USA > Iowa > Johnson County > Iowa City > A succinct history of the 28th Iowa Volunteer Infantry : From date of muster into service, October 10th, 1862, at Iowa City, Iowa, to its final muster out, August 13th, 1865, at Davenport, Iowa > Part 4
USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > A succinct history of the 28th Iowa Volunteer Infantry : From date of muster into service, October 10th, 1862, at Iowa City, Iowa, to its final muster out, August 13th, 1865, at Davenport, Iowa > Part 4
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the cavalry and 4th div. coming out in fragments and the victorious rebs marching on, we pushed forward through their shattered lines and with one of our old time yells of detiance, opened out on their advancing columns and checked their advance, the enemy began pouring in shot and shell, we fighting fast and furious to hold our position hoping for help from the 19th corps, 3,000 against 28,000 at close range. It was a death struggle. We had never been defeated and we counted every shot for victory. For two hours we held them, then our ammunition gave out, the last ball was fired, the enemy was pouring around our flank closing in on our rear, when Gen. Franklin rode quickly along the line and said, "boys you have done all you can, save yourselves if you can," and we started to the rear leaving aur Colonel and eighty-seven brave boys on the field. We had not moved very far back of our line in battle until the rebel cavalry were crossing at right angles commanding us to surrender which many of us did. I want to say right here, it is not a very safe or pleasant place to be in, when you have to stand before a half dozen cocked carbines in the hands of drunken rebels, with muzzles pointed straight at you and not four feet distant, such was the sad experience of many of us before we got off this field of carnage. We were ordered to pass back in- to the rebel lines by our captors, while they went for Bank's cracker wagons and began filling up their haver- sacks, and we, well we made a run for liberty and won. No man can picture such a scene as was enacted on that bloody field on the 8th day of April 1864, picture to your- self a field covered with dead and wounded of both armies, Yanks a foot, on horseback and on mules, rebel in- fantry, and cavalry, teamsters, negroes, wenches, artillery horses, and mule teams. ambulance teams and drivers, all in a mad rush, our part of it for the rear, and the Johnnies for the cracker wagons, with yells, curses, groans, neigh of horses, rattling chains, bray of mules, roar of cannon and rattle of musketry, then tell me what yon would liken it to; one of the boys who got up just in time to meet the swirl as it came rushing through the pine woods, said it sounded to him like all hell had broke loose and there was no way to stop it, and I have often
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thought he was about right. Our Chaplain, who was al- ways at the front when a battle was on, was caught in the mad rush to the rear and was mounted on Major Myers' mare which did not seem to get over the ground as fast as he wanted her to, and when seen by some of the boys was urging her forward with all of his might, leaning forward in his saddle he seemed to be pushing on the reins to help her along; when joked about it afterwards by one of the boys he said, "Well Israel, the fact of it is, I never felt so far away from my mother in all my life before as I did coming out of that scrape and I was bending all my en- ergies and that of the mare to reach a safe place." Think of it, all this happening to a little band of 4,000 infantry and a handful of jaded, worn out cavalry in the broad sun- light, with 16,000 good men but eight miles away and A. J. Smith's 10,000 western boys at Pleasant Hill but fifteen miles away, with no reason under heaven why they could not have been up to our support, then it would have been an easy victory instead of a disgraceful defeat, it makes ones blood boil to this day to think of it. But two miles back we met the 19th corps, and night coming on the reb- els stopped the pursuit and the army fell back to Pleasant Hill and began preparations for another bout with the. now victorious foe. The lines were formed and the trains (what the rebs had not captured) were sent to the rear toward Grand Ecore, accompanied by the 3d and 4th divisions of the 13th corps, now reduced to but a handful, as guards. We were now in for another days march, and had not slept for thirty-six hours, in the meantime the roar of cannon and rattle of musketry around Pleasant Hill, gave notice of hard fighting, the Johnnies flushed with victory, came on pouring out of the timber into the open field to be met by Smith's brave boys, and the 19th corps with masked batteries and what they had counted on as sure victory, proved to be a repulse of their whole command with great slaughter and a recapture of our train and bat- teries lost the day before, and had Banks turned his whole army about and followed up this victory the result to the rebels would have proved doubly disastrous. Shreeveport would have been captured and the expedition a success; but no, a retreat in the face of victory was ordered and all
