairs, © 2009, Hardcover, 464 pages, Photographs, Illustrations, Maps, Endnotes & Index. $28.95

READING AID: The Calhoun Family

COLONEL WILLIAM HALL

SECOND COLONEL, ELEVENTH INFANTRY.

William Hall was born in the city of Montreal, Canada East, on the 25th of January, 1832; but, though born in Canada, he is not a foreigner. His parents were, at the time of his birth, residents of the State of Vermont, and chanced to be on a visit at Montreal. William remained at home with his family till 1844, during which time his father resided in Ogdensburg, New York; Brookville, Canada West; and Rochester, New York. In 1844 he entered Oberlin College, where he remained a year and a half, and then entered the Western Military Institute of Kentucky. At that time, as also at the breaking out of the rebellion, the rebel Bushrod Johnson was superintendent of the institution. Commencing with the rank of private, Colonel Hall went through all the military grades of the school, and graduated as acting-adjutant, and with the rank of captain. Soon after leaving that institution, he entered the Harvard Law School, at Cambridge, Massachusetts; but, without graduating, left in 1854, and came West. Since that time he has made his residence in Davenport, Iowa. By profession, Colonel Hall is a lawyer; and I understand he ranked fairly at the Davenport bar. He had the reputation of being a hard worker, and of doing the best he could for his clients.

In the summer of 1861 he entered the volunteer service, and the 23d of September following was commissioned major of the 11th Iowa Infantry. He was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy of his regiment, on the 11th of October, 1861, and, on the resignation of Colonel Hare, was commissioned colonel. He held this rank, and served in the field, till the summer of 1864, when, Colonel W. W. Belknap being promoted over him to a general officer, he resigned in disgust. It is reported that, after his return home, he espoused conservatism, and vilified [sic], in public speeches, the policy of the Administration; but that can hardly be so.

As already stated, the 11th Iowa's first battle was Shiloh. Its second was Corinth; and the part it acted in the latter may be gained from the following extract from Colonel, now General, Crocker's official report:

"About five o'clock in the morning of the 3d instant, the brigade formed — two regiments, the 11th and 13th Iowa volunteers in line of battle, facing to the west, and the 15th and 16th Iowa volunteers, in close column by division in rear of the line. The regiments remained in that position, with skirmishers deployed in front, receiving an occasional cannon-shot, until about three o'clock, when, the division on the right having fallen back, a change of front was ordered. The l5th and 16th were then formed in line of battle perpendicular to the first line, and the 11th and 13th, in close column by division, in the rear. In this position, the brigade remained until about four o'clock P. M., when orders were again received to again change front, so as to connect the right of the brigade with the left of General Davis' Division, its left to rest in the direction of Battery E. After the execution of this order had been commenced, notice was received from General McKean that the division was to move back inside the inner fortifications; and an order was received that, the 11th and 13th regiments be formed in line of battle a quarter of a mile in the rear of the line formed by the 15th and 16th, in front of, and parallel to the road, over which the artillery of the division must pass, the brigade to protect the movements of the rest of the division, and the artillery."

This position, which the 11th Iowa, or the Iowa brigade was thus ordered to abandon, was south of the Chewalla road, and a little north-of-west of Corinth. "On arriving inside the fortifications, we took position, the 15th Iowa in line of battle in rear of, and to the right of the battery commanded by Captain Phillips, 1st Infantry; the 16th in rear of, and supporting the 5th Ohio Battery, which was in position on the left of Captain Phillip's Battery; five companies of the 11th Regiment, in command of Major Abercrombie, in line of battle, supporting the 1st Minnesota Battery, in position still on the left of the 5th Ohio Battery; the 13th Iowa, and five companies of the 11th, still in the rear of the l5th and I6th, in close column by division, as a reserve." This last position was held through all the fighting of the next day, the 11th Iowa being drawn up in line of battle in rear of the 15th. The only commissioned officers of the regiment, wounded in both day's fighting, were Lieutenants William H. Wetherby and Dennis P. Greeley: the latter was wounded by a falling tree.

From November 1861, till the spring of 1864, the history of the 11th Iowa will be found in the sketches of other officers and regiments. It re-enlisted in the winter of 1863-4, and came North, on veteran furlough, in March following.

