USA > Iowa > History of the Twenty-second Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry; its campaigns in Missouri, in the siege and capture of Vicksburg, in the Texas expedition and in the Shenandoah Valley > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Gc 973.74 Io9ba 1987709
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00824 0621
HISTORY
OF THE
Umentu-Second Regiment 22nd Best.
IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
FROM THE DATE OF ENLISTMENT TO MUSTER OUT OF THE SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES, GIVING ALL THE IMPORTANT EVENTS IN ITS CAMPAIGNS IN MISSOURI, IN THE SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF VICKSBURG, IN THE TEXAS EXPEDITION AND IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.
BY SIMEON BARNETT, Drum Major and Principal Musician of the Regiment.
IOWA CITY, IOWA: N, H . BRAINERD, PUBLISHER. 1665.
099-7499
1
1+4++00.
1987709 HISTORY
OF THE TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT, IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
The 22d Regiment, Iowa Vol. Infantry, Colonel W. M. Stone, rendezvoused and organized at Camp Pope, lowa City. lowa, in the month of Angust, 1562. It was composed of seven companies from Johnson county, one from Jasper, one from Monroe and one from Wapello counties, and was mus- tered into the service of the United States, by Capt. II. B. Hendershott, on the 9th day of September, 1862.
On the 13th day of the same month, it was ordered to the field, and proceeded by rail road to Davenport. and from there on the steamer Metropolitan down the Mississippi River to St. Louis, where it arrived on the 18th, and quartered in Ben- ton Barracks. It remained at this place several days, during which time it was thoroughly ognipped for active service. On the 22d, orders were received to move, and at two o'clock. P. M., it marched to the depot, and from there was conveyed on the Rail Road to Rolla, Mo., arriving at the latter place at 12 M., on the 23rd, and marched ont on the Springfield road. and oneamped on an eminence about two miles from the town of Rolla, Mo. It was subsequently assigned to the post of Rolla, and remained here, guarding commissary stores, and the railroad, and escorting trains to the army of South East Mo .. until the 27th day of January, 1863, when it received orders to join the army at West Plains, commanded by Gen, Davidson: After n march of five days, the Regiment reached the latter place, and was brigaded with the 21st and 23d Iowa Infantry Regiments, Col. W. M. Stone commanding the Brigade, and was designated the 1st Brigade, Ist Division, Army of South East Missouri. The army remained at this place, until a tudin of supplies had arrived from Rolla, when it took up its line of march on the 10th of February, on the road leading to Pilot Knob and Iron Mountain, arriving at the latter place on the 26th. Owing to the almost impassable condition of the roads.
:
-
2
considerable delay was experienced in moving the train, and rations becoming exhaused, the Regiment was twice compelled to halt and grind corn to subsist on until it could reach the Post. This long march through the mountainous regions of the State, at such a season of the year, was a very severe one. Yet, notwithstanding it was the first march in which the Regi ment partiepated, the men endured the hardships and priva- tions incident to such a campaign without a murmur or com- plaint, and the health of the Regiment improved rapidly. The army remained in camp at Iron Mountain until the 9th day of March, 1863, when orders were received to join the army of Gen. U. S. Grant, then operating against the city of" Vicksburg, Miss. It arrived at St. Genevieve, Mo., on the Missouri river, on the 12th, and stopped in camp until the 22d The Regiment then embarked on the transport Blackhawk. and arrived at Milliken's Bend, La., on the 27th, On the 1st day of April, the troops which constituted the army of South East Missouri had all reached this point, where General Grant was concentrating a large army for the coming campaign. These troops were assigned to the 13th Army Corps, com- manded by Gen. John A. McClernand. The 22d Iowa Regi ment was assigned to a brigade composed of the 21st, 22d. 23d Towa, and 11th Wisconsin, Col. C. L. Harris, of the latter Regiment, commanding the Brigade, which formed a part of the 14th Division, of the 13th Corps, commanded by Brig. Gen. Engene A. Carr.