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night long tired, sleepy and hungry we plodded along sleeping as we marched, the night was intensely dark, the road wound around through a dense pine forest and in or- der to light the way fires were built with pine knots light- ing the dark recesses of the forest causing a grand and wierd appearance to the scenery about us, rebel cavalry were skirting our flanks keeping us ever on the lookont for a charge, thus one of the darkest and saddest nights in the regiment history was passed. At 2 o'clock that day we went into camp fifteen miles from Grand Ecore. the next morning we continued the march to the river taking position on the Natchitoches road in front of Grand Ecore and began the erection of defensive works expecting an attack of the enemy, who it was reported were advancing in force having been reinforced by Price from Arkansas. Here we had time for a review of the past four days and a thought for the gallant Colonel and more than eighty comrades left on the field of battle. We had marched fifty- five miles, fought one hard battle and many smaller ones in the past forty-eight hours without a moment to sleep or an hour to prepare coffee or a warm meal, our hard tack was full of worms, and had to be eaten in the darkness where they could not be seen. Our comrades lay dead or wounded on the field of battle we knew not their fate. Our eyes were heavy for want of sleep, our bodies weary for want of rest, our stomachs empty for want of palatable grub to eat, and our hearts sad because of the fate of our comrades, our indignation and utter contempt for those who were responsible for a condition of affairs that common prudence could have averted was beyond ex- pression, our condition was deplorably sad. It was one of the misfortunes of war and we accepted it with as good grace as possible and prepared for duties yet to devolve upon us.
Our transports had passed up the river and had got luto some trouble which necessitated a delay of some ten days in our movements. The rebels being advised of our in- tended retreat marched by us here and took position in our front ready to oppose our advance. down the river. On the 23d our transports and gunboats having returned we got in line at 5 p. m. ready to move, but owing to some
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hitch in the movements of our trains we did not get started until daylight next morning, we marched all day and night halting at 2 o'clock a. m. for a couple of hours then moved forward again until we approached Cane river, here we found the festive rebel Gen. Bee had pre- ceeded us and had planted batteries on the high hills com- manding the approach to the bridge and had thrown up breast-works and intrenched his command in a strong position, disputing our passage over the bridge, thus checking our advance, while Diek Taylor pressed Smith on our rear thus placing us between two fires.
Trains were halted and the brigade left to hold our side of the river, batteries planted to shell the rebel line and we quietly waded the river waist deep above the confederates and madea sneak to the rear and before Bee had time to realize what had happened, we were mercilously plug- ping them in the rear. It was a short sharp and bloody encounter resulting in a defeat to the busy Bee and his division, and a heavy loss in men and guns. Had we been familiar with the lay of the ground, we would have cap- tured his whole force, as it was they got out by the skin of their teeth. While we were thus engaged Gen. A. J. Smith and his two divisions were hotly engaged with Dick Taylor gaining a decided advantage repulsing him with considerable loss. Here we prepared for a nights rest, but were soon called out in support of the cavalry, who had overtaken the retreating rebs. By the time we arrived the fight was over, and we returned, built up fires and dried our wet clothes, made coffee, cooked pig and made a com- fortable night of it after the hardships of the days passed.
In the early morning we were awakened by the cannon's sullen roar in our rear where Smith and Taylor were hav- ing a breakfast spell.
From this point begins the negro exodus. They were watching for our return, and had all their scanty belong- ings ready packed, and when the columns began to move the darker column began to augment. They came from all directions at all times of the day and night, all sizes, ages and conditions, from the old man whose hair was white as wool to the child born the day before, from the little bead eyed kid to the old aunty, whose size and weight would
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seem to bar the possibility of her ever keeping pace with the army. Here you would see a family of eight, the hus- band with a bundle on his back topped out with a kinky headed boy, the wife with her bundle and a child at breast leading another, while trudging along by her side were the balance, each carrying some article. One old man so weak from old age he could scarcely get up when down, was found in the ranks, when askad how old he was, he said, "Fore God Massa mos two hunred I guess." Well where are you going? "Ise goin wid you'ns all massa, I wants to die a free man, de good Lawd he took car of me, he will," and while our columns kept the road, two lines of dusky travellers four deep kept pace with us on either side, hundreds, thousands, fleeing from slavery's chain, poor, ignorant, homeless creatures, how we pitied them, none could blame, who boasted such a thing as a heart within his anatomy.
