USA > Iowa > Tama County > History of Tama County, Iowa, together with sketches of their towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 14
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The regiment participated in the siege of Vicksburg, Steele's expedition, Bank's Red River expedition, and the battle of Jenkins' Ferry. It was called the "Cop- perhead Regiment," by political partisans, but it bore its share of the fatigues of war in a patriotic way that might have been emulated by some of their political ene- mies The fact is, moreover, the regiment always gave a small Republican majority,
though the contrary was believed for a time. The Fortieth was mustered out at Port Gibson, August 2, 1865. Of 900 offi- cers and men, 5 were killed, 196 died, 134 were discharged, 43 were wounded, 3 were captured, and 26 were transferred.
THE FORTY-FIRST INFANTRY Was never completed as an infantry regiment. It con- tained three companies Its infantry or- ganization was under the command of John Pattee, of Iowa City. Under authority from the War Department, these three companies became K, L and M of the Sev- enth Cavalry.
THE FORTY - FOURTH INFANTRY Was raised in the summer of 1864. Generals Grant and Sherman being actively en- gaged with large armies against the enemy, the Governors of the Northwestern States proposed to the authorities of the War Department to send into the field a consid- erable number of troops for a short term of service, who might relieve others on guard and garrison duty at the rear, and thus be the means of adding largely to the force of drilled and disciplined men at the front. This proposition was, after a time, accepted, and the term of service was es- tablished at 1t 0 days. Gov. Stone accord- ingly issued his proclamation calling for such troops, and the citizens responded with four regiments and one battalion. Because commissions had been issued to persons designated as officers of the Forty- first, Forty-second and Forty-third Regi- ments, which were never organized, how- ever, although considerable was done in the way of their formation, the number of the regiments of 100 days' men commenced
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with Forty-four. This regiment was under the command of Colonel Stephen H. Hen- derson, and was mustered in at Davenport, June 1, 1864.
The regiment did garrison duty at Memphis and La Grange, Tenn., and was mustered out at Davenport, September 15, 1864 Of 867 officers and men in the Forty fourth, 1 was killed and 18 died. There were no other casualties.
THE FORTY-FIFTH INFANTRY was mus- tered in at Keokuk, May 25, 1864, with A. J. Bereman, of Mt. Pleasant, as Colonel; S. A. Moore, of Bloomfield, as Lieutenant- Colonel; and J. B Hope, of Washington, as Major. This was the first of the regiments of 100 days' men organized; it even preceded the Forty-fourth. It performed garrison duty in Tennessee, and was mustered out at Keokuk, Septem- ber 16, 1864 Of 912 officers and men, 2 were killed, 19 died, 1 wounded, and 2 were transferred.
THE FORTY-SIXTH INFANTRY was organ- ized with D. B. Henderson, of Clermont, as Colonel; L. D. Durbin, of Tipton, as Lieutenant-Colonel; and G. L. Tarbet as Major. It was mustered in at Dubuque, June 10, 1864.
The Forty-sixth performed garrison duty in Tennessee, and was mustered ont at Davenport, September 23, 1864. Of its 892 officers and men, 2 were killed, 24 died, 1 was wounded, and 3 were captured.
THE FORTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY Was mustered into the service of the United States at Davenport, June 1, 1864, with James P. Sanford, of Oskaloosa, as Colo-
nel; John Williams, of Iowa City, as Lieutenant-Colonel; and G. J. Wright, of Des Moines, as Major.
This regiment was stationed at the sickly place of Ilelena, Arkansas, where many succumbed to disease. Of 884 officers and men, l' was killed, 46 died, and I was transferred.
THE FORTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY (BAT- TALION) was mustered into the United States service at Divenport, July 13, 1864, with O. H. P. Scott, of Farmington, as Lieutenant-Colonel. The battalion served its time guarding rebel prisoners on Rock Island, in the Mississippi river, opposite Davenport. It was mustered out at Rock Island barracks, October 21, 1864. Of 346 officers and men, 4 died and 4 were trans- ferred The services of these 100-days' men were of great value to the national cause. They were acknowledged by the President of the United States, in a special execu- tive order, returning his hearty thanks to officers and men.
