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 37
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|Drafted.
Oct 15, '64 Oct 15. '64 Drafted.
Nov 1, '64 Nov 1, '64 Substitute. Deserted Nov. 6, '64.
Oct 17, '64 Oct 17, '64 Drafted. Died, 4th Div. Hosp'l, Mar. 22, '65.
Sept 28, '64 Sept 28, '64 Drafted.
Kale, Alfred
Private,
17, '64 Drafted.
Private,
29, 64 " 29, '64 Draited.
Pierce, John M.
33 6th
Ohio,
44
I Company -- Continued.
NAMES.
Residence.
Na- tivity.
Rank.
Entered U. S. Serv.
Mustered in.
REMARKS.
Rudloff, John
23
6th Con. Dis.
66
Ind.
Private, Private, Private,
Oct 15, '64 Oct 15, '64 Drafted. Sept 27, '64 Sept 27, '64 Drafted.
Oct 6, '64 Oct 6, '64 Substitute.
Deserted Nov. 6, '64.
Wacht, Nickolas
26
66
Gerin
Private,
Sept 27, '64 Sept 27, '64 Substitute.
Woosley, Burrel T.
33
Ky.
Private, Private,
27,'64
27, '64 Drafted.
Additional Enlistments in Fifteenth lowa Vet. Inf., for One Year .- K Company.
NAMES
Residence.
Na- tivity.
Rank.
Entered U. S. Serv
Mustered in.
REMARKS.
Adams, Byron S.
22
3d Con. Dis.
66
Ohio,
Private, Private, Private,
Sept 27, '64 Sept 27, '64 Drafted.
Anderson, George T.
18,5th
Ind.
Oct 10, '64 Oct 10, '64 Substitute.
Ashby, Zachariah
185th
44
Private,
1, '64
1, '64 Substitute. Deserted Kokomo, Ind., Nov.
[5, '64.
Bornham, James F.
Oct 5, '64 Oct 5, '64 Drafted.
Buskirk, James V.
34 5th
Private, Private, Private,
6, '64 "
6, '64 Drafted.
Cameron, Alexander
25 2d
Irel'nd Private, Ind.
27, '64 " 27, 64 Drafted.
Croxton, Shadrach
28 6th
Private,
Oct 19, '64 Oct 19, '64 Drafted.
Dabney, Albert R.
19 5th
Ills.
Private,
10, '64; 10, '64 Substitute.
Ernst, Fredrick
21 3d
.
Ind.
Private, Private, 'Private, Private, Private,
4, '64
4, '64 Drafted.
Hamilton, Henry C.
21 4th
66
31, '64
31, '64|Substitute.
Harmer, Wm.
38 2d
Germ.
Sept 27, '64 Sept 27, '64 Drafted.
Harwood, Allen
24,6th
Oct 17, '64 Oct 17, '64 Drafted.
Hendricks, John B.
Private,
Hill, Milton M.
26.5th
=
Ind.
Private,
'64 '64 Drafted. Deserted in Field, Ga., Jan. 4, '65. Sept 27, '64 Sept 27, '64 Drafted.
438
History of the Fifteenth Regiment
Sulgrove, Emanuel
34 5th
Vanhooser, Valentine
21
66
Wyatt, John W.
27
Ohio.
28, '64
28, '64 Drafted.
Age. 82
126|2d
Ohio,
Sept 29, '64 Sept 29, '64 Drafted.
Sept 29, '64 Sept 29, '64 Drafted,
Cook, Uriah
124 5th
Private,
5, '64 5, '64 Drafted.
Gregory, Thomas N.
24 1st
Oct 5, '64 ()ct 5, '64 Drafted.
Adams, George M.
BO 5th
Axtell, Jesse
Age. 1855
Hines, Leyman W. Hudson, Horace L Hunter, Moses King, Frederick
35|2d Con. Dist. Ohio, Private, 30| Dubuque, 34 6th Con. Dis.
