USA > Iowa > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Iowa; Volume I > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100
It is a matter of sincere regret to us that we cannot give a full account of the home societies and contributions, and of all that the citizens of Jackson county did on their own territory for the Union cause. There are, however, no existing newspaper files that could be found covering the period of the war, and we are compelled to speak but generally of those things which we would be glad to mention more minutely.
On account of the freedom with which men volunteered in this county, there was occasion for but little trouble in regard to drafts. We believe there was but one draft in Jackson county, and in that no difficulty was experienced, save in Butler township. Here an attempt was made to resist the draft, or, rather, to escape it. The enrolling officers found it an impossibility to make an enrollment. Butler township is largely a timber district, and it was with little difficulty the natives could hide on the approach of the officer, where they could not be found. The families of those who were liable to draft would refuse to give their names, and irate daughters of Erin would threaten a salute of hot water unless the offending parties would make their absence more con- spicuous than they themselves.
Joseph P. Eaton was appointed a deputy provost marshal for the county, and the matter given into his charge. With the assistance of the assessor's books, he finally succeeded in making an enrollment. Nine men were drafted in Butler township, and due notice served according to law, notifying them to report at the county seat within five days. Only two reported, one of whom proved to be a cripple, and the other, for some reason, unfit for service. Efforts to find the other seven proved fruitless. At last, Deputy Marshal Eaton' got a squad of soldiers, and, proceeding to Butler township, encamped in the barn of one of the richest farmers there. The soldiers helped themselves to what they needed, and Eaton informed the citizens that they had come to stay ; that unless the drafted men were forthcoming, they would make another draft, and that they would continue to draw until they filled the quota with men who could be found; otherwise, the entire township would have to become fugi- tives. This began to look like business, and, at a meeting appointed for the following day, some six thousand dollars were raised to hire substitutes, within two hours. The quota was made up of hired men, and the soldiers were withdrawn without any difficulty having occurred. One of the fugitives from this township fled to Boston to visit his brother, and had just entered the latter's house when a deputy marshal, who had been notified by telegraph, arrested him and started him back to Iowa. We will sketch in brief, the his- tory of the regiments in which most of the Jackson county men were enlisted.
NINTH IOWA INFANTRY.
This regiment was raised in northeastern Iowa in August and September, 1861, and was organized in Dubuque by Hon. William Vandever, member of Congress, who was specially commissioned by the president to raise a regi- ment in his district. He was made colonel.
The Ninth Iowa proceeded to Benton Barracks, at St. Louis, with nine hundred and ninety-seven men. From October until January, 1862, the regi- ment was stationed about Franklin, Missouri, for the purpose of guarding rail- roads. Here they found a most unhealthy region and inclement weather, which, in three months, had reduced their number by death and discharge,
* This sword was presented by Captain Drips' widow to A. W. Drips Post No. 74, G. A. R. in 1887. It has been suitably mounted and hangs in their Post room.
144
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
some twenty-four men. This loss was more than made up by additional en- listments.
The regiment, on the 7th of March, experienced its maiden fight in the bat- tle of Pea Ridge. Its first experience was a severe one, and while victory crowned the Union side, it was with severe loss and the cost of many brave men. Captain Drips, of Jackson county, was killed while leading his men on a gallant charge. His loss was deeply felt. He had been a soldier in the Mex- ican war, and was not only a respected leader, but a brave and gallant sol- dier. Out of five hundred and sixty men of the Ninth Iowa engaged in the fight, two hundred and thirty-seven were killed or wounded, and three captured.
A march of six hundred miles on a campaign through Missouri and Ar- kansas brought the regiment to Helena, July 17, 1862, where the regiment was in camp for five months, and had its only experience during the service in regular camp drill and discipline. Here the regiment received a stand of silk colors from a committee of ladies in Boston, Massachusetts, in honor of their heroic service at Pea Ridge. A couple of days at Vicksburg the regiment was under fire, and December 31, 1862, found the Ninth Iowa on Yazoo River.
After assisting at the capture of Arkansas Post, January 11, 1863, the regi- ment proceeded to Young's Point, Louisiana, where, during the months of Feb- ruary and March, in a sickly climate, disease brought to the regiment all the evils of the battlefield, and left none of it honors. Assisting at the capture of Jackson, May 14th, on May 22d, in line with the whole Army of the Tennessee, the regiment went first up to the grand assault upon Vicksburg. In a few terri- ble moments, the command lost seventy-nine in killed or wounded. The entire loss in the siege to the Ninth Iowa was one hundred and twenty-one men.
