USA > Iowa > A history of the Sixth Iowa infantry > Part 34
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Long may it be the happy fortune of each and every one of you to live in the full fruition of the boundless blessings you have secured to the human race. Only he whose heart has been thrilled with admiration for your impetuous and unyielding va- lor in the thickest of the fight, can appreciate with what pride I recount the brilliant achievements which immortalize you, and enrich the pages of our National history. Passing by the earlier but not less signal triumphs of the war in which most of you participated and inscribed upon your banners such victories as Donelson and Shiloh, I recur to your campaigns, sieges, and victories that challenge the admiration of the world and elicit the unwilling applause of all Europe. Turning your backs upon the blood-bathed heights of Vicksburg, you launched into a region swarming with enemies, fighting your way and march- ing, without adequate supplies, to answer the cry for succor that came to you from the noble but beleaguered Army at Chattanoo- ga. Your steel next flashed among the mountains of the Ten- nessee, and your weary limbs found rest before the embattled heights of Missionary Ridge, and there with dauntless courage you breasted again the enemy's destructive fire, and shared with your comrades of the Army of the Cumberland the glories of a victory than which no soldiery can boast a prouder. In that unexampled campaign of vigilant and vigorous warfare from Chattanooga to Atlanta you freshened your laurels at Resaca. grappled with the enemy behind his works, hurling him back dismayed and broken. Pursuing him from thence, marking
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your path by the graves of fallen comrades, you again tri- umphed over superior numbers at Dallas, fighting your way from there to Kenesaw Mountain and under the murderous ar- tillery that frowned from its rugged heights; with a tenacity and constancy that finds few parallels you labored, fought, and suffered through the boiling rays of a southern midsummer sun, until at last you planted your colors upon its topmost heights. Again, on the 22nd of July, 1864, rendered memorable through all time for the terrible struggle you so heroically maintained under discouraging disasters and that saddest of all reflections, the loss of that exemplary soldier and popular leader, the la- mented MePherson, your matchless courage turned defeat into a glorious victory. Ezra Chapel and Jonesboro added new lustre to a radiant record, the latter unbarring to you the proud Gate City of the South. The daring of a desperate foe in thrusting his legions northward exposed the country in your front, and, though rivers, swamps, and enemies opposed, you boldly surmounted every obstacle, beat down all opposition, and marched onward to the sea. Without any act to dim the bright- ness of your historic page, the world rang plaudits where your labors and struggles culminated at Savannah, and the old "Starry Banner" waved once more over the wall of one of our proudest cities of the seaboard. Scarce a breathing spell had passed when your colors faded from the coast, and your columns plunged into the swamps of the Carolinas. The suffering you endured. the labors you performed, and the successes you achieved in those morasses, deemed impassable, form a credi- table episode in the history of the war. Pocataligo, Salkahat- chie, Edisto, Branchville, Orangeburgh, Columbia, Bentonville, Charleston, and Raleigh are names that will ever be suggestive of the resistless sweep of your columns through the territory that cradled and nurtured, and from whence was sent forth on its mission of crimes, misery, and blood, the disturbing and dis- organizing spirits of secession and rebellion.
The work for which you pledged your brave hearts and brawny arms to the Government of your fathers you have nobly
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performed. You are seen in the past, gathering through the gloom that enveloped the land, rallying as the guardians of man's proudest heritage, forgetting the thread unwoven in the loom, quitting the anvil. abandoning the workshops, to vindiente the supremacy of the laws and the authority of the Constitution. Four years have you struggled in the bloodiest and most de- structive war that ever drenched the earth with human gore; step by step you have borne our standard, until to-day. over every fortress and arsenal that rebellion wrenched from us, and every city, town, and hamlet from the lakes to the gulf, and from ocean to ocean, proudly floats the "Starry Emblem" of our national unby and strength. Your rewards, my comrades, are the welcoming plaudits of a gratefal people, the conscious- ness that, in saying the Republic, you have won for your coan- try renewed respect and power at home and abroad; that, in the [un] exampled era of growth and prosperity that dawns with prace, there attaches mightier wealth of pride and glory than ever before to that loved boast. "I am an American Chi- zon". In relinquishing the implements of war for those of peace, let your conduct, which was that of warriors in time of war, be that of peaceful citizens in time of prace. Det not the lustre of that brighter name you have won as soldiers be dimmed by any improper acts as citizens, but as time rolls on let your record grow brighter and brighter still.
John A. Logan, Major-General.
