Faulkner on the Disease

Hon. Charles James Faulkner, late [Ambassador] to the Court of the Tuileries, ex-Whig, ex-Democrat, and now avowed rebel, having been arrested as a traitor by our Government, and exchanged for the Hon. Alfred Ely, was a young and tolerably honest member of that Virginia Legislature of 1832 which took up the subject of Slavery, (under the spur of the Nat Turner insurrection,) and very nearly resolved on its abolition.  In his speech on that occasion, Mr. Faulkner, said:

“I am gratified to perceive that no gentleman has yet risen in this Hall the avowed advocate of slavery.  The day has gone by when such a voice could be listened to with patience or even with forbearance.  I even regret that there should be one among us, who enters the lists as its apologist, except on the ground of uncontrollable necessity.  Let me request him to compare the slave-holding portion of this Commonwealth, barren, desolate, seared as it were by the avenging hand of Heaven, with the descriptions which we have of this same country from those who first broke its virgin soil.  To what is this change ascribable? – Solely to the withering and blasting effects of slavery.  If this does not satisfy him, let me request him to travel to the Northern States, and contrast the contentment and happiness which prevail throughout the country; the busy, cheerful sounds of industry, the rapidly swelling growth of their population, their means and institutions of education, their skill and proficiency in useful arts, their enterprise and public spirit, the monuments of their commercial and manufacturing industry, and, above all, their devoted attachment to the Government from which they derive protection – let him compare all these with the division, discontent, indolence, and poverty of the Southern country.  To what is this ascribable?  It is to that vice in the organization of society by which one half of its inhabitants are arrayed in interest and feeling against the other half, to that unfortunate state of society, in which freemen regard labor as disgraceful, and slaves shrink from it as a burden tyrannically imposed upon them; to that condition of thing, in which half a million of your population can feel no sympathy with the society, in the prosperity of which they are forbidden to participate, and no attachment to a Government at whose hands they receive nothing but injustice.

“If the incredulous inquirer should suggest that this manifest contrast might be traced to difference of climate, or to other causes distinct from slavery itself, permit me to refer him to the two States of Kentucky and Ohio.  No difference of soil or climate, no diversity in the original settlement of those two States can be adduced to account for the remarkable disproportion in their advancement.  Separated by a river alone, they seem to have been purposefully and providentially designed to exhibit in their future histories the difference which necessarily results from a country afflicted with the curse of slavery, and a country that is free from it.  The same may be said of the two States of Missouri and Illinois.

“Slavery is an institution which presses heavily on the best interests of the State.  It banishes free white labor.  It exterminates mechanics, artisans, manufacturers.  It deprives them of occupation; it deprives them of bread.  It converts the energy of a community into indolence, its power into imbecility, its efficiency into weakness.  Being thus injurious, have we not a right to demand its extermination?  Shall all rights be subordinate to the interests of the slaveholder? – Has not the mechanic rights?  Have not the middle classes their rights? rights incompatible with the existence of Slavery!”

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

Died

Monday evening, Mrs. SALINA KALER, wife of Andrew Kaler, aged 31 years.

On the 20^th inst., of Diphtheria, WILLIAM T., son of Geo. And Isabella Randall, aged 6 years 3 months and 19 days.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

Married

In this city on the 23d inst., by Rev. W. Salter, Mr. WILLIAM LAW to Miss GERTRUDE DUFFY.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

Southern Intelligence --- Extracts from Southern Papers

(From the Richmond Enquirer of Feb. 19.)

THE NEWS FROM FORT DONELSON.

The fortitude of our people is again to be tried, and the metal of which their courage is made once more to be tested, by the last news from Fort Donelson.  We have met with heavy disaster there.  The wretches who are invading our country were enabled, by the facilities of river transportation, to bring up reinforcements to their previously whipped troops, and have overwhelmed us with numbers.  We are without the necessary facts and explanations to justify comment upon the tragedy of last Sunday.  We have had experience enough already to show the folly of premature criticisms.  We must have patience.  Such reports as have reached us are chiefly from the North, and are given in the telegraphic column.

But this thing we must do: by the mangled body of every man who fell at the hand so the scoundrel murderers who have invaded the country of those who never did them any harm – by the homes which we have established by our industry – by the beautiful land which we have inherited from our fathers – by the families that we love – by all that is noble, patriotic and brave, and in the fear and fervently invoking the favor of God – we must all resolve, in our inmost souls, and vow with an irrevocable vow, that we will resist the enemy to the last extremity, and that we will die if we cannot live free men!

And this vow we must set about making good.  Let cowards tremble if they will – let vile niggards count their treasures in agony.  But what brave or generous citizen would wish to survive the ruin of his country?  Who would desire to live when odious and vulgar despots have foot upon our necks?  No, fellow citizens – let us as did our fathers, pledge our sacred honor to each other and to the world that our lives and our fortunes shall be devoted to the vindication of our liberties, and that if these are lost, nothing shall survive the wreck, for nothing would be worth saving.

Courage, then, people of the Confederate States!  You have now one of those “opportunities” which, if improved, make nations famous and make brave men renowned!  History awaits our action, to make up the record of glory or infamy.  Any man can be brave when there is no danger.  Any soldier can be enthusiastic when cheered by a round of successes.  It is adversity that tries men’s souls, and distinguishes between the true man and the false – the genuine and the counterfeit!  Let us stimulate each other’s courage and emulate each other’s zeal!  If one man falls, let two step forward to take his place.  This fight must be redeemed.  We will have the victory!

