USA > Iowa > History of the Fifteenth Regiment, Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry, from October, 1861, to August, 1865, when disbanded at the end of the war > Part 35
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Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
On the 8th passed Eden station, and on the 9th arrived at Pooler station, (known as Station No. 1), being nine miles distant from Savannah, where General Mower's 1st Division of the 17th corps, being in the lead, was met with a lively skirmish from an open field on the right of the road, and by a lively artillery fire coming from a car on the railroad track, which, however, after killing and wounding twenty-one men of his command were driven from their position by our advancing lines, the 4th Division having taken posi- tion on the right of the railroad. Assistant Surgeon W. W. Nel- son here rejoined the regiment from detached service with the 3d Iowa Infantry. Contract Surgeon Gallagher, from November 10th assigned to the 15th Iowa, was released and ordered to the 16th Iowa.
December 10th, the 4th Division being in the lead of the corps, after a march of four and a half miles on the State road, parallel and close to the railroad, the enemy was met, the railroad crossed and line of battle formed on the left of same. Moved forward, and reached, about noon, the junction of the Charleston railroad, ( three miles from Savannah ) under constant and heavy artillery fire coming from their forts on the right of the railroad, and from two guns moving on the track towards our lines. Here the enemy had all the advantage of the ground in his favor, the railroad being a straight line for miles, and both sides of same being low and swampy ground, with a thick growth of underbrush and young timber.
The lines were at once formed, the 15th Iowa being nearest on the left of the railroad, and the largest part of the regiment stand- ing in water, the rest of the brigade on the right of the railroad; and the right of the 4th Division connecting with Mower's 1st Division. and Leggett's 3d Division being kept on the right and rear as reserve. Meanwhile, the skirmishers, wading forward in and across the swamp to the front, some 300 yards ahead, engaged the skirmish line of the enemy, and a battery on the right of the
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History of the Fifteenth Regiment
division, where the ground was somewhat elevated, having fortified its position sufficiently, opened with full vigor on the enemy, by which the skirmishers as well as the artillery of the latter were silenced during the fore part of the ensuing night.
The cannonading of the enemy did considerable damage, one company of the 53d Illinois (4th Division ) having lost 11 men in killed and wounded by one shell; most of the wounds received on this day were frightful bruises, and limbs were terribly mangled, if the individual was not killed at once. The 4th Division lost 45 in killed and wounded.
December 11th, the works commenced the night before, being as well finished as could be on such ground, and the several bat- teries put into position on the right of the brigade and division, having greatly dilapidated the enemy's fort that looked formidable the day before, and the skirmish line having been also advanced to the very limit of the deep pond intervening between them and the lines of the enemy. The regiment, brigade and division were relieved by a division of the 14th Corps, just arriving at the front. The division was then moved by a circuitous route around the Ogeechee canal to the south, southwest of Savannah, and forming on December 13th on the right and rear of Leggett's 3d Division, the whole line kept up a heavy cannonading during the whole day- when the news arrived that Fort McAllister had been taken by the 2d division, 15th Corps.
December 16th, the regiment with brigade was ordered to King's bridge, on the Ogeechee river, where, in the course of the afternoon the first boats from Admiral Dahlgren's fleet arrived through the Ossabaw Sound, with a load of heavy guns and much needed arti- cles of subsistence, the men having received no bread for eight days past, and all foraging having been out of the question since approaching the sea-coast, four-fifths of which was under water. Next day the army received its first mail for six weeks.
