USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 18
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During the month the regiment was sent, as were many Iowa troops, into Missouri. Through some inexcusable neglect the names of the members of this company were not published in either of the county papers, and though the com- pany was afterwards recruited in this county, we are unable to find a roster. B. S. Rider was one of the recruiting officers for the Fourth Cavalry and came home the last week in October to solicit new recruits. Superior inducements were held ont.
Quite a number of young men from the north part of the county joined Captain Ainsworth's company at Manchester. On October 15, 1861, this com- pany left for Camp Union so that by the last of October twelve or fifteen of Superior (now Hazleton) Township's best and brightest young men had enlisted
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in this company. Buchanan County had sent over three hundred men to the front-a large proportion considering the population at that time was only 7,000. The last of October, the women of Independence formed a Soldier's Aid Society, its object being to furnish blankets, comforters, and other necessities for the Western Military hospitals. These societies were being organized throughout the country and Buchanan County women were not to be outdone in this grand, noble work of ameliorating suffering and advancing the country's cause. They met at Morse's Ilall on Friday eve., October 25th, and elected the following offieers: Mrs. D. S. Lee, president ; Mrs. J. C. Loomis, vice president ; Mrs. G. W. Bemis, secretary: Mrs. G. C. Jordon, treasurer; Mrs. Dr. Warne, depositary. A constitution was presented and adopted. The first two articles of their constitution read: "The name of this association shall be the Union Army Sanitary Commission ( Auxiliary to the Army Sanitary Commission of the State of Iowa).
"The object of the association shall be to furnish the sick and wounded of the soldiers who may have gone from this state, with such articles as may be needed in the hospitals and camps and not furnished by the Government of the United States. "
The meetings were held at the different halls: Morse's, Allen's, and the Masonic Temple every Saturday afternoon. The women sewed, patched, knit, and quilted all the afternoon, then supper was served, the gentlemen were invited and a social time, with conversation and dancing generally coneluded the meetings. This aid society did a grand and noble work, devoting their time and energy and sacrificing and sharing their personal comforts, to aid the needy and siek soldiers. Their donations were liberal and useful. A 25-cent fee was charged each member.
Other "aid societies " and "soldiers' relief circles" were organized through- out the county. One at Quasqueton organized and elected the following officers: Mrs. II. C. Kellogg, president ; Mrs. O. Whitney, vice president ; Mrs. II. Butter- field, secretary ; Mrs. D. C. Hastings, treasurer, Mrs. T. A. Jernegan, receiver.
This society met every week on Friday afternoon and at their fourth meet- ing had collected quite a sum of money and articles to be shipped to the soldiers.
Also steps were being taken to enroll all persons in the state, liable to military duty, to art as Home Guards, to repel invaders should it become necessary. The authorities thought it possible that they would be compelled to fight rebels on their own soil. that the battlefield might be transferred from Missouri to Iowa. Affairs were in a seething condition in Missouri.
Snch being the case, it was necessary that there should be a speedy and thorough military organization in every part of the state so it was suggested by the county papers that a company of Home Guards be formed immediately in Independence. If their services were not needed, they should at least learn something of the art of war, an art with which every man, especially at such a time, should be in a degree acquainted. In the same issue of that paper, October 22nd, is a local telling of Mrs. D. S. Lee's ( wife of Captain Lee) return from a visit to Company E of the Fifth lowa Volunteers stationed at Boone- ville. Missouri. They had taken the place of the lowa Second Regiment. She reported the boys all well and with Fremont's Regiment in hot pursuit of
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General Price, who according to the latest dispatch had made a stand at Car- thage-sixty miles from Springfield. From this it was expected that the "Independenee boys" would soon have a chance to show their fighting qualities.
Another incident of that date was that the Saturday night previous a mulatto from Missouri had arrived in town. He had been brought out here from Dubuque by Bert Rider of the Cavalry Company who had run across him en route on the boat up from St. Louis and recognized the fatigue uniform of the Independence Guard in which he was dressed. At first he was afraid to aeknowledge where he came from or where he got the suit, claiming he lived in Dubuque but finally, realizing he need have no fear of being deported, he told his story. He had acted as spy by informing the One Hundred and Sixtieth Home Guard stationed at Booneville of the proposed attack of 800 Rebels and then had taken refuge with the Union soldiers and in some way fell into Company E's hands, where he acted as cook for the officers for several weeks. He was perfectly suited and happy until he found, that in accordance with Fremont's proclamation, he would have to be returned to his master, so the officers furnished him clothes and money enough to get him out of the state. Captain Pickerel, of the Benton County Company, accompanied him to St. Louis and from there he took a boat to Dubuque. He knew all the Inde- pendence boys in Missouri and was very devoted to them. He was an intelli- gent, appreciative negro and was delighted with the idea of being a free man. lle was hired to work on Captain Lee's farm. This negro, whose name proved to be Edward Herndon, afterwards went with the Twenty-seventh as a private servant for Colonels Gilbert and Lake. He returned to Independence in Jan- mary, 1863, to recuperate his health and partly from the fact that the Rebels were very severe on contraband negroes and Mr. Edwards feared he might get captured.
