USA > Iowa > History of the Nineteenth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry > Part 9
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While here, we made frequent expeditions up the various bays and inlets, bringing away logs or brick. The Blackwater and Escambia Bays were most visited.
In these incursions we never lost but one man in action,-Rufus E. Collins, Co. " I," and one drowned, -John J. McIntosh, of Co. "II," whose body was recovered.
On one of these trips a large raft of logs had been collected and was ready to be poled out to the steamer, (that could not come nearer than a half mile on ac- 21
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count of shallow water,) when a force of rebels sud. denly burst from the woods and attacked them, when L. Smiley and Luke Osborne of Co. "C" and two others, not known, getting upon the raft took it safely out through a storm of bullets, and the rebels seeing they could not prevent our getting the raft, took leave as quickly as they had come.
The regiment had more comfortable quarters at Bar- rancas than ever before or since. The 6th of Decem- ber 1864, the gulf steamer Alabama took us aboard in a rain, and we were taken over a rough sea to Fort Gains. From here an expedition went up to Pasca- goula, Miss., under Gen. Granger, in person, and in which we participated. The cavalry fought each day, and we were in line very often, sometimes charging toward an enemy that as often was not there.
Our greatest source of trouble was the smoke from the pine wood that blackened faces and clothes till we were not distinguishable from a regiment of C. D. A., camped near by. Without a change of clothes for over a month the expedient would have been adopted of lying in bed while washing, only there were no beds ! so the clothes went unwashed, for January even in . lower Mississippi, is rather cool for nature's simplicity.
At last the object of the expedition seemed to have been accomplished, for we returned to Fort Gaines, where was clean clothes, mail and oysters. The oys- ters we got here were excellent, and very abundant. along the shore many beautiful sea-shells were found, / and from the gulf we caught what fish we could use.
The latter part of February, troops began to gather on Dauphine Island and on the main land opposite Mobile Point. From that time till the middle of
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March both troops and supplies continued to arrive daily, and heavy fatigue details from our regiment worked day and night unloading the commissary stores that came in.
The 29th of February, the 19th crossed the bay to Fort Morgan where the remainder of our brigade had been all the time. Here at Navy Cove we had inspec- tions till everything was in applepie order, and on the 17th of March we moved out for Mobile, with a train of over a hundred wagons following the point around the bay.
The 1st brigade 2d division, composed of the 20th Wisconsin, 94th Ills., 19th, and 23d Iowa, took the ad- vance and acted as pioneers. The country was very low and swampy, and after the first two days we had heavy rains, and the roads that never were solid were in an almost impassable state. We built Corduroy roads through miles of swamp, the water standing knee deep and the mud sinking down as much further. In some places where the roads appeared comparative- ly solid, the artillery would suddenly sink down, the horses being so fagged out they were utterly unable to pull the guns through. Then the wet, cold infan- try with knapsacks strapped on would take hold and drag the guns and cassions for hours, the horses being removed.
Thus we toiled on till the evening of the 21st, when Danly's Landing on Fish River was reached. Here we. found A. J. Smith with the 16th Army Corps, they having come up the river on transports. Cross- ing the river on a pontoon bridge, we camped on the opposite bank and rested, doing nothing but erect a strong line of works around the whole encampment.
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On the 25th, the whole army moved out toward Mo- bile by different roads. Bertram' Brigade 2d Divis- ion, 13th Army Corps, brought up the extreme left, our road winding along the bay. That day and the succeeding one, we advanced with no opposition that the cavalry could not overcome, and the evening of the 26th, found us on a hill one mile from Spanish Fort, which was built at the mouth of the Tensas Riv. er. Just below our regiment, was a hollow and a small stream spanned by a bridge, which we had to cross. Some of our cavalry rode over it that evening and several torpedoes exploded, killing some horses and seriously injuring some men.' Nine torpedoes were taken out that evening from around the bridge, and after we had passed over many more were dug up. On the morning of the 27th, we turned back seemingly, and were marched over the part of the road most plainly visible from the fort, going in the direction of the extreme right till some three miles from where we had camped, we again turned, and go- ing through hollows and by obscure ways reached the bridge by nine o'clock, and crossing we moved can- tiously forward for a half mile then formed in line of battle and advanced in line with Cos. "A," "F" and "D," as skirmishers.
