USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume I > Part 22
USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume I > Part 22
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"SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD.
"Iowa City, April 17, 1861."
The intimation in Governor Kirkwood's proclamation, that there would be another call for troops soon to follow. indicates that he did not share the opinion of some that the suppression of the rebellion would be a mere "breakfast spell." and that the 75,000 troops would be sufficient to accomplish the desired purpose. He must at that time have had a vision of the magnitude of the rebellion, a vision that came to other eminent statesmen later on.
In less than one week after the governor's proclamation was issued enough companies had been organized and reported ready for duty to fill the required regiment. These, however, were only a small part of the number who had been offered by company commanders for acceptance under the president's call. So urgent were these offers that the governor made a request, on the 24th of April, for permission to organize an additional regiment, and while waiting for that permission he conditionally accepted a sufficient number of companies to compose two additional regiments. In a short time he was notified by the war department that both of these regiments would be accepted for service. By the latter part of May the adjutant-general of the state reported that upwards of one hundred and seventy companies had been tendered to the governor for United States service.
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CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
IOWA'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE SERVICE
From first to last Iowa raised, for the general service, thirty-nine regiments of infantry, nine regiments of cavalry and four companies of artillery, composed of three-years men; one regiment of infantry, composed of three-months men; and four regiments and one battalion of infantry, composed of 100-days men. The original enlistments in these various organizations, including 1,727 men raised by draft, numbered a little more than sixty-nine thousand. The re-enlistments, including upwards of seven thousand veterans, numbered very nearly eight thou- sand. The enlistments in the regular army and navy and in organizations in other states will, if added, raise the total enlistment in Iowa for service in the Civil war to upward of eighty thousand. The number of men who, under special enlistments and as militia, took part at different times in the operations on the exposed borders of the state, was probably as many as five thousand. This review of Iowa's part in the Civil war is largely founded on statements of Col. A. P. Wood, author of "The History of Iowa and the War." From the same source the statement is made that "Iowa paid no bounty on account of the men she placed in the field. In some instances, toward the close of the war, bounty to a comparatively small amount was paid by cities and town. On only one occasion, that of the call of July 18, 1864, was a draft made in the state. This did not occur on account of her proper liability, as established by rulings of the war department, to supply troops under that call, but was due to the great necessity that then existed for raising recruits for the army. For this reason, the war department insisted on temporarily setting aside, in part, the former rule of settlements and enforcing a draft in all cases where subdistricts in any of the states should be found deficient in their supply of men under previous calls. In no instance was Iowa, as a whole, found to be indebted to the general Govern- ment for men, on a settlement of her quota accounts under any of the calls for troops during the war."
The following comprehensive statement in tabulated form will give the reader an intelligent idea of Iowa's contribution to the army for the suppression of the rebellion. This statement is compiled from official records, showing the number of enlistments in the several organizations, the total casualties, the number killed or died from wounds, and the number of deaths from disease in each of the organizations, and is a most commendable record for one of the newer states of the Union :
STATEMENT
Showing the number of men furnished, and the casualties in Iowa regiments during the War of the Rebellion.
No. of Men
Total Killed or Casual- Died of Died of ties Wounds Disease
Organizations
First Battery
I49
I24
IO
5I
Second Battery
I23
62
2
29
Third Battery
142
79
4
33
/
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CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
Total Killed or Casual- Died of Died of
Organizations
No. of Men
ties
Wounds
Disease
Fourth Battery
I52
17
5
First Cavalry
1,478
543
54
187
Second Cavalry
1,394
602
65
I9I
Third Cavalry
1,360
770
77
224
Fourth Cavalry
1,227
590
48
186
Fifth Cavalry
1,245
452
43
127
Sixth Cavalry
1,125
193
21
59
Seventh Cavalry
562
402
40
92
Eighth Cavalry
1,234
274
33
91
Ninth Cavalry
1,178
258
I5
162
Sioux City Cavalry
93
7
. .
