USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 58
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.
severely to pursue their advantage. Let me say that this management was not under the direction of General Sheridan, the commander of our division-his military talents are of too solid a character to admit of such blundering. I will only suggest that General McDowell Mc- Cook commands the Twentieth corps.
In this second day's fight our little brigade lost three hundred men! How long must soldiers be sacrificed through the stupidity of incom- petent generals? With ordinary handling; in short, with the ghost of a chance we should have held our own with comparatively little loss.
Of the battle in general, let me say that, in so far as the accomplish- ment of their grand object was concerned-the recapture of ('hatta- nooga-it was to them a defeat. It is true they compelled us to fall back; but they were too severely crippled to follow up their advantage, notwithstanding they hurled over one hundred thousand men against no more than fifty thousand Federals; and they are further off from the accomplishment of their original purpose to-day than on the morn- ing of the nineteenth instant.
The star of Rosecrans is still in the ascendant. Would that some of the lesser stars shone with as pure a light.
J. L. LOOMIS.
LETTER NO, CXXXVII.
SHERMAN'S EXPEDITION TO MERIDIAN-SUMMING UP RESULTS.
March 7. 1864.
FRIEND RICH :- Much of the way we were between two hedge fences. These hedges in the south are both durable and beautiful. The shrub is very much like the sweet brier and is covered with roses in the summer, which gives the hedges a most beautiful ap- pearance. The country through which we passed on the first instant was much the finest we have seen in the south. Imagine yourself standing in front of one of these stately mansions looking out over a plantation of hundreds of acres of the richest land, fenced with a hedge through which a bird cannot fly, covered in the season with the largest, most beautiful roses; yourself the possessor of all, with negroes to do all the labor, while you ride through these pleasant flowery aisles in your thousand dollar carriage! Would you not feel a little aristo- cratic?
March 4th we reached Vicksburgh, having been shut out from all communications for thirty days. And do you ask what are the fruits of the expedition? We pushed into the interior as far as Meridian- burned many houses, much cotton, all the rails that necessity required; a large part of the remnant of Jackson was burned; the little towns of Brandon, Morton, Decatur, Meridian and Mason were almost entirely destroyed. At Meridian, the great railway centre, we destroyed some fifty miles of fail track, thereby cutting effectually the communication between Mobile and the southwest, with the great heart and soul of the confederacy. Hundreds of horses, mules, wagons, carriages and many other articles of use to the army, were confiscated and brought in. And last and not least, upwards of seven thousand negroes were brought back with the two army corps. This was a strike for the ter- mination of the war and, as such, was a true act of humanity to the south as well as to the north, and will be so recognized in the future by all.
Since our return we have received seventy-nine recruits, which bring our aggregate up to three hundred and ten. E. P. Baker has been discharged by orders from headquarters, Sixteenth army corps, to en- able him to accept appointment as captain in a negro regiment.
We are now under orders to proceed by boat down the Mississippi river and up the Red, to be gone about thirty days. Brigadier Gen- eral A. J. Smith, of the Third division, Sixteenth army corps, com- mands the expedition. There are to be ten thousand troops, two thousand five hundred of which are of the Seventeenth army corps, the balance of the Sixteenth corps. We shall go aboard the boats to- night or to-morrow, and the fleet will move the ninth of March.
L. H. C.
LETTER NO. CXXXVIII.
HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-SEVENTH IOWA INFANTRY, ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA, March 17, 1864.
FRIEND RICH :- You have heard much of the Red River expedition of late. It is the fortune of the Twenty-seventh to be one of the regi- ments comprising it. The expedition was organized immediately after our return from the march eastward to Meridian, Mississippi. It was composed of some ten thousand infantry, and one or two companies of Maine cavalry, and when embarked made a fleet of twenty-two gun- boats, commanded by Admiral Porter. The expedition is commanded by Brigadier General A. J. Smith. Brigadier General Morrer com- mands the First and Third divisions of the Sixteenth army corps.