19 2d
Klingman, Lewis
36 3d 23 1st 23 3d
Ohio.
.. 3, '64 1,'64 1, '64 Substitute.
McClean, John
37 3d
6, 5, '64 5, '64 Drafted
McStay, John M.
25 6th
Miller, Elisha
23 5th
Ind.
Sept 27, '64 Sept 27, '64 Drafted.
Miller, John R.
18|2d
Iowa.
Private,
'64
'64 Deserted in Field, Ga. Jan. 4, '65.
Mingal, William H.
32|2d
Private, Private,
31, '64 5, '64
5, '64 Drafted.
Roberts, John
21|2d
66
Private,
2, '64
6 19, '64 Drafted.
Rowen, Francis A.
26 6th
Private,
19,'64
25, '64
25, '64 Drafted.
Shaw, Edward L.
32 4th
Private,
31,'64
31, '64 Substitute.
Sheldon, Horace I.
32 3d
66
Private,
5, '64
5, '64 Dralted.
Smith, James E.
35 3d
Private.
5, '64
5, '64 Drafted.
Stanfield, Joseph W
30 4th .
Private,
31, '64
31, '64 Substitute.
Stewart, Franklin HI.
19|1st
Private,
24,'64 15, '64 15, '64
10, '64
16
10), '64 Sub- titute.
Tice, Daniel N.
29 5th
66
N. Y.
Private, Private, Private,
.. 21, '64
21, '64 Substitute.
Walters, Dennis.
18 2d
Webb, David G.
25,5th
Germ. Private,
1, '64
1, '64 Drafted, died in S. C. Feb. 27, '65.
Webber, Henry
23/2d
Private,
66 11,'64
11, '64 Substitue, deserted Raleigh, N. C. Apl 29 '65
Welsh, Henry
18 4th
Private
31, '64 5, '64,
5, '64 Drafted.
Welsh, Peter
32/3d
Private
Weuzel, William H.
42 2d
Germ. Private,
Wilkin, Mathew
35 5th
6.
Private,
Willson, Eldridge
|24 6th
Private,
15, '64 "
15, '64 Drafted.
Wingrove William,
38/2d
Ire.
| Private,
Sept 28, '64 Sept 28, '64 Drafted.
2, '64 "
2, '64 Substitute, deserted Kokomo Ind. Nov 5, '65.
31, '64 Substitute.
Quigley, Robert.
20 3d
"
Private,
2, '64 Substitute, deserted Louisville, Nov. 6, '64.
Russell, William D.
126 Ist
Private,
Private,
15, '64 Substitute.
Thomas, John H.
18 ft
66
Ohio.
Private,
8, '64
8, '64 Drafted.
Wallis, J. D.
25 Ist
15, '64 Drafted.
Stow, Ebenezer G.
26 6thi
Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private,
Sept 29, '64 Sept 29, '64 Drafted. Oct 5, '64 Oet 5, '64 Drafted. ·
19, '64 19, '64 Drafted, died Beaufort, S. C. Feb. 4, '65. " 20, '64 20, '64 Substitute.
Oct 5,'64 ¥ 5, '64 Drafted. 3, '64 Drafted.
Lloyd, William Z. Maighon, Thomas C.
13, '64 13, '64 Drafted.
Oct 5, '64 Oct 5, '64 Substitute.
Murphy, Charles
Philips, Henry
34 4th
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
439
31, '64 Substitute.
Sept 24, '64 Sept 24, '64 Drafted.
Oct 28, '64 Oct 28, '64 Drafted.
24, '64 Substitute.
Additional Enlistments in Fifteenth lowa \ et. Inf. for one Year .- K Company, Continued.
NAMES.
Age.3
Residence.
Na- tivity.
Rank.
Entered U. S. Serv.
Mustered in.
REMARKS.
Woll, Charles, W.