What if we have reverses?  ‘Tis the fate of war.  A war without disasters is a winter without storms.  But we will bear them like patriots and brave men, and both in our fortitude and daring we will show ourselves worthy to be free.  If we do not we do not deserve to be free.

Of the extent of the disaster which we have suffered at Donelson we are very uncertain.  We must believe that the Federal account is greatly exaggerated.

The wires were not working yesterday to Nashville, after the morning.  The War Department received no news save a dispatch from Gen. A. S. Johnston in the morning.  He was at Nashville.  Gen. Floyd was there also with a portion of the Fort Donelson command.  The dispatch said “he had saved a thousand.”  The number of captured by the enemy cannot surely be fifteen thousand!  But in the absence of information it is vain to speculate.  A little patience will bring the facts.

Gen. A. S. Johnston has fallen back from Bowling Green to Nashville, where he hopes to be able to make a defence.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

Late News From Richmond

The New York Herald, whose secession leanings has enabled it to keep good its southern connection, and to received southern papers almost as promptly as when the mails were run regularly, has news from Richmond to the 17th, some items of which are interesting.

“The most extensive preparations had been made for the inauguration of Jeff Davis as President on the 22d instant.  The ceremony was to have been performed with all the pomp and splendor that could be devised.  A military parade and banquet were to add to the attractions of the occasion, and a grand ball was to conclude the festivities of the day.  Now, however, all this is changed in view of the serious reverses that have happened, the ceremony is to be of the simplest kind, without any military display, without banqueting or feasting, and as to the ball one of the ladies said, ‘It would be disgraceful to be dancing and enjoying ourselves after such defeats, and while our poor soldiers are suffering.’  So the ball, too, has been abandoned.

“There was no intention expressed of evacuating Columbus; but it was admitted that such a course might become necessary.  It was stated officially, however, that there was no probability that the line of the Potomac would be abandoned, and there was no doubt expressed as to the ability of the rebels to retain possession of the whole of Virginia east of the Blue Ridge and Cumberland mountains, and to defend the Cumberland Gap.

“On Sunday last, the Spottswood House, and pavement in front of it were filled with excited crowds, discussing the news from Ft. Donelson and the critical condition of the Confederacy.  A prominent member of the Rebel Congress, whose relations to the Rebel President give great weight to his words, declared ‘that the day had now come in which the Southern Confederacy was to pass through the fire; that the events of the next three months would decide whether or not the Southern people are worthy of being an independent nation; that the fortune of war consists of alternate victories and reverses, and that having had their day of triumph, they were now about to experience a skillful and scientific a general as McClellan, made at his leisure, resulting in the formation of an army of 600,000 soldiers, with the discipline of regulars, must result in some successes on his part.  But these reverses,’ he said, ‘would try the temper, the powers of endurance, and the patriotism of the Southern people.  If they became discouraged; if their soldiers, tired of one brief campaign, refused to re-enlist for the war, they might as well abandon the attempt to gain their independence, lay down their arms, return to the arts of peace, acknowledge themselves fairly vanquished, and submit to whatever terms the North saw fit to impose upon them, but if their troops re-enlisted, and the spirit of their people remained unsubdued, the victories which the Unionists had gained would be of no advantage to the victors, but would only be a salutary lesson to the South; that the topography and natural features of the Southern States were  such that no armies however numerous and well disciplined, could penetrate them, or take possession of any of their cities, without being surrounded and cut off, either by regular or by guerilla warfare; that the tide of fortune would soon turn in their favor, if they would learn to rely on themselves alone.  But they must put forth all their efforts, and give up the idea of foreign aid for the present.’”

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

Union Feeling At The South

The following is a copy of a letter found at Fort Henry.  It is one among many proofs of the prevalence of a felling at the South, which inspires the liveliest hopes of the speedy return of the Southern States to the Union.

NASHVILLE, TENN., January 7.

DEAR SON:  I received your always welcome letter yesterday, and I am going to answer it speedily.  I received your package containing $300 of C. S. script, for which I am very grateful.  I am glad that you are doing well and that you are well, but I tremble when I think of you being engaged in this horrid war.  Henry my son, I can but feel the South is in the wrong.  We may console ourselves with what ever belief we choose, the United States is bound to subdue us.  General McClellan has and is exercising great generalship.  I fear that soon a movement will be made that will crush us out.  Henry, I know you must think as I do.  I wish you would resign, and we will move North.  No one here suspects my Union proclivities.  I am obliged for the sake of your mother and sisters to talk and be a Secessionist, but I say to you, what I said when you were at home, I do not believe that Northern men desire the ruin of the South.

A great interest is felt here as regards your position; (Fort Henry,) if that is taken the South is surely conquered.  You can see this as well as others.  I bought yesterday old Collin’s man Bandy, and he will prove a good hand.  We have been cleaning out the warehouse the last week.

Destroy this letter, as it may get you into trouble.  Your affectionate father.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

An Alabama volunteer writes from one of the rebel camps:

“There’s a new disease broken out here – the “camp disease,” they call it.  The first symptom is a horror of gunpowder.  The patient can’t abide the smell of it, but is sieged with a nervous trembling of the knees, and a whiteness about the liver, and a longing inclination to advance backward.  That’s the way water serves mad dogs.  Then comes what our major calls home fever, and next the sufferer’s wife and nine children are taken sick; after which the poor fellow takes a collapse and then a relapse.  But it is mighty hard to get a discharge or even a furlough – awful hard.  Fact is you can’t do it without working the thing pretty low down.

