History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 45

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 45

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Our men are all well at present, except Mr. Stuart and Mr. Harris, both of whom have been dangerously ill, but are now recovering. The recruiting officers of the Fifth regiment are all here, and we expect to start for Dixie day after to-morrow. Companies are leaving here daily for the seat of war, and each company is anxious to be the first to leave. GEORGE N. WATSON,

LETTER NO. LXI .*

CASSVILLE, MISSOURI, April 7, 1862.

Last Tuesday about half of the men we have here started for a point about thirty miles distant to break up a javhawking band of desperadoes, and on Friday evening a messenger came in after more help. Our men had been fighting two days, and had taken ninety prisoners; but they were getting short of amunition and in danger of being surrounded by the rebels. Yesterday morning all the men that

could be spared went out, and what the result will be time will show. Some farmers, who came in last night, said they heard cannonading yesterday morning, which makes us the more anxious, because we know the reinforcements could not have reached our boys.

Later .- Three of the cavalry scouting party have come in. They say our men had repulsed an attack made yesterday morning, and are still in pursuit. These three were fired at when coming in, by nine rebels, only a few miles from here; but the odds were so great that they spurred on into town. These guerillas are getting very bold, but I think we shall soon be out of this place. The quartermaster has had orders to press every team that he can find into service, and send the sick and wounded away as fast as possible. Fifteen teams were started to-day. Our ambulence went yesterday with four men, and the doctor thinks we shall go to the regiment in a week or ten days at the farthest.

Monday morning .- Great rejoicing here yesterday afternoon. Our scouts came in. They have been out six days, and have been skir- mishing every day since they left, and have been in one of the worst nests of cut-throats in Missouri. They brought in ninety-one prisoners, and lost only two men killed and one wounded. Our force numbered only two hundred, and it took half of them to guard the prisoners, who were constantly trying to get away; because, according to Gen- eral Halleck's order of March 26th, they are subject to be hung. We got a horse and gun with almost every man taken. It is believed there are from seven to eight hundred of the gang, about half of them Indi- ans. Our men killed two of the red skins.

Two men, who have been acting as guides in our army, left here last Wednesday to go to their families, not having heard from them for some time. They got home, and while putting their horses in the stable some rebels came out of the brush, took them off about two miles and shot them. This is the way things are carried on here now, and still our government officers are taking such men as these every day, swearing them and letting them go.

April 12th .- The army has left and is making its way to the Missis- sippi, and we are living here in suspense. There are all sorts of re- ports every day about the Indians and Texas rangers coming in here. To-day the report came that fifteen hundred rangers were to attack our town to-night. It makes no little excitement. Some of our teams were out foraging yesterday, and one got behind, when nine rebels came out of the brush, unhitched the horses front the wagon and, taking the two drivers, left. The men were taken three or four miles and then made to take the oath and set at liberty. They got back to camp to-day. This is another specimen of the kind of warfare carried on here. They will come into town and be the best Union men you ever saw, find out when a team is going out into the country, go and get some of their neighbors, lie in wait at a convenient spot, and nab it. Our boys are getting along nicely. Valentine Cates is better. We are having an easy time now soldiering. We do not have to stand guard nor cook. We have two cows here, and have milk for supper almost every night.

Monday morning .- We are all alive this morning, so you see there was no truth in the report we heard yesterday. I will close with the remark that our officers and army are too easy with these plaguey But- ternuts; we ought to wipe out every one of them. A mail is going out this morning. JAMES SPARLING.

LETTER NO. LXII.

CAMP NEAR PITTSBURGH LANDING, April 30, 1862. FRIEND RICH :- It is very difficult to form a cor- rect estimate as to the number of troops under the command of Gen- eral Halleck at this place, but it can not be far from one hundred and twenty thousand, and in telling this I presume that I shall not be im- parting forbidden information. The forces are disposed in the form of the arc of a circle, General Grant's division occupying the centre, upon the main road leading to Corinth; General Buell's the right flank, ex- tending to a small town eight miles from the enemy's nearest lines; and General Nelson's brigade the left flank, resting on the town of Ham- burgh, four miles above Pittsburgh. Pope's division lies immediately behind these, as a reserve. General Mitchell still holds his position on the Charleston and Memphis railroad, cutting off all communication in that direction.

