USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 21
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As an entire company of cavalry was not raised in this county, it is difficult to keep track of the many volunteers from this county who joined outside cav- alry troops or even to acquire an accurate list of their names. We have previ- ously mentioned different recruiting officers being stationed in this county for the purpose of enlisting recruits. Many of these were for cavalry companies and each one got some volunteers. The First, Fourth and Sixth Iowa Cavalry all had representatives from this county; the First probably had the greatest number, forty-eight leaving on Thursday, September 4, 1862, per rail for Du- buque. Their names are as follows:
W. H. McGill, Alanson Sager. William Foote, C. Poecock, Dewit Kelley, E. Lotterdale, D. Brown, C. Edgecomb, C. McGill, F. W. Paine, S. Il. Rose, T. Flemming, J. Wentworth, H. C. Skinner, P. B. Turner, J. West, A. Palmer, Otter C. Anton, W. H. Baker, R. Kelley, H. P. Jones, J. Wadley, W. George, I. C. Jones, Ludebeck Long, F. Weik, W. G. Cummings, Levi S. Drunkwalter, John H. Williams, Charles Porter, Oscar Daniels, E. H. McMillen. Lyman Ayrault, Edgar Mills, M. D. Carpenter, Edward Brown, J. S. Thompson, Loy Hutchins. Howard Hall, E. L. Chickenbrend, G. Ellworth, HI. Babcock, JJohn Furman, Stephen Burk, - Hibby, George Carr, John Boehline, George H. Davis. The Fourth had between twenty-five and thirty from here.
In March, 1863, the Sixth Iowa Cavalry, which had been encamped at Davenport and in which Buchanan County had representatives, had been or- dered to Sioux City by General Pope to protect the frontier against Indians. News had also come of the death of Lieut. Alexander B. Lewis in a hospital at Keokuk on February 25, 1863. It came as a great shock to his friends here, because just the week previous letters from his company at Memphis rejoiced in the assurance that their beloved and esteemed officer would be with them soon. Among the thousands of the noblest and best who had sacrifieed themselves upon the altar of their country no one was more worthy than Lieutenant Lewis. He was a most extraordinary man, possessing qualities of mind and heart which attracted to him a host of friends, and those added to his mental abilities, intins- try, application and ambition would have insured him a sneeessful career as a
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lawyer, the profession he had chosen. But when the first call came for volun- teers, he was almost the first to enlist in this county, and went into the ranks as a private soldier under Captain Lee. Hle soon, however, attracted the atten- tion of Colonel Worthington, who made him sergeant-major of his regiment, the Fifth lowa, and afterwards, on the death of Lientenant Jordon, insisted on having him commissioned as first lieutenant of Company E, to the extreme pleasure of the company-they thought he would replace the noble friend they had lost in Lieutenant Jordan. At the victorions battle of Inka, fought on September 19, 1862, where the Fifth Regiment made itself an honored name, he received a dangerous wound in the hip, and from that time until his death on the 25th of February, 1863, he was confined to a bed of intense suffering. lle tried to get home the last of October, but could get no further than Keokuk, and there for over five months, bearing his suffering with a calmness and cour- age only possible to a noble, strong-hearted hero, he at last was relieved from duty and promoted to a far superior rank in the great army of the eternal realms.
The love and esteem with which he was held, and the appreciation of his many virtues and capabilities were expressed in the beautiful tributes of friends and soldier companions and in the resolutions of different societies passed in honor of him.
Captain Wright of Company C of the Ninth Iowa had returned home on Friday, March 20, 1863, having resigned his commission on account of ill health. We have previously mentioned his illness, and now he was forced to this end, mich as he regretted it. Sergt. Robert Bain of Company C, Ninth Iowa, was killed on the 30th of March in the siege of Vicksburg. He was a fine young man and an excellent soldier, and his death was deeply regretted by all who knew him.
The officers of the Ninth voluntarily and cordially expressed their sincere appreciation of him and their extreme regret at his loss in fitting resolutions. His company also adopted resolutions of appreciation, sympathy and regret at his departure. Captain Wright was naturally of a frail constitution and had endured the hardships and deprivations of army life for eighteen months with- out murmur or complaint, but it had gradually demoralized his health. IIe had been a faithful and conscientious soldier and a thoughtful and considerate officer.
William A. Brace, a resident of Bnehanan County and a member of the Seventh lowa Cavalry, had been made recruiting officer and was stationed in Independence in March, 1863.