. .
Company A, Eleventh Pennsylva- nia Cavalry
87
5
I
4
First Infantry
959
165
I7
7
Second Infantry
1,247
758
72
107
Third Infantry
1,074
749
So
90
Second and Third Infantry, con- solidated
28
18
9
Fourth Infantry
1,184
973
108
237
Fifth Infantry
1,037
699
88
90
Sixth Infantry
1,013
855
I32
124
Seventh Infantry
1,138
885
129
I35
Eighth Infantry
1,027
761
93
I37
Ninth Infantry
1,000
973
133
208
Tenth Infantry
1,027
739
91
134
Eleventh Infantry
1,022
610
79
148
Twelfth Infantry
981
768
62
243
Thirteenth Infantry
989
852
99
182
Fourteenth Infantry
840
526
50
122
Fourteenth Infantry Reserve Bat- tery
II
. .
Fifteenth Infantry
1,196
1,029
I30
Sixteenth Infantry
918
819
89
217
Seventeenth Infantry
950
614
61
97
Eighteenth Infantry
875
449
33
109
Nineteenth Infantry
985
562
86
9I
Twentieth Infantry
925
359
I3
I30
Twenty-first Infantry
980
531
66
I57
Twenty-second Infantry
1,108
634
105
I26
Twenty-third Infantry
961
570
69
196
Twenty-fourth Infantry
959
761
III
197
Twenty-fifth Infantry
995
564
61
199
Twenty-sixth Infantry
919
562
69
204
Twenty-seventh Infantry
940
5.30
21
16
Twenty-eighth Infantry
956
636
76
180
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CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
Total Killed or
No. of
Casual- Died of Died of
Organizations
Men
ties
Wounds Disease
Twenty-ninth Infantry
1,005
5II
36
248
Thirtieth Infantry
978
646
63
233
Thirty-first Infantry
977
540
27
261
Thirty-second Infantry
925
589
89
203
Thirty-third Infantry
985
380
62
196
Thirty-fourth Infantry
953
561
6
228
Thirty-fourth Infantry, consol.
Thirty-fifth Infantry
984
510
42
182
Thirty-sixth Infantry
986
619
59
226
Thirty-seventh Infantry
914
503
3
I4I
Thirty-eighth Infantry
910
431
I
310
Thirty-ninth Infantry
933
406
54
119
Fortieth Infantry
900
361
15
179
Forty-first Infantry
294
17
. .
2
Forty-fourth Infantry
867
I5
14
Forty-fifth Infantry
912
22
I
I7
Forty-sixth Infantry
892
28
I
23
Forty-seventh Infantry
884
47
. .
45
Forty-eighth Infantry
346
4
. .
4
First Colored Infantry
903
383
5
33I
Totals
. 56,364
30,394
3,139
8,695
72
5
. .
-
CHAPTER VII
MILITARY HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY
EARLY MANIFESTATION OF PATRIOTIC SPIRIT-FIRST COMPANY ORGANIZED-A FARE- WELL GREETING-DEPARTURE FOR REGIMENT CAMP-ROSTER OF THE COMPANY- FIRST EXPERIENCE AS SOLDIERS-OTHER ENLISTMENTS IN THE COUNTY-NUM- BER OF VOLUNTEERS DURING THE WAR-LATER MILITARY RECORD-THE SELEC- TIVE CONSCRIPTION METHOD-FIRST CALL FOR SERVICE IN WAR WITH GERMANY.
Considering the fact that Chickasaw was one of the newly organized counties in the state, and the further fact that the county was sparsely settled-the popu- lation being less than 5,000 at the beginning of the Civil war-there was no county in the state that contributed more, according to the measure of ability and oppor- tunity, in giving to Iowa a high place of honor among the states of the Union for services in the Civil war, than did this sparsely settled county of Chickasaw.