Last night General Payne's division was thrown forward on the Cor- inth road, so that from the centre of our position to the enemy's out- posts, the distance cannot be over four miles, and daily skirmishes occur between the cavalry on either side. A vast amount of labor is necessary to repair the roads, build bridges, etc., etc., and a week or two may elapse before a battle will occur.

+ Extract from private letters written by a member of Captain Buell's com- pany, Ninth Iowa.

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

CAMP ABOVE HAMBURGH, POPE'S DIVISION, May 4th.

Yesterday our former camp, near Pittsburgh, was broken up, and the whole division moved six miles in a southwest direction, being now on the extreme left, and five miles from the west bank of the Tenne- ssee. A sharp artillery duel came off last night, resulting in the eap- ture of one of the rebel batteries. Small scouting parties are taken daily, who represent the greater mass of Beauregard's army as being in a very demoralized condition, especially with the Tennessee and Kentucky troops, many of whom have been impressed into the service. It is also currently reported and believed in camp that Beauregard, de- siring to reciprocate onr wish for an early engagement, has made an advance, and is now engaged throwing up intrenehments. A battle must come off soon, perhaps to-day or tomorrow. Sunday appears to be the fighting dav, and our regiment is now under orders to move at half-past 9, with three days' rations in their haversacks. Discipline is very strict, and every precaution taken to prevent surprise. Roll is called five times a day, the men being required to fall out twice at seveille and tattoo on the color line under their arms, where the num- ber of men and guards of each company are reported to the adjutant. Besides this, there is an inspection of arms and cartridge boxes after every meal, and woe to the luckless wight who hath not his forty rounds. The life of the soldier in presence of the enemy is far from being one of inactivity, and he is perpetually performing some duty that is sug- gestive of bloodshed, For instance, he is addressed by his officers on this wise: "Soldiers, you are soon to enter upon a great battle; cool- ness and deliberation are indispensable; under all circumstances don't get excited; shake the powder down well, and fire low. One wounded man is worth a dozen killed." Think of me hearing such language as that, who, nine months ago, was in the quiet wheat fields of lowa, with thoughts intent upon the raising of crops and securing a comfortable home. Our camp is now placed near the line of the two States, and twenty yards from the log on which your correspondent sits takes you into Mississippi. Away down in Dixie, among tangled underbrush and cane brakes, with far-stretching cotton fields and umbrageous woods, where mosquitoes, frogs and lizards · abound-away down in the land of chivalry, poetry and romance, where the winds blow soft, laden with the perfume of flowers, and where earth's richest productions grow spontaneously. What a land, what associations! What tremendous lizards! A couple of them are gamboling near my seat, turning, twisting and doubling over each other with the celerity of the most accomplished aerobats. They are very affectionate, and consider it their special privilege to ensconce themselves in the folds of the sleeping soldier's blanket. Just above the camp is a farm, whose owner enlisted in Beauregard's host just for five days --- the time considered sufficient to wipe out the vandal Vankee from the sacred soil. Unhappy man! Yesterday he was captured by a band of audacious cavalry, and sent to St. Louis a prisoner of war. As he passed by his farm he saw the corn and cotton fields where of old trembling slaves bowed subservient to his will, dotted over with federal camps, while to the corner of his house had been fixed the tel- egraph wire to convey the news of federal triumphs, and cannon gleamed beneath his orchard trees. The few families left here are of that class who are too poor to get away, and are much to be pitied. Industry is paralyzed. The men are in the army, the children are ragged, and stand in little groups by the doorway, looking out at the soldiers with great, frightened eyes-in the background stands the mother, pale and careworn. Coffee is worth one dollar and twenty- five cents per pound, and flour is not to be had at any price; and the women and children are compelled to live on eorn meal made into cakes, without saleratus or salt-even the hard crackers of the soldier they esteem a great luxury, and a gift of them is never refused.

Sunday, IO A. M.

The boys have been in readiness over an hour, and now the order to move is countermanded-the roads not being in readiness. True to former precedents, it has commenced raining, and the watery deluge comes pouring down on our Sibley with a vengeance. The rebels have destroyed the bridge across Ball's creek, which will delay our move- ment a day or two.

