USA > Iowa > Clarke County > Biographical and historical record of Clarke County, Iowa > Part 48
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years; they httle heeded the mutterings and threatenings of treason's children in the slave States of the South. True sons and descendants of the heroes of the "times that tried men's souls" -- the struggle for Amer- ican Independence-they never dreamed that there was even one so base as to dare attempt the destruction of the Union of their fathers-a goverment baptized with the best blood the world ever knew. While immediately surrounded with peace and tranquillity, they paid but little attention to the rumored plots and plans of those who lived and grew rich from the sweat and toil, blood and flesh, of others ---- aye, even trafficking in the offspring of their own loins. Nevertheless, the war came, with all it- attendant horrors.
April 12, 1861, Fort Sumter, at Charles- ton, South Carolina, Major Anderson, U. S. A., Commandant, was fired on by rebels in arms. Although basest treason, this first covering from the depression and losses act in the bloody reality that followed was incident to the financial panic of 1857. The . looked upon as the mere bravado of a few future looked bright and promising, and hot heads - the act of a few fire-eaters whose the excessive indulgence in intoxicating po- borne along the telegraph wires that Major Anderson had been forced to surrender to the industrious and patriotic sons and sectional bias and battal were crazed by daughters of the Free States were buoyant with hope, Looking forward to the perfect. " tifien .. When, a day later, the news was ing of new plans for the insurement of com. fort and competence in their declining
HISTORY OF CLARKE COUNTY.
what had first been regarded as a drunken mob, the patriotic people of the North were startled from their dreams of the fu- turc, from undertakings half-completed, and made to realize that behind that mob there was a dark, deep and well-organized purpose to destroy the Government, rend the Union in twain, and out of its ruins creet a slave oligarchy, wherein no one would dare to question their right to hold in bondage the sons and daughters of men whose skins were black, or who, perchance, through practices of lustful natures, were half or quarter removed from the color that God, for his own purposes, had given them. But they " reckoned without their host." Their dreams of the future, their plans for the establishment of an independent confed- eracy, were doomed from their inception to sad and bitter disappointment.
Iminediately upon the surrender of Fort Suiter, Abraham Lincoln-America's mar- tyr President-who, but a few short weeks before, had taken the oath of office as the nation's Chief Executive, issued a procla- mation calling for 75,000 volunteers for three months. The last word had scarcely been taken from the electric wires before the call was filled. Men and money were counted out by hundreds and thousands. The people who loved their whole govern- ment could not give enough. Patriotism thrilled and vibrated and pulsated through every heart. The farm, the workshop, the office, the pulpit, the bar, the bench, the college, the school-house, every calling of- fered its best men, their lives and fortunes, in defense of the Government's honor and unity. Party lines were for the the ig- nored. Bitter words, spoken in moments of political heat, were forgotten and for- given; and, joining hands in a common cause, they repeated the oath of America's solcher-statesman: "By the Great Eternal, the Union must and shall be preserved!"
enough to subdue the rebellion. Nor were ten times that number. The war went on. and call followed call, until it began to look as if there would not be men chongh in all the Free States to crush out and subdac the monstrous war traitors had inaugu- rated. But to every call, either for men or money, there was a willing and ready re- sponsc.
And it is a boast of the people that, had the supply of men fallen short, there were women brave enough, daring enough, pa- triotic enough, to have offered themselves as sacrifices on their country's altar. Such were the impulses, motives and actions of the patriotic men of the North, among whom the sons of Clarke County made a conspicuous and praiseworthy record. Of the offerings made by these people during the great and final struggle between free- dom and slavery, it is the purpose now to write.
April 14, A. D. 1861, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, issued the following :
PROCLAMATION.
" WHEREAS, The laws of the United States have been and now are violently op- posed in several States, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed in the ordinary way ; I therefore call for the militia of the several States of the Union, to the aggre gate number of 75,000, to suppress said com- binations and execute the laws. ) appeal to all loyal citizens to facilitate and aid in this effort to maintain the laws and integ- rity of the perpetuity of the popular gov. ernment, and redress wrongs long enough endured. The first service assigned to the forces, probably, will be to repossess the forts, places and property which have been seized from the Union. Let the uno-i care be taken, consistent with the object to avoid devastation, destruction or interfer- Seventy five thousand men were not ence with the property of peaceful citizens
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in any part of the country, and l'exby command person - composing the after said combination to disperse within twenty days from date.
" I hereby convene both Houses o: Con- gress for the 4th day of July next, to de- termine upon measures for public safety which the interest of the subject demands. "ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
"President of the United States. "W"M. Il. SEWARD, Secretary of State."
