USA > Iowa > Iowa colonels and regiments: being a history of Iowa regiments in the war of the rebellion; and containing a description of the battles in which they have fought > Part 20
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In the fall of 1863, General Crocker returned to Vicksburg, where he joined Sherman on the Meridian march. In the following Spring, he joined his corps (the 17th) in its march across the country to Georgia; but, on account of ill health, was relieved, and, early in the summer of 1864, was tendered a command in New Mexico, with head-quarters at Fort Sumner. Believing the climate would be beneficial to his health, the general accepted this command, since which time he has served in that department.
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MARCELLUS M. CROCKER.
General Crocker is about five feet ten inches in hight, with a slender, nervous form, which cau never pass one unnoticed. He has a passionate temper, and is plain-spoken, often saying things which, in his calmer moments, he would leave unsaid.
Ilis mode of discipline is severe and uncompromising, and a careless blunder he would never excuse. On one occasion, while in command of the Iowa Brigade, a general review was ordered, and great pains was taken to avoid all mistakes. One can imagine then what must have been the general's mortifica- tion to see Colonel --- , of his leading regiment, ride past the reviewing officer, with his sword at a protracted "present." That was bad enough ; but next followed Colonel -, whose regiment passed with arms at a "right-shoulder-shift." When the review was over, the regimental commanders were sum- moned to the general's head-quarters, when, beginning with the chief in rank, he administered the following rebuke :- "Now, Sir, aren't you a pretty man-and pretend to be a military man -and educated at a military school !" "But-" (began the colonel, wishing to apologize) " Hush up, Sir. I'm doing the talking here." It all ended in a friendly chat, and in an order for a new review ; and there was no more mistakes.
As a military man, General Crocker has been pre-eminently successful, not only as a disciplinarian, but as a bold and able leader. As a division commander, he has no superior in the State, and, what is a little remarkable, this fact is universally conceded.
Nor was the general less successful as a civilian, than he has been as a soldier. Though young, he ranked, at the time of entering the service, among the best lawyers of Des Moines- the city which boasted one of the ablest bars in the State. C. C. Cole, ( now Judge of the State Supreme Court ) J. A. Kasson, (now Congressman from the 5th District) C. C. Nourse, ( Attorney General of the State) T. F. Withrow,
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(State Supreme Court Reporter) P. M. Cassady, (General Crocker's law-partner) General Williamson, Polk, Jewett, W. W. Williamson, Finch, St. John, Ellwood, Rice, Clark, Mitchell, Ingersoll, Smith, Phillips, White, Mckay and Brown, was Des Moines' roll of attorneys in the spring of 1861, and of these the general ranked among the very best, as an advocate and circuit practitioner. Some say that, in these respects, he led the Des Moines Bar.
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COLONEL JOHN SHANE.
SECOND COLONEL, THIRTEENTH INFANTRY.
JOHN SHANE was born in the county of Jefferson, Ohio, on the 26th of May, 1822, and was educated at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania. After graduating, he taught school for a few years in Kentucky, and then, returning to Ohio, studied law in the office of E. M. Stanton, Esq., now our honored Secretary of War. He was admitted to the bar at Steuben- ville, in 1848, where he continued in the practice till the year 1855, when he removed to Vinton, Benton county, Iowa, his present home.
Colonel Shane volunteered as a private in Company G, 13th Iowa Infantry; and, on its organization, was elected its cap- tain. This rank he held till the 30th of October, 1861, when he was elected to the majority of his regiment. At the battle of Shiloh, both Lieutenant-Colonel Price and Major Shane were severely wounded. The former soon after resigning his commission, Major Shane was promoted to the lieutenant- coloneley. On the 18th of March, 1863, he succeeded General Crocker to the colonelcy of the 13th Iowa Infantry, which position he retained till the expiration of his three years' term of service. The principal portion of the history of this gallant regiment has been made under Colonel Shane; for, with the exception of Shiloh, it was under his command in all its engagements, prior to the fall of Atlanta. It is, however, but proper to state that, for several months after Colonel Crocker left his regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Shane was indebted to him for its marked efficiency; for, although in 265
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command of a brigade and nominally absent, the colonel was really the commanding officer of the regiment.
I need not record in full the services of the 13th Iowa, for they are given elsewhere, in connection with the histories of the other regiments of the Iowa Brigade. Dating from the middle of April, 1862, the records of these regiments are almost precisely the same.
