USA > Iowa > Jackson County > Annals of Jackson county, Iowa, Vol 1-6 > Part 6
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The mother of Joseph J. Woods was born in Ireland in 1785, and came to America at the age of 6 or 7 years ; her maiden name was Ritchey. Joseph was the youngest son that arrived at mature age of a numerous family; his father being at the time of his birth fifty years old and having been in his prime, a man of more than average ability among the farming class to which he belonged, but while Joseph was yet young his father became a physical, financial and mental wreck, so that at the age of 10 years, Joseph was thrown upon the world to succeed by his own resources.
He went with an older brother, John, just then married, to Rush county, Iud., where they settled in a dense forest. He remained in Indiana two years and then returned to Obio and lived with rela- tives until he was fourteen years old when he was apprenticed to Joseph Parish (iate private secretary to Presi- dent Grant, to sign land patents) in Felicity, Clerment county, Ohio, to learn the saddler's trade.
In his early boyhood, while at school, which was but a small part of the time, he learned rapidly being in advance of other children of his age. He never at- tended the public school after his thir- teenth year.
He served five years apprenticeship with Mr. Parish, working for his board and clothing, and became very proficient in the trade. Working in the winter sea- son until 9 o'clock p. m. five nights of the week he had but little time for men- tal culture, but, fortunately, his cousin, Dr. Allen Woods, about this time mar- ried a Miss. Whipple of Vermont, a lady of fine culture, who, becoming interest- ed in young Woods proposed to become his private tutor. Under this arrange- ment, by improving every spare mo.
ment, he completed a course of arithina- tic. English grammar, geography aud obtained a fair knowledge of history from books kindly loaned from the ii- brary of Dr. J. M. Woods. At the ex- piration of his apprenticeship the Rev. Mr. Irvine, Presbyterian minister and graduate of Ohio State University in- formed young Woods that as he was about to review his Latiu and Greek. studies, he would willingly take a pu- pil and give instructions in those branches free of charge, as a more thor- oag h method o making his review. Uu- der this arrangement young Woods pur- sued his studies seven months, working mornings and evenings in the saddler's shop to pay his board.
The first Methodist college established in America was located at Au usta, Ky , seven miles from Echeng, Ohio. It was under the joint patronage of the Ohio and Kentucky conference of the M. E church, rach conference being entitled to keep at the college a certain nuumber of students free of tuition, these to be selected by the presiding elders of the various districts from worthy young men of limited means.
The Rev. W. N. Roper. Presiding El- der of the Dist., gave young Woods the agents ent and he entered the Fresh- man Cis siu that institution the same year. Although free tuition was provided he found it difficult to provide for board, clothing and books, therefore, by ad- vice of Dr. Woods he applied for an ap- pointment to U. S. Military Academy at West Point to take the place of U. S. Grant who would graduate the follow. ing June. His principal recommenda. tions were from Hon. Alouza Knowles, the bading Democratic politician at Felicity, O , and Jesse R. Grant, Whig. then of Bathel, O. There were severs! compsators for the appointment and Dr. Doan, Member of Congress, de- clinen to make a selection but sent the paper- to the War Department where tir apraatment was given to Woods and he entered On: Academy in June,
Seventy-five were appointed to this class; thirty-eight gradnated in it in 1847, Woods standing No. 3 in his class. During the last year at West Point he was Assistant Professor as well as stu- deut. July 1, 1847 he received his ap- pointment as 2nd Lient., in 1st., Regt. U. S. Artillery. (A)
The war with Mexico was at its height and he was ordered to New York Harbor to drill and organize reernits for the war, where he remained until Oct, 10th., whenout of these recruits Co's. L and M, Ist Art, were organized and Lieut. Woods was ordered to proceed with said companies to Vera Cruz, Mex- ico, and there join his company, C., to which he had been assigned, in North- ern Mexico.
