USA > Iowa > Story County > History of Story County, Iowa; a record of organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 24
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The individual instances of true bravery and heroism exhibited by members of Company E are too numerous to mention in an article of this kind and for fear of implied injustice to some, none will be named.
The two hundred and more men of the 3d Iowa who occupied the very ground where the dead soldier lay the whole of the night following without protection under a continuous fire of musketry from the rebel trenches at close range, not being permitted to reply for fear of revealing position, and the same men who two weeks later went forward at the word of com- mand into the jaws of death at Jackson, every man fully appreciating the situation, knowing that some one had blundered and the sacrifice would be useless, yet as the rebels afterwards, reported as steady as on parade, though leaving more than half their number dead and wounded on the field, and many other collective instances that might be mentioned, are of that true bravery and heroism which go to make up the invincible soldier and individual mention of those who took part would be superfluous.
Lieutenant Anthony Burton commanding the 5th Ohio Battery at the siege of Vicksburg in his private dairy says: "In the first brigade, where all regiments are so good, it is difficult to discriminate, but I am free to say that for courage, coolness under fire and persistency in action the 3d Iowa cannot be surpassed and we always feel safe when that regiment is on guard."
The history of the company is the history of the regiment and nothing more can be claimed for it than for the other nine.
TIIE THIRD IOWA'S FLAG.
One of the most interesting incidents in connection with the Third Iowa pertained to the capture of its regimental flag when the regiment was
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Hanked and cut to pieces in the battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864, and to its return some twenty years later by the southern woman into whose pos- session it had come as a tribute of rebel gallantry. The regimental ban- ner was also taken at the same time, but the members of the regiment who had become prisoners in the hands of the rebels managed through some fortunate circumstance to get possession of the banner and they tore it into bits, and distributed the pieces among their number. As to the flag, however, there was a much longer story. The rebel general in im- mediate command at its capture was Pat Cleburn, a very dashing young Englishman, who had served in the Crimea and in India, and who had come to this country and had cast his fortune in with the confederates. He became one of the most popular cavalry commanders on that side and it is apparent from the subsequent story that he much admired one of the southern belles of that period. What this admiration might have led to, in the way of romance, we can only guess, for Cleburn was killed three months later in front of another lowa regiment at the battle of Franklin.
But the story of the flag is that it was given by Pat Cleburn to this lady of his acquaintance and was by her, then or afterwards most care- fully laid away and forgotten.
The lady nearly twenty years later came across the flag and thereupon opened a correspondence which resulted in its return to the survivors of the regiment. The staff upon which it had formerly been set was not preserved, and the flag after being repaired with all possible care was attached to a pine stick; and so attached it now hangs with the other battle flags of the lowa regiments in the hermetically sealed recesses about the rotunda of lowa's state capitol. It was said during the reunion at Nevada in 1906, that the last man of the Third lowa who bore the flag into the battle of Atlanta was found dead after the battle, pierced by seventeen bullets. Since after this battle there were twenty-three survivors of the regiment report- ing for duty, no further explanation is needed for the capture of the flag, and banner. The story of the return of the flag was told in the Iowa State Register with much appreciation at the time it happened; and this story is given below, taken from the scrap book of Third Regiment memorabilia kept by Mrs. Geo. W. Crossley of Webster City. The story follows :
"As we write these lines our eyes wander to the table at our side on which lies an old battle-scarred flag, one that until now, has not been seen by the light of an lowa sun, nor the shreds of stars and stripes been stirred by an Iowa breeze, since it went with the brave boys of the Third Towa regiment. For twenty years this flag-whose tattered stripes we finger as we write-has lain in the cedar chest of a Confederate woman, given her in her youth the day after it was captured by the gallant General Pat Cleburne, as a relic of the war-such a trophy as any soldier might feel proud to lay at his lady's feet. It has a strange and romantic history- this long lost flag-in the way it has come at last to those who fought under its colors, and General Alexander has given us the pleasure of tell-
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ing the Third Iowa Regiment and the soldiers all through the state of its being sent a few days ago by this southern lady to those who lost it.