Returning from General Grant's march into Central Missis- sippi in the winter of 1862-3, the 13th Iowa, with its brigade, returned to the line of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, and, for a few weeks, went into camp at La Fayette, Tennessee. About the 20th of January, the brigade marched to Memphis, and on the 22d left that city on transports for Young's Point, Louisiana. Here the regiment remained for several weeks, furnishing heavy details to work on the celebrated Vicksburg Canal, which taps the Mississippi just below Young's Point. The services of the 13th Iowa and of the Iowa Brigade were, from this time till the following September, of the most annoy- ing and fatiguing nature.
In the complicated movements around Vicksburg, which attended its investment and capture, the regiment acted a prominent part ; though the services performed were of such a nature as not to challenge special notice. General McArthur's Division, to which the Iowa Brigade was attached, was the last of the 17th Corps to leave the river above Vicksburg, in the march across the country to the river below that city. By the time this division had reached a point opposite Grand Gulf, the brilliant successes of General McClernand and two divis- ions of General MePherson's Corps had compelled the evacua- tion of this point; and all that was now required of MeArthur was to cross the river, and take possession of the place. This happened on the 6th of May, and, from that date until after the battles of Champion's Hill and Big Black River Bridge,
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Grand Gulf was held by the Iowa Brigade, and made a sort of base from which Grant's army received its supplies, and where all surplus baggage was stored.
There is an amusing and honest story connected with the occupation of Grand Gulf. Admiral D. D. Porter, since become celebrated on the coast of the Atlantic, had tried nearly one whole day to reduce this strong-hold, with his gun-boat fleet ; but he so far failed as not to silence a single gun. Hle still watched in the vicinity, and, when the garrison, flanked by McClernand and MePherson, were compelled to evacuate, at once entered and occupied the works, and labeled upon the breech of every gun, "Captured by Admiral D. D. Porter, May 6th, 1863." I suppose Admiral Porter did well at Fort Fisher, as, indeed, he did on the Mississippi; but, though he is a brave and efficient officer, General Ben. Butler is not the only one who has had occasion to "blow the froth from his lively porter."
On the 19th of May, at mid-night, the Iowa Brigade was ordered back by forced marches across the neck of land to Young's Point, and sent by boat up the Yazoo, to the assist- ance of Sherman; but, on its arrival, it was learned that Sherman had sufficient force, and it was ordered again to the left. It retraced its weary steps, and, crossing the Mississippi River near Warrenton, marched to the front, arriving on the evening of the memorable 22d of May, but too late to partici- pate in the general charge.
What is true of the position of Grant's forces before Vicks- burg, on the morning of the 22d of May, is not generally known. The left of MeClernand's Corps did not extend to the river below the city. A strip of country nearly seven miles in width, between McClernand's left and the river, was held by the enemy; and it was this gap in the line, which Me Arthur was ordered to fill, and which, when filled,
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completed the investment of Vieksburg. In coming into this position, the Iowa Brigade skirmished nearly the entire day of the 22d, and, as I have said, arrived before the enemy's works, just after the disastrous charge. But this position was maintained by General McArthur only until the 26th of May, the date of the arrival of General Lauman's command; for in the meantime, the enemy were reported to be concen- trating in heavy force in the direction of Yazoo City, and the Upper Big Black, for the purpose of moving on General Grant's rear, to raise the siege; and General Blair, with a picked command, consisting of McArthur's Division and other troops, was ordered out to disperse them. This, with the exception of the march to Monroe, Louisiana, and that one just recently made through the bottoniless swamps of South Carolina, is the hardest one the Iowa Brigade ever made. It was made by forced marches, in the heat of a Southern sum- mer's sun, and through dust that was well-nigh suffocating. By those who participated in it, it will never be forgotten. But the march was the only thing of terror connected with the expe- dition; for the enemy, who were met only in inconsiderable force near Mechanicsville, were dispersed with but few casual- ties. The expedition, however, was not without its good results; for, on its return by way of the fertile valley of the Yazoo, almost fabulous quantities of corn and cotton were destroyed. Five thousand head of cattle, sheep and hogs, too, were driven back to Grant's needy army.
After the return of this expedition, the 13th Iowa, with its brigade, constituted a portion of the foree with which General Sherman held at bay the rebel General Johnson, on the Big Black. On the 3d and 4th of July, the regiment skirmished with the enemy's advance, and, on their retreat to Jackson, followed in close pursuit. Next follows the expedition under Brigadier-General Stevenson, from Vicksburg to Monroe,
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Louisiana, which was made in the middle of August, 1803; and an account of which appears in the sketch of General J. M. Hedrick, formerly of the 15th Iowa.
