USA > Iowa > Muscatine County > Muscatine > First and second re-unions of the Thirty-fifth Iowa infantry held at Muscatine, Iowa. First re-union, September 29, 1886. Second re-union, October 2 and 3, 1889 > Part 2
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8. DEPARTURE TO POCAHONTAS, TENNESSEE.
Sometime after the campaign against Vicksburg ended we were re- called to Vicksburg, sent up the river by boat to Memphis, Tennessee, and then sent out by rail to Pocahontas, in the same State. The right wing
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of the regiment was stationed at Pocahontas and the left wing at Middle- town, six miles west on the railroad. In these places we spent the greater part of the winter, returning to Memphis in January or February, and from there soon after to Vicksburg
9. DEPARTURE ON THE EXPEDITION UP RED RIVER.
Soon after our returu to Vicksburg we were sent under Gen. A. J. Smith with a force of about 10,000 men to assist Gen. Banks on Red river. We proceeded by boats down the Mississippi, past Natchez, and up Red river to Atchafalaya Bayon, and down the Bayou to Simport. From Simport we marched across the country through Moreauville, Mansuri; Coceanville, and Marksville, where we saw the French flag flying from some of the houses. to Ft. de Russy, on Red river, which was captured by our advanced forces about the time we arrived. At Ft. de Russy we were again put upon the boats and taken up to Alexandria.
IO. EXPEDITION TO HENDERSON'S HII,L.
Shortly after our arrival at Alexandria, we were sent out against a force encamped at Henderson's Hill, some 22 miles distant. We marched all day through the rain and splashing mud, until we came in sight of the hill, per- haps two miles away. Our cavalry had formed immediately in front of the hill, and some of our artillery were cannonading the enemy. A large bayou flowed past the foot of the hill, separating it from the Union forces in front, then made a turn coming down on our left. The bridge immediately in front of the hill was burned to prevent any Federal force from crossing. We were sent over a bridge on our left and marched across little miry bayous, over hills, and through pine woods toward the enemy's rear. Night cante on us intensely dark; a caisson belonging to a battery sent with us was mired down, and was extricated only with great trouble and considerable delay. Our brigade, consisting of the 35th Iowa and 33rd Missouri, in some way became separated from the rest of the force that crossed the bayon with us. Some time after the separation we were commanded to halt and broke ranks, and remained where we halted perhaps an hour. When we stopped we were wearied and heated by the march, the perspiration rolled in hot streams down our faces; our clothes were drenched with the incessant rain. After halting awhile the cold, damp air began to chill us. The cold, wet ground forbid our lying or sitting down to rest. Uncomfor- table and cheerless as the prospect was, the boys were not to be disheart- ened. By some means they succeeded in kindling a fire. and in an inered- ibly short space of time the flames from a dozen cheerful fires lit up the darkness of the old pine woods and the men gathered in double and triple circles round them. At length we resumed our march; companies A and K were sent in our immediate advance as scouts. The rebel pickets not dream- ing of our advancing from the rear, were gathered about their bright fires to keep themselves warm, and while the light enabled us to see them plainly, it so blinded them that they could not see us. The scouts were perhaps at no time more than 100 yards ahead of the regiment, so that riding with the colonel at the head of the regiment I could see, though I could hear nothing when each capture took place. We captured in rapid succession post after post until we arrived at and took possession of the hill. The first intima- tion the enemy had of our approach was a volley of inusketry fired by com- pany E as they surrounded a large white house in which the rebel officers were quartered. The rebels had a gun pointing in the direction from which we came, and as we crowded the lane from side to side, had they known we were coming they could have done us an immense damage. After the cap- ture we returned with our prisoners, and with music of fife and drum and floating baimers, in triumph to Alexandria.
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II. DEPARTURE TO GRAND ECORE.
A few days after the capture of Henderson's Hill, we marched around the rapids above Alexandria, and re-embarked on the boats, and went up the river to a point opposite to Grand Ecore. The next day we marched up to the village of Campte, to support some eastern regiments which had a sharp encounter with the enemy near the village. Returning we crossed the river to Grand Ecore.