. They were soon engaged, and Cos. "G" and "B" were added to them. Rising over the brow of a hill the fort was in plain view, and between it and our line the timber had all been felled.
We could see the men at their guns on the side of the Fort next to us ; they were standing at their guns. Our regiment left the standing timber and advanced . to withing about nine hundred yards of the Fort,
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where Col. Bruce ordered, " Fix Bayonets " we were amazed for a moment, thinking a charge was medi- tated, and no other men were in sight; but a moment and the command " Stuck Arms" relieved our minds. Out of fallen logs and an old fence near by, the men hurried to construct a breastwork, and then the rebels seeing we were going to advance no closer, reserved their fire no longer, but opened out five or six guns on our line of five Companies, ( the other five were yet closer but lay behind logs and shot.)
If men ever worked, we did. Logs that in cooler moments a score of me would have hesitated to attempt to move were lifted by a half dozen and flung to their proper place in the growing defense.
At every discharge of their cannon we fell flat on our faces, the pieces of bursting shells flying thickly around. Here several of our number were wounded by shells. In a half hour a very good protection was afforded by our logs and earth. During this whole march a shovel and axe to twelve men were carried by the men so we had them when needed. Company "F," 1st Missouri Light Artillery brought two pieces up to our line and did good work. Capt. Faust of the Battery is one of the best officers we ever met. IIe kept his guns firing rapidly for two hours, when ' we were ordered forward again and the distance was one half. Still no other force had come up, and the skirmishers in front were hard pressed. On a hill off to the right and where a good view could be had, both of our line and the fort, Gen. Granger stood with Col. Bertram, commander of our Brigade, and Col. Glasgow, of the 23d Iowa.
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They seeing our line were in doubt about what it was ; but soon knew the 19th by Col. Bruce's black horse and the Adjutant's mule. This advanced posi- tion we held till evening. A rain fell all afternoon, and it seemed as though a second Joshua was near, for if time ever hung heavily, it was from four o'clock till dark. But night did come, and the 20th Wisconsin and ourselves under her friendly cover erected a strong line of works the full length of both regiments. Each day the rifle pits were full of sharp-shooters, and each night our lines contracted around the Fort.
During the afternoon of the 27th, while Colonel Bruce was walking along the line, he was struck by a spent ball and fell, calling out for Capt. Roderick ; but in a short time finding his leg had only been stunned by the ball, he continued to go round among the men to cheer and courage them.
I do not think I ever saw a man who could forget himself and personal in his duties as an officer, and his care for the men so completely, as did Col. Bruce. I would not do my duty to the regiment, did I fail to express their sense of gratitude to our revered Chap- lain, Rev. J. D. Sands. His kind manners, his good example and influence, and not least his noble behavior in the attack and siege of Spanish Fort, all entitle him to the high place he holds in our affections. . He shared the danger of the very front and advance, and his manly bearing in action, and his womanly tender- ness to the wounded would extort praise from the most unwilling, how much then would it gain our love. At times during the siege, the rebel guns would all open, and seem inspired with the frenzy of despair; but after a time we planted quite a number of seige
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guns and mortars, which could silence them at any time. The rebels had some mortars which used to keep us on the watch. They dropped down amongst us sometimes with no warning, yet 'we had but few men hurt by them.