“I tell you what, Bob, between you and me I’m afraid I’m taking the disease myself; I don’t like the reports we hear every day from the coast.  We hear cannon booming down there by the hour, and they say the Yankees are going to play the very devil with our ducks.  I think I can detect a faint smell of powder in the breeze, and feel a strange desire to go into some hole or other.  It may be the climate, I hope so, but don’t see how that should make me feel so cold about the haversack every time I see a bayonet.  If I had only some good spirits now, to take every morning, I think I could stand it very well.  Please send me some immediately upon receipt of this (N. B. – Mark the box “Drugs, care of Surgeon Second Batt. Ala. Vols’.)  Our Major is as sharp as a brier and down on brandy like a duck on a Junebug.”

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

Last winter an Irishman . . .

. . . recently landed on our shores, applied to a merchant on the wharf for work.  Willing to do him a kindness, the latter handed him a shovel, and pointing to the back of his store, told him to “shovel off the sidewalk.”  The merchant forgot all about the Irishman, until after the lapse of an hour or two, when Teddy thrust his head into the counting room (which was upstairs) and inquired.  “Mayhap yees ‘ud be havin’ a pick, sir?”  “A pick to get the snow off?” said the merchant, smiling.  “The snow ‘ud be off long since,” replied Teddy, “an’ the brick too, for that matter but it’s the sile (soil) that shticks!”  In some alarm the merchant ran to his back window, and sure enough the fellow and thrown nearly all the pavement into the street, and made quite a hole.  “Good gracious, man!  I only wanted you to shovel off the snow!” – “Arrah, sir,” said Teddy, “Didn’t yer honor tell me to shovel off the sidewalk?”

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

A distinguished authority in London . . .

. . . writing on the 9^th gives what is probably the actual decision of England and France as to American affairs.  “I have only time for this mail to say that Great Britain and France have come to an agreement to let the north play its last card.  If she is successful with the Burnside and Mississippi expeditions, there will be no interference either unnecessary altogether, or else an easy matter.”

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

Interesting Southern Items

NEWS FROM RICHMOND – STATEMENT OF A RELEASED PRISONER.

From the Baltimore American of Saturday.

We had a most interesting conversation this morning with Mr. Geo. W. Walker, of Waynesboro’, Pa., one of the release prisoners.  He was taken seven months since, while on a visit to Virginia, and has acted as clerk in the Quartermaster’s Department at Richmond, performing all duties in connection with the prisoners, thus securing a parole that enabled him to mix freely with the citizens and soldiers.

He brings with him many unmistakable evidences of the fact that there exists in Richmond and the vicinity a strong and gallant band of Union men, who are willing and anxious at the proper moment to welcome the old flag, and fight, if necessary, to sustain its supremacy. – They requested him to make the following fact known to the government that they claim to be three thousand strong, and that a full regiment of drilled volunteers can be raised at an hour’s notice.  The Union ladies are also very numerous, and have freely expended their means in succoring and comforting the sick and wounded Federal Prisoners.  Mr. Walker brings with him a beautiful gold and enamel chain, which was presented to him by a party of young ladies on the eve of his departure, with the following note written in a neat elegant hand:

Richmond, Feb. 17, 1862

MR. WALKER – Dear Sir:  Please accept this chain as a token of our regard.  May the parts in the great chain of our Union be more securely linked than they have been since their formation as a Union.

Respectfully yours,

_____,

The names are omitted at the request of Mr. Walker, fearing that the publication of them would be impolitic.

THE UNION LEAGUE.

The Union men of Richmond are daily becoming more bold and earnest, and have, for mutual protection against rebel espionage, formed a league, with grips, signals and passwords.  They style themselves prisoners on parole, and have long and anxiously looked for an advance on Richmond, by way of the Rappahannock, which they are confident could be taken and held at any time with a force of three thousand men.

There are eleven earthworks in the vicinity of the railroad, only one of which is garrisoned, and has guns mounted.  So also in the Rappahannock, the defences are said to be very slight.

THE REBELS DEPRESSED.

The news of the Federal victories at Somerset, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, and the invasion of Tennessee and Alabama, coming on their great disaster at Roanoke, has had a most depressing influence on rebel enthusiasm.  They no longer vaunt of the superior prowess and bravery of the south and the cowardice of the North – a change has come over the spirit of their dreams, and they now admit the probability of being overcome, but declare that they will kill their women and children and die to the man before they will yield.

A depression of the rebels had of course cause the Union men much joy, and they were looking forward to their early deliverance with hope and confidence.

LEVY FOR TROOPS.

The levy for troops was progressing, and all able to bear arms, between the ages of 18 and 60 were being forced to enroll their names and attend drill.  The Union men were thus being forced into the service, and were learning the manual with the determination to use the knowledge for an entirely different purpose from that intended by their instructors.  The rebels admit that unless every man capable of bearing arms is immediately brought into the service, Virginia will have to surrender within the next thirty days.

SCARCITY OF MONEY.

The Government has very little even of its own paper money, the difficulty to supply the Treasury being so great that many of the public offices are closed, with a label on the door, “out of funds.”  The Federal Treasury notes received by the prisoners of war were readily sold at 25 per cent premium two months ago, and since the recent rebel defeats have advanced to 35 per cent.