As the days passed without receiving definite orders for mustering out, many became impatient; but, on July 21, 1865, -- just four years and four days from the date of muster in, the orders to muster ont the Sixth Towa that day were received. It was a busy day packing up personal traps and turning over government property, exchanging photographs, autographs, and other tokens of loyal comradeship, with the men of the 40th and 103rd Illinois, the 46th Ohio, 97th and 100th Indiana, and 26th Illinois, with whom the men of the Sixth Jowa had been
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so closely and intimately associated for more than three years. It was the final preparation for bidding farewell to the scenes and strife of war, and the "Sunny South".
Not until late in the evening did the mustering officer, Captain William L. Alexander, 30th Iowa, appear. Then the command was formed on the regimental parade ground, in column of companies, and the ceremony of mustering out at once commenced. Beginning with the first company on the right, the process of calling the roll and answering to the names, and making the proper en- tries for the present and absent was proceeded with un- til the last name in the last company was reached, num- bering two hundred and seventy-three men, rank and file. Then the announcement was made that the regi- ment not break camp until the next morning. The an- nouncement was also made that General Logan would speak in the city during the evening, on the subject of the settlement of the great public questions growing out of the war, and this attracted a large number to hear him. The good advice, sound logic, and patriotic sentiments expressed in that speech by the most popular volunteer General of the war had much to do with fixing in the minds of the young men, who were then being trans- ferred from soldiers to citizens, right principles for their future lives and for the government of the country.
At the last dress parade had by the regiment, Colonel William H. Clune commanding, presented his farewell address, as follows :
Headquarters 6th Iowa, V. V. Infantry, Louisville, Ky., July 21, 1865.
Officers and Soldiers of the Sixth Iowa V. V. Infantry :
Peace has dawned upon the Nation. The Union is restored. Forts and public property are repossessed.
The serpent that darted, with poisonous fangs, at the vitals
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of the Republic, no longer tempts the statesman. Its head is fatally bruised, and it has no mourners.
At your hands no further sacrifices, are demanded, and our beneficent Government, having gratefully acknowledged your patriotic services, to-morrow restores you to our beloved Iowa.
Your mediate commanding officers, in bidding you farewell, added each a worthy tribute to your valor, endurance, fidelity, and patriotism.
It seems fitting that I, who have been more intimately asso- ciated with you during these four eventful years, should repeat the "God bless you", as it passes down the line.
You have not advertised, yet your regiment is not unknown. It has marched seven thousand miles. It has fought twenty-sev- en battles. Over four hundred Southern graves its name is written. Its flag was never lowered to the accursed emblem of treason.
With comrades, from sister States, you swept the enemy from Missouri; mingled in the terrific struggle of Shiloh; scoured Mississippi; laid siege to Vicksburg; captured Jackson; scaled Lookout Mountain; relieved Knoxville; pursued a stub- born foe from Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Big Shanty. Kenesaw, Chattahoochie, Peachtree Creek, Ezra Chapel, Jones- boro, Lovejoy and Atlanta. Together with the brigade you re- pulsed at Griswoldville, a force of five times its numbers, marched down to the sea; thence, through the Carolinas, and terminated your glorious campaigns with a triumphal procession, amid the plaudits of your countrymen, at the Federal capital.
I shall not presume to advise for the future. There are those who, looking to another continent for precedent, unmindful that the American soldier is yet a citizen, and battles only in defense of laws enacted by the people, are apprehensive that a degree of lawlessness and anarchy will follow the disbandonment of a great army. Their fears will soon be dissipated. Intel- ligent men never voluntarily resign the enjoyments of home. and breast the battle-storm to serve a government they do not respect, or defend institutions they do not love. A volunteer
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soldier is a patriot. Patriotism dictates ready and cheerful obedience to the Constitution and the laws.
Loved ones will rejoice at your safe return. Others will weep as your battle-torn banners are borne proudly through their streets. Fathers, brothers, sons and husbands, have fallen by your side. Tell the sorrowing father, the weeping widow and the mourning sister, "He died bravely at the iron front. The Southern breeze, that sighs a requiem over the resting place of your loved one, shall never fan a slave". But how idle is human consolation. God alone can assuage their grief.
'Twill be alike your pleasure and duty to stand faithful sent- inels at the threshold of the orphan's home. Guard it well that gaunt Famine, Starvation and Want, shall never enter there.
With many thanks for your personal kindness, and implicit obedience to orders, while under my command, I bid you fare- well.
May your paths ever wind through pleasant places, and your future lives be prosperous and happy, as your deeds have been glorious and honorable.