At the outbreak of the war Chickasaw County was without a railroad and without telegraphic communication with outside centers of information. The mail facilities were of the primitive sort and the daily newspaper was a rare exhibit. Indeed, there were few newspapers of any kind that were true to the name circulated in the county at that time. For this reason several days elapsed before the news of the fall of Fort Sumter, and the call of the president for volunteers for the suppression of the rebellion, reached the people of Chickasaw County. When the news did arrive there was no difference of sentiment among the people as to the attitude they would take in the impending conflict. The county had given a large majority for Lincoln, in the presidential election of 1860, and the people were united in the determination to resent the insult to the flag, and for the suppression of the rebellion by force of arms. But the quota required under the first call had been filled, and more than filled, before the patriotic young men of Chickasaw County could offer their services. Their opportunity came when the second call was made. How they responded to this, and subsequent calls, is worthy of the detailed account which follows in this chapter. There is no brighter page in the annals of Chickasaw County than is the record made by the service of her loyal sons in the Civil war.
FIRST CHICKASAW COUNTY COMPANY
The readiness of Iowa's response to the president's call for 75,000 volunteers is related in another chapter. The eagerness of the young men of the state to
199
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CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
enlist was an index of the loyal sentiment that prevailed in every part of the state; the quota of Iowa was filled in a few days after the call of the governor, and there was a large surplus of organized companies in excess of the number required. In counties remote from the capital of the state, without transporta- tion facilities, the people were deprived of the opportunity to demonstrate their loyalty. Chickasaw County was one of these. But when the second call came for 300,000 volunteers the loyal sons of Chickasaw found their opportunity and quickly responded.
Previous to this there had been a fire company organized at Bradford, under the name of the "Fontanelle Company, No. I." This company had been giving some attention to military drill and had become somewhat familiar with evolu- tions, as laid down in Hardee's tactics. Equipped with wooden guns they were also given some instruction in the manual of arms. Thus equipped, with their gaudy uniform, this company was fully prepared to make a spectacular exhibit, which, tradition relates, they frequently made. But all this served a good pur- pose when the opportunity for real service came, in the call of June, 1861. It is related, that when the opportunity was offered for this company to enlist for three years, or during the war, about 75 per cent of the members signified their willing- ness to enter the army. D. A. Babcock is given the distinction of being the first one of this company, and the first man in Chickasaw County, to offer his service as a volunteer.
Most of this company was organized and mustered into the service as Com- pany B, of the Seventh Iowa Infantry, with Gideon Gardner as captain. All the other officers, and nearly all of the enlisted men, were residents of Chickasaw County.
A FAREWELL GREETING
The organization of the company was completed and under orders to report to the camp at Burlington, where the regiment to which it was assigned was being organized. The day of their departure was the 14th of July, a day fraught with hopes and fears, and with anxiety and tears. On the 4th of July, previous to the departure of the company, there was a celebration which brought together nearly the whole county. The members of this company were there and received the hearty congratulations of their friends on the step they had taken. The incidents of that farewell occasion are so well described by Capt. J. H. Powers, in his book, "Historical and Reminiscences of Chickasaw County," that we will let him tell the story :
"It was an anxious day, long to be remembered, and little attention was paid to the address ; but little knots of friends gathered around the men who were so soon to start to the front, and the suppressed sobs of mothers, wives, sister's and loved ones, who dare not show the intensity of their feelings, was trying in the extreme. There was a little incident when the president of the day said that 'the Reverend Witted would now pray to them.' The Reverend Witted arose and remarked that the president of the day was mistaken, for he 'should not pray to the people, but to Almighty God.' And if there ever was an earnest invocation that ascended to heaven, then I believe he then and there uttered one. The day, the surroundings, the state of feeling, all conspired to bring out to its fullest
201
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
intensity, the aspirations of the people, and a desire that God would protect the boys, and the loved ones so soon to be left at home.
