USA > Iowa > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Iowa; Volume I > Part 27
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In June, 1853, he received leave of absence and visited Iowa and bought land in Clinton and Jackson counties. October 15, 1853, he resigned his commission and removed to his lands in Iowa and in September, 1856, married Miss Kezia Haight in Jones county, Iowa. He engaged in farming in Jackson county, Iowa, until the rebellion broke out, when he tendered his services to the governor of Iowa and was commissioned colonel of the Twelfth Iowa Infantry, Volunteers, October 23, 1861, and ordered to take immediate charge of the regiment then or- ganizing at Camp Union, Dubuque, Iowa.
The regiment was mustered into the United States service by Captain Wash- ington, Thirteenth United States Infantry, November 25, 1861, and on the 28th day of the same month broke camp at Dubuque and proceeded by rail to St. Louis, Missouri, where they arrived on the 30th and went immediately into camp of instruction at Benton Barracks. In January, 1862, the regiment was armed with Enfield rifles and fully equipped for the field.
January 27, 1862, Colonel Woods received orders to report his regiment to General Grant at Cairo, Illinois, where they arrived January 29, and were im- mediately embarked on board steamer for Smithland, Kentucky, at the mouth of Cumberland River, where the regiment established their first camp in the field, January 31, 1862. On the morning of February 5th, orders were received to em- bark on board steamer and join expedition fitting out for Tennessee River.
Arriving at Paducah, the regiment was assigned to Cook's Brigade and to C. F. Smith's division, and on the morning of February 6, landed four miles below Fort Henry, and took up a line of march to gain a position in the rear of the fort, but while floundering through the muddy swamps and almost impassable streams, the gunboats made the attack, drove the enemy from the works and captured the fort, most of the garrison escaping before the infantry reached their position in the rear.
February 12th, the command marched to Fort Donelson and were formed in line of battle, February 13th, on the extreme left, when they participated in the
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battles of the 13th, 14th and 15th, and followed the Second Iowa Infantry in their charge upon the works.
Colonel Woods in his official report says : "About 2 o'clock p. m. of the 15th, the Twelfth Iowa, Fiftieth Illinois, and Birge's sharpshooters were ordered to make a faint attack to draw the enemy's fire. The men went cheerfully to the work and kept up a warm fire on the enemy while Colonel Lauman's brigade on our left advanced on the enemy and got possession of his outer works and hoisted thereon the American flag, when we were ordered to his support and moved rapidly by the left flank, charged over the fallen timber, while a galling fire of grape from the enemy was pouring in upon us. On reaching the breastworks some confusion was caused by the retreat of a portion of Colonel Lauman's brigade, who, having exhausted their ammunition, were compelled to fall back. By some exertion our men were rallied and opened a warm fire on the enemy which they returned from a battery on our right and musketry in front. In this cross fire we fought the enemy two hours, advancing upon them to a deep ravine inside the works. Colonel Cook, who was commanding the brigade, in his report makes mention of Colonel Woods as deserving commendation for his gallant and efficient service.
At nightfall the regiment was withdrawn to the outer works of the enemy, where they remained through the night. Early in the morning of the 16th we were formed in a line to renew the battle, when a white flag appearing, the sur- render was announced, and the regiment marched into the fort. With the excep- tion of the Second Iowa Infantry, no troops were entitled to more credit for the capture of this stronghold than the Twelfth Iowa Infantry, and it being their first engagement, their steadiness and coolness was largely due to these qualities so prominent and marked in their commanding officer. The regiment was given quarters in log barracks occupied by rebels before the surrender, and remained in this camp until March 12, 1862.
While at Fort Donelson, the regiment was visited by Samuel J. Kirkwood, governor of Iowa, and upon his return to Iowa he wrote to Colonel Woods as follows :
"DES MOINES, IOWA, MARCH 22, 1862.
"DEAR COLONEL WOODS: Please apologize to your officers and men for not calling upon them again before I left Donelson. When at General Hurlburt's headquarters the steamboat "Conestoga" came down and the officer in command po- litely offered a passage in his boat which he said would leave in forty minutes, so we had only time to get our troops on board. Please explain this and express my regret that I could not have spent some time with you.