On December 19th, the regiment with brigade moved at 2
417
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
o'clock A. M., to the left of the two other divisions of its corps, to fill up a gap on the road connecting the 17th with the 14th Corps, being in front of a rebel fort that kept up a sweeping fire on that road, which was in full view of and only a quarter of a mile from the fort. Under the cover of a thick English fog, the brigade having arrived at 5 A. M. in front of the fort, it formed in line of battle at once, and the 15th Iowa furnished companies D, H, E, K and B, 300 strong, for skirmishers, half of the regiment being kept on that line alternately . At 8 o'clock, the skirmishers were re-enforced, and the line advanced and drove the enemy's skirmish line to the other side of the pond, encircling the fort from north to west, and south, southwest, and establishing themselves within 300 yards of the fort. During all this time an almost constant musketry and artillery fire, throwing a thick shower of grape, canister, solid shot and shell, was pouring upon the advancing lines of the brigade. The re- cruits of the regiment behaved gallantly; they vied with veterans in keeping their position as well as in advancing their line. In the afternoon part of the line on the right of the 15th fell back under a heavy fire from the enemy. They soon rallied, however, and got into position again. During the night, and on December 20th, the lines were fortified as well as the low ground would admit, while three batteries were completely paralyzing the enemy's skirmishers, as well as their artillery; no living person showed himself along their whole lines while the batteries played on them. In the evening of same day orders were received for a general assault on the next day; meantime the depth of the pond was sounded in several places during the night. Early in the morning of the 21st, however, the skirmishers reported the constant moving of artillery and heavy wagons in the direction and vicinity of the fort in their front since midnight, which led to the suspicion that the fort was being evacuated. When the lines of skirmishers were ordered to advance on hastily constructed plank bridges across the
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History of the Fifteenth Regiment
deep canal running through the centre of the pond, the last of the garrison was making haste to get out of sight. The fort was soon taken possession of with eleven pieces of artillery in good serviceable condition, with a vast amount of ammunition.
Leaving a sufficient garrison in the fort the brigade moved for- ward to Savannah, where, towards noon, it was put in camp within the precincts and southwestern part of the city. The enemy, un- der Hardee, left the day and night before. All the strong fortifi- cations and massive works around Savannah, with over 200 guns of the heaviest calibre, and an immense amount of ammunition, besides 25,000 bales of Confederate cotton, and a great deal of other valuable property, to concentrate their demoralized, scattered, and remaining forces at Hardeeville, South Carolina.
Though there were on this expedition no battles fought that would compare with those at Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, Kene- saw and Atlanta, there was enough done, however, to compel the enemy to loosen his grasp over a vast territory, which furnished an immense amount of light and heavy ordnance stores from its many arsenals and foundries, and most of the prime articles of subsistence to its armies. At the same time the Confederacy was severed into three parts, several hundred miles of railroads burned and destroyed beyond hope of repair by themselves, and the Western Army of the rebellion, only a year back a formidable host, now fugitive, scattered, and completely demoralized. The men of the 15th Iowa did their duty full and well, during the whole of the fall campaign just closed. From the reconnoissance in force to Fairburn, Octo- ber 1st, where, it being in the lead of the column under General Ransom, it struck and fought the enemy, October 2d, with gallant and acknowledged efficiency for several hours, driving him close to the village; also, through all the severe marches in the pursuit of Hood's army, and from Atlanta to the Sea; and when it was again brought into fire before Savannah, the large number of its drafted men, vieing with the veterans of a hundred battles and skirmishes,
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Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
stood their ground with determined bravery, amidst a shower of musket balls, grape, canister, shot and shell, even where parts of the line beyond the right of the regiment had yielded their ground temporarily under a most galling fire from the skirmishers and the heavy works of the enemy. Great credit was given, by superiors on the spot, to the men thus showing the true mettle of western patriot soldiers; and all praise is due the officers who, by constant instruction and by practical drill, whenever an occasion could be had, thus succeeded in rendering their companies efficient and fit for the various important duties of the campaign, though invariably only one officer was present to a company, and though the compa- nies were filled to their maximum number by the arrival of the recruits on the eve of starting out on this campaign to the Sea.
While in camp at Savannah the non-veterans of several compa- nies, whose term of service expired during the campaign, (39 in all), were honorably mustered out. Amongst the number was Surgeon Wm. H. Gibbon, December 23d, whose efficient services for three years past with the regiment, as well as with the Operat- ing Board of the 4th Division, rendered him one of the best sur- geons of the army, who could not be well spared, and who, upon leaving the service, richly deserved the following order of thanks of the command.
MAJOR POMUTZ'S ORDER ON THE RETIREMENT OF SURGEON GIBBON.
GENERAL ORDERS NO. 20.
Headquarters 15th Iowa Infantry Veteran Volunteers, Savannah, Ga., December 22d, 1864. 5
Surgeon William H. Gibbon, of this Regiment, having this day been honorably discharged the U. S. service, the commanding officer of this regiment cannot forbear giving expression to the just ap- preciation by himself, as well as by the officers and men of his
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History of the Fifteenth Regiment
command, of the unabated zeal, efficiency and practical skill with which the surgeon has discharged his important duties while con- nected with and in charge of the medical department of this regi- ment.