One day an old boat with no engne on, but laden with hospital and Quartermaster's stores, getting loose from its fastenings at the Fort's landing, floated down opposite our trenches, lodging against the spiles driven in to impede our gunboats, and that night Colonel Mc- Nulta with some others went out to it and set fire to the inside. It soon burned down to the water's edge. ·
On the night of April the Sth, the exertions of our forces were crowned with success, for the Fort was evacuated by the main part of the rebels, a few hun- dred staying in the trenches. While in the trenches one of our bravest and most effective sharp-shooters was "Colonel Joe "-a colored man of about twenty years of age-Joe Stewart, who was Col. Bruce's servant. He was in the advance pits all the time, and when at last through his rashness, Joe was struck by a ball in the head, and the boys hearing how badly he was hurt, were unanimous in their expressions of sorrow, and seemed well pleased when he was taken to the hospital and cared for.
On our extreme right, the Sth Iowa, under Lieut. Col. Bell, in a brigade commanded by Col. Jas. Ged- des of the 8th, quietly slipped around the part of the rebel line next the river, and the first intimation the rebels had of it they were inside their works. Yet they had a fight for the mastery, ending in the capture of five hundred and thirty-five enlisted men and twenty- 'six officers. The troops mostly went on to Blakely,
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but our brigade remained at Spanish Fort doing guard duty and gathering up the scattered munitions of war. Forty-six pieces were captured. The front of the Fort was protected by innumerable torpedoes and an abattas. Companies "A," "B" and "K" were sent to Ship Island with the prisoners under Maj. Jordan, and the remainder of the regiment went into camp.
The following is a list of our killed and wounded at Spanish Fort, Alabama :
Co. A-Killed, 1st Serg't J. Henry Schroeder. " Wounded, Priv. Ben. F. Goodwin. Co. B-Killed, Corporal Geo. Majors.
{ Wounded, Priv. Thos. Washburne, in head.
Abram Colburn, in leg.
John T. Hooper, in neck.
66 66 Martin L. Byrkitt.
Co. D-Wounded, Corp. Jesse Fisk, Color Guard, in leg-amputated.
Co. D-Wounded, Corp. John II. Leagle, severely. Co. E-
Ed. Smith, in thigh. 66 Wm. Walker, Color Guard, in leg-severely.
Co. E-Killed, Private Jas. E. Montgomery.
Co. F-Wounded, Priv. Cicero Thomas, in bowels -since died.
Co. G-Wounded, Corp. Isham Thomas, in arm.
Priv. John E. Sprague, in side. .Co. H- . " Ed. P. Taylor, in shoulder.
Joseph Paxton, in foot-
/ amputated. Co. II-
Joseph Mort, in back.
" Silas Langford. Co. I-Killed, Corporal Wm. Holiday.
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Co. K-Wounded, Priv. Alfred Huddlestone, in thigh.
The location of our camp here, was both healthy and beautiful, and we remained till May in it. We found many skiff's and enjoyed the rare pleasure of hunting alligators along the swampy edges of Ten. sas river. Many of the scaly monsters were killed and towed in to the wharf as tokens of our prowess, and many more were wounded but escaped.
One night a small shell was thrown into the camp- fire and exploded, seriously wounding eight or ten of Companies "A " and "K;" Corporal Thos. Pritch- ard of Company "K" and Sergeant Jasper Mason of Company " A " so badly that they were discharged.
While laying at Spanish Fort, the news of Lee's sur- render reached us, and from our cannon was sent forth peal after peal of victory and rejoicing, while from many glad hearts ascended thanks to Him who had brought us through our fiery trial. But the jubilant echoes of our guns had not yet died among the hills around Mobile Bay, when up the Bay steamed a ves- sel bearing the sorrowful tidings of the assassination of President Lincoln, and we were dumb with grief. When the heart is cleft to the core, there is no speech or language.
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AN INVOCATION.
Written at "Spanish Fort," Ala., April 14th, 1865. BY THOS. S. BELL.