22 5th Con. Dis.lOhio,
Private,
Oct Il. '64 Oct 11, '64 Substitute.
Additional Enlistments in Fifteenth Iowa Vet. Inf., whose Companies are Unknown.
NAMES.
Age.
Residence
Na- tivity.
Rank.
Entered U. S. Serv.
Mustered
REMARKS.
Alexander, Wm.
39|2d Con. Dis. Penn.
64
Ind.
Private, Private,
" 28, '64 '
28, '64 Drafted.
Allen, Lewis
18:2d
Ils.
Private,
Oct 17, '64 Oct 17, '64 Substitute.
Allsop, Jack
29 2d
Germ. Private,
20, '64 "
20, '64 Substitute.
Anderson, Martin
22 2d
Ohio,
Private,
Sept 30, '64 Sept 30, '64 Drafted.
Arronholt, Andrew
30 2d
Ohio,
Private,
27, '64 " 27, '64 Substitute.
Baker, Dennis K
44.2d
R. I.
Private,
29, '64 Sept 29, '64 Drafted.
Barrett, James
23 2d
Eng. Ohio, Ind.
Private,
Sept 27, '64 Sept 27, 64 Drafted.
Brinson, Zebulon
44 5th
28 1st
21 2d
Penn.
Private,
Sept 29, '64 Sept 29, '64 Drafted.'
Bomgardner, Andrew J. 19 1st
¥
Penn.
Private,
Oct 17, '64 Oct 17, '64 Substitute.
Car-on, Ezra
31 2d
Ohio,
Private,
Sept 20, '64 Sept 20, '64 Drafted.
Clark, Charles F. M.
23|2d
Ohio,
Private, 29, '64 " 29, '64 Drafted.
Clark, Cornelius
27 1st
Ohio,
Private,
Coe, Charles M.
18/24
N. Y.
Private,
Crawford, Caleb
40 5th
Ind.
Private,
Crouch, Andrew .
122 5th
Ind.
Private,
Crouch, James F.
30 2d
Cana. Private,
Oct 1, '64 Oct 17, '64 Drafted,
Cummins, Charles
23 1-t
Mich.
Private,
17,'64 . 1, '64 Substitute.
Delong. Fenton L.
26,5th
Ohio, Private,
Sept 28, '64 Sept 28, '64 Drafted. .
Drake, Abraham
245th
Penn. Private,
27, '64| " 27, '64 Drafted.
Belles Jacob
41|5th
-
Drafted.
Private, Private,
Nov 1, '64 Nov 1, '64 Substitute.
Bryan, Theodore
Bucker, Henry
Oct 13, '64 Oct 13, '64 Substitute.
18, '64' " 18, '64 Substitute.
Sept 27, '64 Sept 27, '64 Drafted. 16
Drafted.
440
History of the Fifteenth Regiment
in.
Sept 30, '64 Sept 30, '64 Drafted.
Allen, Hiram
34 5th
Private,
Oct 18, '64 Oct 18, '64 Substitute.
33
Dyer, William F. Elifritz, Abram Emerson, Frank Fields, Thomas J. |28.3d Grossclose, Jacob Guman, Stephen Henderson, Eli Heuse, Conrad Hess, Andrew Huff, Nathaniel Johnson, James do
. Johnson, James H. Johnson, John A. Johnson, William H. Lamson, John Learning, Elisha Lemm, Milton C. Ludington, John W. McBirney, George McClain, Alexander Means, James M. Means, John
Mentz, Mathias
Miller, Andrew
Miller, Robert A.
Milton, Robert F.
Mitchell, Darius B. Morris, Edwin
Nelson, Charles
Nelson, Franklin B.
Parker, Edward N.
Parker, Moses J. H. Peckmum, James Perkins, Charles E. Perkins, Zelord Phifer, Henry
20'5th Con. Dis. Ind. 19|2d 122 6th 66
Vt. N. Y.
