History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 51

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 51

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GEORGE B. PARSONS.

LETTER NO. XCIV. CAMP ON HURRICANE CREEK, MISSISSIPPI, { December 11, 1862.

FRIEND RICH :- We remained at Pigeon Roost Creek, the place from which I wrote last, but a day or two, and then marched south- ward with two days' rations in our haversacks. The troops marched rapidly, apparently with the design of making connection with some other part of the army, or of attacking the enemy. All our wagons were left behind the division, except an ammunition wagon, and the two ambulances for transporting the sick. We marched, November 30th, about eight miles and encamped near Chulahoma, Rumors and excitement were rife. Some thought that we had cut off Price's re- treat, while others, at each dash of our cavalry, trembled as if the fatal moment had come.

The camp at Chulahoma is quite a good one, in many respects. The soil was of a more sandy nature, and the country around presented a more inviting aspect. Rails from the high fences near by made large and warm fires. Miles of fences were burned that night by our troops ; but the water was too much like that of the Mississippi, very poor in- deed. During the night a fierce storm raged through the camp, re- minding us of those we had seen sweeping over the broad prairies of Iowa. A number of tents were blown over, and some amusing scenes and incidents occurred. A major was clinging to his tent poles when the wind caught up the lower part of the tent, dashed a plentiful shower around him, for it was raining in torrents, and then passed on seeking new victims for this practical joke. A certain lieutenant found himself landed on all fours, fast in the mud; and those who witnessed this new military evolution, speak in the highest terms of the agility displayed ; and though the grin which adorned his visage showed a slight degree of vexation, there is a general disposition to condone the offence, in consideration of the suddenness of the adoption of the new tactics, and the rapidity of movement required the first time he was "put through."

The next day, December Ist, we remained in camp, but started early on the second, and marched all day in a drenching rain, in the direc- tion of Wyatt, at which place we arrived about sundown. The wagons with the tents and camp utensils did not overtake us until next day, just at night, so that we did what we had not done before, lay down upon the wet leaves, among a small growth of trees, with nothing over us but our blankets and the black and dripping clouds. There was more meditation than sleep that night. Thousands of brave ones, battling for humanity, lay thoughtful upon the ground in an enemy's land. After remaining a day or two in Wyatt, constructing a bridge over the stream, which was unfordable, we marched, Sunday the seventh, to the camp on Hurricane creek, a distance of six miles. Our way lay through an inferior tract of coun- try across the Tallahatchie river. The camp here is preferable in many respects to any we have found since leaving the vicinity of Memphis. The wood and water are excellent and handy, but the living is quite poor. We were out of crackers, and almost everything else usually

furnished by the commissary, and were obliged to forage. Corn is the only breadstuff to be had, and a mill conveniently located was kept in active operation to turn out meal for the division. Pretty hard fare the boys say ; but then we are cheerful as ever, and willing to accept what- ever is inevitable in the soldier's life.

Soon after camping three major generals, Grant, Sherman and Smith, and a number of brigadiers, came into camp. They halted but a moment, but long enough for us to get a look at them. On the ninth our regiment, in connection with several others, was reviewed by Major General Sherman.

Our most ardent desire now is to get hold of Pemberton and his army. The large force of which I wrote in my last, in connection with Grant's forces, have marched steadily forward, meeting with very little opposition. The rebels had strongly fortified around the Tallahatchie, but when armies from the north came marching in long and bold lines down through their land, they vanished away without offering us any resistance. Our cavalry, as you have learned ere this, closely pursued them and captured a goodly number.

A division train was sent out to Holly Springs the other day, and has just returned ; and we shall now live again. And, better still, we have marching orders for Waterford, a distance of twelve miles over the Mississippi railroad, to act as guard. Our regiment and the Twelfth Indiana are to report to Colonel Dubois at Holly Springs.

Here we are only about one hundred and sixty miles from the capital of Mississippi. He who thinks that our army is not gaining ground is deceived. We are going, in spite of rebels, to the gulf, and shall ac- cept nothing but unconditional surrender to the old flag, the flag of our fathers. Ye men of the north, in whose hands are the interest and safe keeping of the Government, while patriots from your own fire- sides are willingly submitting to all the hardships of the camp and the field, do not submit to an inglorious and temporary peace ; but let us battle on until we have found the immovable foundations of liberty and justice, upon which may be built, broad and strong, the enduring structure of a permanent peace. C. H. L.

