USA > Iowa > A history of the Sixth Iowa infantry > Part 8
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On Monday evening, April 7, 1862, the recovered Un- ion camps were all reoccupied and the labor of restoring . order out of the general wreck and confusion, incident to the battle and 24 hours possession by the enemy, was at once commenced.
The most pressing obligation resting upon those in authority, as well as upon each individual soldier, was the care of thousands of wounded men, and nearly an equal number who were prostrated with fevers, and the
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burying of the 3500 dead - Union and Confederate still lying on the field of battle, where they fell.
The scenes of death and destruction so visible from every point of view were appalling to the strongest hearts, and beggar description. The loss of human life had been great, and thousands had been crippled or mor- tally wounded. The field was thickly strewn with more than 500 dead mules and horses, broken wagons and ve- hicles, artillery carriages and caissons, provisions and forage - scattered indiscriminately over the fields, in the woods, and through the camps.
For the purpose of burying the dead, a large detail was made from the regiment, on Tuesday morning, and near- ly the whole time of the Sth and 9th of April was devot- ed to the sad duty of collecting and burying the 46 dead bodies of the 6th Iowa. A single trench, more than a hundred feet in length, was dug at the point on the battle- field where the severe contest was waged on Sunday af- ternoon, and in it were laid -- wrapped in their blankets - more than forty of the fallen heroes, side by side, in the order of their companies in the regimental line.
Nearly all of the fine mules and large army wagons, composing the regimental transportation, were captured by the enemy on Sunday, so that the transportation fa- cilities for procuring supplies from the river were very limited for some time after the battle. That, together with the deplorable condition of all wagon roads leading to the landing - made so by heavy rains during and af- ter the battle - caused all necessary supplies to be carried from the river to the camps by the men, a dis- tance of two to four miles. For several days nearly everything consumed by the regiment was procured in that manner, but a few days later pack mules were sub-
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stituted for the men and in due time a new outfit of mules and wagons was furnished.
A brigade of Kentucky Confederates had occupied the camps of McDowell's brigade during their brief stay and the bakers in that command had used the regimental bakery, turning out several batches of fine soft bread, made from the abundance of flour and materials found in the commissary. On Monday, when the camp was re- covered, an oven full of fine bread, and dough enough for another, was secured, the enemy having abandoned it in their hasty flight.
When the rain had ceased the camps were again re- stored to a condition of health and comfort; all the tim- ber and brush was cleared away from about the camps and the parade grounds; defensive earthworks were erected covering the front of the army; clothing, and a supply of camp and garrison equipage, to make good what was lost and abandoned in the battle, was issued. All this, together with a plentiful supply of good whole- some rations, furnished by the river transportation, did much to restore confidence and reestablish discipline throughout the army.
The whole appearance of the position occupied by the new camps had undergone a complete change as com- pared with the obscure and thinly settled neighborhood found by the army in the middle of March, when it first landed and pitched its camps in the Shiloh woods. New roads were laid out and corduroyed - leading in every direction; company streets and parade grounds were cleared and made smooth for drills, parades, and cere- monies, which converted the virgin wilderness of the battlefield into a beautiful city of camps, with clean streets and good roads.
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The whole division was assembled on the big field near the Shiloh Church, on April 15th, where it was reviewed by General Sherman, and, on the 17th, he drilled it in close order maneuvers, on the same field.
A period of cold drizzling rains prevailed during the latter half of the month of April, greatly disturbing and retarding military operations, and causing great dis- comfort in the camps. A large number of the men in the camps were prostrated with chills and fevers, filling the hospitals with the sick -- causing much anxiety for the strength and efficiency of the army in the approaching campaign.
After one day of sunshine the division was again ma- neuvered, on April 23rd, by General Sherman, who was accompanied by many distinguished officers in the army. On. April 26th, every man - sick or well - was required to attend at the division drill, the sick being hauled in ambulances and army wagons to the drill ground, where those who were able to do so were required to walk about and those not able to walk were carried on cots to the drill field and remained there during the day's exercises. One sick man died before the return to camp.