"There was to be a gathering of the company at Bradford, on the morning of the 14th of July, and squads of men who had enlisted in other counties, came on the 13th. The night before the company was to start three of the boys were married :
"At Bradford, on the 13th instant, by Rev. Mr. Nutting, Mr. George Morse to Miss Adelia Bird, all of Bradford.
"Also at New Hampton, same date, by G. A. Hamilton, Esq., Mr. F. D. Bos- worth to Lizzie Smith, both of Bradford.
"Also at New Hampton, on the 14th instant, by C. O. Case, Esq., acting county judge, Mr. G. S. Arnold to Miss Lois Amelia Gillett, both of New Hamp- ton."
It should be stated here that J. H. Powers, who was afterward commissioned as captain of another company, enlisted in this, the first company recruited in Chickasaw County, as a private. At the outbreak of the war he was called to a special session of the Legislature, as member of the State Senate. Returning to his home after the close of the session, with a commission from the governor he spent some time in recruiting companies and drilling them for the service. En1- listing as a private in this company he went with them to Burlington, where they were mustered into the United States service, and a short time after this Private Powers was commissioned as captain and authorized to recruit another company. Of this service further mention will be made. Continuing his story of the com- pany, and the journey to their place of rendezvous, Captain Powers says :
"After the battle of Fort Donelson, F. D. Bosworth, who was promoted from orderly to second lieutenant, on the death of George Dodge, who was killed at Belmont, resigned and returned home; but Sheldon Arnold never saw his wife again, as he died at Iron Mountain, being the first of the company to die."
Bosworth and Arnold are two of those mentioned of the company as having married on the night previous to their departure from home.
"Early on the morning of the 14th of July, the New Hampton contingent went to Bradford and there met the balance of the company. A large number of farmers were present with their teams to take the volunteers as far as Cedar Falls. At Cedar Falls the boys thought they were badly treated, as they were obliged to lie on a carpeted floor in the Odd Fellows hall, and were not furnished beds. When they were on their way home they would have felt that they were being treated as lords if they could have found such luxuriant quarters ; but then they had become soldiers, and were no longer simply country boys. We werc quartered at the 'Peosta' in Dubuque, and a high old time we had while there. There was a circus in town and we were passed in as soldiers. When the per- formance was about half through word came that there was a boat to take us to Burlington, and rising above his paint and garb, the clown gave us one of the most patriotic speeches I ever listened to."
THE COMPANY ROSTER
The first company of volunteers organized in Chickasaw County was com- posed of eighty-seven men. Of these fifty-four were from Chickasaw County;
202
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
twenty-four from Floyd County, four from Howard County, and five from Mitchell County. Following are their names, and places of residence :
From Bradford, Chickasaw County-D. A. Babcock, Thomas Biggar, D. Campbell, D. L. Campbell, G. W. Dodge, A. J. Felt, C. W. Foster, E. A. Haskell, Truman Horton, John Laird, George Morse, William Newman, L. C. Pettit, J. A. Rutherford, William Tannahill, Jefferson Thomas.
From Chickasaw-Allen Case, Fernando Albertson, Daniel McTaggart, John Thomas, Mathew Witted, Rev. J. G. Witted.
From Fredericksburg-George Pease.
From Jacksonville-Robert Mills.
From Nashua-Henry Bean, Levi L. Bean, I. M. Fisher, O. A. Holmes, Frank H. Hurley, John McConnell, H. W. Montrose, D. H. Shannon, Charles H. Trott.
From New Hampton-George S. Arnold, Frank Bordwell, Levi Carkins, Gid- eon Gardner, A. D. Jackson, B. E. Morton, John Magee, A. H. Morton, J. H. Powers, Thomas E. Rollins, G. J. Tisdale, H. S. Wisner.
From Williamstown-Meltiah Nye, J. P. Bailey, Zelotus Bailey, W. W. Bird- sall, F. D. Bosworth, William H. Jackson, B. H. Poppleton, H. P. Smith, Edward J. Taylor.
