USA > Iowa > Monroe County > An illustrated history of Monroe County, Iowa > Part 11
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In this engagement the Twenty-second Iowa was again called on to support the batteries, and endured a murderous fire from the enemy's guns at short range. The Second Brigade was then ordered to advance and carry the enemy's works by storm. The Twenty-second deployed two of its companies as skirmishers-Company B, Captain Gearkee, and Company H, Captain Shrader. These two companies opened the attack. The brigade could not reach the enemy's works, on account of an intervening impenetrable growth of cane and underbrush, but received and returned their fire until the rebels fled. The next morning, the Union forces followed up the retreating enemy, and, after pursuing them for several days, drove them into Jackson. Colonel Stone now returned to the command of the Twenty-second, having been succeeded in his command of the brigade by General M. K. Lawler.
On May 13th the Second Brigade arrived at Mississippi Springs; having passed through Raymond. At Raymond, General Carr's division waited to hear the result of Sher- man's expedition to Jackson, and the Twenty-second was ordered to remain at this point to guard the train.
When the rebels evacuated Jackson, the Twenty-second took up its line of march for Champion Hills, and en- countered the enemy at Black River Bridge, on the morning of the 17th. General Carr's division led the advance. The rebels were on the Vicksburg side of the river, up on a hill- side. They opened fire on the Union columns before the
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latter had gotten into line of battle. The enemy's pickets were encountered about two miles from the bridge, and the rebels were very strongly fortified behind rifle-pits along the margin of a swamp or bayou.
General Lawler ordered his brigade to charge on these works, and the Twenty-second Iowa, led by Colonel Kins- man, led the van, followed by the Twenty-first Iowa and Eleventh Wisconsin. The Second Brigade dashed across the open plain like a troop of destroying fiends. They drove the enemy from their entrenchments, but their ranks were decimated by the riflemen behind the pits. The enemy broke and fled, and when the brigade leaped into their trenches, the Twenty-second Iowa assaulted their left wing, cutting off the retreat of the enemy before they all could reach the river. A few, however, reached the river and attempted to swim across, but many of the number were drowned, as the stream was running swiftly. As the enemy had burnt the bridge across the river, the Thirteenth Army Corps had to camp on the battle-field.
On the evening of the 18th a pontoon bridge was thrown across the river, above, and the corps took up its march on the Jackson and Vicksburg road for Vicksburg. The enemy fell back into the city, on the approach of Grant's army. On the 19th the Union army reached Vicksburg and all day the batteries on both sides kept up a constant cannonade. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon the Federal infantry made a desperate charge on the works and after a couple of hours of hard skirmishing all were driven back save the Thirteenth Corps, which succeeded in securing an advanced position within 500 yards of the enemy, where a range of hills covered them from the enemy's fire. In this charge, E. B. Judson, of Company H, was struck in the nose by a grape shot, and received a painful wound.
On the night of the 20th the regiment was engaged in throwing up entrenchments for the fight on the next day. The men were so weak from exhaustion and short rations, Alex MeCahan, a corporal of Company D, says, that they could not do as much work as ten-year-old children. The next day was spent in continuous rifle-practice between the two opposing forces, but with little effect.
On the 22d Colonel Stone received an order from General Grant to get his regiment ready to lead the assault to be made on that date. The Twenty-second was ordered
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to cast off everything that would impede their movements, except their guns and accouterments. The regiment was instructed to charge for a position midway between the two lines, and hold it as a rallying-point. It was about midnight when the brigade stole noiselessly over the brow of the hill and then crept cautiously down the ravine, sometimes being obliged to crawl on their hands and knees, owing to obstructions which the enemy had placed there. They finally passed down to the desired position without being discovered by the pickets of the enemy, which were but twenty yards distant. It was now about daylight, and the brigade lay down on the hillside to rest until the assault should be sounded. At 9 o'clock the brigade was formed into battalions with the Twenty-second Iowa in the advance, followed by its two gallant consorts, the Twenty-first Iowa and the Eleventh Wisconsin. Promptly at 10 o'clock Colonel Stone was ordered to advance, and that instant the regimental colors went sweeping over the hill like a fire- brand of death, followed by a thousand bayonets glistening in the morning sun. It was like the columns of the Russians dashing against the walls of Plevna.