Our sufferings were great as we toiled over the hills and vales of this south land, we often thought, these poor wretches suffered ten fold more than we in the weary days and nights that followed, before they reached a place where the government could care for them.
From the battle field at Cane River, we took a road that lead through a pine forest for twelve miles, then merged out of the timber to Kappidise Bayou and Red River, here we halted at midnight and lay down to rest without supper, resuming the march in the morning we reached Alexandria, and that day went into camp. We now felt we were well on our way back towards New Or- leans and our mail from home.
Here we were met by the paymaster and paid that mu- nificent sum there has always been so much kicking about 16 dollars a month, for which we went out to battle. Well, we were glad to get it and were not long in spending it for such things as we sorely stood in need of.
But our rest was short. On April 30th the regiment was thrown out two miles as guards, and were not long in kicking up a fight. which at one time threatened to be- come general and engage the whole army. On the next day we were ordered out with two days rations, other troops following. Afteran advance of about two miles
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we stired up the confederates again, having a lively bout with them, fell back to avoid bringing on a general fight, the confederates following us up.
Early the following morning, while our coffee was boil- ing on our rail fires, the impudent whelps opened on us with a battery of six pound guns, scattering our fires, spilling our coffee, and filling our eyes with dirt. The at- mosphere took on something of a sulphurous hue about this time.
There were a few, not loud but deep, cuss words strung out in sections, guns were shouldered and the fun began. The 28th regiment were thrown in front and the advance began. We moved steadily forward, followed by other troops, engaging the enemy in a very heavy skirmish early in the morning. In order to give some understanding of the nature and extent of this continuous battle, I want to say that the country over which it was fought was a level bottom between the Red River and a bayou and the swamp on the south, which was heavily timbered. The bottom was crossed by strips of timber, occassionally a nar- row bayou, and open fields enclosed by Rose hedges.
The enemy would plant his batteries behind one of these bayous or in a strip of timber and await our approach and as we advanced pour into the ranks shot and shell; yet the line would move steadily on until we came in close range, then we would go for them with the bayonet, they would limber up their guns and fall back in quick time to another bayou or strip of timber and begin the same tactics. To show something of the excitement attending these advances, I will tell of some things that happened which came under personal observation. We had advanced into an open field and had halted when the rebs sent a 6 pound ball through the ranks of Company "B", passing be- tween two of the boys catching the haversack of one and cartridge box of another sent them whirling round and round and deposited them across a corn row, sick from the exercise. About this time a big German in Company "G" was hit by a minne ball in the heel of his big flat shoe and his feet were carried from under him with such force it nearly broke him in two, how he swore at the "domed younies." Our Colonel riding along on his spirited buck
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skin horse had a shell burst directly under him causing the horse to leap up into the air like he had wings. One of our Generals thought to stop awhile by the side of a cabin with the chimney built of sticks and mortar, when a ball from the battery took off the top four rows of sticks dropping them over his head like a collar.
Four skirmishers thought to shield themselves behind a dry log laying parallel with our lines when a solid shot struck it, bounding it up until the boys could see through under it, these with a hundred other exciting incidents went to make up a day's battle under peculiar circum- stances. The regiment started out mad, and everything tended to increase their madness. After coolly marching up within fighting distance through shot and shell, and when just ready to begin our work to have them run like cowards was too much for the boys, and they would in- dulge in some very profane talk and give the rebs a few volleys as they ran. Along in the afternoon the confed- erates fell back behind a bayou about 20 yards wide and ten feet deep, in the bottom of which there was perhaps a foot of water and four feet of mud, they then took rails and made crossings every 20 or 30 feet, and crossing over advanced to a hedge towards which we were march- ing and began whacking away at our advancing columns, thinking when we got too close they would fall back and cross on their rails, mount their horses and retreat as be- fore; but it did not work so well this time: the old 3d division had its blood up and were moving rapidly forward and at the first rush of smoke from that hedge made a rush for the rebs they were not anticipating, broke over the hedge and gave chase, gaining every jump on the now thoroughly scared Johnnies, pressing them so close their artillery could not fire on us without first hitting their own men and becoming alarmed at our near approach lim- bered up and flew to the rear, followed by shells from the' batteries.