In May, 1864, two divisions of the 17th Army Corps rendezvoused at Clifton, on the Tennessee, from which point, General Blair marched across the country to Sherman, via Huntsville, Decatur and Rome. 'The 11th Iowa was attached to this command, and arrived at the front early in June, and, while Sherman was in the vicinity of Acworth, Georgia. The regiment first confronted the enemy before Kenesaw Mountain, and lost its first man on the l5th of June. Before Kenesaw, "General Hooker was on its right and front, General Howard on its left and front, and General Palmer between it and the railroad." The rebel General Polk was killed by a cannon shot on the 14th of June, after which the enemy abandoned Pine Mountain away on the right, and took up a position "with Kenesaw as his salient point, his right wing thrown back to cover Marietta, and his left behind Nose's Creek, covering the railroad back to the Chattahoochie." While the enemy were in this position, General Sherman made his bloody and unsuccessful assault. The flank movement to the right, led by the 17th Corps, commenced in the evening of the 2d of July, and an account of it will be found in the sketch of General Hedrick.

Like the other regiments of the Iowa Brigade, the 11th Iowa suffered its severest loss on the afternoon of the 22d of July; but an account of this engagement has been given elsewhere. The following is from Lieutenant-Colonel Abercrombie's official report:
"Many acts of bravery were performed by officers and men of the regiment, which might be mentioned, did time and opportunity permit.

"Major Foster was wounded early in the action, faithful in discharge of his duty. Captain Neal was killed instantly by a grape-shot at the fort late in the afternoon. Captain Barr is missing. Captain Rose, missing, is supposed to have been wounded and captured. 1st Lieutenant Cassell, missing; 1st Lieutenant Caldwell, killed; 1st Lieutenant Pfoutz, wounded; 2d Lieutenant Wylie, wounded. I would make honorable mention of Sergeant-Major John G. Safley, who, with 1st Sergeant John A. Buck, Company K, (afterwards killed — brave fellow) and a party of picked up men, numbering thirty or forty, made a dash over the works held by the enemy, bringing over more than their own number as prisoners, amongst whom were a colonel and captain.

"In the sally, Safley was wounded, but it is not believed seriously. During the action a Confederate flag was captured, and brought over the works by Private George B. Haworth, of Company B, and is now in his possession. A banner, belonging to the 45th Alabama, was also brought over by Private Edward Siberis, of Company G, which was placed by him in the hands of Lieutenant Safley, Provost-Marshal of the brigade."

Altogether, the 11th Iowa captured, and sent to the rear, ninety-three persons. Both Captain J. W. Anderson and Adjutant B. W. Prescott are mentioned for gallantry. The loss of the regiment, in killed, wounded and missing, was severe — eight officers and one hundred and twenty-nine men. It has already been stated that Major Foster was wounded. He died not long after, and the regiment mourned, in his loss, one of its finest and most popular officers. He was a native of New Hampshire.

From the 15th of June, 1864, to the 5th of September, the 11th Iowa lost, in killed, wounded and missing, ten commissioned officers, and two hundred and seven enlisted men. One of the officers, who has not already been mentioned, was Lieutenant Alfred Carey of Company E. He was wounded on the 15th of June, before Kenesaw, and afterwards died of his wounds.

A further history of the 11th Iowa will be found in the sketches of the other regiments of the 17th Corps' Iowa Brigade.

For several months, Colonel Hall commanded the Iowa Brigade. He commanded it on General Blair's Mechanicsville march during the siege of Vicksburg, and until the return of Colonel Chambers of the 16th Iowa from leave of absence. He also commanded it through the entire Atlanta Campaign. He was not much liked by his brigade. He was nearly all the time sick and irritable; but, in justice, I should add, he never made his sickness an excuse to avoid duty. If danger was at hand, he was never the second man present.

The colonel is a small man, weighing about one hundred and twenty-five pounds. He has a slender, gaunt, ungainly person, rendered so, I suppose by disease. He wears long, black hair; has large, black eyes, and a dark, sallow complexion. Colonel Hall is not a comely man. When I saw him, in the spring of 1864,1 wondered how he had for three years endured the hardships of the service.

When interested or excited, he moves about nervously, with his face turned downward, and his hands thrust in his pantaloons' pockets. He has large self-esteem, and prides himself in doing things in his own way. If he is as he seems, he is impervious to flattery; but that can hardly be, for he shows great indignity, if he thinks his services underrated. It was on this score that he tendered his resignation.

Considering his ill-health, Colonel Hall was successful as a soldier. He was a good tactician, and brave and resolute. His greatest fault seemed to be in questioning the justness and propriety of the orders of his superiors. He would obey them, but it was not uncommon for him to do so under protest. The following will illustrate how the enlisted men of his command appreciated his temper.