LETTER NO. XCV.

[Extracts from a letter from Lieutenant Sampson to his family, dated Helena, December 16, 1862.]

Once more we have marching orders. The order came this P. M. for us to be in readiness to go on board of transports on the morning of the eighteenth. We are evidently going upon the Vicks- burgh expedition; and, from the nature of orders received, I judge we shall see some pretty rough marching. The officers are restricted to a small valise, and the men will have to carry everything they have, as there will be but six teams to a regiment.

Our brigade has again been changed by taking out the Twenty-fourth and giving us the Fourth infantry instead. We are much better pleased by the change. We fought beside the Fourth at Pea Ridge, and it is probable that we shall do the same again ere long. It is evident that our commanders here are going to work in earnest, and it does us good to see it, Would that the same spirit might be manifested in the east. The western boys want to get home, and we wish to do our share at once.

Seventeenth, at noon .- Worked hard until late last night, getting things ready. Have just got the teams off with officers' supplies, bag- gage, etc.

The boys of the company have packed a box which they send by ex- press to your care. We shall have to leave without our pay. Possibly we may not get away for several days, although ordered to be in readi- ness to-morrow morning. I hope you will soon hear of our doing something worthy of Iowa and western troops. All we ask is for the eastern army to take Richmond while we are taking Vicksburgh. We got the news this morning of the taking of Fredericksburgh. Good.

LETTER NO. XCVI.

CAMP NEAR THE TALLAHATCHIE, } MISSISSIPPI, December 19, 1862, 5

FRIEND RICH: The report of colonel cominanding the Twenty- seventh Iowa, to Colonel Dubois, as to the position of our regiment, reads about as follows : "Companies A and F are stationed so as to guard the four bridges south of the tank, at Waterford. Company I guards the hospital; D and HI, the four bridges next south; and com- panies A, F, and C guard the commissary stores and the road near the fort, north of the river. E and K guard the bridge next south of the fort. Gand B are on the north bank of the Tallahatchie." This dis- position of our forces is likely to remain for some time. Though we have no definite orders as to the length of time that we may stay here,

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yet we feel sure, from our surroundings, that the fate of the Twenty- seventh is for the present fixed. Our communication with America is by railroad to Grand Junction, thence to Columbus, Kentucky, and by boat to Cairo. We are also in railroad connection with Corinth and other parts of the world.

The Twenty-seventh now has six hundred and thirty men fit for duty. We sent to Vicksburgh, that have not yet joined us, fifty-one men. We left in Memphis one hundred and five convalescents and sick, and we have here about forty-five in the hospitals. There were left in Minne- sota, who have since come to Cairo, and probably to Memphis, twenty- six. The balance of the regiment were left sick at Cairo, and at differ- ent points on the river, coming down.

We have received no news from home since we left Cairo, and con- sequently do not know the condition of the siek at the various hospitals. Their condition should be reported to us every twenty days. They may have done this, but for their own protection they ought immediate- ly to report to their company commanders, directing their letters as heretofore described.

Nothing can equal the sufferings that the people of this part of Mis- sissippi will undergo before another harvest. Price's army was quar- tered here for a long time. Grant's army then came through and took what Price had left. Sherman's column came through six miles west of this. Now there are stationed along this road, from Grand Junction to Oxford, some forty thousand men, to whom the United States issues only half rations of meat, expecting that they will draw the rest from the inhabitants of the country. We sent out eighteen men and two teams yesterday, and they got only six hogs and one beef, and went about twelve miles into the country. They report foraging as very precarious business, in that direction at least. And that, not on ac- count of the danger of being attacked, but because the forage is not there. In the fields immediately around the encampment of companies A and F there is plenty of unpieked corn. But other than that we find little to subsist ourselves and horses upon. If we can get back where neither army has been, report says there is plenty of forage and cattle, and if we stay here any length of time we shall be apt to go out and test the truth of these reports. Should anything of interest transpire, we will keep you posted.

JED LAKE.

LETTER NO. XCVII.

HOLLY SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI, December 21, 1862.