In March, 1863, Governor Kirkwood issued a sanitary circular with letters of Mrs. Whittenmyer, head of the lowa Sanitary Commission, stating the terrible conditions of our soldiers-the prevalence of seurvy, the fearful ravages which it and other diseases indneed by the absence of a vegetable diet were making, and begging people to send vegetables quickly. Under this appeal of the governor Quasqueton sent a couple of loads of different things and Doctor Warne shipped from Independence 16 barrels of potatoes, 4 barrels onions, 1 barrel of eggs, 1 firkin of pickles, firkin cabbage, and a large box filled with wines, jellies, pickles, horseradish, corn, etc.
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Doctor Warne and his wife were among the indefatigable workers in the interests of the soldiers and deserved and received the soldiers' grateful appre- ciation. At a meeting of the Alton Union Club, held at the Minton Sehool- house, in Fairbank Township, on March 26, 1863, resolutions were adopted condemning the bitter partisan spirit which was becoming so dangerously vindie- tive and malicious and enlogizing and indorsing the President, the administra- tion and the war policies, and urging upon all loyal, true Americans, withont regard to party, to unite in a supreme effort to save the Union.
All through the county patriotic societies, churches and school districts were participating in sneh proceedings. In Independence, Winthrop, Quasqueton, Hazleton and all the small communities copperhead and Union meetings were frequently held, often at the same time, and the bitter feeling was growing instead of abating. Almost every week a Union meeting was held in the court- house at Independence and a copperhead or democratie club meeting at Allen's Hall, with speakers of note to make the addresses. Often their meetings were condneted as a debate. This feeling even permeated the hearts of the gentler sex. A party of Union women whose husbands, fathers and sons and brothers were in the Union army talked of dneking a woman who lived on Spring Creek who was persistently hurrahing for Jeff Davis. The presence of her husband probably saved her. These loyal women would not tolerate such open treason in their midst.
The President appointed Thursday, April 30, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer, and the churches were to observe it with Union serviees.
Captain Miller of the Twenty-seventh returned home Saturday, April 25, 1863, in a very feeble state of health, suffering from a spinal injury which he received in the service, and, being unable to continue, he was honorably dis- charged. He was a fine soldier; patriotie, honorable and kind to his men. He brought home with him $5,272 from members of his company and $242 from Captain Noble's company. Reverend Sampson also received $3,647.25 from Captain Noble's company. Mr. Blair of Quasqueton brought $1,000 from mem- bers of the First Cavalry and various other sums sent home, so in all, probably eleven thousand dollars must have been received in this county from just two regiments. The soldiers evidently saved their money and remembered their families at home.
The next report from the front was on June 9, 1863, from Major Marshall of the Fifth lowa, which had been in three engagements on May 14, 16 and 22, in the vicinity of Vieksburg, one at Jackson, one at Champion Hills, and the other at Vicksburg, and lost, in killed and wounded, 125 men. The list of killed and wounded of Company E was as follows:
At Jackson, May 14: Corp. William Codling, wounded severely.
At Champion Hills, May 16:
Killed-Sergt. Joseph HI. Me Williams, Corp. John JJarrett, Corp. Castleton Leatherman, Privates James Bell, Levi Overhulser.
Wounded-Corp. W. P. Morse, slightly ; Privates John Davis, severely ; A. J. Franeis, dangerously; George Gray, slightly; J. MeCray, severely, and died some weeks afterwards: Julius F. Phelps, severely ; S. A. Reed, slightly; W. H.
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Sayre, slightly; John Shea, severely; H. C. Sprague, slightly; T. C. Pucket, slightly ; R. Whait, slightly ; W. Crawford, died a few weeks afterwards.
At Vieksburg, May 22:
Wounded-William H. Crawford, severely ; II. W. Snider, slightly.
Captain Lee and Lieutenant Peek miraculously escaped injury, though with their command through the entire battle, cheering the boys on to victory or to a hallowed grave. The Captain said to them at the Battle of Champion Hills, "Boys, follow me," and truly they did, every last man of them. Scarcely a one but showed an honorable mark, either in his flesh or clothes, and it was wonderful how many narrow escapes there were. Indeed, it was a miracle that so many lived to tell the tales of suffering and privation, of their recent hard marches, hard battles and hard fare.
Capt. E. C. Little sent home a list of the killed and wounded of Company C of the Ninth lowa, which also was in the Vicksburg encounter. All the wounded were in hospitals at Champion Hill.
The killed were: Lient. H. P. Wilbur, Corp. L. A. Persall, Private George Freyberthanser.
Wounded -- Capt. E. Little, Sergt. J. M. Elson, Corp. Renben Rouse, Alpheus Losey, II. Il. Ford, William Willey.
