USA > Iowa > History of the Twenty-second Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry; its campaigns in Missouri, in the siege and capture of Vicksburg, in the Texas expedition and in the Shenandoah Valley > Part 2
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In this long and ardnous campaign, ending in the occupa- tion of the city of Jackson by the Federal forces, the 22d Iowa played a conspicuous part.
Soon after the arrival at Vicksburg, the Regiment moved its camp to a more healthful location, on the hill overlooking
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the river, for rest and recuperation. While here Col. Stone. then commanding the Brigade, having been called upon to accept the gubernatorial honors of his State, took final leave of the army, carrying with him the love and admiration of his comrades in arms. The officers and men of the Regiment re- greted much the loss of their noble commander, under whose judicious training, and kind and generous treatment, they had won a name second to none in the field. While the troops lay at Vicksburg, the 13th Army Corps was reorganized, and the 22d Iowa assigned to the 1st Brigade, 2d Division, Col. C. 1. Harris commanding Brigade. Furloughs and leave of al- sence were here granted at the rate of five per cent.,to officers and men. The Regiment, having sufficiently recovered from the effects of the late campaign, received orders to move and on the evening of the 13th day of August embarked on the transport Baltic, thus ending campaigning in the States of Missonri and Mississippi.
On the morning of the 16th, the 22d Regiment arrived at Carrolton, Louisiana, five miles above New Orleans, and went into camp north of town, on the Shell road. While in camp here, orders were issned by Gen. Washburn, commanding 13th Army Corps, to prepare for a campaign in Louisiana. The troops were ordered to store all surplus baggage at- New Orleans, and divest themselves of everything that would prove an incumbrance in a short and active campaign. Orders were issued to embark on the morning of September 4th, for Algiers, La. Accordingly the troops marched to the levee and, previons to embarkation, were reviewed on the river bot- tom, between the city of New Orleans and Carrollton, by Gen- erals Grant and Banks. Proceeding on transports down the river to Algiers, La., they disembarked and were conveyed on the New Orleans and Opelousas Railroad to Bayou Beouf, ar- riving at 4 o'clock, P. M., Sept. 5th, and remained here in camp until the 11th, when the Regiment marched to Brashear City, situated on Berwick Bay, a distance often miles, and encamped here until Sept. 25th, when it crossed Berwick Bay and went into camp near the ruins of the town of Berwick. On the 2d of October, all the troops intended to accompany the expedition having reached this place, the army took up its , line of march on the road leading to Opelousas, and arrived at Vermillionville, on Vermillion Bayou, on the 10th, via. Iberia, Franklin and St. Martinsville. On the 22d, received orders to be ready to move at 6 o'clock, A. . M. Accordingly broke up camp at the appointed hour and started for Opelous-
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aa, arriving on the 25th via. Carrier Crow Bayou. The expe- dition, having accomplished the object for which it was fitted out, returned to Berwick by the same route, arriving there on the 10th day of November. This army consisted of the 13th and 19th Army Corps, the 19th commanded by Gen. Frank- lin, the 13th at first under command of Gen. Washburn, after- wards under Gen. E. O. C. Ord. This campaign, not so short as was anticipated, accomplished no important results, except to temporarily drive the enemy out of that part of the coun- try south of Bayon Teeche, extending from Berwick to Ope- lousas. The enemy were first encountered near Iberia and Franklin, and consisted of a heavy force of Infantry, com- manded by the rebel General, Dick Taylor. They rapidly fell back, followed closely by the Union army, until arriving at Opelousas, when, unable to bring on a general engagement, the expedition was abandoned. During this campaign the Union troops had several skirmishes with the enemy, in which the losses were slight.
On the 17th the Regiment, with the Division commanded by Gen. Washburn, was ordered to accompany the expedition to Texas, under Gen. Banks. It crossed Berwick Bay, and was conveyed to Algiers by railroad, arriving at the latter place on the 18th. Five companies of the Regiment, A, F. D, I and C, in command of Col. Graham, embarked on the steam-propeller, T. A. Scott, while the balance of the Regi- ment, in command of Major White, encamped at Algiers to await transportation. On the 20th, proceeded down the Mis- sissippi River, and crossed the bar into the Gulf of Mexico, at 9 o'clock, A. M., Nov, 21st. On the 26th, after a stormy and perilous voyage arrived at the mouth of the Rio Grande, off Brazos Santiago, Texas. Here an attempt was made to land a portion of the troops on board at Point Isabel. The ship drawing too much water to cross the bar, five companies of the 11th Wis. were landed in small boats, but, deeming the un- dertaking a rather hazardous one during a rough sea, the pro- ject was abandoned and the ship again put to sea, leaving the troops, already landed, on Point Isabel. On the evening of the 27th, arrived off Mustang Island, seventy miles below Matagorda Bay. The storm having somewhat abated, suc- ceeded in landing the troops safely at this point. On the 29th, proceeded with the expedition against the Fort Esperanza, commanding the entrance to Matagorda Bay, marching across the St. Joseph and Matagorda Isles, and arrived on the 1st day of December, the enemy having blown up the magazine
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and abandoned the works the night previous. Dec. 2d crossed Pass Cavalls, at the entrance of the Bay, and went into camp on the Peninsula, at Decrow's Point. The Regiment was here joined by the left wing, under Major White. Remained in camp here, until January 34, 1864, when the Regiment, accom- panying the Division, embarked on the stranger "Matamoras." and proceeded to Indianola, up the bay a distance of forty miles.
