USA > Iowa > Floyd County > History of Floyd County, Iowa : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 43
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HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
"Agreeably to your orders, I left Cameron at 3 P. M., of the 15th inst., and through a heavy rain and bad roads made but seven miles during that afternoon. By a very active march on the 16th, I reached Centerville, ten miles north of Liberty, by sunset, when the firing of cannon was distinctly heard in the direction of Platt City, which was surmised to be from Col. Smith's (Illinois Six- teenth) command. I had sent a messenger to Col. Smith from Hainesville, and another from Centerville, apprising of my move- ments, but got no response. On the 17th, at 2 A. M., I started from Centerville for Liberty, and at daylight the advanced guards fell in with the enemy's pickets, which they drove in and closely followed. At 7 A. M. my command bivouacked on the hill north of and over- looking the town. I despatched several scouts to examine the po- sition of the enemy, but could gain no definite information. They had passed through Liberty during the afternoon of the 17th, to the number of about four thousand, and had taken the road to Blue Mills Landing, and were reported as having four pieces of artillery. At 11 o'clock A. M., I heard firing in the direction of the Landing, which was reported as a conflict between the rebels and forces dis- puting their passage over the river. At 12 M. I moved the com- mand, consisting of five hundred of the Third Iowa, a squad of German artillerists, and about seventy home guards, in the direc- tion of Blue Mills Landing. On the route, learned that a body of our scouts had fallen in with the enemy's pickets and lost four killed and one wounded. Before starting I despatched a courier to Colonel Smith to hasten his command.
" About two miles from Liberty the advance guard drove in the enemy's pickets; skirmishers closely examined the dense growth through which our route lay, and at three P. M. discovered the enemy in force, concealed on both sides of the road, and occupying the dry bed of a slough ; left resting on the river, and right extend- ing beyond our observation. He opened a heavy fire, which drove back our skirmishers, and mnade simultaneous attacks upon our right and front. These were well sustained, and he retired with loss to his position. In the attack on our front, the artillery suf- fered so severely that the only piece, a brass six-pounder, was left without sufficient force to man it, and I was only able to have it discharged twice during the action. Some of the gunners aban- doned the piece, carrying off the matches and the primer, and could not be rallied.
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HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
"The enemy kept up a heavy fire from his position, and, our artil- lery being useless and many of the officers and men already dis- abled, it was deemed advisable to fall back, which was done slowly, returning the enemy's fire and completely checking pursuit. The six-pounder was brought off by hand through the gallantry of various officers and men of the Third Iowa, after it had been en- tirely abandoned by the artillerists. The ammunition wagon, being fastened between a tree and a log at the roadside in such a manner that it could not be released without serious loss, was abandoned. The engagement lasted one hour, and was sustained by my command with an intrepidity that merits my warmest ap- probation. The heaviest fire was sustained by Company I, Third Iowa Volunteers, which lost four killed and twenty wounded, be- ing one-fourth of our total loss. This company deserves special mention. The loss of the enemy cannot be certainly ascertained, but from accounts deemed reliable, it is not less than 160, many of whom were killed. His total force was about 4,400."
The following winter was spent in guarding a portion of the North Missouri Railroad, under command of Major Stone. Colonel Williams had been put under arrest by order of General Pope, and the troops were led by Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, in the battle of Blue Mills Landing. The Colonel, however, was acquitted of the charge preferred against him of neglect of duty, and rejoined his regiment near the close of February. He had been up to this time decidedly unpopular; but he now vigorously reformed certain abuses prevailing, and at once began to grow in favor with the officers and men.
