USA > Iowa > Clayton County > Strawberry Point > Address to the surviving members of the Twenty-first Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, on occasion of their fourth reunion, at Strawberry Point, Iowa, September 3d, 1889 > Part 2
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 (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
Port Gibson, by the nearest practicable roads, was from 15 to 20 miles away. The brigade started on its mission, the 11th Wisconsin in the lead. At 5 o'clock it halted for rest and lunch, after which on resuming the march the 21st Iowa was placed in front; the two skirmishing companies in the van under Lieut. Col. Dunlap, then one howitzer from Griffith's
1
14
AFTER SUNSET.
battery supported by two companies under Major Van Anda, , and followed by the remainder of the regiment and brigade. Anticipating an early contact with the enemy a skirmishing line was thrown out. The ground was very rough, and the obstructions difficult to overcome, consisting of brush, stumps, thistles, fallen trees, blackberry bushes and canebrake in immense quantities. The men being weighed down with ammunition, rations, knapsack, gun and blanket, the pace was necessarily slow. It became so dark they could only see a few yards before them, and were fast becoming exhausted. This would not do. There was a hasty conference of superior officers. The skirmishing line was withdrawn, and a call made upon companies A and B to furnish 16 men for advance guard. This guard was sent forward in charge of an officer whose instructions were to drop a group of four men about 400 yards ahead of the marching column, four men at 800 yards, four men at 1,200 yards, and taking the remaining four still further proceed without halting on the main road to Port Gibson until they met the enemy and were fired upon. The march was
resumed and continued in that order without further change. It was seven o'clock and dark. When all was ready the column moved onwards steadily, almost silently, hour after hour. Every man was looking into the darkness ahead, with ears alert, and nerves strung to the utmost tension. Every man felt that before morning he might be grappling with an overwhelming enemy for his life. Every man knew that the rebel General Bowen had from 7 to 10,000 men and that he would concen- trate all he could to bar our way. He also knew that the second brigade of 2,300 men only, was certainly with him. He did not know how many had landed since he left Bruins- burg, or what failures, disasters or complications had taken place in going back and forth that ten miles up the river. He did not know if he were attacked by overwhelming num- bers, how long it would take for assistance to reach him. He did not know one step of the way he was going until he came to it. What was before him in the darkness he knew not, what pitfall, what ambush, what masked battery, what yawning pit, or engine of death or mutilation. But he did know that his alert and active enemy knew all about him. Knew how many landed at Bruinsburg, and when, what roads were taken, and that hostile eyes on every hand saw every movement, and that fleet horses were constantly flying with intelligence.
WARRENTON.
LA C
B
RIVE
HARD TIMES
GRAND GULF.
Rocky Spring Road
NORTH
ORK.
PIERRE
IMPORT GIBSON.
SOUTH
BRUINSBURG
prou houpod
Natoher Road
Natchez Road.
E 1st Mo & part of Green's Brig
B. Winkler's Bluff.
P First line of Battle
C. Heavy Batteries.
C. Second line of Battle.
D. 2nd. Mo Regiment.
-
FORK
Ravine .
2
A. Thompson's Hill.
-
PORT GIBSON.
16
FINDING AN ENEMY.
Bowen telegraphed from Grand Gulf that April day to Pemberton at Jackson:
" The boats have moved down the river. I will fight them the other side of Port Gibson."
And again:
" Three thousand federals are at Bethel Church 10 miles from Port Gibson and advancing."
And Pemberton, in Jackson, was despatching orders right and left for men to go to Bowen's assistance. Stevenson was to take 5,000 from Vicksburg, Major Gen. Loring, his division, and Bowen was concentrating all he could, for he was a brave and active officer who knew his duty well and did it. Every man of that marching force knew that all this was going on, that it must be going on, but faltered not. On, and on, and on, the monotonous continual tramp. Occasionally the advance guard would stop a moment and listen to ascertain if the column was still within hearing, and the lumbering cannon lurching heavily into ruts or crushing with remorseless wheel the road- side bowlder, gave back the answer, and on, and on, down into valleys, winding through ravines, feeling for the road through dense woods, over streams, up the hill, in the narrow country road, with rail fence on either side, until at one o'clock in the morning those men in front met the enemy and were fired upon. In as short a time as possible a skirmishing line was again thrown out, deployed on each side of the road and - advanced at a fast pace. Soon flashes of light came from the enemies skirmishers, and flashes of light answered back from ours like fire flies in the night. On went the skirmishers after the retreating foe, and on went the column in the highway almost at their heels. The enemy continued to retreat and your skirmishers were in hot pursuit, when ascending a piece of rising ground hard by Magnolia Church the flame of mus- ketry and cannon flashed in their faces. The battery was not fifty yards away. Let others now tell the story.