The following Autumn, and the greater part of the following Winter, were passed by the 13th Iowa in camp at Vicksburg. It was at Vicksburg that the regiment re-enlisted as veteran volunteers. Immediately after the march to Meridian, in which the 13th joined, it returned North on veteran furlough. The balance of its history has been made in the three wonder- ful marches of General Sherman -from Dalton to Atlanta, from Atlanta to Savannah, and from Savannah to Goldsboro and Washington. The regiment bore a conspicuous part in the memorable engagement of the 22d of July before Atlanta. Its loss was eleven killed, forty-two wounded, and ninety-six missing. Among the killed was the brave Major William A. Walker; and among the wounded, Captain George MeLaugh- lin and Lieutenants Wesley Huff, George B. Hunter, and Charles H. Haskins. Captain Pope, and Lieutenants Rice, Parker and Eyestone were captured.
The aggregate loss of the 13th Iowa during the Atlanta Cam- paign I have failed to learn.
That which has most contributed to give the regiment a National reputation is the part it acted, or a portion of it, in the capture of Columbia, South Carolina, on the 17th of Feb- ruary, 1865. The colors of the regiment, in the hands of Lieutenant-Colonel Justin C. Kennedy, were the first to flaunt from the capitol building of South Carolina.
" HEAD-QUARTERS 4TH DIVISION, 17TH ARMY CORPS, "NEAR COLUMBIA, S. C., February 17, 1865
"BRIGADIER-GENERAL W. W. BELKNAP:
"SIR :- Allow me to congratulate yon, and through you, Lieutenant-Colonel J. C. Kennedy, 18th lowa Veteran Volim- teers, and the men under his command, for first ontering the city of Columbia on the morning of Friday, February 17th,
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and being the first to plant his colors on the Capitol of South Carolina.
"I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
"Your obedient servant, "GILES A. SMITH,
" Brevet Major-General Commanding."
Lieutenant-Colonel Kennedy is a resident of Vernon, Linn connty, Iowa. He is thirty-two years of age, and a native of the State of New York. His name will live in American history.
Colonel Shane is one of the largest of the Iowa colonels, his weight being two hundred and ten pounds. He has sandy hair, (perhaps red) a florid complexion and blue eyes, looking out through a large, round, good-natured face. He is of an casy, jovial nature, relishes a joke, and is fond of good living. He ranked fairly as a soldier, and was popular with his com- mand.
At home and in private life, he is much respected. He is economical, and has secured a snug property. I am told he was one of the few officers of our army who honestly made money in the service.
From the organization of the Republican Party in his county, he has been a prominent, working member. He was a dele- gate to the State Convention which re-nominated the Hon. Samuel J. Kirkwood for Governor of lowa.
COLONEL WILLIAM TUCKERMAN SHAW.
FOURTEENTH INFANTRY.
The belligerous Colonel SHAW is a native of the State of Maine, and was born in the town of Steuben, Washington county, on the 22d day of September, 1822. He received his education at the Maine Wesleyan Seminary, and after leaving that Institution removed to Kentucky, where he engaged in school teaching. He was in Kentucky at the time war was declared by our Government against Mexico, and enlisted in the 2d Kentucky Infantry regiment, commanded by the gallant Colonel William R. McKee. He served with his regiment till the close of the war, accompanying it on every march, and fighting with it in every engagement, in which it took part. He was present in the sanguinary battle of Buena Vista; and was on that hill-slope, and in that ravine, where the battle raged with such fury, and where Colonel MeKee was killed, and the chivalric Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Clay, Jr., mortally wounded. On the declaration of peace, he assisted in clearing our South-western borders of those hostile tribes of Indians, which were then so annoying to the frontier settlers.
By his great courage and determination, Colonel Shaw attained notoriety, and, in 1849, was chosen the leader of the first party, which crossed the barren and trackless country lying between Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Santa Fe. This event at that day was quite notable; and the number and names of the party have been preserved. It was composed of thirty-six men -- citizens of New York, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana and Arkansas. In 1852, Colonel Shaw again crossed the plains, starting from Council Bluffs; and, this time, he was
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accompanied by only one man. In 1853, he settled in Ana- mosa, Jones county, Iowa, where he has since resided.
Colonel Shaw was made colonel of the 14th Iowa Infantry, on the 24th day of October, 1861; and held this rank till the summer of 1864, when he was dismissed the service.