In the earlier part of the military life of this command, during the memorable battles of Shiloh and Corinth, he acquired the indi- vidual confidence of the officers and men, by his efficiency in the line of his profession, as well as by his courageous conduct while bravely and skillfully attending to the wounded soldiers in the im- mediate rear of the line of battle, then fiercely engaged with the enemy. That confidence, well merited then, he retained and de- served ever afterward through the entire period of his three years' service. The soldiers felt sure that whatever vigilant care, knowl- edge of science, and practical skill could accomplish for the sick and wounded, was secured to them while under his treatment.
During the eventful campaign of this year, resulting in the cap- ture of Atlanta and Savannah, being one of the selected Board of Operators, he displayed those highest qualifications in practical sur- gery that have stamped him as " one of the best field surgeons of the army."
While the surgical operations performed by him have rescued and preserved the life and limb of many a brave officer and soldier of this and other commands, the same are justly recorded as a triumph of the art and science of his profession.
This command, in hereby tendering thanks to the surgeon for his past services, earnestly hopes he may soon return to the field of his wonted invaluable usefulness to the army .
The Adjutant will forward an official copy of this order to the Surgeon.
By order of Major George Pomutz, commanding regiment.
WM. C. STIDGER, Adjutant.
The recommendations to fill the many vacancies amongst the officers of the regiment, made and forwarded at Marietta, ( Novem-
.
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lowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
ber 11th ) having been soon after returned, as all railroad communica- tion with the north had already been broken above that place, they were started anew, as soon as communication was opened by sea from King's Bridge (Dec. 17th). The delay necessarily resulting . from the long distance to Iowa was sorely felt by the command, as the few commissioned officers present for duty (one to a com- pany ) were constantly at hard work to attend to their companies, as well as the various important interests of the services in the field, from summer to the close of the year .*
The promptness with which the mails were delivered to the Army of the Tennessee, during its long campaigns, was a marvel. The credit for this belongs to Colonel A. H. Martland. In a letter dated May 24, 1887, he says:
" My happiest experience during the war was when I arrived at " King's Bridge, on the Ageeche river, with the mails for Sher- " man's Army on the day after it had completed its March to the " Sea. God bless the soldiers, officers and men, who gave me such "a full-hearted welcome on the 17th December, 1864. How it
*At the last inspection by the Inspector General before Savannah, the 15th Jowa numbered an aggregate of 1,048 men (more than the regiment ever had since its organization), without counting the 30 men left sick by Captain Porter in various hospitals while en route with his detachments of recruits from Nashville to Marietta in the forepart of November, and with- out including the 21 men of the second detachment who remained at various stations while on the way to Atlanta; who (in all 51), not having reported personally to the regiment, were not taken up on the rolls as yet. Most of these men joined the regiment afterwards at various points where it was within their reach.
Thus the 15th Iowa was known to be the largest regiment in the Army of the Tennessee during the last campaign, it having daily presented 720 to 745 guns for duty, and in line of battle for effective service.
The evident injustice to officers who were doing faithful work during the severe campaign, without adequate rank aud pay, was in great part remedied by the arrival at Savannah of the Governor of lowa, who having appointed fifteen commissioned officers, they were at once mustered in by the Division Commissary of Musters-their regular commissions to be for- warded hereafter by the Adjutant-General's office of the State. Captain Porter, though ap- pointed Major, could not be mustered in as such, by reason of Colonel Hedrick still being absent from the command on account of wounds received in July last ; and he, as well as Lieutenant-Colonel Pomutz, not being mustered in their respective new ranks on their com- missions issued last October. Chaplain E. H. King, formerly Adjutant, and 2d Lieutenant Wm. C. Stidger of Co. E. formerly Acting Adjutant, having received commissions as Chaplain and Adjutant respectively, were mustered into their new positions.
On the grand review of all the corps of Sherman's army at Savannah, the regiment and the brigade (Dec. 29th) were uniformly praised by all superiors, for military appearance, cleanliness of arms, equipments, and accoutrements, and their regularity of movement,
The distance marched from the 1st to the 21st of December is 160 miles.
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History of the Fifteenth Regiment
" happened that the mail reached Sherman's Army at that oppor- " tune time, is told in a letter from General Grant to General Sher- " man, and may be found embodied in 'Sherman's Memories.'"