"The Iowa troops made themselves and our state a glorious name. The Second Iowa had the best chance for the honors of Donelson, but the Seventh, Twelfth and Fourteenth did nobly. Dr. Hughs, surgeon general of Iowa, has a brother in the brigade with your regiment. He says that he has just received a letter from his brother, who writes that the Twelfth Iowa is a splendid regiment and fought gallantly at Donelson. Please write me when convenient. Let me advise you to care for your health. I was much pleased to see on my visit to your camp, that you were having it cleaned up nicely. Yours was the only regiment that was doing this. With many wishes for your health and success, I am yours truly,
"SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD."
Resolutions as follows were adopted by the legislature of Iowa :
JOINT RESOLUTION.
Resolved by the senate and house of representatives of the State of Iowa. First. That in the name of the whole people of the state, we thank the Iowa troops for their undaunted bravery and gallant conduct in the recent fight at Fort Donelson in which the post of honor they nobly sustained their own bril- liant fame and won fresh and unfading laurels for the state. Second. That a
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copy of this resolution be forwarded to the colonel of each of the Iowa regiments engaged in the battle of Fort Donelson.
RUSH CLARK, Speaker House of Representatives. JOHN R. NEEDHAM, President of the Senate.
Approved February 19, 1862, SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD.
STATE OF IOWA, SS.
I, Elijah Sells, Secretary of State, hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy from the original enrolled resolution on file in my office. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the great seal of the State of Iowa. Done at Des Moines this 20th day of February, 1862.
ELIJAH SELLS.
To Colonel J. J. Woods.
March 12, 1862, the command was reorganized and the Second, Seventh, Twelfth and Fourteenth Iowa infantries designated as the First Brigade, com- manded by Colonel Tuttle of the Second Iowa, and assigned to Second division, commanded by General C. F. Smith.
Leaving Fort Donelson the division marched to Metal Landing on the Tennes- see River and embarked on steamer for Pittsburgh Landing, where they estab- lished camp March 21, 1862, on the extreme right of Union line, near the river below the landing.
Early on the morning of April 6th, Colonel Woods formed his regiment on the parade ground and soon after, under the direction of brigade commander, moved to a position assigned to him in line of battle, occupying the left center of Tuttle's Brigade, forming the extreme left of W. H. L. Wallace's division, Fourteenth Iowa, next the left of Twelfth Iowa, formed the extreme left of its division and rested on the main road from the landing to Corinth.
The Twelfth Iowa was formed just behind the brow of a slight ridge, an open field in front of its right, a thick undergrowth in front of its left; in this position the troops were reviewed by General Grant, about 10 o'clock a. m., and were directed by him to hold the position at all hazards, and in this exposed position, across the Corinth road, the left brigade of W. H. L. Wallace's division, and right of Prentiss' division did sustain itself, not once being removed from its posi- tion, although repeatedly charged by the enemy until about 5:30 o'clock p. m. The persistent, desperate fighting done by these troops at this key of the posi- tion, delayed the whole Rebel army and saved the Federal army from being driven into the Tennessee River.
All the prominent confederate officers mention the fighting at this place. General Ruggles, commanding a division of Bragg's army, says, "I ordered my staff officers to bring forward all the field guns that could be collected from the left, which resulted in the concentration of ten batteries and one section as follows : (enumerates them), concentrating their fire enfilading Prentiss' division on right flank, at this moment the Second Brigade and the Crescent Regiment pressed forward and cut off a considerable number of the enemy consisting of Prentiss' division, who were surrendered to the Crescent Regiment."
General L. Polk, commanding army corps, says : "About 5 o'clock p. m., my line attacked the enemy's troops-the last that were left on the field. The at- tack was made in front and flank. The resistance was sharp and proved to be the commands of Generals Prentiss and W. H. L. Wallace. The latter was killed by the troops of General Bragg, who was pressing him at the same time on his right."
Colonel Head, Seventeenth Louisiana Volunteers, says, "Between 1 and 2 o'clock on Sunday, we had carried all the enemy's camps except Prentiss'. At this point the enemy made a determined stand and for two hours success at that point seemed doubtful. I was ordered by General Ruggles to immediately bring up
-
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all the artillery and concentrate it upon this point. Assisted by this artillery fire the infantry succeeded in carrying the position and capturing General Pren- tiss and about two thousand men."