Clarke County had at this time a popu- lation of but little over 5,000. With a people mainly devoted to agriculture, it could hardly be expected that a war-like spirit would be easily aroused. But we know little of the spark of patriotism which slumbers in the farmer's breast un- til occasion calls it forth. Though there was, in 1861, no raffroad in this county. the news of the fall of Suriter was but two or three days in spreading everywhere among the people. The villages and school-houses became gathering points for the excited citizens, who were nearly unanimous in pledging their support to the cause of the Union.
The first call of President Lincoln re- quired of lowa but one regiment, and so many companies were at once tendered by telegraph to the Governor that the re- moter counties such as Clarke then was, took no immediate steps to furnish troops. In May, however, a militia company was raised with great enthusiasm. Samuel P. its services on the first intimation that they would be accepted. The company was known as the Clarke County Goards, ; and drilled every Saturday. for a number of weeks. On the first of July-, orders were received from Des Moines, to assemble and report at Burlington, for organization and assignment. On the 4th, " Independ- eure Day," a grand celebration was held
af Osceola, and the company was organ- izol for service.
Previous to this, and because it was sup- posed the company was too large for all to be received a number of the volunteers went to Chariton, Lucas County, where they were received as a part of Company B, Sixth Infantry. These were: Sergeant, Elwin F. Alden: Corporal (afterward Sergeant and Lieutenant), David S. Sigler; Corporal, John H. Keplinger; Corporal, William C. Fitch; Corporal, George B. Brown; Musician, Addison J. Skelly ; and Privates, Greene C. Adkins, Jesse L. Adkins, Miles Atwater, Otis Burbank:, William L. Brown, William H. Brandon, Charles J. Cheny, James S. Cain, Newton J. Gordon, Edwin R. Godfrey, Charks Il. Griggs, Charles H. Harvey, James H. Iless, Valentine Harland, Lemuel G. Knott, Elijah J. Kent, Alonzo Ketchum, Zarah M. Lanning, Jacob L. Miler, An- drew Miller, Kellogg Poisell, Lewis B. Ridgeway, Orin S. Rarick, John M. Saver and James E. Thomas.
These were mustered into the service no sooner than the full company from Clarke County, which became Company F, Sixth Infantry. This band of patriots set out with teams July 9, for Eddyville, Wapello County, whence they proceeded by rail to Burlington, arriving on the evening of the Ith. They were mustered into the ser- vice of the United States, July 17, by Lieutenant Alexander Chambers, U. S. A. This being the first company from Clarke Glenn, being Captain, to be ready to offer ' County their names are considered wor- the of record in this place.
Captain, S. aniel F. Glen; First Licu- tenant, Calvin Minton ; Second Lieutenant, John T. Grimes; Sergeants, Abraham C. Rarick, Elihu Gardner, Edwin R. Kon- taly, Jerry Rhodes an i George W. Hess; Corporal, John Diehl, Joba W. Kling, Zepbaniah F. Delany, Jackson Wiggins, Moses T. Johnson, Nathaniel Thrasher.
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HISTORY OF CLARKE COUNTY.
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Francis M. Kyte and Andrew Byers; Musicians, Samuel Parly and George Gatches; Wagoner, Henry C. Stewart; Privates, Samuel Applegate, Colinan Bar- ber, Ira A. Bare, Joseph N. Ballou, Robert
Ford. Bladen A. Harrison, John M. Hunter, Caleb Jeffers. Thomas II. Kirk. patrick. Charles W. Miler, Austin May. David McFarland, Thomas A. Nelson. Harrison Owen. Alfred G. Romine, Will- Buell, Robert Balis, George Babington, [ iam H. Stewart, John G. Scoville, Henry 1 Terry. Clark Tripp, Aaron Vauscoy, On- ver P. Wilson, Vashni Webster, William J. Wilson, John P. Willeby, Joseph Wein- neger and Hemy C. Zink.
Edward Chambers, Thomas Carson, An- drew B. Dilley, Isaac Day, Charles Daho, Homer Dodd, Abraham Ford, Elim Ford, James Fouch, Thomas P. Gray, William J. Hamilton, Benjamin Il. Hilling, Samuel Hindinan. Bladen A. Harrison, Jeremiah Hanks, John M. Hunter, Samuel Hart, Jonathan L. Hagerty, Caleb Jeffers, Thomas II. Kirkpatrick, Edwin R. Ken- nedy, George W. Lamb, Grundy Lock, William J. Love, James Mitchell, James Mardis, David McBride, William S. Moore, Charles W. Miller, James T. R. McCully, Oren S. Medcalf. Austin May, David McFarland. D. F. M. Musselman, Thomas A. Nelson, Hervey D. Owen, Harrison Owen, William Pagett, Alfred G. Romine, Adam C. Rarick, William H. Stewart, Abram T. Stark, Peter P. Shuck, John G. Scoville. David Shearer, Abuer W. Sharp, Alexander Stewart. Henry Terry, Clark Tripp, Aaron Vanscoy, Oli- ver P. Wilson, Vashni Webster, William J. Wilson, Hugh West, John P. Willeby, James HI. Weaver, Joseph Weinneger and Ilenry C. Zink.