THE FIRST CAVALRY was organized in the spring of 1861, with Fritz Henry War- ren, of Burlington, as Colonel; Charles E. M. ss of Keokuk, as Lieutenant-Colonel; E. W. Chamberlain, of Burlington, James O. Gower, of Iowa City, and W. M. G. Torrence, of Keokuk, as Majors.
The regiment was engaged at Pleasant Hill, Mo, Rolla, New Lexington, Elkin's Ford, Little Rock, Bayou Metoe, Warrens- burz, Big Creek Bluffs, Antwineville, and Clear Creek. The regiment veteranized in the spring of 1864. It did not take the usual 30 days' furlough nutil May, for their services were needed in the field, and they
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gallantly volunteered to remain. After the war was closed the First served in Texas, with Gen. Custer, until its muster- out, February 15, 1866. Of 1,478 officers and men, 43 were killed, 215 died, 207 were discharged, 88 were wounded, 2 were missing, 22 were captured, and 39 were transferred.
THE SECOND CAVALRY was organized with W. L. Elliott, a Captain in the third cavalry of the regular army, as Colonel; Edward latch, of Muscatine, as Lieuten- ant-Colonel; and N. P. Ilepburn, of Mar- shalltown, D. E. Coon, of Mason City, and Il. W. Love, of Iowa City, as Majors. The regiment was mustered in at Daven- port, September 1, 1861.
The Second participated in the siege of Corinth, the battles of Farmington, Boone- ville, Rienzi, Iuka, Corinth, Coffeeville, Palo Alto, Birmingham, Jackson, Grenada, Collierville, Moscow, Pontotoc, Tupelo, Old Town, Oxford and Nashville. The regiment performed active and arduous service all through the war, and so often distinguished itself as to become well known throughout the nation. It was mustered out at Selma, Ala., September 19, 1865. Of its 1,394 officers and men, 41 were killed, 224 died, 147 were dis- charged, 173 were wounded, 10 were missing, 74 were captured and 42 were transferred.
THE THIRD CAVALRY was mustered in at Keokuk, August and September, 1861, with Cyrus Bussey, of Bloomfield, as Colonel; II. HI. Trimble, of Bloomfield, as Lieutenant-Colonel; and C. H. Perry, II. C. Callwell and W. C. Drake, of Cory-
don, as Majors. The Third was engaged at Pea Ridge, La Grange, Sycamore, near Little Rock, Columbus, Pope's Farm, Big Blue, Ripley, Coldwater, Osage, Talla- hatchie, Moore's Mill, near Montevallo, near Independence, Pine Bluff, Bott's Farın, Gun Town, White's Station, Tupelo and Village Creek. The regiment was raised by Hon. Cyrus Bussey, who, in his call for volunteers, requested each man to bring with him a good cavalry horse to sell to the Government. In two weeks he had a thousand men well mounted, in the rendesvous at Keokuk. In order to still further hasten matters, Colonel Bussey personally contracted in Chicago for equipments. In this way the delay exper- ienced by other regiments in preparing for the field was entirely avoided The regi- ment took an active part in many battles and raids, and always behaved with dis- tinguished gallantry. Was mustered out at Atlanta, Ga., August 9, 1865. Of 1,360 officers and men, 65 were killed, 251 died, 311 were discharged, 166 were wounded 1 was missing, 146 were captured and 34 were transferred.
THE FOURTH CAVALRY was organized and mustered into the service of the United States at Mt. Pleasant, November 21, 1861, with Asbury B. Porter, of Mt. Pleasant, as Colonel; Thomas Drummond, of Vinton, as Lieutenant-Colonel; and S. D. Swan, of Mt. Pleasant, J. E. Jewett, of DesMoines, and G. A. Stone, of Mt. Pleasant, as Majors. The Fourth fought bravely, and lost men at every one of the following engagements: Gun Town, Miss., Helena, Bear Creek, Memphis, Town Creek, Columbus, Mechanicsburg, Little
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Blue river, Brownsville, Ripley, Black River Bridge, Grenada, Tupelo, Yazoo River, White River, Osage, Lock Creek, Okalona, and St. Francis River. The Fourth was one of the bravest and most successful regiments in the field, and its services were of the utmost value to the Union arms. It was mustered out at Atlanta, Ga .. August 10, 1865. Of 1,227 officers and men, 44 were killed, 207 died, 241 were discharged, 119 were wounded, 3 were missing, 94 were cap- tured, and 35 were transferred.