The command sailed from New York, Oct. 10, on the ship "Empire". The weather was boisterous and after four days of invisible sun the ship rau upon a coral reef-entirely covered by water -- breaking a large hole in the vessel, when she settled down and broke in two. They were by Captain's reckon- ing, fifty miles from shore, but, upon its partially clearing off, they perceived a small uninhabited island called Fowl Key about 12 a mile distant and day. light brought to view Abaco, the larg. est of the Bahama group, at a distance of about five miles. Wreckers came to the assistance of the ship and about 10 o'clock a. in , they landed the soldiers on Fowl Key where they remained one week. Vessels were then procured to take a part of the command to Charles- ton, S. C. The balance with Lieut. Woods was taken to Nassau, New Prov- idence, since famous as the rendezvous for Rebol ervisers. Remaining bere 8 days he then, in company with Lieut Morris, sailed for Charleston where they remained at Ft. Moultrie until Dec. 25, 1SI7, when they again sailed for Vera Cruz in ship "Republic" sont out from New York for that purpose. (B) On Jan. 1, 1518, as they were entering
the port of Vera Cruz, a terrible "Norther" struck the vessel carrying them out to sea They finally landed Jau. 5th and found that a majority of the regiment to which the command was assigned was on garrison duty in thecity, but Co. C., to which Lieut. Woods had been assigned was in north- ern Mexico. Woods was therefore transferred to Co. M., and assigned to duty with the regiment at Vera Cruz. In May he had yellow fever and was very sick. About August 1, 1848, peace having been declared, Vera Cruz was evaenated and our troops immediately embarked for New York, companies L. and M taking passage upon the screw propellor Massachusetts.
In Oct. 1848, Woods was promoted to Ist. Lieut., and Nov. 10, 1848, embarked on board the Massachusetts with com- panies L. and M for Oregou to quell disturbances recently arisen there, i4 which Dr. Whitman and a number of missionaries had been murdered. (C)
The expedition was under the com- maud of Brevet Major Hatheway, and Lieut. Woods was its quarter-master and commissary. These were the first U. S. troops ever in Oregon. On the passage about Jan. Ist., the ship put in- to port at Rio Janeiro, Brazil and re- mained several days giving the officers an opportunity of inspecting the city. Imperial gardens, where all tropical fruits were growing, the founderies and other places of interest, Lieu Woods was taken through the convent of the Monks of St. Bernardine and was pres- ent at the Imperial Chapel when the Emperor and Empress partook of Mid- night Mass the going out of year 1845.
Sailing from Rio Janeiro they passed near the Falkland Islands and entered the Strait of Magellan, with Patagonia on the right and Terra Del Fuego on the left. und were one week in the straits salling only by daylight and such dis. tagers as would insure good harbors by night. There were. two convict settle-
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meuts on the strait and some Ind ans The officers enjoyed frequent rambles on shore. At Valparaiso, Chili, they were shown specimens of gold recently taken from newly discovered gold mines in California.
The next point made was the Sand- wich, I-lands, where they arrived in 52 days and remained 8 days. They were constantly feted by the king as theirs was the first steamer ever seen by him. The officers gave the king and quecu an excursion on board the steam- er accompanied by the royal retiuue. The expedition reached the mouth of the Columbia river May 9. 1849-six months out of New York and having sailed 22,- 000 miles -- they proceeded up the river ninety miles to Fort Vancouver, the headquarters of the Hudson Bay Co., situated on the north bank of the Co- lumbia river --- what is now Washington Terr. Here Co. L., to which Woods now belonged, landed and Co. M., was ordered to Puget Sound.
In the spring of 1850, Lieut. Woods with Co L., was removed to Astoria near the mouth of the river and from this point Lien. Woods with two white men and two Indians attemped to find a practicable wagon road from Astoria to the plains across the coast range of mountains. They found the task more difficult than was anticipated and the party came near starying to death, liv- ing for some thue on such provisions as they could find in the woods upon the mountains.
At another time Lieut Woods went in a row-boat with the collector of the post of Astoria and a detail of men in the evening to seize a ship for violating the revenue laws, They ran alongside the ship as she lay at anchor near the mouth of the river. The collector tried to climb the ladder hanging over the side but failed, when Lieut. Woods and one man mounted the ladders and reached the deck when the ropes were cut by the ships crew, the ladder fell into the col-
lectors boat aud he mulled for store. leav ing the Lient. on board but calling back to him that he would come for him in the morning
The ship hoisted anchor and iminedtitte. ly put to sea. The collector procured a pilot boat armed with a caumont and gave chase, but after a few hours: pur- suit and firing a few shots, the; pilot boat gave up the chase. After a tedious run the ship put into a recently discov- ered buy in the northern part of Culi- fornia, called Humboldt Bay, where several vessels were loading with. timber for San Francisco. On one of these the the Lientenaut secured passage to San Francisco and from there he so- cured passage to Astoria where he ar- rived after an involuntary absence of six weeks.
In April 1851, Lieut. Woods was or- dered with a detarchinent of meu to the Dalles of the Columbia,-east of the Cascade Range, where in the heart of the Indian country he commanded a small post for eighteen months, the only mil- itary post at the time . and he the only commissioned officer between the Cas- cade mountains and Ferbarranje ..