In the next issue of the paper was an item telling of the promotion of Second Lieut. W. S. Marshall to the rank of brigade quartermaster with the pay of captain ; A. B. Lewis had also been advanced to sergeant major; and Carl White had some position in the Regimental staff.
In the Civilian of November 26, 1861, is a notice of the death of Charles Marsh of Pine Creek, a member of Company E of the lowa Fifth at Jefferson City, Missouri, said to be the first death, but it seems there must either have been two Charles Marshes or it was a mistake because in an issue of the Guar- dian of March 4, 1862, we see where Charles Marsh, of Captain Lee's Company, had arrived home on a furlough. Ile had been siek for a considerable length of time and not with his company -- and possibly this was accountable for the report of his death. In the Guardian of December 24th is a statement that R. E. Freeman, a brother of P. G. Freeman, a member of Captain Hord's company, was the first to die among those who had gone from this county to the war. Ile died in the hospital at Pacific City, Missouri. Doctor Wright had taken him to his own home and Mrs. Wright had nursed him, but he had had an attack of bilious fever, then measles, and finally consumption elaimed him as a victim. Two other young men were home on furloughs. afflicted with the same disease. Robert Paine of Company E was in a very critical condition and Carl White of Otterville was smitten with the same disease, but it was thought he would recover.
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Measles, mumps, and fevers wrought great havoe in our armies. Disease always proves to be a far more formidable and deadlier foe than the cannon balls and bayonets charge of the enemy.
The ninth regiment of which Company C, "The Light Infantry," after being stationed for several months at Pacific City, engaged for the most part in guarding important railroad connections and bridges, was ordered, on the latter part of January, to break camp and move to the southwest to cooperate with the Federal troops under General Curtis, that had for some time been confronting the combined forces of Price, Van Dorn, and MeCullongh. The Ninth Iowa, with its battery, was in the foremost of the chase after Price and did excellent service. With the rest of Curtis' Division, it was in the neighbor- hood of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and shortly thereafter took part in the battle of Pea Ridge, in which some of our own soldiers did such brave and valiant service.
The brilliant battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, was fought on the 6th, 7th, and 8th of March, 1862. The Fourth and Ninth regiments and the First and Third lowa batteries were in the thickest of this desperate struggle, and earned for themselves and their state an imperishable name. This regiment of Volunteer Patriots, but recently from the peaceful pursuits of secular life, had shown the steadiness of nerve and unconquerableness of purpose which are looked for, ordinarily, only in war veterans.
Some living yet can recall the horrible anxiety and suspense experienced here when news of this battle reached them. Those who had fathers, sons, brothers, and husbands in the Ninth Regiment who might be numbered among the 248 who had attested their courage and patriotism with their lives, and had paid their debt of honor to their country, had but a brief season of uncertainty to be endured when the list of killed and wounded revealed how miraculously the Independence boys had escaped, only one being wounded, and the pall was lifted which threatened to shrond the victory. But other poor souls in the county were called upon to sacrifice their loved ones and forget their misery in the joy of a Union victory. This battle claimed six vietims in Company C. Young Nathan Rice of Vinton, Benton County, who entered the company in July. as second sergeant, and had risen to the rank of first lieutenant, headed the list of killed. Private Julius Furcht was killed and Isaae Arwine mortally wounded, and after a few weeks of suffering died. W. S. Wisennand and John Cart- wright of Spring Grove, and A. J. Windsor of Independence also died of their wounds. Marcena Allen of Littleton and O. K. Engle of Hazleton died of disease a few weeks after the battle, no less victims of war than if they had fallen in the thickest of the fight. Captain Bull, successor of Captain Hord, was slightly wounded, as also were Adjutant Scott, Sergt. P. Sampson, Corps. E. G. Curtis and J. D. Sanders with seventeen privates whose names are as follows: Privates-Isaac Irwine, wounded mortally; G. M. Abbott, wounded, died; Jesse Barnett, wounded; b. D. Curtis, wounded; James Cartwright, wounded, died : J. E. Elson, wounded; Julius Furcht, killed; David Greek, wounded ; C. A. Hobart, wounded ; Stephen Holman, wounded ; John Leather- man, wounded; O. F. Lucky, wounded; Philip Riterman, wounded: William Whisnand, wounded, died; A. J. Windsor, wounded; Russell Rowse, wounded ; Samuel Robbins, wounded.