On the ninth of March we embarked on the steamer Diadem, one of the nineteen transports which constituted the fleet for the transporta- tion of the infantry and artillery. At 2 o'clock P. M. an order was re- ceived for one company to report as.guard for Brigadier General Smith, on board the steamer Clara Bell. Company (, Lieutenant Sill, was sent. Our boat dropped down the river alongside the Clara Bell, and company C reported at once. At sunset we moved down the river. On the eleventh of March we passed Natchez at sunrise, but made no stop till we reached the mouth of Red river, when we halted and the men went on shore, which gave an opportunity for cleaning the boats. The next morning we discovered that what we had supposed was the mouth of Red river, was, in fact, the confluence of Old river, the for- mer bed or main channel, with the Mississippi. The water has a very reddish appearance, and the scenery along either side is truly beautiful. Having sailed a few miles further, we passed the mouth of the Red, and at 2 o'clock P. M. entered the Atchatalaya river, when we found ourselves still sailing down stream. At 5 P. M. the gun-boats and transports were anchored, and all await orders from expedition com- manders. It was an exceeding fine country on either side of the river; and, as the boats, one by one, passed down the placid waters of the stream, and moved in toward the shores, the sight was really charm- ing. Never before, in the history of the Nation have the waters of the Atchafalaya bore so magnificent a prize, or these shores witnessed so magnificent a scene. First the daring gun-boats, then the transports, each clad in blue, and then the small, swift dispatch boats; all have found their way into the forests of Louisiana, upon these waters un- known to fame.
Three miles back from the river, at Bayou Blaize, the enemy had constructed strong fortifications, which, if filled with guns and men, would have commanded the broad and level tract of country between them and the river. Large trees had been felled on either side of this broad clearing, which formed an excellent abattis. On our way out to the fortifications we saw much of southern vegetation that was new to us. The tall, spreading evergreen, the large sycamore, and the oak, were all clad in drooping festoons of Spanish moss, which hangs in endless quantities from almost every tree, giving to the grove a funereal aspect. A large bridge, which spanned a stream fifty feet in width, directly in front of the earthworks, had been burned.
The boats were at once unloaded of wagons, rations, and every- thing indispensable to our march, and eighty rounds of ammunition were distributed. At dark we were called into line, and after a delay of an hour or two, which soldiers must learn to expect, a force of ten thousand, under General A. J. Smith, marched for the interior. We marched about six miles and encamped on the bank of Bayou Blaize, at 2 o'clock A. M. At early daybreak we moved along the bayou, passing large sugar plantations, all having excellent sugarcane milis. Bayou Blaize, though narrow, is quite deep even at this dry season, as I can attest after having tried to ford it in pursuit of rebels. At 10 A. M. we passed the little town of Boroughsville, at which point we crossed the bayou-our regiment on a little flat-boat, and the rest of the troops on a bridge hastily constructed for that purpose. Here we came in sight of several of the enemy, who beat a hasty retreat. As soon as the troops were crossed, our regiment, Colonel Gilbert com- manding, advanced rapidly, and when we had marched two hundred yards a shot was fired from a hill in our front. As soon as another bridge was repaired, we started in hot haste, expecting a fight immedi- ately. We came soon to an open prairie country, settled wholly by French people. The plantations were large, the houses were neat and commodious. Large herds of cattle, horses, and sheep roamed over the most exquisitely beautiful prairies, dotted here and there with min- iature lakes of clear water.
Mansura, a fine little town of four hundred inhabitants, all French, was passed, and three miles beyond, over the prettiest country we had seen in the South, we reached Marksville, another French village. The people received us with great joy. The men are not in the army, but at home; and every house is to-day as undisturbed as are the houses of the north, and everything betokens a peaceful and prosper- ous community.
Our advance had by this time reached near Red river, at Fort De Russay. Our gun-boats were in the river below and had opened the battle. Our brigade was in the advance, but a whole division which had passed us while we were on guard in Marksville, were between us and the rest of the brigade. Colonel Gilbert at this point sent Lieu- tenant Peck, acting adjutant, petitioning Colonel Shaw, commanding brigade, that we might be ordered to rejoin the brigade. The request was granted and regiment was ordered forward. We wound our way down through the woods, the enemy having got good range of the
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.