While the Iowa Brigade was encamped at Clifton, Tennessee, just before starting across the country to Huntsville, a squad of raw recruits, from its different regiments, were put on picket. They were in the enemy's country, and, of course, were ordered to load their pieces. Returning to camp in the morning, they inquired of the veterans how they should get the charges, out of their guns, and received the following instructions: "Go out there, behind Colonel Hall's tent, and fire them off: that's the only place—and be sure and all fire at once." They did as directed. What followed, was better appreciated by the veterans, than by those who were learning their first lesson in soldiering. Colonel Hall, who was in bed, sprang out in a rage, and ordered the poor fellows tied from morning till night.

SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 237-242

Visit To The Battle Field Of Shiloh

A Vindication of the Disgraced Ohio Regiments. – the 53d set Right.

A visit to the battle-field upon which was fought the greatest battle ever seen upon this continent, is no small item about which to write or speak. It will be an important era in the life of every man who fought upon it and who saw it.

Messrs. Twombly, Fred. Ballard and ourself started the morning (Thursday) after receiving the news of the battle for Pittsburgh Landing, with the view of assisting what we could in relieving the suffering of our wounded and sick. On account of the numerous hindrances with which we met, we did not reach our destination until late on Monday evening following.

When we arrived all that could be done had been done for the relief of the wounded and sick. We therefore had little else to do than to go over the battle-field, visit our friends and return home. Descriptions of the field have frequently been given. We will therefore not take up much space in giving anything in regard to it. It was such a sight as we never wish to see again, and we do not wish to dwell long enough upon it to describe it.

We visited the Mound City Hospital, where there are about 1,000 wounded. Here we met many acquaintances. None of them, however, were very seriously wounded. This hospital is conducted in the most admirable manner. The wounded are cared for in the best manner possible. The could not be in better condition, or more kindly provided for were they at home with their friends. The Sisters of Mercy are there in large numbers waiting upon the wounded. They are as angels of Mercy to the wounded soldiers.


THE 53D OHIO REGIMENT.

Much excitement has prevailed in our county on account of reports of cowardice on the part of the 53d regiment in which there is a company of Athens county boys. The Lieut. Colonel and Quartermaster also being from this county. Upon hearing these reports, we took special pains to ascertain the truth, and if possible, to gain such information concerning the Regiment as would enable us to vindicate them at home.

The 53rd is a brave regiment of men as ever marched to the tune of “Yankee Doodle.” The stories about its cowardly conduct are all false without exception, which declaration we will proceed to prove.

The 53d Regiment forms a portion of Col. Hildebrand’s Brigade, attached to Gen. W. T. Sherman’s Division. It occupied the extreme left of Col. Hildebrand’s Brigade, lying directly on the Corinth road, and commanding it.

The following diagram will enable our readers to judge of its position, and the explanations we give below will enable them to judge of the amount of cowardice of which they were guilty:

It is one-half mile from the 53d to Gen. Prentiss’ Division; one-fourth mile from it to General Hildebrand’s headquarters, which is the nearest point to forces upon that side, and one-half mile in the rear of the 53d to any forces. The rebel army lay in force within one mile of the Fifty-Third all Saturday night. They were thrown on in the advance and were the first regiment of Gen. Sherman’s Division attacked.

Early in the morning on Sunday a messenger was sent to Gen. Sherman’s headquarters from the 53d informing him that the rebels were advancing in force upon them. Gen. Sherman made some fun of the messenger, and thought they must be frightened down there. Shortly afterwards he, accompanied by his Staff, rode out to the camp of the 53d, and remarked, upon seeing the woods in front of him full of rebels, that we would probably have a sharp skirmish. In a few moments the rebels, who had advanced within long range, fired a volley upon the General and his staff, killing one of his Orderlies close by his side. Turning round, he exclaimed, “We are attacked,” and immediately rode back towards his headquarters. The 53d in the meantime has been drawn up in line of battle by Col. Appler. They first formed in front of their camp, but as the rebels advanced upon them in overwhelming numbers they, fell back to the rear of it where they lay under cover of the rise of ground upon which their camp was stationed. As soon as the rebels advanced within near range, they rose and fired. They immediately fell and reloaded and then gave the rebels another volley, when Col. Appler gave the order “Retreat!” He then ran for the river and was not seen by his men during that day or Monday.

Lieut. Col. Fulton followed the regiment in its retreat and rallied the men in the rear of the 18th Illinois, and they fought under his command the remainder of that day and Monday.

