USA > Iowa > Muscatine County > History of Muscatine County, Iowa, from the earliest settlements to the present time, Volume I > Part 19
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
LOSS IN BATTLE OF CORINTH.
From Iuka the regiment returned to Camp Montgomery, where it remained until the 3d of October, when it was again called into action to meet the forces of Van Dorn and Price, who were advancing to the attack of the Union forces in and around Corinth. Major Elliott W. Rice, having been promoted to the rank of colonel, was now in command of the regiment. His official report of the conduct of the Seventh Iowa in the hard fought battle of Corinth sounds praise for the heroism displayed by the members of the gallant regiment.
The regiment's loss in the battle of Corinth was one hundred and twenty- two, making a total loss in battle up to and including the 4th of October, 1862, of four hundred and twenty-two officers and men. When the long list of names of those who had died from disease and of those who had been discharged on account of disability caused by sickness is added to the actual casualties in battle, the tremendous aggregate loss of this regiment was but little more than fourteen months' record of service almost equal to the number first mustered into the
149
HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
service at Burlington, while its original term of service was not yet half com- pleted. Of course many recruits had been received and many of the sick and wounded had from time to time sufficiently recovered to be able to return to the regiment and thus its decimated ranks were replenished, but never again did it number half the maximum of a full regiment of officers and men able for duty at any one time. On the morning of the 5th of October, 1862, the regi- ment went in pursuit of the retreating enemy but on the evening of that day was ordered to return to Corinth. It was stationed at Rienzi and at other points contiguous to Corinth until about the last of November, when it returned to the latter place and went into camp, where it remained until March, 1863, when it was ordered to occupy Bethel, Tennessee. It remained there until about the Ist of June, then returned to Corinth, thence marched to Moscow, Tennessee, and camped there one month. It then marched to La Grange, Ten- nessee, from which point it participated in an expedition to Holly Springs, Mis- sissippi, after which it returned to La Grange, where it remained until the last of October. It was then ordered to Iuka, and remaining there but a short time, again took up the line of march, crossed the Tennessee river at East Port and on the IIth of November, 1863, went into winter quarters at Pulaski Tennessee. Here the men erected rude huts, in which they made themselves comparatively comfortable. The railroad having been completely destroyed by the enemy, the nearest depot of supplies was thirty-six miles from this camp at Pulaski, and during the inclement weather in December the regiment suffered severely while guarding a supply train of one hundred and fifty wagons to and from its camp. Toward the last of December, 1863, three-fourths of the men then present re- enlisted and were given a furlough of thirty days to begin upon their arrival in Keokuk, Iowa. They were furnished with transportation to Keokuk and from that place to their respective homes.
RENDEZVOUS AT KEOKUK AFTER REENLISTMENT.
On the 20th of February the men commenced to arrive at Keokuk, where they had been ordered to rendezvous and on the 25th all had arrived, and with them came two hundred recruits, who were mustered into the service to strengthen the depleted ranks of the regiment. On the 27th of February, 1864, the veterans and recruits left Keokuk by steamboat and, arriving at Cairo, were transferred to smaller transports, which conveyed them to Nashville. From that point they proceeded to Prospect, Tennessee, where the regiment performed garrison duty until April 29th, when it started on the ever memorable Atlanta campaign, in which it bore a most conspicuous part, as shown by the official reports of Colonel Rice and others.
On the 14th of May the regiment met and defeated the enemy in a hard fought battle at Lay's Ferry on the Oostanaula river. Major McMullin was the commanding officer in this battle. Lieutenant Colonel Parrott being at that time sick and unable for duty. From this time on until the close of the cam- paign on the Ist of September, the Seventh Iowa was constantly at the front.