The incident caused some complaint and much adverse criticism, but like all of General Sherman's orders and methods for the administration and discipline of an army, it proved to be of great benefit to sick and well alike. It was one of his primary lessons in an education, that "war is hell!".
Major John M. Corse, who was serving on the staff of General John Pope, visited the regiment, April 26th, while it was on the field drilling, where he was welcomed by officers and men with great enthusiasm, by hearty cheering, and many cordial demonstrations of good will.
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General Halleck appeared and assumed command of the combined armies of Grant, Buell, and Pope, and com- menced preparing for the advance on Corinth, where it was known the Confederate army, commanded by General Beauregard, was assembled in large force and strongly fortified.
Sunday, April 27th, was hailed as a bright beautiful day, the air fragrant with the perfume of spring flowers, and the woods filled with the melody of singing birds, causing all nature to contrast sharply with the prepar- ations being made for grim-visaged war. The usual Sun- day inspection was had, followed by religious services in the evening, when Reverend Brown, of Clarke County, Iowa, whose two sons were members of Company B, con- ducted the exercises - preaching an interesting and in- spiring discourse.
A long and tedious division drill was had on Monday, followed with marching orders for the next day, read at the evening parade.
VIII CORINTH AND MEMPHIS
On April 29, 1862, the tents were struck at an early hour and the Sixth Iowa, commanded by Captain M. M. Wal- den, with McDowell's First Brigade of Sherman's Fifth Division, marched out from the Shiloh camps and joined in the general advance on Corinth, then being inaugur- ated by General Halleck, with his combined armies num- bering about 120,000 men.
The roads along the route of march were still strewn with the wrecks of broken down wagons and all sorts of camp and garrison equipage, abandoned by the enemy on their retreat from the battlefield. A distance of five miles was marched and camp was made near the Confed- erate hospitals. On April 30th, the command marched 4 miles and camped at Pea Ridge, in the vicinity of Mick- ey's house.
The monthly field return made for the regiment on that day showed a total of 442 men, including 23 officers and 419 enlisted men, present for duty, while the total absent included 10 officers and 216 enlisted men. The aggre- gate strength, present and absent, was 751 men. The same return shows the losses for the month were: 53 killed in battle, 4 died of disease, 9 discharged for dis- ability, 5 deserted, 36 missing in battle, 116 severely wounded ; aggregate loss, 223 men.
On May 1st, the division commenced the erection of the first line of breastworks extending along its entire front. The works were built in accordance with plans and in-
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CORINTH AND MEMPHIS
structions furnished by the engineer officers of the army. The position was designated as Camp No. 2.
A very distressing accident occurred during the day when Colonel McDowell ordered a camp sentinel to fire on a man who was crossing over and beyond the guard line contrary to orders. The sentinel fired and killed a man in another regiment, camped in the line quite a dis- tance away.
Sunday, May 4th, the whole division was moved for- ward 6 miles and camped 8 miles north of Corinth, where a new line of breastworks was erected, the men working until a late hour in the night to complete them. A heavy rainstorm prevailed during the day and con- tinued through the night, so that everything was thoroughly soaked and the whole country flooded the next day. Despite the rain and mud, work was renewed on the fortifications the next day and progressed rapidly until a line of great strength was completed, fully dem- onstrating the improved skill and knowledge acquired by both men and officers in the new role of conducting mili- tary campaigns. On May 7th, the line was again ad- vanced a mile to the front and another strong line of works erected, which was designated as Camp No. 4. On this day the pay rolls were signed.
The army paymaster appeared, on May 9th, and com- menced paying the regiment four months pay. Brisk picket skirmishing and artillery firing was kept up dur. ing the day all along the lines. The fortified Union lines extended from the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, north of Corinth around to the Memphis and Charleston Rail- road, east of the town - making a continuous fortified line of fully ten miles in length.
On May 11th, the skirmishers advanced, driving in
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the enemy's outposts, while the whole line was ad. vanced one mile to Camp No. 5, where the whole front was soon covered by a new line of fortifications. On May 12th, the paymaster completed the payment in the regi- ment. The weather was clear with extreme heat during the day: On May 13th, the lines were moved forward 2 miles, after protracted and at times severe skirmish engagements with the enemy, and Camp No. 6 was estab- lished. Here a new line of earthworks of great strength and superior skill in construction were completed on the 14th. The day was marked by heavy fighting all along the lines, and the Third Brigade of Sherman's division was engaged in a spirited affair on the skirmish line dur- ing the evening.
