USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 40
USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 40
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Tuesday, June 4, 1861, the board of supervisors, in session assembled, by resolution appointed a committee, consisting of Messrs. Cary Munson and St. John, to draft resolutions "in the present crisis of nationa. affairs, and recommend some offers of assistance to the general government."
The committee appointed, at once presented the following reso- lutions, which were immediately adopted:
Whereas, The president of the United States has issued his several proclamations for troops, to sustain our federal government, and suppress the rebellion, therefore,
Resolved, That we, as the legal representatives of the county of Howard, state of Iowa, do hereby, as loyal citizens and representa- tives, pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honors in sup- port of the Union, the constitution, and the laws.
Resolved, That the resources and credit of the county of Howard, both in men and money, be pledged to the last man and dollar to support the government in suppressing the present rebellion:
Resolved, That in case of reverses to our arms, making necessary an increase of our army, we will levy a tax on the taxable property of our county, sufficient to support a company of one hundred men, at least, in the field, by paying them five dollars extra over government price.
Resolved, That we fully endorse the course of the administra-
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
tion, and the action of our state legislature in regard to the present emergency."
At the September session of the board they passed another reso- lution, to pay ten dollars to each volunteer from the county for an outfit. Also to allow the wives and widowed mothers of the volunteers from Howard county, in service of the United States, four dollars per month, and one dollar for each child under twelve years of age. The clerk was ordered to audit their bills monthly, and when so passed the treasurer to cash them at once. The first who seems to have availed themselves of this allowance, was Mrs. Amelia Johnson, of New Oregon, she having two sons in the federal army.
At the August session of the board, 1862, the following resolu- tion was adopted:
Resolved, That this board authorize the clerk to issue a county warrant for fifty dollars to each accepted volunteer, not the head of the family; and four dollars per month for each wife and widowed mother, and one dollar for each child of the. same, under twelve years of age, of every accepted volunteer, on presentation of proper bills, provided, that all of said volunteers be applied on the quota of Howard county for the late call for 300,000 men for three years, or during the war.
December 7, 1863, is the date of the following resolution adopted by the honorable board:
Resolved, that this board hereby appropriate the sum of three hunderd dollars to each accepted volunteer who shall enlist, from this county, between this and the fifth day of January next, pro- vided, this resolution shall not extend to enlistments beyond filling our quota. Also the sum of four dollars per month to the wife, and one dollar per month to each child under twelve years of age, as an additional bounty to the family of any accepted volun- teer, who enlists from the county within the term above specified, and that the clerk of this board be and is hereby authorized to issue warrants, to parties entitled thereto, on presentation of the proper certificates. And that we hereby levy an additional tax of fifteen mills on the dollar, for the purposes of the above bounty, and hereby instruct the clerk, to immediately, extend the same on the tax list of this year.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
As late as June, 1866, the following appears upon the minutes of the board:
"Board passed a resolution to pay every enlisted man the sum of one hundred dollars, as bounty, who was either a regular or volunteer, and who had received no bounty from this or any other county or state, including all drafted men, who were credited to Howard county. Also to men who enlisted, and through no fault of their own, were credited to other places; and also to make up the sum, to one hundred dollars, to all who enlisted from the county, when the bounty given was a less sum than that amount."
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THIRD IOWA INFANTRY.
As a number of the men from Howard county were enlisted in this, one of the most noted of the Iowa regiments, a short sketch will not be out of place.
The "Old Third," as it is lovingly called by its late members, was organized in Dubuque, by Colonel N. G. Williams, and mustered into the service of the government, May, 1861. The officers were: N. G. Williams, colonel; John Scott, lieut. colonel; Wm. M. Stone, major.
Its initial fight was at Blue Mills, Mo .; where it laid the founda- tion for its after reputation as one of the best in the service. It also took a foremost part at Shiloh, Tenn; Hatchie river, Mata- moras, Vicksburg, and Jackson, Miss; Atlanta, and participated in. the Atlanta campaign, and Sherman's march to Savannah.
The regiment was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 12, 1864.
NINTH IOWA INFANTRY.
Col. William Vandever, of Dubuque, received, in August, 1861, a commission to raise a regiment of Infantry in the state of Iowa, to be known as the ninth Iowa infantry.