C. J. R.

LETTER NO. LXIII.

Extract of a letter from Lieutenant Wright, of the Iowa Ninth, to Rev. Mr. Sampson, dated ---

BATESVILLE, ARKANSAS, May 9, 1862.

After a long and severe march over the Ozark mountains, we rest a short time, waiting for the First and Second division to cross the river. Most of them are already over, and we have orders to be ready to cross

to-night. We left Cassville on the fifth of April, and reached Bear creek on the fifteenth, a few miles from Forsyth. The country from Cassville to the latter place is the worst I ever saw.

The country is much better after leaving the Ozark Ridge, and contin- ues to improve as we approach the White river. There is also a great difference in the character of the people, We seem to be getting more amongst white folks.

When we came into Batesville, the people were taken entirely by sur- prise, except a few Union men who were apprised of our coming. The advance guard eame in upon them on every road, so there was no chance of escape. Colonel Coleman happened to be on the opposite side of the river, but a company of his men were playing cards in the court house on this side and were captured. The citizens seemed well pleased, and began to look to the Federal aim for protection. Some say they would like to have the "fuss" settled, but they don't like to have the south whipped. There is a report amongst the citizens here that the governor sent to General Curtis last night a proposal to sur- render the State to the Federal Government. Surrender or not, the State capital will be ours in a few days. I forgot to say that our ad- vance had a little bit of a skirmish on enfæring the town, with Coleman's men. A few shels from one of our wagon guns soon made them ske- daddle, nor have they been heard of since. . Some of our cavalry are in pursuit of them. You will be surprised to learn that the Union sen- timent is stronger here than in any county through which we have passed. Old men threw up their hats at the sight of the old flag, and thanked God that they were once more free men. One man com- meneed to dance when the band played " Yankee Doodle." He had been arrested onee for whistling "Vankee Doodle" and "Hail, Co- lumbia," and this by a people who persuade themselves they are fight- ing for liberty.

Vour son left us at Ozark. He felt very badly to be left behind, but it was better for him to stay near Springfield, where he would have good care, than to be left any other place on the road. We hope that he is better, and will soon be able to join us, as he is much missed by his comrades in arms. We also sent two of the Farry boys and Thomas Cress to the hospital at Rolla. The rest of the company are well and in good spirits, except Sergeant Davis, who has been quite unwell for some days, but is rapidly improving.

R. W. W.

LETTER NO. LXIV.

C'AMP AT BOONVILLE, MISSISSIPPI, June 7, 1862

FRIEND RICH :- My long silence has consigned me to your list of occasionals; but there has been really but little of special interest to write about in the slow, regular advance of the army from the Ten- nessee river. Nearly every day has had its skirmish of greater or less extent, resulting sometimes in the enemy's favor, oftener otherwise. The last grand advance in the investment of Corinth took place on the twenty-eighth ultimo. It was contested vigorously, but unsuccessfully, at nearly every point. General Pope's wing did the heaviest fighting and suffered the most severely. Our troops saw but little rest on the night of the twenty-eighth. A continuons line of rifle- pits was to be dug in our new position, and sunrise of the twenty- ninth showed everything complete. All day the enemy was ex- pected and we were anxious to receive him; still, no fighting of mo- ment occurred in our division. In the afternoon the Forty-second was taken out to support a battery of Parrot guns which was playing upon one of the enemy's forts. The fire was briskly returned, but without any damage to us. Early on the morning of the thirtieth, our regiment and the Thirty-ninth Ohio were ordered to advance. Hurrah for a skirmish! was the thought of every one of us. But we passed on through the woods without sight of a single foe. Suddenly the truth broke upon us Corinth evacuated ! We pressed forward to the abat- tis of fallen timber, which, through continued harping, had become a bugbear to our imaginations. It would not have delayed an lowa assaulting party fifteen minutes! And that single little breastwork yonder is called formidable! Are these your boasted defences, Corinth ? Who has been fooled this time? Would it not be a good plan for our generals to organize an efficient corps of scouts, or-spies, if you will call them such? To one who has seen the defences of Columbus, those at Corinth seem contemptible. As we neared the breastworks, the colorbearers of the two regiments pushed forward on the run for the honor of planting the first flag. The colors of the Forty-second won, also a few moments later -- the honor of being the first to float over the village of Corinth. But how barren seemed the triumph! We would have preferred to fight the rebels, then and there.