Brig. Genl. Green, who was in command of the rebels, reported:
" About 12.30 o'clock the pickets were driven in by the enemy. Soon the skirmishers of the enemy and mine became engaged, and in a few moments a six gun battery of the enemy opened upon us, to which the Hudson battery replied, the enemy still continuing to advance slowly. At times the musketry was very warm, extending the whole length of our line.
17
THE MIDNIGHT ATTACK.
The Hudson battery, though in a very warm place, succeeded in driving the enemy's battery from its position. This, however, was soon replaced by another, which opened upon us with great fury. Our battery replied with signal success, though the enemy's shells and balls fell thick around them, wounding many; yet they stood by their guns and kept up a regu- lar fire. After three hours hard fighting, the enemy ceased firing and withdrew a short distance, we still holding our position."
Col. Stone of 22d Iowa, afterwards Governor, but then commanding our brigade, reported as follows:
* * *
."The road over which we marched passed through a country much broken by gorges and ravines, and thickly covered with tall timber, under- brush and cane, so peculiar to the southern country. We then moved forward in column in the previous order, and as our skirmishers reached the head of the lane in front of Magnolia Church they received a tremen- dous volley of musketry from the enemy strongly posted on the right and left of the church. I again formed the advance companies in line, and sent an order back for the entire brigade to move forward into line. The advance howitzer was placed in position in the lane, but while these dis- positions were being made, the enemy opened a battery upon us at short range, throwing their shell all around us. Finding myself in the face of the enemy, in a position carefully selected, with a perfect knowledge of the ground, I concluded at once that we had reached the place where the battle of the night was to be fought. The infantry were formed in line. and the batteries ordered in position on the ridge in rear of our advance. In the meantime the howitzer in the lane, commanded by Sergt. Wm. R. Leibert, was replying to the rebel battery with great spirit and apparent accuracy. Soon our entire battery opened upon the enemy in conjunction with Capt. Klauss' first Indiana, and continued to return the enemy's fire with great rapidity until 2 o'clock in the morning, when the enemy's bat- teries were driven from the field and silenced, and our men lay down upon their arms to await the coming dawn, when they were to meet the rebel infantry face to face in bloody combat.
This artillery duel was one long to be remembered by those who witnessed it. The fire of the rebel batteries, on account of their knowledge of the ground, was quite accurate, and many of our men and horses were disabled by them. The extreme darkness, the screaming and bursting of shells, and the rattle of grape through fences and timber, conspired to ren- der the scene presented by this midnight battle one of the most terrific grandeur."
General Grant, says of the battle next day: *
"The fighting continued all day, and until after dark, over the most broken country I ever saw. The whole country is a series of irregu- lar ridges, divided by deep and impassable ravines, grown up with heavy timber, undergrowth and cane. It was impossible to engage any consider- able portion of our forces at any one time. The enemy were driven how- ever, from point to point toward Port Gibson, until night closed in, under which, it was evident to me, they intended to retreat."
1
*
Batte
$ 2nd, Ohio
16 th, Ohio.
Co.A, 2nd. Fils
1st. Mo.
PART OF THE BATTLE-GROUND.
19
"OLD BOB."
General Carr, our Division Commander, says also of the second day:
" After the enemy took up his new position, the second brigade was very severely engaged on the left of our line for a long time, and behaved with distinguished gallantry. It subsequently took up a position across the valley in the timber, very near the enemy, where two regiments, the 21st and 23rd Iowa, remained until after dark."
The next morning the enemy had disappeared and the army took up its line of march in pursuit.
Such was the contribution of the 21st Iowa to the first engagement of that campaign which dealt such a great stag- gering blow to the slave power.
