USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > History of Winneshiek county with biographical sketches of its eminent men > Part 6
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
The Democrats had nominated J. M. Griffith, of Dubuque, who, being wealthy, could contest the ground more advantageously than any other member of his party eligible for the place. He fought his battles with the fierceness of desperation. Money was lavishly spent, and no doubt advantageously. Yet Mr. Burdick was elected by the round majority of 1,267. Winneshiek headed the list of all the Republican counties in the district by giving him 1265 majority.
Appended is a sketch of his life, written the year before his nomina- tion, and published in Andreas' Atlas :
" Theodore W. Burdick, cashier of the First National and Savings Banks of Decorah, is a native of Pennsylvania, born October 7, 1836. He removed with his parents to Winneshiek County at the age of 17, having previously acquired a good English education, his father having intended him for a collegiate course at Oberlin. The removal to the west, however, interfered with that arrangement, and on their arrival at Decorah, in the spring of 1853, he was employed as the first school teacher in the place, the first school-house having just then been
49
HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
completed. The following spring his father was elected County Treas- urer, and he took charge of the office and also that of County Re- corder, discharging practically the duties of both until he became of age, in 1857. At the next election following he was elected County Treasurer, and filled the office in a most faithful and satisfactory man- ner till 1862, when he resigned to enter the army. He was commis- sioned Captain of Company D, Sixth Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, in which capacity he served for three years-till 1865. Four brothers besides himself were in the army, and three of them lost their lives in their country's service. On his return from the army Mr. Burdick pur- chased an interest in the First National Bank of Decorah, of which he was elected Cashier in 1866. Since the war he has held no public office, but has devoted himself exclusively to business. Both in his public and private relations, for a period of over twenty years, since he became a citizen of Decorah, he has been noted as a gentleman of honor and integrity, of good business talents and irreproachable char- acter."
CHAPTER VII.
MILITARY HISTORY.
The Alarm of War-Patriotic Meeting of Citizens-Organization of the First Company-Miss Carrie Mc Nair-Battle of Blue Mills- Lieut. Anderson-Battle of Hatchie-List of Killed and Wounded- Battle of Shiloh-List of Killed and Wounded of Company D- Capt. E. I. Weisner-Surrender of Vicksburg-A Disastrous Charge -Lieut. McMurtrie-Lieut. C. W. Burdick-The Battle of Atlanta -The Third Iowa Fights Itself to Death.
On the 20th of April, 1861, just six days after the booming of cannon, heard at Sumter, had sounded the alarm of civil war, a meeting of the patriotic citizens of Winneshiek County, and Decorah in particular, was held in the Court House. It was held for the purpose of giving expres- sion to the outraged feelings of a liberty-loving people at the atrocious stroke made against human freedom and American liberty, and to declare their adhesion to the old flag that waved from the Court House dome above them. 7
.
50
HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
The meeting was called to order, and Capt. John H. Simpson made Chairman. This distinction was paid the aged gentleman because of his efficiency in commanding and his co-operation with the first militia company ever organized in Decorah.
Capt. John H. Simpson was born in Ganston, England, March 22, 1796, and died at Decorah July 2, 1869. He had been a member of the Royal Life Guards (Body Guard of the King) and as one of the battalion, was on his way to the field when the battle of Waterloo was fought. In 1828 he came to America and settled in New York City. He came to Decorah in 1850, and here for thirteen years he lived an honest, blameless life. He was elected Captain of the Decorah Guards on the formation of the company in 1859.
There are men yet living in Winneshiek County who remember the memorable meeting over which he presided, and how his patriotism gave vent, in the greatest effort of his life, in a patriotic speech that sent the blood tingling through the veins of every listener. In this speech he tendered the remainder of his life for the defence of his country, though the snows of sixty-five winters rested on his brow. He was not accepted. Younger men, with stronger sinews and harder muscles, volunteered their services.
But one week intervened before there was a reorganization of the Decorah Guards, and men better fitted for the hardships of a soldier's life superceeded the members of the original company. The Decorah Guards, as they originally were, underwent a complete transformation, only three of the old company being retained in the ranks of the new organization. The old officers resigned, and new ones were elected. This was the first company of men in Winneshiek County to enlist in defence of the Stars and Stripes. They were men in the full vigor of life, men of sterling worth, the very flower of our young county, as the following summary of the company indicates : The oldest men in the company (two of them) were aged 36, one 34, one 32, one 31, one 30, one 29, two 28, three 27, three 26, six 25, eight 24, seven 23, ten 22, nine 21, nine 20, eleven 19, ten 18, making a total of officers and men of 85, with an average of 22 years, 8 months and 22 days.
