History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 28

Author: Williams bros., Cleveland, pub. [from old catalog]; Riddle, A. G. (Albert Gallatin), 1816-1902
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams brothers
Number of Pages: 574

USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 28

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The "guards" arrived in Burlington on Sunday after- noon, and were mustered into .the United States service on the following day, Monday, July 15, 1861. There were between twenty and thirty companies at Camp War- ren, and none, it was said, presented a finer appearance than the Independence company. Three of the volun-

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

teers were not accepted-William Sherwood, owing to a deformed hand; a Mr. Clark, of Littleton, who was above age, and T. Fleming, of Fremont township, who was too young. The company, as mustered into service, numbered ninety-seven men, exclusive of officers. When first heard from by their friends, they had not received their blankets, and were sleeping on straw without covering. As an inevitable consequence of this sudden change in manner of living, diarrhoea was to some extent prevailing in the camp. The Indepen- dence band accompanied the guards to Burlington, and were offered the position of regimental band, on condi- tion of raising their number to sixteen.

PRESENTATION.

A number of the friends of Captain Lee presented him with a fine Colt's navy revolver. Lieutenant Jordan was the recipient of a similar compliment, and Lieuten- ant Marshal escaped by being already provided with small arms.

These officers were held in the highest estimation by their fellow citizens, and were deservedly popular with their men. Captain Lee paid a visit to his home in the last week of July, reporting the company in excellent health and fine spirits. Only one was in the hospital, as after they received their blankets, and cooked their own rations, they were living much better than at first. They were fast acquiring proficiency in drill, though their arms and equipments had not yet been supplied. The con- duct of the men received the highest encomiums of their captain. Not one man had been ordered under guard, and their fine soldierly bearing and orderly behavior had won them hosts of friends. Colonel Worthington had not received marching orders for his regiment, but every- thing pointed to an early demand for their presence in Missouri.

OFF TO THE WAR.

The following incident shows not only the stuff that one brave heart was made of, but it also shows how defeat itself, in our case, furnished the impulse that made our final victory the more complete and decisive.

On receipt of news of the great disaster to the Federal forces at Manassas, J. L. Loomis (afterwards editor of the Bulletin) who was then employed as a clerk in the post office, in Independence, and who was known to his friends as an intelligent. quiet, but determined young man, immediately resolved to volunteer, and, leaving at the earliest possible moment, went to Dubuque in order to take advantage of the first opportunity to enlist. Such a spirit and such promptness and decision in its manifestations, gave a sufficient guarantee that, whatever post was assigned him, he did his duty well. He went to the aid of the Government in the time of its greatest peril.

ANOTHER COMPANY.

A military company was organized in the early sum- mer, in Jefferson township, and soon numbered over fifty men; most of whom were ready for active service. S. D. Joy, who was an orderly sergeant in the Mexican war, was elected captain, Joseph Rouse first lieutenant, and George Frink, second lieutenant.

THE HEARTS AT HOME FOLLOW THE BRAVE HEARTS IN CAMP.

On the twenty-fifth of July, the friends of company E, Fifth regiment, in camp at Burlington, shipped to said com- pany three boxes and a barrel, filled with delicacies be- longing to what might be styled the higher departments of culinary tactics, in which the "boys" had not been drilled. The collation, which was enjoyed as one spread by loving hands, reached Camp Warren on the second of August, and, on the following day, the company re- ceived marching orders, which took them beyond the reach of these loving ministries.

ORGANIZATION OF A SECOND MILITARY COMPANY IN IN- DEPENDENCE.

The first election of officers by the "guards" having been made void by a law passed at the extra session of the legislature, a second was held on the first of June, which resulted in some changes in the officers, both com- missioned and non-commissioned. By the new election Messis. Jordan and Marshall took the places of Hord and Marlin, as first and second lieutenants. Lieutenant Hord, with a promptness which showed that a desire to serve his country was paramount with him, set to work at once to raise a second company, and his success showed the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens. The following notice which appeared in the Guardian of June 25th, speaks for itself.

ATTENTION COMPANY !

The Buchanan County Light Infantry will meet at their headquarters on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings of each week, for the pur- pose of drill. J. M. HORD, captain.

WILLIAM SCOTT, orderly sergeant.

A few weeks later, Captain Hord accompanied the guards to Burlington; met Governor Kirkwood, and se- cured the acceptance of the Light Infantry into active service. The company was assigned to the Seventh regiment, which was then .forming. Captain Hord and Lieutenants Scott and Randy were commended to all de- sirous of enlisting, as every way worthy of confidence. The captain had seen service in Mexico, and Lieutenant Scott ir the East Indies, while Lieutenant Randy had for many years been an officer in the militia.