We pressed these fleeing rebs so close that they did not. have time to cross on the rails and would sail off the bank into the mud, then scramble for the dry land. Our fel- lows followed so close some of them crossed over and pulled the rebs off their horses before they got fairly in-
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to the saddle. We fired at and yelled after those that got away as long as we could see a bunch of long hair flying in the wind. After the chase we advanced some distance further up the valley, but the confederates had crossed the swamp and taken to the woods. Here our pickets shot and killed a rebel major, one of Gen. Bee's aids de camp who was creeping onto the line with the purpose of shooting a yank.
This ended the day's excitment and wereturned to mid- dle Bayou, having fought all day driving the rebs fifteen miles, chasing and charging them from early morn to late in the day. Gen. Green in speaking of the regiments action in this day's work, said, its fortitude and coolness called out the praises of the whole division. We were fighting and skirmishing all the time we were here, which was nearly two weeks.
When our gunboats and transports passed up the Red River, it was an easy matter for them to pass over the rapids near Alexandria, but on their return it was found the river had fallen so the gunboats could not pass, and it became necessary to build a dam on either side out into the stream so as to increase the stage of water in the chan- nel between to a sufficient depth to float them over the rapids. It took about two weeks to accomplish this and when donc and the gunboats safely passed, we, on the 13th of May, began our march toward Atchafalaya.
Our corps marched in line by the side of the trains. The 19th corps in front while A. J. Smith's division brought up the rear. The enemy were hanging on our flanks day and night, occasionally pitching into Smith's rear guard causing him to have to stop and fight. When near Mansura, or Darkville, the enemy formed in our front and planted batteries opposing the advance. Our trains were lined up, lines formed for battle and an ad- vance began. The confederates had formed a line across a prairie eight miles square with their batteries lined across behind their troops, back of these were their trains. We began driving them back on the west side, advancing our batteries in the same order, infantry following and trains in a parallel line so in advancing we could have a full view of the whole confederate army as they fell back
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and our lines as they advanced.
It was an imposing sight. We pressed them back across this field keeping up a steady cannonade. We advancing and they fighting and falling back until the enemy reach- ed the woods, when they drew off on a road leading back around to our rear leaving us to pursue our way. On reach- ing Atchafalaya, Gen. Smith bringing up the rear, had a spirited engagment whereby the confederates lost some two hundred men, which ended the troubles of the mem- orable Red River expedition under Banks that will go down in history as one made up of a series of mistakes and blunders on the part of the one in command that were almost criminal. The record made by the 28th was: one the regiment as well as the state from which it came may well be proud. Every man was in his place. Every service required of them was faithfully performed.
Whenever there was a fight they were in it. If it was a charge to be made they never faltered. They went out to fight.
From Atchafalaya Bayou we marched to Morganzie Bend on the banks of the Mississippi and went into camp. Here we were met by numerous sutlers with large in- voices of goods, groceries, bottled liquor and canned stuff of all descriptions. These sharks had been robbing the boys in times past to such an extent that they did not hold them in very high esteem, so they began to plan for a charge.
The word was passed around at 7 o'clock p. m., a rush was to be made and the shops looted. At sharp 7 o'clock the fun began and in less than five minutes, we had taken the canvas fort and all its contents, most of which was going into a corn field in the rear of the camp. Sutlers did not bother us any more. It was some days before we had eaten and drank all the good things these hooked nosed gentlemen brought us. They left us wiser than they came, and with a lighter purse than they had intend- ed.
Occasionally some enterprising skunk would play a joke on the boys that caused us no end of fun. One day one of the boys found a case of canned beef up the river some distance, he opened a box and fonnd it spoiled, he could
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not eat it, but knowing the boy's love for canned goods, concluded he could sell every can if he worked it right, so he got two logs and some boards together, built him a raft, loaded on his case of beef and put out into the river, sailing his craft up to the bank near the regiment, he yelled out, "canned beef 50 cents per can" and the boys bit, buying every can before' anyone thought to examine it, then he laughed and walked off with his shin plast ers leaving the boys who purchased spoiled beef to howl.