Weep, weep, Oh! Nation, in sorrow and sadness, The requiem blend with thy songs of gladness; The Bay and Immortelle together be wreathed, The sigh and the Pean together be breathed, - The " Veil of our Temple " hath been rudely rended, And the dread Angel's wings o'er its portal extended, - The great and the good are stricken before us, And the gloom of sorrow is darkening o'er us.
O! let us bow meekly, not with repining, For lo! through the darkness glad rays are shining, And He who " chastens those whom He loveth," Fearfully thus His Providence proveth. Then waken, Oh! people, from sadness and sorrow, The bright rays of joy will gladden the morrow, Though we have sinned as a people and nation, We have suffered fearfully in expiation.
But list, thro' the darkness that veileth our vision, Freedom and Peace come from the Elysian, Saying "Peace upon Earth, good will to all men," The people responding, "Amen, and Amen." Ascribing all honor and praise unto God, Who hath laid on our nation His chastening rod, And thro' the broad earth the loud anthem swell, Blessed be " He who doth all things well."
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CHAPTER XII.
From Spanish Fort we went to Fort Gaines and re- mained several weeks, doing a great deal of heavy fatigue duty. We had good quarters and drilled none but watched and waited for word of mustering out. But when at last we did move, it was to Mobile, where we stayed some time. The people of the city were bitter and did not seem to feel that they were con- quered. They abused the negroes, both citizen and sol- dier, but were properly punished for it by Gen. An- drews, who on the refusal of the people of Mobile to unite with the Federal soldiery in the celebration of the Fourth of July, allowed the colored population the sole and exclusive use of the City Park. Their meet- ing was orderly and well conducted; most of the dis- turbances that occurred, originated with some of the evil disposed citizens.
Here we were mustered out, and the recruits were transferred to the 29th Iowa Infantry. After several days waiting for a boat. we were put aboard the White Cloud, a dilapidated old river steamer, and when we went on board we found two other regiments already on, making it quite crowded. But when the men · found the Quartermaster was bringing a lot of mules and horses aboard they put them off, and finally when it was found to be impossible to make our regiment allow the innles aboard, we were ordered back into camp, where for several days more we lay and medi- tated on the folly of getting in a passion. We did at last go aboard a gulf steamer and were kept waiting
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at the wharf for hours, and just as she was ready to shove out, one boiler burst, and another night was passed lying in nooks and corners of the wharves.
The Landis took us at last and we soon were out of sight of the inhospitable shores of Mobile. That night we knew the first time the thrill that is felt at the cry, "man overboard." A rebel on his way home in New Orleans, had fallen overboard. The boat put back, and moved slowly around in a circle, growing less and less to the spot where he was last seen, but he was not found.
At New Orleans we were not delayed an hour, but started at once on the R. J. Lockwood.
We left at Mobile Captains Sommerville and Pow- ell, and 1st Lieut. Bonnell, to answer for our sins the day the mules were put off. They were detained some time, but lost no pay and were found guilty of no of- fence.
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On our upward journey we passed our Morganzia and Vicksburg, taking our last look at them gladly. When Cairo was reached the steamboat was left for the cars, and we were on northern soil again. Our ride through Illinois seemed like a triumphal march, so many and such hearty greetings did we receive. From every house were waved flags and handkerchiefs, while many a tongue and eye gave us welcome.
At Davenport we were met at the depot by the citi- zens of the place, who gave us a brief but warm re- ception, and we were taken at once to Camp McClel- lan where we found other regiments waiting for dis- charge and final payment. The evening of our arri- val, Governor Stone made us a kind and genial speech, which satisfied all that we would be delayed as little as possible.
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The 1st of August, we were no longer an organiza- tion, and fast as pay was received, the men were off tor home. Ere we were disbanded, however, Col. Bruce issued a farewell address, which I give in full, because so noble an utterance is well worth preserving :
HEADQUARTERS, 19TH IOWA INF. VOLS., DAVENPORT, IOWA, JULY 31st, 1865.