The regiment next took an active part in the operations which resulted in the evacuation of Atlanta. It then proceeded to Rome, Georgia, thence to Alla-
150
HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
toona by rail, but owing to an accident to the train, did not arrive in time to take part in the battle on the 5th of October, reaching there just after the enemy had been repulsed. It then returned to Rome and on the 11th of November took up the march through the heart of Georgia, entering the city of Savannah, December 21, 1864. On the 28th of January, 1865, the regiment left Savannah to enter upon its last great campaign through the Carolinas, which practically ended in the last days of March, 1865. Upon reaching Goldsboro, the regiment had covered a distance of four hundred and eighty miles from their starting point on the southern seacoast, but after a season of rest again started north, cheered by the thought that the cause for which they had suffered and endured such great hardships was at last triumphant and the remainder of the march to Wash- ington could be made with comparative ease. At last the goal was reached. On that memorable 24th day of May, 1865, the Seventh Iowa Infantry proudly wheeled into its place in line with the grand army which marched down that broad avenue of the nation's capitol and passed in review for the last time. Its days of marching and fighting were over. A little later it was sent to Louis- ville, Kentucky, where on the 12th of July, 1865, it was mustered out of service. It was then sent to Davenport, Iowa, where final payment was made, the regi- ment disbanded and the men furnished with transportation to their homes. The summary of casualties is as follows: total enrollment, one thousand five hun- dred and fifty-two; killed, ninety-eight; wounded, three hundred and fifty-four ; died of disease, one hundred and forty-two; died of wounds, thirty-eight ; dis- charged for disease, wounds, etc., three hundred and twenty-eight; buried in national cemeteries, one hundred and nine; captured, seventy-nine; transferred, twenty-nine.
EIGHTEENTH IOWA INFANTRY.
The Eighteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry was organized under authority of special orders from the war department, dated May 21-23, 1862. The ten companies composing the regiment were ordered into quarters by Gov- ernor Kirkwood on dates ranging from June 10 to July 21, 1862. The designated rendezvous was Clinton, Iowa, and the camp was named Kirkwood, in honor of the governor. The companies were there mustered into the service of the United States by Captain H. B. Hendershott, United States Army, August 5, 6 and 7, 1862. The aggregate strength of the regiment (field, staff and line officers and enlisted men) when the muster was completed, was eight hundred and seventy- seven. Its first equipment of arms was Austrian rifles (calibre 58), with appen- dages. It was provided with other necessary equipment for active service and August 11, 1862, received an order to proceed to Sedalia, Missouri, at which place it arrived August 28th and was ordered to Springfield, Missouri. It ar- rived at the latter place September 13th and joined the army of the frontier under General Schofield. The regiment was assigned to the First Brigade of
151
HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
the Second Division, commanded respectively by Colonel Husted of the Seventh Missouri Cavalry, and Brigadier General Totten.
REGIMENT'S FIRST FIGHT.
On the 29th of September the army advanced in the direction of the enemy's camp at Neutonia, at which place the troops which led the advance became en- gaged with the enemy. The brigade and division to which the Eighteenth Iowa belonged were marched quickly in the direction of the troops engaged, but be- fore their arrival the rebel forces had retreated. During the forced march in the night preceding the engagement, the Eighteenth Iowa had come in contact with an advance post of the enemy and in the skirmish which ensued lost one man killed and three wounded. The pursuit of the retreating rebel army was continued as far as Fayetteville, Arkansas, where the Eighteenth Iowa being in advance, skirmished with rear guard of the rebel army but sustained no casualties. The enemy having been driven out of the state of Missouri and the object of the expedition having been accomplished, General Schofield was ordered to re- turn and make such disposition of his forces as would best protect the state against further invasion. The regiment was ordered to Springfield, Missouri, where a large quantity of supplies for the army had been accumulated. The regiment arrived at Springfield, November 14, 1862. While its loss and con- flict with the enemy up to this time had been light, the men had suffered greatly from exposure and from the hardships to which they had been subjected on the long march in pursuit of the enemy and the return to Springfield. They were passing throught the common experience of all soldiers in their first year of service. Many were stricken with disease, the prevailing malady being measles, which spread. through the regiment and claimed many victims. The entire casual- ties now numbered ninety and yet the regiment had been in active service less than three months.
STRICKEN WITH DISEASE AT SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.