31 5th Ind. Penn. 30 2d 66 Ohio,
20 5th 66
41 2d Germ 33|1st Ills .. Ills. Ills.
90 5th 30 20 2d Con. Dis. Ire. 36 1st Con. Dis. Ills.
22 5th Con. Dis. Mo.
30 2d Con. Dis. N. Y. 39 5th Con. Dis. Ind,
24 1st Con. Dis. Ohio, 22,5th Con. Dis. Penn. 20 2d Con. Dis. Cana.
39 do Ire. Private, 24 5th Con. Dis. Ind. 26 2d Con. Dis. Penn. 26 do Private, Private, Private, Ger. Private. Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Mo. Private, 37 5th Con. Dis. Penn. Private, Private, 18 1st Con. Dis. Iowa, 25 2d Con. Dis. N. Y. Private,
18| do Cana. Private, Private,
(Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private, Private,
Sept 26, '64 Sep 26; '64 Drafted. Oct 17, '64 Oct 17, '64 Substitute. " 13, '64 Oct 13, '64 Substitute. Sept 20, '64 Sep 20. '64 Drafted.
28, '64 = 28, '64 Drafted.
23, '64 23, '65 Drafted. 46 27, '64 27, '64 Drafted.
Sept 30, '64 30, '64 Drafted.
Oct 4, '64: Oct 4, '64 Drafted. Sep 27, '64 Sep 27, '64 Drafted.
28, '64 " 28, '64 Drafted. Oct 18, '64 Oct 18, '64 Substitute. " 4, '64 “ 4, '64 Drafted. Sept 26, '64 Sep 26, '64 Drafted.
29, '64: " 29, '64 Drafted.
27, '64 27, '64 Drafted. Oct 17, '64 Oct 17, '64 Substitute. Sept 27, '64 Sep 27, '64 Substitute. Oct 15, '64 Oct 15, '64 Drafted.
Sept 29, '64 Sep 29, '64 Drafted. 26. '64 Substitute. Sept 26, '64 ". 24,'64 " 24, '64 Drafted. Oct 12, '64 Oct 12, '64 Substitute. Sep 28, '64 Sep 28, '64 Drafted.
24 '65 Sep 24, '64 Substitute.
29, '64 Sep 29, '64 Drafted. 22, '64:Sep 22, '64 Drafted.
Oct 17, '64 Oct 17, '64 Substitute.
Sept 23, '64 Sep 23, '64 Drafted. Oct 10, '64 Oct 10, '64 Substitute. do
do Substitute.
Sep 26, '64 Sep 26, '64 Drafted. Oct 14. '64 Oct 14, '64 Substitute. Sep 29, '64 Sep 29, '64 Drafted.
Oct 12, '64 Oct 12, '64 Substitute.
11, '64, " 11, '64 Substitute.
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
441
27|5th Con. Dis. Ky.
82 5th Con. Dis. Ohio, 34 4th Con. Dis. Ind. 37|2d Con. Dis. Ky. 22 5th Con. Dis. Ills. 19|1st Con. Dis. N. Y. 37 2d Con. Dis. 18 3d Con. Dis. Wis. 21 do
442
Additional Enlistments in Fifteenth Iowa Vet. Inf., for One Year, whose Companies are unknown .
NAMES.
Residence.
Na- tivity.
Rank.
Entered U. S. Serv.
Mustered in.
REMARKS.
Phillips, David
6th Con Dis.
"
Penn.
Private, Private,
Sept 27, '64 Sept 27, '64 Drafted.
Rea, David
41 5th
Va.
Private,
" 27, '64
27, '64 Drafted.
Reed, Andrew
18 5th
Ohio,
Private,
Oct 3, '64 Oct 3, '64 Substitute.
Rhodes, James
24 Ist
Penn.
Private, Private,
11,'64
11, '64 Substitute.
Roldin, Isaac
18|5th
Ind.
