USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 23
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Professor Calvin and all the students of Bowen Collegiate Institute at Hop- kinton, who were old enough, had enlisted in this 100 days' service call. Pro- fessor Calvin was a former resident of Buchanan County and several of the students who enlisted were also from this county. (Senator M. W. Harmon was among the number.)
Word from the Twenty-seventh Regiment telling of the Red River cam- paign and the battle of Pleasant Hill and their losses was received. The regi- ment had four killed, one mortally wounded, seventy wounded and fourteen missing. Of Buchanan County companies but one, Company H, was in the fight, Company C being detailed as guard at General Smith's headquarters. The wounded of Company H were Corp. H. H. Love, H. B. Booth, A. Cordell, J. E. Haskins, all of Quasqueton; E. E. Muliek from Brandon and Harri- gan of Independence. Love and Mnlick were thought to be prisoners. In the same issue of the paper is a letter from Company C of the Ninth lowa, announcing the fact of Capt. E. C. Little's resignation. He was foreed to resign on account of wounds received while gallantly leading his company against the heights of Vicksburg. In him the company lost an able and brave commander, a warm and kindhearted friend. Ile enlisted in the ranks as a private and by his unflinching devotion to his country and the faithful manner in which he discharged the duties assigned him. he rose step by step to the rank of captain. which he held with honor to himself and entire satisfaction to his company. He was made a cripple, perhaps for life, but returned home with the assurance that his comrades in arms left behind pledged themselves to avenge his injuries.
He was too touched to express verbally his high regard for his company, so wrote them a letter which was read to the company amid a deep and eloquent
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silence. Nearly every captain of the home companies had resigned. The com- pany was then put under the command of Lient. James M. Elson ; it then com- prised seventy-six men, having received twenty-three new reernits.
Company E, which had been home since the 9th of April, left Friday, May 6th, for Davenport, where the regiment was in rendezvous. The evening previous to their departure they were entertained by the Ladies' Aid Society at a sup- per at the courthouse. It was a very pleasant and snecessful affair. Messrs. Herrick, L. S. Brooks and C. J. Reed were industriously working to get up another company of 100-day men. In some places the generons business men were guaranteeing the support of the families of volunteers and, here in Buch- anan County, a liberal and patriotic feeling was manifesting itself. Two hun- dred dollars was quickly donated by a few patriotic citizens. One man offered $15 and another $9 per month to the families of two volunteers and doubtless others did likewise. Finally this volunteer company of 100-day men had their quota complete and left Independence on Wednesday, May 18, 1864; the num- ber was completed by niting with a squad of twenty men from Black Hawk County ; the company numbered nearly ninety men. They held their election before leaving and the following officers were elected :
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Captain, Charles F. Herrick. Captain, Lewis S. Brooks. First Lieutenant, Lewis S. Brooks. Second Lieutenant, Arthur E. McHugh.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
First Sergeant, Sidney C. Adams. First Sergeant, Daniel W. Hopkins. Second Sergeant, Daniel W. Hopkins. Second Sergeant, John II. Leatherman. Third Sergeant, John F. Clarke. Fourth Sergeant, John F. Clarke.
Fourth Sergeant. Isaac E. Freeman,
Fifth Sergeant, William MeKenney. First Corporal, Augustus H. Older. Second Corporal, James D. Ilill.
Third Corporal, George B. Bouck. Fourth Corporal, John Hook. Fifth Corporal, Orville D. Boyles. Sixth Corporal, Morton J. Sykes. Seventh Corporal, Simmons P. Mead. Eighth Corporal, George S. Jackson. Musician, William II. Mellugh. Musician, Hamilton Taylor. Wagoner, Thomas Lincoln.
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PRIVATES
Thomas Abbott, Lyman F. Bouek, Ralph R. Briggs, George P. Benton, Addi- son C. Beach, Jed Brockway, George Casebeer, Gustav Cain, James A. Calvin, Howard M. Craig, Francis M. Fritzinger, Orville Fonda, Lewis H. Gehman, William II. Gaige, De Witt Guernsey, Stephen L. Greely, Henry Holman, George L. Hayden, Henry W. Johnson, George T. King, Royal Lowell, Jesse H. Long, Lansing D. Lewis, Frank Lauderdale, Hugh MeCullough, B. Franklin Munger, Theodore F. Messenger, William H. II. Morse, Tillman Ozias, Samuel E. A. Ripley, Alexander Ramsey, David Sellers, Alexander W. Spalding, Frank L. Sherwood, William S. Seott, William Stevens, Charles D. Thompson, William C. Vaneman, Alden R. Wheeler, Elliott Weatherbee.
