USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 43
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.
the teams and wagons over. The tents and provisions being in the wagons, many of the companies are still in the open air around their camp fires. The scenes of this day are not to be described by me, for I am not capable; but you may be sure it is very rough. No serious accident has happened however, though it is evident we have had three days of as rough marching, and poor camping as we shall be apt to see. Our wagons are still over the river, but we have succeeded in get- ting the officers' tent and one other, and the wherewithal for a cup of coffee, with a little meat and hard bread. Nearly all the men stand it well, and if you could hear the cheering, singing, talking, laughing, and jesting, you would not think them unhappy. We commenced crossing the river at 11 o'clock A. M., and it will be 11 or 12 to-night before all will be over. Well, we (Lieutenant Bull, Lieutenant Rice, Mr. Young and myself), are comfortably fixed in our tent-a fine fire in the stove, and beds made on the ground. Lieutenant Rice met with quite a serious accident. One of the men came in with a cup of hot coffee, and dropped it on his foot. As he had removed his boots, he will not be able to walk for awhile-the stocking retaining the hot coffee, made a bad burn of it.
Well, the past three days have reminded me of what we have often
. read of revolutionary times. It has been rough indeed (not quite equal to the roast potato diet of the Revolutionary heroes-otherwise the lieutenant's accident would not have happened). But it is a fact that such things are not so bad to go through, as it seems to read and think about. We are now really advancing toward Springfield, and now that we are across the Gasconade shall get along pretty fast.
J. P. S.
LETTER NO. XLVII,
[Had there been really any danger that the "penny wise and pound foolish" policy deprecated in the an- nexed letter, would be adopted, nothing, unless the hearts of those in power were harder than a nether millstone, could have been wanting to defeat the measure, but this graphic description of the power of music to rekindle the enthusiasm of the overtaxed soldiery .- E. P.]
CAMP WORTH, SMITHTON, MISSOURI, January 28, 1862.
FRIEND RICH :- It has been proposed to dispense with regimental brass bands. The wishes of the soldiers are entirely against such a step. The proposition originated in a desire to curtail expenses, but it may well be questioned whether such action wou'd not, in the end, prove to be false economy. Hand-to-mouth economists, are proverbial- ly short-sighted, as well as small-souled. They comprehend none but the immediate and most superficial effects of a given cause. Wrapped up in their one idea, their monomania beclouds their faculties and renders legitimate reasoning an impossibility. In the present case they say: "Bands cost a great deal of money; they are not essential in the contest with the enemy; they may afford the soldiers some amusement, but they are expensive, extravagant, and are too costly." Little do they understand the effect of band music upon the minds, morals, and physical condition of the troops; nothing can so invigorate the drooping energies on the fatiguing march; nothing so cheering in the hour of despondency.
Our regiment boasts one of the best bands in this department, and often, when wearied by long. laborious marches over rough roads, after sleepless nights, footsore, with every limb and joint aching; joyous, animating strains revivified our failing spirits, galvanizing every muscle into renewed life and exertion.
A forced march, perhaps, or one through rain and mud, has tested the endurance of the hardiest; but night approaches, and the regiment reaches its camping ground. Arms are stacked, knapsacks are hastily thrown off, and the exhausted soldier drops to the ground, softer now than the eider bed of noble or prince. So sudden is the collapse, one might alınost believe that, but for the burdens he bore, he would have fallen out of the ranks miles back-he cares not that the cold damps of his earthen couch may strike a chill to his very bones, and thus lay the foundation of disease and death-heedless of everything save his over- powering fatigue, he resigns himself to sleep. A few, more hardy than their companions, scatter themselves to procure wood, and water for the invigorating coffee. Here and there around the blackened camp- kettles the fires spring up, their cheerful crackling alone disturbing the gloomy solitude of the wood. The sleeping soldier dreams. He is far away, northward, basking in the sunshine of that fairest spot on earth, sweet home. He is happy once more-he is in fairy land. Low, sweet strains of music reach his ear-nearer, sicher, louder they swell.