The company was known as the Decorah Guards, until mustered into the service ; then they assumed the name of Company D, Third Regi- ment of Iowa Volunteers. The officers of the new company were :
Captain-G. R. Willett.
First Lieutenant-Emilius I. Weiser.
Second Lieutenant-Ole A. Anderson.
5 1
HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
Orderly Sergeant-George Mckay.
Second Sergeant-A. H. McMurtrie.
Third Sergeant-C. W. Burdick. Fourth Sergeant-Robert Ray.
First Corporal-E. M. Farnsworth. Second Corporal -- Milton Ross.
Third Corporal-Charles P. Brown. Fourth Corporal-Joseph S. Neff.
This company was enrolled in Winneshiek County, and ordered into quarters by the Governor of the State May 21, 1861. The com- pany left Decorah for Keokuk, their rendezvous, May 28, 1861, and was mustered into the United States service June 10, 1861. The date of the company's departure from Decorah for the scenes of war will remain a memorable one in the recollection of the hundreds of citizens who met on Court House Square to bid the boys a last farewell. The ladies had prepared a beautiful flag, which was presented to the com- pany by Miss Carrie McNair, whom I feel compelled to more than casually mention ; and in order to do so I shall be obliged to digress from the main subject.
Carrie McNair was born in Livingston County, N. Y., about the year 1832. She came to Decorah in the year 1860, at that period in our national existence when the very atmosphere was deadened with treason- able imprecations against the Union, and when the cloud of rebellion had so spread its mammoth proportions as to nearly obscure the bright sunlight of freedom. Being a woman of strong emotional nature, a lover of liberty and union, she early identified herself with the Union side of the controversy that then threatened a separation of states ; con- sequently, out of respect and appreciation of her noble nature, and her sympathy with the Union, she was chosen, of all other women, better fitted to make the presentation. In 1862, following the many bloody battles, and not infrequent disastrous engagements, Miss McNair felt that there was need of her services in the crowded hospitals. With a heartfelt desire to render the Union any service in her power, and an anxiety and willingness to alleviate the sufferings of brave men who had fallen wounded in their country's cause, she became a nurse in a soldiers' hospital at St. Louis. She served in this capacity until the end of the war, and furnished aid and comfort to thousands of poor unfortunates.
Following the presentation of the flag, there was a presentation of Bibles and Testaments. The scene was such as never had occurred before, and was solemn, impressive and trying.
52
HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
The Company, in vehicles, pursued their course to McGregor, and from thence to Keokuk, and from here, soon after, they were transported to scenes of active service, in Missouri.
The first hard fought battle that the Company engaged in was at Blue Mills, Sept. 7, 1861, although previous to this they had been engaged in many hotly contested skirmishes. In the battle of Blue Mills the Unionists were driven back.
Wm. B. Miller, of Company D, was killed in this engagement, and Capt. Willett, Second Lieut. Ole Anderson, and private Wm. B. Heckert, were seriously wounded. Capt. Willett's wound occasioned his resigna- tion, and the promotion of Lieut. E. I. Weiser to the captaincy of the Company.
Lieut. Anderson fell, wounded in the temple, and was left on the field for dead. Company D having been obliged to retreat, he fell into the enemy's hands. His body was stripped of all its clothing but his pants, and he was robbed of everything by the rebels. The next day after the battle the rebels were obliged to retreat, and then Company D reclaimed his body. Lieut. Anderson lay unconscious three weeks, and it was a question for a long time afterwards whether he would survive or not. He entered the army a perfect athlete, and a perfect man, physically and mentally, and to-day, from the effect of that wound, incurred at the cost of duty and bravery, he is a mere wreck of his former self. As an officer he was efficient and brave to a fault.
The battle of Shiloh, fought on the 6th and 7th of April, 1862, was the next great conflict in which Company D participated. Under the hottest fire and amid the most trying scenes, Company D behaved itself with coolness and bravery. After passing through that fiery ordeal, a summary of the loss it sustained showed the following : Killed-Edward Knapp, Hans H. Stenson and Samuel D. Smith. Wounded-Capt. E. I. Weiser, Corp. J. H. Farber, Geo. H. Culver, Jas. S. Daskam, Hans Gulbrandson, Thos. Heath, Peter B. Hulverson, Knudt Knudson, Mat- thew Kellogg, Gilbert Knudson, Henry H. Sheldso, Geo. H. Kelly, John Jas. Fisher, Hiram S. Daskam.