Orders being received to join General Grant in Tennessee, the command started for St. Louis, March 3, 1862, thence proceeding by steamer to Pittsburg Landing, on the west bank of the Tennes- see River, which place was reached March 17. The Third was here assigned to the division commanded by General Hurlbut, one of the six under General Grant, whose army numbered 40,000 men. The army was here surprised, April 6, by the rebels under experienced leaders, and the great battle of Shiloh was fought, last- ing two days. The Union forces, it is well known, were severely treated the first day, but the second day resulted most gloriously for our cause. The Third Iowa behaved with the utmost gallantry both days. Colonel Williams' commanding brigade was disabled; Major Stone was captured; one Captain Albert Hobbs, was mor- tally wounded, and six Captains and eight Lieutenants were all
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HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
more or less severely wounded, while the loss of the men gave am- ple attestation to their valor. The following is extracted from the official report of Captain M. M. Trumbull, commanding thie regi- ment:
"The Third Iowa occupied the extreme right of the Fourth Divis- ion, being the first regiment of Colonel and acting Brigadier- General N. G. Williams's brigade, and was posted, during the greater portion of Sunday, at the fence near the cotton field. The enemy repeatedly threw large bodies of infantry against us, but never with success. He was repulsed every time, and with great slaughter. The regiment was also subjected to a storm of grape, canister and shell, which lasted several hours. The Third Iowa maintained its ground until evening, and did not then give way until the troops on our right and left had been broken, and we were entirely out-flanked and almost surrounded. The regiment was then compelled, in a great measure, to cut its way out. Of the firmness, coolness and courage of the men under a heavy fire, it will be unnecessary for me to speak, as they were almost constantly under the immediate eye of the General commanding the division."
The following is from the report of Colonel A. Brown:
"About five P. M., of April 6, Lieutenant G. W. Crosley, of Company E, took command of the regiment, Captain Trumbull having been wounded. About this time the regiment was driven from its position by an overwhelming force, and by the time it reached camp the enemy were swarming in front and on both flanks. Here the greatest loss was sustained. Under the pressure of a most calling fire, the line was broken; but the regiment fought its way through the enemy's lines, which almost surrounded it, with a loss of but four prisoners. 'On reaching a point about a half mile from the landing, Lieutenant Crosley, with the assistance of a few other officers of the regiment, succeeded in rallying the broken ranks, when Lieutenant Crosley reported to Colonel Crocker of the Thirteenth Iowa Infantry, and asked permission to join his regiment, which was granted. The regiment formed on the right of the Thirteenth Iowa, and remained with them, under a severe fire of artillery, until dark,-when Colonel Pugh, of the Forty-first Illinois Infantry, now commanding the brigade, ordered the Lieu- tenant to rejoin his brigade, which had, in the mean time, reformed. After advancing about three hundred yards, the brigade rested on their arms during the night. The next morning the regiment was ordered into action, and engaged the enemy near the camps of the:
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HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
Eleventh and Thirteenth Iowa; and, after a sharp contest, drove the enemy through and beyond those camps, and was closely fol- lowing them up, when the order was received to fall back. After this, the regiment, with the balance of the brigade, was held in reserve."
The command then took part in the march upon Corinth, and the operations around that place. It added fresh laurels to its rec- ord by its behavior in the battle of the Hatchie. The Third Iowa, three hundred strong, was on the right of the first brigade (Gen. Lauman), and formed part of the reserve. When the reserve was ordered into action, the Third Iowa led, crossing the bridge with a cheer, and at a double-quick, under so severe a fire that fifty- seven men were shot down in a few minutes, including over half the commissioned officers present. This necessarily threw the regiment into some confusion, especially as the road was very nar- row, and encumbered with a good deal of underbrush, and the men pressing forward got intermixed with the men of other regiments. Lt .- Col. Trumbull saw no way to extricate the regiment, but by planting the colors in the middle of the road, ordering the men to rally to them, and form a new line of battle. This was promptly done, nearly every man springing instantly to his place. The regi- ment then moved forward up the hill, in company with other regi- ments that had adopted the same plan; the enemy retired as we advanced. On reaching the summit, the Third Iowa was sta- tioned in the open plain to the left of the road, and toward the close of the engagement was moved to the right of the road, near the bend of the river, to support the gallant Twenty-eighth Illinois. The battle was now about over.
The remainder of the year was spent in minor movements, work- ing on fortifications, and guard duty. Then going into camp for two months, the Third Iowa embarked on board the steamer "Crescent City " for Vicksburg, leaving Memphis, May 17, 1863, in company with the other regiments composing the First Brigade, Fourth Division, Sixteenth Army Corps. Nothing of interest oc- curred until about 1 o'clock P. M. of the 18th, when they were fired upon by guerrillas from the left bank of the river, near Island Eighty-two, and about three miles above the town of Greenville, Miss. The "Crescent City," on which the regiment was embarked, was at the time about one mile in advance of the fleet. The enemy opened on the boat when within about 150 yards of the shore, with three pieces of artillery and a heavy fire of musketry. Two com-
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HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
panies, who were on guard at the time, promptly returned the fire, but so sudden and unexpected was the attack, and so short its duration, that the regiment had but a poor opportunity to do much execution until the boat had got beyond musket range. They had one section of Swarts' Battery on board, one piece of which was used with good effect on the battery on shore. The "Crescent City " was at the time under the convoy of one of the boats of the Mos- quito fleet, which came up to our assistance, but not until the enemy were in full retreat. In this affair the regiment lost four- teen, wounded.