12. EXPEDITION TO PLEASANT HILL.
We left Grand Ecore the next day, and marched through a rough, bar- ren and hilly country, covered with a thick pine woods, and from the mid- dle of the day till we went into camp, through rain and ind. The second day, late in the afternoon, we heard heavy cannonading at a distance, which we supposed proceeded from our ginboats on the river. In the evening, abont dark, we went into camp a short distance from the village of Pleasant Hill. The next morning, long before daylight, we were roused from our slumbers by the roll of the drum, and commanded to prepare our break- fasts. Orders were soon issued to put out the fires, and word was circulated that Banks' force had met with a serious disaster. About daylight we saw a column of colored troops belonging to Banks' army, marching along the road past our camp to the rear. About io o'clock a. in., we heard the dull sound of one or two distant cannon, which continued at intervals, and seemed to be coming nearer through the day. About 3 p. m., Gen. Smith's force moved up to Pleasant Hill, and formed in line of battle just at the edge of the village, in an open field which sloped gradually down to the timber. The 35th was placed between a Vermont Battery immediately on our left, and an Indiana Battery a little further down the hill and in the timber on our right. At a signal of five shells explo ling high in the air, the Rebels drove back our line of skirmishers in the timber, and charged up the field At the same time their batteries opened on us with a storm of shot and shell. While our men were lying down waiting for orders to charge, a shell struck Peter Harrison, of Company A, tearing off one si le of his head, and entered the breast of Capt Henry Blank, killing them both instantly. They were brave and true mien. The Rebels, confident of victory, pressed up the feld driving our skirmishers before them, and cheering with an enthusiasm inspired by the victory of the previous day. Horsemen and footmen who had come upon the field, not to engage in, but be spectators of the fight, when they saw that our skirmishers were falling back, and the Rebels ad- vancing, and heard the shells whistling and the bullets singing around them, scattered and disappeared over the hills in the rear. As the Rebels approached, our line was ordered to fire, and poured upon them a volley of unisketry so deadly as to check their advance to anticipated victory. Our men then charged upon them with defiant cheers, while the Vermont Bat- tery on our left, opened on them a galling fire. The Rebel line reeled and staggered, and began to fall back. They endeavored to make a stand at a ditch, which thinly skirted with cane, ran across the field about half way down. But they were soon driven from the ditch ahnost to the timber, where it was said they were reinforced, when they again rallied. A desper- ate and apparently concentrated attack was made on our left, in which was the 35th. But being repulsed, they seemed to concentrate upon our right, but were again beaten back. Massing their strength they strove to force our center, but our men charged upon them with resistless courage and de- termination, cutting them down at every discharge, like grass before the mower's scythe; until despairing of success they fled precipitately from the field. Until late that night I accompanied the ambulances and assisted in picking up the wounded and placing them in a house which we used as a hospital. The next day presented the strange occurrence of the vanquish-
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ers and the vanquished running away from each other as fast as they could, the Rebels 16 miles toward Mansfield, and we 18 miles toward Grand Ecore. It was reported that Generals Smith and Mower wanted to go on to Shreve- port, and that Banks was inflexible in his commands to retreat: It is uni- versally admitted that the battle of Pleasant Hill, under Gen. Smith, saved Banks' army. After this battle we returned immediately to Grand Ecore.