In September 1852; Jureturned to Ft. VanCouver, which had now become a large post and headquarters for the 4th U. S. Infantry, and af -- which place Was then stationed several men since. famous in history, among them U. S. Grant ...
In February 1853, Lieut. Woods re- ceived orders to report to the spyerin- tendent of the recruiting service as New York City. He sailed. Feb. 10th, and reached his destination via San Fran- cisco and Panama .:
In June 1553, he received leave of ab- sence and visited Iowa and bought land in Clinton and Jackson counties. . Oct. 15, 1853 he resigned his commission and removed to bis lands in Iowa and in September 1556, married Miss Kezis Haight in Jones county, Jowa. Ho cn- gaged in farming in Jackson county, Iowa, until the Rebellion broke out.
when he tendered his serviers to the Governor of Iowa and was commissioned Colonel of the 12th Iowa Inf. Vol .. Oct. 28, 1861, and ordered to take immediate charge of the regiment then organizing at Camp Union, Dubuque, Iowa.
The regiment was inustered into the U. S. service by Capt. Washington 18th U. S. Int., Nov. 25, 1861, and.on the 28th of the same month broke camp at Du- buque and proceeded by rail to St. Louis, Mo., where they arrived on the 30th and went immediately into camp of instruc- tion at Benton Barracks. In January 1862, the regiment was armed with En- feld rifles and fully equipped for the field.
January 27, 1862, Col. Woods received orders to report his regiment to Gen. Grant at Cairo, Ill., where they arrived Jan. 29, and were immediately embark- ed on board steamer for Smithland, Ky., at month of Cumberland river, where the regiment established their first camp in the field Jan. 31, 1862, .On the morn- ing of Feb. 5, orders were received to embark on board steamer and join ex- pedition fitting out for Tennessee River.
Arriving ut Paducha the regiment was assigned to Cook's Brigade and to C. F Smith's Division and on the morning of Fob. 6, landed four miles below Ft. Henry, and took up a line of march to gain a position in the rear of the fort, but while floundering through the mud- dy swamps and almost impassible streams, the gunboats made the attack, drove the enemy from the works and captured the fort, most of the garrison cs- caping before the infantry reached their position in the rear.
Feb. 12, the command marched to Ft. Donelson and were formed in line of battle, Feb. 13, on the extreme left, when they participated in the battles of the 13th, 14th and 15th and followed the 3nd Iowa Inf., in their charge upon the works.
Col. Woods in his official report says : "Abont 2 o'clock p. m. of the 15th, the
12th Iowa, 50th III, and Birge's sharp shooters were ordered to make a feint attack to draw the enemy's fire. The men went cherrfully to the work and kept up a warm fire on the enemy while Col. Lauman's Brigade ou our left ad- vanced on the enemy and got possession of his outer works and hoisted thereon the American flag, when we were or- dered to his support and moved rapidly by the left flank, charged over the fall- en timber, while a galling fire of grape from the enemy was pouring iu upon us.
On reaching the breastworks some confusion was caused by the retreat of a portion of Col: Lanman's Brigade, who, having exhausted their amunition, were compelled to fall back By some exertion our men were rallied and opened a warm fire ou the enemy which they returned from a battery on our right and musketry in our front. In this cross fire we fought the enemy two hours, advancing upon them to a deep ravine inside the works.
Col. Cook, who was commanding the brigade, in his report makes mention of Col. Woods as deserving commendation for his gallant and efficient service.
At nightfall the regiment was with- drawn to the outer works of the enemy, where they remained through the night. Early on the morning of the 16th we were formed in line to renew the battle, when a white flag appearing the sur- render was announced and the regiment marched into the fort. With the excep- tion of the 2nd Iowa Inf., no troops were entitled to more credit for the capture of this stronghold than the 12th Iowa Inf., and it being their first engagement their stradiness and coolness was largely due to these qualities so prominent and marked in their commanding officer The regiment was given quarters in log bar- racks occupied by rebels before the sur- render, and remained in this camp un- til March 12, 1862.
While at Ft. Donelson the regitient was visited by Samuel J. Kirk wood,
Governor of Iowa, and upon his return to Iowa he wrote to Col. Woods as fol- lows :
Des Moines, Iowa, Mar. 22, 1862. Deur Colonel Woods: Please appol- ogize to your officers and men for not calling upon them again before I left Donelson. When at General Hurlburt,s headquarters the steamboat Consetoga caine down and the officer in command politely offered a passage in his boat, which he said would leave in forty miu- ntes, so we had only time to get our troops on board. Please explain this and express my regret that I could not have spent some time with you.