At Springfield the Eighteenth Iowa constituted an important part of the garrison, which numbered about fifteen hundred troops of all arms and several pieces of field artillery. The defenses consisted of earthworks and detached forts but the number of troops in garrison were insufficient to man the works at all points. Brigadier General Brown was in command of these troops with Colonel Crabb, of the Nineteenth Iowa in command of the post. The rebel general, Marmaduke, had by a skillful and daring movement eluded the vigilance of the Union army and by a series of rapid marches reached the vicinity of Springfield on the evening of January 7, 1863. On the forenoon of that day the scouts of General Brown had discovered the approaching forces of the enemy and the garrison therefore had warning of the impending attack and made every pos- sible preparation to meet it. The Union men of the town armed themselves, offered their services for the defense and afterward fought bravely with the troops. Even the sick in hospital who were able to leave their beds took their guns and went to the front. On the morning of the 8th of January the cavalry
152
HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
pickets of General Brown discovered the enemy's skirmish line and the prelimi- nary fighting began some three miles from the entrenchments. The official re- ports show that the Eighteenth Iowa performed nobly in the defense of the post.
The regiment remained in Springfield during the remainder of the winter of 1863, performing the monotonous duties incident to the camp and garrison life of soldiers. While the holding of Springfield was very necessary and meant so much to the loyal citizens of Missouri, it could not be otherwise than unsatis- factory to the gallant officers and men of the Eighteenth Iowa to be retained upon such duty, while so many Iowa regiments were actively participating in the great campaign then in progress in other parts of the south and winning honor and distinction for themselves and their state. In April, 1863, Colonel Edwards, who had been on detached service at St. Louis, returned to Springfield and as- sumed command of the post. The operation of the regiment now assumed a much more active character. The rebel general, Shelby, had invaded Missouri with a considerable force, and besides holding the post at Springfield, portions of the Eighteenth were called upon for active service in the field.
MARCH SEVENTY-FIVE MILES THROUGH HALF FOOT OF SNOW.
January 2, 1864, a portion of the regiment under command of Lieutenant Colonel Campbell marched to Roseville, 'Arkansas, to prevent an anticipated at- tack upon a supply train on the way from Little Rock in charge of Captain Clover, with a detachment of the regiment, and returned to Fort Smith January 8, 1864, having marched seventy-five miles in the depth of winter, the snow being six inches deep, without tents or shelter of any kind. During the remainder of the winter the regiment was engaged in excessive labor, in fatigue, escort and guard duty, men and officers going on duty for months every other day and living upon half rations.
On the 18th of April the regiment under command of Captain Duncan moved from Camden to reinforce Colonel Williams, who was escorting a large forage train. About fourteen miles from Camden, at Poison Springs, Colonel Williams was attacked by the enemy six thousand strong, under Generals Marcy and Fa- gan. He had with him the Eighteenth Iowa, the First Kansas, one section of the Second Indiana Battery, and about two hundred cavalry. His small force was completely surrounded and separated and after a fierce and sanguinary con- flict in which the rest of the command was entirely routed and scattered with great loss, the Eighteenth Iowa was isolated and hemmed in on all sides. It re- turned slowly, rod by rod, reforming and charging the enemy seven times, and finally cut its way through the enemy's lines and returned to Camden. The casualties in this engagement were eighty killed, wounded and missing.
IN BATTLE OF JENKIN'S FERRY.
April 30th the regiment participated in the battle of Jenkin's Ferry, at Saline river, where the enemy attacked General Steele's army and then, retreating from Camden, endeavored to prevent his crossing, but was repulsed after a day's hard fighting, with heavy loss on both sides. The regiment returned to Fort Smith,
J.T. BISHOP.
PLURIBUS
J.W. ROUTH.
JOHN H. NALE
GEO.H.DUNNING.
C.RIEBSAME.
JA. TOLAND .
CHARTER MEMBERS OF OLD POST, NUMBER ONE
153
HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
May 15, 1864, having marched seven hundred and thirty miles through swamps, over mountains, subsisting part of the time on raw corn, wading whole days and nights in mud and water and suffering hardships that have been surpassed in no campaign of the war.
May 25, 1864, the regiment under command of Major Morey, together with the Second Kansas and a section of the Second Kansas Battery, all under com- mand of Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, moved to Clarksville, Arkansas, to hold that place and keep open the navigation of the river upon which the army at Fort Smith depended for supplies. The regiment lost on the march two men killed by guerillas. While here, Sergeant Vance of Company C, Eighteenth Iowa, with twenty-eight men in charge of a forage train, was attacked twelve miles from Clarksville by forty rebels but repulsed them and saved his train, killing two and wounding two of the enemy, and losing one man wounded.