Private,
28, '64
28, '64 Substitute.
San Pierie, Edward.
18 6th
Can ?.
Private,
20, '64
20, '64 Substitute.
Sauser, Michael
22 2d
Germ. Private,
Seely, Julius Caesar
43 3d
Ohio.
Private,
12, '64
=
12, '64 Drafted.
Severson, Wesley T.
43 2d
Ohio,
Private,
Simmons, Joseph B.
24 5th
Ind.
Private,
Sims, Edward
22 2d
Iowa,
Private,
27, '64
46 27, '64 Drafted.
Snodgrass, George
37 3d
66
Ohio.
Private,
Oct 12, '64 Oct 12, '64 Substitute.
Snow, Jackson P.
23/2d
66
Eng.
Private,
Suver, John S.
33 2d
16
Ohio.
Private,
Spatz, Frederick
37.5th
Germ. Private,
Sept 27, '64 Sept 27, '64 Drafted.
Spitell, Mathias
30 2d
Private,
Oct 11, '64 Oct 11, '64 Substitute. 8, '64 8, '64 Substitute.
Stahl, Buchary T.
18|1st
Iowa.
Private,
Sept 28, '64 Sept 28, '64 Drafted.
Stanfield, Thomas J.
24|5th
Ills.
Private,
Statts, Abraham J.
312d
C
Ind.
Private,
Oct 1, '64 Oct
1, '64 Drafted.
Stickler, John
30 5th
Ohio,
Private,
Sept 28, '64 Sept 28, '84 Drafted.
Sumstine, Peter
27 5th
Ind.
Private,
26, '64
26, '84 Drafted.
Taylor, John G.
29 2d
66
Penn.
Private,
29, '64
66 29, '64 Drafted.
Thayer, Seth
25 2d
N. Y.
Privatc,
23, '64
- 23, '64 Drafted.
Thomson, Edwin B.
20 5th
42 5th
Ohio, Ohio
Private,
27, '64|
27, '64 Drafted.
Tibbets, James
41 2d
Ind.
Private,
.. 27, '64
27, '64 Drafted.
Tomlinson, John
44.2d
Eng.
Private,
3, '64 " 23, '64 Drafted.
Townsend, Alamander
[24,5th
Ind.
Private.
= 26, '65|
26, '64 Substitute.
Ind.
Oct 13, '64 Oct 13, '64 Substitute.
Potter, John
28 5th
Rice, Ananias
46 5th
Penn.
Sept 26, '64 Sept 26, '64 Drafted.
Oct 11, '64 Oct 11, '64 Substitute.
Sept 30, '64 Sept 30, '64 Drafted.
28, '64
28, '64 Drafted.
24, '64
24, '64 Drafted.
13, '64
13, '64 Substitute.
66 28, '64
" 28, '64 Drafted.
Private,
Thornley, Edward
Age. 122
History of the Fifteenth Regiment
Tscholl, Baptist Turner, Wm. Van Ripper, Peter
[18|3d Con. Dis. Germ Private,
"
Mo. Mich.
Private, Private,
Vaughn, Amos C.
22 5th
Iowa Private,
Vaughn, Wm. F.
25 5th
Wis.
Private,
Vaughn, Simpson
19 2d
Penn.
Private,
Viers, Charles M .
24 2d
Ohio,
Private, Private,
Waddell, James Wade, John
22|5th
24 5th
Ind.
Private,
Wall, Thomas
25 2d
,
Ohio,
Private,
Sept 30, '64 Sept 30, '64 Substitute.
Warren, John K.
37 5th
,
Ky.
Private,
Sept 26, '64 וי 26, '64 Drafted.
Wassen, John A.
26 5th
Ind.
Private,
Sept 27, '64
", 27, '64 Drafted. Substitute.
Wassen, Wm. H. H.
23 5th
,
Ind.