"The lady's name is Mrs. Laura J. Pickett of St. Louis, and she writes of the flag, its presentation to her and its accidental discovery the other day, through her brother, H. F. Massengale. We cannot do better than to give the letters in full. The first one is dated July 28, 1883.
"'To the Adjutant General, State of Iowa, Des Moines.
DEAR SIR: In overhauling some old articles a few days ago we dis- covered an old battle-scarred flag of the Third Iowa, captured by General Pat Cleburne before Atlanta, Georgia, and by him given to my sister, who was then living in Georgia. It was folded, put away as a relic of the war, and forgotten until resurrected a few days ago. If the Third Iowa still exists and would like to have this flag that plainly shows how gallantly its bearers carried it, my sister will be glad to send it to the regiment.
Yours very respectfully,
H. F. MASSENGALE.'
"General Alexander wrote at once in his courteous and handsome man- ner, asking to have the flag sent to him and saying that he would see that it was given a place among the other old war flags in the state arsenal, and that it should gladden the eyes of the regiment, which will hold their bien- nial reunion at Cedar Falls, September 21.
"A second letter came in response, as follows : "'General Alexander.
DEAR SIR: Your favor is at hand, and I send you today by the United States express, the flag.
"'This flag was captured about the 24th of July, 1864, near Atlanta. I was at the time a major of cavalry and on the staff of General Joseph E. Johnston, where I remained until I was surrendered by him in North Carolina. When General Johnston was relieved of the command of the army I remained with him and had nothing to do with the engagement that this flag figured in, as General Hood was in command. My sister, now Mrs. Laura J. Pickett, then Miss Laura J. Massengale, was living near Columbus, Georgia, on my father's plantation and was on a visit to my family, whom I had quartered temporarily near Atlanta. General Pat Cleburne was a very warm friend of our family and particularly so of my sister Laura. He took this flag during the engagement referred to, and presented it to her the next day as a relic of the war. She put it away in a cedar chest and lost sight of it until a few days ago, when she acci- dentally discovered it. I regret it was not found long ago; for it would then have been returned promptly to its proper owners. My sister has written to two or three friends who were officers in the same engagement, and if any new facts can be had we will send them to you.
Yours truly,
H. F. MASSENGALE.'
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"It will be a dull reader indeed who does not see the romance written between the lines of these letters and which hangs like a halo around the old flag. No arm that fought that brave and handsome general but would be proud to lift the hat to the girl whom he honored with its colors, and no heart grew desperate in the fight that will not warin towards her who gives back after so many years what must be precious as presented by one who was a martyr in the cause she hell to be right.
"We must tell them-as a foretaste-something of how the flag looks, that they saw last go down in the din and smoke of battle under the Georgian sky. It is about half left, the end with the stars remaining. It has the full number of stripes, and on these are inscribed the names of the battles in which it floated, excepting of course, the last one. in which it was taken. The upper corner of the stars next to the stripes is gone; but the rest of the blue is in a fair condition, considering its age. On the first light stripe is .BLUE M'-the rest of the 'Mills' is gone. On the second light stripe is 'S,' then a hole made by a bomb-shell, and 'LO' hangs in the tatters at the edge, which proves that Shiloh shared its bloody field with the Third lowa. Then the SIEGE OF C'-and we know that is Corinth. In the central dark stripe, or the seventh from top and bottom, as is usual, is the name of the regiment -. THIRD REGIMENT OF 10'-the O about half com- plete. How happy General Alexander seemed as he pointed this out to us. saying if the shot or shell had rent it half an inch closer, so that the () could not be distinguished, we could not have been sure whether it be- longed to lowa or Indiana. 'MATAMORA' is half there on the eighth stripe, and 'Siege of VICK' tells of Vicksburg. The last battle before it fell was 'JACKSON,' the last two letters only gone. The yellow fringe that bordered the top and bottom remains for about a yard: and as we touched the lower fringe, some mud from the battlefield near Atlanta crumbled off in our hands-the inscription that was not written on its folds.