In the early part of August the company went into quarters; and so rapidly were the ranks filling up under the inspiration of the second call for troops, that no doubt was felt that the Light Infantry would be in readi- ness to report by the time required, August 25th. Mr. Bull, proprietor of Bull's addition to Independence, con- nected himself with this company, and devoted himself warmly to the furtherance of its interests. An extra session of the board of supervisors was held to take into con- sideration the matter of supplying the company with a uniform. Three hundred dollars was promptly voted by the board, and a resolution was also passed, declaring their willingness to give a similar amount to any company of volunteers raised in the county, upon going into active service.

The company was so fortunate as to be assigned to Colonel Vandever's regiment, the Ninth Infantry. As the colonel had expressed great confidence that the troops

HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

collecting at Dubuque at that time, would be furnished with uniforms before leaving that city, it was necessary that shirts, hats, shoes and belts only should be provided by the county. And again, the noble women of Inde- pendence exemplified their patriotism, by coming forward to contribute by their active sympathy and unselfish labor, to the formation of that esprit de corps, so essential to the efficiency of military organizations, and so char- acteristic of the troops from "old Buchanan."

Great enthusiasm prevailed among the men, in view of the high character of their colonel, and the efficiency which marked their regimental organization. A battery of six cannon was attached to the regiment, which made it the best appointed that had been raised in the State.

DEPARTURE OF THE LIGHT INFANTRY.

Another month had rolled by, and the leave-taking of July 12th was repeated. As the magnitude of the great struggle, into which the country had been plunged, came day by day to be more adequately appreciated, there was no sign of wavering or drawing back, on the part of the patriot sons of our smitten country; but, with ever in- creasing numbers, they were pressing forward to her defence. A great sympathy for the cause of liberty assailed, and for countrymen tearing themselves from all that is most precious in life, save liberty, to offer their lives upon the altar of patriotism, pervaded the hearts of all classes, and varying parties and sects became of one kindred.

And so again, in the early morning of August 27th, a large concourse was gathered -- fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, husbands and wives, friends and neigh- bors-for a parting unlike any other on earth. Already had more than one battle-field been drenched in patriot blood, and who should say if these, going out in all the strength of manhood's prime, should again clasp the hands that cling to them now? But the words of an- other must not displace the tribute, warm from the heart of one who was himself swayed by the overmastering enthusiasm of the hour, and who was proud to claim these heroic men as his friends. The Guardian of Au- gust 27th speaks thus of a scene which had just been enacted, at the departure of Buchanan's second offering of a hundred lives upon the altar of Liberty :

Another company of noble-hearted men have left us for the war. Buchanan county has given up another hundred of her brave sons to go forth and battle with this unholy rebellion. They have just started, amid the sobs, the tears, the smiles, the cheers, the God-speeds of hun- dreds of loving hearts left behind. May every man of them live to re- turn to the arms which now give them up for their country's cause.

They were accompanied to the depot, even at the early hour of starting, by a large concourse of people, many of whom had come ten and fifteen miles to be at the parting. The scene was very affecting, mothers and sisters and wives clinging to many of the soldiers with tears and sobs, and fathers, sons and brothers grasping hands in si- lencc too full for utterance. The men mastering their emotions, like true soldiers, went off in excellent spirits, cheering heartily as the train moved away; while the sad crowd behind could do little more than wave their adieu.

Our self-sacrificing, patriotic women went bravely to work to pro- vide uniforms for the men, in the latter part of last week, and soon had the necessary number of shirts made for them. Not satisfied with that, they made each of them a needle-case, filled with buttons, pins, nee- dles, etc. Yesterday they were presented to the men, who enthusias- tically acknowledged the kindness of the ladies.

Clad in their blue woollen shirts, felt hats, with eagle and handsome belt, and decked with that most touching parting gift, a boquet of bright but perishable flowers, these stout, robust men, bronzed with the labors of the harvest, and full of manly vigor and energy, were a sight to send the proud blood surging through the heart of every be- holder. What, then, must it have been to those tender ones, whose lives, until this sad morn, had grown "upon one twin stem" with those now so rudely torn asunder ?

On the Sunday previous to the departure of the Light Infantry, the Rev. Mr. Sampson preached a sermon to them, appropriate to the circumstances, both of the country and of the men about to go forward in her de- fence. On Tuesday morning, before leaving, each of the company was presented with a copy of the New Testament by the Buchanan County Bible society, Rev. Mr. Fulton making the address, and Rev. Mr. Sampson offering a prayer.