Howard county, with the fires of patriotism burning brightly on her altars, contributed sixty-eight men for company I, and four for company H.
The regiment was mustered into the service of the United States, September 24, 1861, except companies H, I, and D, whose times of muster precede that date, being respectively, H Aug. 21, I Septem- ber 18th, and D September 2d. On the 26th of September the
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regiment left Dubuque, for St. Louis, on the steamer Canada, and arrived at that place on the 30th.
Here they remained for some time. After drilling, and inspec- tion, for a considerable time, the regiment was pronunced fit for duty, and on the 25th of January, 1862, was moved by rail to Rolla, Missouri, and assigned to the army, then making preperation to take the field against the enemy, under Major-General Samuel R. Curtis.
The regiment was brigaded with the 25th Missouri infantry, third Illinois cavalry and third Iowa battery, and the brigade placed under the command of Col. Wm. Vandever, baring the ninth, under the command of Lieutenant Frank Herron. The moveinents, of this regiment has been given in the history of the third Iowa battery, with which it was brigaded and whose exploits are there related by an eye witness.
The exploits of this gallant regiment, at the battle of Pea Ridge, have covered it with unfading laurels. The loss it suffered alone would tell the tale, had we no better testimony, having, three officers, two non-commissioned officers, and twenty-eight privates killed; six officers, thirty-eight non-commissioned officers and one hundred and thirty-nine privates wounded, many of whom after- wards died, and two privates missing.
Besides this engagement, called by the federal forces, the battle .of Pea Ridge and by the rebels the battle of the Elkhorn, the rgi- ment took part in the fighting at Chickasaw bayou, Arkansas Post, seige of Vicksburg, Ringgold, Dallas, Lookout Mountain, and were participants in the world renowned Atlanta campaign, and the subsequent march to the sea.
The ninth finally laid down its arms and was mustered out at Louisville, July 18, 1865.
THIRTY-EIGHTH IOWA INFANTRY.
Company J., of this regiment, was almost entirely, composed of men from Howard county.
The regiment was mustered into the service of the United States, at Dubuque, November 4, 1862, with D. H. Hughes, of Decorah, as colonel. It took a part in the seige of Vicksburg, the Red river expedition under Banks, and December 12, 1864, was consol- idated with the thirty-fourth infantry. Was mustered out at Houston, Texas, August 15, 1865. For full details of the move-
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
ments of the regiment see page 307, history of Chickasaw county.
THIRD IOWA BATTERY OF LIGHT ARTILLERY.
As quite a number of the "boys" from Howard county were in the third Iowa battery it has been deemed of interest to give here a sketch of the same. We are indebted to the official report for the facts and quote freely from it.
"This battery was organized by Captain M. M. Hayden, under special authority from the secretary of war, during the months of August and September, 1861, at Dubuque, under the name of the the Dubuque Battery, and was attached to the 9th regiment Iowa volunteer infantry, Col. William Vandever, commanding. On the 3d of September, 1861, the first detachment was mustered in by Captain Washington, William H. McCluve, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, being mustered as first lieutenant, under whose charge the detachment was placed in Camp Union, near Dubuque.
"The battery was speedily filled up be recruits, and on the 24th of the same month, the final muster in as a battery took place; the following being the list of officers:
"Captain M. M. Hayden; senior first lieutenant, W. H. McCluve; junior first lieutenant, M. C. Wright; senior second lieutenant, W. H. Crozier; and junior 2d lieutenant, Jerome Bradley. September 26th, the battery in company with the ninth Iowa infantry, left for St. Louis, on the steamer, Canada, arriving on the 30th of Sep- tember.
"The drill was here commenced, and clothing, etc., served out, the necessary requisitions being made out for horses, guns, harness, etc., were forwarded but owing to small supply and im- mense demand they had some time to wait for them.
"November 13th, the men were sent to Pacific City, Missouri, thirty-five miles west of St. Louis, to guard the railroad, although it would have puzzled any one to tell how, as they had no arms of any kind. Here they remained during the greater part of the winter. The guns and equipments were received by them Decem- ber 1st.