The organization of the army destined to operate against the rebel stronghold being then complete, the brigade to which the 22d Iowa belonged received marching orders, and. on the morning of the 20th of April, proceeded to Richmond, La., and having succeeded in driving a small body of the eu- emy's cavalry from the latter place, marched, via. Carthage. to Jerkin's Landing and went into camp to wait the remainder of the Corps. A fleet of Gun Boats and transports having successfully run the blockade on the river in front of Vicks. burg, and everything being in readiness, the 13th Army Corps embarked on transports on the evening of the 27th of April. 1863, and on the morning of the 25th proceeded down the riv- er and landed at Hard Times, opposite the mouth of Black River, and near Grand Gulf, where the enemy had erected fortifications and powerful water batteries, on a bluff com- manding the entrance of Black River. On the morning of the 29th. the fleet, headed by the Gun Boat Benton, moved down and engaged the rebel batteries, and after a terrible
3
bombardment, which lasted several hours without any percept- able success, the project was abandoned, having succeeded however, in dismounting several of the enemy's guns. Hav- ing failed in this, which was doubtless intended to have been a combined attack by the land and naval forces against this impregnable position of the enemy, the 13th Army Corps, which lay on the levee at Hard Times, with orders to be ready lo move at a moment's notice, and from which they had a magnificent view of the whole engagement, received the or. der to march, and moved down three miles below Grand Gulf and camped until morning. During the night the fleet of transports and Gun Boats, which so daringly and successfully ran the blockade at Vicksburg, passed the rebel batteries on the morning of the 30th. The 13th Corps embarked on trans- ports and gunboats, proceeded down the river and landed at 3 P. M., about ten miles below Grand Gulf, at the small village of Bruinsburg, Miss., near the month of the Bayou Pierre. At 4 o'clock the army, having received five days ra- tions from the transports, took up its march into the State of Miss, on the road leading to Port Gibson. The 2d Brigade, to which the 22d Iowa belonged, forming the extreme advance of the army marched in the following order : 21st, 22d 23d lowa Reg'ts and 11th Wis. Col. Harris, of the 11th Wis., who had thus far been in command, was taken sick and the command of the Brigade was devolved upon Col. Wm. M. Stone, of the 22d Towa. The march through the enemy's country was continued without interruption until 1 o'clock A. M., of the first of May, when the advance guard, composed of one company of the 21st Iowa, under command of Capt. Crook, was suddenly fired into from the enemy's advance picket, about five miles from Port Gibson. In a short time the enemy's batteries, which had previously been planted so a- to enfilade the road while the troops were advancing, com- menced a furious cannonading, throwing shell and canister, but, fortunately, owing to the darkness of the night, did but little exeention. It being evident that a collision of the hos- tile forces was not far off, Col. Stone galloped forward to as- certain, as near as possible in the darkness, the enemy's posi- tion, and having succeeded in reconnoitering the ground in their front, ordered the troops forward. In the meantime the first Iowa Battery had come up and got into position and the 224 lowa was ordered to its support. The batteries thus posted kept up an incessant fire at close range for nearly two hours, when by mutual consent, both parties ceased, and the
;
1
4
froops, being properly disposed for battle, lay down on their arms for a renewal of the conflict. At early dawn on the the coming morning, preparations were made to attack the en- emy, who were strongly posted on Thompson's Hill, two com- panies of the 221 Iowa, Co. HI Capt. Shrader, and Co. G Capt. Hawkins, were deployed as skirmishers and advanced to feel the enemy. The Brigade immediately followed, and, in conjunction with the troops from the Corps, charged the en- emy and drove them in confusion from the field. Great ex- citement prevailed at this stage of the battle and cheer after cheer went up along the whole line as the victorious army pressed back the routed forces of the enemy, capturing sev eral pieces of artillery, abandoned in their precipitate flight. and several hundred prisoners. The pursuit was continued for nearly three miles, when it was ascertained that the en- emy had received heavy reinforcements and had taken another position near the outskirts of the town of Port Gibson, for the purpose of checking the advance of the Union troops, and covering the retreat of their defeated and demoralized army. Batteries were placed in position and an artillery duel commenced which lasted over two hours, when the reb- el batteries being disabled, the firing ceased. During this time the 22d Iowa was ordered to the support of a battery, and while the artillery engagement contimied, wore subjected to a heavy fire from the enemy's guns at short range .- About 4 o's clock P. M., the firing having ceased along the whole line. the Ed Brigade, in conjunction with Gen. Barbridge's con- mand, was ordered to advance and carry the enemy's position. The 22d Iowa deployed two companies, Capt. Gearkee, with Co. Band Capt. Shader with Co. Il, as skirmishers and moved forward to attack and were soon engaged with the enemy .-- Owing to the character of the ground, which was covered with a dense and impenetrable growth of cane, so peculiar to the South, the Brigade did not sneceed in reaching the en- my, but received and returned the enemy's fire until they again retired from the field, leaving the Union army in undis- puted possession, where they livouacked for the night .- Throughout the entire engagement the 29d lowa was exposed to the fire of the enemy, and, notwithstanding the fatigue and hardships to which the men were exposed the day pre- vious and the loss of sleep during the night, they unflinching- ly bore the brunt of battle and gave evidence to the world of their gallantry, bravery and endurance in the field of duty,
Too much praise cannot be accorded to both officere und
5
men for their universal good conduct in this bloody battle, the first in which the regiment had ever been engaged. A list of the casualties will be found appended.