Private,
Wayler, Jean
35 2d
Germ Private,
Oct 10, '64 Oct 10, '64 Drafted.
Wells, Wm. K.
22 2d
"
Ind.
Private,
Sept 28, '64 Sept 28, '64 Substitute,
Williams, George
18|2d
24.5th
Ind.
Private,
Sept 27, '64 Sept 27, '64 Drafted.
Wilson, Wm. B. H. Wolf, John
39 2d
Germ Private,
Oct 5, '64 Oct
5, '64 Substitute.
Woodward, Sylvester
44 2d
Can.
Private,
" 12. '64
12, '64 Substitute.
Wright, Daniel
32|5th
Ind.
Private,
7, '64
" 7, '64 Substitute.
Wright, Reuben H.
18|3d
ו
N. Y. Private,
"
" Substitute.
Wyley, James.
(18,2d
"
Can. Private,
13, '64
13, '64 Substitute.
Ind.
Ill. Private,
Drafted. Substitute.
Walker, Thomas A.
Oct 15, '64 Oct 15, '64 Drafted.
Walton, Pierce
23|2d
Holl.
Private,
15, '64 15, '64 Drafted. Sept 23, '64 Sept 23, '64 Substitute. " 26,'64 26, '64 Substitute. " 27, '64 " 27, '64| Substitute. Oct 3, '64 Oct 3, '64 Drafted. Sept 23, '64 Sept 23, '64 Drafted. 28, '64 " 28, '64 Substitute. ני
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
.
443
Oct 10, '64 Oct 10, '64|Substitute.
20 2d
28|2d
Irel'nd Private,
Oct 15, '64 Oct 15, '64 Drafted.
36,5th
444
History of the Fifteenth Regiment
PART XII.
WINTER CAMPAIGN THROUGH THE CAROLINA'S. 17TH ARMY CORPS ON THE EXTREME RIGHT TO BEAUFORT, S. C .- BATTLE OF GARDEN CORNER-POCOTALIGO-PREP- ARATIONS FOR THE NEW CAMPAIGN (JANUARY )-CROSSING OF THE SALKAHATCHIE AND FIGHT-ORANGEBURG-COL- UMBIA-CHERAW -- FAYETTEVILLE, N. C.,-BATTLE AT BENTONVILLE-GOLDSBOROUGH, FEBRUARY AND MARCH, 1865.
On January 5th orders were received to be ready to move. On the 6th, the regiment, brigade and division marched through Sav- annah to Bonaventora, where the 15th embarked on the steamer Louisburg and was transported via the Wilmington river (empty- ing into the sea, ) around Hilton Head to Beaufort, S. C., where it arrived at 1 o'clock A. M. of the 7th, and went into camp 2 miles west of town. Thus the troops of the 17th Corps again became the extreme right column of the army, keeping that position until it reached Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, February 16th, where the 15th Corps, becoming the right, the 17th formed the right centre column.
January 10th, the regiment, with brigade and divison, advanced 5 miles west of Beaufort. On the 13th it reached Port Royal ferry, which it crossed on the 14th, and soon struck the enemy's first line of fortifications, which, after some skirmishing, were emptied by the 3d Division, then in front. At noon passed Gar- den's Corner, and struck the enemy's heavy works one mile beyond, which were protected by a wide, swampy ground, and a stream running through the middle of the same, in a northwest and southeast direction, there being only one dyke and road connecting the high ground the Union forces were forming on, with the rising
445
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
· ground beyond, where the fortifications of the enemy were erected ; thus the enemy had a full view of the whole line and of each and every skirmisher of the Union army at the edge of the swamp. The 15th Iowa was soon ordered to deploy on the left of Colonel Wild's Brigade of 3d Division, then sharply engaged by the enemy with musketry and artillery, and to push forward to the stream and find out if and where the same could be crossed. After a general engagement of an hour and a half, along the whole line, the skir- mishers were re-enforced, and the regiment advanced briskly across the wide, muddy, swampy ground, and charged the rebel works with entire success; Company "A" under Lieutenant Mitchell, of the 15th, being the first to enter the fort.