On May 15th, orders were read reorganizing the Fifth Division, as follows :
In consequence of the reduced strength of the regiments, in- stead of four brigades there will be three brigades, of four regi- ments each.
First Brigade, Brig. Gen. Morgan L. Smith commanding : Eighth Missouri Volunteers, Fifty-fifth Illinois Volunteers, Fif- ty-fourth Ohio Volunteers, Fifty-seventh Ohio Volunteers.
Second Brigade, Col. John McDowell commanding: Sixth Iowa Volunteers, Forty-sixth Ohio Volunteers, Fortieth Illinois Volunteers, Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteers.
Third Brigade, Col. R. P. Buckland commanding: Seventy- second Ohio Volunteers, Seventieth Ohio Volunteers, Forty- eighth Ohio Volunteers, Fifty-third Ohio Volunteers.
The order and the reorganization is significant for the reason that it was the first time for the three regiments composing MeDowell's brigade to be designated as the Second Brigade, a title which was retained by them and other regiments assigned to it later, to the close of the war.
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General Sherman issued explicit instructions directing that details for guards and pickets' should be made at the evening parade, and assembled for guard mount at 7 o'clock the next morning. When in bivouac or camp the guards and sentinels were to be posted at that hour. Officers commanding the guard were to study their ground carefully and well, and explain to the sentinels the points to be particularly watched and the cover they should take if threatened or attacked, as the safety of all depended upon their fidelity and watchfulness.
The camp orders and instructions were observed strictly by men and officers about the camps and the sen- tinels on duty were specially attentive to the rigid en- forcement of all orders. Officers in command of picket guards enforced strict discipline during a tour of duty at the front, which had demonstrated by the fire-tried test - in battle and on the skirmish line - the absolute necessity for strict obedience to orders, and the strictest fidelity and manly courage in the performance of every duty.
The character of courage as represented by the "fist and skull bullies", who were "spoiling for a fight", sadly failed, when the real test in battle was applied. Many of the truest and bravest in the battle lines were of tender age, modest demeanor, and almost timid in their resentment, with physical force, of personal reflections or vulgar insult; but they were fully endowed with the highest ideals of patriotism, moral and mental courage. The young men and farmer boys composing the rank and file of the western regiments were possessed of a pio- neer knowledge and a rugged honesty of purpose, by which they reckoned the true element of danger in the ranks of a fighting army, and quickly adapted themselves to the situation, by taking intelligent advantage of every
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honorable means of defense and for personal protection, when under fire. *
On May 16th, the skirmish firing on the advance picket lines was incessant and at times during the day the rattle of musketry and the roar of cannon rose to the dignity of a battle. Few casualties occurred because those engaged on either side were posted behind substantial rifle-pits.
At 3 p. m., May 17th, General Morgan L. Smith, with the First Brigade, commenced the movement on the enemy that resulted in the capture of the position at the Russell house, on the main road leading into Corinth. The Sth Missouri and 55th Illinois deployed as skirmish- ers and led the advance; the 54th and 57th Ohio formed in line of battle as a reserve supporting them; the rest of the division formed in front of the camps in line of battle under arms, and all the field batteries were posted at commanding positions. The battle opened with brisk musketry firing, whereupon the enemy's pickets fell back to their reserves at the Russell house where they made an obstinate resistance with musketry and artillery. The Union guns opened on the buildings, where the enemy had taken shelter, with great fury and the whole force moved forward in splendid array in a storm of shot and shell, and amid the shouts and cheers of the men. After a gallant defense of the position, the enemy retreated when full possession of the Russell house and all the ground and works occupied by the enemy for a long dis- tance to the right and left of the position was secured.