Early on the morning of the 2d the army took up its line of march in pursuit of the enemy, and having proceeded be- yond Port Gibson to Bayon Pierre, the 2d Brigade was ordered to halt for the purpose of rebuilding a bridge, which had been destroyed by the enemy the night previous. This work be- ing completed the march was again resumed on the 4th, on the road leading to Raymond. On the morning of this day Col. Stone resumed command of the regiment, being released from the command of the 20 Brigade by Brig. Gen. M. K. Lawler. The march on this road was continued for several days in succession. On the 13th the 2d Brigade arrived at Mississippi Springs, having passed through Raymond and over the battle-field of Gen'l Logan. The 22d Iowa was ordered to remain at the Mississippi Springs to guard the train, while the balance of Gen. Carr's Divsion and other troops of the 18th Corps remained in the vicinity of Raymond to await the re- sult of the expedition of Gen. Sherman against Jackson. The latter having proved successful, the 22d received orders to re- turn to Raymond, where it remained until the morning of the 16th, when it again took up its line of march on the road lead- ing to Edwards' Station. At 10 A. M. the same day the en- omy was again encountered, in the vicinity of Champion Hills, where was fought one of the most desperate battles o the war, resulting in the complete overthrow and discomfit- nre of the rebel army, under Gen. Pemberton. In this mem- orable engagement, which lasted until night-fall of the 16th, the Division of Gen. Carr, to which the 224 belonged, was held in reserve. In the pursuit which followed the defeat of the enemy the 22d took an active part in maneuvering to cut them off, and captured alone over two hundred prisoners, which had straggled from their command. The pursuit was contin- ned, with Gen. Carr's Division in the advance, until 10 P. M., arriving at Edwards' Depot and capturing a train of commis- sary and ordnance stores and other property, which was aban- doned by the enemy in their precipitate flight.
At daylight on the morning of the 17th the army again re- sumed its march, on the road leading to Black River Bridge, with Gen. Carr's Division of McClernand's Corps in the ad- vance. About 10 o'clock A. M. came in contact with the en- emy's pickets, posted in the woods to the right of the pike, about two miles from the bridge, and after a sharp skirmish
6
succeeded in driving them in. The enemy were found to be posted in the immediate vicinity of the Rail Road Bridge, with works so constructed as to defend it. The position thus taken by the enemy was naturally a very strong one and was well calculated for their purpose, which was to defend the bridge and crossing at this point, at all hazard. The railroad, running from Jackson to Vicksburg alnost due west, crossed the river at nearly right angles. On the west bank of the riv- er, high bluff's extended to the water's edge, while on the east side was a cultivated bottom nearly a mile in width, which was surrounded on the east by a bayou of stagnant water, twenty feet wide and three deep, connecting with the river above the Railroad, and extending to the river below. The enemy's rifle pits were constructed on this Island on the inside of the bayou, the latter serving as a ditch, immediately in front of which was an open field.
Having reconnoited their position, and ascertained the most accessible point of attack, the 13th Corps moved forward, Gen. Carr's Division still in the advance, where skirmishing was renewed and continned for three hours.
Gen. Lawler, of the 2d Brigade, who occupied the extreme right of the investing line, discovered that by moving his Brigade under cover of the river bank, a charge on the ene- my's works from that point could be successfully made. Ac- cordingly he ordered his Brigade to charge, and if possible carry the works. The 23d Iowa, headed by the gallant Col. Kinsman, led the van, followed by the 21st Iowa and 11th Wis., while the 22d Iowa, on the extreme right of the brigade, was ordered to move down the river bank and assault the en- emy's left, resting on the river. With an ear piercing yell, these gallant men rushed forward across the open plain in front of the enemy's works, strewing the field with the dead and wounded.