Fellow Soldiers-Oficers and men of the 19th Reg. Iowa Vols. Infantry :
On the eve of our separation it is, perhaps, no more than proper that I should address to you a few parting words.
We have been together for three long eventful years-years of sur- . prising interest in the history of our country, and of the world. In- spired by a common patriotic impulse, we joined hands on the altar of our Country and common sufferings. Sacrifices and dangers have united us in the affectionate memory of the heart.
You have borne yourselves well in the great struggle. No com- manding officer has ever spoken of you otherwise than in commenda- tion for your gallant services. You have endured with patience and fortitude the hardships and dangers to which you have been exposed ; you have cheerfully performed every duy required of you, whether on the field of battle or in the pauses of the conflict.
You return from the victorious fields of the Republic, conscious of having done your part in bearing aloft the banner of your Country's Nationality, and planting it upon every hill and valley throughout the land. You will receive the congratulations of your friends, and a grateful country will not forget your services.
Go, then, my comrades, put off the panoply of war, and enter the pur- suits of peaceful industry ; prove yourselves good citizens, as you have , good soldiers. Forget not the principles for which you have victori- ously contended, and for preserved life, health and good government, forget not the debt of gratitude due to Almighty God. With the . most profound sentiments of respect for the memories of our honored dead, and the liveliest feelings of kindly regard for all who have sur- vived, I bid you, comrades all, farewell.
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I part from your command without the consciousness of one unkind feeling toward any one of you. God bless you, and grant you long life and health. May home soon gladden your eyes and cheer your hearts. And may domestic happiness meet you smiling at your gates. JOHN BRUCE, Lieut. Col. 19th Iowa Vols.
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CHAPTER XIII.
Glancing over a paper, I see " the Wirz commission re-assembled yesterday ; but owing to the indisposition of the prisoner adjourned without transacting any busi- ness." And I think of prison pens full of men, good and true, whose
" Wretched lives are full of pain, Wild agonies of nerve and brain ; And every heart-beat, every breath, Is a convulsion worse than death."
Indisposition ! Then, too, thoughts come of the hours spent in damp close Southern jails, when life seemed a burden ; and often floated through my mind the words Longfellow puts into the Abbot's month :
"Slowly, slowly up the wall Steals the sunshine, steals the shade, Evening damps begin to fall, Evening shadows are displayed. Darker shadows, deeper rest, Underneath and overhead. Darker, darker, and more wan, In my breast the shadows fall ; Upward steals the life of man. As the sunshine from the wall."
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Sitting here, my mind wanders Southward where, in . many an unmarked grave, in dreary wood or lonely valley, lie our heroes, who are not forgotten in their nameless graves ; but live in our hearts as models, he- roic christian patriots. From their ashes how can spring aught else than noble inspirations, love of God and our Country. Philosophy says the lightest foot- fall of every child jars this earth to its center. If, then,
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it takes but such a trifle to move a sphere, we may be sure that the life and death of such men, will move a nation to a deeper and holier love of the principles for which they died; and may all prejudices be written as on the sand that the waves of time may wash over them, and they may be forgotten. And let the thoughts of our fallen brothers that linger in our memory, quicken our love for the good and the beau- tiful in our government, even to the end.
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CHAPTER XIV.
Dates of Death, Discharge or Transfer of each man. .
Col. B. Crabb, discharged, Springfield, Mo., March 16th, 1863.
Lieut. Col. Kent, discharged, New Orleans, La., March 9th, 1864.
Lieut. J. H. Downing, Quartermaster, died at Springfield, Mo., Oc- tober 19th, 1862.
Major Philip Harvey, Surgeon, transferred May 20th, 1863.
D. A. Hurst, Assistant Surgeon, discharged, Forsyth February 26th, 1863.
Dennis Murphy, chaplain, transferred to 4th U. S. C. I., New Or. leans, March 23d, 1864.
Capt. John M. Wood, discharged, Fort Gaines, Alabama, March 11th, 1865.
