History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 103

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 950

USA > Iowa > Kossuth County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 103
USA > Iowa > Winnebago County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 103
USA > Iowa > Hancock County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 103

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).

July, 1861, for three years. 500,000

July 18, 1862, for three years. .300,000

August 4, 1862, for nine months .300, 000

June, 1863, for three years. .300,000

October 17, 1863, for three years. 300,000

February 18, 1864, for three years .500,000

July 10, 1864, for three years. 200,000

July 16,1864, for one, two and three years. 500, 000 December 21, 1864, for three years. 300,000

836

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

CHAPTER XV. .

WINNEBAGO COUNTY IN THIE WAR.

Looking at Winnebago county as it is to-day, one can scarcely realize that when the mighty engines of war were unloosed in the great Rebellion, arraying more than 1,000,000 of men in arms, and which made the Ship of State reel and stagger as if smitten by thunder-bolts fresh from the hands of Jove, that it had been settled but a half-dozen years-was, as it were, an infant in the cradle of growth; while Iowa as a State was yet in her teens. But, notwithstanding the fact that its soil was still unsubjugated to man's use, and that its population was exceedingly small, yet all was done that could be to assist in subduing the rebellious States. The feel- ing prevailed throughout Iowa that the Union should be preserved, and the sights and sounds that were so noticeable in every city, village and hamlet north of Mason and Dixon's line, was duplicated here. It will be seen by a glance at the proceedings of the board of supervisors of Winnebago county, that their sympa- thy for the Union was manifested in a substantial manner, and their actions but mirrored the thoughts and sympathies of the people.

Apppended is a list of the gallant men who participated in the war:

TWELFTH U. S. REGULAR INFANTRY.

COMPANY C. Privates:

Harrison Beadle, B. F. Denslow, David Staneliff,

Wi liam Lackore, Jr.,

John Belt, John Oulman,

J. B. Ilill.

Louis Porter,

Fred Porter, John Beadle.

SECOND IOWA INFANTRY.

COMPANY C.

Privates:

David Secor,

Hans Knudtson,

C. HI Lackore.

THIRTY-SECOND INFANTRY. COMPANY B. Second Lieutenant: Samuel W. Griffin. Corporals:

Chandler W. Scott,

Milton P. Goodell.

Privates:

Allen T. Cole,

Hiram K. Landru,

Engene B. Oulman, Samuel Tennis, Jr., Charles C. Church.

A history of this regiment is given in this volume in connection with the war chapter of Hancock county. FOURTH CAVALRY.

COMPANY C. Private: John W. Collier. EIGHTII IOWA VETERAN INFANTRY. COMPANY F. Privates:

Charles C. Church, James Lackore. SECOND CAVALRY. COMPANY I. Sergeant: Willard A. Burnap. Privates:

Sylvester Belcher,

David Lutz.

Cornelius A. Baker,

Simon Trumbull.

SECOND CAVALRY.

The companies comprising this regi- ment were made up in different portions

837

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

of the State, and as its history is one of the most eventful of the war, it will not be inappropriate in this connection. Com- pany ] was made up of volunteers from the counties of Winnebago, Cerro Gordo, Linn, Jones, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette and Mitchell. In the latter part of the summer of 1861, all the companies of the regiment proceeded to Davenport, where they were formally entered into the United States service carly in the month of September. The aggregate strength of the regiment, when fully organized, was about 1,050. .

Desirous of securing an experienced and efficient commander for this troop of horse, Gov. Kirkwood offered the colonel- cy to Capt. W. L. Elliott, of the 3d Cav- alry, United States Army, and he, re- ceiving the permission of the War De- partment, accepted the commission. "He was a strict disciplinarian," says Sergeant Pierce, in his history of the regiment, "every inch a soldier; and to his untiring efforts as our instructor in the science of war, are we in a great measure indebted for whatever honor we afterwards won as a regiment." Edward Ilatch, who had been captain of company A, was commis- sioned lieutenant-colonel. He afterwards became a brevet major-general, and one of the best cavalry officers in the service. The majors were: W. P. Hepburn, Datus E. Coon and Hiram W. Love; the first a lawyer and politician, who rose one rank; the second an editor, who became a gen- eral officer; the third a man of business, who was compelled by ill health to leave the service before promotion. The adju- tant was Charles F. Marden; quartermas- ter, William B. Blaney; commissary, R.