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Jolin Cartwright, a member of Company C, Ninth, died at the Fremont Honse, Dubuque, May 5th. He had been shot in the foot and did not receive proper medical attention, which neglect caused his death. He was a resident of Spring Grove and a member of Captain Bull's company. He was the third of nine young men who enlisted at the same time from that locality, who died from wounds received at Pea Ridge. Two others of the nine were wounded and two others were sent home disabled. This brave little band had suffered severely. Only two were left in an effective condition and John Leatherman was reported as being unable to live.
S. B. Curtis had three sons in the thickest of the heroic fight at Pea Ridge. One was severely wounded in the leg, and the other slightly in the knee, and the third had a narrow escape, a ball cutting a strap in two on his shoulder. All three were afterwards in the charge of Vicksburg and although fully one- third of the company were either killed or wounded, they miraculously escaped.
Orderly Sampson, Orlando Lucky, Russell Rowse, and George Abbott all were injured in the battle of Pea Ridge. Sampson was wounded in the head ; Russell Rowse had a flesh wound caused by a ball passing through his thigh ; Orlando Lucky also had a wound in the hip.
For several days the town flag was suspended across Main Street, draped in mourning in memory of those volunteers from Independence and Buchanan County who fell in the battle of Pea Ridge.
Lieutenant Marshall of Company C wrote home that he had received his commission as quartermaster with the rank of captain. He was a popular, efficient, and favored officer with his regiment and everyone was glad of his promotion. Alexander Lewis had received a lieutenant's commission. By his soldierly qualities, intelligence, and fidelity to duty, he had gone onward in the line of promotion.
Another victim of the war was Milton Nelson who died of fever in a St. Louis hospital. He came from Greeley's Grove in this county and was a member of Captain Ainsworth's company.
Company C, Ninth Regiment, were at Lebanon on February 8, 1862, pre- paring for a forced march on Springfield. All were in high spirits at the prospect of a fight. Lieutenant Bull was acting as commander after the resig- nation of Captain Hord. He had been offered a position on General Curtis' staff but declined, preferring the captaincy of Company C.
James Sparling of Company C was acting as commissary at the hospital and had proven so valuable to the surgeon that he would not consent to his leaving.
The lowa troops claimed at the battle of Pea Ridge, the position accorded them in every contest in the West, "the post of danger, the post of brave deeds. and the post of death." and Company C had its full quota of these distinctions.
Another incident of the battle of Pea Ridge which depicts the indomitable coolness of the youthful hero E. C. Little was related by Adjutant Scott.
In the beginning of the battle Sergeant Little, who at that time was seven- teen years old, had his gun blown out of his hand by a shell which exploded near him, whirling it so far from him that he could not reeover it. Withont wasting words or time he coolly possessed himself of another and this too was soon ruined by a shot striking it. Unmoved, at least outwardly, he was not
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long in taking his place again "fully equipped" and with this third piece went through the three days' battle without a scratch, although he received several balls in his clothing.
In the foregoing account, it spoke of Captain Bull-(Captain Hord had resigned his commission as captain of Company C and was expected to arrive home soon). There had been considerable complaint against him, and his resig- nation was hailed with general satisfaction by all his men. While in the army, Eugene Woodruff, an Independence boy, received an appointment as cadet to West Point by Colonel Vandever. He was a fine, exemplary citizen and soldier and everyone was delighted over his good fortune. Ile was a member of Company E, Fifth Regiment, stationed at "Booneville and came home to re- euperate before reporting at West Point in June. About this time, Charles Lathrop, of this city, also received an appointment to a clerkship in the Navy Department at Washington. It was a post of much responsibility, but Mr. Lathrop was fully competent for the position. He afterwards became quite prominent in the patriotie societies at Washington and occasionally demon- strated his forensic abilities on the political platform during the exciting cam- paign of 1864.
John Marlin of Captain Lee's company had returned home May 23rd from Corinth. He was discharged on account of deafness.
A meeting of the citizens of the county was held at the courthouse on Satur- day afternoon, May 24, 1862, for the purpose of forming a Soldiers' Relief Association. Isaac G. Freeman acted as chairman and L. A. Main as secretary. The following officers were elected : John Fulton, president ; A. Ingalls and L. W. Hart, vice presidents; W. G. Donnan, secretary ; George Warne, treasurer.