All were in the hospital at Memphis, Tennessee. John Ford had his right foot amputated, but there were no other dangerous wounds. The Captain had a couple of flesh wounds, but made light of them. The Ninth Iowa had again distinguished itself and honored the state by its deeds of valor at Vieksburg, but the victory eost dearly -- many of our noble, gallant heroes were sacrifieed to that end.
Martin K. Hallock of Company E died of congestive fever at Milliken's Bend and Sergt. Frederick Spragg of the Twenty-seventh died in the regimental hospital at Jackson, Tennessee. His death was sudden and nnexpected.
Captain Little came home on a furlough Friday, Inne 12, 1863, and went to his home at Littleton. He told a graphic tale of the Vicksburg battle. Having been wounded, he lay on the field with the bullets falling thick as hail around him, some grazing his body. one entering the flesh of his hip, but not injuring the bone. There he lay until darkness closed down upon them and hostilities were abandoned, and finally his men found him and carried him from the field. llis injuries were painful but not serious. Captain Little was of very youthful appearance, and at that time was but little over eighteen years. He entered the army as a private, but had been promoted to the captainey of Company C and was capable in every way to fill so responsible a command. He was anxions to and expected to return to his company in two weeks.
Captain bee wrote home of the death of Capt. Thomas Blonden, formerly a member of Company E, Ninth lowa. He was killed at Milliken's Bend on June 6, 1863. He had applied for and obtained the captainey of a company of negro troops organized in General Grant's department and these negro troops were attacked by a considerable force of rebels at Milliken's Bend and after a desperate encounter these succeeded in driving back their assailants. Captain Blondin was shot in the breast while gallantly leading his troops. He lived but a few hours and, though perfectly aware of his condition, calmly submitted to
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his fate. He was a noble, whole-souled man, who performed his duty well and died as valiantly and courageously as ever a soldier did.
Another letter from the Twenty-seventh tells of their skirmishes with the guerrillas, but no casualties had taken place. John Buck of Independence had accidentally shot himself in the leg, shattering the bone and compelling amputa- tion. It was feared the wound would prove fatal.
Judge Tabor, who had been appointed fourth auditor of the treasury, had at that time been performing his duties but two weeks and was perfectly familiar and more efficient with the office than some heads of bureaus who had grown gray and gouty in the service, and still had time to deliver a speech at the head- quarters of the Union Leagues at Washington on the 23d of June to a large andience. He spoke for two hours to a cordial, appreciative audience of Union men and women. He also was the Fourth of July orator of the Columbian College Hospital at Washington, District of Columbia, and his earnestness and elo- quence captivated his audiences.
Independence was preparing to celebrate the Fourth and some mean, con- temptible individuals (probably copperheads, so the opposition said) had stolen the town cannon so as to prevent the firing of salutes. This was the second offense of that nature. Also the ropes to flagstaffs had been cut in several places around town.
But evidently a cannon was obtained in time for celebrating, because at day- break "the deep boom and clear ring" of a new cannon startled the town from repose and made the copperheads feel how perfectly futile their meanness in stealing the old cannon had proven, in the way of a lessening Union thunder. This started the grandest success in the way of a demonstration that ever had been achieved in Independence. By 9 o'clock the delegations from the extreme parts of the county began filing through the main streets, headed by martial music and with flags and banners flying. From llazleton, Littleton and the north came a delegation of sixty wagons; from Quasqueton, Sumner and the south came one of seventy-three wagons; from Winthrop, Spring Creek, Jeffer- son and various other points eame smaller delegations, all with music and banners. Fully five thousand people were in attendance.
At 11 o'clock the procession was formed at the courthouse by the effieient marshal, Lieutenant Scott, and his assistants, and marched to the grove near the Methodist church, where seats had been provided, and there enjoyed a fine program of the usual Fourth of July kind-umsie, speaking, reading of the Declaration, and an excellent oration by Hon, llenry A. Wiltse. Then followed a most sumptuous and bounteous dinner. They had 400 feet of table room and fed over nine hundred people. The farmer and town women vied with each other in their generosity and excellence of their donations and there was a large amount of provisions left and this was distributed to needy soldiers' families and the poor. After the dinner toasts were responded to, twenty in number, and yet there was no lagging in enthusiasm to the end.