THE FIFTH CAVALRY was but in part an Iowa regiment. The States of Minnesota and Missouri and the Territory of Ne- braska were largely represented; but as Iowa had the most, it was designated as an Iowa regiment. It was organized and mustered into the service at Omaha, with Wm. W. Lowe, of the regular army, as Colonel; M. T. Patrick, of Omaha, as Lieu- tenant-Colonel; and Carl Schaeffer de Bern- stein, a German baron, Wr. Kelsay and Alfred B. Brackett as Majors. This regi- ment was engaged at the second battle of Fort Donelson, Wartrace, Duck River Bridge, Sugar Creek, Newman, Camp Creek, Cumberland works, Tenn., Jonesboro, Ebe- nezer Church, Lockbridge's Mills, Pulaski and Cheraw. The gallant Fifth was in many situations requiring the greatest coolnes and courage, and always acquitted itself with high honor. At one time the regiment was surrounded by rebels, and the Colonel in charge of the brigade had escaped with two other regiments to the Union lines, reporting the Fifth all killed or captured. But the result was far from that. At the critical tim? the brave Major
Young, afterward the Colonel of the regi- ment, thundered out in the still night air, "The Fifth Iowa is going straight through; let the brave follow !" Then came the single word of command, "Forward ! " and when they reached the rebel lines, "Charge !" Fifteen hundred . troopers dashed at full speed over the bodies of the surprised rebels, and escaped to the Union lines with the loss of but 15 men. The regiment was finally mustered out at Nashville, Tenn, August 11, 1865. Of its 1,245 officers and men, 47 were killed, 141 died, 224 were discharged, 56 were wounded, 217 were captured and 17 were transferred.
THE SIXTH CAVALRY was organized and mustered in at Davenport, January 31, 1863, with D. S. Wilson, of Dubuque, as Colonel; S. M. Pollock, of Dubuque, as Lieutenant-Colonel, and T. H. Shepherd, of Iowa City, E. P. TenBroeck, of Clin- ton, and A. E. House, of Delhi, as Majors
This regiment was employed on the frontier against the Indians, and did excel- lent service. Their principal engagement was the battle of White Stone Hill, in which they severely punished a band of hostiles. The Sixth was mustered out at Sioux City, October 17, 1865. Of 1,125 officers and men, 19 were killed, 72 died, 89 were discharged, 19 were wounded and 7 were transferred.
THE SEVENTH CAVALRY was organized and mustered into the service at Daven- port, April 27, 1863, with S. W. Summers, of Ottumwa, as Colonel; John Pattee, of Iowa City, as Lieutenant-Colonel, and H. HI. Heath and G. M. O'Brien, of Dubuque, and John S. Wood, of Ottumwa, as Majors
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This regiment also served against the Indians in the West. It fought bravely in many battles and won the lasting grati- tude of the people of the West. It was mustered out at Leavenworth, Kan., May 17, 1866, except Companies K, L and M which were mustered out at Sioux City, June 22, 1866. Of its 562 officers and men, 47 were killed, 101 died, 252 were discharged, 8 were wounded and 9 were transferred.
THE EIGHTH CAVALRY was recruited by Lieutenant Dorr, of the Twelfth Infantry. As the result of his energy, 2,000 were soon enlisted for the Eighth. Some 300 were rejected, 450 were turned over to the Ninth Cavalry and about 75 to the Fourth Battery. The Eighth was organized with Joseph B. Dorr, of Dubuque, as Colonel; Il. G. Barner, of Sidney, as Lientenant- Colonel; John J. Bowen, of Hopkinton; J. D. Thompson, of Eldora, and A. J. Price, of Guttenberg, as Majors; and was mustered into the United States service, at Davenport, September 30, 1863.
This regiment served gallantly in guard ing Sherman's communications, and at the battles of Lost Mountain, Lovejoy's Sta- tion, Newman and Nashville. It partici- pated in Stoneman's cavalry raid round Atlanta, and Wilson's raid through Ala- bama. After the close of hostilities and before the muster-out, Col. Dorr died of disease. Ile was much beloved by his command, and highly respected at home, where he had been an able editor. The Eighth was mustered out at Maeon, Ga, Angust 13, 1865. Of its 1,234 officers and men, 30 were killed, 106 died, 67 were dis-
charged, 87 were wounded, 2 were missing, 259 Were captured and 22 were transferred.