The election of officers took place at Camp Union, Dubuque. The following is a complete list of the offi- cers and men of the company :

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

Captain Jared M. Hord.

Captain Hiram C. Bull.

Captain Robert W. Wright.

First Lieutenant Hiram C. Bull.

First Lieutenant Nathan Rice.

First Lieutenant Robert W. Wright.

First Lieutenant Jacob P. Sampson.

Second Lieutenant William Scott.

Second Lieutenant Nathan Rice.

Second Lieutenant Robert W. Wright.

Second Lieutenant Jacob P. Sampson.

Second Lieutenant Edmund C. Little.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

First Sergeant Robert W. Wright.

First Sergeant Jacob P. Sampson.

First Sergeant Edmund C. Little.

Second Sergeant Nathan Rice.

Third Sergeant David V. Coe.

Third Sergeant Edmund C. Little.

Third Sergeant Hiram Holdridge. Fourth Sergeant Billings Davis.

Fifth Sergeant R. T. Bain. Fifth Sergeant Charles G. Curtis.

First Corporal James M. Elson. Second Corporal Charles N. Bennett.

Third Corporal Ezra T. Rust. Fourth Corporal James H. Merrill.

Fifth Corporal Jacob D. Sanders. Sixth Corporal Fred M. Wilbur. Seventh Corporal Charles W. Sarchet.

Eighth Corporal Edmund C. Little. Musician Alpheus Losey.

Wagoner David Greek.

PRIVATES.

Henry Reynolds, William Allison, E. J. Allen, Marsena Allen, Isaac Arwine, William Adams, George M. Abbott, Perry Alspraugh, Thom- as J. Barber, J. H. Bower, Jesse Barnett, John C. Brown, Adelbert Bellus, Thomas Cress, C. Corbert, L. D. Curtis, Isaac G. Chase, Val- entine Cates, John Cartwright, Wesley Curtis, William Decker, Bill- ings Davis, J. E. Elson, Olinzo H. Engles, John Engerman, J. H. Ford. Julius Furcht, Edwin Fary, Reuben E. Freeman, Enoch Fary, George Frerberthauser, N. A. Green, William C. Gillum, Nelson Ho- vey, Theodore Hyde, C. A. Hobert, Stephen Holman, Isaac N. Hol- man, Vinson Holman, Eli Holland, Henry Jones, Silas E. King, John M. King, Benjamin Klapp, James Leatherman, Orlando F. Luckey, Alpheus Losey, D. Pangburn, E. U. Patchen, Enoch Platt, B. W. Powers, William Pope, L. A. Persall, Isaiah Perdue, Philip Ritter- man, Henry Reynolds, Russell Rouse, Reuben Rouse, G. Q. Rust, Darwin Rich, Ahal H. Robbins, Samuel Robbins, John Rogers, David Steele, James Steele, Charles W. Sarchet, George W. Sayre, R. R. Stoneman, James MI. Sparling, Jacob P. Sampson, Thomas Smith,

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

James A. Sutton, George A. Turner, Royal Taylor, W. T. Thayer, Albert Utterbeck, P. Vanderbilt, William Willey, H. P. Wilber, Wil- liam Wisennand, R. M. Whitlock, l'ierce Walton, Adonin }. Windsor, John H. Young.

Additional enlistments up to January 1, 1863:

Dorr E. Godfrey, William A. Jones.

Enrolled in the county of Buchanan; went into quar- ters at Dubuque, July 30, 1861 ; mustered into the ser- vice of the United States by Captain C. Washington, United States army, on the twenty-fifth of September, 1861, under the proclamation of the President dated July 23, 1861 ; from place of enrollment to rendezvous, fifteen miles.

CAVALRY COMPANY.

Early in September, following the raising of these two companies of infantry, a call was made for recruits for a cavalry company, which, as Dr. Parsons had been active in its organization, it was expected he would com- mand. R. S. Rider was associated with Dr. Parsons in promoting the interests of this new enterprise, in which great enthusiasm had already been awakened, and en- listments were being freely made. Before the organiza- tion had been completed, and pending the acceptance of the company by the proper authorities, General Fre- mont issued an order prohibiting the acceptance of more cavalry after the completion of the Fourth regiment, which it was then understood was nearly full. Through the indomitable energy of Dr. Parsons his men were con- solidated with those of Captain A. F. Peters, of Dela- ware county, and were accepted into Colonel Porter's cavalry regiment. Dr. Parsons took the rank of second lieutenant in the consolidation, and the company of be- tween twenty and thirty men left Independence in the first week in October, and went into camp at Mt. Pleasant. During the month the regiment was sent, as were many of the Iowa troops, into Missouri. Through some inex- cusable neglect the names of the members of this com- pany were not published in the county papers, and though the company was afterwards recruited in Buchanan county, no roster has been met with in the preparation of this record.