The battle of Hatchie, fought on the 5th of October, was the scene of the next hotly contested engagement in which Company D took an active part.
The Company lost the following: Wounded-Capt. E. I. Weiser, Corp. C. C. Watson, Geo. Culver, Martin E. Oleson (mortally), and Martin Pepper.
53
HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
In the battle of Hatchie the second Captain of Company D was made incapable for active service by a rebel bullett.
Captain E. I. Weiser was born in York, Pa., April 10, 1835, and em- igrated from the place of his nativity to Decorah, in 1856. Being possessed with a warm heart and genial nature, and a patriotic love of country, the threats of war against the Union aroused his impulsive nature to a desire to make any sacrifice-hardship, suffering, even life itself-in his country's cause. As a result, when the first cry of a dis- tressed country was heard, calling on her sons for protection against the assaults of traitors, Capt. E. I. Weiser was the first and foremost of her patriots in Winneshiek County to respond. Capt. E. I. Weiser was the first man to enlist from Winneshiek County in his country's service, in the late civil war. He enlisted as a high private in Company D, and was elected First Lieutenant at the first election held by the Company.
Capt. E. I. Weiser participated in many warm skirmishes and two hard-fought battles. He was wounded at Shiloh ; also at Hatchie, on the 5th of October, 1862. The wound he received at Hatchie dis- abled him from further active military service during the war. Eight months he was detained in the hospital by his wound, and seven of these eight months he was compelled to lie in one position-on his back. He was with his company one week while it was at Memphis. While here the boys of Company D presented him with a silver pitcher, as a mark of their regard and the appreciation they had for him as a soldier and commander. Capt. Weiser was brave, cool, efficient, and possessed all the noble attributes requisite in a successful commander. His physical disability is a glorious certificate of his bravery.
Company D next went to Memphis, where it remained six months, and from thence to Vicksburg. They were engaged in the seige of Vicksburg up to the date of its surrender. Vicksburg surrendered July 4, 1863. The white flag was raised on every fort at 9 A. M. on the 3d. The rebels sent out a flag of truce, and wished to surrender on condi- tions. Gen. Grant sent back word that nothing but an unconditional surrender would be accepted. On the 3d, when the white flags were hoisted, all firing ceased. The rebels came outside of their works, and held a sociable with our boys. On the 4th of July, at 10 A. M., the rebels marched outside of their works, were drawn up in line, and stacked their arms, and promptly at II A. M. the Stars and Stripes proudly floated over the rebel works.
In this seige, on the 26th of June, Thomas Kelly, of Company D,
54
HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
was mortally wounded. He lived about a week, having won, in dying, the honor of being the bravest among the brave.
The Third Regiment received orders on the 5th to take up their line of march for Black River, to look after Johnston, who, with a large force, had been prowling in the rear. On the 12th of July, 1863, about 225 men of the Third Iowa, among which number were many of Com- pany D, made an assault on rebel works, behind which were ensconsed about 10,000 of Johnston's men. The result of this assault was a whirl- wind of death. In the first volley fired by the enemy 125 out of the original 225 were almost instantly mowed down There were about 800 men engaged, but 225 that ventured right into the jaws of this fiery hell. The commander in charge was immediately relived of com- mand.
On the 7th of July Johnson evacuated Jackson, the scene of the last engagement, and here, in rebel hospitals, were found the wounded who had survived the disastrous charge of the 12th inst. Among the number was Lieut. McMurtrie, who had both legs broken by rebel shots. His right leg had been wounded with a piece of shell, and was so badly shattered that amputation was necessary. The left leg had been broken by a minie ball.
It was found necessary, on the 21st of July, to remove the wounded to Vicksburg. The journey had to be made in ambulances. Lieut. McMurtrie was among the unfortunates that had to submit to the removal. Words cannot express the suffering this trip entailed upon him in his weakened condition.
On the 23d he was placed on a hospital boat to be sent north, but died before the boat left the wharf, at 2 P M., July 25, 1873.
Lieut. A. McMurtrie was born at Homer, Michigan, June 30, 1837. He came to Iowa in 1856. He was promoted First Lieutenant of Com- pany D, May 21, 1862.
Lieut. McMurtrie was endowed with a great moral character, which lost none of its noble attributes by his army career. He died a brave soldier, lamented by his comrades in arms and all who knew him.