THE NINTH CAVALRY was the last three years' regiment recruited in Iowa. It was organized and mustered into the servire of the United States, at Davenport, Novem- ber 30, 1863, with M. M. Trumbull, of Cedar Falls, as Colonel; J. P. Knight, of Mitchell, as Lieutenant-Colonel; E. T. Ensign, of DesMoines, Wil is Drummond, of McGregor, and William Haddock, of Waterloo, as Majors.
The regiment performed heavy scont- ing, guard and garrison duties in Ar- kansas, for the small part of the war after it was organized. It was mustered out at Little Rock, Ark., February 28, 1866. Of its 1,178 officers and men, 6 were killed, 178 died, 64 were discharged, 15 were wounded, 1 was captured and 11 were transferred.
THE FIRST BATTERY OF LIGHT ARTIL- LERY was enrolled in the counties of Wa- pello, Des Moines, Dubuque, Jefferson, Black Hawk and others, and was mustered into the service at Burlington, August 17, 1861, with C. H. Fletcher, of Burlington, as Captain ; was engaged at Pea Ridge, Port. Gibson, in the Atlanta campaig 1, at Chickasaw Bayou, Lookout Mountain, etc .; was mustered out at Davenport, July 5, 1865. Of 149 members, 7 were killed, 55 died, 35 were discharged, 31 were wounded and 3 transferred.
THE SECOND BATTERY was enrolled in the counties of Dallas, Polk, Harrison, Fremont and Pottawatamie. and mustered in at Council Bluff-, and at St. Louis, Aug-
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ust 8 and 31, 1861, with Nelson I. Spoor, of Council Bluffs, as Captaiu. The bat- tery was engaged at Farmington, Corinth, and other places Was mustered out at Davenport, August 7, 1865. Of a total of 123 officers and men, 1 was killed, 30 died, 16 were discharged, 15 were wounded, 1 was captured, and 6 were transferred.
THE THIRD BATTERY was enrolled in the counties of Dubuque, Black Hawk, Butler and Floyd, and was mustered into the service at Dubuque, in September, 1861, with M. M. Hayden, of Dubuque, as Captain. The battery was engaged at Pea Ridge and other important battles. Was mustered out at Davenport, October 23, 1865. Of 142 officers and meu, 3 were killed, 3+ died, 28 were discharged, and 18 were wounded.
THE FOURTH BATTERY was enrolled in Mahaska, Henry, Mills and Fremont coun- ties, and was mustered in at Davenport, November 23, 1863. This battery was on duty most of the time in Louisiana, but did not serve in any important battles. Was mustered out at Davenport, July 14, 1865. Of 152 officers and men, 6 died, 11 were discharged, and 1 was transferred.
THE IOWA REGIMENT OF COLORED TROOPS was organized and mustered into the ser- vice of the United States, October 23, 1863. John G. Hudson, Captain Company B, Thirty-third Missouri, was Colonel; M. F. Collins, of Keokuk, was Lieut .- Colonel; and J. L. Murphy, of Keokuk, was Major. This regiment was afterward the Sixtieth Regiment of United States Colored Troops. It was not called upon to fight, but it per
formed valuable guard and garrison duties at St. Louis and elsewhere South.
THE NORTHERN BORDER BRIGADE Was organized by the State of Iowa to protect the Northwestern frontier. James A. Saw- yer, of Sioux City, was elected Colonel. It consisted of five companies, all eulisted from the northwestern counties.
THE SOUTHERN BORDER BRIGADE Was organized by the State for the purpose of protecting the southern border of the State, and was organized in the counties on the border of Missouri. It consisted of seven companies in three battalions.
PROMOTIONS.
The following promotions were made by the United States Government from Iowa regiments :
MAJOR-GENERALS. ·
Samuel R. Curtis, Brigadier-General, fr m March 21, 1862.
Frederick Steele, Brigadier-General, from No- vember 29, 1862.
Frank J. Herron, Brigadier-General, from No- vember 29, 1862.