The first of the long and bloody series of battles in which the 14th Iowa has borne a conspicuous part was that of Fort Donelson. Though present at the capture of Fort Henry, the regiment was not engaged. In the engagement at Fort Don- elson, the 14th Iowa held the right of its brigade; and, on the afternoon of the 13th, two days before the successful assault which was led by the left wing of the 2d Iowa, under Colonel Tuttle, charged the enemy's works in connection with the 25th Indiana. The object of this assault was the capture of a six- gun battery, and the enemy's line in front; but through the failure of the 25th Indiana, under the immediate command of Colonel Lauman, to co-operate in the movement, no advantage was gained, except that a slightly advanced position was taken and held.
On the afternoon of the 15th of February, the 14th moved into the enemy's works to the right of the 2d Iowa, and soon after they had been entered by that regiment. In this day's fight the loss of the regiment was trifling-only one man killed, and seven wounded. On the afternoon of the 13th, it suffered more severely, losing two killed and fourteen wounded.
In elosing his official report of this engagement, Colonel Shaw says:
"I may mention the valuable services rendered by Sergeant- Major S. II. Smith, who was shot dead by my side, while encouraging the men on to enter the breast-works of the enemy ; also Ist Lieutenant William W. Kirkwood, command- ing Company K, rendered very valuable assistance, in forming
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the line in front of the enemy's breast-works. Captain War- ren C. Jones, of Company I, also rendered valuable service, in directing the fire of my marksmen, and, especially, in protect- ing the retiring of the skirmishers on the 13th instant."
I am informed that Colonel Shaw was mistaken in the case of Lieutenant Kirkwood. Second-Lieutenant Charles P. King commanded Company K at Fort Donelson, and distin- guished himself.
Sergeant I. N. Rhodes, of Company I, also distinguished himself. Just after his regiment had gained the enemy's rifle- pits, the 1st Missouri Battery was hurried up to a sally-port, near by, and opened on the enemy. It at once drew the fire of a six-gun rebel battery, to the right and front. The firing of the rebel guns was so rapid and accurate that, the lieutenant in command of one section of the Missouri Battery became frightened, and deserted his guns. A sergeant of the battery, however, named Bremer, stuck to his piece, and returned the fire of the enemy. Sergeant Rhodes, of the 14th Iowa, seeing the other pieces deserted, sprang forward with six men of his company, and continued to work them on the enemy, till darkness prevented their further use.
From Fort Donelson, the 14th Iowa marched with its division to Pittsburg Landing, on the Tennessee. The dis- tinguished part which the 14th took in the sanguinary engagement of Shiloh, has been noticed in the sketches of Colonels Geddes and Woods. The 8th, 12th and 14th Iowa regiments stood side by side, at the time they were surrounded and captured-the 14th holding the centre, with the 12th on its right, and the 8th on its left. In speaking of the gallant conduct of Colonel Shaw's regiment in this engagement, Major Hamill, of the 2d Jowa Infantry, said :
" They were to our left. and in plain view of us, until up to the time we learned of the flank movement of the enemy, and were ordered to fall back to save ourselves. The regiment can
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not receive too much eredit; for I never saw such splendid fighting before nor since. They would lie quietly in line until the enemy was within fifteen or twenty paces, when they would rise and deliver a deadly fire, and then, in an instant, charge his line, which, in every instance, they did not fail to break, and force back in confusion."
Colonel Shaw, who commanded his regiment in this engage- ment, was captured and retained a prisoner of war until the following October, when he was paroled at Richmond, and sent into our lines. The history of his hardships, during his six months' prison-life, is the same as are those of Major, now Governor Stone, Colonel Geddes, Captain, now General Hedrick, and others, who were captured during the first day's battle. 1
The 14th Iowa, as also the other Iowa troops captured at Shiloh, were exchanged in the fall of 1862, and sent to Annap- olis, Maryland. While at Annapolis, some of the officers telegraphed to General Halleck for permission to visit Wash- ington; and the general replied: "You can come. Such troops can go any where: your indomitable courage at Shiloh saved the Army of the Mississippi from total annihilation." The courage and endurance of these troops was appreciated by Gen- eral Beauregard, who is reported to have said, "We charged the centre [they held the centre] five distinct times, and could not break it."
The history of the 14th Iowa Infantry, subsequently to its exchange and re-organization, and up to the time when the greater portion of it was mustered out of the service, is similar to that of the 32d Iowa. During the spring and summer of 1863, it served at different points on the Mississippi River, on garrison-duty; but shortly before General A. J. Smith moved with his division from Memphis to Vicksburg, from which last named point he marched on the Meridian Expedition, the 14th was brigaded with the 27th and 32d Iowa, and the 24th
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Missouri. Colonel Shaw of the 14th Iowa was assigned to the command of this brigade; and, with it, saved the army of General Banks from defeat and capture at the battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana.