"Company A was gathered in Dubuque, and ex-Governor Stone was captain of Company B, of Knoxville. Company C came from Clayton County, Company D from Winnesheik. Company E from Story, Company F from Fayette, Company G from Warren. Company Il from Mahaska. Company 1 from Butler, and Company K from Black Hawk. The 'Register' extends its warmest congratulations and can easily imagine the eyes that will moisten as they see these shreds of silk, and the memories that will stir the hearts that know how the inscriptions were won. The sight will come as a glad surprise to eyes that never hoped to see their flag again, and without doubt more than one soklier will feel as one of whom General Alexander toll us, who as he stood in the arsenal underneath the tattered flag. under which he had fought in every battle, said: "General. I'd give ten dollars for a single thread of that flag.' Surely the southern lady who has thus reached her hand after these many years, to these lowa soldiers will be gratified at the honor the Third lowa will do the Confederate
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general, who so fearlessly captured their colors, and who through her has given them back, a thousand times more precious for every rent and tear."
THE SHILOH MONUMENT.
Some forty years after the war, a commission of whom Senator Fitch- patrick was one, was appointed by the governor of Iowa to locate definitely for permanent marking the positions which the several Iowa regiments had occupied in the various battlefields of the war. Monuments were erected in accordance with such determinations and later an official excur- sion headed by the governor was made to the South for the purpose of dedicating these monuments and commemorating the events by them sug- gested. There were monuments to dedicate at Chattanooga, Vicksburg, Atlanta, Andersonville, and everywhere that there was a national park upon a battlefield or former prison pen. But somehow, for the Third Iowa, the strongest interest seemed to pertain to the dedication of the Third Iowa monument at Shiloh. The Third was one of eleven Iowa regiments in that battle and its monument happened to be the last to be reached by the dedicatory party. On this occasion, the part played by the Third Iowa in the battle of Shiloh, was authoritatively stated, thus:
"Comrades :- The Third Iowa Infantry landed here about March 20, 1862, and went into camp about one-half mile north of this monument. It was a part of the First Brigade, Hurlbut's 4th Division and went into action Sunday morning April 6, 1862, on the south side of the field; but in order to get in alignment with the other troops soon fell back to this line, leaving the open field in our front. We maintained this position for about five hours, repelling frequent assaults, with terrific slaughter of the enemy and considerable loss to ourselves.
"According to the official reports of the eight regiments of Confeder- ates suffering the greatest loss in the battle of Shiloh the losses of six of them occurred in this immediate front, and the loss in killed and wounded in our brigade here posted was the greatest of any brigade on the Federal side of the entire army engaged on the field of Shiloh.
"About two o'clock in the afternoon, by reason of the turning of the left flank of our division, we fell back 200 yards and there maintained our position for one hour more, and then for like reasons we retired to Wicker field 200 yards farther and remained there until four o'clock. Then both flanks having given way the regiment retired fighting all the way to its camp and there finding themselves nearly surrounded and ignoring the order of Major Stone to surrender, broke through the ranks of the enemy, and all except thirty who were afterwards captured, succeeded in joining the command of Colonel Crocker about one-half mile from the landing, remaining in line all night.
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"On Monday the survivors were in action under Lieutenant Crossley, he being the senior officer present for duty, and charged and captured a battery near Jones field.
"On Sunday there were about 500 in line and the losses were 23 killed in action, 17 mortally wounded who shortly afterwards died of wounds, 117 others wounded, most of them seriously, and 30, including Major Stone, captured. Monday 250 were in line and no losses occurred.
"The total loss of the regiment during the war was 127 killed and died of wounds, 122 died of disease, 321 wounded, and 227 discharged for dis- abilities contracted in the service making a total of 798 casualties out of a total enrollment of 1099.
"On the whole we claim for the Third lowa a record made upon the field of Shiloh as honorable and effective as that of any other organization here engaged. We make no claim not substantiated by the official reports of the great battle, and with that the survivors are content."
THIE TRIBULATIONS OF CAPTAIN MCCALL.