On the morning of the 19th the regiment disembarked at Young's Point and started toward the interior, but were immediately or- dered back to re-embark for Snider's Bluff's, where it landed on the morning of the 20th. Here it remained until the 24th, when it received marching orders, and, with the rest of the brigade, pro- ceeded to the rear of Vicksburg, took position on the left of the besieg- ing line, and became part of the investing force. From this time up to the surrender of the place, July 4, the regiment took part in all the siege operations carried on in our front. The duty now was of the most arduous character and calculated to put to the severest test the bravery and fortitude of the men. Only a few of the im- portant engagements in which the Third figured can be mentioned. June 1 Companies F and G were supporting a section of the Fifth Ohio Battery, which had been posted early in the evening in an advanced position. The enemy had detected the movement, and about eleven o'clock made a sortie in considerable to capture the guns and their small support. Our men were on the alert for them and twice repulsed them ; the last time when they had got up within ten feet of the guns, which played havoc in their ranks with canister. On the evening of June 4 a portion of the regiment on picket duty on the left of the brigade line, consisting of parts of Companies A, B, D, F and H, with twenty men and one com- missioned officer of the Thirty-third Wisconsin Regiment, number- ing in all about 150, were ordered to advance and drive the enemy from his line of rifle pits on the crest of a ridge south of the Hall's Ferry road, and about 300 yards in our front. At the signal the men rushed forward with a deafening cheer, under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery, and in less than fifteen minutes we had gained the crest and driven the enemy from the pits and into their works beyond, from which five pieces of artillery continued shelling us for about half an hour; but from the advantageous po-
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HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
sition we had gained, their missiles fell harmless, owing to the fact that the enemy's aim was too high. The Third lost but two men wounded, in this engagement. On the night of June 24, 200 men of the regiment were sent to the trenches, under the command of Major G. W. Crosley, as a working party. On their arrival at the trenches, about ten o'clock P. M., the guards were stationed in advance of the rifle pits to guard the working party, which was engaged in digging a sap towards the main fort in our front. The night was dark, and a slight rain following just as the men had got fairly to work, the guard in front were fiercely attacked and driven in, and the enemy advanced in force and demanded a sur- render. Our men seized their arms, sprang to their places in the trenches and delivered a terrific fire, causing the enemy to falter and then fall back about seventy-five yards, from which place they con- tinued to fire with both musket and artillery for about three-fourths of an hour, our men responding with energy and getting the last shot. Our loss was one man killed and two slightly wounded. The enemy's loss, as was afterward ascertained, was fifteen killed and wounded, including the Colonel commanding, who was killed.
The shattered regiment then spent several months at Natchez, Miss., resting. Here over 200 men of the regiment re-enlisted for three years as veteran volunteers. These veterans went home in March, 1864, on furlough, while the non-veterans took part in the disastrous Red River expedition, and were then discharged, their term of service having expired. The veterans fought so fiercely and obstinately at Atlanta, after their return from their furlough, that there were not enough of them to warrant a sepa- rate organization, and the remnant was consolidated with the Second Iowa Infantry.
The history of the Third is most interesting, in several points of view, particularly in regard to the material composing it. Its first Major, William M. Stone, who commanded the regiment during the greatest pitched battle in which it was engaged, was afterward Colonel of the Twenty-second, and then Governor of the State of Iowa. It also furnished for other regiments three Colonels, five Lieutenant-Colonels, and other line officers.
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HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
SEVENTH INFANTRY.
COMPANY B.
Ackley, Solomon J.
Frost, Joseph J. R.
First Lieutenant.
Andrews, Davis C.
Haughey, Sylvanus
Robert G. Reiniger.
Asper, Aaron J.