road that ran direct to the fort. When we were within several hun- dred yards of the fort, in the woods, the shells from the enemy's guns flying thick and fast about us, we were ordered to lie down and wait orders. Our brigade battery was in the meantime pouring a constant fire into the fort. Sharpshooters were ordered forward to pick off the enemy's gunners. Only a moment passed, it seemed to us, when we were ordered forward, and alongside of a fence, where we again lay down. Again we were ordered forward. A charge was to be made on the fort from two points simultaneously. Our regiment was on the south side and we were ordered forward, double quick. Then, for the first time in our soldier history, was our courage, as a regiment in ac- tion put to the test; and glad 1 am to send the record to Iowa, that no regiment ever went bolder into a fight than did the Twenty-seventh Iowa at Fort De Russay March 14, 1864. Their double quick was a double jump. The Third brigade were the only soldiers in the charge. The rebels saw that it was useless to fight and quickly ran up the white flag. Then the soidiers of the brigade broke into one wild, ringing, vociferous yell of joy. The rattle of musketry, expressive of joy, for a time was incessant. The fort was ours, two hundred and fifty rebels, two twenty-four pounders, two six-punders, with small arms, ammuni- tion and supplies, together with one of the strongest works I have seen in the South. The whole commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Bird, was uneonditionally surrendered. Long might the rebels have held out if they had had a large force. When the cheering was over we re- turned to the prairie near the hospital building and encamped.
To-day we have marched thirty miles, built a bridge across Bayou Blaize, and captured Fort De Russay. The number of wounded in the hospital is twenty-two. Only three or four were killed. On the fif- teenth we reembarked on board the Diadem, which lay close to the fort. At sunset we steamed up the river ten miles and laid up for the night. One brigade was left at Fort De Russay, and we started up the river for Alexandria, expecting to find strong works and have a sharp fight. Sailed through the same beautiful country, la belle France. The French are at every bend in the river, and the French flags are flying from the houses. [The "White flags thrown out" at Mansura must be intended. - E. P.] Laid up at Alexandria without opposition. The rebels under Diek Taylor were here yesterday, but they are gone to-day, it is said to reenforce Fort De Russay. We remained all day at Alexandria. The town is quite a fine one, and it is claimed that it had formerly fifteen hundred inhabitants. Our regiment was ordered ashore yesterday and is in camp just on the bank. We sent out a foraging party to-day, which obtained three hogsheads and two barrels of sugar, large quantities of shoulders and hams, and a great number of cattle, mules and horses.
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Governor Moore's plantation is within six miles of this place; and the very spot where Solomon Northrup, who was kidnapped in Wash- ington and sold into slavery, lived, is only a few miles distant. Some of the most thrilling scenes in " Uncle Tom's Cabin" are laid in the Red River country. Another foraging party, under the command of Colonel Gilbert, brought in large quantities of sugar, potatoes, etc. There are thousands of hogsheads of sugar in this country. During the past three years there has been but a small amount of sugar or cot- ton shipped, and vast quantities of both have accumulated. Many Unionists are reported throughout the country-one came through our lines to-day, an old man, ninety years of age, who had been stripped of all his property. A man of Union sentiments, in his neighborhood, had been made to dig his own grave, and then, standing by its side, he had been shot and buried by traitors.
Later, from Grand Ecore .- Fort De Russay was destroyed by the brigade left for that purpose. Thirty barrels of powder were used to blow up the magazines. It is reported that some of the men, anxious to see everything that was going on, rushed up too near, and niet a sad fate. Five were killed, and as many more shockingly wounded. Jacob Beck, of company C, who was wounded at the capture of the fort, died on the twenty-fourth. On the twenty-sixth of March, the troops left the boats, and marched fifteen miles towards Shreveport, along Bayou rapids. We moved through an exceedingly fine country, on the day following, to Ceolile Landing, on Red river. Our boats ar- rived, during the night, with the exception of the large and commodi- ous hospital boat, Woodford, which is reported a total wreck on the rapids below; having foundered upon an old wreck that had lain there for years. A large number of our men are taking the small-pox. Men with this disease are taken to a house near the landing, but it is in the regiment, and will appear again. April 2d, all our troops were ordered aboard the boats, and at 12 o'clock M., we moved up the Red river with the entire fleet of transports and gun-boats. As we pass along, we see hundreds of negroes on the river side, hailing the advent
of "Massa Linkum." General Banks' forces ate on the march up the south side of the river, and have captured, after a httle fight, the small town of Natchitoches. At 4 P. M., we reached Grand Cove, and the signal of one gun announced the enemy in sight. We debarked at once, taking knapsacks, baggage, camp and garrison equippage. Our camp is an exceedingly fine one among the trees. It will do our men good to wander through the forests again. We did not receive orders to move on the following morning, as expected. Our boat, Diadem, and the Southwester and Sioux, went up the river two miles to wood. A foraging party was sent out, and returned with some excellent beef.