Capt. T. H. Stanton, promoted.
Lieut. E. O. Woodford, discharged, New Orleans, La., September 21st, 1863.
Capt. Joshua Wright, discharged, March 12th, 1863.
Capt. Wm. S. Brooks, promoted to Lieut. Col. 3d Arkansas colored August 1st, 1863.
Lieut. Harrison Smith, discharged Aug. 23d, 1863.
Capt. Wm. Adams, died, New Orleans, La., Aug. 10th, 1864.
Lieut. W. H. Gill, discharged, Vicksburg, July 8th, 1863.
Lieut. S. B. Guernsey, promoted to Lieut. Col. 4th U. S. C. I. October, 1863.
Lieut. Wm. Walker, discharged, Brownsville, Texas, Aug. Ist, '64.
Capt. John Bird, discharged, Forsyth, Mo., June 6th, 1863.
Capt. T. W. Richmond, discharged, Aug. 23d, 1863.
· Lieut. Walter Ferguson, discharged, Feb. 26th, 1863.
Capt. S. E. Paine, discharged, April 1st, 1863.
Lieut. A. C. Payne, discharged, November, 1862.
Lieut. Henry H. Martin, discharged, Aug. 12th, 1863.
Lieut. Richard Root, promoted to Major 8th Iowa cavalry.
Licut. Wm. Murphy, discharged, Fort Gaines, Ala., May 25th, '65.
Wm. Harrison, Q. M. S., discharged to accept 2nd Lieut in U. S. C. H. A., May 9th, 1865.
F. A. Hitchcock, C. S., discharged, Aug. 1st, 1883.
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COMPANY "A."
Serg't Hiram Ethridge, discharged, Fayetteville, Arkansas, March 20th, 1863.
Corp. Bruce W. Cotton, discharged, Carrollton, Ark., Jan. 16th, '63. " E. A. Dickey, discharged, Forsyth, Mo., March 16th, 1863. Priv. Fred Parks, died, Fort Gaines, Ala., March 10th, 1865.
" John T. Adell, died at New Orleans hospital, Aug. 22d, '63.
B. E. Andrews, discharged, by order of President Lincoln, February, 1864.
Priv. Andrew Coulter, transferred to Brass Band of 2nd Brig., 2nd Division, 13th Army Corps.
Priv. Lewis N. Beucler, discharged, St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 29th, '63. Wm. B. Baltzell, died of wound, Springfield, Mo., April 30th, 1863.
Priv. James M. Coleman.
Joseph Chilton, discharged, Springfield, Mo., Feb, 29th, '63.
" Jacob Frederick, transferred to V. R. C., Aug. 1st, 1863.
" Robt. A. Hawthorne, discharged, Springfield, Mo., Dec. 8th. 1862.
Priv. Otto Holstein, dismissed by order of Gen. Herron, Novem- ber 2nd, 1862.
Priv. J. H. Hoffman, died, New Orleans, March 14th, 1864.
" Harrison Jones, transferred to V. R. C., Jan 15th, 1864.
" Philip Jones, transferred to V. R. C., March 15th, 1864. Corp. C. II. Judd, discharged, Barrancas, Fla., Sept. 28th, 1864. Priv. John W. Lyon, discharged, Springfield, Mo., April 28th, '63.
" Thos. Laughery, transferred to V. R. C., Aug. 1st, 1863. " W. H. Mcveigh, died, Carrollton, La., Oct. 16th, 1863.
" Jobn Mitchell, died, Port Hudson, La., Aug. 10th, 1863.
Wm. Paine, discharged, Springfield, Mo., Feb. 27th, 1863. Norman Sortwell, discharged, Springfield, Mo., Oct. 5th, '63.
John Sammons, drowned, Forsyth, Mo., March 1st, 1863. David Wise, discharged, Springfield, Mo., Dec. 8th, 1862.
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