Hawks, Egbert
Third Sergeant.
Asper, Rudolph
Hawks, Everett
Samuel Folsom.
Baker, Joseph L.
Hoisington, Lucien P.
Fourth Corporal. Joseph Smith.
Clark, Henry H.
Howard, T. A.
Clark, Job A.
La Scelle, John
Eighth Corporal.
Clay, Hiram
Mead, Giles W.
Phin. M. Hoisington. Musician.
Crumb, Elam
Reiniger, Edward A.
George Craig.
Doan, Robert
Sours, Samuel
Privates.
Doan, William H.
Walling, John C.
Ackley, Charles F.
Douglass, Calvin B. Wilson, Alvin N.
Castle, Elijah
Hoisington, William H.
Cornelia, George
Parrish, John
Lieutenant Reiniger was promoted to the captaincy of the com- pany for gallantry. Samuel Folsom was promoted from Third Sergeant to First Sergeant, then to Second Lieutenant, and then to First Lieutenant, and then to Captain.
The Seventh Iowa Infantry Volunteers was organized at Bur- lington, Ia., in 1861. The first companies were mustered into the United States service on the 24th of July, and the last company, I, was mustered in on the 2d day of August, Col. J. G. Lauman in command of the regiment. On the 6th day of August they broke camp, marched to Burlington under a burning sun, and em- barked on the steamer "Jennie Whipple" for St. Louis. Arrived at St. Louis on the morning of the 8th, and they marched to the arsenal, where they bivouacked for several days. Moved from thence to Jefferson Barracks, where they remained for several days; were then ordered to St. Louis, where the regiment was armed, the flank companies with Springfield rifles, and the other eight companies with improved Springfield muskets. Same night took cars, and went to Pilot Knob, arriving there about eight o'clock A. M. next day. Remained at Pilot Knob till two P. M., then marched to Ironton, where they commenced their first drills in the "manual of arms," and made considerable improvement.
Remained in camp about two weeks; they were then ordered through Southeast Missouri, to Cape Girardeau. This commenced the first compaign of the regiment. The division consisted of six regiments, and was commanded by Brig .- Gen. B. M. Prentiss. Arriving at Jackson, Missouri, during the last days of August, the command remained one week, when they marched to the Cape, and then took transports, going to Cairo. The day after their arrival, was sent to what was afterward called Fort Holt, Ky. The ground was covered with a dense forest and undergrowth, but
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HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
in a short time, the camp was cleared up and policed, and all hands comfortable. The regiment remained at Fort Holt about two weeks when it was moved down to Mayfield Creek, and established a camp known as Camp Crittenden, distant from the Mississippi River about three miles, and from Columbus, the rebel stronghold, about eight miles. Here Lt .- Col. Wentz reported to the regiment for duty. They remained but a few days at Camp Crittenden, and were then moved back to Fort Jefferson, on the Mississippi, nearly opposite Norfolk, Mo.
During their stay at Fort Jefferson, kept up a strong picket guard at Camp Crittenden, at which place the regiment had its first skirmish, in which one man was slightly wounded. From Fort Jefferson the regiment was moved to Norfolk, Missouri, where they remained one night, and were then ordered to Bird's Point where they remained a few days; then were ordered to Norfolk, Mis- souri, where they remained a week or two. At this point Major Rice reported for duty and the Quartermaster for the first time ob- tained clothing for the men, of which they stood much in need, being as ragged as birds. Moved from Norfolk back to Bird's Point, and commenced strict drill, at the same time doing picket and guard duty. On the 6th of November, 1861, received orders to embark on transports and about steamed down the Mississippi a few miles, rounded to, and lay all night at Lucas Bend. Early next morning they again moved down the river and landed on the Missouri shore about three miles above Belmont; disembarked the troops, formed line of battle and proceeded against the town. The Seventh Iowa and Twenty-second Illinois were brigaded together, the brigade being commanded by Colonel Dougherty of the Twen- ty-second Illinois. The battle was a bloody day for the Seventh. The regiment went into the fight with eight companies, containing 410 men-two companies, K and G, having been detached as a fleet guard, who were not in the fight. The regiment lost in killed, wounded and missing, 237 men, and it was here that the gallant and lamented Wentz fell, with many other brave officers-G. W B. Dodge, Second Lieutenant, Company B ; Benjamin Ream, Second Lieutenant, Company C; Chas. Gardner, Second Lieu- tenant, Company I. Among the officers wounded were Colonel Lauman and Major Rice; Captain Gardner, Company B; Captain Harper, Company D; Captain Parrot, Company E, and Captain Kittridge, Company F. It was in this battle that Iowa officers and soldiers proved to the world that they were made of the right
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HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
kind of material for the saving of the country and for adding lus- ter to the then young but gallant State. In the evening of the bat- tle, the shattered remnant of the Seventh moved back to Bird's Point where they remained two days, being then ordered to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri, to rest and recruit. Thus termi- nated the first battle of the Seventh Iowa, Volunteer Infantry.