Samuel P. Glenn. the first Captain of the company, resigned May 30, 1862, and was succeeded by Calvin Minton, who had been First Lieutenant, and who in turn, resigned June 11, 1864. EJwin R. Kennedy then commanded the company until the close of the war. John T. Grimes, who went out as Second Lieutenant, was promoted to First Lieutenant June 1, 1862, and was killed at Big Shanty, Georgia, June 15, 1864. Francis M. Kyte, the present popu- lar auditor of Clarke County, was pro- inoted from Seventh to Fifth Corporal, then to Fourth Sergeant, and July 25. 1864, was commissioned as a First Lieuten- ant, which was his rank at the close of the war. Abraham C. Rarick was pro- moted from First Sergeant to be Second Lieutenant. Thomas H. Kirkpatrick was mustered out as First Sergeant, but was afterward commissioned as Second Licu- tenant.
Of the above, these are still living, in In Company B three Clarke County volunteers earned commissions. Orin S. Rarick became Captain, James E. Thomas Sigler, Second Lieutenant. Clarke County: Samuel P. Glenn, Francis M. Kyte. Abraham C. Rarick, John Dichl. Joseph N. Ballou, George Gutches, Col- ; became First Lieutenant, and David S. man Barber, Thomas Carson, Willim J. Hamilton, William S. Moore, William The Sixth Iowa Infantry remained at Burlington a few weeks, and in September, 1861. was transported down the river fo St. Louis, Missouri. Thence it proceede.1 to Jefferson City, where it received its arms, it was then organized under General John Pageft and Adlam C. Rarick. The fol- lowing are living, but not in Clorke County: Calvin Minton, Edwin R. Ken- nedy, Henry HT. Adams, John W. Kling. John Tobin, Andrew Byers, Moves T. Jabout October 1. Marching to Syracuse. Johnson, Samuel Early, Joseph B. Adams, Hemy C. Stewart, Robert Balis, Edward C. Frementes a part of the army of South- Chambers, Abraham Chambers, Elli , west Missouri. It was then ordered to
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THE CIVIL
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Springfield, Missouri, and then back to but a detachment under Lieutenants Min Sedalia. There the regiment was divided, ton and Allison were connected to an Illi- part wintering at Tipton and part at Syra- cuse. March io, the various companies went to Missouri on cars, and thence down nois regiment, and the major portion, under Captain Walden, voluntarily joined Colonel Garfield's command, and participated the Mississippi and up the Tennessee to ; in the engagement throughout the day, Pittsburg Landing, where the Sixth was until the enemy fled in great confusion. lost 64 killed, roo wounded and 4; missing. out of 650 engaged. the first regiment to disembark. But three ; In this two-days' engagement the regiment weeks elapsed before the regiment was called upon to take a prominent part in its first great battle, the famous engagement of Shiloh.
The gallant John M. Corse, of Burling- ton, served as Major until shortly after Shiloh, when he was made a Lieutenant- Colonel. In March, 1863. he became Colonel; in August of the same year, Brigadier- General, and in October, 1864, breveted a Major-General. He was the hero of Alla- toona Pass, and one of the finest soldiers contributed by the State of lowa.