The following gentlemen were selected to form, in connection with the officers of the society, an executive committee: Dr. W. C. Nelson of Superior (now Hazleton ) Township, S. B. Curtis and Henry Sparling of Washington ; J. M. Benthall, Liberty ; M. O. Safford, Sumner ; and George Hovey, Perry Township.
On motion Jacob Rich, Dr. George Warne, and Rev. H. Townsend were appointed delegates to the state convention to be held at Davenport on Wednes- day, June 28. for the purpose of more concerted action. They adopted a con- stitution, a part of which was as follows:
Art. 1. Title. The name of this organization shall be Buchanan County Soldiers' Relief Association.
Art. 2. Object. Its object shall be the relief of the wounded, sick and disabled volunteers, residents of or enlisted from Buchanan County, with sur- gieal or other necessary aid and supplies.
Art. 3. Members. Any person may become a member of this association by contributing to its funds.
There were other articles and laws but these state the general principle of the association.
A finance committee representing every township in the county was appointed by the executive committee: L. D. Lewis of Alton (now Fairbank), John Kent of Superior ( now Hazleton) ; Charles Bennett, Buffalo; J. B. Ward, Madison ; Andrew T. Payne, Fremont ; 1. Il. Morgan, Byron; Rev. Win. Samp- son, Washington ; D. B. Sanford, Perry ; P. G. Davis, Westhurg; Henry Wash- burn, Sumner; James Rankin, Liberty ; Daniel Leatherman, Middlefield ; Philip
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Peyton, Newton ; William Anson, Cono; Joseph MeGeary, Homer ; Joel Phelps, Jefferson.
This organization was the culmination of a meeting held at W. G. Donnan's office on Friday evening, May 16, 1862, to listen to suggestions from Reverend Brindle, of Dubuque, relative to the needs of the soldiers. Other states were making provision for their sick and wounded soldiers and lowa men, the bravest in the field, should not be neglected.
The State Sanitary Commission, of which the women's organizations were auxiliaries, had done a wonderful service and had generously supplied the hos- pital necessities but they could not possibly meet the great want of surgeons and nurses and requisite hospitals and medical stores.
The battles at Fort Donelson and Pittsburgh Landing had demonstrated very conclusively the dire need of these hundreds of our brave soldiers, whose wounds were scarcely serious at first, but many died from them from neglect. So Governor Kirkwood, acting with the State Sanitary Committee, proposed to form county relief associations, through which the names of volunteer sur- geons and nurses might be obtained, ready to go whenever and wherever their services were needed. Another objeet was to facilitate the forwarding of the bodies of deceased soldiers to their friends. The efforts of the associations were to be directed to the relief of our own soldiers. Other states had sent steamers fitted up with every appliance requisite for the relief of their wounded and Iowa soldiers had a right to expect the same consideration at the hands of their friends. The battle then impending at Corinth made prompt and active efforts necessary. Mr. Brindle explained all these points and the motion, that such an organization be established in this county, was carried unanimously. Therefore, on motion. a committee of five, consisting of Messrs. James Fulton, S. J. W. Tabor, Wmn. Sampson. T. H. Bowers, and A. Ingalls were appointed, to take the necessary preliminary steps for the formation of such an association. Reverend Sampson acted as chairman. and Jacob Rich as secretary.
At a meeting of the Soldiers' Aid Society which was held on Friday after- noon, May 2, 1862, for the purpose of reorganization, the following women were elected to office : Mrs. E. J. Pratt, president ; Mrs. E. W. Purdy, vice president ; Miss Mary Woodward, secretary : Miss Louisa Bryant, treasurer; Mrs. Dr. Bry- ant. depositary. Directors-Mrs. Dr. Warne, Mrs. A. E. Wilcox, Mrs. R. Camp- bell, and Mrs. Parker. Solicitors-Mrs. Dr. House, Mrs. A. J. Bowley, Mrs. Bullene. and Mrs. E. Whitney.
The Iowa troops were receiving unstinted praise all over the country for their gallant and fearless bravery in battle. The Chicago papers landed them highly and General Curtis' official report of the battle of Pea Ridge gave ample praise to Colonel Vandever and his regiment. which embraced the Independence Guards, Company C.