A few families remained at Corinth. They stated that the evacuation had been in progress several days, and that eighteen regiments had left

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

only the night before. The pursuit commenced the same evening, the Forty-second leading the van of Pope's army, as it has continued to do to the present. We marched eight miles to the first bridge de- stroyed by the enemy in their flight. It was situated in a swamp, cov- ered with a dense growth of timber. The rear guard of the rebels was stationed with a battery just beyond to delay our passage, and it was not until the night of the thirty-first that the way was clear for our en- gineers to rebuild the bridge. The next morning we marched into Danville, an insignificant village ten miles south of Corinth. Continu- ing the pursuit, we rebuilt ruined bridges, and camped at Rienzi, five miles from Danville. On the second instant we entered Boonville, a station on the Mobile & Ohio railroad, twenty-one miles from Corinth. We are still at this point, with the probabilities against any forward movement at present. On the third we reconnoitred in force, driving the rear guard of the enemy before us, but returning the same day to camp. Here we are lying without tents, the most of us without even a blanket-we were ordered to leave knapsacks behind-exposed to the caprices of the weather, and wondering in our innocent hearts what is to come next. We would like to do something, certainly. The coun- try through which we have passed is beautifully undulating, and covered with a heavy growth of oak, maple and beech timber. It is very thinly settled by a very miserable people, and our most profound aspiration at the present moment is to get out of it just as soon as the interests of our cause will permit.

J. L. LOOMIS.

LETTER NO. LXV.

FROM THE NINTH.

CAMP ON RED RIVER, ARKANSAS, May 28, 1862.

FRIEND RICH :- We left our camp near Batesville on the seventeenth instant, and arrived here upon the twentieth, Upon our arrival we learned that Colonel Osterhaus' division, which is in advance of us, had been terribly annoyed by the enemy on the opposite side of the river. On one occasion the enemy captured a foraging party of fifty men and a number of wagons, belonging to the Seventeenth Missouri. When the men surrendered the rebels said, "We take no prisoners," and be- gan to shoot the men down, killing about twenty, and wounding the remainder. Only one escaped to tell the sorrowful tale, This has aroused the Germans, and whenever they capture a rebel they kill him if possible. Their leader is reported to be G. A. Hicks, of this State. They are broken up into small parties and go in for plunder more than anything else. They can annoy an army in this way, by being on the lookout for small detachments, and cutting off every wagon or horse they happen to meet with. The bridge being again completed, a heavy reconnaissance was made yesterday. It was supposed that the enemy's camp was at a small town called Searcy, four miles from our camp. The town was surrounded and several prisoners taken, but the camp was not to be found. We found Searcy to be a very pleasant village of about one thousand inhabitants before this war, but not more than one- half that number is here at the present time. Two fine churches, and one or two fine school-houses or seminaries were in the place, besides many excellent dwellings, and the entire aspect of the place was more like civilization than anything we had seen in the State. The object of the expedition yesterday was principally to collect forage.

Red River is navigable to this point, the stream being not very wide, but very deep. Our men have built a floating bridge, which is very handy for the boys in crossing. We are now one hundred and fifty miles from Memphis, and sixty miles from Little Rock. We are brig- aded with the Iowa Fourth cavalry, and the brigade is commanded by Colonel Porter, Colonel Vandever being absent. The Ninth is com- manded by Captain Carpenter, of company B, he being senior captain of the regiment. Lieutenant Mckenzie is acting adjutant.

The weather is very warm, and we suffer from heat. We have been rather short of provisions for some time, but a large ox-train came in this morning, which had been on the road since the twentieth of March. They brought us a fresh supply of hard bread, some that the Government had on hand at the end of the Mexican war (I should think), and are now sending it out here for us to devour. Coffee we have in abundance. I have seen some statements in print that the Iowa Fifth had only four crackers a day. In our march from Hunts- ville to Pea Ridge, a distance of forty-one miles, all that we had to eal on the morning that we left Huntsville, was one cup full of meal pud- ding, and the forty-ore miles was made in one day. We arrived in camp on the night of the fifth of March, and next morning were order_ ed to the field of action. You may know that many of the boys were not able to leave their tents, but, as there was a fair prospect of a fight, all but one or two went out. All that day we had nothing to eat, and

nothing until next morning at 2 o'clock, and then we had some bread mixed up soldier's fashion. When we were at Forsyth we had no flour, no meal, no hard bread-nothing but shorts (that is what they call it), and that was so very short, that we had only half rations of it. nor were the shorts eked out by meat. You imagine that it was rather tough to live in this manner, but we had been taught by our officers that good soldiers would not grumble, and so we were contented.