It was the most spirited action had by the right wing of the army during the advance movement. While none of the troops participated in the firing, except the two regiments deployed as skirmishers, the rest of the divis- ion was under arms and ready to enter the fight at any
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moment when the engagement took ,on the character of a serious battle. To the soldier in the ranks of the re- serve lines the dispositions and movements made had all the appearance of a general battle, and his nerve was tested quite as much, if not more, than that of those go- ing forward in the front lines. The Russell house was known to be the last defensive position, on the Corinth road, outside of the main fortifications encircling the city, so the Union lines were then up against the main works of the enemy, which were supposed to be very formid- able.
The loss in the two regiments engaged was less than that of the Confederates, who left 13 of their dead on the field - among them, 1 Captain and 2 Lieutenants. Cap- tain Walden having reported sick and returned to Pitts- burg Landing, Captain Henry Saunders of Company E assumed command of the regiment.
For the next three days the troops occupied the same position, while a brisk picket and skirmish fire was kept up along the entire front. An occasional refreshing shower of rain, followed by intense heat during the day and a chilling atmosphere at night, caused many men to be prostrated with camp fevers.
The whole division moved forward to the Russell house position, on May 21st, and built a new line of works. The day's operations were marked by heavy and pro- tracted cannonading on the left flank of the army.
Quite a large number of recruits joined the regiment, on May 22nd, among whom were the Payton brothers [John, Joseph, and William] assigned to Company D, and the three Kellogg [David, Isaac, and William] broth- ers assigned to Company A - all from Appanoose Coun- ty, Iowa. 'The three Paytons served through the war
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and returned to their homes in Iowa, while the three Kel- logg's lost their lives in the service.
Camp No. 7, at the Russell house, was occupied during the next six days, the troops alternating in doing picket guard duty and working on the fortifications. The line of works erected was of unusual strength -- great pains having been taken in its construction. Heavy skirmish firing continued daily along the picket lines, and, on sev- eral occasions, demonstrations made at night caused great anxiety. An impression was general throughout the army that an assault would be made on the enemy's fortified position, and every demonstration made, where heavy musketry and artillery firing occurred, was taken to be the commencement of the assault.
May 27th was specially marked as being the day on which Major John M. Corse returned and took command of the regiment as Lieutenant-Colonel - Markoe Cum- mins having been discharged by order of a military com- mission.
On May 28th, the troops occupying the front line ad- vanced, driving the enemy's outposts into their main line of fortifications. The firing was sharp and at short range, many of the enemy's cannon shot striking in camp and others passing far overhead and into the woods at the rear. The enemy's drums and bugles sounding the calls during the evening were heard almost as distinctly as those in the Union camps.
On the 29th, the whole division occupied the line se- cured the evening before and at once commenced fortify- ing it with great energy. This position was designated as Camp No. 8. A large force of men was engaged all night working on the new line of breastworks and at day- light the next morning the whole front of the division
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was again covered with a splendid line of earthworks for infantry.
At an early hour in the morning loud explosions were heard within the enemy's lines, which were rightly in- terpreted to be magazines and ammunition depots ex- ploded by the enemy preparatory to evacuating the po- sition. The division pickets on the right, at the Mobile and- Ohio Railroad, discovered at daylight that the en- emy's resistance was feeble and at once voluntarily com- menced to advance on the main fortifications. At 6 a. m., they crossed over the main works without serious op- position, and continued the march to the city of Corinth, 3 miles distant, where they arrived at S a. m. They were followed later by the whole division. The abandoned camps of the enemy were strewn with flour and provis- ions of every kind, indicating a hasty and demoralized retreat.
All of the Union forces were soon assembled inside of the great fortified position. In the town itself many houses were still burning and the ruins of warehouses and buildings containing Confederate stores were still smouldering when the troops entered. Cannon balls, shells and shot, sugar, molasses, beans, rice, flour, meal, and much other property, which the enemy had failed to take away or destroy, were appropriated by the men, in kind and quantity as they desired or were able to carry away. The regiment, together with all of General Sher- man's division, returned in the cool of the evening to their camps of the night before, within the Union lines.