Let it never be forgotten that on that fateful night the advance guard was guided on its way by "Old Bob," a gray headed slave, who knew not his own age. Well, he knew that if caught in that company by the rebel force and made pris- oner, for him no doom would be too swift, no death too cruel. But he never wavered. Steadily he marched, almost in silence, answering only to questions, "no, marster," "yes, marster." Steadily he marched, for he went to " wake Nicodemus the slave, who was bought for a bag full of gold"-he carried in his bosom the manumission papers of his children, and in his hand the key which should unlock the prison doors of his race. "Old Bob" remained with me for one full year, learning the habits and thoughts of liberty in the camps of the 21st Iowa. When at last he returned to Vicksburg to his wife and family the word " marster" had dropped from his speech, for both he and they were freemen.
I have now sketched at greater length than I intended the incidents of two of the engagements illustrating soldierly quali- ties to which I invited your attention. I now proceed to the third, which, though lacking the element of long continued constancy and fortitude under most difficult circumstances, possessed that of the instant and determined exertion of will and courage in the face of imminent deadly peril under circum- stances so extreme in character as might well have deterred the stoutest hearts. This test was met in so forceful a manner and with such absolute success, as to cause the achievement to be regarded at the time, and will cause it always to be regarded, as one of the most brilliant in that wonderful and brilliant campaign.
The charge on the fortifications at Big Black River Bridge was made on works thrown up by Lieut. General Pemberton
1
20
THE RAILROAD CROSSING.
to protect the railroad crossing of the river, and which were on such scale as to be in the mind of that officer capable of withstanding the whole of Grant's army. He commanded in person, and his only fear was that he might be flanked by way of Bridgeport on the north or Baldwin's Ferry on the south, and thus compelled to retire on Vicksburg. He does not seem to have had the least apprehension that the works themselves could be carried by assault. He describes the position, as follows:
" The Big Black River, where it is crossed by the railroad bridge, makes a bend somewhat in the shape of a horseshoe. Across this horseshoe, at its narrowest part, a line of rifle pits had been constructed, making an excellent cover for infantry, and at proper intervals dispositions were made for field artillery. The line of pits ran nearly north and south, and was about one mile in length. North of and for a considerable distance south of the railroad and of the dirt road to Edwards Depot, nearly par- allel with it, extended a bayou, which in itself opposed a serious obstacle to an assault upon the pits. This line abutted north on the river and south upon a cypress-brake, which spread itself nearly to the bank of the river."
Jefferson Davis, who was and is a citizen of Mississippi, and perfectly familiar with the location, says in his history of " The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government:"
"The topographical features of the position at the railroad bridge across the Big Black, were such as, with the artificial strength given to it, made it quite feasible to defend it against a direct approach even of an army as much superior in numbers to that of Pemberton as was that of Grant."
Genl. Grant, described the position, as follows:
"The enemy was found strongly posted on both sides of the Black River. At this point on Black River the bluffs extend to the water's edge on the west bank; on the east side is an open cultivated bottom of nearly one mile in width, surrounded by a bayou of stagnant water from two to three feet in depth and from 10 to 20 feet in width from the river above the railroad to the river below. Following the inside line of this bayou, the enemy had constructed rifle pits with the bayou to serve as a ditch on the outside and immediately in front of them. Carr's division occupied the right in investing this place, and Lawler's brigade the right of his division."
Dana, assistant secretary of war, writing to Stanton, says:
"On the 17th, advancing to the Big Black, we found Pemberton." "He fought in rifle pits protected by a difficult bayou full of abatis."
These works were defended according to Pemberton's re- port, as follows:
21
A FRONT VIEW.
"Our line was manned on the right by the gallant Cockrell's Mis- souri brigade, the extreme left by Brigadier-General Green's Missouri and Arkansas men, both of Bowen's Division, and the center by Brigadier- General Vaughn's Brigade of east Tennesseeans, in all about four thous- and men, as many as could be advantageously employed in defending the line, with about 20 pieces of field artillery. So strong was the position that my greatest, almost only apprehension was a flank movement by Bridgeport or Baldwin's Ferry, which would have endangered my communi- cation with Vicksburg."