'August 6th, Clarksville was evacuated by order of Brigadier General Thayer, and the Eighteenth Iowa under command of Major Morey, together with a battalion of the Fourteenth Kansas Cavalry and a large train of govern- ment stores and refugees, all under command of Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, marched for Fort Smith. On their march they were followed closely by the enemy who harassed them slightly but without doing serious injury. From the IIth of August until December the regiment was sent on a number of expedi- tions, all of which were quite successful, and in which the men displayed great bravery in their clashes with the enemy.
About the last of February, 1865, four companies of the regiment under command of Major Morey, were detached for garrison duty at Van Buren, Arkansas, remaining there until July 6th, when the regiment was concentrated at Little Rock, Arkansas. There on the 22d of July, 1865, the regiment was mustered out of the United States service and was soon afterward conveyed to Davenport, Iowa, where it was formally disbanded, the officers and men receiving their discharges and final payment, August 5-7, 1865, just three years from the date of their muster into the service at Clinton, Iowa.
Colonel Campbell states that only about four hundred of the original mem- bers of the regiment were with it upon its return to Davenport and that but eight of its original officers remained with it at that time. He also states that during his term of service it had received two hundred and thirty-five recruits, of which eighty-six were from Iowa, seventy-two from Missouri and seventy-seven from Arkansas and Texas.
EIGHTH IOWA INFANTRY-THE EIGHTH AT SHILOH.
The Eighth Iowa Infantry was mustered into the service, September 23, 1861. It was soon sent to the front and took part in several engagements dur- ing its first year of service. From the report of Colonel Geddes of the part of the regiment in the battle of Shiloh the following is taken :
"About eight o'clock on the morning of the 6th, I ordered the regiment under arms, and formed line of battle in front. 'At this time the firing on our advance line had become general and it appeared to me evident that we were being attacked in force by the rebel general. After remaining under arms for
154
HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
about half an hour, during which time I had ordered the baggage belonging to the regiment to be loaded on the wagons, and an extra supply of ammunition to be issued to the men, I was ordered by Colonel Sweeney, Fifty-second Illi- nois Brigade commander, to proceed to the front.
"On arriving at our advance line, I was ordered by Colonel Sweeney to take my position on the left of the brigade to which I was attached, for the purpose of protecting a battery immediately in front. Here the regiment remained about one hour, exposed to a severe fire from artillery of shell and grape, killing and wounding several of my men. About eleven o'clock I was ordered by Colonel Sweeney, through his aid, Lieutenant Mccullough, of the Eighth Iowa, to leave my position and take ground on my left and front.
"This change of position brought my regiment on the extreme right of Gen- eral Prentiss' division, and left of General Smith's, the latter being the division to which my regiment belonged. I was thus entirely detached from my brigade, nor did I receive any order from my brigade or division commander during the remainder of that day. On arriving at the point I was ordered to defend, I found my regiment in line of battle with my center resting on a road leading from Corinth to Pittsburg Landing, and at right angles to my line. Here I im- mediately engaged a battalion of the enemy and after a severe conflict of nearly an hour's duration, in which I lost many of my men, the enemy was driven back with heavy loss. At this time Captain Hogin, Company F, was shot dead, and Captain Palmer, Company H, severely wounded. In this desperate struggle my regiment lost one hundred men in killed and wounded.
"The conspicuous gallantry and coolness of my company commanders, Cap- tains Cleveland, Stubbs and Benson on the left, Captains McCormic and Bell in the center, Captains Kelsey, Geddes and Lieutenant Muhs on the right, by reserving the fire of their respective companies until the proper time for its de- livery with effect, and the determined courage of my men, saved the battery from capture, and I had the satisfaction of sending the guns in safety to the rear. In this attack I was wounded in the leg and Major Andrews severely in the head. I do here take pleasure in acknowledging the courage and cool- ness displayed by my field officers, Lieutenant Colonel J. C. Ferguson and Major J. 'Andrews, and the able assistance rendered by them on that occasion.
TO HOLD THE POSITION.