FRIEND RICH :- I wrote you a few days ago, stating that 1 presumed that our regiment was stationed for the winter. The next morning after that was sent, while Colonel Gilbert and myself were at breakfast, a messenger came in, stating that the rebels had attacked our hospital, which was about a quarter of a mile from the main camp, in a house.

We started immediately, but before we got to the hospital, the rebels, fifteen in number, had disappeared with five horses belonging to the surgeons, the ambulances, and seven men. We pursued them by mounting fifteen men on mules, but after a chase of six miles, to Wyatt, without overtaking them, the pursuit was abandoned. On our return we were met by another messenger, with the announcement that Holly Springs had been taken by five thousand rebel eavaly. We hastened baek to camp, formed one regiment in the best position pos- sible under the circumstances, and awaited results. About 2 P. M. Colonel Marsh, with two regiments, came in from Oxford, with orders for us to go to Waterford. We arrived there about sundown, and staid until this morning. This morning we received an order brigad- ing us as follows: Twenty-seventh Iowa, Eighth, Sixteenth and Seven- teenth Wisconsin, under command of Colonel Gilbert. The brigade marched to this place to-day. When we arrived, we found that the rebels had been gone some twenty-four hours, after burning all our commissary and quartermaster's stores, thirty-six cars, spoiling two engines, destroying a large number of wagons, getting pretty drunk, and packing off on our mules and horses, loads of clothing and goods generally. We have several hundred cavalry and flying artillery in pursuit, but how long it will take to overhaul and chastise them, is more than I can tell. I am confident, however, that they will be overtaken, some of them captured, and a large amount of our goods retaken. They have a little the start of us, but hard work will overtake them somewhere, and we may as well give them fits now as ever. Four of our companies were left to take care of the bridge over the Talla- hatchie.

Who is to blame for this humiliating affair, it is not my business to determine. The United States have lost in property not less than two millions of dollars. It is certain that the citizens of the town have taken a great many of these goods, and the houses will be searched, and those found in possession of them will be punished.

Thus you see our promised quiet for the winter has been most rudely disturbed, and we find ourselves in a state of excited determination to fight somebody.

Where we shall go, how long we shall stay there, and what we shall do while there, my next letter may diselose.

Yours truly,

JED LAKE.

LETTER NO. XCVIII. SAME PLACE, December 22nd.

FRIEND RICH :-- I wrote you last evening, putting the loss of property to the United States by the rebel raid on this town, on the twentieth instant, at two millions of dollars. I have just returned from the place where the depot buildings used to be, and now think I underes- timated the value of property destroyed. It is true that all that was de- stroyed did not not belong to the United States, but it is a direet injury financially to the Government, of more than the amount stated. There must have been at least one hundred cars burned, a vast amount of wagons and ammunition, two engines, commissary stores, etc. The citizens of the town who were instrumental in giving the rebels aid are known, as all the prisoners were paroled, and all the cotton buyers, sutlers and citizens remain unparoled. These men will be punished, so says Colonel C. C. Marsh, commander of the distriet. We arrested one man, and sent him up to the colonel this morning; charged with murder and assisting the rebels. They will, after a while, learn to be- have like men. It is reported that ladies shot at our soldiers out of their houses, when they were fleeing from the rebel cavalry.

Colonel Gilbert has just returned from headquarters, and reports that we are to remain here for a few days at least. As soon as communica- tion is opened with the north, we will send our letters, that all our people may know that the Twenty-seventh lowa is safe, except those taken from the hospital. They were Jos. Bryson, A. B. O'Conner, James Stanley, D. Tracy, D. M. Scott, L. W. Scott, and James Mitchell, all of company l; Brown, of company C; A. Stangier and Phineas Smith, of company B, and Smith, of company K. Among the prisoners taken by the rebels in this place, I have just learned, was S. M. Langworthy, who had just resigned as quartermaster of our regiment, and was on his way home. He lost everything, horse, sword, pistols, blankets, overeoat, etc. All the cotton in town was burned, and all the sutler stores destroyed. In this work of destrue- tion the rebel cavalry were assisted by the citizens of this place. That they will be severely punished, I feel satisfied.