.
The Iowa troops made themselves and our state a glorious name. The 2nd Iowa had the best chance for the honors of Donelsou but the 7th, 12th and 14th did nobly. Dr. Hughs, Snrgeon Gener- al of Iowa, has a brother in the Brigade with your regiment. He says that he has just received a letter from his brother, who writes that the 12th Iowa is a splendid regiment and fon. ht gallantly at Donelson. Please write me when convenient. Let me advise you to care for your health I was much pleased to see on my visit to your camp that you were having it cleaned up nicely. Yours was the only regiment that was doing this. With many wishes for your health and success, I am yours truly,
SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD
Resolutions as follows were adopted by the legislature of Iowa.
JOINT RESOLUTION.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Iowa. First, That in the name of the whole people of the state, we thank the Iowa troops for their undaunted bravery and gallant conduct in the recent fight at Ft. Donelson in which the Post of Honor they nobly sustained their own brilliant fame and won fresh and unfading laurels for the state Second, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Colonel of each of the lowa regiments engaged
iu the battle of Ft. Donelson. RUSH CLARK, Speaker House of Representatives. JOHN R. NEEDHAM, President of the Senate Approved Feb 19, 1862. SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD. State of Iowa, ss.
I, Elijah Sells, Secretary of State, hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy from the original eurolled res- olution ou file in my office. In testi- mony whereof I have herrunto set my hand and affixed the great seal of the State of Iowa. Done at Des Moines this 20th day of February, 1862.
ELIJAH SELLS.
To COL. J. J. WOODS. _
March 12, 1862, the command was re- organized and the 2nd, 7th, 12th and 14th Iowa Iuf., designated as the 1st Brigade, commanded by Col. Tuttle of the 2nd Iowa, and assigned to 2nd Div- isiou, commanded by Gen. C. F. Smith.
Leaving Ft. Donelson the Division marched to Metal Lauding on Tennessee River and embarked on steamer for Pittsburgh Landing, where they estab- lished camp March 21, 1862, on the ex- treme right of Union line, near the riv- er below the landing.
Early on the morning of April 6, Col. Woods formed his regiment on the pa- rade ground and soon after, under the direction of Brigade commander, moved to a position assigned to him in line of battle, occupying the left center of Tut- tle's Brigade, forming the extreme left of W. H. L. Wallace's Division, 14th Iowa, next the left of 12th Iowa, formed the extreme left of its Division and rest- ed on the main road from the landing to Corinth.
The 12th Iowa was formed just behind the brow of a slight ridge, an open field in front of its right, a thick undergrowth in front of its left ; in this position the troops were reviewed by General Grant, about 10 o'clock a. m , and were direct. cd by him to hold the position at all bax.
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irds, and in this exposed position, across he Corinth road, che left Brigade of W. - H L. Wallace's Division, and right of Prentiss' Division did sustain itself, ot ouce being moved from its position, although repeatedly charged by the memy, until about 5:30 o'clock 5 m The persistent, desperate fighting done by these troops at this key of the position, lolayed the whole Rebel army ani aved the Federal army from being driv- bu into the Tenuessee River All the prominent Confederate officers mention the fighting at this place. Gen Ruggles commanding a Division of Bragg's army says, "I ordered my statf officers to bring -forward all the field guns that could be collected from the left, which resulted in the concentration of ten bat- teries and one section as follows : ( enum- erates them), concentrating their tire enfllading Prentiss' Division on right luuk, at this moment the 2nd Brigade and the Cresent regiment pressed for- ward and cut off a considerable number . of the enemy consisting of Preatiss' Div- ision, who were surrendered to the Cres- ent regiment."
Gen. L. Polk, commanding army corps says : "About 5 o'clock p. m , my line attacked the enemy's troops-tho Jast that were left on the field. - The at- tack was made in front and flank. The resistance was sharp and proved to be the commands Generals Prentiss and W. H. L. Wallace. The latter was killed by the troops of General Bragg, who was pressing him at same time on his right."