WITHDRAWALS FROM MANASSAS.

Mr. Walker informs us that he learned from the very best authority that an order had been issued for the withdrawal of all but thirty thousand troops from Manassas.  The Railroads leading to Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee, were thronged with troops, and the number leaving Manassas had been about five regiments per day for some time past.  Troops were also being sent to North Carolina to resist the advance of Burnside, mostly the North Carolina Regiments from Manassas.

UNIONISM AT MANCHESTER.

Mr. Walker assures us that the statement frequently made is true that the people of Manchester, a little town opposite Richmond, had for a long time persisted in keeping the Union flag flying, and that it was only taken down when the town was threatened by Jeff. Davis with being shelled.  The Union sentiment of Manchester is still preserved, and its population will prove most dangerous men into the rebel service under compulsion as is being done.

THE RELEASED PRISONERS.

The number of prisoners released along with Mr. Walker was one hundred and ninety three, all of whom arrived here this morning, and were escorted to the rooms of the Union Relief Association by a company of the Zouaves from Federal Hill.

The release of Colonels Corcoran and Lee, and the other officers held as hostages for the privateers, has not yet been determined upon.  The rebels say they will not give them up until the privateers are returned, and they are still at Columbia, S. C.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

James C. Parrott

VETERAN FRONTIER EXPLORER AND BRAVE SOLDIER

The long and useful career of Gen. James C. Parrott, begun in Maryland in 1811, was closed in Keokuk in 1898. Between these dates much of interest occurred in which General Parrott performed a useful and honorable part. No other man in the service was so thoroughly a part of Iowa history. We have already noted his pioneer journey up the Des Moines River as far as Boone in 1835, before Fremont explored the interior of Iowa Territory and before Captain Allen founded Fort Des Moines.

Born in Easton, Maryland, in 1811, in 1834 he joined the First United States Dragoons, of which Henry Dodge was commander. After serving three years as sergeant, young Parrott located in Fort Madison and engaged in business. In 1852 he moved to Keokuk. When the war broke out, deeming it his duty as a military man to serve his country, in June, 1861, he raised a company for the Seventh Iowa Infantry. As compared with most officers in 1861, he was a veritable graybeard, for he had rounded his half century!

In the battle of Belmont he assisted Colonel Lauman from the field, and before the battle was over he found he, himself, had received four wounds. He was conveyed to a steamer, and told he had less than two hours to live. Grant sent him home to recuperate. Colonel Lauman in his report emphatically commended Captain Parrott and other of his officers for their bravery at Belmont. In December he came back as lieutenant-colonel. Later he participated in several battles in Tennessee. His was the charging brigade that captured Fort Henry, and at Donelson he commanded his regiment. He it was who brought back from Buckner the offer of capitulation. At Shiloh he bravely led his regiment into the ''Hornet's Nest,'' and at Corinth he received a wound from which he never wholly recovered. Colonel Rice in his report said:

"I must make especial mention of Lieutenant-Colonel Parrott, who cheered and encouraged the men and performed his duty with great bravery.''  He made the March to the Sea, and was one of the few far western commanders who in 1865 were privileged to ride through the Confederate capital. The only mounted officer on the left flank, he was the gratified recipient of a beautiful bouquet of flowers from a Richmond lady. Though he was never a full colonel, his depleted regiment not having sufficient numerical strength to entitle it to a colonel, after his retirement in 1865 he was made a brevet brigadier-general. A valued tribute to the love his men bore him is a sword presented by them after his gallantry at Belmont.

For ten years after the war General Parrott was postmaster at Keokuk. In 1874-76, he was G. A. R. commander of the Department of Iowa. Ho died May 17, 1898, aged eighty-seven. His funeral, held in Keokuk, was a generous tribute of love and affection from comrades, friends and neighbors.

SOURCE: Johnson Brigham, Iowa: Its History And Its Foremost Citizens, Volume 1, 415-6

Bridges between Bowling Green and Nashville Destroyed – The Rebel Evacuation of Bowling Green in Hot Haste – Destruction and Pollution of Springs

(Correspondence of the Louisville Democrat.)

BOWLING GREEN, Feb. 18, 1862.

A man reported here this evening who left Nashville last Friday morning.  He has been engaged in the railroad business in the South, but being loyal in all his sentiments desired to come to the North when the rebellion commenced; but could never succeed in doing so before.  He says he twice succeeded in making his way as far north as Bowling Green, after its occupation by the arch traitor Buckner, but was refused by him permission to continue his journey.

He says the rebels have destroyed all the wooden structures in the way of bridges and tressle [sic] work on the railway road between Franklin and Bowling Green, and was informed that it had been committed on the remainder of the road.  He says the rebels evacuated Bowling Green in the most unceremonious and hasty manner, on the approach of Gen. Mitchel’s [sic] division.  The rebel General Hardee was in the town when Gen. Mitchel commenced shelling it, and left in such “hot haste” as to leave his battle charger behind him, which was taken off by the Texan Rangers, who were last to leave.  In his haste to leave town, Hardee absolutely ran across the pubic square.  My informant told me he had received the statement in relation to Hardee from a rebel officer.  He says the rebels had collected large quantities of grain, chiefly wheat, at various points on the railroad, which not having the means of removing in their precipitate flight, they burned.  He also informs me that Gen. Hindman, in his retreat from Cave City to Bowling Green, had the horses and cattle of Union men driven into the large ponds, which occur at frequent intervals along the road, and shot, with a threat of hanging the owners if they removed the carcasses.  I presume his object was to prevent the use of the water in the ponds by the troops of the United States; but by this atrocious and infamous act he inflicted very great injury and inconvenience on the citizens of the country.  From the fact that there is not a running steam on the road between Green and Barren rivers, the sole dependence of all passengers and citizens for stock water, at least, is on the pond or surface water.  Truly a refined method of making war, worthy of this enlightened age!  What would the London Times, Morning Post, Herald, and other English journals, and the Moniteur, whose sensitive nerves have been so terribly shocked by our use of the “stone blockade,” say of this method of conducting hostilities?