The stronghold covered about a half-acre of ground, and the walls were 15 feet high, and surrounded by a ditch 10 feet wide. While hurling his regiment against this fortress, Colonel Stone was wounded, and had to withdraw. Lieutenant-Colonel Graham took command, and with a small force reached the ditch, but could not climb over. Then the rebels began to throw hand-grenades among the assailants. As soon as they would strike the ground they would explode. The boys of the Twenty-second would catch them in their hands as they came over the parapets and toss them back into the rifle-pits of the rebels, to explode-a frightfully realistic game of ball or lawn-tennis.
Hugh Sinclair, of Company D, who died in Monroe County, July 15, 1887, and whose remains now rest in Oak View Cemetery at Albia, was one of the assailing party who got into the fort.
After three or four hours' fighting, the regiment fell back to the shelter of a hill.
The party who got into the fort was led by Sergeant Joseph Griffiths, and consisted of about 15 men, among whom was Sinclair. They climbed the wall by raising one another up the wall. They planted the colors on the ram-
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part of the fort. The attack was a failure, and the Twenty- second Iowa and her two fighting-mates, the Twenty-first Iowa and Eleventh Wisconsin, remained on the field, giving the enemy blow for blow until their ammunition was entirely exhausted.
Grant, seeing that an, assault was useless, began the memorable siege. Day by day his army advanced their rifle-pits, until finally they were up to the walls and the enemy ran up a white flag.
The next morning after the surrender of Vicksburg the entire Union army, save a small garrison, left Vicksburg for Jackson, where the enemy had massed in force. The Twenty-second, when it started away from Vicksburg, did not have more than 150 men fit for duty. While the Twenty- second was marching out of Vicksburg, and while passing Hospital Surgeon White's headquarters, White wheeled a barrel of whisky in front of his quarters and knocked in the head of the barrel. Each man was permitted to take a tin cup full of whisky, and none declined. Some wanted to fill their canteens, but strict orders were given that no canteens should be dipped in. Alex McCahan obeyed the letter of the command, but having a small tin pail with him, he dipped it in and went on his way rejoicing.
When Sherman's forces reached Jackson on the 9th of July, the troops were arranged in line of battle. The Twenty-second was placed on the south side of the Vicks- burg road leading to the city. Company F, commanded by Captain Cree, and Company G, commanded by Sergeant J. K. Duncan, were deployed as skirmishers. The rebel batteries opened with grape and canister, and the infantry had its position in a body of forest near by, from which they opened a heavy fire of musketry. The Federal columns made a dash against the enemy's works, but were hurled back in confusion.
On the 16th the enemy evacuated the city, anticipating the attack which had been planned for the 17th. After Jackson had been taken, the Twenty-second Iowa was em- ployed for a few days in tearing up railway track, and on the 24th of July returned to Vicksburg.
While the army was on its return most of the Twenty- second boys were worn out with hard service. Most of the ambulance horses were pressed into service to draw the artillery, and many soldiers who had in some manner pro-
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cured mules on which to ride were forced by the officers to give them up for use in drawing the artillery. Corporal Alex McCahan, of Company D, had gotten possession of an old mule in some way. McCahan was completely ex- hausted, and had to depend on the mule for transportation. The mule was a large, raw-boned one, but a good traveler. Wmn. Conway, a chum of McCahan's, also secured a little old mule, which was totally worthless. One day, while on the march, the two men ran upon a magnificent double- seated carriage, which was trimmed in frosted silver and upholstered in the richest velvets. They obtained some ropes and improvised a set of harness, and hitching their mules to it, moved along in great state for a few days; finally, however, a heavy gun caisson ran over it, and mashed it into the earth. The drivers once more mounted their steeds and continued the march, until an officer ap- proached Conway and ordered him to dismount, that they might hitch the mule to a gun. Conway was an Irishman, and of course showed fight; the officer pulled him off and took his mule. McCahan, seeing an officer approach him, stopped opposite a large stump, and began to take off his blanket as if he intended turning the mule loose. The officer approached and ordered him to deliver him the mule. McCahan pretended to be very glad to dispose of the mule, saying that it was of no use to him, and that he would be glad if the officer could do anything with it. The officer so far forgot himself as to address McCahan in a respectful tone, and inquired if the animal was good for anything. McCahan replied that it was of no use to himself, and, while seemingly in the act of removing the rope bridle, said the officer could have him, accompanying the tender with an affected, sardonic grin. The officer, supposing the mule was worn out, then rode off without saying another word. When out of sight, McCahan slowly climbed on the mule's back and galloped off to a thicket, and followed the train at some distance, so he would not be seen by the officers. He states that if there had been no stump where he dis- mounted, he could not have climbed on the mule's back, as he was so weak from exhaustion and ill health. He rode the mule to near Vicksburg and then gave it to Arthur Rose, of Company D, who drove it to a cart.