Col. Hildebrand made a report of his brigade to Gen. Sherman, a copy of which we have in our possession, and which Gen. Sherman will never publish. We therefore, for the purpose of vindicating the noble boys whom he has endeavored to defame, take the liberty of publishing extracts from it. Col. Hildebrand makes the following mention of the action taken by the 53d on Sunday morning:

“The 53d Regiment, after forming in line of battle under my orders, fired two rounds and immediately fell back into the woods. It appears from the report of Col. Appler, that apprehending a flank movement on his left, ordered a retreat, but subsequently rallied in the rear of the 18th Illinois. This regiment became separated from my command, and its movements throughout the day were general.”

It will be seen from this that the 53d did not “run without firing a gun” as has been reported of them. According to a speech which Gen. Sherman made to the 53d on the day after the battle, ten regiments of rebel infantry attacked the position held by the 53d. At the time of the attack the regiment consisted of about 450 effective men – two companies being out at the time of the attack upon picket duty.

Col. Hildebrand, in another part of his report speaks of the 53d and its officers as follows:

“The 53d Regiment I have referred to already. The regiment, under command of Col. J. J. Appler, fell back after two rounds under the order of Col. Appler. Soon afterwards, as I am informed, he left the field, and was not with the Regiment during the day or Monday.

Lieut. Col. Fulton, in command of the Regiment, the Adjutant and company officers generally behaved with becoming bravery.”

In a “Note” to the Report we find the following:

“NOTE. About 6 P.M. Monday, the 77th and 53d Regiments took a position near the heavy guns on the hill, from which the enemy finally fell back. The 53d did good service before this in the afternoon, by operating with other regiments. J. HILDEBRAND.”

Thus is the 53d Ohio Regiment vindicated from the slanderous charges of cowardice made against it by correspondents of mammoth daily papers, who were never over the ground, and who telegraphed and mailed as facts what were merely rumors.

The fact is, Gen. Sherman’s Division, in connection with the whole of Gen. Grant’s army, was surprised, and somebody, aside from the poor privates sought to be disgraced, is to blame for this criminal neglect. On the night previous to the attack, the rebels lay in force within one mile of our lines, and we had not a picket farther out than one-half mile! It is difficult to conceive how an army of 60,000 men could lie within a mile of the lines of a well conditioned camp of forty or fifty thousand men during one whole night, without being discovered. Such a thing probably never occurred before in the history of the world, and we trust no other army may never be so disgraced as was Gen. Grant’s.

But we have it from high authority that neither Gen. Grant nor Gen. Sherman were surprised, that they were aware of the presence of the enemy on Saturday previous to the attack. Below we give an extract from a letter written by an officer in Gen. Sherman’s Division, which will throw some light upon this point. The letter was handed us by a friend on board the “Superior” while on our way home.

The letter is dated

PITTSBURGH LANDING,
April 16, 1862.

T. F. WILDES, ESQ – Dear Sir: In a conversation to-day with Gen. Hildebrand, he said, in response to a remark of mine, that great responsibility rested upon somebody for permitting us to be surprised in our encampment and set upon by a whole division of the enemy without any intimation of their coming whatever; also, that Gen. SHERMAN did know on Saturday of the presence of the enemy, and so did he (Gen. HILDEBRAND) and that he wanted to take his brigade out on Saturday and fight and that Gen. Sherman forbid him doing anything to bring on the action either Saturday or Sunday!”

This conversation was in the presence of several gentlemen – both military and civil. Among the latter was Mr. Bailey, of the Sanitary Commission, Cincinnati. The writer of the letter is a perfectly reliable gentleman in high standing in the Division. But this conversation can be proven by several gentlemen aside from him.

Now, the question arises, what does this mean? Did these men know what is alleged they did know? If they did their conduct admits of no explanation. We hope this matter will undergo investigation. In fact, we think it cannot be allowed to pass without it.

On the other hand, Gen. Sherman Stated in a speech he made to the 53d that he was entirely surprised, that the presence of the enemy was entirely unknown to him. Gen. Grant, in his report, makes no attempt to explain the cause of their surprise. The friends of the soldiers in that army will await the unraveling of this mysterious affair with great anxiety.


THE 77TH REGIMENT.