After Shiloh the regiment was stationed at Memphis until the 4th of November, when it proceeded to Grand Junction and wintered. March 1, 1863, the men were mounted and employed in raiding through Tennessee, gathering horses and mules until June 1, when it entered on the Vicks- burg campaign under Gencial Grant. Vicksburg fell on the 3d of July, and the Sixth at once joined the expedition against Jackson, Mississippi. Arriving near that place after some disagreeable experience, the Sixth was finally ordered to push up the Jackson & Canton Railroad. keeping the line at right angles with that rond. This was done under the leadership of Colonel Corse, until the enemy made a stand on the regiment's left. when Colonel Corse massed Companies D and F, and charged theni, driving them through the woods into their own works. The right of the regiment had been halted by Colonel Sanford, commanding the brigade, and the two lines were connected by pickets, and kept in that position until morning, which another advance was made. The enemy
Notwithstawiis a vastly superior force. and with no support, the regiment gallant- ly maintained this position for more than two hours, and when it becarie apporent that ro succor was coming to it. and after the enemy had already turned its right flank and began pouring a galling cross-fire upon it, the regiment was ordered to retire. It fell back in good order and was assigned to the support of batteries near the river, where it remained all night. The next day the regiment was not formed as a whole, resisting, a charge was ordered by Com-
On the morning of Sunday, the 6th of April, when the attack was made on Grant's center, the regiment was immediately brought into line of battle, and kept in position for more than two hours, when it was ordered to fill back. The battle at this time was raging fiercely in the center, and extending gradually to the right. The line was slowly yielding to a superior force. The regiment again formed in line of bat- tle. after changing its position. Here Lieutenant Grimes, of the Clarke County company, was wounded and carried from the field. The regiment did not remain here long, however, but moved about half a mile over a broken and open feld, entering the woods. A new line was formed, and the regiment moved forward to meet the advancing foe. Here the regi- ment withstood a shower of leaden hail and bullets, which now was pouring in upon it with deadly effect.
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part wintering at. Tipton and part at Syra- cuse. March io, the various companies ! went to Missouri on cars, and thence down the Mississippi and up the Tennessee to Pittsburg Landing, where the Sixth was the first regiment to disembark. But three weeks elapsed before the regiment was called upon to take a prominent part in its first great battle, the famous engagement of Shiloh.
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On the morning of Sunday, the 6th of April. when the attack was made on Grant's center, the regiment was immediately brought into line of battle, and kept in position for more than two hours, when it was ordered to fill back. The battle at this 1 time was raging fiercely in the center, and extending gradually to the right. The line was slowly yielding to a superior force. The regiment again formed in line of hot- tle, after changing its position. Here Lieutenant Grimes, of the Clarke County corapany, was wounded and carried from the field. The regiment did not remain here long, however, but moved about half a mile over a broken and open field, entering the woods. A new line was formed, and the regiment moved forward to meet the advancing foe. Here the regi- ment withstood a shower of leaden bail and bullets, which now was pouring in upon it with deadly effect.
Springfield, Missouri, and then back to but a detachment under Lacutenants Min Sedalia. There the regiment was divided, . ton and Allisen were connected to an Hli. nois regiment, and the major portion, under Captain Walden, voluntarily joined Colonel Garfiell's command, and participated in the engagement throughout the day, until the enemy fled in great confusion. In this two-days' engagement the regiment lost Gp killed, too wounded and 4; missing. out of 650 engaged.
The gallant John M. Corse, of Burling- ton, served as Major until shortly after Shiloh, when he was made a Lieutenant- Colonel. In March, 1863, he became Colonel; in August of the same year, Brigadier- General, and in October, 1864, breveted a Major-General. He was the hero of Alla- toona Pass, and one of the finest soldiers contributed by the State of lowa.
After Shiloh the regiment was stationed at Memphis until the 4th of November, when it proceeded to Grand Junction and wintered. March 1, 1863. the men were mounted and employed in raiding through Tennessee, gathering horses and mules until June 1, when it entered on the Vicks- burg campaign under Gencial Grant. Vicksburg fell on the 3d of july, and the Sixth at once joined the expedition against Jackson. Mississippi. Arriving near that place after some disagreeable experience, the Sixth was finally ordered to push up the Jackson & Canton Raffroad, keeping the line at right angles with that road. This was done under the leadership of Colonel Corse, until the enemy made a stand on the regi nent's left. when Colonel Corse massed Companies D and F, and charged then, driving them through the woods into their own works. The right of the regiment had been halted by Colonel Sanford, commanding the brigade, and the two lines were connected by pickets, and kept in that position until morning, when another advance was made. The enemy
Notwithstanding a vastly superior force. and with no support, the regiment gallant- ly maintained tuis position for more than two hours, and when it became apprent that vo succor was coming to it, and after the enemy had already turned its right flank and be an pouring a galling cross-fire upon it, the regiment was ordered to retire. It fell back in goo Forder. and was assigned to the support of batteries near the river, where it i .mained all night. The next day the regiment wanna formed as a whole, ; resisting, a charge was ordered by Com.