M. C. Kirtland; surgeon, George Reeder; assistant, George H. Noyes ; chaplain, Rev. Charles G. Truesdell.

The regiment remained near Daven- port, perfecting itself in the use of the sabre, until December 7, when orders were given to proceed to Benton Barracks, Mo. Here the troops found things very different from their comfortable camp at Davenport; they were crowded into close quarters, sickness of various kinds crept in among the men, and before the regi- ment left this unhealthy locality it lost about sixty men by death. The regiment remained at Benton Barracks about two months, and as many as were not pros- trated by disease were drilled in the "school of the trooper mounted."

February 17 the regiment moved by steamer down the river to Bird's Point, in the country in the rear of which the notorious rebel, Jeff. Thompson, was cre- ating trouble. Major Love with his bat- talion marched in pursuit of him, but though Col. Elliott soon moved to re- inforce the major, Thompson -was not caught, though his command was dis- persed by other troops sent out for that purpose. Major Love's battalion, among other captures, took posession of a news- paper office at Charleston, and issned one number of the Independent, the work thereon, both editorial and mechanical, being done by men of the command.

But they had not joined the army to engage in newspaper business. Return- ing to Bird's Point near the close of the month, the regiment made preparation for the march on New Madrid, of which, in- deed, the movement against Thompson was a preparatory reconnoissance. The

838

IHISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

march of the cavalry from the time it left Bird's Point was exceedingly difficult. It drove in the enemy's scouts and light bodies of cavalry, moving all the while over a country almost impracticable, ford- ing streams, and swimming swamps scarcely penetrable. On one occasion the men marehed for nearly half a day through water up to their horses' bellies. Mean- while, Gen. Pope had sat down before New Madrid, where our regiment joined him on the 12th of March, 1862, in time to participate in the attack and bombard- ment of that place. From the time of the capture of the city to the 6th of April the regiment was continually occupied in guarding trains, in scouting, and on pieket duty. On the fall of Island No. 10, with its immense material, the grand trophy of engineering skill of the whole war, the reg- iment crossed the Mississippi, and its ad- vance, under Lieut. Gustave Schmitzer, were the first troops to enter the island. This officer, with eight men and a guide, on nearing the rebel works, discovered that they were evacuated by the enemy, although many stragglers were to be seen on every side. The advance dashed among these, and supposing the entire army to be upon them, they surrendered to the number of eighty-six before Col. Elliott came up. The regiment captured about 200 prisoners, and was justly en- titled to the eredit of being the first to enter the works of Island No. 10. It pur- sned the retreating rebels toward Tipton- ville, beating the swampy woods for pris- oners, and returned to eamp at New Mad- rid after an absence of five days. The regiment accompanied the expedition down the river, but the attack of Fort

Pillow was abandoned, and our regiment landed at Hamburg, Tenn., on the 23d of April, and at onee took position on the left of Gen. Halleck's army, then moved on Corinth by gradual approaches.

Gen. Pope chafed not a little under the bit of these slow approaches, and his res- tive nature found as much exercise as was compatible with Halleck,s order "not to bring on a general engagement," in fre- quent reconnoissanees by his infantry and raids by his cavalry. The position of the Army of theMississippi, too, on the left of our lines, whence the enemy's communi- cations by the Memphis & Charleston Railroad were threatened, called for con- stant vigilance and no little activity on the part of Gen. Pope. Wherefore, from soon after the time the 2d Fowa Cavalry, an active regiment, joined in what is called the siege of Corinth, until the evacuation. more than a month after- wards, it performed services of great value, and was engaged in skirmishes which were only not battles because fought so near the field of Shiloh. Thus, to illus- trate the active operations of the command, it marched to Monterey on 29th, attacked and destroyed a considerable camp of the enemy, and took eleven prisoners, losing one man killed, and three wounded in the affair. A few days afterwards it moved southward, and, having destroyed a heavy trestlework on the railroad with much of the track besides, returned safely to camp, bringing in a number of prisoners, wag- ons and mules.

On the 8th of May, Gen. Pope made a reconnoissance in force to the town of Farmington, at that time considerably in advance of the main lines of the Union

839

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

army. He drove the rebels from the town and took possession thereof, but in the evening retired with his main force, leaving only a picket in the place. In the operations of this day the 2d Cavalry lost two men killed and six wounded.