This Regiment is said to have been mustered out of service on account of its disgraceful conduct on Tuesday after the great victory of Monday was gained. We heard nothing of this while with the regiment, and believe it to be untrue. We were at its camp and conversed with its officers about the fight and about the action on Tuesday, and heard nothing of any such thing as the mustering out of the regiment, and we believe we left there after the dispatches announcing its disgrace had been sent. In fact the regiment was there in camp with its arms, looking bright and cheerful, and Major FEARING thought they, in connection with the whole army were better prepared for a battle then than they were before the last one came off. The following extract from Col. HILDEBRAND’s report will give our readers an idea of the part taken by the 77th on Tuesday:

“On the 8th inst., in compliance with your order, I marched my Brigade, accompanied by a large cavalry force, also by Col. Buckland’s Brigade, on the Corinth road, about four miles from camp. Halting in an open field, skirmishers were thrown forward who discovered rebel cavalry in considerable force, exhibiting a disposition to fight. The skirmishers immediately fired upon them, when the Seventy-Seventh regiment, under command of Lt. Col. DeHass, was ordered up to support them. Soon after forming in line a large body of cavalry made a bold and dashing charge on the skirmishes and the whole regiment. So sudden and rapid was the charge, shooting our men with carbines and revolvers, that they had not time to re-load, and fell back hoping our cavalry would cover the retreat. Unhappily, our cavalry were not sufficiently near to render essential assistance. The rebel cavalry literally rode down the infantry, shooting, sabering, and trampling them under foot. We sustained a loss in killed, wounded and missing of fifty-seven. Nineteen were killed on the spot, thirty wounded, and the balance missing; of the latter two Captains and one second Lieut., Capt. A. W. McCormick, Capt. A. Chandler, and Lieut. Criswell.”

The regiment fought well during Sunday and Monday, from all the information we can gain from those acquainted with its movements. It is a new regiment, one very recently formed, and of very little experience, and it seems to us should never have been sent ahead on such an expedition as that of Tuesday. None but a well drilled regiment would be equal to an impetuous charge of cavalry like that described in the report of Col. Hildebrand. Besides this, neither infantry nor cavalry were in supporting distance of the regiment when it was dashed upon by the rebel cavalry, which looks like extremely bad generalship, even to civilians. We will be able to give a more thorough vindication of the 77th regiment next week.


THE 71ST REGIMENT.

This regiment is said to have been sent to Fort Donelson in disgrace for bad conduct on the battle-field. We presume its conduct was bad, but there are palliating circumstances which should be stated in connection with its bad conduct that we have not yet seen in print.

When we were returning from Pittsburgh Landing we passed the 71st at Paducah, on its way to Fort Donelson. Our boat stopped there some time and we had an opportunity of seeing the men of the regiment with some of whom we were acquainted. From what we could learn from the men and all other sources on the ground at Pittsburgh, Col. Mason of that Regiment displayed the white feather at the very first fire of the enemy, and left the field. He was not again seen by his Regiment during the battle. Lieut. Col. Kyle was a brave, good man, and when the Colonel ingloriously fled, he took command of the Regiment, and in his efforts to rally the men and keep them at the work, he was killed. His death left the Regiment without a commander, and it fell into confusion as a matter of course almost. Lieut. Col. Kyle is perhaps a victim of Col. Mason’s cowardice, as he was compelled to improperly expose himself in order to keep the men at their places after he left therm. A regiment of men should not suffer disgrace because of the cowardice of their commanding officer, and we think the object in sending the regiment to Fort Donelson is not to disgrace it, but for the reason that as Lieut. Col. Kyle is killed, and Col. Mason has shown himself a coward, no one, fit to command the regiment in battle, remains connected with it. The matter will doubtless undergo investigation, and the party to blame for the conduct of the 71st receive his just punishment.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday Morning, April 24, 1862, p 2

Wounded in the 16th Regiment

A letter received from Adjutant McCosh by his father last evening, gives the following additional names of wounded in the 16th regiment:

Capt. Fraser, very slightly wounded – on duty to-day; Capt. Palmer, slightly; Lt. Lewis, C, severely; Private H. H. Bowling, severely; Private J. Knowles, slightly; Lt. Meyer, Co. G.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 18, 1862, p. 2

A Baked Bible

There is a Bible in Lucas county, Ohio, which was once baked in a loaf of bread. It now belongs to Mr. Schebolt, a worthy member of the United Brethren church, who resides near Maumee City. Mr. Schebolt is a native of Bohemia, and the baked Bible was originally the property of his grandfather, who was a faithful Protestant Christian in the times which tried men’s souls. During one of the cruel persecutions which have been so common in Bohemia, an edict was passed that every Bible in the hands of the peasants should be delivered up to the authorities and destroyed. Various expedients were resorted to by the Bible-loving Protestants to preserve the precious word of Life. Mrs. Schebolt, grandmother of the present owner, placed hers in the center of a batch of dough, which was ready for the oven and baked it. The house was carefully searched, but no bible was found; and when the tools of priestly tyranny had departed, and the danger was passed, the bible was taken uninjured from the loaf. It was printed 150 years ago. –{Religious Telegraph.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 2