From Floyd County-Floyd-Sylvanus Haughey.
Howardsville-P. M. Hoisington, John C. Wolling.
Marble Rock-James Baker, George Cornelia, Henry H. Clark, Samuel Fol- sam, Everett Hawks, - Hawks, James Samith.
Nora Springs-O. C. Ford, H. A. Gregory, G. W. Mead, James A. Wilson, Joel C. Wilson.
Shell Rock City-J. Brown, E. B. Brown, J. R. Myers, H. J. Smith.
St. Charles City-Robert Craig, Robert Doan, William G. Doan, Robert G. Reiniger, Andrew C. Davis.
Howard County-Howard Center-H. Benson, David Seeley, W. E. Thayer, J. M. Gallahan.
From Mitchell County-Osage-Charles Wilbur, Knut Johnson, P. T. Sprague, John Wright, J. R. Howard.
It is not to be assumed that this is a complete list of names of all who were members of this company. There were several recruits added, from time to time, to fill vacancies caused by discharges and other causes of depletion in the ranks. This is given as the most accurate list obtainable of the original muster roll of the first company organized in Chickasaw County.
OTHER ENLISTMENTS IN CHICKASAW COUNTY
At the outbreak of the war there was a prevalent belief that it would be of short duration. This was probably due to the fact that President Lincoln's first call was for a service of only three months. The great surprise and shock that came to the loyal people on account of the disaster at Bull Run, in July, 1862, brought a realization that the country was facing a condition that meant a real war of uncertain duration. As the war progressed the conditions became more serious as the conflict increased in intensity, and the vision of victory for the Union arms became more obscure. This was especially the condition in 1862, when the President made a call for 500,000 more volunteers. It was in the
203
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
fall of this year when Chickasaw County responded by the enlistment of another company, which was incorporated in the Thirty-eighth Iowa Infantry Regiment as Company C. Prior to this time a part of another company had been enlisted in the county for the Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry, as Company C, of which George W. Howard, of this county, was major. There had also been enlistments from the county in companies E, F, H and I of the Ninth Iowa Infantry ; and in companies belonging to the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Infantry regiments. There were also several enlistments in the Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry. Com- pany A, Thirty-eighth Iowa Infantry was the second full company furnished by Chickasaw County.
The county furnished part of two companies for the Fourth Iowa Cavalry, and part of three companies in the Sixth Iowa Cavalry. There were enlistments in the Second Cavalry and the Forty-first Infantry. Altogether, Chickasaw County furnished enlistments, from first to last, during the war, of between three and four hundred. This, it must be remembered, was from a county with a popula- tion but little in excess of four thousand. These figures are available for com- parison of the past and present manifestation of patriotism.
Of those who enlisted in this county the following held commissions, other than Maj. George W. Howard, who has been mentioned :
Captains-Gideon Gardner, J. H. Powers, H. C. Baldwin, D. E. Bronson, S. S. Troy, C. W. Foster, D. McTaggart and D. C. Crawford.
Lieutenants-G. J. Tisdale, Albert E. Rupe, John A. Green, F. W. Barron, George W. Dodge, F. D. Bosworth, E. A. Haskell, W. W. Birdsall, Charles Trout, J. A. Albertson, R. W. Foster, O. O. Poppleton. Dr. S. C. Haynes served as assistant surgeon.
Whether serving as a commissioned officer or serving in the ranks, the soldiers who represented Chickasaw County in the Civil war all acquitted themselves with credit and deserve the honorable place that history accords them. The most of these soldiers have answered the last roll call and have joined the ranks of that silent army waiting "until the trumpet of the morning breaks the challenge of the night." When, on that great day for which all other days are made, there shall sound for them, and for the remnant who shall soon follow them, the grand reveille, where-
"Through the gloaming of the twilight, 'Tween the valley and each star, They shall see the fisher's rush light, Set to guide them o'er the bar. There to lift a bright new banner, Where the light of peace is shed, In the green fields of the living, Not the bivouac of the dead."