Col. Head, 17th La. Vols., says, "Be- tween one and two o'clock on Sunday we had carried all the enemy's camps except Prentiss' At this point the ene- my made a determined stand and for two hours success at that point" seemed doubtful. I was ordered by Gen. Rug- Fles to immediately bring up all the ar- tillery and concentrate it upon this point. Assisted by this artillery fire the infantry succeeded in carrying the po-
sition and capturing General Prenti-s and about 2,000 men "
General Gibbons, commanding Bri gade, admits that his Brigade was re- pulsed four different times and because he felt sensitive over the matter of offi- cial reports. asked a court of inquiry. Several other officers admit their repulse and the complete demoralization of their forces at this point and so great was the slaughter of the enemy that they gave to thar point of the line im- mediately in front of the 12th, 14th and 8th Iowa the title or name of "Hornet's Nest."
At about 5:50 o'clock p. m , Gen. Wal- lace having been mortally wounded, Gen. Tuttle succeeded to the command of th - Div. McClernard's (?) division on our right and Hurlbuts on the left hay- ing fallen back to a new position near the river, Tuttle gave orders for his di- vision to fall back and the order was communicated to all the regiments ex- cept the 12th and 14th Iowa and they were safely conducted to the rear, but the aid' seut to these regiments was killed before reaching them, Gen. Tut- tle claims, and they were left fighting the enemy in front until the enemy rushing around their flank-left exposed by withdrawal of balance of divisiou --- formed in the rear Having just re- pulsed a desperate charge in front, the regiment was startled by the order given by Col. Woods with no more excitement than when on parade, "Twelfth Jowa ; about face; commence firing" when they beheld a full and perfect line of grey formed in their rear Delivering a few vollies into the face of this Dew enemy which broke their ranks, a charge was ordered.
Col. Woods at the head of the regi- ment succeeded in cutting his way through the first line of the enemy and arrived in camp of Brd Iowa, near Gen. Hurlburt's headquarters where they en. countered another fino of the cherry' drawn up in order across the line of re.
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treat. Here, hemmed in by a perfect wall of fire, Col. Woods was twice wounded in quick succession and dis- mounted
Command of regiment then devolved upon Capt. Edgerton, who, finding it impossible to cut his way ont, surrend- ered the remnant of the regiment pris- ouers of war. At the same time there was surrendered the 14th Iowa of Wal- lace's Division, and the Sth Iowa and 5Sth Illinois of Prentiss' division ; in all about 2 000. Geu. Prentiss. present at the time and taken prisoner with the " rest, speaks in the highest terms of the conquet of Col. Woods and his regiment in the field and says that to the persist- ent fighting of these four regiments, holding their grounds against such fear- ful odds is due the failure of Beauregard to drive our forces into the Tennessee River.
Gen. Tuttle in his official report says : "Ou the morning of the 6th I proceeded with my brigade, consisting of the 2nd, 7th, 12th and 14th Iowa Inf., under di, rection of W. H L. Wallace and formed line on .extreme left of his di- vision, We had been in line but a few mo- ments when the enemy made his appear- ance and attacked my left wing, 12th and 14th lowa, who gallantly stood their ground and compelled the assailants to retire iu confusion. They again formed under cover of a battery and renewed the attack upon my whole line but were repulsed as before. A third and fourth time they dashed upon us but were each time bafiled and completely routed. We held our position about six hours, when it became evident that the forces on each side of us had given away, so as to give the enemy an opportunity of turning both of our Banks. At this critical mo- ment Gen. Wallace gave orders for my brigade to retire which was dono in good order. The end and ith retired through a severe fire from both flauks, while the 12th and 14th, who were de. layed by their endeavor to save a bat-
tery, were completely surrounded and were compelled to surrender. Col. Woods of the 12th Iowa particularly distinguished himself, was twice wound- ed and when the enemy Was driven back on Mouday he was captured "
Col Woods lay upou the field wounded and was assaulted by some Texas troops with evident design of taking his life. - But just ar that moment he was recog. nized by Gen. Hardee, with whom he had been acquainted at West Point. who ·gave him a special guard and a permit to Woods' orderly to remain with him. Soon after the surrender our gunboats commeneed throwing shells into that vi- ciuits driving all the rebel troops front the field. None of the wounded were removed or cared for but lay upon the field exposed to our shells and a severe rain storm all night. When our forces adyauced Monday morning, Col. Woods was recaptured, wounds dressed and a few days after he was sent north where he was derailed on recruiting service and remained on duty within the state of Iowa until about Jan. 1, 1863. The men of his regiment who were captured at Shilo, having been exchanged, he was ordered to Benton. Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri, to reorganize his regiment and soou after he was sent to Rolla, Mo., where he remained a short time and then returned to St. Louis.
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