A large cavalry force, supported by the Thirty-fifth lowa, moved up the north side of the river, a short distance above Caurdea, distant from this point three or four miles. The commander of the troops moved his whole force carelessly ahead, without any advance guard, it is reported, down to a bridge, which was torn up by the enemy. As soon as they had all crowded down at the bridge. the enemy in ambush fired upon them. The adjutant of the New York veteran cavalry fell with five enlisted men, and forty men wounded. As soon as our troops recovered from the shock, they rallied and drove the enemy from the field. It is a disaster for which some one is responsible, and it is high time that all officers, who do not properly regard the interests and safety of their men, were relieved from their command by better men.
What will be our next move 1 am unable to tell, farther than that it will be up the river. There are probably about fifteen thousand rebels in arms above here to meet us. Dick Taylor, Walker, Kirby Smith and Daddy Price are said to be in command.
LETTER NO. CXXXIX.
C. H. L.
HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-SEVENTH IOWA INFANTRY, { GRAND ECORE, April 19, 1864. S
FRIEND RICH ;- The period which has elapsed since I wrote to you, has been to us the most eventful of the war. On the morning of the seventh, the forces of the Thirteenth army corps, General Ransom commanding ; the Sixteenth and Seventeenth army corps, General Smith commanding; the Eighteenth army corps, General Franklin command- ing, and all under command of Major General N. P. Banks, left Grand Ecore for an advance towards Shreveport. The Thirteenth corps was in the advance followed by the Nineteenth, and General Smith's command in the rear. The weather was fine, the roads good, and the march met with little or no opposition, until Pleasant Hill was reached. At Mans- field, ten or twelve miles in advance of that place, the enemy had taken position and determined to give us battle. When the Thirteenth corps had reached within striking distance of the enemy, a consultation was held, and General Ransom was permitted by General Banks, against the wish of General Franklin, to move up and provoke a fight. Our army of twenty-five thousand was scattered through the woods of Louisiana for twenty-five miles. A large cavalry train, together with numerous ambulances, had been pushed to the front. Everything con- nected with the whole force was wholly managed for a general engage- ment. The Nineteenth corps had gone into camp, seven miles in the rear of the Thirteenth. In this unprotected and irregular condition, the fight was commenced between Ransom and the rebel Taylor. Some sixteen hundred of the Thirteenth were sent out to contest the field with ten thousand rebels. Of course they were hastily beaten back with tremendous slaughter. A small force was thrown out a second time and gobbled.
By this time the enemy knew his power and our weakness, and pushed forward boldly, capturing men, horses, mules, wagons, ambu- lances, artillery, and whatever they passed which had been shoved in- to their hands. The thirteenth corps fought well for an hour, and re- treated two miles, when the nineteenth was met and, after a desperate fight, checked the further pursuit of the foe. Night came on and spread her sad and sable mantle over the scene. One hundred and thirty wagons loaded with cavalry equipage, amunition and rations, twenty-two pieces of artillery, thirteen hundred men of the Thirteenth corps, and five hundred more of the Nineteenth corps, with all their guns-all were gone. General Banks thought he was whipped, and a retreat was ordered. By this time, the evening of the eighth, General .A. J. Smith's forces had reached Pleasant Hill. We had received no news from the front, and all lay down as quietly as at our peaceful homes. At 2 o'clock A. M. reveille was ordered. A few moments elapsed, and Colonel Gilbert was sent for by the brigade commander. Soon it was understood that Banks had been whipped, and that there had been a fearful slaughter of troops. Our fires were extinguished, our men ordered under arms, and all looked with dark forebodings for coming events.
Soon the retreating train appeared. Hour after hour the heavily
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.
ladened train moved rapidly back. What an immense train! There is a probability that many wagons could yet be spared profitably by this army. Wagons loaded with flooring for tents, with goats and bird cages, are of little service to the Government ; and generals who allow their trains to be thus encumbered, are of less use. All could see that a retreat had been ordered. Brigadier General Smith, it is said, expressed much dissatisfaction, and desired to remain and fight alone ; but all he was allowed to do was simply to cover the retreat to Grand Ecore.
I send the official report of Colonel Gilbert, which will speak for itself. Company C is still on detached service, as guard at Brigadier General Smith's headquarters, on the transport Clara Bell.
HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, IOWA VOL-) UNTEER INFANTRY,
GRAND ECORE, April 11, 1864.