ยท The celebration ended with a fine exhibition of fireworks. The Independence cadets and three bands were part of the procession. Could we ever nowadays get up such a display ? A fine arch was erected at the entrance to the dinner inseribed to "Iowa's Soldiers in the Field," and "lowa's Departed Heroes," and the proceeds from this dinner was expended for some patriotic eause, prob- Vol. I -- 11
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ably to buy necessities for the Towa Sanitary Commission, and we note they cleared $277.49 and had heavy expense. It does one's heart good to read about one of these old-fashioned, genial, patriotic, spontaneous celebrations, where every- body is interested and all are welcome.
A great celebration was indulged in at Independence on July 6th, upon hear- ing the glorious news that General Meade and his Army of the Potomac had achieved a signal victory over General Lee. The wildest enthusiasm was dis- played by the citizens, cheer after cheer greeted the reading of the war bulletins and soon the cannon was thundering forth a deep boom of triumph. Directly a big keg of lager was on public tap at the postoffice, and not a man was slighted, but all, particularly the copperheads, were made to drink to General Meade and his brave soldiers. A packing box (dry goods box) was procured and one after another of the citizens was called upon to speechify. Then at night another glorification was indulged in. Thirty-five guns brought out nearly the entire population on the green in front of the postoffice, the band was out and a fine choir sang patriotic airs. There was a fine spirit manifested and a general good fellowship. Party differences were forgotten and everybody participated in the celebration. Speeches were made by Messrs. Holdridge, Hart, Boggs, Fulton, Woodward, Reed, Bryant, Smith, Hedges, Leavitt, Roszell, S. P. Adams, Esq., of Dubuque, MeCorele of Minnesota. These men were representative of both parties and this united feeling was a happy result.
Then again when the news of the fall of Vicksburg reached Independence on Wednesday night, July 8th, it cansed a renewal of the jubilation indulged in by the citizens over the victory of the Army of the Potomae. The cannon was brought out, lager flowed freely and eggnog was handed around by the bucket full. Very sedate gentlemen became very noisy and nearly every loyal man in town was transformed into a "high old boy." The whole of Union and Brewer blocks, including the Guardian office and the postoffice were brilliantly illuminated. The band was out, speeches were made by some dozen citizens, patriotie songs were sung by the excellent Glee Club of Independence. After the meeting, the young folks improvised a danee, in which the old folks were not loth to indulge. Every loyal person shouted, hurrahed, laughed, daneed, or sung, or did something to manifest his joy. It was a time long to be remem- bered and deserves a place in history.
Again the announcement of the surrender of Port Indson and the opening of the Mississippi called forth another demonstration of joy from our loyal citizens. It was honored by a salute of thirty-five guns.
Letters from the home soldiers in the Fifth and Ninth Iowa in the Army of the Northwest, under Grant, which helped achieve the surrender of Vicksburg, with its 30,000 prisoners, 60,000 arms, over one hundred pieces of artillery and seventeen generals-one lieutenant-general, four major-generals, twelve brigadier- generals-were burning with enthusiasm and jubilation over the victory, and the Twenty-seventh Regiment eneamped at Moscow, Tennessee, were equally joyons and their army celebrated with the firing of ten or twelve shots from their artil- lery.
Lieutenant-Colonel Lake, who had been commander at La Grange, had just been relieved and returned to his regiment at Moscow. All of Company C's men who had been detailed in the various departments had returned with the
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exception of Lieutenant Hemenway, who was aeting assistant adjutant-general at brigade headquarters, vice E. R. Wiley, who had been promoted to major in a colored regiment. Baker of Company C had been made captain of Company A, and Glass, first lieutenant of the same company.
There were other affairs being celebrated in a like manner with a keg of lager on tap for public consumption. This seems a strange procedure for an Independence community, but that was in the days before temperance was so universal and so popular as it is now.
A notice in the papers of July 21, 1863, shows there was no laek of patriotie enthusiasm. All persons in favor of forming a military company in our county were respectfully requested to meet at the courthouse on Thursday eve.
Another notice to the effect that the dearth of labor consequent upon the drain of young men in the army had made harvest hands so scaree that they had raised wages up to $2.00 per day and every available person, old, young, male and female, had gone into the harvest fields.
Everything was correspondingly high during war times, and a revenue tax was imposed upon all legal papers; marriage licenses, mortgages, bonds, deeds, leases and everything upon which a tax could be levied eame under the ban.
Lieutenant Scott had joined the Eighth Iowa Cavalry and was commissioned second lieutenant recruiting officer stationed at Independence. One month's advance pay, besides a $2.00 premium for enlisting and pay commenced from the date of enlistment and each reeruit was to have thirty days' furlough after enlistment, very soon brought almost a full company which reported at Davenport, August 21, 1863. Newspapers printed on wall paper by the Confederates at Vicksburg were sent home as souvenirs by our soldiers. The besieged army was subsisting on mule meat and even the eanines were threatened if the siege still continued and it was apt to, for at that time General Pemberton in an address to his soldiers said he would not surrender so long as a mule or dog remained whereon the men could subsist.