The following letter from General Grant to Benson J. Lossing, dated Headquarters Armies of the United States, July 30, 1866, is of interest :
DEAR SIR :- Among the subjects which occupied my mind when I assumed command at Cairo, in the fall of 1861, was the regular supply of mails to and from the troops, not only in garrison, but those on the march whose active movements should begin. When I commenced the movement on Fort Henry on January 27, 1862, a plan was proposed by which the mails should promptly be for- warded to and as promptly sent from the army. So perfect was the organization that the mails were delivered to the army imme- diately upon the occupation of the fort. - Within one hour after the troops began to march into Fort Donaldson, the mails were being distributed to them from the mail wagons. The same promptness was always observed in the armies under my command, up to the
period of the disbandment. It is a source of congratulation that the postal service was so conducted that the officers and men were in constant communication with kindred and friends at home, and with as much regularity as the most favored in the large cities of the Union. The postal system of the army, so far as I know, was not attended with any additional expense to the service. The system adopted by me was suggested and ably superintended by A. H. Markland, special agent of the postoffice department.
Respectfully, U. S. GRANT, General,
GENERAL ORDERS NO. 3.
War Department, Adjutant General's Office. Washington, January 14, 1865.
The following resolution of the Senate and House of Represent- atives is published to the Army :
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Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
PUBLIC RESOLUTION-NO. 4.
Joint resolution tendering the thanks of the people and of Con- gress to Major-General William T. Sherman, and the officers and soldiers of his command, for their gallant conduct in their late brilliant movement through Georgia.
Be it Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
"That the thanks of the people and of the Congress of the United States are due, and are hereby tendered, to Major-General William T. Sherman, and, through him, to the officers and men under his command, for their gallantry and good conduct in their late campaign, from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and the triumphal march thence through Georgia to Savannah, terminating in the capture and occupation of that city; and that the President cause a copy of this joint resolution to be engrossed and forwarded to Major-General Sherman."
Approved, January 10, 1865.
By order of the Secretary of War. W. A. NICHOLS, Asst. Adjt. Gen.
AN INCIDENT DURING THE ADVANCE.
While the 4th Division, 17th Corps in lead of the column, had struck the enemy on December 10th, some four miles from Savannah and was rapidly crossing the railroad to form on a convenient ground on the left of same a terrible shelling was kept up by the enemy, especially from a gun-car moving on the track, and coming to a destructively close distance of the troops while in process of formation. At this time, General Sherman was seen to come up to the front, as he usually does when the head of the column gets in- to close contact with the enemy, to see the ground for himself. Just at the place where several others were hit a short time before, a cannon ball barely missed as he went along at the usual gait. The
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boys, truly his boys, were at once alive to offer their remarks: "He was nearest being killed now of any here," said one; "It did not miss him over a foot," said another; while a third, who evident- ly had not read the life of Napoleon, chinned in, "The ball is not yet made that can hit him," the ball, however, passing by him, made quite a stir in the rear amongst the drivers, several of whom volunteered the remark, that the train ought not to be so far to the front.
Another instance is known to the men of the 4th Division, when (afternoon of September 1st) at the battle near Jonesboro, the General just missed being hit by a shell exploding near him in front of the 4th Division.
A RECOLLECTION OF SAVANNAH.
During our approach to Savannah, and when but a few miles from the city, Major-General Frank P. Blair, (commanding 17th Corps,) his staff and escort company were leisurely riding along one of those straight causeways, through a forest when we saw the smoke of a battery in our front, distant about a mile, the next instant a solid shot came tearing through the air making everything look blue, going directly over the General's head, instantly killing the third man in his rear, Lieutenant Reynolds of Wisconsin. I was riding on General Blair's right and saw the disturbance of the atmosphere as plainly as one can see the sun on a slightly hazy day. It is needless to say that we required no order to vacate that road, we left it without much ceremony as to the order of our going.
General Blair was mounted at the time on a beautiful brown horse, recently captured from General Van Dorn of the Confeder- ate army, which he named for his gallant owner. In speaking of the circumstance, General Blair said: "Van sank almost to the ground, and that he thought his time was up." After the close of the war, General Blair sent General Van Dorn a check for $300 and kept the thoroughbred, probably much to the satisfac-
EDGAR T. MILLER CAPT. 15!" IOWA VOLUNTEERS CO.C.
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Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
tion of both, as the horse was a noble fellow, and good money was extremely scarce in the collapsed confederacy.