The enemy occupied the town, but fled at the approach of the Union troops, who were here quartered in houses and stayed over two weeks, the enemy making his appearance in small force (cavalry) twice, but was easily driven off by getting the artillery to bear upon Him, or a few volleys of musketry. Was then ordered to Old Indianola, a distance of four miles, and here went into winter quarters.
While here the Ist and 2d Brigades were consolidated, and formed the 1st Brig. of the Ist Div., the former commanded by Gen. Fitz Henry Warren, the latter successively by Gene- rais Washburn, Dana and Benton. The Regiment enjoyed excellent health, and improved rapidly in discipline and mili- tary efficiency. The enemy appeared in front of the town sev- eral times in small recomoitering parties, which were gener- ally easily driven of by a party of twenty-five mounted In- fantry, organized for that purpose from the different Regiments in the Brigade. On one occasion they encountered a full company of rel el cavalry, supposed to belong to Wall's Le- gion, formerly known as " Texan Rangers." A desperate light took place about fifteen miles in the interior, when they were defeated by the enemy, who captured nearly the en- tire party. The enemy numbered about a hundred men, yet notwithstanding their superiority in mankers, horses and arna. this gallant party fought them for nearly three hours, when they were surrounded and compelled to surrender. The names of the meo belonging to the 22d Iowa, attached to this party when captured, will be found appended.
On the 13th day of March the troops evacuated the town and returned to Matagorda Island, all other troops of the 13th Army Corps having left the Island. The 1st Division. under command of Gen. Dana, was assigned to the defences of the coast at this point. During the time the Regiment it- maied here, it was commanded by Major Houston, of the 28d iowa, Col. Graham having been ordered to lowa on recruiting service, and Major White being home on leave of absence, On the 21st of April the Regiment was ordered to embark ow
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board the steamers Planter and Matamoras, and proceeded on an expedition under command of Gen. Warren, to Port Lavac- ca, a distance of seventy miles from the mouth of the Bay, and thirty miles above Indianola. The object was to obtain lum- ber for the completion of the forts and other works already constructed on the Island. Arrived in front of the town at 12 d'elock, M., when the enemy, consisting of one company of Wall's Cavalry, seeing the approach of the steamers, fled to the country. Port Lavacea is beautifully situated on an emi- nence on the west bank of Lavacca Bay, and contained before the war about two thousand inhabitants. The Regiment dis- embarked and, sending Company A, Lient. Jones command- ing, as an advance guard, took possession of the town. The steamers having been loaded with lumber, and the object of the expedition accomplished, Gen. Warren dispatched two companies, A and E, under command of Major Houston, to at - tack the enemy, who had returned with more force and were loitering near town. Maj. Houston disposed the two companies so as to surround the enemy, who, on finding out their situa- tion, fired a volley and fled. In their route they were inter- cepted by a squad sent in another direction, who fired a vol- ley, killing one and wounding several of the enemy. The companies, unable to pursue farther, returned. The Regi- ment then embarked, and, taking quite a number of Union families on board, returned to the Island on the 23d.