"The battery consisted of four six-pounder bronze guns, and two twelve-pounder howitzers. After much drilling and inspections and reviews, in connection with the 9th regiment, they were pro- nounced as fit for duty, and that with the reputation of being first class in every particular.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
"On the 25th of January, they moved by rail to Rolla, and as- signed to the army, then about to take the field, under General Curtis, and which intended to move on Springfield, Mo., then the headquarters of the rebel forces in that state, The battery set out for the rendezvous of Curtis' army, at Lebanon on the the twenty- eighth of January, sixty-five miles, over one of the worst roads ever seen.
"The continual rain and cold made this one of the most trying marches raw troops could be called on to perform; but in spite of all, after six day's of hard labor, the battery reached Lebanon. Here they were brigaded with the ninth Iowa infantry, twenty- fifth Missouri infantry, and third Illinois cavalry, Col Wm. Van- dever commading."
The following is related in his report, by Capt. M. C.Wright, who commanded the battery in 1864. As it is the testimony of an eye witness we insert it in full as it covers the entire ground.
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General Curtis commenced his forward movement on the 9th of February, and on the 13th, took peaceable possession of Spring- field, the enemy having evacuated their position on the night of the 12th.
"The famous race after Price commenced early in the morning of the 14th, and then the first live soldiering commenced. The weather was exceedingly cold for the season, but no allowance was made for this. On they pushed, making over twenty-five miles the first day out of Springfield. Every effort was made to force the enemy to halt, and fight, but to no purpose. He seemed only intent upon escape. In his flight everything which could retard his progress was thrown away. Old wagons, lame horses and mules, were by far too numerous along the road for anything short of a race for life.
"At Flat creek, distant about fifty miles south of Springfield, the battery was so fortunate as to get near enough to his rear guard to give him a few shells. This was their first gun at the enemy, and the conduct of the battery was witnessed by Gens. Curtis, Sigel, and others, who only complained that our boys drove them off too quickly. This occurred on the the 15th. The pursuit was still continued, and without eliciting anything of interest beyond the evident intention of the enemy to escape, if possible, until our forces had crossed the Missouri State line, and reached Sugar creek, where Price, strengthened by the arrival of 3000 Texas and
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
Louisiana troops, under Ben Mccullough, who had been sent northward to meet him, as well as emboldened by a very advant- ageous position, made a stand. The advance of cavalry coming upon the enemy, and thinking that he was in small force, proba- bly only stragglers from his rear guard, charged him but were forced to turn and fall back with considerable loss.
"Vandever's brigade was ordered forward at "double-quick," and our battery was pushed up beyond the furthest point reached by the cavalry, where our boys were greeted by a terrible fire from a battery concealed in the front, and under this fire the third went into battery and replied in the direction of the enemy, and such was the coolness of the gunners and the deliberation with which they delivered their fire, that in less than thirty minutes, not only was their loud-mouthed opponent, against whom the principal fire was directed, forced to limber up, and gallop off the field, but also the cavalry and infantry, which had deployed on the right and front, was taken with a sudden disgust of shot and shell, and betook themselves beyond reach before our own infantry were able to get within musket range. This lively little brush cost the battery two horses killed, and one caisson disabled by the enemy's fire.
"The affair was witnessed by Gens. Curtis and Sigel, and many other officers who were on the ground, and the battery received most unqualified approbation for the energetic, and skillful man- agement of its guns. Being too much exhausted to push on, they remained on the field that night, and until the second morn- ing, when, having gained some intelligenc of the enemy's where- abouts, Gen. Curtis moved off to the right of the former course, in the direction of Bentonville, intending to flank the position of Price at Cross Hollow.
."The movement was a complete success. Our army flanked the position, but the enemy were, in the meantime, in full retreat, evidently, determined to place Boston mountain between them- selves and harm.
"It being impossible to move farther southward, owing to the exhausted state of the troops and horses, they went into camp at Cross Hollows, where they remained until the rebel army, re-enforced by 10,000 men under Van Dorn, marching northward to attack them compelled Gen. Curtis to fall back to the the strong
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
position at Sugar creek, or rather to the ridge beyond, known as Pea Ridge. 1
This General Curtis did upon the 5th and 6th, of March, fortu- nately without the loss which the enemy contemplated inflicting upon him, viz:
"Whipping the army in detail; the army was camped at Cross Hollows. Carr's (4th) division, nowever, alone, were at this point, but Cutis' headquarters were here. Sigel's (1st) Asboth's (2d) and Davis' (3d) were at, and near Bentonville, the army having been separated on account of forage.