During the war there was much bitter feeling throughout the Union sym- pathizing states toward ex-President Buchanan and in the lowa State Register of March 25, 1862, in speaking of the counties named after noted traitors, it said Buchanan County ought to come in for a change of name; for if the man from whom it received its name was not a traitor, he was at best the facile tool of the traitors; many of their prominent citizens are very anxious to have it changed to Lincoln. We have understood that there really was some talk of
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this nature at one time, but nothing materialized from it and the view that the Guardian took of the matter was probably a universal one: "The name eer- tainly is no great credit to the county. but the county, we apprehend, rather honors the name : and in view of the fact that there is so little that is creditable connected with the name, we should be opposed to the change. Let whatever good stands connected with men's names remain." Afterwards the name growing more and more offensive, the papers advocated a change and Quasqueton, Wash- ington, Jefferson, Jackson, and Lincoln were suggested as substitutes.
The Towa Fifth had just received marching orders to the Northern Pacific Railroad, where they surmised they were to be moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, to form part of Lane's brigade, but were sent to Commerce, Missouri, instead, probably to join Pope's division which was headed toward New Madrid.
Reverend Sampson was the home treasurer for our soldier boys, who every few weeks sent home money to the amount of several hundred dollars. This amount increased until it reached several thousand at times-once as high as $5,068, the savings for three or four months, and he would distribute it to their folks, and in that way save considerable expense. In the winter of 1862. the position of Captain Lee's company was changed in the regiment and was then Company ( or the color company. Lieutenant Foley and Sergeant White, while here, had recruited five men for the Fifth Regiment. Four of them were from Inde- pendence. They were John H. Stewart, Henry Williams, Charles Brockway, Henry Whait. all fine young men. The other recruit was W. McCray from Bremer County.
Lieutenant Jordan wrote from Cairo, under date of February 22d, that he had but fifty-seven men, having detailed twelve men on detached service at St. Charles, Missouri. The rest were either discharged or sick at home or in hospitals in Missouri. Captain Lee was still at Booneville, having been left there as provost marshal-he was responsible for a large amount of property which he must guard until he could properly dispose of it. The Fifth lowa was then in Pope's division in the field.
In the battle at Fort Donelson, the Twelfth Iowa Regiment had two killed and twenty-seven wounded. Captain Ainsworth's company of Manchester was in this regiment and had four men slightly wounded. R. C. Palmer and George Kint from Hazleton were among those. Recruiting officers were stationed at Independence and Qnasqueton to receive volunteers and were receiving fresh recruits all the time. As we have stated. the Fifth was doing siege duty with Pope's brigade at New Madrid, Missouri, seeking to capture this place and thus break the strength of the Confederacy. It held the place by a force of 40,000 rebels behind a double line of fortifications, and was one of the links in that chain of defenses which seemed to bind the Mississippi to the South with bands of steel. During the siege, the fatigne and exposure, arting upon a eonstitu- tion already enfeebled by disease, prostrated the gallant Jordon and even while his friends at home were indulging in hopes that rest and care would fully restore him, a relapse took him beyond the need of human aid and in the midst of the rejoicing over the signal victory of our troops at Pea Ridge and Fort Donelson, and the wonderful escape from loss of life of the Buchanan County boys, came the unlooked for announcement that Lieutenant Jordon of Company E. Fifth Iowa, was dead.
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Lieut. George C. Jordan was one of the most popular and best loved men who left our county to go to the front. Kind, generous, intelligent, noble, and virtuous, he won all hearts and seeured universal esteem. The news of his death was a great shoek to the community and produced the deepest and most sincere mourning. It was looked upon as a great public calamity. Never had there lived here a man who was more honored and respected, or one who was more lamented; never had there been a death which caused such general and such profond grief. For thirteen years he had been a very close and intimate friend and business partner of Mr. Rich, editor of the Guardian, and that gentle- man wrote one of the most beautiful and impressive eulogies to him that it has ever been our privilege to read. It was full of the highest encomiums and praises worthy the noble hero that he was. The county papers were entirely devoted to the obituary ; memorials, letters and resolutions concerning him, eulogy and adoration for his beautiful and noble life-sorrow and regret for his sad, untimely death. At a meeting of the commissioned officers of the Fifth lowa Volunteers, at regimental headquarters, resolutions of sympathy and condolence to the grief-stricken wife and the sorrowing friends and relatives were drafted by a committee of three, consisting of Lieutenant Morarity, Captain Lee, and Lieutenant Caswell, and one of the resolutions was that the offieers of the Fifth Iowa Volunteers wear the usual military badge of mourning for thirty days. Company E also held a meeting in eamp at New Madrid for the purpose of expressing their sorrow for the loss of their highly esteemed officer, Lient. George C. Jordan, and extending their sympathies to his afflicted family and friends. Lieut. W. S. Marshall, Acting Adjt. A. B. Lewis, and Private Cyrus J. Reed were appointed to draft resolutions.
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