General Gibbons, commanding brigade, admits that his brigade was repulsed four different times and because he felt sensitive over the matter of official re- ports, asked a court of inquiry. Several other officers admit their repulse and the complete demoralization of their forces at this point and so great was the slaughter of the enemy that they gave to that point of the line immediately in front of the Twelfth, Fourteenth and Eighth Iowa the title or name of "Hornets' Nest."
At about 5:30 o'clock p. m., General Wallace having been mortally wounded, General Tuttle succeeded to the command of the division, McClernard's division on our right and Hurlburt's on the left having fallen back to a new position near the river, Tuttle gave orders for his division to fall back, and the order was com- municated to all the regiments except the Twelfth and Fourteenth Iowa and they were safely conducted to the rear, but the aid sent to these regiments was killed be- fore reaching them, General Tuttle claims, and they were left fighting the enemy in front until the enemy rushed around their flank left exposed by withdrawal of balance of division formed in the rear. Having just repulsed a desperate charge in front, the regiment was startled by the order given by Colonel Woods with no more excitement than when on parade. "Twelfth Iowa; about face; commence firing," when they beheld a full and perfect line of grey formed in their rear. Delivering a few vollies into the face of this new enemy which broke their ranks, a charge was ordered.
Colonel Woods at the head of the regiment succeeded in cutting his way through the first line of the enemy and arrived in the camp of the Third Iowa, near General Hurlburt's headquarters where they encountered another line of the enemy drawn up in order across the line of retreat. Here, hemmed in by a perfect wall of fire, Colonel Woods was twice wounded in quick succession and dismounted.
Command of regiment then devolved on Captain Edgerton, who finding it impossible to cut his way out, surrendered the remnant of the regiment prisoners of war. At the same time there was surrendered the Fourteenth Iowa of Wal- lace's division, and the Eighth Iowa and Fifty-eighth Illinois of Prentiss' divi- sion ; in all about two thousand men. General Prentiss, present at the time, and taken prisoner with the rest, speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of Colonel Woods and his regiment in the field and says that to the persistent fighting of these four regiments, holding their grounds against such fearful odds, is due the failure of Beauregard to drive our forces into the Tennessee River.
General Tuttle in his official report says: "On the morning of the 6th I proceeded with my brigade, consisting of the Second, Seventh, Twelfth and Fourteenth Iowa Infantry, under direction of W. H. L. Wallace, and formed line on extreme left of his division. We had been in line but a few moments when the enemy made his appearance and attacked my left wing, Twelfth and Fourteenth Iowa, who gallantly stood their ground and compelled the assailants to retire in confusion. They again formed under cover of a battery and renewed the attack upon my whole line but were repulsed as before. A third and fourth time they dashed upon us but were each time baffled and completely routed.
"We held our position about six hours, when it became evident that the forces on each side of us had given away, so as to give the enemy an opportunity of turning both of our flanks. At this critical moment General Wallace gave orders for my brigade to retire which was done in good order. The Second and Seventh retired through a severe fire from both flanks, while the Twelfth and Fourteenth, who were delayed by their endeavor to save a battery, were completely surrounded and compelled to surrender. Colonel Woods of the Twelfth Iowa particularly distinguished himself, was twice wounded and when the enemy was driven back on Monday he was captured."
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Colonel Woods lay upon the field wounded and was assaulted by some Texas troops with evident design of taking his life, but just at that moment he was recognized by General Hardee, with whom he had been acquainted at West Point, who gave him a special guard, and a permit to Woods' orderly to remain with him.
Soon after the surrender our gunboats commenced throwing shells into that vicinity, driving all the rebel troops from the field. None of the wounded were removed or cared for, but lay upon the field exposed to our shells and a severe rain storm all night. When our forces advanced Monday morning, Colonel Woods was recaptured, wounds dressed, and a few days after he was sent north where he was detailed on recruiting service and remained on duty within the State of Iowa until about January 1, 1863. The men of his regiment who were captured at Shiloh, having been exchanged, he was ordered to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri, to reorganize his regiment, and soon after he was sent to Rolla, Missouri, where he remained a short time and then returned to St. Louis. April 9, 1863, he embarked his regiment on board steamer under orders to join forces operating near Vicksburg, Mississippi.