"On the 4th of March, a portion of Vandever's brigade, consist- ing of detachments of the 9th Iowa, and 24th Mo., infantry, and 3d Ill. cavalry, wrth one section of the battery under command of Lieut. Wright, the whole commanded by Col. Vandever, started, on a reconnoissance in the direction of Huntsville, Ark., distant forty-five miles. This place was reached, and the object of the expedition having been accomplished, it was about to start back for Cross Hollows, when the arrival of a messenger from Gen. Curtis, showed the folly of such an attempt, as it would only result in its falling into the hands of the enemy, Then commenced one of the hardest marches, that was made during the war. The troops were forced to march through one of the roughest countries in the Union, ford White river, and make forty-seven miles in one day. The ford over which they crossed was within seven miles of Cross Hollows, and while our little force was crossing here, the entire rebel army, under Van Dorn and Price, was at the former place, though, happily for our boys ignorant of their where- abouts.
So well did Col. Vandever mange the march, that no one was allowed to escape, and thus give information to the enemy, of the proximity. At length, after this most exhausting march the de- tachment reached the camp of our forces at Pea Ridge about 9 P. M., greatly to the joy and surprise of almost every one, who had given it up for lost. The exhaustion of that march was so terrible, that scarcely one who escaped the destruction of the next two days' battle but could be found in the hospital; and many of them, the victims of that day's march, are now in their graves.
"Early on the morning of the 7th, skirmishing havin; com- menced on the extreme right of our line, Vandever's brigade was hurried to the front, and instantly became engaged. Two sections
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
of the battery went into action under a terrific fire of both infantry and artillery, which were posted in the front, about 300 yards distant from Elkhorn tavern. The first Iowa battery, which the third relieved, had already been terribly cut to pieces, and was forced to leave the field. Before the battery had been in position ten minutes, it had one gun disabled by the enemy's artillery, one limber blown up, and several men wounded and horses killed. So destructive was the fire that Col. Carr, commanding the division, who was on the ground, ordered the two sections to fall back, which was immediately done. The entire battery again took up position to the right of Elkhorn tavern, where it remained until the entire division was forced to fall back in the evening. During the day the enemy repeatedly charged the position, but were in- variably driven back in confusion. In one of these charges they managed to secure one of the guns of the battery, which was being placed in an elevated position, some distance to the left of the battery, but was almost entirely unsupported. The division, which entered the fight in the morning with less than 2,200 fight- ing men, held their ground for over six hours against nearly five times their number, and not until over one-third of the entire division had been killed and wounded, did the enemy, afterwards known to be over 12,000 strong, succeed in forcing the gallant Carr to retire.
"The suddenness of their final attack, with the meagerness of the support, compelled the battery to leave two of their guns upon the field. These guns, however, were not abandoned, until they were spiked, and every horse had been killed, and every man serving with them, either killed or wounded. They fell back some 400 yards, where, support coming to their aid, they kept up fire with the remaining guns, until darkness put an end to the engagement.
"They remained on the field during the night, and participated in the engagement of the 8th, which terminated in the rout of the enemy, and his flight from the field.
"The entire loss of the battery in the two days was, two men killed, two officers and fifteen men wounded, twenty-three horses killed, and three guns captured. They fired, during the engage- ment, over 1,200 rounds of ammunition. The battery acquitted itself nobly in this, one of the most sanguinary conflicts of the
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
war, and received most complimentary notices in the official reports of Cols. Vandever and Carr, also of Brig. Gen. Asboth. Three days after the battle, the army was moved southward again, but after one day's march, took the back track, and moved northward to Keithsville, where it remained until April 5th, when the army commenced the march to Batesville, Independence county, Ark., which point was reached without encountering anything of interest, about the 10th of May. From thence they moved south to Searcy, on Little Red river, and afterward returned to Batesville, about the 20th of June.
"From Batesville, Gen. Curtis commenced his celebrated march to Helena, Ark., where he arrived on the 12th of July, having en- countered most terrible hardships on account of the excessive heat, and great scarcity of provisions. Remained at Helena until Gen. Steele's expedition against Little Rock was organized, in August, 1863.