May 31st.

Captain Bull and Adjutant Scott arrived on the twenty-ninth, looking very well. The captain has nearly recovered from his wound, but he limps a very little yet. The adjutant has also recovered, and we are very glad to have them again with us.

Last night we received a mail, the second which has reached us this month. The letters were dated back to April, yet we were glad to hear from home and friends. Everything is one month old before it reaches us, and I think if General Curtis had encamped on the shore of the Red Sea, instead of sitting down in this outlandish and out of the world country, we should have been in the way of getting the news at least semi-occasionally; with some regularity. But the older the news the more eagerly it is looked for; and, old or new, news is always welcome. E. C. LITTLE.

LETTER NO. LXVI *.

CAMP NEAR RIENZA, MISSISSIPPI, July 8, 1862.

FRIEND RICH :- We have had two deaths lately in our company- Jackson Rice and F. M. Walker. Both had been ailing for some time, and were thought to be getting well, but they died very suddenly, and in a somewhat similar manner. Mr. Rice lived southwest of Inde- pendence, (in Jefferson township); was young and spirited, and a very prompt and valuable soldier. His death is a sad loss to the company, and was mourned by all. He is buried on the top of a beautiful shady knob, just back of our camp, near Corinth, and the grave is marked by a plain neat head board. Walker died at the post hospital at Farmington. The doctor thinks he died of sun stroke. There are about twenty-five dollars extra duty money due him from the quarter- master's department, which I will get for his widow, as soon as it can be obtained.

For the last ten days we have been moving about from place to place, without any apparent object. Started to Holly Springs; went as far as Ripley, forty miles from Corinth, were ordered to return for the pur- pose, we have since learned, of going to Richmond; came part of the way back ; order countermanded, stopped at this camp and remained a day or two; went forward a mile and a half ; bivouacked a day or two there; returned here, and have been bivouacking here for two days. Thermometer stands (or would stand, if there were any in the country to stand) at about one hundred and five in the shade. At least we think so, We shall soon be paid for four months, and the boys will no doubt have quite a pile to send home.

As regards war matters in general, I have no time to attempt to give an opinion at present. Give my regards to all my old friends. 1 hear that times are beginning to improve in lowa-glad of it-there is room for great improvement, but you have all reason to be thankful that you are not in this God-forsaken region.

Yours respectfully, W. S. MARSHALL.

LETTER NO. LXVII.

FROM THE NINTH.

An extract from a private letter appeared in the Guardian, late in July, with the following editorial note;

We are greatly gratified, after the various rumors that have floated about relating to General Curtis' army, to have direct intelligence from it. The wife of Lieutenant Wright arrived here yesterday, having left Helena on the sixteenth. The host of friends which Mrs. Wright has made by her self sacrifices for the good of the men of her husbands company, will be sorry to learn that she is quite feeble, not having recovered from a serious illness. It is to be hoped that rest and old associations will bring rapid recuperation.

Mrs. Wright brought letters from Lieutenant Sampson to his family, from which we extract a few items from the last, dated:

IN CAMP, TEN MILES NORTHWEST FROM HELENA, ARKANSAS, JULY 16, 1862. 5

After one of the roughest and most fatiguing marches we ever had, we arrived here day before yesterday. We left Jacksonport on the fifth, and have marched from ten to twenty miles per day. The weather

*Extract from a private letter from Captain Marshall, quartermaster of the Fifth.

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

has been very warm, and, during the first part of the march, very dry and dusty. We have suffered much for want of water. Many of the wells were filled up or destroyed by secesh upon our approach, and after camping, wearied and foot sore, we have had to go as far as two miles and a half for water.

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History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 45

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