One morning right early as a squad of us were laying on top of the Levee on picket, where the road made a sharp turn around an angle, we heard some one out in front shouting like a backwoods preacher at a camp meeting and wondered what in the world it could mean. We lay and watched and listened, soon we saw a young cavalry Lientenant of a New York regiment emerging from the woods, the reins of his bridle thrown down on his charg- ers neck, his head thrown back and his arms pawing the air. We wondered if the fellow was crazy. He was not, he was making a speech all by himself, soon he came close enough for us to hear and this is what he said, "You may call me a democrat, you may call me a copperhead, or you may call me a republican or what not, it makes no difference to me what you call me, one thing is damn sure I stand for the Union," and we all said, "bully for you old man". Well, if you could have seen that fellow grab his bridle, spur his horse and git, you would have laughed as we did, we scared the speech all out of him and I warrant, when he got home on his furlough and was called on for his speech, he could not think of a word of it, and the girl he left behind him never knew what an orator he had been.
We remained here at Morganzie Bend until the 13th of June, when we embarked on board boats for New Orleans again, arriving there buoyant and hopeful.
A few days thereafter Col. Connell, who had lost an arm and was made prisoner the 8th of April, at Sabine Cross Roads, returned to the regiment bringing the first news we had had of our boys left on that fated field.
On the 20th we marched up the river to the little town of Kennerville, where we felt assured we would be per-
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mitted to rest for some time and recuperate, but not so. Dick Taylor was reported as moving on Brashier. A boat was sent up and we were taken to Algiers again, and again boarded the same old flat cars and were set down at Thibadeauxville, June 28th. Here we gave the people of this benighted land an old fashionod fourth of July cele- bration, something new to them. One old fellow said he had lived there fourteen years and had never seen a cele- bration before.
While here we were regaled with water melons as large as a bushel basket, brought in by the colored men by boat loads on the bayou that ran past the town. Water mel- ons grow to perfection in this climate, so did the festive gallinipper and bellowing alligators. This country also produced some very rank and sancy secessionists of the female gender, whose tongues were as long and as sharp as some that grew north of Mason and Dixon's line. This we had occasion to find out in our perambulations about that Frenchy village.
On July 6th, we returned to Algiers to await transpor- tation to some new field of action. Speculation was rife among the boys as to "what next." Some said we were to go to Texas, to round that state up, others said they wanted us in Mexico. Every one had a guess, but none knew our destination, only that we were to take ship. We wrote letters to our friends in the North that we were going to some unknown destination, of which they would learn later. On the 21st, orders came to draw 15 days rations, strike tents, pack all our belongings and board the steamship "Arago." All day we worked loading up, and at eventide two thousand men marched aboard ready to try the great deep on shipboard.
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PART TWO
On to Washington. An Ocean Voyage. We crossed the Potomac, joined Sheridan in the Shenan- doah Valley-Winchester-Fisher's Ilill and Cedar Creek.
On the 22d day of July the prow of the Arago was turned south and with a silent farewell to our dark eyed French and Spanish girls, we fioated down to the mouth of the Father of Waters. Again rumors began to go the rounds and guessing as to our destination, was in- dulged in by many, Pensacola, Key West, Mobile, Galvas- ton, Brownsville and the Potomac were points named. About 11 o'clock in the forenoon, we struck a bar and were fast aground. Here we remained until noon the next day, when lighters came to our assistance, the troops removed and the ponderous old vessel once more floated.
The troops were again put aboard, pilot dropped and the ships' nose pointed out into the blue waters of the Gulf Sealed orders were opened by Gen. Grover and our desti- nation announced to be the Potomac, on this announce- ment one fellow in his exuberant joy, yelled, "Glory to God, I am going to get one more drink of good old cold spring water before I die", and another fellow said, "hold on Jim, the Georgia is in these waters, she may shoot a hole in our vessel and sink us, then by thunder we'll take salt water" said Jim. Anything would be preferable to the rotton, dirty, stinking, dead, oozy slime that has been splashed and mixed by frogs, snakes and alligators, for the past hundred years and dished up to us as water.
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