Quite a number of young men from the north part of the county joined captain Ainsworth's company during the months of September and October, so that, by the close of the latter month, Buchanan county had sent in- to the army over three hundred men.

The death of R. E. Freeman, of Captain Hord's com- pany, Ninth regiment, was announced in the Guardian of December 24th, with the statement that his was the first death among those who had gone from this county to the war. He died in the hospital at Pacific City, Mis- souri.

The Ninth regiment, of which company C was enlisted in this county, after lying for some months at Pacific City, engaged for the most part in guarding important railroad connections, was ordered near the last 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 Mccullough. The brilliant battle of Pea

Ridge, Arkansas, was fought on the sixth, seventh and eighth of March, 1862. The Fourth and Ninth Iowa regiments and the First and third Iowa batteries were in the thickest of this desperate struggle, and earned for themselves and for their State an imperishable name. A regiment of volunteer patriots, but lately from the peace- ful avocations of secular life, had shown the steadiness of nerve and unconquerableness of purpose which are looked for ordinarily in veterans only. There are many now living throughout the county who, after the lapse of nineteen years, can recall the shuddering with which the first news of the victory was received. All had friends among those who were known to have gone into the bat- tle-some had fallen. Whose fathers, sons, brothers, and husbands were those two hundred and forty-eight who had attested their courage and their patriotism with their lives? Only a brief season of uncertainty, and the list of killed and wounded came to tell how singularly had the thick flying shafts been turned away from our households, and the pall was lifted which threatened to shroud the victory.

The youthful Rice, of Vinton, Benton county, who entered the company in July as second sergeant, and had risen to the rank of first lieutenant, thus vindicating his claim to rank among that galaxy, who fulfilled the glori- ous promise of their early career by giving up their lives when that was all they could do, headed the list of killed in company C. Private Julius Furcht was killed and Isaac Arwine mortally wounded. W. S. Wisennand and John Cartwright, 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 the war than if they had fallen in the thickest of the fight. Captain Bull, successor of Captain Hord, was wounded slightly, as were also Adjutant Scott, Sergeant J. P. Samp- son, Corporals E. G. Curtis and J. D. Sanders, with sev- enteen privates whose names are given elsewhere.

"The Iowa troops claimed, at the battle of Pea Ridge, the position accorded to them in every contest in the west-the post of danger, the post of brave deeds, and the post of death."

Lieutenant Colonel Herron, of the Ninth, was wounded and taken prisoner. It was related of him that, though wounded and surrounded by his enemies, he seemed determined to die rather than fall into the hands of the rebels. He had already killed more than one of his assailants, and was making desperate efforts to defend himself with his sword, after he had been unhorsed, when his arms were seized and resistance made impossi- ble. A southern major saved his life by shooting an In- dian who was on the point of butchering him after his arms were bound with a handkerchief.

Among other incidents of the battle, one showing the indomitable coolness of the youthful hero, E. C. Little, was related by adjutant Scott. Early in the action Ser- geant Little, who was at the time about seventeen years old, had his gun taken out of his hand by a shell which exploded near him, whirling it so far from him that he could not recover it. Without stopping to waste words

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

or time he coolly possessed himself of another, and this, in a few moments, was ruined by a shot striking it. Out- wardly, at least, unmoved, he was not long in taking his place, again "fully equipped," and with this third piece, he went through the three days' battle without a scratch, though he received several balls in his clothing.

DEATH OF LIEUTENANT JORDAN, OF THE FIFTH REGIMENT.

It will be remembered that company E, of the Fifth Iowa volunteers, was raised in Independence, and com- posed almost exclusively of Buchanan county men. From the time of its entering the service, the regiment had been stationed at various points in central, northern, and southwestern Missouri. In March, 1862, it was in- corporated with one of Pope's brigades then investing New Madrid. This place was held by a force of forty thousand rebels, behind a double line of fortifications, and was one of the links in that chain of defences which seemed to bind the Mississippi to the confederacy with bolts of iron. During the siege, fatigue and exposure, acting upon a frame already enfeebled by disease, pros- trated the gallant Jordan; and even while his friends at home were indulging in the fond hope that rest and care were doing a work of rapid restoration to health, a re- lapse bore him with fatal celerity beyond the reach of care and skill; and, in the midst of the rejoicing over the signal victory of our arms in Arkansas, and a signal exemption from loss of life among the sons of Buchanan, came the unlooked for announcement that he was dead.