The regiment remained a month atVicksburg, and then the army was loaded on the transport Baltic and taken to
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New Orleans. They next embarked by way of the Gulf to Texas, and landed on Mustang Island, 70 miles from Mata- gorda Bay. On the 29th the regiment went on an expedition against Fort Esperanza. The enemy, on their approach, blew up their magazine and fled the town. On December 2d the regiment went into camp at De Cruz's, on the peninsula.
On January 2, 1864, the regiment, with the division, was taken on board the steamer Matamoras and landed at Old Indianola, up the bay about 40 miles, where they spent the winter. Here the First and Second brigades were con- solidated and formed the First Brigade of the First Division.
In the meantime Colonel Stone had recovered from his wound, and returned to his command a short time before Jackson capitulated.
While the army was at Vicksburg, Colonel Stone was elected Governor of Iowa, and here he took final leave of his command.
While stationed at Old Indianola, a squad of the regi- ment encountered a full company of mounted Texan Rangers. A desperate fighit took place, about 15 miles from camp. There were over 100 of the Rangers, and about 25 of the regiment. The squad held them at bay for several hours, but were finally surrounded, when they surrendered. Among those who were captured were John Flemming and Win. Bechtel, of Company A; Philip Hertzer, of Company D; Gabriel Hoffman, of Company H; Carl Bedner, of Com- pany K; and Wm. Franklin, of Company F. Hertzer lived in Monroe Township, and was of German extraction. He is now preaching in the Southwest.
In the spring the regiment returned to New Orleans, and then went on Banks' Red River expedition, nearly as far up as Alexandria, and then, meeting Banks on his return, returned to New Orleans, crossing the river at Algiers.
They then embarked on an ocean steamer and sailed around Cape Hatteras to Fortress Monroe, and then ascended the James River to Bermuda Hundred Landing, near City Point, Grant's headquarters. The regiment next went into the rifle-pits at Petersburg, going into the Army of the Potomac. They remained here a few weeks during July and August, 1864, and then returned down the James, and up the Potomac to Washington.
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On August 2, 1864, the regiment took up quarters at Georgetown Heights, in Maryland, overlooking the city of Washington; and on the 14th took up a line of march to join Sheridan's column. The rebel general Early was chasing Sheridan down the Shenandoah Valley, and the Twenty-second Regiment, with the division and brigade, was hastening through Drainsville, Leesburg, and Hamilton, over the Kitoctan Mountains. The army marched through Sneeker's Gap,. of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and at mid- night arrived at the Shenandoah River at the foot of the mountains. Here the troops waded the stream, and at daylight reached Berryville, where they joined Sheridan.
While marching from Berryville towards Harper's Ferry, Horace Judson, Marion Anderson, Hugh Sinclair, and Alex McCahan, members of Company D, went out one day on a foraging tour into the country. They met a traveling equipage, consisting of some women, a load of furniture or two, and a negro driver. They halted the cart and began to inspect the cargo. A tightly corked barrel aroused the interest of the boys, and McCahan made a vigorous attempt to punch a hole in the head with his baronet. It was a slow process, and Judson, growing impatient, shouted to McCahan to stand to one side. He did so. and Judson, raising his Enfield rifle, blazed away at the head of the barrel. A tiny stream of whisky began to trickle out at the bullet-hole, but it did not come out fast enough. Judson raised his gun again and sent another ball through the barrel-head near the upper edge. McCahan says that now a beautiful stream spurted out in the form of a golden rainbow. The boys held their canteens and filled them with the precious fluid, and then reverently plugged up the holes, so that no more of the liquor could be lost, and allowed the cart to proceed.