The regiment engaged in various campaigns and marches through Missis- sippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and Alabama, pitching their tents at the foot of Lookout Mountain, November 23d, just in time to take part in the battle above the clouds. The close of 1863 found the regiment reduced in number five hun- dred and ten men.
January 1, 1864, was celebrated by the reenlistment of two hundred and eighty-seven veterans of the regiment for another term of three years. This entitled them to a thirty days' furlough, and February 14th found them at Du- buque. Returning with one hundred and twenty-five three year recruits, the regiment was soon in active service. Before the 8th of September, it had been honorably engaged in the battles of Resaca, Dallas, New Hope, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, Decatur, Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy. The losses were small compared with some of its previous encount- ers, being only ninety in killed, wounded and prisoners. The nonveterans mustered out September 23, 1864.
The regiment was in the famous "march to the sea" and fought its last bat- tle at Bentonville. The Ninth Iowa was present in the military pageant, May 24th, which consisted in the review of Sherman's in the streets of Washington.
July 18, 1865, the Ninth Iowa mustered out at Louisville, numbering five hundred and ninety-four. The regiment marched over four thousand miles, and traveled by steamer and railroad some six thousand more.
The losses during the service were : killed, one hundred and seventeen ; died of disease, two hundred; discharged for disability, two hundred and forty- three, or a total list of five hundred and sixty casualties.
TWELFTH INFANTRY.
The colonel of this regiment was Jackson J. Woods, of this county. Most of Company I was composed of Jackson county volunteers. The regiment was organized at Dubuque, and mustered into the service November 25, 1861. The first battle in which the Twelfth Infantry was engaged was at Fort Don- elson, where it was in the front line during the battles of the 13th: 14th and
145
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
15th of February, 1862. At the battle of Shiloh, about four hundred of the regiment were taken prisoners, and the remainder were organized with the Eighth and Fourteenth Iowa and Fifty-eighth Illinois into the Union Brigade. The brigade took a prominent part in the battle of Corinth.
The prisoners having been exchanged, October 18, 1862, the regiment was ordered to Davenport to reorganize. It was next ordered to report to General Grant, and was present at the capture of Jackson, Mississippi, and the siege of Vicksburg. December 25, 1863, two hundred and ninety-eight of the regiment reenlisted as veterans, and the veterans were furloughed for thirty days, begin- ning March 22, 1864.
The other important battles in the memory of the Twelfth Iowa are Tu- pelo, White River, Nashville and Spanish Fort. The regiment was mustered out at Memphis, January 20, 1866. The casualties of enlisted men were ninety- one killed, two hundred and ten died of disease, two hundred and forty-seven discharged for disability. Total, five hundred and forty-eight.
TWENTY-FOURTH INFANTRY.
This regiment entered the United States service at Muscatine, September 18, 1862. Company A was, for the most part, from Jackson county, as was all of Company I. The command departed for St. Louis, October 20, 1862, and was, during the remainder of 1862 and the year 1863, stationed in various parts of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, engaging in the battle of Champion Hills on May 16th.
During the spring of 1864, the regiment was engaged in a campaign through Louisiana, taking part in the battle of Sabine Cross Roads. Only about one hundred and forty-six men of the Twenty-fourth Iowa were actually engaged in this battle, the companies from Jackson county with some others having been left in the rear, guarding a train. July, 1864, found the regiment sta- tioned in Louisiana, and, on the 21st of this month, orders were received to embark on the steamer "Star of the South," on an unknown voyage. The 30th of July found the regiment at Washington City, and from there it proceeded to Virginia.
Here, in the battle of Winchester, after a heroic record made in the field, the regiment found its ranks thinned by a loss of seventy-four men, in killed, wounded and prisoners. The battle of Fisher's Hill, on September 22d, re- sulted in but a slight loss to the Twenty-fourth, though it was for a time in the hottest of the fight. In the battle of Cedar Creek the regiment had quite a severe experience, with a total list of casualties, ninety-three. This was the last fight in which the veterans were engaged.