In the fall of 1861, the 14th Iowa joined in the operations which were instituted for the expulsion of General Price's army from Missouri; soon after which the regiment was mus- tered out of the United States service; for it had failed to re-enlist in sufficient numbers to entitle it to retain its organi- zation. Only two companies remained in the service.
The 11th is the only Iowa regiment, from the 2d to the 17th, (and no others of the infantry troops came within the order) that lost its name and organization, on account of not re-enlist- ing. The reasons why the regiment refused to renew their enlistment need not be stated, for they involve an old feud, which should not be revived.
A true history of the Red River Campaign will attribute the chief glory which attaches to the battle of Pleasant Hill, to the 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 16th Army Corps; (Colonel Wil- liam T. Shaw's command) for these troops saved the army of General Banks from destruction, on that day of terror.
Rumor says that the army of General Steele should have been, at least, as far south as Camden, Arkansas, on the Sth of April, 1864, the day on which General Banks first met the enemy in strong force, some four miles east of Mansfield, Louisiana. The object of both Banks and Steele was a com- mon one-the capture of Shreveport, and the destruction of the rebel army in Western Louisiana and Arkansas. Of the character of the orders under which these officers marched, I am ignorant ; but, had they co-operated as they should have done, the power of the Confederates would no doubt have been broken in the trans-Mississippi country. As it is, history
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must record disastrous defeat to the armies of both Steele and Banks.
General Smith arrived with his command within one mile of Pleasant Hill, at sun-down on the evening of the 8th of April, 1864, and a little before the fighting of that day had closed at the front. That night, General Banks fell back with his troops of the 13th and 19th Corps; and, early on the follow- ing morning, took up a position about one mile west of Pleasant Hill. At ten o'clock of the same morning, the com- mand of General Smith was ordered to the front. Colonel Shaw's Brigade led the advance, and took up a position on the Pleasant Hill and Mansfield road. His own regiment was thrown across the road, and at nearly right angles with it. Ilis right was held by the 24th Missouri, and his left by the 27th and 32d Iowa-the 32d holding the extreme left. To the right of his command, was the brigade of General Dwight; but the name of the brigade on the left, I am unable to give. Nor does it matter, since it fled at the first onset of the enemy. No sooner had Colonel Shaw brought his command into line, than the skirmishers of the enemy were encountered; and then, after an interval of long and harrowing suspense, followed the fierce and sanguinary conflict of Pleasant Hill, the details of which are given in the sketch of Colonel John Scott, of the 32d Iowa Infantry.
For the part taken by the 14th regiment in this engagement, I refer to the official report of Lieutenant-Colonel, then Captain W. C. Jones:
"The regiment moved out to the front with the brigade to which it was attached, at a few minutes before eleven o'clock A. M., taking position upon the line parallel with an open field, the right resting upon a road immediately in the rear of the 25th New York Battery. Company I, under command of 2d Lieutenant G. H. Logan, Company K, under command of Captain W. J. Campbell, were deployed as skirmishers toward
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the centre of the field. Their left was resting upon the skirmish line of the 27th Iowa. Skirmishing occurred at intervals, until 4 o'clock P. M., when the enemy advanced by a cavalry charge -- our skirmishers rallying in their proper places, the 25th New York Battery fell in the rear of us. We reserved our fire until the enemy were in easy pistol range, when we opened a fire upon them, which almost annihilated them. Horses and riders rolled almost within our lines. This charge was followed by an advance of infantry in two lines, when the conflict became general. The enemy was repulsed in front with heavy slaughter. The second line advanced upon our front, and a line at right angles upon our right flank, opening a terrible cross-fire. Our right was changed in the new direction to meet the new line. In this bloody cross-fire, our lamented Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. Newbold, fell from his horse, mor- tally wounded, the ball passing through his body from the right breast, disabling his left arm. There, also fell Lieuten- ant Logan, Lieutenant McMillen, and Lieutenant Shanklin, officers beloved by all, nobly laying their bodies a bleed- ing sacrifice upon their country's altar. The long list of casualties below, clearly indicate the unreproachable bravery and indomitable will of the regiment. Upon the fall of Lieutenant-Colonel Newbold, I assumed command of the regiment, and I tender most hearty thanks to the officers, commissioned and non-commissioned and privates, for the gallant manner in which they sustained their reputation, gained upon the bloody fields of Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, De Russy and Pleasant Hill.
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