The expedition up Red River having met with a reverse, the 1st Div., 13th A. C., were ordered to evacuate the Island and report to Gen. Banks. Accordingly the left wing of the 22d Iowa Regt., in command of Capt. Gearkee, embarked for New Orleans on the 27th, and the right wing, in command of Major White, followed on the 29th, on the steamship St. Mary. On the 4th of May, the right wing, commanded by Capt. A. B. Cree, and the 23d Iowa, embarked on transports accompanied by Gen. Fitz Henry Warren and Staff, and pro- ceeded up Red River. Arrived at Fort De Russey on the 6th. The enemy having obstructed the navigation of the river be- low Alexandria, returned to the mouth of Red River, landed on the Mississippi River bank, and went into camp to await turther orders. On the 15th of May a fleet of transports ar- rived, and the detachment in command of Capt. Cree embarked and proceeded up Red River to join the troops of Gen. Banks' expedition, on their retreat from Alexandria. On the following day the 13th, 17th and 19th Corps arrived, and crossing the river where it was about 500 yards wide, on
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a bridge constructed of transports, at once took up theirline of march for Morganzia, La. The detachment of the 22d, with the 23d Iowa, were temporarily attached to a provisional Brig- ade, commanded by Col. Shelton of the 42d Ohio. Marched all night and reached Morganzia at 11 o'clock, A. M. next day. Remained in camp at the latter place until the 9th day of June, when Capt. Cree received orders to report with his detachment to Col. Graham, who, in the meantime, had been ordered to report with his Regiment to Gen. Benton, at Baton Ronge. Joined the Regiment at this place on the 10th, thus ending campaigning in Texas and Louisiana.
The 13th A. C. having been temporarily discontinued by the War Department, the Regiment was ordered to report to Gen. Reynolds, at New Orleans. Embarked on transports and reached New Orleans July 6th, and was ordered into camp at Algiers, La. The Regiment was here assigned to the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 19th A. C., Gen. Grover command- ing the Division, Col. Molinenx, of the 159th New York, commanding Brigade. The 19th Army Corps as reorganized comprised three Divisions, 1st, Dwight's, composed of eastern Regiments exclusively ; 2d, Grover's, of five western Regi- ments, the remainder castern troops ; and the 3d, Lawler's, all western Regiments. The 1st and 2d Divisions, having been ordered to report to Washington, D. C., the 22d Iowa embarked on the 19th of July, on the steamship Cahawba, and after a voyage void of incidents, arrived at Fortress Monroe on the 24th, and anchored in Hampton Roads, and on the 25th, at 8 o'clock, A. M., proceeded up James River to Berinda Hundred Landing, and joined the forces of Gen. Butler. The 22d Jowa, 159 and 131. N. Y., were the only Regiments of the Division ordered to this place, the other portion having gone direct to Washington. They were temporarily attached to Gen Terry's Division, Gen. Birney's Corps, and placed on du- ty in the trenches extending across the Peninsula, from the James to the Appomattox Rivers. They occupied a portion ot the line in Gen. Butler's front until the 31st, when orders were received to report to Washington, D. C. Accordingly at 2 o'clock, A. M .. on the first day of August, the command took up its line of march, arriving at Bermuda Hundred at day light. Embarked on the transport Wenona, and steamed down the James River to Fortress Monroe, and from thence up the Potomac to Washington ; arriving at 12 M. Disem- barked and marched through the City of Washington via. L'enn. Avenue and Capitol to the Soldiers' Rest, and remain-
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ed until morning. Aug. 2d took up their line of march to Ten- alley; Town, at the outer defences of the City of Washington, and went into camp on the heights of Georgetown, overlook- ing the city, and were here joined by a portion of the Div. On the 13th received orders to be ready to march. Accord- ingly on the morning of the 14th, the Div. took up its line of march to join the expedition of Gen. Sheridan, then operating in the vicinity of Cedar Creek and Strasburg, in the Shenan- doah Valley. Marched through Drainsville, Leesburg and Hamilton, Kitoctan Mountains, and through Snicker's Gap in Blue Ridge, wading the Shenandoah river at the foot of the mountains at midnight, and arrived at Berryville. ten miles from Winchester, at daylight on the morning of the 18th. Here met the forces of Gen. Sheridan on their retreat down the Valley, pursued by the rebel forces commanded by Gen. Early. Joined in the retreat on the Berryville and Harper's Ferry Road and reached Summit Point, four miles from Charleston, at midnight. Remained in camp here for two days, when the enemy threatened a flank movement on the right, near Martinsburg. The army again fell back to Hall- town, in front of Harper's Ferry, on the 21st, the 22d Iowa forming the rear guard. Here took up a position on the range of hills, the left resting on the Potomac river, the right near the fout of the Blue Ridge. The enemy appeared the same day in force. Skirmishing commenced and continued for sev- eral days, when the enemy, deeming it imprudent to assault this impregnable po-ition, evacuated on the night of the 27th, falling back to near Bunker Hill, on the line of Opeqnan Creek. A reconnoisance having developed this fact, the army took up its line of march in pursuit of the enemy on the 20th and reaching a commanding point between Charleston and Opequan, threw up a double line of earthworks, parallel with the latter, and within two miles of the enemy. On the 3d of September, Gen. Sheridan having ascertained that the enemy were massing a heavy force near Berryville to operate : gainst his left flank, sent the Sth and 19th Corps to counter. act the stine, leaving the 6th Corps in the works. About 5 P. M .. the 8th Corps, being in the advance, were attacked by the enemy near Berryville and were repulsed. The 2d Brig., 2d Div., 19th Corps, was ordered forward to occupy a position on the right of the 8th Corps, while the remain- der of the 10th acted as a reserve in case of an emergency. Skirmishing conti ned until midnight when the troops laid down in a drenching rain, for a renewal of the combat at