December 4, 1864, it was ordered that the following names of battles be in- scribed on the regimental colors of the Twenty-fourth: Port Gibson, Cham- pion Hills, Vicksburg, Jackson, Sabine Cross Roads, Opequan, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. Early in 1865, the regiment was ordered south and until the close of the war was stationed in North and South Carolina and Georgia. It was mustered out at Savannah July 17, 1865. Of the regiment, one hundred and twenty-nine men were killed in battle, one hundred and ninety-seven died of disease, and two hundred and thirty-two were discharged for disability.
TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY.
To this regiment Jackson county contributed a large part of Company A, and of Company B, and squads in various other companies.
The organization of the regiment was completed at Clinton, September 30, 1862, and it was soon ordered to St. Louis. Though present at the battle of Chickasaw Bayou, the command was not engaged. The Twenty-sixth was at
146
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
the front, and the principal regiment engaged in the battle of Arkansas Post, January II, 1863, and lost one hundred and nineteen men, or over twenty-five per cent in killed and wounded, of the number engaged.
From January to April, the command was at Young's Point, Louisiana, on picket and fatigue duty. It then accompanied General Steele on what was known as the Deer Creek raid. The regiment was present at the siege of Vicks- burg, and variously engaged from May 18th until the 4th of July in the assault upon that city. August and September, the regiment was engaged with the ague along the malaria district of Black River. In a more glorious warfare, the men were present at Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge and Ringgold, in November.
In May, 1864, the regiment was engaged at Resaca and Dallas, with a loss of twenty-three men in the former battle. In June it was present at Kenesaw Mountain, and in July at Decatur. During the fall of 1864, the regiment was engaged in almost constant skirmishing in Georgia, accompanying Sherman to Savannah, and thence through the Carolinas to Washington City, where the command was mustered out, June 6, 1865.
The loss in killed during the war was seventy-nine; died of disease, two hundred and two; discharged for disability, one hundred and thirty-eight; total, four hundred and nineteen.
THIRTY-FIRST INFANTRY.
Companies F, I and K, of this regiment, were from Jackson county. The regiment was mustered into the service by Captain Hendershott, at Daven- port, October 13, 1862.
To sketch the movements of this regiment would simply be to duplicate the sketch of the Twenty-sixth Infantry given above. The command was en- gaged at Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Deer Creek raid, Vicksburg, Look- out Mountain, Mission Ridge, Ringgold, with Sherman on his "march to the sea," north through the Carolinas, and mustered out at Louisville, June 27, I865.
The loss in killed in this regiment was small, only being twenty-five, in- cluding both officers and men. Disease was more cruel, claiming as its portion two hundred and seventy-one by death, and one hundred and sixty-three dis- charged for disability. Some of the latter were discharged on account of wounds.
SECOND CAVALRY.
This was the only regiment of the early Iowa cavalry which maintained its individuality throughout the war, and was, upon the whole, the largest cavalry regiment in the west, usually numbering not less than eight hundred men. Other cavalry regiments were divided up for orderly service, but the officers of the Second opposed any separation of their men, thus securing for the com- mand a most enviable record and a nation's praise.
Of the officers of the regiment, the following were promoted to the ranks named: First colonel, Washington L. Elliott, to brigadier general; second colonel, Edward Hatch, to major general, later colonel and brevet brigadier general in the regular army ; third colonel, Datus E. Coon, to brigadier general.
Of the regiment, Companies L and M were from Jackson county. The command was mustered into service at Davenport, September 1, 1861, which place they left in December, remaining at Benton Barracks until February, 1862, when the regiment was ordered to Bird's Point, Missouri, and followed Jeff Thompson about one thousand miles through the state. The command was present at the taking of New Madrid in March, and companies K and L were the first troops to occupy Island No. 10, taking one hundred and ninety-five
147
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
prisoners and immense stores. April 12th the regiment was ordered to Ham- burg Landing, Tennessee, and was there engaged in skirmishing, with small loss, until April 28th, when a charge was made on Monterey, Tennessee. The regiment was in General Pope's division of the investing army of Corinth, and was engaged in almost daily skirmishes.
On May 9th, the regiment performed the most brilliant exploit of its whole career, when, at Farmington, it charged into the face of Bragg's entire army, covering General Payne's retreat, and saving him from what otherwise would have been fell disaster. Four hundred and twelve men were here engaged with a loss of fifty men and one hundred horses in a few minutes.