On the thirteenth of January, 1872, the Seventh was ordered to embark on a transport for the South. It was marched to St. Louis where it embarked on the steamer "Continental." The weather was intensely cold, which detained the boat until nine o'clock at night, when she got away, and proceeded down the river some twenty miles, where she was frozen in midway of stream, in con- sequence of which the troops were obliged to remain on board two days until the ice became solid enough to embark, when they marched with baggage to the Missouri shore where they took train, returning to St. Louis. The weather continued very cold, so much so that the citizens and officials of St. Louis tendered Colonel Lau- man the use of the Chamber of Commerce to shelter his men, and the gallant boys found comfort in the hot coffee, warm room, etc., so generously provided by the friends of the soldiers. The next morning the regiment was ordered to cross the Mississippi River, and take the cars for Cairo. The river was still frozen solid in the center, channels being open on either side. The crossing com- ienced at noon, taking a steam ferry-boat at St. Louis, running to the solid ice, disembarking and packing the baggage across the ice to the channel on the Illinois shore and embarking on the other ferry-boat crossing the eastern channel to the shore. Both open channels were filled with great quantities of floating ice. At about midnight they started for Cairo, arriving there the next night. The next day moved to Fort Holt, their former headquarters, where they remained three or four days when they took transports, and went to Smithland, Kentucky; a few days after being ordered up the Tennessee River to attack Fort Henry. They landed on the morning of February 6, and took up their line of march over the miserable roads to invest the fort. Commodore Foote having al- ready captured the fort about eleven o'clock Sunday, no attack was made and the regiment entered the next morning, and remained about one week.
Feb. 12, 1862, they took up line of march for Fort Donelson, and arrived in its vicinity the same day. About five P. M. the Seventh was ordered to the front, to support Battery H, First
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HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
Missouri Light Artillery, and spent that night without shelter or blankets. The next morning Company C (Capt. McMullen) was deployed as skirmishers, and shortly afterward orders from Gen. Smith to join the brigade as it was going into action. The regi- ment was immediately put into line and double-quicked until it reached the brigade, which had taken position in front of the rebel works. Here they remained behind the abatis all day, not daring to rise until darkness gave opportunity to withdraw. The weather became very boisterous. A heavy shower fell about midnight, when it changed to snow, and by morning the face of the earth was covered with ice, and the temperature grew very cold. All this while the boys were without shelter, and many without blankets. On the 14th, several companies were deployed as skirmishers, and as the night was quite inclement, several inches of snow falling, they were not to be envied. The morning of the 15th, skirmishers from the Seventh were again employed, and at 2 P. M. were or- dered to charge the rebel works. The Second Iowa never having been in a fight, and having joined the brigade only the day before, was given the post of honor in leading the charge, supported by the balance of the brigade. The "Seventh" moved up to the works in fine style, entered the sally-port, and gained, with the "Second," a position inside the rebel works. They were then ordered by the brave, gallant and lamented Gen. Smith to fall back and take shelter on the outside of the rebel works, where they bivouacked for the night. The weather still continued severe, no fires were allowed, and the regiment suffered considerably.
On Sunday morning, February 16, as the day dawned, in the dim distance could be seen a white flag, which told in plain lan - guage that the strife for the mastery of Fort Donelson had ended, and in a short time the whole column of their wing was marching into the fort, amid loud huzzas, the beating of drums, the shrill music of fifes, and with that time-honored of flag, known as " the stars and stripes " waving over them. So fell old Fort Donelson, and the Seventh Iowa claims her meed of praise.
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