13. RETURN TO VICKSBURG.
From Grand Ecore we marched to Alexander, passing through Natchito- ches, and Clouterville, and over Cain river crossing, falling into line of bat- tle and skirmishing more or less every day. From Alexandria we moved out to Gov. Moore's plantation, where we remained a few days, and then started for the mouth of Red river. After we had reached Red river and were marching along the bank some rebels on the opposite side opened on us with musketry but were soon silenced by shot and shell from our gun- boats. Just after passing through Marksville we had a short but sharp encounter with the enemy who were stationed in the timber while we had to form in the open fields. In this skirmish Win. Fitzsimmons, of company F, received the wound from which he afterward died. The next day the rebels attacked our rear guard of cavalry, and getting in the rear of one brigade succeeded in cutting it off from the main force. The 13th corps which formed the rear portion of the infantry, was sent forward, and the 35th Iowa and two or three other regiments were sent to the rear to the relief of the cav- alry. They fell into line of battle in the edge of the timber; the rebels then fell back, releasing the brigade they had hoped to capture. Shortly after we resumed our march the boys saw a box of hard tack laying along side of the road; one of them started towards it when a rebel shell struck the box, breaking it into atoms and scattering the crackers in every direction. About 4 o'clock the same day we formed a line of battle along a deep ditch in a ploughed field, and waited for the enemy. They soon made their appearance in the edge of the timber, when three of our batteries, with twelve or eighteen guns, opened on them with a most terrible fire of grape and cannister, effectually checking their further progress. The next morn- ing, about 7 o'clock, we crossed Yellow Bayou near Ft. Taylor, which was situated at the junction of that Bayou and Bayou de Glaze, and encamped. About H1 o'clock the rebels, who all morning had been skirmishing with our piekets, appeared in considerable force; a force, including our regi- ment, was ordered to recross the Bayou to meet them. Capt. Burmaster, of Company C, was ordered to deploy his men as skirmishers along Bayou de Glaze to protect our right from any foree that might be'on the opposite side. In the performance of this duty.he received a wound which resulted in his death. Our men advanced on double quick a mile from Yellow Bayou to the place where we hal formed a line of battle the evening before. The enemy then fell back some distance to the edge of a sugar plantation, and seemed to await our coming. An additional force was brought to ns, and our batteries opened on the rebels, to which they replied with a terrible storm of shot and shell. The rebels then advanced, and our men, lying on the edge of a field with briars, were ordered to charge. It was impossible to cross the field in regular line of battle, hence they had to advance in broken line, some crawling a short distance on their hands and knees, some paus- ing a moment to open a passage through the thickly tangled briars, others turning to the right or left to get around some impenetrable obstacle, but all pressing forward with irrepressible determination and courage. The rebels made a desperate effort to flank ns, but failed, and though stubbornly contesting every inch of ground, were beaten back at every point. It was reported that the rebels had a considerably larger force engaged than we had, and that none of Banks' army was in this fight. In this battle Fred. Hill, the
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son of the Colonel, a very bright and promising youth, was killed while accompanying his father through the thickest of the strife. After the battle of Yellow Bayou we marched to the mouth of Red River, and embarking on boats, arrived at Vicksburg May 22d, 1864, having been gone two months and twelve days.
14. EXPEDITON TO TUPELO, MISS.
We were sent from Vicksburg to Memphis by boat, and on our way up the river our Regiment was sent on a short expedition out from the river in Arkansas, and had a sharp skirmish with the enemy, in which we lost a brave and worthy officer in Major Johns. From Memphis our Regiment was ordered by rail out into Mississippi to destroy as far as possible a line of railroad which was of great importance to the enemy in the transporta- tion of troops and supplies. Leaving the railroad, I think at Holly Springs, we marched to about a mile beyond Pontituc, and camped for the night. The next morning we returned to Pontitne and directed our march towards Tupelo. About the middle of the afternoon, as we were marching through a rough country, where the brush was very thick on either side of the road, a volley of musketry was fired into us from the brush on our right, killing the Qartermaster of the 7th Minnesota and some others, but not injuring any of our regiment. Skirmishers were sent out, but the rebels were nowhere to be seen. At night we went into camp at Tupelo, near which a sharp fight had occurred the day before. The next morning we fell into line of battle, and about 10 a. in. the rebels charged upon us in force, but after a hard nght of three or four hours, were driven from the field. That night about 12 o'clock an attempt was made to surprise our left wing, but the enemy were again sig- nally repulsed. After the battle of Tupelo we returned to our camp near Memphis. My sketch here necessarily closes, for though the Regiment was sent on an expedition to Oxford, Miss., I was not with them, and when they returned and were ordered to Arkansas my resignation was accepted, and I left the Regiment and came home. My sketch is necessarily imperfect. A full account of the doings and experience of the Regiment, and the inci- dents relating to it, even so far as I might be able to recall thiem, would require longer time than could be given to it on occasions like the present.
CONCLUSION.