I am informed by most respectable gentlemen, resident in the southern part of the State, who have come to this place since the abandonment by the rebels of the country south of Green river, that no adequate conception can be formed of the destruction and desolation committed on that region.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

Visit to the Battlefield

I was invited on Sunday morning, by Gen. McClernand, to take a ride over the battlefield.  I would be difficult to describe in a few words the scenes which met my view.  The battle-ground was chiefly confined to the space outside the rebel fortifications, extending up the river bank a distance of two miles, to the point where Gen. McClernand’s force rallied from the retirement which they were at first forced into by the impetuous charge of the enemy.  It must be remembered that it was here that the grand sortie was made by the rebels up the river bank with the intention of turning our right flank, and cutting their way out.  Some ten or twelve thousand men composed the force sent out for this purpose.  The advanced under cover of a deadly fire of artillery, and drove Gen. McClernand’s force before them a distance of fifty or sixty rods.  Our troops here made a stand, and having been re-enforced by one or two regiments, began the assault, before which the enemy were forced to retreat.  The ground was contested with desperation, and the slaughter on both sides was immense.  The whole space of two miles was strewed with dead, who lay in every imaginable shape and form.

Federals and rebels were promiscuously mingled, sometimes grappled in the fierce death throe, sometimes facing each other as they gave and received the fatal shot or thrust, sometimes laying across one another, and again heaped in piles which lay six or seven deep.  I could imagine nothing more terrible than the silent indications of agony that marked the features of the pale corpses which lay at every step.  Though dead, and rigid in every muscle, they still writhed and seemed to turn to catch the passing breeze for a cooling breath.  Staring eyes, gaping mouths, clenched hands, and strangely contracted limbs, seemingly drawn into the smallest compass, as if by a mighty effort to rend asunder some irresistible bond which held them down to the torture of which they died.  One sat against a tree, and with mouth and eyes wide open, looked up into the sky as if to catch a glance at its fleeting spirit.  Another clutched the branch of an over-hanging tree, and hung half suspended, as in the death pang, he raised himself partly from the ground.  The other hand grasped his faithful musket, and the compression of the mouth told of the determination which have been fatal to a foe had life ebbed a minute later.  A third clung with both hands to a bayonet which was buried in the ground, in the act of striking the heart of a rebel foe.  Great numbers lay in heaps, just as the fire of the artillery mowed them down, mangling their forms into an almost undistinguishable mass.  Many of our men had evidently fallen victims to the rebel sharpshooters for they were pierced through the head by rifle bullets, some in the forehead, some in the eyes, others  in the bridge of the nose, in the cheeks and in the mouth.  The circumstance verified a statement made to me by a rebel officer among the prisoners, that their men were trained to shoot low and aim for the face while ours, as a general ting fired at random, and shot over their heads.

The enemy, in their retreat, carried off their wounded and a great many of their dead, so that ours far outnumbered them on the field.  The scene of action had been mostly in the woods, although there were two open places of an acre or two where the fight had raged furiously, and the ground was covered with dead.  All the way up to their intrenchments the same scene of death was presented.  There were two miles of dead strewn thickly, mingled with fire arms, artillery, dead horses, and paraphernalia of the battlefield.  It was a scene never to be forgotten – never to be described.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

Letter from Lieut. Col. Parrott

(From the Gate City)

FORT DONELSON, TENN.

Feb. 18, 1862

MY DEAR WIFE:  I am happy to inform you that James and myself escaped without a scratch.  Col. Lauman, Major Rice, and in fact all our commanding officers with a few exceptions, are all safe.  Although we had a strong force and an almost impregnable fort to contend with yet they had to yield, and we all look upon it as one of the most signal victories that has yet been gained, in which our gallant little 7^th and the Iowa 2d bore a conspicuous part.  We fought almost side by side, and when our official report shall be published it will show to the world that Iowa stands high on the scroll of military fame.

I will now allude to the plan of attack.  On Wednesday night last we arrived in front of the Fort.  On top of an eminence was planted a battery of the 1^st Missouri of two pieces of Parrot riffled 20 pounders, which battery I was ordered to support with the 7^th.  The boys moved up the hill with a steady and firm step, knowing that it was a post of great honor.  We were compelled to lay on our arms all night without fire and not even a blanket, but taking it all through we spent the night very comfortably.  The night passed quietly, and in the morning I was ordered to join my brigade, which constituted part of the left wing.  Col. Lauman commanded the fourth brigade of the second division, leaving me in command of our regiment.  We joined our brigade and the command was given to storm the enemy’s breastworks at a charge, and away we went, and nothing but fallen timber, deep ravines and other impediments prevented us from mounting their entrenchments.  We gained a secure position within 75 to 100 yards of their works, and kept up our firing until dark, doing considerable execution.  At night we withdrew our forces and bivouacked on the ground we occupied the night previous.