May 28, 1862, the regiment started on a march to the rear of Corinth, rid- ing almost incessantly for three days and nights. At Booneville, Mississippi, with a loss of about twenty men, the regiment burned two trains of cars, ten thou- sand stand of arms, about one million rounds of ammunition, besides great quantities of other stores, and this with the enemy in sight in large force. August 26, 1862, they were engaged with General Faulkner, at Rienzi. Sep- tember 20th, actively at Iuka, and in the battle of Corinth ; not only took part, but also engaged in the pursuit as far as Ripley. In the later fall of the year, the regiment occupied the advance position in Grant's Central Mississippi Army, being the first to occupy Lamar, Holly Springs, Lumpkin's Mills, Wy- att, Oxford, Walter Valley and Coffeeville. Sharp engagements took place at all these points, the one at Coffeeville on December 5th, being quite dis- astrous. The regiment took part in the pursuit of Van Dorn after his raid on Holly Springs, following him to New Albany, Mississippi, and returning to Grand Junction, Tennessee, for winter quarters.
The spring and summer of 1863 were spent in constant reconnaisance. The regiment started on Grierson's raid, but was ordered back, and, in April, was sharply engaged at Birmingham and Elliston. At Jackson, Tennessee, July 13th, the Second Iowa experienced some severe service. At Grenada, August 13th, the regiment, in company with the Third Iowa Cavalry, burned sixty locomotives, and about five hundred cars, being the accumulated rolling stock of several railroads.
The command was in brisk encounters at Salem, Mississippi, October 8th ; at Wyatt's, October 13th; at Moscow. November 4th ; at Lafayette, Tennessee, December 25th ; and at Collierville, December 27-8, 1863. Smith's raid from Tennessee into Mississippi was shared by the regiment in February, 1864, after which a large part of the volunteers reenlisted as veterans and were al- lowed to return to Iowa on veteran furlough in April, 1864.
Returning to Memphis in June, the Second Cavalry joined Sherman's army, but was left with Thomas when "Old Tecumseh" cut loose at Atlanta. It con- tinued under Thomas' command, taking part in various skirmishes in Tennes- see and Alabama. At the battle of Nashville, December 15, 1864, the regi- ment made a brilliant charge, and was the first to place their colors upon the enemy's works in storming the second fort.
This was the last severe fighting. During the entire service from the time they entered Tennessee, the regiment could scarcely have been said to have a permanent camp a day's march from the Memphis and Charleston railroad. Along this line most of its skirmishes took place. The command was in most constant and fatiguing service during 1862-3, and, on an average used a supply of horses every six months. The regiment mustered out at Selma, Alabama, Sep- tember 19, 1865. The casualties were not heavy when compared with the time of service and the number of engagements. There were : killed, sixty-six ; died of disease, one hundred and seventy-two; discharged for disability, one hun- dred and sixty-seven ; total, four hundred and five.
For the facts given in this sketch we are largely indebted to Captain W. S. Belden, Company L.
148
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
SOLDIERS' FESTIVAL.
When the Jackson county soldiers had returned at the close of the war they were deservedly commended for their valor in the field and the faithful dis- charge of every duty, however irksome.
The close of the conflict was here, as elsewhere, the cause of a general re- joicing, a rejoicing, however, that was not unmixed in many homes with sad memories and bitter recollections, of those left on southern battlefields or hos- pital cemeteries. In August, 1865, a grand festival was given to the returned . heroes of Jackson county. Of this reunion, we quote as follows from the report of a newspaper correspondent :
"The festival was held in a grove. About six thousand people were present. At II o'clock the president called the vast multitude to order, and prayer was offered to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, invoking blessings on our country and its brave defenders. Then followed a short, affecting address to the sol- diers, welcoming their return home, delivered by Rev. E. K. Young, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at this place, followed by a patriotic reply on behalf of the soldiers by Colonel J. J. Woods.
"The occasion was taken by Company G, of the Eighth Iowa Cavalry, to present to their lieutenant, W. F. McCarron, a beautiful sword, on which was inscribed the names of thirty-one battles in which they had been engaged, and also to give to his keeping the remnants of the battle flag of their regiment. It was a mere handful of rags. The company, like the flag, was also a remnant, and I thought I could see their manly breasts heave with emotion, and their eyes moisten as they looked upon their tattered flag, under which they had fought and bled and seen their comrades fall. And yet they were proud of their record. A dignified presentation speech, couched with generous language, was made by Judge Palmer, to which Lieutenant McCarron replied, thanking his company for their confidence and good will.