On the next day the severe skirmish, which has been called the battle of Farm- ington, took place. Gen. Paine, com- manding a force of some half dozen regi- ments, remained after the reconnoissance of the 8th, in advance of Gen. Pope's camp, and beyond a creek hard by. The rebels, for the purpose of capturing this advance gnard of the Army of the Missis- sippi, moved from behind their works in heavy force, on the morning of the 9th, Price making a considerable detour to the right, to get in the rear of Paine, and Van Dorn moving for direct attack. Happily, Price moved too far to the right to ac- complish the object, or Van Dorn deliv- ered his attack too soon, so that Paine, after several hours of hard fighting, was able to make good his retreat to the main camp. Butit is next to certain that he would have been cut off, had it not been for the invaluable services of the 2d Cav- alry. A little after 10 o'clock, Lieut .- Col. Hatch, commanding the regiment, re- ceived an order from Col. Elliott, com- manding brigade, to hasten to the assist- ance of Paine. In five minutes, the regi- ment was mounted and galloping to the aid of their comrades beyond the creek. Coming upon the field, Paine was discov- ered in retreat before an overwhelming force of rebels-several thousand infantry and twenty-four pieces of artillery. The Union forces could retreat only by a single line across the creek, where there was but

the merest apology for a bridge. Paine was in imminent danger of capture. The rebels were preparing to charge, and could they gain a certain eminence lying be- tween the two forces, with their artillery, they would command the bridge and ren- der passage impossible. To prevent the rebels from gaining this coveted eminence the 2d Cavalry was ordered to form for a charge. Drawing their sabers. the men instantly took position, and were soon sweeping over the hill in a mad but re- sistless charge. Protected somewhat, by the cloud of dust which the horses raised, the regiment dashed right on the rebel artillery, and actually drove the gunners from their pieces. But a large army of infantry was in support, and the regiment was repulsed. Paine, however, had tiu e to effect a crossing of the creek, and when the 2d regiment regained its position the battle was ended.

It saved the day. The charge only oc- cupied a few minutes' time, but in that short period, fifty of the regiment had been killed and wounded, and as many more unhorsed by the fire of the enemy. It was a charge of the utmost audacity, the like of which was never made, except by troops of the most daring courage. Capt. Henry Egbert, Capt. William Lundy, and Lieut. Benjamin Owen were wounded, the last named being also captured. "The con- duct of men and officers," says the lieuten- ant-colonel commanding, "was in every respect commendatory;" and he specially mentions Majors Coon and Hepburn; Captains Crocker, McConnell, Kendrick, Eaton, Egbert, Lundy, Bishop, Graves, and Freeman; and Lieutenants Moore, Reily (who carried two of the enemy's

840

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

guns), Foster, Bilden, Owen, Horton, Queal (who daringly cheered his men to the very muzzles of the rebel cannon), Schmitzer, Metcalf and Eystra, as having exhibited gallant and meritorious conduct.

The regiment made good its retreat to camp, but did not have many days of rest before it was again ordered to move. On the 13th, a part of the command had a skirmish near Farmington, but met with no loss. Meanwhile the army steadily but slowly approached Corinth, and by the 20th, was strongly entrenched behind works which, at an average distance of about four miles from the town, extended from the Mobile & Ohio Railroad on the north, round to the Memphis & Charles- ton Railroad on the east. Now there was much for the army to do. Siege guns were to be brought up, batteries were to be completed, and a thousand other things done before a bombardment could be fully commenced.

On the 26th, Lient .- Col. Hatch made a recounoissance to the south of the main lines, performing a very laborious night's march, now over hills and now through swamps, to the vicinity of Jacinto, return- ing on the following day with valuable information.

By this time Halleck was about ready to fight, or if he was not his army was. The enemy's communications on the east were destroyed, another movement of our forces on the right would destroy them on the west, and the destruction of the rail- road, south, would leave Beauregard com- pletely isolated at Corinth, before a mighty army impatient for battle and confident of victory. Col. Elliott, com- manding the Second Brigade, Cavalry di-

vision, which Brigade consisted of the 2d Iowa and the 2d Michigan, was selected to perform this difficult and dangerous service. Ile was ordered to march to Booneville, and destroy the railway there and a large quantity of supplies known to be stored at that place. He left camp at midnight of the 28th. The result of the exploit is thus summed up by Gen. Pope in a dispatch to Gen. Halleck :

"It gives me pleasure to report the brilliant success of the expedition sent out on the 28th inst., under Col. Elliott, with the 2d Iowa Cavalry. After forced marches, day and night, through a very difficult country and obstructed by the enemy, he finally succeeded in reaching the Mobile & Ohio Railroad at Booneville, at 2 o'clock; A. M., on the 30th. Ile de- stroyed the track in many places south and north of the town, blew up one culvert, destroyed the switch, and burned the depot and locomotive and train of twenty-six cars loaded with supplies of all kinds. He destroyed 10,000 stand of small arms, three pieces of artillery and a great quantity of clothing and ammunition, and paroled 2,000 prisoners which he could not keep with his cavalry. The enemy had heard of his movements, and had a train of box cars, with flying artillery and 5,000 infantry running up and down the road to prevent him from reaching it. The whole road was lined with pickets. Col. Elliott's command subsisted on meat alone, such as they could find in the coun- try. For daring and dispatch, this expe- dition has been distinguished in the high- est degree, and entitles Col. Elliott and his command to high distinction. The result will be embarrassing to the enemy,

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

and contribute greatly to their loss and demoralization."