Few counties in the state responded to this last call more promptly or liber- ally than old Buchanan, furnishing more than double her quota.
At Davenport they were equipped and assigned as Company D, Forty- seventh Iowa Regiment. The brief period of absence anticipated and the nature of the service assigned to these volunteers naturally detracted much from the intensity of apprehension which had been a feature of former companies' de- partures. But although the time was comparatively short, a hundred mis- chances might befall and. though no one could predict the terrible ordeal through which this fated company was to pass, when the time of departure arrived the hearts of all followed them to the front, and as heretofore crowds of relatives and friends and both fire companies, headed by the band, escorted them to the depot and bade them Godspeed. John Leatherman, a veteran of the Ninth Iowa, who was wounded at Pea Ridge and discharged from the service in consequence thereof, and re-enlisted in Captain Herrick's company for the 100-day service, met with a serious accident at the depot. He was waving his hand to his friends when the train started to move and his arm came in contact with a grain spout projecting from one of the elevators near the track, dislocat- ing it at the shoulder, but Mr. Leatherman insisted on proceeding with his company.
The First lowa Cavalry in which Buchanan County had some representa- tives were home on furlough after re-enlistment. Our contingent reached home on Thursday, May 19th. A few days previous the citizens hearing of their com- ing proceeded to the depot to give them a reception, but were disappointed, and not being warned of their arrival on Thursday, no preparation had been made to receive them, probably to the relief of the soldiers, for they had been given a continuous ovation since they left Cairo and were tired of it.
This regiment had seen more service and been in more skirmishes and engage- ments than any regiment enlisted since the commencement of the war. It had scoured Missouri and Arkansas from center to circumference and was a perfect terror to the Rebs wherever they encountered them. Charles Edgecomb, Wil- liam Foote. William Cummings and John Bohnlein are among the names of these First Cavalry heroes.
Dr. R. W. Wright was enlisting officer for the Forty-sixth lowa and was in Independence to get recruits for the 100 days' service. He was commissioned first lieutenant of that regiment and shortly had the desired number recruited.
A letter from the Ninth lowa, dated Kingston, Georgia, May 22, 1864, tells
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of the battle at Resaca in which Company ( participated and had three men killed, Corp. David Steele, Nelson Lines and Robert Carnes. David Steele joined the company at its organization and was never absent from the regi- ment. Ile.had been in every battle where the regiment was engaged and had never missed a day's duty since his enlistment, but while skirmishing a bullet pierced his head and he fell dead without a struggle. Nelson Lines was a recruit who had lately moved to Buchanan County and joined the company in March. Robert Carnes of Company Il was formerly a member of Company C.
Letters from the Fourth from Camp MeClellan tell of their camp life at that place, also announce that former Rep. D. D. Holdridge had received his commission as quartermaster of the Forty-sixth Regiment.
The aid societies were actively engaged in making and collecting things for the Sanitary Fair, and outside help was enlisted in this noble work.
Two concerts were given by the Lascelles Troupe at the courthouse in Fine, 1864. and half of the proceeds were liberally devoted to the Sanitary Fair.
At Greeley's Grove, Ilazleton Township, they collected $139.50, besides large donations of vegetables, butter, eggs, etc., for the sanitary commission. The Independence Aid Society had sent $235.00 in money, besides all the previous donations. 100 barrels of potatoes, boxes of fruit and vegetables, and quantities of fancy articles.
The whole receipts of the fair up to Saturday, June 25, 1864, were $64,000, included $10,000 promised from the East.
A soldiers' aid society was organized in desup. in July, 1864. The officers elected were as follows: President, Mrs. L. B. Goss; vice president, Mrs. J. D. Laird; treasurer, Miss M. E. Cameron; recording secretary, Mrs. R. S. Searles; corresponding secretary, Miss F. A. Setchell. Directors, Mrs. G. Dodge and Mrs. Setchell. A similar organization in Alton Township did most efficient work in donations and subscriptions.