Later .- Since writing the foregoing, one of the men taken from our hospital, Phineas Smith, of company B, has been here. He says that the rebels run them off some twenty-five miles, and paroled them, and they are now back at our camp on the Tallahatchie, all safe. He says that there were twenty-two rebels who made the raid upon the hospital; that they said they were supported by a large band lying baek, and that men were constantly leaving, and others coming into their band along the road. This satisfies me that these same citizens that we are pro- teeting every day, are the ones that aet as guides to the rebels in their expeditions against us. The more I see of the course taken in this war, the more disgusted I get.

JED LAKE,

LETTER NO. XCIX.

CAMP NEAR WATERFORD, 1

HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.

FRIEND RICH :- We left camp on Hurricane ereek, December 12th, to report to Colonel Dubois, at Holly Springs. . . . The second day we marched over to and camped at Waterford. Jesse Roton, of company C, had been failing for days, and he was so far gone that morning, that he had to be carried. W. H. Lueder, of the same company, was very low, but rode in the ambulance. They both, con- trary to the expectations of the surgeons, lived through the day, and are now somewhat better, with a prospect of recovery.

As we neared Waterford, we began to see, on a more extended seale - the preparations for moving this great army. Just as we entered town we met one hundred and fifteen mule teams, loaded with provisions for the armies of Sherman and Grant. And these were but a small frag- ment of the immense train constantly moving. Waterford is a small and dilapidated town on the Mississippi railroad, eight miles due south of Holly Springs. The land about town is sterile, and washes more than any other country I ever saw. The soil is a clay and sand mix- ture; and, at each shower, the water washes out deep gullies which make the country almost impassable, save where the roads are con- stantly worked. We remained but a day, then marched, agreeably to orders of Colonel Dubois, for the Tallahatchie. It rained very hard while we were on the march that day, and all were thoroughly soaked;

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

but there was little murmuring, and when the tents were pitched, and large fires were built, and we had become dried and warmed, we were ready for another installment of the soldiers' peculiar joys. . .

. The surgeons have taken possession of Dr. Jones' place for hospital purposes. The house is quite large, and, when well eleaned, will be an excellent building for the purpose. This Dr. Jones is said to be the richest man in the country. He owns five sections of land and over two hundred negroes. The greater part of the negroes, he put in the rear of the rebel army, thinking doubtless that they would be beyond the reach of the Yankee; but, unfortunately perhaps for him, and fortunately for themselves, some have already found our lines.

Headquarters of the regiment are established, for the present, about three miles from Waterford, in a very comfortable house, a little distance from the railroad. An old lady, her three daughters, and a number of blacks, are the only persons about the plantation. The men have gone, if indeed any belong to the establishment-the fates only know where-and the women, like all in the south, are widows. To-night, at a social gathering, the familiar song of "John Brown" was sung, but with what degree of pleasure it was received by them, I was not shrewd enough to decide.

Still the lament is, "no mail since we left Cairo." This is rather disheartening to some of us, who miss papers and kind words from home, more than almost all things else. This task of guarding the railroad may seem to some rather inglorious, but perhaps it is well that we, after having become noted as the travelling regiment, should for a time perform it. A good soldier is one that is obedient and vigilant.

C. H. L.

LETTER NO. C.

JACKSON, TENNESSEE, January 10, 1863.

FRIEND RICH :- The Twenty-seventh lowa is now situated at this station. We have a fine camping ground in the south part of the town, where we are in sight of the Mississippi Central railroad and the Mobile & Ohio railroad. We are required to furnish about two hundred men daily for pieket duty, otherwise we have only camp duty to perform. Judging the future by the past, we have no reason to think that this state of things will last for a great length of time, for it has been the lot of the Twenty-seventh, since it was mustered into service, to keep moving.