I was suffering severely from a sick headache, and knowing that they would not attack us out of their entrenchments, I retired to the rear for the night. As comfortably as the circumstances of the case would admit, for it was one of the most inclement nights I almost ever witnessed.  It commenced raining about 7 p. m. and poured down for about two hours then it commenced sleeting, and to wind up, it snowed about three inches, and in the morning we had a pretty good Iowa winter.

On Friday morning the 2d Iowa arrived and I had the pleasure of meeting my son and many warm friends, who were delighted to think they had a prospect for a fight.  On Friday we kept up our skirmishing and at night laid upon the ground again.  Col. Lauman and myself bunked together by the side of a log with no covering but one blanket and the canopy of heaven. – About 9 p. m. it again commenced snowing and fell about two inches.  We passed the night with very little comfort, but as good soldiers we did our duty and scarcely heard a murmur from our men.

On Saturday morning the fight opened in earnest on the right wing, and we were for some hours held in suspense on our wing, but shortly after noon we found that the time had come for us to make the decisive blow, and at it we went, Col. Lauman giving the post of honor and danger to the more than gallant Iowa 2d.  They made a most magnificent charge and the no less gallant 7^th followed close to their heels, and drove the enemy like chaff before the whirlwind to their second breastworks, where they again made a stand and gave us all some warm work.  Night approaching we fell back to the rear of their first entrenchment, and bivouacked for the night on the cold frozen ground without fire, Col. Lauman and myself occupying the root of a mammoth oak looking for an attack hourly; but daylight came and with it the sound of bugles from the enemy’s camp.  As soon as it was light I mounted the entrenchments and found that the enemy were displaying the white flag..  I was ordered forward to receive it and met them half way between the entrenchments.  They made a proposition to surrender on conditions.  Their proposition was sent to headquarters and the reply sent back “surrender unconditionally or the fight continues.”  In a short time our terms were complied with, and on that beautiful quiet, still Sabbath morning we marched in under martial music, amid the shouts of thousands of happy and loyal hearts, and took possession of an immense Fort and all its equipments, and thousands of prisoners.  But amid all this rejoicing there were some sad hearts.  Some of our brave boys had bit the dust and many were wounded and suffering.  But such is the fate of War!

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

Private Letter from Adjutant Tyner of the 14th Iowa

ON THE CUMBERLAND RIVER,

NEAR DOVER, TENN., Feb. 17.

MY DEAR FATHER. – I expect you all imagine I am dead by this time, but thank God I am here safe, and with but slight injuries.  We left Fort Henry on the 12^th of February, marched all day and encamped three-fourths of a mile from this fort – so near that we dare not make camp fires for fear of drawing shells from the enemy.  We were up bright and early on the morning of the 13^th, got our breakfast of hard crackers and water, and awaited orders.  About 9 o’clock, A. M., we drew up in battle line, loaded our rifles, and in a few moments were marching in full battle front, through the thickest woods, and over the deepest ravines.  We were halted and put over the brow of the hill in front of the enemy’s entrenchments.  This part of their fort is situated on top of a high hill, with high entrenchments and rifle pits thrown up all around.  In front of this entrenchment is a miserable steep hill, on the side of which was fallen timber very thick.  At the bottom was a ravine, and then came another hill, thickly grown with timber.  On top of this was where our regiment was drawn up – we on the right, the 25^th Indiana on our left, and the 7^th Indiana on the extreme left of them.

Just previous to our moving, Col. Lauman, of the 7^th, Iowa, senior Colonel commanding our brigade, detailed me as one of his aids, but allowed me the privilege of being with my regiment – as much as possible, as Col. Shaw and myself were the only officers commanding the regiment.  Our Lieut. Col. was a member of the court martial at St. Louis, and could not be released.  Major Leonard was sick at the time of the fight, and could not go, consequently the Colonel and myself were the only mounted men in the regiment.

The Colonel gave me the command of the left wing of the battalion, and I was behind this part of the regiment when we moved down the hill.  We had not got down in the ravine before the enemy fired at our Colonel and myself.  They had thrown out their sharp-shooters as skirmishers, and they were hid behind fallen trees in our advance.  From this concealment they fired at us – one ball coming so near my face as to make me gracefully nod my head.

We continued our march, and in going up the hill over a little point our regiment was received with grape, shell, canister, ball and musketry.  Such a fire soldiers seldom encounter.  They had three concealed batteries, which they opened on us, and all their men were concealed; not one could we see during the fire – only as they popped their heads over the breastwork, and then woe to them; for we shot every man we saw.  During the first charge the regiment directed the right wing going to the right, to save themselves behind a portion of the hill.  The left wing under my command, instead of giving way, went on until I told them to save themselves behind trees, which they did by laying close to the ground.  About this time a spent ball struck my horse, knocking him down and me with him.  I jumped up and followed the boys until the fire became uncomfortably warm.  I sat down behind a tree, for every man in the regiment had to do this to save himself, but not a man retreated.  They seemed to have spotted every officer in the regiment, for their sharpshooters played on us unmercifully.  I could get in no position to evade the range of some of their rifles.  I will venture that fifty shots were fired within one foot of my head, one passing through my hair on the back of my head.  The whole regiment was under this galling fire for three hours, but by laying close to the ground we saved ourselves, as they could not get the range of their guns low enough.  We had two men killed instantly and 14 fell wounded.  The sharp shooters on our side then commenced work, and silenced every battery we were exposed to, thus leaving us an opportunity to get the regiment out of the fire, and form in the hollow or ravine below, where we were secure from their shots in this position.