The President had appointed Thursday, August 6th, as another day of thanksgiving, praise and prayer, on account of our "recent victories," which was duly observed in Independence and other towns in the county.
At this time Buchanan County boys who joined the lowa cavalry were off on an Indian expedition at Camp MeLaren, Lake Traverse, then later at Cheyenne.
Captain Lee came home on furlough, and while here he made a speech at the courthouse on Saturday evening. August 22d, 1863, to a packed house. He was a staneh democrat and hater of abolition when he went into the war, but his views had entirely changed and he was now a firm believer in abolition, the Emancipation Proclamation and the war policies.
Another draft was to be made on the Third Congressional District and the first class liable to draft, between the ages of twenty and thirty-five, numbered 12,421, of which Buchanan County was responsible for 673.
In September, 1863, 11. Williams of Captain Lee's company, who had been detailed at Keokuk, had been commissioned to raise a company in the First Colored Regiment of lowa. then being organized at Davenport. He had recruited Edward Herndon, commonly known as "Captain Lee's Contraband," whom
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we have written of before. This negro had edneated himself in the simple branches and could now read, write and spell very well.
There were two other ex-slaves in the county who were subject and anxious to enlist, but who had proven so valuable to their present employers that they were using every means and inducement to persuade them to stay here. The militia company whose contemplated organization we mentioned some time past was perfected by the final selection of officers on Saturday, September 12th, 1863. All the commissioned and some of the non-commissioned offieers had seen service. Following is a list of the officers and privates :
OFFICERS
Captain, C. F. Herrick. First Lieutenant, T. C. Nelson. Second Lieutenant, C. J. Reed. First Sergeant, T. J. Marinus. Second Sergeant, George Kint. Third Sergeant, James B. Donnan. Fourth Sergeant, Ebinezer Little. Fifth Sergeant, E. L. Frizelle. First Corporal, M. W. Hurlburt. Second Corporal, Frank Sherwood. Third Corporal, George Patterson. Fourth Corporal, Orrin M. Bunce. Company Clerk, L. W. Hart.
PRIVATES
M. V. Adams, Thomas Abbott, J. A. Abbott, Jed Brockway, Jos. A. Bush, William Beardsley, G. B. Bouck. (. II. Bessey, N. A. Bassett, W. H. Bush, Isaac H. Carter, J. H. Campbell, T. F. Curtis, J. M. Chandler, H. S. Cole, Joseph Evers, Reuben C. Eldridge, 1. S. Freeman, II. Fourtner, Harrison Fuller, John D. C. Garrison, W. Il. Godfrey, F. H. Griswold, Fayette Gillett, A. Gillett, S. L. Greeley, Simeon IIale, L. P. Haradan, D. D. Holdridge, S. C. Horton, G. W. Hardenbroek, H. R. Hunter, HI. W. Humes, L. O. Hillman, L. C. Jaques, W. 11. Kent, George L. King, E. B. King, C. P. Kingsley, George T. King, J. F. Lyon, John Leslie, Charles T. Montfort, O. Marquette, J. F. MeKenzie, Sr., Win. H. H. Morse, J. H. Morgan, J. F. MeKenzie, Jr., E. A. North, George Netcott, O. M. Pond, II. G. Palmer, S. M. Palmer, William Palmer, Jacob Rich (P. M.), S. E. A. Rissley, E. A. Sheldon, Wm. C. Squier, W. II. Stanley, George Schermerhorn, John Siewert, M. G. Taylor, C. B. Voorhees, C. R. Wallace, W. S. Wallace.
A large Union mass meeting was held in Independence, September, 1863, and was the largest affair of its kind ever held in the county up to that time. Senator Grimes was the drawing card. Delegations from all over the county came in with bands, flags, and banners, as they did for the Fourth of July celebration.
Polities was waxing fast and furious and between the county papers there was much scathing criticism and bitter denunciation, which although it may be unpleasant, nevertheless is mighty interesting. Candidates for offices were stumping the county with much enthusiasm and no cessation of labors (quite different from the present quiet methods employed for politieal campaigning). Meetings were held in every available public place, groves, schoolhouses and pienies. Party demonstrations and torchlight processions were numerous. The Union party was particularly active, and had a large and enthusiastie follow- ing in this county.
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