We arrived at this place at 2 o'clock A. M., December 31, 1862. Were drawn up in line of battle to support a battery that was just then moving into position to resist an attack from the enemy. We lay on our arms until daylight, and then went into camp, where we are now. At 3 P. M. we received orders to start for Lexington, Tennessee, forth- with. Marched eight days, with a blanket to each man, and without tents, knapsacks or cooking utensils. Foraged on the enemy during the time, and reached the railroad at Bethel, forty miles southeast of this place, and twenty-two miles northwest of Corinth, where we lay one day, then took the cars for this place, which we reached the same day at 11 o'clock P. M. Our boys were glad to get into eamp again, where they could wash up, get on clean clothes and have a little rest. In this place military law is more rigidly enforced than at any of our previous locations. No person is allowed to pass out or in, through our picket lines, unless he has a pass from the commander of the forces here, who at present is General Sullivan. The citizens draw rations as well as the soldiers, for when the railroad was destroyed, between here and Columbus, the commander of the post seized everything in the pro- vision line, in and around the town, and put every one on half rations. No soldier is allowed to go through the streets without a pass from the regimental commander. Officers are not allowed to be away from their commands except on business. A large provost guard is contin- ually patrolling the streets, and persons found out of place very soon find themselves in the jail or the court house under guaid, where they are kept for a sufficient time to remind them of the necessity of staying in their places, and then, if the first offence, they are discharged. None of our boys have been caught the second time, so I do not know what penalty the second offence would bring. There is a good state of health among the men here, and this seems to be a very healthy climate. The absentees from the regiment, of whom there are now more than two hundred, are very slow about joining their com- panions in arms, but we hope to see them soon. The weather is at this time exceedingly fine.

Two days later :- We received, last evening, copies of the Guardian, dated December 30, 1863, in which we see that "the Twenty-seventh were all taken prisoners, and that Colonel Lake was killed." This was the first news that had reached us, that we were captives and certainly the first intimation that your humble servant had received of his de-

cease. This news caused me instinctively to feel of myself, to see if I was really here, and to wonder what kind of a spiritual being it was that had devoured the fat turkeys and chickens, that were so plentiful on our march from this town to Clifton and back to Bethel, commene- ing on the thirty-first day of December, 1862, at 9 o'clock P. M., and lasting eight days. 1 had perceived no change in my peregrinations, in the appetite or physical condition of the Twenty-seventh, and so I came to the conclusion that the statement in the Guardian was a hoax. A large number of letters received by the members of the regiment from home were addressed to persons whom the writers believed to be either prisoners of war, or perhaps, dead. Some wrote that they had heard that we went into the fight at Holly Springs, with all the regiment but two companies, and that the whole were killed or wounded. Others had heard that we broke and ran for the woods, but were shot and eap- tured. If all my letters to you have been received, you are aware ere this, that at the time of the fight we were sixteen miles from that place, and that the next day we marched into and occupied Holly Springs, from which the rebels had decamped after capturing about two thou- sand prisoners, and destroying more than two million dollars worth of property. That the only one of our regiment captured was S. M. Langworthy, quartermaster, who had resigned, and was on his way home.

But while such is the truth, in regard to the safety of the regiment, I regret that there has been so much suffering on the part of the friends of our brave boys. I am satisfied, from what I have seen of the Twenty-seventh, that they will do their duty when we get into a fight. We have been several times where we expected an attack every mo- ment, but none of them flinched, or tried to evade the conflict.

JED LAKE.

LETTER NO. CI.

[Extracts from private letters from Lieutenant Samp- son of the Ninth Iowa.]

YAZOO VALLEY, December 31, 1862. 1 had a chance to write a few lines in a letter which was unfinished yesterday, and which 1 sent forward. Several days have passed of which I have given no account. We landed Thursday night at a point near where we now are. Left our wagons, and on Friday morning em- barked again and moved up the river to a point where we again landed, and then we kept moving about until Sunday morning. Our division engaged the enemy near a high bluff, while another division engaged them near where we now lie. Sunday night we again moved down to assist the division here, and Monday were in some sharp engagements endeavoring to gain the heights, but, in every effort, were unsuccessful. The Ninth was most of the time in the reserve supporting a battery until Monday P. M., when we were thrown forward to save our brigade from a defeat. We advanced into a very dangerous position, but most miraculously escaped a terrible slaughter. Six of our men were wounded and two others have not been heard from. Not a man from company C was hurt. Monday night we lay out upon the field with- out shelter or fire. It ramed very hard all night and we were com- pletely drenched. Yesterday morning we returned to a distant part of the field to get dried and rested. We are to move again this afternoon. Captain Wright is well, and condueted himself nobly while in action. While some of the companies were thrown somewhat into confusion company C was in good order, with Captain Wright and Lieutenant Little at their posts. General Thayer gave the regiment praise for their conduct. The Ninth is respected everywhere. I can give no opinion of the prospect of success or defeat in this siege. We have, as yet, gained but little. The enemy occupy the heights in plain sight of us-can see them moving from where I am now sitting.

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History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 51

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