Facing this position were three divisions of the 13th army corps in line of battle, Carr's on the right, Osterhaus in the center and Smith on the left. Artillery firing was kept up for some time on both sides, until Gen. Carr or Lawler conceived the idea of sending part of Lawler's brigade, under protection of the river bank, as far as possible to the right, and making a charge from there. This duty was assigned to the 23rd and 2Ist Iowa regiments to be supported by the uth Wis. and 22d Iowa. The movement under the bank was made, the left of the 23rd resting very near to the enemy's flanking pits, but entirely concealed from them. The 2Ist took position near them. In front of us was a thin belt of timber on the bank, then an open field in full view of the enemy and completely covered by the rifle pits and artillery. The whole commanded by the batteries on the high ground east of the river. Then across the field was the bayou or ditch, filled with fallen trees or abatis, with the branches pointing toward us. Then came the rifle pits themselves full of confederates. In addition to the rifle pits and artillery in front, there was another line of rifle pits almost at right angles to the other, enabling the defenders to sweep the field in two directions, the lines of fire crossing each other almost at right angles. This was the situation and the direful moment had come. The command was quietly passed along the line to fix bayonets, and as quietly obeyed. It had origi- nally been intended that we should from that position ascend the bank and form under protection of the timber for the charge. The regiment was faced to the left in column of fours. It began to toil up the steep bank, but as the head of the col- umn appeared above the bank it was met by a storm of shot. The movement in that order would have been impossible, and Colonel Merrill, seeing the difficulty, immediately shouted the order:
" By the left flank, charge."
And the silent river overflowed its banks and poured a
22
' THE CHARGE."
flood of living men upon the plain-living, yelling, screaming madmen-onwards they rushed, regimental and company organi- zations immediately broken up-the fastest runners ahead. Too late now to stop them or issue orders-as well try to stop the whirlwind or the cyclone-they could not stop, for the hurricane of shot and shell was upon them, and terrific volleys of musketry front and flank. Hissing came the balls from the flank; hissing from the front; Colonels Merrill and Kinsman both went down, also Howard, Adjutant of the 2Ist; Kinsman killed, Howard mortally wounded. Their regi- ments swept by them-to stop one instant would be to die, and so onward they rushed, yelling, screaming madmen, wild with excitement, and shaking the gleaming bayonet. We have heard much said of the rebel yell, but surely no yell could create more dismay than that which burst from those Iowa troops on that beautiful May morning. Men fell every where, checked in mad career and stung to death or grievous wounds by sting- ing bees of lead. Onwards they swept-the bayou was reached -- the bayou was passed. Leaping from tree to tree, from branch to to branch, through mud and water, none knew how, but the bayou was passed. Without waiting for actual crossing of bayonets the rebels rose, almost en masse, from the rifle pits and fled for the bridges, those who remained holding up bunches of cotton on their guns in token of surrender. The charge was over. It had lasted about three minutes. Of the two leading regiments 184 men were hit, 26 being killed outright. Of these more than half were from the 23rd Iowa, which under the gallant Col. Kinsman, who was killed, had preceded us in the rush by a few seconds, and was nearest the enfilading trenches. The 11th Wisconsin followed in support, but owing to its position suffered less severely. The 22d Iowa at the same time made a flank movement on the extreme left of the enemy's line, and a general advance of all the troops followed the successful charge.
The trophies of the engagement were 18 pieces of artillery, 175I prisoners and several thousand stand of arms. The ground at the edge of the stream was covered with guns and accoutre- ments, and clothing of every description was thrown away by the fugitives. The main body of the rebels made good their escape across the bridges, setting them on fire as they passed over.
Of this action General Pemberton reports:
"Early on the morning of the 17th the enemy opened its artillery at long range. and very soon pressed forward with infantry into the copse of wood north of the railroad. About the same time he opened on Colonel
<
Gen! Carrs H.Q.
atter
Chicagos
Merchantile.
Battery
C ASR RIS:
Benton's
Brigade
Brigade
Lacyter's
position
Woods
Reserve (Skirmishers)
339 IUg.a.d
SIMIL
BOURG
2 Fosters 20 pds.
K S
.22 łowa
23Towa 21 lowa
Cultivated Field
CONFEDERATE
River
Stickade!
R.R. BRIDG
Stockade
Big
Black
BIG BLACK RIVER BRIDGE.
North Half of Confederate Works. From WAR DEPARTMENT MAP. Changed to Correct Errors in Location of Troops.
Peoria Ballery
ampy
Confederate Works
24
A HARSH JUDGMENT.