LATER MILITARY RECORD OF COUNTY
Chickasaw County did not furnish a company for service in the Spanish- American war, but there were some enlistments from this county who served in regiments recruited in other parts of the state.
204
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
In the Civil war and the Spanish-American war the volunteer system was the adopted method of filling the required quota of the several counties of the state, and, as has been shown, the system operated successfully, though somewhat dilatory in satisfactory results. Whatever may be said as to merits of the volun- teer system, it has long been the opinion of military men that it is impractical and obsolete as a method of raising an army. And this opinion has come to be accepted by national legislators, and by the people generally, resulting in the enactment by Congress of the selective conscription method. Under the opera- tions of this law the great armies of the United States are now being raised and are under training for service in the war with Germany, in which this country is engaged.
Without going into details as to the provisions of this selective conscription law, it will be sufficient, for the purpose of bringing the military record of Chick- asaw County up to date, to state what has been done by this county under the requirements of this law as its contribution to the National Army. This, of course, is the record of the county only at the time of this writing. It is not an intimation of what may yet be required of the county in this world-wide war in which we are now engaged.
From the report of the Chickasaw conscription board, filed in November, 1917, the following quotations are made :
"There were 1,309 registrants in this county. Our quota for the National Army was 133. There have been 466 men called for examination, all but 13 of whom have reported. These have since been accounted for and all but two of them are in the army service. Three hundred and sixty-two were accepted on physical examination, of whom sixty have been ordered to report at Camp Dodge, at Des Moines. Ninety-one men were rejected here on account of physical defects.
"Of the 1.309 men registered, 540 were married men and 769 single men. Of the married men, 185 out of 189 called for examination were rejected, and the other four are in the service at Camp Dodge. Fifty-six of the single men, of the 221 accepted, are now in the service at Camp Dodge."
CHAPTER VIII
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS' WAR RECORD
PATRIOTIC SPIRIT EARLY MANIFESTED- LIBERAL APPROPRIATION FOR VOLUNTEERS - WIVES AND DEPENDENTS PROVIDED FOR-SIO FOR VOLUNTEER OUTFIT, $3 MONTHLY PAY-FEAR OF COUNTY BANKRUPTCY CAUSES CONCERN-MOVE FOR MODIFICATION OF ORDER-MUCH DISCUSSION AS TO HOW TO PRESERVE THE IN- TENT OF ORIGINAL ORDER AND MEET THE FINANCIAL CONDITIONS-FINALLY ADJUSTED-NOTES FOR UNPAID BALANCE AT CLOSE OF. THE WAR-AMOUNT OF NOTES, $11,432.56-A CREDITABLE RECORD.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS' WAR RECORD
The organization of Chickasaw County was effected at a period when the agitation of the slavery question was growing in intensity, and when the vehement declarations of the slave power threatening to dissolve the Union in the event they were deprived of the power to control in Government affairs; at a period when the far-seeing statesmen could discern the portentous cloud of civil war on the political horizon. When the anticipated event became a reality, in the seces- sion of the southern states, and the outbreak of the Civil war, in 1861, Chickasaw County had a well organized county government, in the control of intensely loyal citizens, supported by a constituency of ardent patriots.
The record of Chickasaw County in the enlistment of soldiers for the army that fought the battles of the Union; the names and something of the record of those enlisted from this county and offered their lives for their country's flag, furnishes the subject of another chapter in this work. The record of what the county, through its board of supervisors, in their official capacity, did for the soldiers and their families in the days of the Civil war is worthy of the place that is given it in this chapter. This transcript from the musty pages of the old records is a radiant reflection of the patriotic spirit that characterized the board of supervisors of Chickasaw in those tragic years of the county's history.
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