The Fourth of July, 1864, was not destined to pass by unnoticed. The forefathers of Independence City were not the kind that forget and ignore their beneľactions. This anniversary meant much to them and they believed in a respectful, grateful, and appropriate observance of that day when liberty was so dearly bought. And at this particular time should they refresh their memo- ries with thoughts of country and home. At this time when the country was being wrecked and devastated and our priceless inheritance of liberty lay torn and bleeding, a prisoner in the Rebel ramp, and only to be released when the Union soldier could trample under foot and annihilate that venomous viper "treason," which stood guard at the prison door.
So this year was celebrated in the usual glorious manner, beginning at mid- night, the cannon began to boom, and the new town bell to ring. A thing not to be tolerated now, for fear of disturbing the peaceful slumbers of some pessi- mistie ingrate, who thinks more of his personal comfort than of the bursting patriotism of some young American who wishes to express his enthusiasm by some explosive method.
We pray God, that the day may never be doomed to the sequestered and sepulehral quiet and gloom that some unsentimental and unpatriotie individuals would consign it. We believe in a perfectly sane Fourth but we still do believe in a bombastie one. One of those glorious old-fashioned Fourths with cannons
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booming and bells ringing, and reading of the Declaration of Independence, with orations, speeches and parades, pienic dinners and fireworks, and every- thing else that goes with it. Not just for the fun, either, but lest we forget, lest we forget. This celebration of 1864 had all of these.
At 9:00 A. M. the bells tolled and all the stores elosed for the day. At 10 a procession composed of the two fire companies in uniforms, with their gaily painted new hook and ladder outfit, the band and eitizens, marched to the grove where the exercises were held. Reverend Mr. Boggs gave the oration and it was such a superb and masterful and eloquent effort that the citizens made up a purse of $60.00 which they presented to him in appreciation of his splendid and patriotie service. Sixteen toasts and speeches followed the fine picnic dinner, held in the grove. Reverend Boggs' oration was interrupted by a bogus telegram announcing the capture of Petersburg. The bait took and caused great excitement. Cheers for Grant and the Union were indulged in to the full sat- isfaction of the perpetrators of the joke. Both at noon and at night the cannon and the bell gave vocal testimony of somebody's patriotic zeal. At night a torch- light procession closed the public celebration.
Our reason for writing about these Fourth of July celebrations in connec- tion with the Civil war history, is because they were a great support to the Union cause and were the spontaneous outburst of patriotic enthusiasm. The speeches and all the exercises pertained closely to war subjeets for, of course, everyone's interest was centered in that one topic. Word had been received from Captain Herrick's company of the Forty-seventh Iowa, saying that they were mustered in on the 4th of June, and left Davenport on the 7th for Cairo, Illi- nois, oceupving the quarters just vaeated by the Forty-fourth. From there they were sent to Memphis by boat, but did not stay here long but were trans- ferred to Helena, Arkansas.
The first sad news that came from the Forty-seventh after they were in eamp at Helena, was the announcement of the death of William H. Gaige, for- merly a clerk in Independenee, and a talented young man, who died of fever at Helena, and a Mr. Weeks had also died. This was but the beginning of a siege of sickness and death in that regiment.
Company D formed the lowa Grey Beards, stationed at Memphis, and hunted up the members enlisted from this county.
There were in Fowa large numbers of men past the age for military service, who were anxions to serve the country during the War of the Rebellion. They succeeded in obtaining authority from Secretary Stanton, in August, 1862, through our state officers, to organize such a regiment for the performance of garrison and post duty, which would relieve the younger soldiers and thus add to the active army in the field.
The companies were soon raised, made up of men from forty-five to sixty- four years of age. It was officially known as the Thirty-seventh Regiment, but was universally ealled the "Grey Beard Regiment." Iowa, alone, of all the states in the Union, raised such a regiment.
They went into eamp at Muscatine, but were not mustered into service until the middle of December. Early in January, 1863, it was sent to St. Louis, and as it marched through the streets, General Curtis pronounced it one of the Vol. 1-12
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finest looking regiments he had seen in the service. Several men from our county enlisted in this regiment.
The Ninth Iowa was at this time encamped before Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia. Company C had a detail of one sergeant and fourteen men, who were in a lively skirmish with the rebel forces at Dallas, Georgia, but with their usual good luck came out unhurt with a few bullet holes in their clothes as certain proof of their good and brave soldiery.
Word from the First Cavalry tells of the death of Hiram G. Balcom, on June 8th, at Little Rock, Arkansas. He enlisted from Fairbank, having been a resi- dent of Buchanan County for five years. He was a man of strict integrity, genial disposition and consistent Christian character. He left a wife and family.