Is it enchantment? He awakes. The band is playing our National airs, ever welcome, ever thrilling to a soldier's heart, and never failing to arouse all his patriotism and give him a new inspiration. The peace- ful moon is looking down through the lacework of vines and branches upon the reclining forms beneath; the camp fires are reflected back from burnished bayonets. Ah! this is not home-no bayonets there- and the vision vanishes. But the music which had been a part of his brief happy dieam, is filling the leaty aisles of the wood with inspiring melody, and as his eye takes in the scene around him, he is thrilled with the romance of war. He is a new being-rising, though perhaps with a shiver, yet not too late to escape the baleful effects which might have followed his heavy sleep, he gazes around him. What a magic change has been wrought in the camp! All is now warmth, and life and action. Willing hands supply the waning hres with fuel, and the cheering flames leap heavenward. A warm nourishing supper is soon prepared, atd eaten with a keenness of relish, known only to soldiers. Still the band plavs on. Dry leaves and twigs are collected, blankets are unrolled, and all is ready for wholesome slumber. The band ceases -cheer upon cheer from the grateful hearts of the soldiers rends the air, and soon all is quiet.
Ye powers that be, will ye drive your willing slaves over long hilly roads, day and night, through storm and frost; half starve them when ye list; pull them down with hard work, and worst of all, give them no oppor- tunity to accomplish their end-to whip the enemy. Will ye do all this and then take from them what, of all the various adjunets of their wearing lives, they most highly prize, their bands? Do ye think to economize by thus aiding in the destruction of what little esprit de corps your soldiery may possess? Know ye not that a strong arm without a will, is powerless? Have ye no music in your souls?
J. L. LOOMIS.
LETTER NO. XLVIII.
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH IOWA REGIMENT, BOONVILLE, MISSOURI, February 1, 1862. 5
FRIEND RICH :- . This morning Colonel Worthington, who has been recently appointed brigadier general, under the late order of General Halleck, to cooperate with Lane, arrived at this place, and also the other three companies from Syracuse, with Major Robin- son and Quartermaster Patterson. The boys all look healthy, and are overjoyed at meeting their comrades once more. General Worthing- ton's brigade now consists of the Iowa Fifth, Illinois Forty-seventh and Ohio Ninth regiments, besides a squadron of cavalry and what is known as Constable's battery, from Ohio, reported to be the best in the west- ern military service. All this force is now on the way here, where they will form and be ready to march by the fifth of the present month. The troops from Ohio and Illinois are crack regiments, well disciplined and equipped.
Wednesday morning, February 5th.
This morning the streets are alive with soldiers, running to and fro in all the excitement, hurry and hubbub preparatory to a start. Con- stable's battery and the Ohio and Illinois regiments are being trans- ported over the river now, and we are to leave tomorrow. Orderlies carrying dispatches are dashing along at breakneck speed, and teams from the country, loaded with all sorts of produce, throng the market places. The boys are laying in large quantities of stationery, pens, ink, etc.
I am sorry to say that quite a number of our regiment are sick, and are to be sent back to Syracuse. Our friend Oscar Fuller, though con- valescing slowly, is to be left behind. Mr. Woodruff, who has returned home (to enter the military academy at West Point), will give you all the company news. C. J. R.
LETTER NO. XLIX.
CAMP NEAR LEBANON, MISSOURI, February 9, 1862.
FRIEND RICH :- It has been some time since I have had an oppor- tunity to communicate to you any of our movements. We left Pacific City on the night of the twenty-first ultimo, and arrived at Rolla next morning, a distance of seventy-five miles. We were stationed there until the twenty-eighth, when we started for Springfield. The first day of our march it rained, and the next night snow fell to the depth of four inches. which made the remainder of our march very uncomfortable. The greater part of two days was consumed in crossing the Gasconade, which was accomplished with one flat-boat, the water being too high to admit of fording. The third night after leaving Rolla we camped on the west side of the river, twelve miles from Rolla, and a rough time we had. We marched from eight to seventeen miles per day, and arrived at this place on the fifth instant. Were reviewed by Gen- eral Curtis, after which we pitched tents in a meadow, and are here
.
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.
yet, awaiting orders to move toward Springfield, which orders, from present appearances, must come soon. We are preparing for a forced march, and that on half rations. Springfield is some sixty miles dis- tant, and we are to make it in two days. General Siegel and Ashboth are here with about fifteen thousand troops, and General Davis is moving this way from Sedalia with six thousand more. The battle which is pending is to be a hard one if Price makes a stand, and it is reported that he is building fortifications twelve miles this side of Springfield, with a force of from fifteen to twenty thousand. Others say he has only fifteen hundred-it is hard to get at the truth in the matter. There are eight or ten batteries here drilling daily, two of them from Iowa. The Iowa Fourth and Eighth regiments are also here.