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daylight. In the morning cannonading was renewed and continued between the contending parties for several hours, when the enemy retired to their fortified line on the Opequan. The two Corps then threw up a strong line of works, and went into camp on the field. "Remained in this camp until the 18th, without any change in the military situation, when the army received orders to be ready to move at a moment's no- tice. All surplus baggage and unnecessary camp and garri- son equipage were at once loaded and sent to the rear, and the troops were left with nothing that could in the least en- cmunber their march in an active campaign. At 2 o'clock, on the morning of the 19th, the army took up its line of march on the road leading to Winchester in the following order : Uth Corps on the left, 19th in the center, and the Sth on the right. Arrived at the Opequan soon after daylight. The road here passing through a narrow defile, the 19th Corps were obliged to halt till the 6th Corps passed. In the mean- time the advance, composed entirely of cavalry, had been en- graged with the enemy and had succeeded in driving in their pickets. At 9 A. M., the 19th Corps arrived upon the ground and formed in line of battle about one mile from Opequan, on a range of hills in the immediate front of the enemy. During the time that the formation of the line was in progress the enemy opened vigorously with their artillery, but were soon silenced and quiet was restored along the whole line, as if to prepare for the terrible trial which was soon to follow. The enemy were found to be strongly posted in a belt of heavy timber, with their line extending across the Winchester road. During a short reconnoisance to ascertain the enemy's position, the troops were allow to rest. In a few minutes the command " forward" rang along the entire line, and the army moved to the attack. The 22d Iowa occupied the left of the Brigade, the latter forming the extreme left of the 19th Corps. The ground over which the 22d had to pass was an open field ex. tending to the enemy's works, a distance of about one mile. The enemy, having an open view of the movements, opened a concentrated fire from their artillery on the advancing col- umn, until it had reached within 600 yards, when they poured in a terrific fire of grape and canister. The Regiment now charged forward on the double quick with a yell through a most galling fire of musketry, and reached a point within one hundred yards of the enemy's lines, posted behind a stone fence in the woods. Under this destructive fire the line be- gan to waver; but the men were rallied and fought for nearly
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one hour in the open field against the enemy behind strong works. The 6th Corps which joined immediately on the left of the 22d Iowa, now began to fall back. Gen. Grover, seeing the enemy charge over the ground in pursuit of the 6th Corps, and finding his troops would soon be flanked, ordered them to fall back in good order. The enemy, inspired by this par- tial success, raised a yell and charged over the field in pur- suit. The line, however, was again rallied, and by the right about the Union troops charged on the enemy, driving him at all points, over the field and through the timber, in confusion until they reached the range of hills near Winchester, where they attempted to make a stand, but their troops, having be- come too much demoralized, again fled in confusion, leaving the Union army in undisputed possession of the battle field at sun down, and a glorious victory won. In this desperate bat- ile, the 22d Iowa occapied a very dangerous and exposed position, having advanced to the charge in the morning over an open field, while the greatest portion of the troops ad- vanced under cover of timber. When the line fell back, the regiment rallied under the enemy's fire in the heat of battle, and in turn, charged and routed the enemy. It would be im- possible to make any discrimination among the officers or men of the Regiment for gallant and meritorions conduct in this fierce action. The Regiment never fought better, not a man faltered or fell back, although it required more than mo- mentary excitement to charge for one mile, all the time sub- jected to a heavy fire. None lacked courage and determina- tion. All are entitled to great praise for their gallantly throughout the battle. Surgeon Shrader was on the field during the engagement, and was indefatigable in his exer- tions to care for the wounded. Q. M. Sterling and the non- commissioned staff officers rendered efficient services in car- rying off the wounded and conducting the ambulances to dit- ferent parts of the field and cannot be too highly commended. The total loss of the Regiment in this action was one hun- dred and nine in killed, wounded and missing. A list of casualties will be found appended.