W. H. Clune, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding.
When the final farewells were said with the officers and men of the other commands, there were many heart- felt and loyal expressions of friendship and cordial good wishes for future prosperity and happiness, and, in many instances, the scenes were truly and sincerely affecting. It was a disbanding of military organizations and a sun- dering of soldier comradeship cemented by more than three years of campaigning and battling together in the very storm center of those stirring events. The ties of friendship formed by such associations are undefinable, and can only be felt and realized by those who have en- dured the weary service and experienced the fiery ordeal of battle.
The almost universal good will manifested between
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the officers and men in the regiment -- the same being truc generally throughout the army - on being mustered out, was a most gratifying state of affairs at that aus- picious time. All the little animosities engendered by the unavoidable frictions, during a long period of ser- vice, were blotted out and reckoned as by-gones, so that all could return to their homes, live in peace and harmony, harboring no malice or hatred for officer or soldier, but all fraternize together in the enjoyment of a glorious peace conquered and a Union preserved.
Every commissioned officer mustered out with the Sixth Iowa, except the medical staff, had come up from the ranks, all being soldiers true and tried, and officers of the highest excellence. Colonel W. H. Clune and Ma- jor O. J. McCoy, the last field officers, were raised, step by step, through all the grades, from enlisted men to commanders of the regiment. Captains R. F. Barker, O. S. Rarick, S. J. Gahagan, W. H. Alexander, R. A. Wills, E. R. Kennedy, A. T. Samson, J. Swan, J. Turner, and S. L. Blodgett, all of whom had served from the be- ginning, were in every way worthy successors of the noble men who had preceded them in the command of their respective companies. Adjutant R. A. Stitt and Quartermaster O. P. Stafford had been rightfully pro- moted for long and efficient service in the administra- tive affairs in their respective departments. Doctors W. S. Lambert and N. M. Smith had both attained distinction as skillful physicians and surgeons in the army.
The lieutenants and non-commissioned officers of the companies, and the non-commissioned officers of the regi- mental staff, had, all of them, served more than half of their enlistments in the ranks and were promoted to their
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respective positions after patient and persistent service. Still, there were men left in the ranks as privates, who were fully qualified to command companies and even regiments, but had never sought or desired promotion. Many of these men have attained prominence in business enterprises and high rank in the professions, since the war.
On July 22nd, at 12 o'clock noon, the camp of the Sixth Iowa was struck for the last time in the army and the men marched out from their places in the line, where they had been a material factor in the organization for so long. They passed down through the streets of the city and thence down along the rapids canal to a point opposite to the city of New Albany, Indiana, where they were ferried over the Ohio. River to that city. There they boarded freight cars on the New Albany and Salem Railroad, for Chicago; passed through Salem, Green- castle, Crawfordsville, and arrived at the city of La Fayette, at 7 a. m., next morning. Here a delay was caused until 2 p. m., when the journey was renewed and the train arrived at Michigan City, on the lake shore, at 12 o'clock midnight.
Without changing cars, the start was made for Chica- go, but, when only fifteen miles out on the road, a de- railed train obstructed the track and caused another delay until 10 a. m., when the track was cleared and the train procceded slowly into the city of Chicago, where it arrived at one p. m. The men were unloaded and marched through the city to the Rock Island Railroad depot and boarded a train on that road, at 3 p. m. They arrived at Davenport, Iowa, the next morning, at 7 a. m., July 25, 1865, A large concourse of citizens was at the depot at that early hour to receive and welcome the returning
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veterans and the Honorable Hiram Price, then a member of Congress from the Davenport District, delivered the welcome address.
After being served with hot coffee and breakfast, pre- pared by the women of Davenport, the line of march was taken up again out to Camp Mcclellan, where the men were assigned to quarters in the barracks to wait the convenience of the army paymaster. The guns and all government property were turned in to the proper United States officers, and, on July 28th, the United States pay- master appeared, when each man received the amount of pay and bounty due him, and his honorable discharge from the service. On receipt of pay and discharge pa- pers, hasty farewells were exchanged and the men de- parted singly and in squads for their homes.
The regimental organization, formed at Burlington in July, 1861, and which had marched and fought the bat- tles of the war, was now dissolved and the men scattered, never again to be marshalled together on this earth.