We remained until after dark, when the order was given to cautiously move to our quarters of the night before.  The 25^th Indiana, on our left were obliged to quail as we did.  A part of their regiment moved up the hill to a little further than we, but suddenly the enemy from behind the entrenchments, opened fire on them, and they had to run for dear life.  In their retreat to the bottom of the hill, it seemed as though two-thirds of their men fell; but only 14 were killed and 50 wounded.  The unnecessarily exposed themselves and suffered the consequences.  The Iowa 7^th, in this action was cautions to lay low; it lost only one man that day, and he was in our regiment, or where we were.  It is equally as brave as any regiment yet.  The bitter experience at Belmont taught them to move cautiously.  I must say, Colonel Lauman is a brave man, yet I think our Colonel is the bravest man I ever saw.  He was as cool as a human could be, never manifesting either fear or excitement.  He remained on his horse during the whole engagement, and sat there with his legs thrown across the saddle, lady style.  I was not frightened, until they seemed to direct their shots particularly at me, and then I felt as though mere chance would effect my escape.  All the boys yelled and begged of me to move to save myself, and I headed their advice as soon as I could.  In Friday, the day following, we did little but to skirmish and pick the rebels off were we could.  We slept on our arms at night, out in the woods.  The greatest hardship I ever endured in my life, or ever expect to, I realized this trip.  We lived on hard crackers and water, and slept on the ground with only a light blanket.  One night it rained till 12 o’clock, then snowed until morning.  I slept on the damp ground with my little blanket over me, and in the morning every particle of clothing was frozen hard.  I thawed myself out by a large camp fire in the morning.

On Saturday the fight became general.  The gunboats had done all they could, so the only thing left for us was to take the fortification at the point of the bayonet.  The Iowa Second made the first charge, supported by the Iowa 7^th and 14^th, also the Indiana 25^th.  We marched up the hill in as heavy a fire as could be, and men fell on every side.  Capt. Slaymaker, Iowa Second, fell just above me, and I almost stumbled over his body.  We took the first entrenchment, and held the second in spite of the fire.  We laid under their entrenchments all night, in mud that froze us in tight.  On Sunday morning the rebels formed in battle line on their entrenchment without their arms, under the white flag.  They surrendered unconditionally, and the order came for the Second Iowa to march inside the entrenchments first, followed by the 14^th Iowa and then on the 7^th.  We took the fort and marched in first.  Ours was the 4^th brigade, composed of the Iowa 2d, 7^th, and 14^th, also the 25^th Indiana, and Birge’s sharpshooters, all commanded by Col. Lauman.  We all fought like devils, and would have died by inches rather than retreat.  The entire fight lasted four days, during two of which we fought all day. – All the regiments here – 40 in number – had fighting to do, and only those who have seen, can imagine how a battle-filed looks.  Our loss in the 14^th is 3 killed and 21 wounded.  In all the Iowa regiments, 47 killed, and 237 wounded; the Iowa 2d having 40 of the killed and 160 of the wounded.  I had my horse knocked from under me the first day, and was knocked head over heels the second day by a piece of shell, which struck me on the side and stomach, not tearing the skin, but bruising me.  I am up and around, and only a little sore.  My injuries are not worth mentioning.

Your affectionate son,

N. N. TYNER.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

The Story Of An Escaped Prisoner – He Pilots General Burnside To Roanoke

The New York World has the following in its Washington correspondence.

F. B. Remington, a private of Company A, Thirteenth New York regiment, now stationed at Upton’s Hill, reached here to-day with a pass from General Burnside, whom he had previously joined by deserting from the rebel fleet stationed in Albemarle Sound.  It seems that Remington was captured by the rebels during the reconoisance near Fairfax some two months since and taken to Richmond, and thence sent to prison in North Carolina.  Here he saw extracts published from the Troy papers where the Thirteenth regiment was mostly recruited, stating that he was disloyal, having deserted his comrades, and had gone over to the rebels.  Determined to resent this imputation on his name, he managed to escape from Portsmouth, N. C., and made his way to Norfolk; but, failing to get farther North, he returned to North Carolina, and was offered employment of the rebel gunboat Fanny, which he was forced to accept, and was employed in surveying inland waters for the rebels.  In connection with another loyal man, he obtained a small boat and managed to join Gen. Burnside at Hatteras.  It was he who piloted the expedition to the Island, and in no small degree thus contributed to the great victory won by our forces.

He joined his regiment to-day, and then obtained a furlough to return to Gen. Burnside, first visiting his home in Lansingburg, New York.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

Richard Loncks

Private, Co. F, 8th Michigan Cavalry

Died June 23, 1865, Pulaski, Tennessee

Stones River National Cemetery

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Obituary of Capt. Jonathan S. Slaymaker

OBITUARY OF CAPT. JONATHAN S. SLAYMAKER, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA, WHO FELL AT FORT DONELSON FEB. 15,1862, IN THE FAMOUS CHARGE OF THE SECOND IOWA INFANTRY.

BY THE FORMER EDITOR OF THE ANNALS.

Yet surely there is some record

When a brave young hero dies.