The paymaster arrived yesterday, and is paying the Ninth to-day. Company C have just received theirs, but we have no good chance to send it home. We left twenty-five men in the hospital at Pacific, in the care of Dr. Wright and Assistant Surgeon Hart. They, how- ever, have been ordered to join the regiment, as one surgeon is not enough if we should be engaged in battle. Captain Hord left the com- pany at Rolla. He resigned because he could not get money to send to his family. Lieutenant Bull is now in command, and a noble officer he is, taking a great interest in everything that concerns the welfare of his men. At Rolla he was ordered to report to General Curtis, as a member of his staff, with one hundred and forty-five dollars per month, a horse, and servants. But when he heard that Captain Hord had re- signed, he said he would not leave the company-he would not desert the boys whose entire confidence he has. Military honor alone is not what he is after.
We are to be attached to General Curtis' brigade. He compliments the regiment highly, and company C' is not behind, although rather small on account of having so many sick in hospital. Most of the movements are kept secret, and it is not easy to say when we shall leave here; but it is generally understood that it is the general's inten- tion to take Price by surprise. Lebanon is, or rather has been, quite a village. It is situated on a hill, and the location is beautiful; but nearly every building in it is used now either for a hos- pital or a horse stable. Everything looks very desolate, both in the towns and country through which we have passed.
Later .- We hear that General Siegel is now moving towards Spring- field, and is in our neighborhood.
E. C. L.
LETTER NO. L.
[The months of impatient waiting, so trying, but doubtless as necessary as trying, to our troops, had at length come to an end. Stirring events, in rapid succes- sion, broke up the protracted encampments of the Iowa Fifth and Ninth, and brought these regiments, pining for action, face to face with the enemy. Put to the fiery tests, as was the Ninth at the terrible battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, their courage was proven to be of the most heroic quality. But the long letters, which betok- ened leisure and a willingness to vary the monotony of camp life, were for a season intermitted. The following is a private letter from Adjutant Scott, of the Ninth, kindly furnished to the Guardian, in the absence of let- ters from the regular correspondent .- E. P.]
HEADQUARTERS NINTH IOWA REGIMENT, FOUR MILES FROM } BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS, February 18, 1862.
MY DEAR WIFE :-- We arrived here yesterday morning at 11 o'clock. The enemy's rear guard, of the two thousand men, made a stand for a short time, and we had quite a little brush. They had a six-gun battery, with which they opened fire on our cavalry. In one hour after the first firing commenced, the Ninth came up, and we were immediately formed in line of battle. The Dubuque battery formed on the left of us and opened fire, and the rebels fired some twenty shots of canister and round shot in reply. Then they immediately began to retreat, and were charged upon by our cavalry a distance of a mile. Our cannon were mounted at once, and pushed forward after them. They planted their battery again on a rise of ground, and opened fire once more. We replied with our battery, the Ninth forming on the right of the guns. Several of their shells burst near us, some passing over our heads. Two horses of our battery were killed by the bursting of a
shell, and one wheel was broken off the gun. In the cavalry charge there were four men killed on our side and nine wounded. Four of the wounded died last night. The secesh are armed with all kinds of arms, old rifles, double-barrel shot-guns, etc. The road all along from their first stand to their last was strewn with such arms. Our men picked up no end of them. Clothing such as blankets, coats, pants- and even one lady's muff-were picked up. In a distance of half a mile there were not less than twenty-five horses killed. We have found the bodies of five, and taken six wounded prisoners. One man, who was taken prisoner, was run over by one of their guns at the time they were leaving the wheel passing over his body and feet, and injuring him severely. He said they took twelve dead bodies away on their guns, and would not wait to pick him up. Half a mile in advance of us is a house with a white flag, and inside everything is covered with blood, but no one is there. The ground chosen for fighting by them was very thick with brush, consequently it gave them, with their shot guns, an equal chance with us, for it was impossible to see more than ten rods. We arrived in Springfield on Thursday last, and found that Price had left the day before with his whole force. On Friday morning the orders were to go forward after him, and at 9 o'clock the whole army was on the march. We passed over the battle-ground at Wil son's Creek, where Lyon and the Iowa First fought Price. We got to Dug Spring, twelve miles from Springfield, about dusk, having come twenty-four miles-as the most of our division had marched from twelve miles north of that place. A messenger soon came in from our ad- vance, saying that they had come on Price's pickets, and were driving them in, so we were ordered forward four miles further, got in about 9 o'clock, and had to bivouac all night without tents. Our teams did not get in until 2 o'clock A. M., when we got some hot coffee and some- thing to eat. Some went to sleep on the ground, others sat up around the camp fires-among the latter was your correspondent. At five o'clock we were again on the march; our advance kept driving in the enemy's rear guard all the time. Night before last our cavalry charged upon their pickets for three miles, and drove them right into their camps, killing five or six. They wounded a lieutenant of the cav- alry, stripped off his coat and taking his watch and two hundred and forty dollars in money, they left him. Springfield was almost entirely deserted when we got in, and all along the road, as we advance, the people leave their houses and scamper off, taking what they can in their hurry. It is a perfect stampede. There is no mail from here, so that many letters cannot be sent at present. This is to be sent by Gen- eral Curtis' messenger.