Grenville M. Dodge, Brigadier General, from June 7, 1864.
BRIGADIER. GENERALS.
Samuel R. Curtis, Colonel 2d Infantry, from May 17, 186t.
Frederick Steele, Colonel 8th Infantry, from February 6, 1862.
Jacob G. Lanman, Colonel 7th Infantry, from March 21, 1862.
Grenville M. Dodge, Colonel 4th Infantry, from March 31, 1862
James M. Tuttle, Colonel 2d Infantry. from June 9, 1862.
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Washington L. Elliot, Colonel 2d Cavalry, from June 11, 1862.
Fitz Henry Warren, Colonel 1st Cavalry, from July 6, 1862
Frank J. Herron, Lieut. - Colonel 9th Infantry, from July 30, 1962.
Charles L. Matthies, Colonel 5th Infantry, from November 29, 1862.
William Vandever, Colonel 9th Infantry, from November 29, 1862.
Marcellus MI. Crocker, Colonel 13th Infantry, from November 29, 1862
IIngh T. Reid, Colonel 15th Infantry, from March 13. 1863.
Samuel A. Rice, Colonel 33d Infantry, from August 4, 1863.
John M. Corse, Colonel 6th Infantry, from August 11, 1863.
Cyrus Bussey, Colonel 3d Cavalry, from Jan- uary 5, 1864.
Edward Hatch, Colonel 2d Cavalry, from April 27, 1864.
Elliott W. Rice, Colonel 7th Infantry, from June 20, 1864.
Wm. W. Belknap, Colonel 5th Infantry, from July 30, 1864.
John Edwards, Colonel 18th Infantry, from September 26, 1864.
James A. Williamson, Colonel 4th Infantry, from January 13, 1864.
James I. Gilbert, Colonel 27th Infantry, from February 9, 1865.
Thomas J. McKean, from November 21, 1861.
BREVET MAJOR-GENERALS.
John M. Corse, Brigadier-General, from Octo ber 5, 1861.
Edward ITatch, Brigadier-General, from De- cember 15, 1864
William W. Belknap, Brigadier-General, from March 13, 1865.
W. L. Elliott, Brigadier General, from March 13, 1865.
Wm. Vandever, Brigadier-General, from June 7, 1865.
BREVET BRIGADIER-GENERALS.
Wm. T. Clark, A.A.G., late of 13th Infantry, from July 22, 1864.
Edward F. Winslow, Colonel 4th Cavalry, from December 12, 1861.
S. G. Ilill, Colonel 35th Infantry, from Deccm- ber 15, 1864.
Thos. II. Benton, Colonel 29th Infantry, from December 15, 1864.
Samuel S. Glasgow, Colonel 23d Infantry, from December 19, 1864.
Clark R. Weaver, Colonel 17th Infantry, from February 9, 1865.
Geo. A. Stone, Colonel 25th Infantry, from March 13, 1865.
Francis M. Drake, Lieut. - Colonel 36th Infant- ry, from February 22, 1865.
Datus E. Coon, Colonel 2d Cavalry, from March 8, 1865.
George W. Clark, Colonel 34th Infantry, from March 13, 1865.
Herman H. Heath, Colonel 7th Cavalry, from March 13, 1865.
J. M. Hedrick, Colonel 15th Infantry, from March 13, 1865.
W. W. Lowe, Colonel 5th Cavalry, from March 3, 1865.
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CHAPTER IX.
EDUCATIONAL-STATE INSTITUTIONS.
The people of Iowa have ever taken a deep interest in education, and in this direction no State in the Union can show a better record. The system of free pub- lic schools was planted by the early set- tlers, and it has expanded and improved until now it is one of the most complete, comprehensive and liberal in the country. In the lead-mining regions of the State, the first to be settled by the whites, the hardy pioneers provided the means for the education of their children even before they had comfortable dwellings for them- selves. School teachers were among the first immigrants to Iowa. Wherever a little settlement was made, the school house was the first thing undertaken by the settlers in a body, and the rude, primi- tive structures of the early time only dis- appeared when the communities increased in population and wealth, and were able to replace them with more commodious and comfortable buildings. Perhaps in no single instance has the magnificent pro- gress of the State of Iowa been more marked and rapid than in her common school system and in her school houses. To-day the school houses which every- where dot the broad and fertile prairies of Iowa are unsurpassed by those of any other State in this great Union. More especially is this true in all her cities and
villages, where liberal and lavish appro- priations have been voted by a generous people for the erection of large, commodi- ous and elegant buildings, furnished with all the modern improvements, and costing from $10,000 to $60,000 each. The people of the State have expended more than $10,000,000 for the erection of public school buildings.