Cockrell's position with two batteries, and advanced a line of skirmishers, throwing forward a column of infantry, which was quickly driven back by our batteries. Pretty heavy skirmishing was for a while kept up along our whole line, but presently the enemy, who had massed a large force in the woods immediately north of the railroad, advanced at a run with loud cheers. Our troops in their front did not remain to receive them, but broke and fled precipitately. One portion of the line being broken, it very soon became a matter of sauve qui peut. I shall only add with reference to the affair of Big Black, that a strong position, with an ample force of infantry and artillery to hold it, was shamefully abandoned almost without resistance. The troops occupying the center did not do their duty. With an almost impassable bayou between themselves and the enemy, they fled before the enemy had reached that obstacle."
I contend that this is an unjust censure upon brave troops, and an unworthy attempt to shift responsibility for failure upon others. Pemberton was in command and made many mistakes, not the least of which was the construction of a tete de pont on the east side of the river at this crossing. His troops were placed in a pocket where if defeated, capture or destruction probably awaited them. The crossing should have been defended from the heights on the west side of the river. In the condition of his army he could not afford to risk the loss of so much material. In the blue sky above us shines a brilliant host. If drawn together in close array the stars would form a thin line not exceeding eight thou- sand seen by unaided human eyes, yet, scattered over the firmament at unequal distances, if ordinary observers were told they numbered one hundred thousand, few would doubt the statement. This principle holds good in a bayonet charge. I, doubt if anything in war can be more appalling. Those 1,200 or 1,500 men standing quietly in line under the river bank were comparatively an un- impressive body, but scattered at unequal distances in the charge, yelling and screaming, they doubtless appeared to the men in the rifle pits as fully ten thousand. And ten thousand frenzied man- iacs with naked blades in hand will only occasionally be waited for by two thousand or even by four thousand sane men, who have only one avenue of escape. These troops and especially the men of Bowen's Division were noted for stubborn fighting, both before and after this event, and Pemberton's cruel words were a poor recompense for their devotion to the cause of the Confederacy.
Col. Elijah Gates, Commander of second brigade, Bowen's division, who commanded in the enfilading pits, reports:
"They, the enemy, formed their men on the river in the timber, where we could not see them. They brought their men out by the right flank in column of fours, about 140 yards in front of my regiment, at a double-
25
LIEUT. COL. DUNLAP.
quick. I then opened a most terrific fire upon them and kept it up until the brigade had passed out of my sight behind a grove of timber immed- iately upon my right.
General Grant, who was present and witnessed the charge, reports officially :
" After a few hours skirmishing, Lawler discovered that by moving a portion of his brigade under cover of the river banks he could get a position from which that place could be successfully assaulted, and ordered a charge accordingly. Notwithstanding the level ground over which a portion of his troops had to pass without cover, and the great obstacle of the ditch in front of the enemy's works, the charge was gallantly and suc- cessfully made, and in a few minutes the entire garrison, with 17 pieces of artillery, were the trophies of this brilliant and daring movement." (Afterwards corrected to 1751 prisoners.)
Dana, writing Stanton, says :
"Lawler's brigade, of McClernand's corps, charged the rifle pits magnificently, and took more prisoners than their own numbers. Pember- ton burned his bridge, and returned to Vicksburg with only three cannons out of sixty that he had taken out."
Our own Lieut. Col. Dunlap, was not in the charge, being wounded at Port Gibson, but he saw it, and officially reported it, as follows :
" The enemy was strongly posted on our right, as well as in front, the bullets came in showers from the flanks, and, combined with those coming from the horde of rebels in the rifle pits in front made an awful hail storm, through which it seemed a miracle that a single man passed uninjured. Col. Merrill, commanding the regiment in the first part of the charge, with devotion and bravery, fell severely wounded while gallantly leading his regiment against the enemy. The 21st captured a great many prisoners. This brilliant charge proved very destructive to the regiment, and our loss was very heavy."
They were his last words of praise for the regiment in which he indulged to the fullest measure his pride and hope. He had faults which the grave has hidden; he had great qualities which will always be remembered with esteem by those who knew him. In handsome physical presence and military bearing he had few superiors in the 13th Army corps. He was greatly loved and admired as an intrepid soldier and daring leader, and while on many occasions some of us greatly differed with him, few in his presence could resist the fascina- tion of his smile or the charm of his manner. In five days from the charge at Black River Bridge, when again we encountered a hurricane of war, and plunged into that awful storm which beat upon us from the ramparts of Vicksburg, he met the dread angel of death and became his prisoner.
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.