C. W. Burdick was promoted First Lieutenant, to fill the vacancy caused by Lieut. McMurtrie's death, which post of duty he held from that time until his three years enlistment had expired. At this time Lieut. Burdick was the only commissioned officer in the company. During three years' service, Lieut. Burdick was off duty but twelve days. He took an active part in every skirmish and battle in which his com- pany was engaged, and was never touched by an enemy's fire. Few
55
HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
men, and I doubt if any, in Iowa can show a better record than this. The engagement at Jackson was the last of any note in which Com- pany D took an active part. The time of enlistment of Company D expired on the 10th of June, 1864. The Company was stationed at Kingston, Georgia. All that did not re-enlist, started home to be mus- tered out of the service. Many of the boys remained. At the memor- able battle of Atlanta, fought July 22, 1864, the Third Iowa literally fought itself to death.
The boys of the third and Company D went into this battle with that Spartan valor that had characterized them, individually and collectively, in many a hard fought engagement. As the battle grew raging hot and desperate, a handful of our undaunted men, among whom were a rem- nant of Company D, gathered amidst the pelting shower of shot and shell, and there around our flag and banner they stood its guard in the most perilous moments. The color-bearer, the bravest of the brave, relinquished his hold by death alone. Still the mass stood there fighting madly for its defence. Their number fast decreasing by death, their hopes began to fail, and, as they surrendered themselves to the enemy, they tore the emblem of our nationality, and regimental designation, into pieces and into shreds, which concealed, they proudly brought back to us, untouched and unsoiled by impious and traitorous hands.
56
HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
CHAPTER VIII.
MILITARY HISTORY.
Company H-Camp Life-On the March-Named the " Iowa Grey Hounds "-Receives its Baptismal Fire at Pea Ridge-Storming Rifle Pits and Batteries-The March to the Sea-It had its Average Number of Bummers-The Loss Sustained by Company H -- O. M. Bliss ---- A Tribute of Valor by the Ladies of Boston-Company G Enrolled-The Battles in which it Participated-Death of Captain C. C. Tupper-Promotion of Lieut. Townsley-Lieut. Nickerson -- Sergt. A. A. Burdick-Nelson B. Burdick-Winneshiek County Contributes Three Additional Companies-Companies D, K and E- A History of their Maneuvers-Their Ranks are Thinned by Disease-Death of Col. D. H. Hughes-The Thirty-Eighth and Thirty-Fourth are Consolidated-It takes part in the Last Battle of The War-A Short Sketch of Company D, Sixth Iowa Cavalry.
Company H, Ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, was organized at Decorah, in the months of August and September, 1861, and was mus- tered into service at Dubuque, on the 24th of September, the same year.
After remaining at Camp Union, Dubuque, until the middle of October, the Regiment was sent to St. Louis, and went into camp at Benton Barracks. A few weeks were passed in the usual routine of camp duty, when the regiment was ordered to Pacific City, Missouri, and passed some little time in guarding railroads and arresting guerillas. During this time the regiment was perfecting its discipline; and the diseases incidental to the climate and season, joined to the hardships of camp life, were thinning the ranks of all men who were deficient in physical vigor.
When the expedition against Price was organized, the Ninth was ordered to Rolla, Mo., and after a week spent in camp at that place, started on the march for Springfield. The march was made in winter, and the crossing of the Gasconade, the roads knee-deep in mud, and the cold, inclement weather tested the endurance of the men, and when the regiment was placed in the advance, after the capture of Spring- field, it earned its title, " The Iowa Greyhounds," by marching 135 miles in four days in the pursuit of Price. Company H received its " baptism of fire " at Pea Ridge, and the day before the fight
57
HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
marched forty miles on a half-pint of corn-meal to the man. It mustered fifty-two men when the fight opened ; twenty-two were un- wounded at the close of the struggle.
On that field the boys, most of them beardless, who six months before were laboring on farms and in workshops, showed themselves able to defeat the practiced riflemen of Missouri and Arkansas, the Rangers of Texas, and the trained regiments of Louisiana.
The march across Arkansas, in the summer of 1862, followed the conflict at Pea Ridge. Some time was passed in camp Helena, and in December the regiment took part in the first attack on Vicksburg. The expedition up the dark Yazoo, and its unfortunate results, were amply avenged at Arkansas Post, January 10, 1863.