After due allowance for Gen. Pope's imaginative turn of mind, it is true that this raid was a brilliant exploit. Lieut .- Col. Hatch reports substantially the facts of Pope's dispatch, and they are therefore true.

The rebel general, Beauregard, smart- ing under the lashes of southern publie opinion, which were laid on him merei- lessly for his evacuation of Corinth, pub- lished a letter in the Mobile News, deny- ing the statements, making light of Col. Elliott's achievement, and actually charg- ing him with burning alive four siek rebel soldiers, who were in the depot! But Brig .- Gen. Granger flatly contradicts Beaure- gard, and fully corroborates Pope. The sick were all removed, and the captures made as stated. The loss of the 2d Jowa on the expedition was two men killed, the same number wounded, and a few cap- tured, the whole being less than half a score. For his success in this affair Col. Elliott was soon afterwards promoted a brigadier-general. He was succeeded in ths coloneley by Lieut .- Col. Hatch, who was succeeded by Major Hepburn. Capt. Frank A. Kendrick, of company E, was promoted major. But these promo- tions were not made till about one month after the affair at Booneville, or the com- missions received till some time after that.

Meantime the regiment performed much active service. Company E, being a part of Gen. Pope's body-guard, was about the first troop to enter Corinth after its evacuation. The regiment was soon in camp near by, but did not remain

inactive. After the evacuation of Corinth, the cavalry was posted south of that place, in the vicinity of Booneville, as a cover for the Union army. During the first half of June, it was constantly en- gaged in scouts, reconnoissances and skirmishes. The 2d Iowa was then re- lieved from duty at the front, and moved to camp near Farmington, where for a fortnight the command enjoyed rest and blackberries. It had been almost con- stantly engaged in active operations in the field for four months. "We had saddled up," says Sergeant Pierce, "nearly every morning at 3 o'clock, and much of the time we had slept at night in line of bat- tle, each man holding his horse by the bridle. Hardly a day during this time had passed without more or less skirmish- ing by the regiment with the rebels."

But rest and blackberries were not long enjoyed. In the latter part of June the bugle again called the command to the saddle, and on the Ist of July it was fighting the battle of Booneville. This brilliant Union victory, gained by Col. Sheridan, in command of a brigade con- sisting of the 2d Iowa and 2d Michigan regiments of cavalry, is described by L. D. Ingersoll, in his "llistory of Iowa in the Rebellion," in the following language: "Col. Sheridan in the latter part of June moved to Booneville with his com- mand, for the purpose of covering the main army, twenty miles in rear, and of observing the rebels who were near by and bent on mischief. On the Ist of July he was attacked by a rebel force of nine regiments, numbering nearly 5,000 men, under the command of Chalmers. After skirmishing for some time, Sheridan fell

842

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

back toward his camp, advantageously situated on the edge of a swamp, where he could not readily be flanked. Here the 2d Michigan dismounted, and acting ay riflemen on the center, the 2d Iowa on the wings harassing and galling the ene- my's flanks, he held the rebels at bay for some time. Finding that they were likely to surround him, Sheridan had recourse to to that ready strategy and fine audacity which has since placed him among the first captains of modern history. He sent a detachment of the 24 Cavalry, number- ing less than 100 men, around to the rear of the enemy by a detour of several miles, with orders to attack promptly and vigor- ously at a certain time, while he would make a similtincous charge in front. The plan succeeded admirably. The detach- ment gained the enemy's rear, without having been scen till the men were near enough to fire their carbines, and, having emptied these, they dashed with drawn sabres upon the enemy, who, supposing them to be the advance guard of a large force, were thrown into disorder. Before they had time to recover from their confu- sion and dismay, Sheridan charged them in front with such fury that they fled from the field in utter rout, leaving many dead and wounded in our hands. They retreated twenty miles, throwing away arms, knapsacks, coats, and everything which could impele their flight before our pursuing riders. This brilliant affair male Phil Sheridan a brigadier-general. He had whipped, and badly whipped, nearly 5,000 men with only about 800, for this was the strength of his command at this time.