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HISTORY OF CLARKE COUNTY.
panies K, E and B, who, with yels ur! fixed bayonets, drove the nout of the dich they held, killing and wounding quite a number. The ground gained was hell. and after forty hours of most arduous labor the regiment was relieved by another line. On the morning of the 16th the Sixth again pressed forward, capturing some prisoners, killing quite a number, clearing the forest, railroad, fences and corn-fields in their front, and driving the enemy into their works. A battery of siege guns enfiladed our line, and a battery of howitzersimmediately in front commence1 a heavy fire. Colonel Corse made a recon- naissance in person, while the men were lying down on the ground, and after learning all that was requiredl by General Sherman, ordered the regiment back into the woods. The next morning Jackson was entered. General W. L. Smith wrote a highly congratulatory order to the regi- ment for its part in this brief campaign.
The next place the regiment was enabled to perform distinguished service, was at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, under Brigadier-General Corse and Major- General Sherman, the whole being under the direction of General Grant. January 4, 1864, at Scottsboro, Alabama, the regiment re-enlisted. The men were sent home on veteran furlough about the middle of March, and May 12 they re-assembled at Chattanooga. From this time the regiment was in Sherman's Atlanta campaign, then on the march to the sea, through the Carolinas and to Washington. It was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky. July 21, 1365, and paid, and disbanded at Dayen- port.
The Fifteenth lowa Infantry was raised in the autumn of ison, and in November some twenty-five men from Clarke County were received into Company I. Robert W. Hamilton, from Clarke County, was commissioned Sec and Lieutenant, and
served as such until killed it the band! Shiloh. Ensign IL. King went out as First Sergeant; was monde Second Lieut. pant July 4, 1862, and Adjutant of the regiment April 22, 1863. September 19, IPin. in was appointed Chaplain, which position he held until the close of the war.
The Fifteenth was organized at Keokuk, February 22, 1552, and destined to take the field on the Tennessee. It joined Grant's army at Pittsburg Landing, where it went through its "bloody baptism " on April 6 and 7. with a loss of over one-fourth of its number engaged in the two days' fights. It formed a part of Giant's army of the Tennessee (especially under the lamented Major-General McPherson), until General Sherman succeeded General Grant in com- mand, in the autumn of 1863, from which time. as part of the old Seventeenth Ariay Corps, it shared the hardships, the memor- able battles, sieges and hundreds of skir- mishes, as well as the glory, of Sherman's army moving upon and capturing Atlanta, Savannah, the Carolinas, Goldsboro, North Carolina, and Raleigh, North Carolina, where Johuston's rebelarmy-defeated in a hundred battles during the preceding year -was finally brought to surrender April 26, 1865. The regiment was stationed at 128 different points before its disbanding at Davenport. August 5, 1865. During its service the regiment traveled and marched in all $,518 miles.
In the month of July, 1862, a company was raised in Clarke County, which was assigned to the Eighteenth Infantry and given the letter B. William M. Duncan was commissioned as Captain; James M. Bording, First Lieutenant, and Will.on Stonaker, Second Lieutenant. Stonaher was made Captain of Company A Docem- : ber 14, 1862, and resigned October 20, 1864, being succeeded as Captain of the same company by Lieutenant Bereing, of Company B. James M. Higgins went out
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as Sergeant became Sand Lieutenant. General Totten. September 2g. the Army and then First Lieutenant. George W. of the Frontier mivel from Springfield to Bullock also earned the rank of Second Lieutenant.
from the pen of Colonel Hugh J. Camp- bell, the last commander of the Eighteenth. after Colonel E lwar is was made a Briga- dier-General :
" The regiment was enlisted under the call of July 4. 1862, for 300,000 men, but was commenced under special authority. It was raised during the spring and sum- mer of 1862, under numcrous difficulties and discouragements. The public feeling was apathetic. The time was the busiest season of the year, and consequently enlist- ments were slow, and the companies were nearly all only of minimum strength. The pernicious practice of offering exorbitant bounties, which was subsequently adopted. and which aided to recruit the next regi- ments more rapidly, was not then in opera- tion, and the entire regiment was enlisted with only the regular bounty of SIoo, $?5 of which was paid in advance.
" The regiment rendezvoused at Clinton, łowa, and was organized by Adjutant- General Baker, and mustered into the United States service, August 6, 1862, with a total aggregate rank and file of 860 men, under the command of Colonel John Ed. wards.
"August 11, 1862, the regiment started en route to Missouri, to join an expedition then fitting out under General Schofield again.r the enemy in Southwestern Missouri. 1: arrived at Sedalia, Missouri, August ", and was almost immediately ordered
ward the rebel force then lying at and [about Neosho and Newtonia. At New-
The following history of the regiment is tonia the advance of our forces midler General Brown came up with the rebels and engaged them. General Totten's di- vision was ordered up on double-quick to the support of General Brown, but at their advance the enemy retired, leaving the ! field in our possession.
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