INDEX
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INDEX
Abbeville (Mississippi), Union troops at, 151; Court of Inquiry at, 160
Acworth (Georgia), Union troops at, 282, 283, 345; capture of troops at, 340; destruction of railroad near, 341; General French at, 345; railroad at, 345
Adairsville (Georgia), Union troops at, 269, 270, 346
Adams, James B., capture of, 243
Adams, Jesse W., wound received by, 268 Adams, John Q., service of, as lieuten- ant, 344
Adams plantation, Union camp on, 197 Addresses, delivery of, 124, 485, 489- 491, 494
Adjutant, Regimental, selection of. 8. 51; error made by, 52; removal of Thomas J. Ennis as, 53, 54
Adjutant-General of Iowa, service of Henry H. Wright as, viii: report of, ix; report of, relative to Company H. 7; report of, relative to Company K, 8; inspection of troops by, 34; casual- ty list prepared by, 50
Adjutant.General of Iowa, Assistant, message dispatched by, 80, 81
Adjutant-General of Texas, appointment of, 73
Adkins, Jesse L., wound received by, 98, 241, 295
Ague, buck, attacks of, 39
Aide-de-camp. service of, 120, 344
Aiken (South Carolina), battle at, 413 Alabama, activities of troops from, 85, 86, 90; capture of troops from, 227; Union troops in, 251, 252, 263; Union sentiment in, 253; winter camps in, 263, 484; defest of troops from, 285; position of troops from, 314; Con- federate troops in, 351; campaign through, 354
Alabama road, Union troops along, 348 Albertson, George, message dispatched by, 80, 81; capture of, 81, 98
Albia, company organized at, 2, 4; as- signment of troops from, to Company E, 6
Alden, Edwin F., squad in charge of, 3; service of, as lieutenant, 164; message delivered by, 271; muster of, from service, 349
Alexander, A. P., accidental injury receiv- ed by, 49
Alexander, I. N., Union troops command- ed by, 355
Alexander, Robert, wound received by, 294
Alexander, William H., promotion of, 317; service of, as captain, 390, 492; return of, to Beaufort, 398
Alexander, William L., service of, as mustering officer, 489 Alexandria (Missouri), report of seces- sion troops at, 14, 15 Alexandria (Virginia), Union troops at, 465, 466, 468, 469, 470
Allatoona (Georgia), Union troops near, 282, 341, 343, 345; Confederate troops at, 340, 345; reinforcements sent to, 341; demand for surrender of, 342; battle at, 344; bravery of John M. Corse at, 345; railroads near, 345; service of Fifteenth Army Corps at, 387
Allatoona Mountains, Confederate troops in, 271, 273, 282, 283; Union troops in, 232; crossing of, 346
Allatoona Pass, Union hospital at, 279, 293, 294
Allatoona Station, Union troops at, 341; bravery of J. W. Mckenzie at, 344
Allegheny Mountains, trip of soldiers across, 480; scenery near, 480
Allen, Charles L., wound received by, 242 Allen, Martin V., capture of, 98; wound received by, 241
Allison, Leander C., service of, as lieu- tenant, 7, 130; aid of, in capturing Confederate prisoners, 54; service of, as captain, 164; wound received by, 241; inuster of, from service, 349 Allison, Robert, service of, as lieutenant, 8, 130; service of, as captain, 78, 164; troops led by, 87, 88, 94; death of, 236, 240, 253
Alpine (Georgia), Union camp at, 348 Alverson, George, service of, 3, 4 Ambulance corps, establishment of, 180 Ambulances, use of, 140, 356, 357, 371 Ambuscade, making of, 181
Ameries, character of soldiers in, 251, 490, 491; beauty of rivers in, 480; veterans remembered in, 486
American citizens, freedom of, 159; pride of, 488
American ideals, development of, 486
American Republic, division of, 1; strug- gle for control of, 258, 259, 478
American soldiers, characteristics of, 261, 490, 491 (see also Soldiers)
Ammen, Jacob, brigade commanded by, 89 Ammunition, Attempt to prevent wasting of, at Shiloh, 75; distribution of, 140, 177, 233, 312, 367, 378, 389; de- struction of, 416
Ammunition depots, explosion of, 113 Ammunition train, difficulty of travel with, 145, 146
Ammunition wagons, advance of, 367 Amusements, participation in, at Camp
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INDEX
Warren, 9; participation in, by offi- cers, 28
Anderson, Captain, Confederate battery commanded by, 369
Anderson, [G. W.], plantation of, 381 Anderson, Patton, service of, as command- er, 72; wound received by, 324
Anderson (Tennessee), Union troops at, 229
Andersonville (Georgia), death of Iowa soldier at, 279
Animals, fatigue of, 145; destruction of, 426, 427
Anti-war party, attitude of, 158
Antrobus, Lafayette, capture of. 243
Appanonse County, sheriff of, viii; com- pany organized in, 2; assignment of troops from, to Company D, 6; troops from, 111