Captain Roger B. Kellogg, of Company A on detached service as Picket Officer of the 4th Division, while leading the skirmish line at Garden's Corner, as chance would have it, of his own com- pany, to the edge of the swamp, was mortally wounded in front of his men, by a rebel sharpshooter, and died at Beaufort on January 17th.
The enemy, having fled precipitately towards the timber, was driven up to the massive works at Pocotaligo, where musketry and artillery kept up a lively fire till late at night. Next day the ene- my, having evacuated their forts, the command went into camp north of the town, where it awaited the completion of preparations for the ensuing campaign, making several reconnoissances north- east and north, towards the Combahee river, where the enemy was guarding the bridge *.
*The warm temperature of November last had changed. after the command arrived near Savannah, into a cold spell, with piercing northern winds; and now, at Beaufort and Pocot- aligo, it became quite wintry, with almost continual storms of north winds and cold rains. Few of the men, however, had received any new clothing since leaving Marietta, therefore the clothing of the men generally, was worn out and sadly deficient for the winter. Moreover, the camp was established in a swampy, pine timber, too green to barn when fired, causing a great scarcity of fire-wood, which had to be brought in from 3 to 5 miles beyond the picket lines. The men, however, veterans and recruits, were in the best of spirits, and cheerfully entered upon the new campaign. While at Beaufort and Pocotaligo the regiment received several squads of men, who had been absent siek in hospitals, or having been captured, were exchanged.
446
History of the Fifteenth Regiment
January 28th, all tents and the surplus baggage were ordered to be sent to Beaufort, and on the 29th, the command started north along the southern bank of the Salkahatchie, on the road to Mc- Phersonville, the march progressing slowly because of the road being blocked with heavy logs and trees by the retreating enemy and all the bridges leading across the overflowed streams being entirely destroyed. On the 31st, in camp, waiting for the arrival of the left wing, 14th and 20th Corps; distance marched in January 105 miles.
February 1st, the regiment with its brigade division and corps, resumed march, General Mower's Ist Division in advance. At noon lively skirmishing commenced with the enemy's cavalry, who were steadily driven along the road to McPhersonyille.
February 2d, the skirmishing continued and the enemy was pushed, though, being evidently reinforced by several brigades, he gave way only after obstinate resistance and slowly. In the after- noon he fell back across the Big Salkahatchie swamp, stubbornly holding the two bridges leading across the same, known as the Broxton's and River's bridges, two and a half miles apart; both of these bridges were strongly fortified with massive forts and re- doubts, and armed with guns of the heaviest calibre, defying any approach or assault in front, as the two roads leading across the wide streams composing the Salkahatchie swamp were en- tirely exposed to their concentric, sweeping, terrible fire. In the evening, the 15th Iowa was ordered two miles forward to re-en- force General Mower's extreme left brigade, (Colonel Tilson's, ) near River's bridge, where a heavy musketry and artillery fire was kept up all night.
February 3d, the regiment was relieved and returned to its own brigade. While a lively demonstration was going on in front of River's Bridge above, and in front of Broxton's bridge below (by the 13th Iowa), the regiment with the rest of the 3d Brigade, and the 4th Division, was ordered to cross the Salkahatchie swamp,
447
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
three-fourths of a mile above Broxton's bridge, to effect a lodg- ment between the two forts on the opposite bank and flank said forts.