A little sidelight on the experiences of Company E is afforded by a letter of Capt. Samuel B. McCall, which was written by him in 1864 to Major Crossley, and by accident resurrected forty years later. Capt. McCall, it will be remembered had been the county judge of Boone County, who, in 1853, presided over the first organization of Story County, divid- ing this county into its first two townships and canvassing the returns of its first county election. Before that, he had been in the Mexican war, later in the fifties, he was representative for Boone, Story and other counties in the general assembly. When the war broke out he was elected captain of the company which it was first attempted to organize in Boone County, but as it became necessary to consolidate the Boone and Story companies, he brought his squad over to Nevada and the company was organized with State Senator John Scott as captain, and McCall as first lieutenant; but upon the organization of the regiment, Captain Scott was made lieutenant-colonel, and Lieutenant McCall was promoted to be cap- tain, which position he held through the three year term of the com- pany's enlistment. In the spring of 1864, however, part of the men re- enlisted, with the effect that the company was divided. Captain McCall remained with the majority that had not reenlisted, and at the time of his writing their term of enlistment had expired; but the government was dilatory about actually mustering them out. Neither was it making any practical use of them; and as a natural consequence the situation grew monotonous, and the bluff soul of the captain was moved to pour itself out to his brother officer. To have published such a letter at the time it was written would not have done at all; but after a lapse of years it possesses a humor that is not to be lost. The letter follows :
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Chattanooga, Tenn. June 7, A. D. 1864.
Maj. G. W. Crossley.
DEAR SIR: In looking over some letters that were in charge of Johnny Blake, I find the accompanying are for you; so I conclude to send to you, as it may be important.
Here I am with the meanest set of men in the Iowa 3d (a few ex- ceptions of course). I can do nothing with them. The authorities here will not let us go to the front; neither will they give us transportation North, until they hear from a mustering officer expected from the front. Meantime I have the men (55 in number) bivouacked one mile south of the main town. Last night they stole from one and the other and got up a pretty muss. Since we arrived here they have stolen my blankets, my handkerchiefs, towels, and nearly every d- thing I had. You may think this a joke, but I can't see it. A fellow like me, at a strange military post, destitute of blankets, towels, handkerchiefs, money and everything necessary for convenience, comfort, -- O, My G-, I never was in such a pickle before; and when it will end and how it is going to end is just now very much of a mystery to me. O, how I wish I had marched with the column from Huntsville !
I suppose Capt. Swank has found you before this. He left here on the 5th. I look for him back tomorrow. When I can get him to take charge of these men, I will go to the front, if I cannot get mustered out here. If I can be mustered out, however, I shall start for Iowa in a jiffy. There is no commissary of musters except one for Gen. Thomas' Dept., and he will have nothing to do with us. I have reported to Capt. Monroe charge of Gen. McPherson's Hd. Qs. here, who tells me to wait from day to day and he will let me know the next. So I keep waiting. I hope to know something definite by tomorrow evening.
Swank has given you all the news from this place; so I will mention nothing. I don't wish you to infer from anything I have said above that I am impatient, peevish, dissatisfied or tired of my detachment. O, no, no, I am well satisfied (over the left.)
Please ask Col. Brown to send me the receipts for the ordnance I turned over at Huntsville. I gave him invoices and he was to hand them to Sleiter, as the officer put in command of the veterans of Co. E, and get receipts for me.
I wish you would forward me all my mail matter as it comes in, i. e., if I have to stay at this place long-I will advise you if I stay.
This has been a beautiful town one day; but the ravages of war are more conspicuous here than at any place I have visited since the war began. Vicksburg not excepted. I was on Lookout Mountain a few days ago. The scene was grand beyond my power of description, were I to try. I hope you will ascend it, should you ever come this way.