LETTER NO. LI.
SUGAR CREEK, ARKANSAS, March, 10, 1862.
[The glorious finale of the "little brush" mentioned by Adjutant Scott is also communicated in a private letter from Orderly Sergeant Sampson .- E. P.]
DEAR FATHER :- We have been in a very severe battle, in which two hundred and forty-five of the Iowa Ninth were killed, wounded, or missing. Mostly, I am glad to say, wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Herron is wounded, and a prisoner. But the enemy is defeated with great slaughter. On the seventh we went out and took our position, and our regiment, with three others, kept fifteen thousand in check all day, hut the fighting was terrible. Our whole loss was on that day. The next day both armies were concentrated in foree, and we cut them to pieces badly, and drove them with little loss on our side. The loss in company C, is Lieutenant Rice and Julius Furcht, killed; Isaac Arwine, mortally wounded; Captain Bull and several others wounded, some pretty seriously, but most of them only slightly. I will give you a list of the wounded, with a statement of the condition of each, soon. I will merely give you the names this time, as I have them on a piece of paper. I think braver men never came into action than the Iowa Ninth, from the colonel to the weakest private. I saw no signs of cow- ardice on the field, and our guns told with terrible effect. You may not hesitate to state that the Iowa Ninth have done much-yes-all that men could do, to sustain and add to the already high honors to which the troops from that State have attained. You will, doubtless, have full particulars of the battle long before this will reach you, and yet you will be glad, I know, as will be all the friends of the company, for something direct from us. You may feel assured that all not men- tioned in my report are safe. As to myself I am not hurt. My head is a little sore from the effects of a spent ball striking me above the ear just hard enough to knock me down. 1 am spending my time now in seeing to the sick, or rather the wounded. Captain Bull is now on one side of me and Adjutant Scott on the other. Captain's is a flesh wound
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.
in the thigh, adjutant's a bruise upon the ancle, neither serious. I know the anxiety of the friends at home must be intense, from the time the first news reaches you until you get more particulars. All but eight of our company, who were left in hospital in Pacific, arrived here last night, all looking well and in good spirits. None have died since we left there. I would like, if it were possible for me, to give you a de- scription of the battle, but it was an affair of too much magnitude for me to describe. General Siegel is greatly praised by everyone. We feel that it was only by his bravery and strategy that the field was won. The force of the enemy was about thirty thousand, while ours was from twelve to fifteen thousand.
Respectfully your son,
J. P. SAMPSON.
The following is the list accompanying Mr. Sampson's letter:
Captain H. C. Bull, wounded; Lieutenant N. Rice, killed; Corporal J. D. Sanders, wounded; Corporal C. G. Curtis, wounded; Private Isaac Arvine, mortally wounded; Private G. M. Abbott, wounded; Private Jesse Barnett, wounded, Private L. D. Curtis, wounded; Pri- vate James Cartwright, wounded; Private J. E. Elson, wounded; Pri- vate Julius Furcht, killed; Private David Greek, wounded; Private C. A. Hobart, wounded: Private Stephen Holman, wounded; Private John Leatherman, wounded; Private O. F. Luckey, wounded; Private Philip Riterman, wounded; Private William Whisennand, wounded; Private A. J. Windsor, wounded; Private Russel Rowse, wounded, Private Samuel Robbins, wounded.