EDGAR T. MILLER,
Capt. C. Co., 15th Iowa, Asst. Provost Marshal 17th Corps.
While crossing the railroad near the 15th Iowa, the ordnance officer of the 4th Division, Captain Moore had his leg taken off by a shot from the railroad gunboat, which also killed his horse, and at the time it was thought the officer was killed, but he yet lives and is now in the office of the Commissary General at Washington.
RECOLLECTIONS OF A COLD AND HUNGRY NIGHT MARCH.
After our division was relieved by the 14th Corps we marched to the right, and until quite late at night on December 11th. It was very cold and tiresome as we marched through the woods, halting just long enough to light a fire at the foot of a tree, then moving on a few yards and another halt. This continued for hours, and being villainously hungry besides, nearly killed us. A man came along from somewhere, South Carolina probably, escorting a sickly, starved looking southwest quarter of a heifer. Slocum ( H Company's millionaire ) promptly bid five dollars for the knee joint down, but the man rapidly disappeared, while the poet sang
Man wants but little here below, Of a Georgia yaller calf; But, when he gets the horns and heels He wants the other half!
Some of you will remember of assisting to unload a supply train (while the drivers were asleep under the wagons, which were en-' route to the left ) as we marched by, and issuing crackers on the trot : " He that hath plenty of Hard Tack,
And giveth his Comrade none,
Shan't have any of my Hard Tack, When his Hard Tack is gone.
-[Extract from one of Co. K's Ballads. ]
The Mercury had evacuated Cairo, and was assigned to Florida, about this time, and next morn we found the canal and ground frozen solid. Some had their hair frozen to the earth and in their frantic efforts to rise and Fall into roll call, left portions of their scalps clinging to the mud, and this accounts for the large number of bald heads in the 15th.
31
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Additional Enlistments in Fifteenth Iowa Veteran Infantry, for One Year-A Company.
NAMES.
Residence.
Na- tivity.
Rank.
Entered U. S. Serv.
Mustered in.
REMARKS.
Adams, Samuel P.
21 5th Con. Dis. Ind.
Private,
Sept 28, '64 Sep 28, '64 Drafted.
Benedict, Dewitt C.
36
N. Y. |Private,
29, '64
29, '64 Substitute.
Corning, Charles A.
18 Grinnell,
Maine Private,
Oct 26, '64 Oct 26, '64 Drafted.
Eidimiller, George
22.2d Con. Dis. Penn. Private,
Sept 30, '64 Sep 30, '64 Drafted.
Fisher, William M.
32,5th
Ills.
Private,
44 28, '64 "
28, '64 Drafted.
Fletcher, Albert
20 6th
€
Ire.
Private,
18, '64 4
18, 64 Drafted.
Knight, Daniel
28 5th
44
Ind.
Private,
Sept 27, '64 Sep 27, '64 Drafted.
Macey, John W.
19,6th
27 5th
Ind.
Private,
Sept 28, '64 Sep 28, '64 Substitute.
Searles, Barney
25 2d
וי
Ind.
Private,
27, '64
27, '64 Drafted.
Selders, Lafayette
28 2d
66
Ind.
Private,
27, '64
Drafted.
Simmons, Chester W.
31 2d
N. Y. Va.
Private,
28, '64
28, '64 Substitute.
Smith, William E.
19.2d
Penn.
Private,
Oct 11, '64 Oct 11, '64 Drafted.
Thornton, William
22:5th
Ills.
Private,
Sept 26, '64 Sept 26, '64 Drafted.
Wallick, Jeremiah
25.2d
Ohio,
Private,
29, '64 " 29, '64 Drafted.
Williams, Charles
19 1st
Ire.
Private,
Oct 17, '64 Oct 17, '64 Drafted.
Wilson, H. P.
25 1st
Penn. |Private,
17, '64 Substitute.
Additional Enlistments in Fifteenth Iowa Veteran Infantry, for One Year-B Company
NAMES.
Residence.
Na- tivity . .
Rank.
Entered U. S. Serv.
Mustered in.
REMARKS.
Berrier, George
23 1st Con. Dis. N. C.
Oct 4, '64 Oct
4, '64 Drafted.
Blair, Andrew F.
18 Des Moines, Mo.
Jan 1, '65 Jan
1, '65 Drafted. Drafted.
Brown, John
19 1st Con. Dis. Ohio, 44
22/6th
Private, Private, Private, Private, Private,
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