General Sherman summed up the part borne by his command in accomplishing the great victory, as follows :
My division has constructed seven distinct intrenched camps since leaving Shiloh. Our intrenchments here and at
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Russell's, each built substantially in one night, are stronger works of art than the much-boasted forts of the enemy at Corinth. I must also in justice to my men remark their improvement on the march, the absence of that straggling which is too common in the volunteer service, and, still more their improved charac- ter on picket and as skirmishers. Our line of march has been along a strongly-marked ridge, followed by the Purdy and Corinth road, and ever since leaving the "Locusts" our pickets have been fighting - hardly an hour night or day for two weeks without the exchange of hostile shots; but we have steadily and surely gained ground, slowly to be sure, but with that steady certainty that presaged the inevitable result.
The Sixth Iowa was conspicuous and bore its full pro- portion of the duty and hardships on the campaign. On guard and in all the advances made, it was either in the front line or in the supporting command; it worked at building fortifications, night and day; it made "cordu- roy" on old roads and constructed new wagon roads through the heavy forest, and across streams and swamps - requiring skill and immense labor; and it cleared off and policed the numerous camping grounds, occupied during the advance -insuring the health and comfort of the men.
General Halleck was severely criticised by the press and public throughout the northern States for the man- ner of conducting the advance on Corinth. It was ridi- culed as the "pick and shovel" campaign, but in the light of all the facts and the experience of subsequent cam- paigns, the siege and capture of Corinth will ever be reckoned as one of the great Union victories of the war. General Grant, at the time, was being just as severely criticised for not having fortified the position at Pitts- burg Landing before the battle of Shiloh and during all
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the operations in front of Corinth he was under a cloud of disfavor that threatened to destroy his usefulness in the army.
When Corinth fell, General Halleck had an effective army of about 110,000 men present for duty and was supported in' the command by such eminent officers as Grant, Buell, Thomas, Pope, Rosecrans, Sherman, Logan, and a hundred other subordinate commanders, who be- come greatly distinguished during the war.
General Beauregard had collected an effective army of 75,402 men for the defense of Corinth and was supported in the command by such able commanders as Bragg, Polk, Hardee, Van Dorn, Price and half a hundred more distin- guished officers. The fortifications were skillfully laid out and constructed with great strength, guarding every avenue of approach, so that the evacuation of Corinth, at the time and in the manner that it was brought about, was a substantial and fruitful victory for the Union army.
The Sixth Iowa had now seen service in battle and skir- mish, commanded by and under the personal direction of General William T. Sherman - "Old Tecumseh"; Gen- eral U. S. Grant --- "Unconditional Surrender"; General George H. Thomas - "Pap Thomas", and General John A. Logan - "Black Jack", receiving, together with the other regiments composing the brigade, the favorable commendation of these eminent soldiers.
On May 31st, a regular camp was laid out on favorable ground along the last line of works built by the division and the regiment established in nice clean quarters. As much care was taken in the selection and preparation of the camp as if the command was expected to remain in the position for the remainder of the summer.
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SIXTH IOWA INFANTRY.
The return for the month showed a gain by 16 recruits joined, and a loss of 9 died, 6 deserted, 3 discharged, 1 transferred, total 19 men. Captain John Williams, ab- sent, wounded since Shiloh, was announced in orders on parade as being promoted to Major, to date from May 21st, and First-Lieutenant Alexander J. Miller promoted to Captain of Company G, to date from May 22, 1862.
On Sunday, June 1, 1862, it rained all day. On Mon- day morning marching orders were received, and, at 3 p. m., camp was struck and the entire division marched out on the Corinth road. It passed through the fortifica- tions and the camp grounds of the enemy, and also the town, and went into camp one mile west, at dark, after marching 4 miles. It marched 5 miles the next day and camped during a regular downpour of rain. The regi- ment remained idle in camp for the next two days and then marched west, following along the line of the Men- phis and Charleston Railroad for 5 miles and camped near Chewalla.
The enemy had prematurely burned the railroad bridge over Cypress Creek, on the night of the evacuation, and thereby prevented the escape of seven locomotives and their trains loaded with army stores. The engines, cars, and stores had been partly destroyed by fire and the burned mass and wreck encumbered the railroad track for a mile. The work of clearing the track and preserv- ing the damaged property progressed day and night, be- ing done by heavy details made from the command, until the division was ordered farther west along the line of the railroad.
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