In all the operations that culminated in the capture of Vicksburg the Ninth was actively engaged-from digging in the canal to storming rifle-pits and batteries. . And in the charge on the 22d of May, Com- pany H lost eighteen men killed and wounded out of a total of twenty- six men in action, and of these nine were killed on the field or mortally wounded. From Vicksburg to Jackson, thence back to Vicksburg, up the river to Memphis, thence to Tuscumbia, where a severe conflict took place, then up the sides of Lookout Mountain, under the lead of Osterhaus, followed by a rapid pursuit of the routed foe, and the fight at Ringgold, is a brief outline of the work Company H took part in during 1863. The majority of the company re-enlisted as veterans, and after their return from furlough the boys found themselves a part of the mighty host Sherman was about to lead " to the sea."
For seventy days from the opening of this memorable campaign the members of Company H who participated in the operations, were con- stantly under fire, with perhaps a slight intermission prior to the crossing of the Chattahoocheehe fights at Resacca, New Hope Church, Burnt Hickory and Kenesaw Mountain, showed the valor and disci- pline of the Ninth. On the 22d of July the Ninth was one of the Iowa regiments that, under the eye of Sherman, recaptured the battery of DeGress, and drove the rebels, at the bayonets' point, from the entrenched line they had wrested from the loyalists. At Ezra's Church, on the 28th of July, and at Jonesboro, where the fate of Atlanta was decided, the boys of Company H were actively engaged.
After the capture of Atlanta and the pursuit of Hood, who was left to the " tender mercies " of Thomas, the boys followed Sherman to the sea, and Company H furnished its full quota of able and accomplished " bummers." From Savannah the company marched through the 8
58
HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
Carolinas, taking part in any " little unpleasantness " that came in the way, and actively participating in the closing fight at Bentonville. After resting a few days at Raleigh, the regiment marched to Washing- ton and took part in the " Grand Review," and was shortly after mus- tered out of the service at Louisville, Ky.
That Company H did its whole duty, the following figures, taken from the Adjutant General's Report, prove:
Company H, 9th Iowa-Total killed and wounded. 53
Total killed and died of wounds 19
Company D, 3d Iowa-Total killed and wounded 33
Total killed and died of wounds 9
Company G, 12th Iowa-Total killed and wounded. 9
ยท
Total killed and died of wounds 4
Company E, 38th Iowa-Total killed and wounded O
Company K, 38th Iowa-Total killed and wounded.
I
Total killed and died of wounds I
Company D, 38th Iowa-Total killed and wounded I
Total killed and died of wounds I
The above table shows the extent of the loss sustained by Company H in battle, as compared with the reported losses of the other com- panies organized in this county from the same cause. I do not think the above figures do full justice to Companies E, K and D, Thirty- Eighth Iowa, for no regiment organized in the country suffered to such an extent by disease. Stationed in localities where to breathe the air was to inhale death, the boys of Company E, D and K per- formed their allotted duty, sustained by naught save the feeling of patriotism, and faced death uncheered by "the shout of victory, the rapture of the strife."
Died of disease :
Company D, 3d Iowa IO
H, 9th Iowa I5
G, 12th Iowa I7
E, 38th Iowa 34
D, 38th Iowa 37
K, 38th Iowa 37
Company H, at the time it was mustered in, was commanded by M. A. Moore, who achieved no particular distinction. He resigned in the spring of 1863, and was succeeded by O. M. Bliss, who enlisted as a
59
HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
private and secured promotion by meritorious services. Capt. Bliss was as true a soldier as ever drew a sword. Brave, earnest and patriotic, he " dared to lead where any dared to follow." After facing death on twenty fields he died from injuries received by a fall from his horse while acting as Major after the capture of Atlanta. J. H. Phillips suc- ceeded to the captaincy, and commanded the company until its service was ended.
In writing this brief sketch of the career of Company H, embracing a period of nearly four years, and services performed in eight States, from the Ozark Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, a hundred incidents and memories crowd on the mind that space will not permit me to relate. Nearly sixteen years have elapsed since " we took the oath of muster with right hand raised to heaven," and, in looking back, the boys of Company H will instinctively date their memory of army life from the bitter, persistent struggle in the wild ravines of the Ozark, where their first blood was shed. And during all subsequent campaign- ing, Pea Ridge was the standard whereby to measure the severity of the conflict. And the boys of the Ninth will ever remember, with proud gratification, the tribute their valor received from the ladies of Boston- a stand of colors emblazoned with the name of their fiercest battle.
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.