Onward was the watchword, until the small remnant of the shattered column, passing through a most destructive and con- centrated fire, had reached the bayou, when the enemy broke and fled like frightened sheep. The moment had arrived to make a haul of the boasted chivalry ; and, as the balance of the brigade mounted the parapet in front, the 22d Iowa mov- ed over the enemy's left and, following the river bank, suc- ceeded in cutting off the retreat of alinost the entire garrison before they reached the river bridge. A few of the fleetest es- caped. Some undertook to swim the river, and many, owing to the very strong current, were drowned. Dead bodies could be seen floating in the fallen timber and brush for many hun-
7
dred yards down the stream. The ground at the edge of the stream was literally covered with guns, accontrements and clothing of every description. As trophies of this daring and magnificent movement, there were captured by the 2d brigade alone, 17 pieces of artillery, and more than the whole brigade itself numbered, in prisoners, and several thousand stand of small arms. This engagement was stamped as the most, sne- cessful and brilliant affair of the campaign, and the 2d brigade. commanded by Brig. Gen. Lawler, received the highest com- mendation of the commanding General. The casualties of the brigade were heavy ; but, owing to the position given to the 22d Iowa, it having advanced within a few yards of the enemy's guns under shelter of the river bank, the loss to it was but slight.
The enemy having succeeded in burning the bridge across the river, and there being no pontoon train with the army, the whole of the 13th Corps went into camp on the battle field. On the evening of the 18th, a floating bridge being completed, the Corps again took up its line of march on the Jackson and Vicksburg pike.
The march was continmed all night and the following day, the 19th, until about 12 o'clock, M., when the Corps of Gen. McClernand reach the hills surrounding the city of Vicks- burg. The enemy opened their guns at the first approach of the army in front of their defences, and firing was kept up briskly all day between the contending batteries. At 2 o'clock, P. M., the infantry was ordered to move forward; and, after several hours' hard skirmashing, the 13th Corps succeeded in gaining an advance position within six hundred yards of the enemy's works, and was covered from their fire by a range of hills. The loss in this affair was one man in the 22d Iowa. The ground gained by Gen. Carr's Division was on the range of hills in the immediate vicinity of the Jackson and Vicks- burg Railroad. Gen. Lawler's Brigade occupied the left, with the right of the 22d Iowa resting on the Railroad. Dn- ring the whole of the night of the 20th, the regiment was en- gaged in throwing up fortifications for operations on the com- ing day. By morning of the 21st, two twenty pounder Napo- leon guns of the 16th Ohio battery, were planted on the brow of the hill, and at light opened on the enemy's works, and in a short time succeeded in dismounting a heavy gun, mounted en barbette, but eliciting no reply from the enemy's cannon ; owing, it was thought, to their scarcity of ammunition. Throughout the day, the 22d Regiment remained in the breast-
5
works thrown up in the night, and kept up a continuous fire. on the enemy's sharpshooters, which was returned with spirit; but, owing to the inacenracy of rebel fire and the great dis- tance, but two men of the 22d were wounded during their first day's practice in the rifle pits. On the evening of the same day, 21st, Col. Stone received Gen. Grant's order for a gene- rai assault on the enemy's live at ten o'clock; A. M., on the 22d. Accordingly, aboat 11 o'clock, A. M., of the 21st, the mon were ordered to divest themselves of everything but their guns and accontrements, and be ready to move. The object was to gain possession of a prominent position midway between the two lines, from which it was thought a successful assault could be made. In the stillness of midnight, tho 22d Iowa, being in the advance, moved over the brow of the hill and passed noiselessly down the deep ravino into which the enemy had felled trees in every conceivable manner ; and. crawling cantiously on hands and knees for two or three hours, succeeded in reaching the desired position withont drawing the attention of the enemy's piekets, which were posted bat twenty yards distant. The day was dawning when the position was gained, and the men were ordered to lie down and rest on the hill side until the appointed hour, 10 o'clock, A. M. At 9 o'clock, the brigade was formed in lines of bat- tallions, the 22d lowa in advance, followed by the 21st Iowa and 11th Wis. At the hour of ten, Capt. Bluford Wilson, of Gen. Lawler's staff, arrived and directed Col. Stone to advance, and in a moment more, with the battle cry of "Remember King- man," the command " Forward" was given by Col. Stone, when the 22d Regiment leaped over the hill to the charge.