Comrades, the war, with all the accompanying circumstances that tried men's souls, has passed away into the history of former times. Neither you or I desire to pass through those scenes again, yet the experience we gained, even if it could be parted with, we would not sell for untold wealth. As you read of the history of our civil war, of the triumph of the nation over rebellion, and of right over wrong, you will have the proud consciousness that a part of that history you yourselves have made. Since that time the nation has wonderfully grown in prosperity and power. It has attained to a National grandeur unparalleled in the history of nations. Its progress in education, literature, science and art, commerce, agriculture, mining and manufacturing is truly wonderful. Over its numerous broad and navigable streams, and its thousands of miles of railway the commerce of the world is rushing, distributing the produce of all lands, however remote, through our towns, villages and country, laying them, as it were, at the door of almost every dweller in the land. The bammer under which you marched and fought waves over a vast territory, which, in developed and undevel- oped resources surpasses that of any nation in the world. And this mighty nation, with all its wonderful growth and unmeasured possibilities, your sacrifice and efforts have helped to save. Your names may not appear upon the pages of history, yet your places among the saviors of the nation are as
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real as the most distinguished generals who, by their skillful command of armnies, obtained the admiration and praises of the world.
Comrades! many who started out with us over a quarter of a century ago have long passed "to that undiscovered country from which 110 traveler returns." Some went from the field of battle, some from the hospital, some from the camp, and others from the peaceful scenes of home; and we are rapidly marching down to that mysterious crossing where we shall go over to join the invisible army on the other side. Some of you were then mere youths, but families have grown up about you and call you father, and some of you have grandchildren now, your hair is either turning or has turned gray, time has put furrows in your cheek and brow and taken from you the activity, strength and vigor of your younger years. In a few years, at most, it will be said of us a : is now said of the Revolutionary veterans, "all are gone." We will uever all ineet again in a Re-union of the 35th, bit wherever we may be, however widely separated, under whatever circum- stances placed, we will never forget but always remember with pride the old 35th, which, in the hour of deadliest danger, never failed to respond to its country's call.
Major Harry O'Connor followed in a short speech, which was one of the Major's best, and the boys took it all in, and applauded to the echo. The meeting adjourned until evening, when the camp fire would be lighted.
THE CAMP FIRE.
CLOSING SCENES OF THE RE-UNION. ١
Never did a brighter or more genial assembly gather about a veterans' camp fire than filled Olds' Opera House this evening, and never did a camp fire shed a more genial influence than radiated from the glowing embers of the 35th Re-union. The city turned out to do parting honors to the old Regiment, and standing room was at a premium.
Colonel Keeler presided, and invited Rev. Dr. Robbins to invoke the Divine blessing. "America" followed, led by the organ and choir, and sung by all.
The first speaker introduced was the "old war governor," Hon. S. J. Kirkwood, whose appearance was warmly greeted. The Governor thought the lessons of the war were not sufficiently impressed upon the young men of the country-those who were in infancy when the 35th and other regi- ments were marching home from their heroic service. The speaker dilated upon the beauty, extent and resources of our continental country, embrac- ing all climes and every possibility of nature, and contrasted its present wealth and grandeur with what would have been its utter worthlessness except as a bloody arena for hostile sections had these veterans of the 35th and their comrames not done their part so well. He was afraid that in the mad rush of money getting in this age the young men of the country were too little sensible of the obligation due to men who became subject to sick-
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uess and wounds and death that the government of the people, by the peo- ple and for the people might not perish from the earth. One thing he had against the veterans was their indifference to preserving the anecdotal inci- dents of the war, and thought that everybody who knew a good story of fact should send it to the State Historical Society. He closed with an aurus- ing story of Colonel John Scott, who wished the Governor to send some man down to him in Mississippi who wasn't afraid of a hereafter, and could do the subject justice.
President Keeler called Dr. W. S. Robertson to the platform to keep the ball in motion. The Doctor said he presmed he was drafted into service to respond for the outside military, as he represented what was called "Iowa Five" (5th Iowa Infantry). The Governor had referred to his membership with the Royal League, which was a noble organization, and the speaker was proud of his connection with it; but it was no comparison with the Grand Army which was fighting those rebels down there so long, and he was glad to meet with one of the Union's grandest regiments this evening, and to felicitate it upon its splendid re-union. The Doctor continued in a brief, reminiscential talk of the war, which evoked the frequent cheers of the house.