Appanoose Volunteers, organization of, 2; assignment of, to Company D, 6
Appointments, discontent of troops rela- tive to, 54
Appomattox Court House, surrender of Confederates at, 447
Appomattox River, crossing of, 463
Aquia Creek, crossing of. 468
Arkansas, advance of riffemen in, 23; troops from, at Springfield, Missouri, 32: Confederate troops in, 43, 127, 128; troops encamped on horder of, 43; Confederate troops from, 44; cam- paign in, 57; defeat of Confederates in, 64; activities of troops from, 85, 86; Union forces in, 127; scouting in, 135, 136
Arkansas Riflemen, report of advance of, 23
Armistice, 206
Armory, destruction of, 415
Arms, call to, 1-12
Armstrong. John W., death of, 98; wound received by, 98, 294
Army badges, adoption of. 442, 443
Army of the Cumberland, attack against, 165, 303; commander of, 180, 219, 261; service of, 233, 234, 246, 329, 393, 394; victory of, 238, 486; loss sustained by, 243; attack made by, 258; strength of, 261, 262; location of, 282, 298, 309, 328; failure of, at Kenesaw Mountain, 295
Army of Georgia, service of, 393; reor- ganization of, 445; march of, to Rich- mond, 459; review of, 470; position of, 473
Army of the Mississippi, service of, at Corinth, 121, 122
Army of the Ohio, service of General Buell in, 121; attack by, 258; com- mander of, 261, 262; strength of, 262; position of, 298. 304, 328, 329, 393; reorganization of, 445
Army of the Potomac, regiments of west- ern States in, 11: service of General Pope in, 121; officer of, 257; com- mander of. 308; service of, 393; adoption of badges in, 442: winter quarters of, 463; activities of officers of, 463; defeat of, 468; strength of, 468; review of, 470, 471
Army of Tennessee (Confederate), strength of, 149, 262; plan of attack against, 258; commander of, 262; ser. vice of, 297; organization of, 445
Army of the Tennessee, character of troops in, 60, 263, 308, 331, 332, 394; distribution of, 122; commander of, 127, 223, 261, 262, 308, 336, 479; attack planned by, 258; strength of. 262; activities of, 267, 272, 273, 393; camp of, 269; field hospitals of, 272; reenforcement of, 283; position of, 298, 300, 302, 307, 308, 309, 324, 328, 346; advance made by, 302, 395, 394; assault upon, 304; casualties in, 305, 306, 330; victory of, 307; ser- vice cf, at East Point, 329; reorgan- ization of, 336, 445; service of veter. ans in, 338; campaign speeches read by members of, 348; railroad de- stroyed by, 353; composition of, 394; march of, to Richmond, 459: review of, 470; passes granted in, 479; rumor relative to, 481; muster of, from ser- vice, 482, 483; pride of members of, 485
Army of Virginia, commander of, 127
Army regulations, instructions in, 119 Army supplies, sharing of, 210
Arndt, A. F. R., battery commanded by, 351, 353, 364, 366; casualties among troops of, 367
Arnold, William H., wound received by. 101, 242, 279; service of, as lieuten-
ant, 164; muster of, from service, 349 Arsenals, destruction of, 415, 425
Articles of War, reading of. 147
Artillery, strength of, 70, 139, 142, 143. 355; service of, 77, 287, 433; attack made by, 78, 88; troops directed by chief of, 88; firing of, 90, 91, 107, 404, 410; posting of, in camp, 118; importance of, 119: fatigue of animals in, 145; firing of, by Confederates, 145, 315, 320, 322, 324, 380, 381; roar of, 264; Confederate officer killed by, 284
Artillery Brigade, commander of, 472 Artillery equipment, reduction in, 351 Ashby, Elon G., wound received by, 241 Athens ( Missouri), consolidation of troops from, 4; report of attack &t, 15, 16, 20; Union troops at. 16, 246: retreat of secessionists from. 17; skirm- ishes at, 18, 19; destruction of prop- erty in, 19, 20; return of guns used at, 20: service of troops at, 483
Athens (Tennessee), Union camp at. 24S Athletic sports, participation in, at Camp Warren, 9
Atkins, Dr .. plantation of, 191
Atkinson, Oliver P., death of, 98
Atlanta (Georgia), officer wounded at. v; Iowa troops at, vi, 317; railroad to, 271: Confederate troops at, 302, 305, 319, 336, 339; campaigns for, 307, 322. 328, 394, 433, 464, 484; skirmishes near, 319; arrival of troops from, 322; loss of Confederates near, 324; explosions near, 325; capture of, 328, 394; casualties near, 329, 331;
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INDEX
Union troops at, 332, 333, 334. 336, 309, 340, 351, 353, 355, 356, 393, 453, 486, 490; consolidation of troops at, 336; destruction of property in, 354; mail received by soldiers at. 364; march from, 399; siege of, 433; de- parture of troops from, 441; display oi banners in honor of. 475
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