On the morning of the 21st of August the army went into a position along the bluffs of the Potomac. The left rested on the river and the right extended to the foot of the Blue Ridge. The Twenty-second Iowa was stationed near the center. The enemy made an assault, and, after several days' skirmishing, fell back to Bunker's Hill on the 27th. On September 3d Sheridan ordered the Eighth and Nine- teenth Corps, which latter now included the Second Brigade, to march to Berryville, wherea largerebel force was massing. The Eighth Corps was attacked in the evening, by the enemy,
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near Berryville, but drove the rebels back. The Second Brigade occupied a position on the right of the Eighth Corps. In this position the forces skirmished until midnight, when they lay down in a drenching rain to rest until daylight. On the arrival of daylight the enemy retired to their fortifi- cations on the Opequan.
The army, having now thrown up a line of works, re- mained until the 18th; and on the 19th, at about 2 o'clock in the morning, began its march on Winchester. The Sixth Corps was on the right, the Nineteenth in the center, and the Eighth on the left, as the army advanced. At about daylight the cavalry forming the advance guard en- countered the enemy and drove in his pickets; and at about 9 o'clock the Nineteenth Corps arrived and formed a line of battle on a range of hills about a mile from the Opequan and facing the enemy. While the line was forming, it was shelled by the enemy's batteries for a short time; then a silence fell along the line like a calm before the opening of a tempest. Presently the command "Forward!"' was given, and the army moved forward to the attack. The Twenty- second Iowa was on the left of the brigade, and the brigade itself was on the extreme left of the Nineteenth Corps. The enemy was in a heavy belt of timber and about a mile of open field intervened between the two hostile armies. As the Union army advanced, they were met by a volley of artillery, and when within about 500 yards of the enemy's line the latter poured in a deadly stream of grape and canister. The Twenty-second Iowa. with a yell, dashed forward on the double-quick and gained a stone wall within 100 yards of the enemy, where they made a stand for an hour. The Sixth Corps, which was at the left of the regi- ment, began to fall back; and then, as they were pursued by the enemy in their retreat, the Twenty-second broke and was forced back by the enemy. General Grover finally succeeded in re-forming his men, and, charging the rebels, drove them back at all points.
The action of the Twenty-second Towa Infantry at the battle of Winchester furnishes one of the most gallant and intrepid exploits of the war. While the Union forces were being pushed back, the regiment rallied under a withering fire of the enemy and completely routed them. In this great battle the Twenty-second Jowa lost 109 men, killed, wounded, and missing.
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On the 20th, after driving the rebels through Winchester and on to Fisher's Hill, the rebels made a strong stand at the latter place, and the pursuing Union column attacked them on the 22d. The Twenty-second and Twenty-eighth Iowa were ordered to attack the enemy's rifle-pits on the heights in front of Fisher's Hill. They drove in the enemy's skirmishers about 4 o'clock; then these two regiments, with the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New York, charged on the enemy's line and drove it back at all points. In this fight the regiment lost but 4 men.
It was now dark, but the Twenty-second Iowa and its invincible fighting mate, the Eleventh Indiana, followed up the retreating foe to Woodstock, a distance of 15 miles from Fisher's Hill. All night long these two regiments kept up a skirmishing fire on the retreating enemy, and succeeded in capturing several hundred prisoners. While encounter- ing the enemy's rear guard, the latter opened with a volley of artillery and several of the regiment were killed. The latter poured in several volleys of musketry, when the enemy broke in disorder. For several days the victorious Union force harassed the retreating enemy, and then occupied Harrisburg until the 6th of October.
Sheridan now fell back to Cedar Creek. Here the army was disposed as follows: the Eighth Corps occupied the left, resting on the north fork of the Shenandoah; the Nine- teenth Corps was placed in the center, and the Sixth Corps on the extreme right; the line forming a semicircle. On the 13th the enemy assaulted the Eighth and Nineteenth Corps' pickets. The Twenty-second Iowa and the Thirteenth Connecticut then assaulted the enemy, but the latter fell back without responding.
During the night the enemy withdrew to the defense of Fisher's Hill. On the morning of the 19th the Eighth Corps was attacked by the enemy and driven from their position, and to the rear of the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps.
The Twenty-second Iowa cut loose from the brigade to save a battery, but when it had advanced to within 200 vards the rebels had taken the battery, and the regiment fell back to the brigade.
The army then began to fall back towards Winchester, when that familiar episode of the campaign occurred, in which Sheridan met the retreating army, and, re-forming the men, drove back the enemy, and, largely through
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Grover's Nineteenth Corps, achieved a memorable victory. The enemy were driven through their camp and over Cedar Creek, and thousands of their number were captured along with their train of artillery.