He reported to General Grant at Duckport, Louisiana, April 14th and at once was assigned to the command of the Third Brigade composed of the Eighth, Twelfth and Thirty-Fifth Iowa infantries, Third Division, Fifteenth Army Corps. Heavy details were made from the brigade daily for guard and also work upon the canal.
May Ist, Colonel Mathias of the Fifth Iowa was assigned to command, and Colonel Woods returned to command his regiment and May 2, 1863, left Duckport, Louisiana, with his regiment and marched via Richmond, Louisiana, to Grand Gulf, thence to Jackson, Mississippi, where the Twelfth Iowa was engaged on the 14th in the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, on extreme right of line. Com- panys B and C on the skirmish line were among the first troops inside the rebel works, and took possession of a rebel camp with all its equipage complete and dinner ready to be eaten.
The regiment remained in Jackson one and one-half days, employed first day in destroying railroad running north, and the forenoon of the 16th in destroying rebel camps and other property. At 12 o'clock orders were received to rein- force the other corps of the army near Champion Hill as speedily as possible.
Leaving Jackson, the regiment marched with scarcely a halt to near Champion Hill where they arrived about two o'clock on the morning of the 17th, and after a rest of two or three hours marched north to a position on extreme right of Grant's line and at night crossed Black River at Bridgeport. On the 18th the Fifteenth Corps with First Division in advance, took the road to Walnut Hills, pressing this corps between the rebels in Vicksburg and those at Yazoo River until the head of the column reached the Mississippi above Vicksburg, and the left rested on Jackson road. On the 19th the Third Brigade was sent to Yazoo River and took possession of the forts there, and opened communication with our fleet and after dismantling the fort, the brigade returned to position in line investing Vicksburg, and participated as reserve in the assaults made upon the works on the 19th and 22d of May.
About June Ist, Colonel Woods was again assigned to command of brigade, which had gained an advance position in the line of approaches, and furnished daily heavy details for guard and for work in the trenches. Nearly every night the whole brigade was called into line by some alarm on the picket post.
June 22d, the brigade was relieved from its place in front line and with the remainder of the Fifteenth Corps sent back to Black River to guard the rear from an attack by Johnson; very heavy guard and patrol duty was kept up then until July 4th. Vicksburg surrendered, and Sherman moved immediately upon John- son, forcing a crossing of Black River the same day, and pushing Johnson back until he reached Jackson, Mississippi, which had been again strongly fortified. Sherman invested the place July 10th, and commenced a regular siege.
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On July 15th, General Tuttle reported sick and Colonel Woods was assigned to command of division, and next day moved his division to the right and re- lieved General Osterhans' division from its place on the advance line.
On the 17th the rebels evacuated Jackson and burned the bridge over Pearl River, planting torpedoes in the approaches to the bridge and ferry. On the 19th, the Third Brigade, Third Division, Fifteenth Corps with some other troops, including cavalry and artillery, pursued the enemy to Brandon, Mississippi, driv- ing them through the town and capturing considerable rebel property stored in the railroad depot and warehouses which were all destroyed, and the next day the troops returned to Jackson, and a few days thereafter evacuated Jackson and fell back behind Black River and went into camp July 25, 1863. Colonel Woods commanded the division until sometime in October, when General Asboth was assigned to the command and Colonel Woods returned to the command of the brigade.
November 7th the division embarked for Memphis, Tennessee, and the Third Brigade was assigned to duty guarding the railroad from LaGrange to Corinth, each regiment at a different post. Frequent skirmishes were had with the enemy and one severe engagement lasting nearly all day, brought on by the enemy in force attempting to destroy the railroad.
The Twelfth Iowa, stationed at Chewalla, reenlisted December 25, 1863. January 29, 1864, the brigade was ordered to Vicksburg and were on duty at Black River one month, while Sherman's expedition was out to Meridian, Mis- sissippi. Upon the return of said expedition the non-veterans of the brigade were sent on an expedition up the Red River, the veterans ordered home on a furlough. Reaching Davenport March 22d, they were furloughed thirty days, at expiration of which time they returned to Davenport and embarked at once for Memphis where they arrived May 2d, and were assigned to Third Brigade, Colonel Woods commanding; First Division, General J. A. Mower commanding; Sixteenth Army Corps, General A. J. Smith commanding. During the summer this com- mand made two expeditions into the interior and July 13th, 14th, and 15th, fought the battle of Tupelo, Mississippi, the Third Brigade doing most of the fighting and with their commander received great credit for their efficient service.