"Col. Hatch, for he had been commis- sioned colonel two days before the fight,

here fought splendidly. It would have been quite impossible for Sheridan to have won the battle without the most hearty and skillful co-operation on the part of Hatch and his command. The regiment never behaved better. Col. Hatch speaks in high terms of the con- duct of the regiment, and makes special mention of the gallantry of Captains Gil- bert and Queal. The loss of the regiment, considering the character of the engage- ment, was remarkably small, being only twenty-two killed, wounded and missing."

After the pursuit of the enemy, the regiment returned to Booneville, and there remained a few days, when it moved to Rienzi,about half way between Booneville and Corinth, arriving on the 9th of July. Here the regiment camped for nearly two months, during the most of which period it was inactive. In the latter part of the month Col. Hatch made a reconnoissance to Ripley, but finding no enemy, returned after marching sixty-five miles. About one month later the quiet of the camp was suddenly broken by an attack on the part of the rebel Faulkner, with some 2,500 troopers. The attack was so suddenly made that it came near being a surprise. Col. Hatch was sitting on court-martial at Rienzi. Adjourning the court he has- tened to the camp, and soon was in pur- snit of Faulkner, who was driven off quite as rapidly as he had come up. Hatch pursued him on the gallop for many miles, overtaking him two or three times, and inflicting much damage, and at last put- ting him in utter rout, with a loss of a number of prisoners and a large quantity of arms and ammunition. In the affair the 2d Towa lost six men wounded and

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY. 843

four horses killed. Four men were also lost from fatigue and heat.

On the 5th of September, the cav- alry at Rienzi broke camp and marched sonthward with the object of observing Price, who was reported moving north- ward with a heavy column of rebels. That wily general, however, made good his march to Iuka, having passed by Booneville on the east before the cavalry reached that place. It returned to Rienzi. On the day of the battle of Iuka, the cav- alry marched far to the right of Gen. Rose- erans' principal column, and at Payton's Mills had a brisk skirmish with Faulkner's troopers, routing them in a few minutes, a number of killed, wounded and prison- ers falling into their hands. Though the 2dl Iowa Cavalry this day marched forty- five miles, had a skirmish with the enemy, and captured and destroyed a rebel camp, with much property, upon returning to the field of Inka, it was ordered to stand to horse all night. On the 20th it moved to Iuka, and entered that place just as Price's rear guard was leaving. Hatch took the advance in the pursuit, and com- pelled the rebels to abandon a part of their train. But he was ordered to Ja- cinto in the evening.

With the cavalry, the campaign of Cor- inth immediately followed the battle of Inka. Col. Hateh, now commanding a brigade of troopers, of which the 2d Iowa was a part, was constantly engaged in scouting, reconnoitering, gaining infor- mation as to the movements and strength of the enemy. Gen. Rosecrans called Hatch's cavalry " the eye of the army." His troopers were constantly in the sad- dle, by night as well as by day, so that a

crow could scarcely fly over the field of their observations without their knowl- edge. They performed services which did much to enable Gen. Rosecrans to win the remarkable victory of Corinth early in October. The regiment joined in the pursuit which followed the battle, going as far as Ripley, and returning to Corinth the 13th.

The 2d Cavalry was next ordered to join Gen. Grant in the central Mississippi campaign, and moving from Corinth on the 2d of November, arrived at Grand Junction on the 4th. Here it remained until the 12th. From this time until the 28th of December, it was almost all the while on the move, Major Coon in com- mand, Col. Ilatch in command of the brigade. An imperfect outline of its his- tory during this period of activity may be laid down thus : The 12th moved in re- connoissance on Holly Springs, skirmish- ing nearly all day. Capt. Horton adroitly "gobbling" a rebel patrol in the evening, entered Holly Springs next morning driv- ing the rebels ont of town, while Lieut. Foster, this day in command of a company, absolutely whipped a whole regiment. The 19th, Hatch marched on Ripley, some thirty-five miles southeast of Grand June- tion, dashed into town on the morning of the 20th, dispersed a large force of rebels under Faulkner, capturing many prisoners, horses and mules; on the 28th, the cavalry marched southward from the Junction, forming the advance of the main army which started on the move this day; the next day, the troopers drove the enemy from Holly Springs again, and compelled them to seek cover behind their strong works on the Tallabatehie; Grant having

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History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 103

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 950

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 950