"About three o'clock P. M., all communication with the river ceased and it became evident to me that the enemy were turning the right and left flanks of our army and were rapidly closing behind us. I could at this time have re- treated and most likely would have saved my command from being captured had I, at this time, been ordered back, but I received no such order and I con- sidered it my duty to hold the position I was assigned to defend at all hazards.
"General Prentiss' division having been thrown back from the original line, I changed front by my left flank, conforming to his movement, and at right angles with my former base, which was immediately occupied and retained for some time by the Fourteenth Iowa, Colonel Shaw. In this position I ordered my regiment to charge a battalion of the enemy, I think the Fourth Mississippi,
155
HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
which was done in good order, completely routing them. We were now at- tacked on three sides by the rebel force, which was fast closing around us. The shells from our gunboats in their transit severing the limbs of the trees, hurled them on our ranks. To prevent annihilation it became absolutely necessary to leave a position which my regiment had held for nearly ten consecutive hours of severe fighting, successfully resisting and driving back the enemy in every attempt to take the position I was ordered to hold and defend, with a loss of men near two hundred killed and wounded, so ordered my regiment to retire. On retiring about three hundred yards I found a division of the rebels under General Polk thrown completely across my line of retreat. I perceived that further resistance was useless, as we were now completely surrounded. Myself and the major portion of my command were captured at six o'clock P. M. and I claim the honor for my regiment of being the last to leave the advance line of our army on the battlefield of Shiloh, on Sunday, April 6, 1862."
THE CAMPAIGN IN MISSISSIPPI.
The Eighth took part in the campaign in Mississippi in 1863, the following account of which was given by Colonel Geddes :
"On the 2d of May, 1863, my regiment was ordered to leave Duckport, Louisiana, with the division to which it was attached, namely, the Third Divi- sion, Fifteenth Army Corps, under command of Brigadier General J. M. Tut- tle, and march to Hard Times Landing, opposite Grand Gulf, Mississippi, sixty miles distant.
"On the 7th of May it crossed the river with the advance of the army and took up the line of march toward Jackson, Mississippi. It took part in the storming of that place on the 14th of May and assisted in the destruction of railroads in the vicinity. Ordered from Jackson on the 16th of May, by forced marches, it followed on the rebel retreat from Champion's Hill to their en- trenchments at Vicksburg, assisted in the charge made on the rebel works on the 22d and operated with the army of investment for thirty-four days, during which time it assisted in clearing obstructions, making roads, constructing field works, mounting guns and projecting approaches to within twenty yards of the rebel works, under an almost incessant fire.
"On the 22d of June it was ordered to operate on our line of circumvalla- tion under command of Major General W. T. Sherman, where it remained until the surrender of Vicksburg. It was ordered on the 4th of July to join the expeditionary army under Major General Sherman, was sent in pursuit of the rebel force commanded by General Johnston and was present during the seven days' siege of Jackson, and final occupation of that city, which took place on the 17th of July, 1863.
"After the evacuation of Jackson by the rebels the regiment composed part of a force under Major General Frederick Steel, which was ordered to Bran- don, Mississippi, and was attached to a brigade under my command that en- gaged the enemy for two hours, repulsing them with loss and capturing Brandon. It also assisted in destroying the Meridian railroad fifteen miles east of Jack- son and finally, on the 23d of July, 1863, retired with the expeditionary army
156
HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
to its present position on the right bank of Big Black river, fifteen miles from Vicksburg.
"From the 2d of May to the 25th of July the regiment, without tents or transportation, marched over three hundred miles, engaged the enemy at Vicks- burg, twice at Jackson and at Brandon, and although during the operations of this ever memorable campaign both the officers and men of the regiment suf- fered much exposure and hardships of a very trying character, they endured all without a murmur and with a fortitude which elicited on several occasions the unreserved commendation of the commanding general."
The regiment participated in many campaigns and battles, including a fight with Forrest at Memphis, August 21, 1864. The last principal engagement was the capture of Spanish Fort, Alabama, April 8, 1865. It was mustered out at the close of the war with due honors.
VOLUNTEER ROSTER FROM ADJUTANT GENERAL'S REPORTS.
First Infantry.
This regiment was mustered out August 25, 1861, at St. Louis. Sergeant Major Charles E. Compton, enlisted April 18, 1861.
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.