The first school house within the limits of Iowa was a log cabin at Dubuque, built by J. L. Langworthy, and a few other miners, in the autumn of 1833. When it was completed, George Cabbage was em- ployed as teacher during the winter of 1833-4, and thirty five pupils attended his school. Barrett Whittemore taught the school term, with twenty-five pupils in at- tendance. Mrs. Caroline Dexter com- menced teaching in Dubuque in March, 1836. She was the first female teacher there, and probably the first in Iowa. In 1839, Thomas H. Benton, Jr., afterward for ten years Superintendent of Public Instruction, opened an English and classi- cal school in Dubuque. The first tax for the support of schools at Dubuque was levied in 1840.
At Burlington, a commodious log school house, built in 1834, was among the first buildings erected. A Mr. Johnson taught the first school in the winter of 1834-5.
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In Scott county, in the winter of 1835-6, Simon Crazin taught a four-months term of school in the house of J. B. Chamberlin.
In Muscatine county, the first school was taught by George Bumgardner, in the spring of 1837. In 1339 a log school house was erected in Muscatine, which served for a long time as school house, church and public hall.
The first school in Davenport was taught in 1838. In Fairfield, Miss Clarissa Saw- yer, James F. Chambers aud Mrs. Reed taught school in 1839.
Johnson county was an entire wilder- ness when Iowa City was located as the capital of the Territory of Iowa, in May, 1839. The first sale of lots took place August 18, 1839, and before January 1, 1840, about twenty families had settled within the limits of the town. During the same year Mr. Jesse Berry opened a school in a small frame building he had erected on what is now College street.
In Mouroe county, the first settlement was made in 1843, by Mr. John R. Gray, about two miles from the present site of Eddyville; and in the summer of 1844 a log school house was built by Gray, Wm. V. Beedle, C. Renfro, Joseph McMullen and Willoughby Randolph, and the first school was opened by Miss Urania Adams. The building was occupied for school purpose: for nearly ten years.
About a year after the first cabin was built at Oskaloosa, a log school house was built, in which school was opened by Samuel W. Caldwell, in 1844.
At Fort Des Moines, now the capital of the State, the first school was taught by Lewis Whitten, Clerk of the District Court, in the winter of 1846-'7, in one of
the rooms on "Coon Row," built for barracks.
The first school in Pottawattamie county was opened by George Green, a Mormon, at Council Point, prior to 1849; and until about 1854 nearly all the teachers in that vicinity were Mormons.
The first school in Decorah was taught in 1855, by Cyrus C. Carpenter, since Gov- ernor of the State. In Crawford county the first school house was built in Mason's Grove, in 1856, and Morris McHenry first occupied it as teacher.
During the first twenty years of the his- tory of Iowa, the log school house pre- vailed, and in 1861 there were 893 of these primitive structures in use for school pu: . poses in the State. Since that time they have been gradually disappearing. In 1865 there were 796; in 1870, 336; and in 1875, 121.
January 1, 1839, the Territorial Legisla- ture passed an act providing that " there shall be established a common school, or schools, in each of the counties in this Territory; which shall be open and free for every class of white citizens between the ages of five and twenty-one years." The second section of the act provided that " the County Board shall, from time to time, form school districts in their respec- tive counties, whenever a petition may be presented for the purpose by a majority of the voters resident within such contem- plated district." These districts were governed by boards of trustees, usually of three persons; each district was required to maintain school at least three months in every year; and later, laws were enacted providing for county school taxes for the payment of teachers, and that whatever
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additional sum might be required should be assessed upon the parents sending, in proportion to the length of time sent.
In 1846, the year of Iowa's admission as a State, there were 20,000 scholars, ont of 100,000 inhabitants. About 400 school districts had been organized. In 1850 there was 1,200, and in 1857 the number had increased to 3,265.
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