September Ist, the division embarked on steamer from Memphis and pro- ceeded to Duvall's Bluffs, Arkansas, and marched thence north in pursuit of Price, who had crossed the Arkansas River and started on a trip through Missouri.
The command marched to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, three hundred and thirty- six miles in seventeen days; from Cape Girardeau to St. Louis in a steamboat where they arrived October 8, 1864. General Mower was transferred to Gen- eral Sherman's command at Atlanta, and Colonel Woods assigned to command of division and proceeded on steamer to Jefferson City, Missouri, arriving Oc- tober 17th, and marched in pursuit of Price to Kansas City, thence south to Harrisonville, Missouri, keeping within sound of his guns but not succeeding in bringing him to battle. His command having been completely broken up, the infantry was ordered back to St. Louis, October 30th, marching via Sedalia and Jefferson City.
At Sedalia, Missouri, the troops were met by General McArthur, who had been assigned to command of division, and Colonel Woods returned to command of brigade, and through storms of snow and rain and fording streams filled with float- ing ice, marched his command back to St. Louis where they arrived November 15th, his brigade having marched within the last thirty days five hundred and forty-three miles-within last sixty days eight hundred and seventy-nine miles, and since June 16th, one thousand four hundred and nine miles.
At St. Louis, having served more than his full term of enlistment, Colonel Woods was mustered out of service. He had filled with credit many important positions while in the service, acceptably and with honor to himself and to the service.
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Colonel Woods had a slender, stooping form, brown hair, light complexion, and mild blue eyes. He was in appearance and in fact the most unassuming of military men. He spoke slowly and kindly, and was accustomed to give his com- mands with great coolness and deliberation, never under the hottest fire varying in the least the modulation or deliberation of his orders.
His "Fall in, Twelfth Iowa !" on the 6th of April, 1862, or at time of a night alarm during the siege of Vicksburg, was heard by his men above every other sound, and always in the same tone as when on parade or review.
He had none of the style or austere manners of the regular army officers, and while very familiar and easy of approach by his subordinates, was a good dis- ciplinarian and the men soon learned that he possessed great worth as a command- ing officer, and while personally of the bravest and willing to lead his regiment to the severest contest, yet devoid of all rashness that would sacrifice his men with- out good reason.
His service richly merited recognition at Washington that he never received, but with him modesty blocked the wheels of promotion, and I doubt not it would be impossible to find any of his superior officers who will say that Colonel Woods ever sought promotion at their hands in any way but by a faithful and earnest dis- charge of his duties in whatever command he was placed. His muster out was deeply regretted by all his old comrades, and especially by the men whom he had so.often led and who had learned to appreciate the quiet but brave and generous Colonel Woods.
Upon his return home he removed from the farm to Maquoketa, where in company with W. F. McCarron, he purchased the "Maquoketa Excelsior," of which he became the editor.
In the fall of 1867 he sold his interest in said paper and moved upon his farm in South Fork township, but in the next year returned to Maquoketa, and McCar- ron having failed to make payments on the paper and being involved in other losses where Woods was his security, he had to pay the loss. Woods again took control of the paper and published it until May, 1869, when he removed to Kansas.
In 1871 he was on a board of visitors at West Point, appointed by General Grant, and the same fall was one of three commissioners appointed by the Secre- tary of the Interior to appraise the Cherokee mutual lands in Indian territory, west of the 96th meridian, and was also appointed the same fall, receiver of Humboldt land district, but declined the appointment. The same fall he was elected to the Kansas legislature, which convened in January, 1872. In March he was appointed one of the regents of the State University. He was a member of the Kansas leg- islature in 1875, and chairman of the committee on ways and means.
COLONEL J. W. JENKINS, A SOLDIER AND PIONEER. (REID.)
When the great calls for help to the armies came, in the summer of 1865, Jackson county, as a part of the loyal north, was thrown into a great ferment of patriotic ardor and excitement, and her young men thronged to the recruiting stations in droves.
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