CAPTAIN :- I have the honor to report the following list of casualties in the Twenty-seventh regiment, Iowa volunteers, at the battle of Pleasant Hill, April 9, 1864:
About 10 A. M. we were ordered into line and moved one and a-half miles on the road to Shreveport, and took position of left centre of brigade, in advance line, relieving the Fifteenth Maine volunteer in- fantry. Our line was established in the edge of a thick wood, and the men commanded to lie down. An open field lay to our front. Com- pany B was immediately thrown out as skirmishers. Firing was quite brisk until half-past 3 in the afternoon; the enemy's skirmishers appear- ing at times, then falling back. At that time the enemy advanced in force. Our skirmishers fought well, until overpowered and driven in. Immediately they resumed their place in the regiment, the enemy steadily approaching in strong columns.
At this point a bold cavalry charge was made by the enemy along the Shreveport road. Our men remained quiet until they had approached to within short range, when a full volley was poured into the rebel ranks. The effect was telling. Riders reeled and fell, horses were struck as dead as if a bolt of heaven had riven the air. The scene was an appalling one. Scarcely a man who made that charge, but met his death on the spot. The enemy had moved upon the left of our ad- vance line in strong force. The line had already broken away to the left, and news came that the enemy were flanking us. Already the enemy were fighting in our rear. Several shots had taken effect in the ranks of companies B and G. The enemy advanced in our front in solid columns. We met them with determined fire; volley after volley was poured into their ranks. For two hours the rattle of musketry was incessant and deafening. Several shells and a number of solid shot struck immediately by us, bursting and wounding a number of men. About half-past 5 P. M., the order was given to retreat, but was not re- ceived by me until after other regiments had retired, leaving both flanks of my regiment greatly exposed. We fell back in good order and in line, until the enemy was discovered to be flanking us, when the line was broken, and we escaped through narrow passages, the enemy pour- ing a sharp fire upon both flanks, and closing in rapidly on our rear. At this point in the struggle, a large part of those reported, were killed or wounded. We immediately formed line in the rear of supporting column, and awaited orders.
I would like to mention the names of some officers who distinguished themselves, but all conducted themselves so bravely and so well that I refrain from mentioning any save Captain J. M. Holbrook, company F, who, after having received a severe wound, led his men with dis- tinguished gallantry, until a second severe wound was received, and the regiment reformed in rear of supporting column.
Aggregate of killed, missing, and wounded, eighty eight.
I have the honor to be, captain, your most obedient servant, JAMES I. GILBERT, colonel commanding.
To CHARLES T. GRANGER, captain and A. A. A. G., Second brigade, Third division,
The musketry firing was as sharp as that at any place during the war, if the testimony of the officers and men who were at Shiloh and Corinth can be credited. . \t dark the firing ceased, when the rebels beat a long retreat for eight miles. The enemy lost more in killed and wounded than we did. Their numbers engaged were far greater than ours. During the night of the ninth, General Price came down with fresh troops from Arkansas, and some came up from Texas, making in all, it is thought, a reenforcement of twenty-two regiments. They fought as bravely as ever men could fight, and they were in the best of spirits, for they had gained a large prize on the eighth.
It is a little provoking to read communications from lying corres- pondents, to the effect that the Thirteenth and Nineteenth corps did all
the fighting at Pleasant Hill, when it is acknowledged by all that Gen_ eral Smith's forces, the Sixteenth and Seventeenth, saved the army and gained all that was gained. Far be it from me to detract from the credit due the Thirteenth and Nineteenth; they fought well and have as good soldiers as can be found in the United States service. But facts are facts; the Thirteenth corps commenced their retreat two hours before the battle of Pleasant Hill commenced. The Nineteenth was our support, and did good fighting after we fell back, which was just at sunset. We lay in line of battle all night. It was intensely cold, and many of the boys had lost their blankets during the fight, so that nothing could be obtained but a light blouse to keep them warm. The wounded are being brought up to the hospital as fast as they come within our lines. Although the rebels have retired, it is not safe to ad- vance by night, and many of those with whom we have spent so many days of soldiering, are to-night outside our lines, shivering with cold and suffering from pain. This retreat is the hardest order since we have been soldiers. Our men, with whom we have associated for almost two years, whose friendship has been cemented by all the privations which a soldier meets on the weary march, in the lone camp, or on the stern field of battle, are left uncared for. Could we have lingered an hour or two to care for them, it would stay the grief; but no, we must go at once.
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