In this engagement the regiment lost 77 men, killed, wounded, and missing.
On the 20th the regiment was sent up the Blue Ridge, over the trail of Early's retreat. The route was thickly strewn with guns and accouterments. The regiment then returned to camp at Cedar Creek until the 9th of November, when it went into winter quarters at Winchester.
On emerging from winter quarters, the regiment went by rail to Baltimore, and from thence by ocean steamer to Savannah, Ga., where the regiment was mustered out.
At the battles of Winchester and Fisher's Hill there were wounded in Company D: Joseph H. Holbrook, arm and leg shot off; Wm. C. Wilson, both thighs severely in- jured; Geo. Lefever, right foot injured; Jas. H. Van Pelt, severely injured in head and leg. Henry C. Kritzer and Chas. H. Stephenson were taken prisoners.
At Cedar Creek there were wounded in Company D: Samuel Byerly, wounded in abdomen mortally (since died); James Moore, severely wounded in hip; W. W. Cook, badly wounded in hip. Sam'l R. Conley, Joel H. Webb, and Calvin H. Bray were taken prisoners.
At Vicksburg there were killed in Company D: Corpo- ral Nathaniel G. Teas, Jas. A. Eshom, Chester W. Farrar, Ezra L. Anderson, Samuel Byerly, Abner Barnard, Elmer Drummond, Hezekiah Drummond, Jas. Lindsey, Geo. W. Lefever, Geo. H. Miller, Geo. W. Maiden, John A. Robb, and David H. Willey. The wounded in Company D were: Geo. W. Buchanan, wounded slightly in the head; Munsen L. Clem- mons, wounded slightly in the thigh; Jacob D. Mock, wounded slightly in the foot; C. T. McConnell, wounded in the jaw; Jacob S. Ray, wounded in chest and arm; Thos. B. Tate, severely wounded in left ankle; Ferdinand Wood, slightly wounded in elbow.
In February, 1863, while the regiment was marching from White Plains, Mo., to Iron Mountain, it passed by a squalid hut in the timber. Alex McCahan says it was the most woe-begone habitation he ever saw. The house con- tained a man, his wife, and several small children; all were nearly naked, and appeared half starved. The man's name
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was Calvin Bray. He came to the fence and asked per- mission to enlist. He stated that he could not live any longer where he was located, and that he might as well go along with the regiment. He was taken into Company D, and, after drawing his first pay, sent it to his family and had them removed to some point of safety. He went through the war and was taken prisoner at Cedar Creek. On his release he rejoined the regiment, and on the 5th of April, 1865, died at St. Louis, of diarrhea. He was return- ing north to meet his family at Rolla, Mo.
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C., B. & Q. DEPOT, ALBIA, IOWA.
CHAPTER VII.
Railroads.
Monroe County has six railroads traversing her do- main-namely, the Chicago. Burlington & Quincy Rail- way, the Albia, Knoxville & Des Moines Railway (a branch of the C., B. & Q.), the Iowa Central, the Centerville, Moravia & Albia Railway, the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- way, and the Wabash (now defunct).
Plans for securing railroads for Albia were projected as early as 1865, when the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway Company, or the Burlington & Missouri Railway Company, as it was then called, proposed to extend their line westward from Ottumwa to Albia and Chariton.
The company wanted Monroe and Lucas counties to raise $100,000 to secure the road, threatening to locate the line through some other territory if that amount was not guaranteed.
The people of Monroe County granted the right of way, 9-
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depot grounds at Albia, and took about $14,000 of the com- pany's stock, which was afterwards bought up by Perkins and other officers of the company at from 15 cents to 20 cents on the dollar.
The C., B. & Q. traverses the entire portion of Monroe County from east to west, a distance of a little more than 27 miles, and its assessed valuation per mile, in 1896, was $12,570, or a total value of $349,647.
At about the same time that the C., B. & Q. Railroad was secured to Monroe County, a scheme was put on foot to secure a north-and-south outlet by means of the Iowa Cen- tral and the Northern Missouri roads, which latter had ex- isted on paper for some years previous.
About $100,000 was subscribed to secure the Iowa Central from the Mahaska County line down to Albia, its southern terminus. The road was completed to Albia in 1871, and then the people of the county conceived a plan to have a continuous line from the far North down to the Gulf States, by reviving the plans for the construction of the North Missouri Railroad, which had for a few years lain dormant.
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