After receiving an additional twenty rounds of ammunition, to be carried by the men well above their waists, the Salkahatchie was entered, -- General Giles A. Smith, commanding the 4th Di- vision, General B. F. Potts, commanding the 1st (Ohio) Brigade, and General W. W. Belknap, commanding the 3d (Iowa) Bri- gade, ahead of their respective columns afoot, and the officers and men wading through the thirty-four smaller and wider streams and the marshy, stagnant pools composing the Big Salkahatchie swamp, a mile and a half wide. The water averaged waist deep generally and at many points was still deeper, in a dense cypress timber, full of the usual "cypress knees," which were mostly covered with water, and running through a thick underbrush and luxuriant creeping vines of all kinds, enough to satisfy the taste of any amateur botanist. The wading across lasted from 3 o'clock P. M. to 4:30 P. M., and great credit is due to the officers and men of the whole flanking party for the steadiness, dispatch and surprising regularity with which the movement was effected by them, with- out the least hesitancy or slackening, and amidst a constant play of artillery (shelling the woods ) from the neighboring rebel fortifica- tions at Broxton's bridge, at a place which, according to the cap- tured rebel papers, was deemed absolutely impassable by all the leading military authorities of South Carolina.
Not ten minutes after landing on the opposite ( northern) bank, the 15th Iowa received a sudden attack on its right flank by a rebel cavalry and infantry force, (attracted no doubt, by the noise of the division column while crossing the timbered swamp), posted some 300 yards in a wide and open field, on high, level ground, at the edge of the timber where the regiment emerged from the swamp. The 14th, without waiting for orders from any of the superior headquarters, instantly took arms, changed front from that
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448
History of the Fifteenth Regiment
facing west to facing north, and at the same time deploying a heavy line of skirmishers,closely supported by the rest of the regiment, with its brisk and well sustained fire, just at the right moment and at the right place, soon compelled the advancing enemy to halt, and soon afterwards to take to flight towards the timber beyond the field. The main line, as well as that of the skirmishers, was rapidly forti- fied, the 15th Iowa having thus become the front of the division, while the other regiments of the brigade were forming on its line. A wakeful, rainy, cold night followed, during which the men were drying their clothes, and fitting their arms and accoutrements to be ready to meet the expected attack next morning. During the night however, after midnight, a part of General Mower's division also effected a landing near River's bridge, after some fight, and by day - light the enemy disappeared entirely from the whole line it held along the Salkahatchie, retreating towards the Augusta, Branchville and Charleston railroad.
February 4th, the regiment with division marched by a cir- cuitous route through the timber north of the Salkahatchie to River's bridge, where it put up temporary fortifications on that and subsequent days, while the bridge, which had been burned by the enemy, was rebuilt, and communication with the ammunition, sup- ply and other trains of the army restored.
How perfectly safe people on the north side of the Salkahatchie thought themselves to be, appeared within the two days the com- mand was encamped at River's bridge, after the enemy had fled. At no place during the trip were found such quantities of fine hams, chickens and all kinds of provisions, foraged by the division, as along the Salkahatchie. People living there avowed openly that if the Yankee army could cross such a swamp, there is no use in destroying their bridges; the next they expected to hear was that the " Yanks " would jump from tree-top to tree-top to effect their march across waters deemed perfectly safe lines by Hardee and Beauregard .
449
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry .
The command resumed its march February 6th, changing its direction from west, northwest to north, and arrived that day at Little Salkahatchie, where the bridges were all destroyed, sunk or burned by the retreating enemy. The pioneers and heavy infantry details were at work all night to bridge the stream, there over a quarter of a mile wide. Next day, after crossing several small streams, and maching on abominable, sinking, spongy ground throughout the whole day, the 15th Iowa being detailed as rear guard and assistance to the 4th Division train, the command arrived at night at Midway station, on the Augusta and Charleston rail- road.
On the next day, February 8th, the 3d Brigade was ordered to destroy the railroad eastward for four miles ;* the 15th being in advance and nearest the railroad bridge on the South Edisto river, was met with some skirmishing by the enemy from the opposite bank of the river, while the troops were burning the railroad, but a brisk answer from the pickets of the regiment caused them to look on at the destruction from their side of the river peacefully throughout the operation .
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