This added another vietim to the lengthening roll of noble heroes from this county who were sacrificed to this atrocious war.
August 4th, 1864, was set aside by the President for National Fast Day at the request of the United States Senate, to seek the blessing of God upon our arms. Business was suspended for a time and Divine worship was held in a Union service at the Methodist church in the evening, and a Union prayer meet- ing at the Presbyterian church.
An item of paramount interest, particularly to the Unionists and likewise all readers of the Guardian, was the announcement that Jacob Rich, that tal- ented, efficient, fearless and patriotic literary exponent of Unionism, had sold his "Buchanan County Guardian," of which he was editor for eight years, to Rev. S. B. Goodenow, of Waterloo, who took charge of the paper on the 31st of May, and changed the name to the "Guardian of Independence." Mr. Goodenow proved to be a capable and efficient successor and the Union cause had a loyal supporter in him. Always the newspapers have been the exponents and expounders of universal knowledge, the pulse and thermometer of public sentiment and in those early days, when news was so difficult of access, their chosen newspaper was actually their law and creed. No wonder they looked to the weekly paper as their very deliverer and mental salvation at that time. The price of printing paper had more than tripled in value, and for a few months many of the newspapers were ent down from seven to five columns in size, and were printed on a cheap, yellowish paper. Almost all raised in price, but the Guardian did neither. The Civilian ent the size of their paper for a few months and raised its price. Both county papers were then $2.00 per year. Previous to 1863 they were $1.50 per year. The Chicago dailies at that time had raised to $12.00 per annum.
A curiosity which some of the soldier boys sent home, was one of the first numbers of the "Union Flag." a paper published at Rome, Georgia, with mate- rials seized from the rebels. It was edited by Matthias Harter, a volunteer from Independence, and was a spicy and creditable affair. A Union paper published in the very heart of the rebel territory was surely a novelty.
Letters from the Forty-seventh, the last of July, 1864, still eneamped at Helena, Arkansas, paint a sorry picture. Sickness pervaded their entire regi- ment, and Company D was in a terrible plight. The officers were all siek ; out of eighty men only sixteen were able to report on duty; all the rest were sick and in the hospitals. The principal disease was bilious fever. Capt. C. F. Iler- rick came home to recuperate.
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Another item of this date informs us that the Fifth Iowa Infantry had been transferred to the Fifth lowa Cavalry. The Fifth was the regiment of which Company E was a part. It was now reduced to less than two companies.
A general order of the governor, issued from the adjutant-general's office, at Davenport, on July 27, 1864, was to the effect that "the enrolled militia of this state will immediately organize themselves into eompanies of not less than forty, and not exceeding one hundred men."
Another clause in the order was: "Any person neglecting or refusing to attach himself to a company will be directed to join a company or will be dealt with as the law prescribes." The enrolled men in counties named were to organize the number of companies specified below. L. W. Hart, J. M. Westfall and R. W. Wright were authorized to organize the militia of Buchanan County. In this list Buchanan County's quota was fifteen companies. Washington Guards was the name.
Charles B. Kessler, aged twenty-one years, died near Quasqueton, April 7, 1864. He was the first white child born in what is now Buchanan County. Heeding the eall of his country, he volunteered in January, 1862, and became a member of Company H, Thirteenth Regiment, United States Army. With his regiment he went safely through several severe battles, among which were those of Arkansas Post, Black River, Siege of Vicksburg, and Collierville. From the last-named conflict he turned to the hospital, broken down by fatigue and exposure, as many another youthful hero had been. Continuing to decline, he was brought home to die amid the loved and tender associations of his boy- hood. Brave and generous, he was loved by all. He sleeps in a patriot's grave, another willing sacrifice for Liberty and the Union.
The parents of Charles B. Kessler were Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Kessler, who came to Quasqueton with the first installment of settlers in the early spring of 1842. His mother, Mrs. Heman Morse, lived in Independence until her death.
In the last of August, 1864, word came of the death of Capt. C. L. White, formerly of Company E, Fifth lowa Infantry, at Cartersville, Georgia, whether of disease or wound was not stated. A short time before he had been appointed assistant adjutant-general, with the rank of captain. Captain White was an exeel- lent man and a noble soldier, and was highly respected both at home and in the army. Also word was received that J. W. Foreman, another of our brave soldiers, had lost his limb, and had undergone two amputations. He had had to be in bed eight months, but through all his intense suffering he was the per- sonification of bravery and loyalty, and only regretted that he was unable to serve his time out. These examples of heroism were not few in the annals of Buchanan County solliery.