"During their stay at Helena, the battery was a portion of the force in several expeditions, most prominent among which were Hovey's Mississippi expedition, November 1862; Gorman's White River expedition, January, 1863; and the Yazoo Pass expedition, March, 1863. In the latter expedition thebattery took an active part in the bombardment of Fort Pemberton, at the junction of the Tallahachie and Yallabusha rivers. Returned to Helena, April 8, 1863; remained in camp there until August 11th. The battery took part in the defense of this place against the attack of the rebels under Price, Holmes, and others, on the 4th of July, 1863. Fired over one thousand rounds at the enemy, but escaped without any loss of men, owing to the excellent protection of our fortifications. Had eight horses killed.
"During the fall of 1862, the battery was the recipient of a splendid stand of colors, consisting of a banner and guidon-& present from the ladies of Milwaukee, Wis. They were made of the finest material, and bore upon their folds the names of the different engagements in which the battery had participated. The banner bore on one side the coat of arms of Wisconsin, and on the other that of Iowa. They were accompanied by the most touch- ing address from the donors, referring in most glorious terms to the conduct of the battery in every duty it had been called upon to perform, closing with a stirring appeal to the members of the
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battery to protect well the trust thus placed in their hands, and never to give up the struggle until these glorious colors should be honored throughout the length and breadth of the land. Coming from the ladies of a distant state, the battery was justly proud of these colors.
"Forming a portion of Gen. Steele's forces in the Little Rock expedition, it took part in the capture of that place, without any loss. Also took part in the expedition of Gen. Rice against Arkadelphia, in October, 1863.
"In December, 1863, and January, 1864, the battery re-enlisted as veterans, under authority of the War Department, and in February the veterans of the organization, with the officers, were sent north on furlough, from which they returned in May. After that time the battery received new guns and a complete outfit, as well as a large number of recruits.
"At the expiration of the original term of service of the battery, September 26, 1864, the non-veterans were sent north, where they, with Capt. M. M. Hayden, were mustered out, October 3, 1864. -
The following is a list of killed and wounded at the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark., March 7th and 8th, 1862:
Killed-Privates Dudley Gilbert and Freedom Jackson.
Wounded-Sen. 1st Lieut. Wm. H. McClure; Jr. 1st. Lieut. Melvil C. Wright; Corpl. David 'H. Rowles; Privates Adolph Borget, Charles N. Collins, Wm. Field, Richard J. Long, Ephraim Odell, Francis M. Thompson, Jacob Yost (died of wounds), Thos. Bunton, Theodore Connerardy, George W. Dearth, John F. Kelly, Joseph R. Maddock, Calvin J. Smith.
LIST OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS IN THE THIRD IOWA BATTERY SINCE ORGANIZATION.
Mortimer M. Hayden, captain, mustered out October 3, 1864.
Melville C. Wright, captain, promoted from first lieutenant, October 30, 1864.
Wm. H. McClure, first lieutenant, resigned September 4, 1862.
Jerome Bradley, first lieutenant, promoted A. Q. M., May 1, 1862.
Otis G. Day, first lieutenant, mustered out April 30, 1863.
Orlo H. Lyon, first lieutenant, promoted from second lieutenant, April 28, 1864.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
Joseph J. Dengl, first lieutenant, promoted from second lieuten- ant, October 30, 1864.
Wm. M. Crozier, second lieutenant, cashiered by sentence general court martial.
Daniel U. Lee, second lieutenant, resigned October 11, 1862.
Leroy S. House, second lieutenant, resigned November 14, 1864.
Hiland H. Weaver, second lieutenant, promoted from first ser- geant, October 30, 1864.
The third Iowa battery of light artillery, after holding part in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Lookout Moun- tain, Seige of Vicksburg, Dallas, and the famous Atlanta cam- paign, and marching with Sherman to the sea, was mustered out of the service at Davenport, July 14, 1865.
ROSTER OF VOLUNTEERS.
It is almost impossible to give the entire list of the sons of Howard county, in the service of the general government during the civil war, as all were not credited to the county. But by a careful investigation of the report of the adjutant general of the state, supplemented by personal inquiry, it is hoped that the list given is as accurate as the circumstances will admit.
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