Let the tributes poured from hearts bleeding from a sense of irreparable loss, attest the sincere esteem-the admiring, affectionate regard, in which Lieutenant George C. Jordan was held by his comrades in arms, and by the friends of his early years in the community where, until he went forth at his country's call, had been his home. He was (it will be remembered), a business partner of Mr. Rich, of the Buchanan county Guardian.

EDITORIAL TRIBUTE OF THE GUARDIAN, APRIL 1, 1862.

Our friend is gone! We cannot realize it ! And yet we remember when the first bright, warm sunshine of spring was flooding the earth, when everything seemed awakening into beauty and life, when hope was buoyant and our spirits bright and cheerful we remember how suddenly there came a blow, blotting out the brightness, dashing aside hope and cheerfulness, and loading our heart and frame with a weight of sorrow unutterable. And we remember the atlas-load of agony thrown upon her who was all in all to him. And then comes a vision of him who has so long been our friend-the same slight frame, the same fair countenance, the parted lips wearing the genial smile we had seen so often. And when we remember this, and feel the load of sor- row at our beart, and mark the wealth of woe in our household, we know that he who has been our closest companion is no more. For thirteen years we have stood by his side-working hand-to-band with him, eating from the same board, sheltered by the same roof, enjoying a more than brotherly confidence, knowing his every aspiration, almost his every hope. In our business the same kind of confidence existed. There were no accounts between us, but each shared the success and deprivations of the other. None knew better than we, then, the gen- erous hopes that animated him -- the brave spirit with which he was en- dowed, the purity of his life, the kindness of his heart, the fidelity of his friendship, the nobleness of his manhood. None know better than we how pure and unselfish the motive which led him to leave a wife and home he loved better than anything on earth, to go forth at his country's call, and lay upon her altar the sacrifice of his valued life. All that love and friendship could proffer, was offered to induce him to re- main at home, but he declared that he could never stand an idle spec- tator of the contest and be happy. He went forth in the discharge of what he deemed a sacred duty. How well he performed that duty we

know, for we have watched the tearful eye of his men, who have come back enfeebled by disease, as their grateful lips acknowledge the obli- gation of his kindness and faithfulness. He loved bis men, and when we urged him but a little while ago, to get a furlough and come home, he wrote that he could probably get detailed for recruiting service ; but as it would take him sometime from his men [and at a time when there was much sickness in the regiment], he would not think of it. " I shall stand by the company" he said, and that ended the contro- versy. Alas that he should be the first that should fall ! Alas that the golden bowl of his life should be the first broken at the fountain !

Since the first of March, fatigue and exposure had worn upon him. Care and rest, however, brought recuperation. On the march to New Madrid, he improved and was daily gaining strength. But his regi- ment was ordered out to support a battery that was playing upon the enemy. Too weak to go, he was yet too eager to stay. In spite of the expostulations of his men, he went. To avoid the shells of the enemy the troops were ordered to lie down on the damp ground. He obeyed, caught cold, had a relapse, lingered a few days and died ; sinking away calmly and quietly without a perception of the loosening and breaking of the golden thread of his life-died with the green of spring carpeting the earth with beauty, the buds and blossoms opening around him, and when life and honor and usefulness must have seemed to be opening before him with a promise fair and bright, as that be- tokened by nature's reawakening -- died as he always wanted to die, if the sacrifice was needed, in the harness of the faithful soldier, and the booming of the deep-mouthed cannon, and the crash of shells sound- ing in his ear. We shall listen long and anxiously for his coming, wbile our hearts must grow sick as we remember that never more shall we meet his pleasant greeting. Shade of all noble virtues rest thou in peace ! "Dear friend ! brave heart ! hail and farewe !! ! "

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History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 28

Author: Williams bros., Cleveland, pub. [from old catalog]; Riddle, A. G. (Albert Gallatin), 1816-1902 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Cleveland, Williams brothers Number of Pages: 574

Author: Williams bros., Cleveland, pub. [from old catalog]; Riddle, A. G. (Albert Gallatin), 1816-1902
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams brothers
Number of Pages: 574