Up to this time the total amount contributed to the Northern lowa Sanitary Fair from this county, reached $841.23, a splendid showing considering all the previous donations. In reading of these numerous contributions it cannot help but strike one what a constant drain and strain was put upon the home folks.
As has been chronicled, the Forty-seventh Regiment was sent to Helena, Arkansas, where many contracted disease, from which they died at that post, or after their return to their homes in Iowa. The services of these men were of great value to the national cause, as was acknowledged by the President of the
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United States, in a special executive order, returning thanks to the 100-day volunteers of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin, for their patriotie services, eommending them with merited praise.
Executive Mansion, Washington City, October 1, 1864. Special executive order, returning thanks to the volunteers for 100 days, from the states of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin :
The term of 100 days, for which volunteers from the states of Indiana, Illi- nois, Iowa and Wisconsin volunteered, under the last call of their respective governors, in the months of May and June, to aid in the recent campaign of General Sherman, having expired, the President directs an official acknowledge- ment of their patriotie services. It was their good fortune to render efficient service in the brilliant operations in the Southwest, and to the victories of the national arms over the rebel forces in Georgia, under command of Johnston and Hood. On all occasions, and in every service to which they were assigned, their duty as patriotic volunteers was performed with alacrity and courage, for which they are entitled to, and are hereby tendered, the national thanks, through the governors of their respective states.
The secretary of war is directed to transmit a copy of this order to the gov- ernors of Indiana, Illinois, lowa and Wisconsin, and to cause a certificate of their honorable services to be delivered to the officers and soldiers of the states above mentioned, who recently served in the military force of the United States as volunteers for 100 days.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
This commendation of gratitude and appreciation from the beloved President, Abraham Lincoln, rendered "pay in full" for all the siekness and hardships endured.
Never a week and scarcely a day but what there were calls, not alone for the soldiers at the front, but help and support for the soldiers' families at home, and the poor and needy in a new country are generally more numerous than in later years. Then, too, the ministers were almost wholly supported by donation.
In August, 1864, Buchanan County was only sixty-five behind all ealls, and Independence was out of the draft, her surplus being fifteen.
Pursuant to the order issued by the governor in July, the Washington Guards of the enrolled militia met at the courthouse on Saturday, September 9, 1864, and elected the following officers: James M. Weart, captain ; J. H. Cutter, first lieutenant ; T. J. Marinus, second lieutenant; James B. Donnan, orderly ; S. L. Frizelle, second sergeant ; II. P. Lovejoy, third sergeant; A. E. Brooks, fourth sergeant; I. R. Hunter, fifth sergeant ; S. L. Peck, first corporal ; HI. H. Holt, second corporal; C. R. Wallace, third corporal; W. A. Jones, fourth corporal.
Many patriotic societies and orders were organized throughout the country during the war and Buchanan County certainly had its share of such.
An order of which we have not spoken but which had been in existence since the beginning of the war was "The Union of America-U. L. of A." Inde- pendence had a council, Quasqueton had one, and several others were in the
C. B. KESSLER AND MOTHER
C. B. Kessler was the first white child born in Buchanan County
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county. Other orders were "The Patriotic Sons of America" and "The Wide- awakes."
In the fall of 1864 national polities was again consuming people's time and attention and the two parties, union and copperheads, were strenuously cam- paigning. Lincoln was the republican nominee for President for a second term and General MeClellan was the democratic. In Buchanan County politics as usual was hot and sizzling, each party having mass meetings, with delegations and demonstrations. The U. L. A.'s were particularly busy. At a union mass meeting held September 27, 1864, rousing and patriotic speeches were made by Colonel Lake, Captain Lee and Rep. D. D. Holdridge, all home from the war on furloughs. Another union mass meeting of Buchanan and the adjoining counties was held in Independence, Tuesday, October 25, 1864. Several prominent speak- ers were on the program, among them Ex-Governor Kirkwood, Gov. William M. Stone, Hon. B: T. Hunt, and Superior Judge C. C. Cole. IIon. William B. Allison was at a previous union meeting. A torchlight procession in the evening by the Independence "Wide Awakes" (another union patriotic society ) was one of the features.
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