"When Company I, of the Twenty-fourth was organized, the ladies of Maquoketa presented it with a flag, bearing the following inscription: 'Com- pany I, Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry.' Today the company returned it to the ladies, but to the inscription they added, 'Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Vicks- burg, Jackson, Red River Campaign, Opequan, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek.'
"Of Iowa regiments, Jackson county raised, of infantry, Company I, of the Fifth; Company A, of the Ninth; Company I of the Twelfth; Companies A and I of the Twenty-fourth; Company B of the Twenty-sixth, and Companies F, I and K, of the Thirty-first; and of cavalry, Companies L and M, of the Second; Company G, of the Eighth, and part of Company I, of the Fifth. The people feel proud at the mention of any of these, as well they may, as the rec- ords of the war, especially of Donelson, Shiloh, Pea Ridge, Farmington and of Vicksburg, will testify.
"The Twelfth was one of the four regiments who had each a flag presented to it by the State of Iowa, for their valor at Donelson; and at Shiloh, the heroic Twelfth, unwilling to yield the entire field to the strengthened foe, was cap- tured, yet not until they had insured to the indomitable Grant the safety of his command until reenforcements arrived.
"At Pea Ridge, the gallant Ninth made its mark, and so meritorious were the services that the ladies of Massachusetts presented it with a flag. So proud were they to show it to the rebels, that with Grant, in his attack on Vicks- burg, it became pierced and torn in shreds, and they returned it to the givers, who immediately gave them another. At the Sanitary Fair, at Dubuque, a ban- ner was voted to an Iowa regiment. The gallant Ninth was the favored one.
"Mr. Andrew W. Drips edited a paper at this place; at the call 'To Arms,' he laid down the pen and grasped the sword. He raised a company and became its captain, which was named Company A, Ninth Iowa. The citizens of this vicinity gave to Captain Drips a sword, and their blessing to his company, and
149
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
sent them to battle. The strife at Pea Ridge demanded the life of the noble captain. Lieutenant Kelsey became captain. The citizens who mourned the fate of Captain Drips, were not slow to appreciate services, and they cheered the company by presenting a sword to Captain Kelsey .* The devoted captain followed the example of his noble predecessor, by giving his life to the cause at Vicksburg.
"While the exercises of the day were in progress, five hundred feet length of table were spread; farmers' wagons were relieved of their burdens of boxes and baskets, and the city housewives brought forth of their plenty, and the ladies vied with each other in tastefully arranging and decorating the table. A glance at the table and you saw a variety of substantial food, besides innumerable pies and cakes. Some of the cakes were decorated with mottoes, from which we select the following: 'Honor the Fallen Brave,' 'Protection to Soldiers' Families,' 'Abraham Lincoln and his Cabinet Forever,' 'Welcome Brave Boys,' 'Welcome Home.'
"The soldiers with their ladies, now marched to the table and partook of its substance in the same spirit in which it was prepared-a hearty good will. Hot coffee in abundance was served to them. So many were the soldiers that the tables were respread and filled by them, after which the citizens were supplied. Now came a military drill, of both cavalry and infantry, in which they showed us their evolutions in skirmishing and battle.
"The scene closed; and the farmers-the backbone of Iowa-wended their way toward home. Nothing occurred to mar the festivities, and the day will long be remembered as a happy one."
Having thus hurriedly sketched the history of Jackson county in the late war, there yet remains another duty for our pen. This is to collect, as far as possible, the names of those brave men who left their homes at their country's call, and to place on imperishable record the enlistments, promotions and casualties of the humblest knight in Jackson county chivalry. This is a duty we gladly perform, not alone for those yet living, but in honor to the memory of heroes whose blood was poured out to fatten southern battlefields; whose loss a mul- titude of widows and orphans have mourned with a bitterness which no pension can ever sweeten or crown of glory drive away. When another generation has passed, we trust an occasional gray haired veteran, bowed with the infirmity of years, will point to these pages with the same commendable pride felt by a vol- unteer of 1812 in this day.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.