The army camped on the battle field near Winchester until the following morning, when it took up its line of march in pursuit of the enemy, who had fallen back in the direction of Strasburg and Fisher's hill. Marched through Newton and Middletown, crossed Cedar Creek and reached the front of the enemy's strong fortified position on Fisher's hill on the same evening, the 20th, and went into camp. Laid here for two
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days, during which time Gen. Sheridan reconnoitered the en- emy's position and made preparations for an attack. On the morning of the 22d took up a position on a line in front of Strasburg and about one mile from the enemy's works on Fisher's hill. At 2 o'clock P. M. the 22d and 28th Iowa Reg- iments were ordered to advance and carry a line of rifle pits on the heights in front of Fisher's hill, that were occupied by the enemy's skirmishers and sharpshooters. The two regi- ments deployed as skirmishers and advanced up the hill and charged the enemy driving them into the main line of works. At f o'clock P. M. the army advanced, the 8th corps making a grand flank movement on the enemy's left, the 19th A. C. occupying the center and charging up the steep and rocky precipice in front of the enemy's breast works, driving them at all points in a complete ront. Owing to the irregularity of the ground over which the 224 Iowa had to pass the loss in the regiment in this brilliant affair was slight, amounting to four men wounded, whose names will be found appended.
It was now quite dark but the army immediately took up its line of march in pursuit of the enemy determined to eap- ture their entire force or destroy their organization by seat- tering them to the mountains. During the night march it came up to the enemy's rear gaard when they immediately opened with two pieces of artillery and a line of innsketry, kill- ing and wounding several, but on our line ponring in two or three volleys they made a precipitate retreat and the line mov- ed on. In this encounter the 224 Towa had one man severely wounded. In this pursuit, which was kept up until 4 o'clock in the morning, the 22d Iowa, with 11th Indiana, occupied the extreme advance of the army and marched, deployed as skir- mishers, all night over hills and through ravines until they reached Woodstock, fifteen miles from Fisher's hill, capturing several hundred prisoners. On the 23d the army again marched in pursuit, passing through Edenburg, Mount Jack- son, New Market and Harrisonburg and from there to Monnt Crawford, ten miles from Staunton. Remained here one day and returned to Harrisonburg where the army encamped until the 6th day of October, 1864. when the army of Gen. Sher- idan, having driven the demoralized and ronted enemy from the Shenandoah Valley and accomplished the object of the campaign returned on the same route to Cedar Creek, be- tween Middleton and Strasburg. Here the army commenced fortifying a position, with the Sth Corps on the left, 19th Corps in the center and 6th Corps on the extreme right, the line forming a semi-circle on a range of hills north of Cedar Creek
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On the 13th the enemy reappeared, making an attack on the 8th and 19th Corps' pickets, stationed across the creek. The 22d Iowa and 13th. Conn. regiments were sent out as skirmishers in anticipation of a general attack, but finding it to be but a reconnoisance of the enemy were ordered to halt, and the two regiments lay down on the open field, without divesting themselves of their arms and equipments, for the night. At daylight on the morning of the 14th were order- ed to advance and attack the enemy. The two regiments ad- vanced but the enemy fell back without further resistance, then returned to camp.
On the evening of the 18th the 22d Iowa, with the brigade under Col. Molineaux, received orders to be ready to move at 3 o'clock A. M. on the coming day, on a renconnoisance in the direction of Strasburg, to ascertain the force of the enemy and develop their lines of defence. Accordingly, at the time designated, the brigade was in line ready to move, when the enemy suddenly attacked the extreme left flank of the army, consisting of the 8th Corps, taking them completely by surprise and routing them from their works and camp, and throwing the entire corps into the rear of the 6th and 19th corps just before daylight as the men were enjoying them- selves around their camp-fires, not dreaming of danger near, like a clap of thunder the rattle of ten thousand rifles broke upon the ear of the startled soldiery. Volley succeeded vol- ley, the sounds reverberating from mountain side to moun- tain side caused the imagination to people the valley with countless myriads of fierce combatants ; the artillery vomited flames, lighting up the surrounding darkness, hurling its con tents shrieking through the night air away across the valley towards where the sounds of cambat arose and where, burst- ing into a thousand fragments tilled the air with countless coruscations of light. At this juncture the 22d Iowa, detach- ed from the brigade, were ordered to double quick about one- half mile to save a battery from capture, previous to falling back and taking up a new position. They had not reached, however, within two hundred yards of the ground when it was ascertained that the enemy had possession of the guns and were charging over the works in heavy force. The regiment fired and held its ground for a while checking the advance of the enemy, but were obliged to fall back and rejoin the brig- ade to save itself from entire isolation and capture. In this retreat the regiment retained its organization and made a stand four different times alone, cach time checking the ad-
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