The enemy were on the alert; and, as the colors of the Regi- ment were raised above the hill, a thousand bayonets glitter- od in the sun above the parapet of Fort Beauregard. This strong work, against which the principal attack was directed, covered fully half an aere of ground, the walls being fifteen feet high, and surrounded by a ditch ten feet wide, a line of rifle pits connecting it with others of the same kind, each of which was so arranged as to enfilade the approach to the other. The regiment succeeded in reaching, under a most galling and concentrated fire of grape and musketry, an almost impen- otrable abattis, forty yards from the works, when it became necessary to reform the line, which had become very much scattered in crossing the logs and obstructions which literally covered the ground. The men rallied around the flag and were again led to the charge. Col. Stone was here severoly
9
woun lel, while gallantly charging at the head of his Regi- ment, and was carried from the field. Lient. Col. Harvy Gra- ham then assumed command and, with a few officers and about fifty men, succeeded in reaching the ditch, but, with no sealing ladders, were unable to enter the works. Serg. Joseph E. Griffith, however, with some fifteen mon, by raising one another up the wall, entered the fort, driving the enemy and capturing a member of prisoners. There being a series of rifle pits in the rear of the fort, tho latter being open, the place was untenable, and they were obliged to withdraw. Serg. Griffith and David Trine of Co. I, were the only survivors of this dar- ing exploit. The charge was a failure, the troops were ro pulsed, but did not leave the field until ordered. The 21st and 22d Iowa and 11 Wis, remained, receiving and returning the enemy's fire, until their ammmmmition was exhausted, when .they were withdrawn to their original position.
In this severe and sanguinary struggle, the Regiment suf- fered heavily, the loss being 164 in killed, wounded and mise- ing, nearly half the number engaged in the assault. Too much praise cannot be given to both officers and men for their good conduet and distinguished gallantry throughout this long and severe engagement. Capt. James Robertson, of Co. I. and Lient. M. A. Robb, of Co. D, were killed at the head of their companies. Lient. Col. Harvy Graham and several men were taken prisoners in the ditch. at the Fort. Capt. John H. Gearkee, Lieut. John Remick and Lieut. Lafayette Mullins fell, soverely wounded, at the post of honor. Many were the sets of bravery displayed at different times during the day.
A list of the casualties will be found appended.
On the morning of the 23d, the 22d Iowa occupied the same position as it left on the evening of the 21st. On the same day other dispositions of the troops were made, and the 22d were moved three hundred yards south of the railroad, on the same range of hills. Finding it impracticable to take the city of Vicksburg and garrison by assault, Gen. Grant determined up- on a siege,and the troops went cheerfully and diligently to work with the pick and spade. The plan of gaining the enemy's works was commenced and continued until formidable works wore thrown up to within twenty feet of the enemy's main forts, when it was impossible to proceed further without bring- ing on a general engagement, which the enemy very judicious- ly avoided by a capitulation, or rather, the surrender of the post and garrison to Gen. Grant, on the 4th day of July, 1863.
During this long and trying siege, from the 19th day of
10
May to the time of the surrender, the 22d Regiment occupied an advanced position on the line, and participated in all its operations. Both officers and men bore the dangers, hard- ships and exposures incident to a long siege with conrage, fortitude and a patient endurance worthy of the highest com- mendation. A list of the casualties occurring in the trenches from 22d day of May to July 4th, will be found appended. On the 4th day of July the Regiment received orders to be ready to move at a moment's notice, and on the morning of the 5th took up its line of march, accompanying the expedition of Gen. Sherman to Jackson, Miss. Owing to the exposure and excessive fatigue attending the siege, the regiment start- ed on the trip with but one hundred and fifty men for duty. The march towards Jackson in pursuit of the rebel Gen. -Johnston's forces was void of incident until the 9th, when the enemy were found in force in front of the city. The troops. were formed in line of battle, and an immediate advance or- dered. The 22d was formed on the south side of the Vicks- burg road, leading to the city. Two companies, F command- ed by Capt. A. B. Cree, and G by 1st Serg. J. K. Duncan. were deployed as skirmishers. The enemy's batteries opened a furious cannonading with grape and canister, and the in- fantry, posted in a heavy piece of timber, behind an open field, opened with insketry on the advancing line. The troops rushed forward on the double quick and, when within a hundred yards of the rebels, the latter fell back in confusion, seeking shelter behind the strong fortifications around the city. It being no part of the programnne to immediately as- sault their works, the troops went to work fortifying a line within six hundred yards of that of the enemy. Skirmish- ing and cannonading were kept up night and day until the 13th, when the enemy, anticipating an assault, which was to be made on the morning of the 17th, evacuated during the night. A list of casualties will be found appended. The Regiment was busily engaged for several days in tearing up the track and burning the ties on the Mississippi Central Rail- road, when it returned to Vicksburg, arriving at the latter place on the 24th day of July, and going into camp on the river bank, in front of the city.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.