LETTER NO. LII.
[The following letter, though not descriptive of move- ments participated in by Buchanan men, was written by a Buchanan man; and as its intrinsic interest is such as to make it quite independent of the accident of its origin, the collator is released from all obligation to justify its insertion .- E. P.]
COLUMBUS, KENTUCKY, March 8, 1862.
FRIEND RICH :- The telegraph has informed you that on the evening of the third of March, a detachment of the Second Illinois cavalry took possession of Columbus, together with its deserted defences, and that, upon the following day, the occupation was completed in forces There were positively no incidents of interest connected with this movement. Just imagine a fleet of four gunboats and three transports moving down the Mississippi from Cairo, of a cold March morning, with about two thousand troops, and quietly landing them at a half- deserted, muddy town of fifteen hundred inhabitants, and you have the whole picture.
We had aboard our transport, New York artists and correspondents, who will doubtless furnish extensive representations and descriptions of the fortifications to the metropolitan papers, giving a much clearer idea of them than I can do, and I shall therefore confine my observations to matters which will probably be omitted by them.
The Twenty-seventh, Forty-second, six companies of the Fifty-fifth Illinois regiments, and two companies of Zouaves, were the troops landed here on the fourth instant. The Fifty-fifth has since left, and the balance of the Illinois cavalry has arrived, together with two bat- teries of artillery. Thus there is now in occupation of this stronghold of rebeldom a force of not more than twenty-five hundred, all told. Our regiment (Forty-second Illinois) is on the bluffs within the lines of intrenchments; the rest of the force occupy the town which lies upon the flat beneath.
The fortifications are left uninjured, but completely disarmed-not a gun in position. The stores and armament were also carried away. The heavy guns were dismounted and thrown into the river. The bar- racks were mostly ruined by fire, though in some cases nearly whole regiments left their quarters uninjured. The extent of the rebel force here has not been overestimated; it must have amounted to nearly thirty thousand. I am informed that most of the immense labor on the fortifications was performed by a force of not more than sixteen thousand, and that the work was done by the soldiers, and not by negroes.
I have been much interested in wandering through the deserted quarters of the different regiments. Even ruins speak volumes. These quarters were built in every conceivable style, but very comfortable, especially those of the extreme southern regiments. The Louisiana
boys evidently suffered much from the effects of this vigorous climate. Many of them lived in mere dens, dug in the sides of the steep ravines, and covered with mud, without a window, with a door just large enough to crawl through, but with an ample fire-place which was put to a good use. Imagine a thousand of the illustrious cane ohivalry, emerging, at the tap of the drum, like moles or gophers from their holes in the ground, to the defence of their beloved "institution." Were these the dragon teeth spoken of in classic story? But their glory has departed, and so have they.
The troops occupying this point, were mostly from Kentucky, Ten- nessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas. Previous to our arrival here I had heard much of the propensity of the rebels for liquor, but had doubted whether it were possible to exceed some of our troops in the rapid consumption of stimulants. I doubt no longer. The spirit of secessia has departed in more senses than one, but the skeleton re- mains. Bottles here, there, everywhere; bottles inside, outside, around doors, under windows, under stairs; in dark holes and corners and in open daylight -in the Rev. Bishop General Polk's headquarters, and in the lowest private's den-a small universe of bottles, as though rebeldom had been holding a grand winter carnival over its coming ruin. It is probable that the rebels have fared even better than we, 50 far as their commissary was concerned. There are no indications any- where that they were short of supplies of any kind. Nor did they lack the luxuries, as the thousands of oyster, sardine and preserve cans scattered everywhere attest.
These statements may surprise some of the more radical of your readers, who are accustomed to flatter themselves with the idea that the rebels must be in a very suffering condition-on the borders of starvation, etc., but the illusion ought to be dispelled at once. We of the north have been in the habit of underrating vastly the resources of the south. Both sides have a great deal yet to learn of each other. Much will be accomplished in this direction, by this very war, which is in other respects so calamitous; and the parties in it, will each retire from the conflict with more liberal, truthful and enlightened ideas con- cerning the other.
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