T. Juynes Bailey.

The subject of this obituary notice, Jonathan S. Slaymaker, the son of Samuel K. Slaymaker, was born in York, Pa., on the 31st of March, 1835, and was baptised, in infancy, by Rev. Albert Barnes, then pastor of the Presbyterian Church there. He had the advantages of early religious as well as secular education, attending in his youth the Sabbath School, and in his young manhood becoming a teacher of others in the Sunday School.

At eighteen years of age he entered upon railroad labor, as a civil engineer, and subsequently he engaged in business at Davenport, Iowa, where he still continued his interest in Sunday Schools, being connected with the 2d Presbyterian congregation, in which his uncle, the late H. Y. Slaymaker, was so prominent, and imitating the zeal and generosity of that uncle in liberally contributing for the support of the Gospel in that connection, while that organization continued.

Afterward, the 2d Presbyterian Church enterprise having been suspended, he attended at St. Luke's Episcopal Church. The Rev. Mr. Powers, Rector of that church, says of his character: "Before the war, he taught in my Sunday School and attended my church. I think I can safely assure you that his heart was given to God. He was not communicative on religious subjects, yet I have reason to believe that nearly two years ago he began to draw graciously heavenward. Many things convince me that, in spirit, he was a disciple of the Lord Jesus. His daily life was exemplary, and it seemed that he was waiting to feel settled in his place of residence before he openly connected himself with the church."

His military history began with his enlistment in company C, of the 2d Iowa Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, in which he held the rank of First Lieutenant at the time of mustering, May 2d, 1861, but was promoted to be Captain on the 3d of October, 1861. In a letter to a friend, about the time of his enlistment, he says: "Shall I be one of those destined to be left behind when the conquering hosts return to receive the thanks of their fellow countrymen for the precious service they have rendered? is a question that frequently suggests itself to my mind. One thing I know: I enlisted in this war from principle, and I feel that I am willing to make any sacrifice that is in my power, to assist in our good and just cause. I shall not want to return unless we gain our end."

Nor did he return till borne a corpse from the bloody field of Fort Donelson. Brig. Gen. Lauman wrote on the occasion: “We have had a great victory. * * * * Poor Jack Slaymaker lost his life in one of the most brilliant charges on record. He had, with his regiment, reached the breastworks and passed in, when a ball shot him in the thigh and severed the main artery. He bled to death in five minutes. I enclose a lock of his hair, which I secured myself, that you will hand to his bereaved parents. He was as gallant a soldier as ever carried a sword. After he was wounded, he raised himself on his side, waved his sword and called his men to go forward, then sank down and died. He was a good and steadfast friend of mine, and I mourn him much. It is melancholy to think, that the first time he was under my command should be his last. But he died gloriously. What more can a man do for his country?"

His remains were brought to Davenport, Iowa, and his funeral was numerously attended from St. Luke's Church at 2 o'clock P. M. on the 27th of Feb., 1862.

Such was the heroic patriot, the steadfast friend, the affectionate son and brother, the faithful companion, the constant Sunday School teacher, at home, the Christian soldier abroad.

– Many die  as suddenly,

Few as safe. –

This brief notice, by a friend who knew him, (in connection with the 2d Presbyterian congregation at Davenport, so long sustained by his uncle, H. Y. Slayraaker, with great sacrifice,) cannot better be closed than in the words of the Rev. Albert Barnes to his bereaved parents: "My heart bleeds for you in your loss. Your son was lovely in his life — in appearance, in his manner, in his spirit, in his hopes and promises in regard to future life, in all that could bind the hearts of loving parents to a son. God has done it, whatever be the instrument. It seemed good to God, that he should fall as he has done. "When you gave him to God, you gave him to Him to live as long as He should please, to serve Him in any way He should direct, and then to lie down and die when, where and how God should appoint. 'I opened not my mouth,' said the Psalmist, 'because thou didst it.'"

S. S. H.

SOURCE: Annals of Iowa, No. VI, April, 1864, p. 283-5



What Diplomats Think Of The Rebellion

We have it from good authority that Mr. Hulseman, the Minister from Austria to this country, has stated that every one of the foreign representatives at Washington had come to the conclusion that the days of the rebellion were numbered, and that the power of the Federal Government would be soon re-established in all the now seceded States, and moreover, that the foreign Ministers had sent dispatches to their respective Governments to this affect.  In a few weeks we shall, therefore, probably see a great change in the tone of the foreign official journals in regard to our present war. – {N. Y. [Evening Post]

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

Kansas is a smart young State . . .

. . . and is getting on surprisingly in the arts of civilization, especially Finance.  A special committee of her Legislature has just presented Charles Robinson, Governor, John W. Robinson, Secretary of State, and George S. Hillyer, Auditor, as guilty of conspiring to swindle the State in the sale of State Bonds to the amount of $189,000.  Some 10 per cent. bonds, it appears, have been sold as low as forty cents on the dollar – that is, nominally sold to confederates, to be resold by them at 95!  By such financing, the State has been swindled out of over $40,000.  The report closes with the following:

Resolved, That Charles Robinson, Governor, John W. Robinson, Secretary of State and George S. Hillyer, Auditor of the State of Kansas, be and they are hereby impeached of high misdemeanors in office.

If this report is well founded, the gentlemen impeached will have earned their money before they get safely off with it.  The Conservative (Leavenworth) says:

“Unless the Legislature impeaches and removes these scoundrels, it will be the religious duty of the people to hang them.  And it will be done.”

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2