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Excuse me. I did not intend to write you a letter when I began writing. only to let you know that I am here. I will write you at length as soon as I get time. I have been sick for two days with chol. morbus, or some such disease. I hope this will find you in good health and spirits. Give my respects to all the rest. Respectfully yours,
S. B. McCALL ..
The story of this letter seems to be that Crossley thought it funny and gave it to Col. Aaron Brown who had become commander of the regi- ment. Brown filed it with his papers where it remained until after his death. Then his executor happened to be J. P. Patrick who was another Third lowa man and who found the letter and passed it around among the other Third lowa survivors. Col. Crossley's comment on the letter thus revived was as follows :
MY DEAR OLD FRIEND AND COMRADE-I don't know when I have en- joyed a more hearty laugh than 1 did after reading the letter written by Capt. McCall to me over forty years ago. Its date-June 7. 1804-was but one day short of the expiration of our original three years' enlistment. as we were mustered into the U. S. service June 8, 1861. I must have handed the letter to Col. Brown to read and he neglected to return it to me. We were then at Kingston, Georgia. Brown did not go with us to Chattanooga, and we were probably just getting ready to start when this letter came. Poor Capt. McCall-what a desperate situation he was in; but he lived through it, and at this distance from the trials and tribulations he en- (lured, he would probably laugh as heartily over this old letter as I did yesterday. I can't see that the publication of the old letter at this time will do any harm to Capt. McCall or any one else, particularly if you explain the situation as to the status of the detachment of the 3d lowa then under the command of the good old captain, and his proverbial kindness of heart. Those boys were impatiently waiting to be mustered out and the delay and uncertainty attending their situation there was pretty well calculated to make them a difficult set of men to handle. A better disciplinarian would not have envied the captain his job.
Well! well! What a flood of memories this old letter has started. The old regiment was sadly reduced in numbers then, even including the non- veterans who were about to be mustered out; and a little later after an- other desperate conflict with the enemy, the little handful of men, all that was left of that once splendid regiment, were consolidated with another command and the 3d lowa Infantry had passed out of existence. It is a proud and happy memory, my old comrade, for you and 1. and the few remaining survivors to have belonged to a regiment with such a record of service. The records of its service are written in imperishable bronze upon the tablet imbedded in the granite monument at Shiloh. A little later another tablet upon another splendid monument will relate the record of its service at Vicksburg, but in the hearts of the loyal sons and daughters
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of Iowa and their descendants will live the name and fame of that glorious old regiment-second to none in the splendid galaxy of our country's de- fenders.
Sincerely yours.
G. W. CROSSLEY.
All of which might recall to mind numerous incidents of Capt. S. B. McCall. He never lived in Story County, but he probably had more to do with the county at one time or another than had any other non-resident. Out of many incidents, one may be made to serve as illustrative of his tender- heartedness, it being told apropos to the panic of 1857. He was then in business and went down in the crash along with the most of the men who were then so engaged in this section, where all the money that was brought into the country went to the government for land and where there was really no market for anything that the people could raise. In this troublous time he started out to raise money and after a good part of a day's drive had succeeded in collecting five dollars, when he came to a house where there was a woman at home with a family of small children. She said that they would pay as soon as they could, but-breaking into tears-that they had no money and were out of provisions and hungry besides. The captain could not stand it. He gave the woman the five dollars he had collected and went on home and quit trying to collect. The story doubtless illustrates the times as well as the man ; for in those days people understood what distress really meant. and in moments of emergency they stood by one another. Captain MeCall remained in Boone County for quite a number of years after the war but in time drifted to California and at last reports he was still living at the National soldiers' home at Santa Monica.
THIRD IOWA REUNION.
As has been before noted, there have been two reunions of the Third Iowa regiment that are a part of the history of Story County. They were held at Nevada in 1885 and in 1906. At the former reunion recollection has it that there were present one hundred and twenty of the veterans, many of them accompanied by their wives and other members of their families. At the latter reunion there were present thirty-six, with several of their wives and a few others. At this reunion Col. Crossley presided. the headquarters were at the office of J. A. Fitchpatrick and Major John F. Lacey was the principal speaker. Those who registered themselves as present at this reunion with their companies and present addresses were the following :
WV. C. White and wife, Company E, Fortville, Ind.
B. F. Keebles and wife. Major ( Surgeon). Pella.
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