The President's eye caught sight of the head and illuminated counte- uauce of Colonel C. C. Horton, of the 2nd Iowa Cavalry, and ordered him to the front. The order was-"Colonel Horton will please come forward and address the meeting," and it was a surprise to the gallant raider, but soklier-like he obeyed. He came to the front and was grasped by his fellow Colonel's hands and duly presented as a representative of a service for whose dead members considerable of a reward was offered at the beginning of the war, (great laughter) alluding to Gen. Hooker's offer of $25 for the siglit of a dead cavalryman.
The Colonel was received with a royal welcome, and though saying that he must be off at once and see his wife, he stayed long enough to draw a picture of "Nashville" and the splendid fighting of the 35th witnessed by him in those battles.
Capt. F. W. Doran was the next mau impressed, and was "sent off" by the President as the "Marshal of the Irish Brigade." He found fault at once with the five minutes limitation. He said it took him that time to work himself up, but when he began he was like Grant-ready to fight it out on that line if it took all summer. He had been very sick, and was afraid at one time that he would not have the happiness of meeting with the boys; it really looked as if he would be called to his Heavenly Father, "and boys," said he, "I am going to get there yet (laughter and cheers); for I don't care what is meted out to other fellows; they will probably get their
.
MELVILLE CHI
S. M. COBB, Surgeon 35th Regiment, Iowa V'ol. Inf.
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deserts; but the old veteran of the 35th is going straight from Iowa to Heaven." (Great cheering.) He went on to say that it needed the same Providence from on high to take care of the boys with those Australian mus- kets, which latter the Captain described amid uproarious merriment, and then left his operations in the field to consider the present hardships of the mumarried veteran. (Note .- The Captain was not married until after the war.) There could be no report of a speech, every line of which was a witticism, exploding the house, and which was delivered amid continuous convulsions of laughter.
Hon. R. M. Burnett was next introduced, and received with the warm welcome of the Regiment and the house. His remarks were brief and re- lated to the duty of the home guard, in planting and digging potatoes to send to the boys at the front, and in general following the example of the men in David's times who "staid by the stuff." There was much to be done at home by loyal men and women, for it would have been fatal to the Union cause if the rear of the army in the North had been left open to the aggres- sions of the enemy.
Captain Tobe Brown was shouted for, and came forward amid cheers and proceeded without much formality to deliver himself of one of the quaint- est and best speeches of the evening. He took his revenge on President Keeler by narrating, with graphic force, how the Colonel jumped on him for not guarding a certain keg with more military diligence and greater honesty, and his remarks were full of illustrations of army life that brought down the house.
Colonel Keeler himself was now vociferously called upon for a speech, and rising, said he was no speech-maker, but while on his feet would ntter the reflection that had impressed itself upon him that day of how the boys were getting to be old men. It was scarcely realizable that the old 35tli was a regiment of boys when it went to the front, but such was the fact, the larger majority of them probably under 25 The Colonel said he would not extend his speech, but would give them his sentiments in a recital of a com- position which would be appreciated by all veterans, and he rendered with happy dramatic effect the poem, "We've Drank from the Same Canteen," which was loudly applauded.
Surgeon S. M. Cobb was called for, and was introduced as "Old Qui- nine," but excused himself from speaking.
O. H. P. Linn, Sergeant of Company F, was loudly called for, and gave a very interesting recital of events incidental to the main line of the Regi- ment's history.
Rev. Dr. Robbins was introduced as the oldest pastor in the city and one who had held the tenderest and saddest as well as joyful relations with the
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35th, and as the minister who officiated at the burial of the first Union sol- dier brought home from the South. The Doctor said:
The 35th had so many good warm and true friends of mine in it that it seemed, perhaps, more than any other, my Regiment. To it, with one or two regiments, at Camp Strong, I preached the only sermon I ever preached to soldiers in camp. Several of them, brought home dead, I have sadly, but with gratitude for what they had done for their country and for freedom, helped to bury and cherish tenderly their memory.
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