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 3
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JOHN F. BATES.
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Merritt's line, and threw it into disorder, and at the very Instant he received a galling fire from the enemy. Orders were given to re-form, but the din of fire-arms and loud talking drowned Colonel Merritt's voice, and he was left with only two companies. With these he continued to advance. At this juncture, the Black Horse Cavalry made their appearance on our right and rear. They had gained their position by moving through ravines, under cover of timber. They were commanded by one Captain George S. Laswell, a former resi- dent of Ottumwa. Led on by this man, they were about charging Totten's Battery, when the two companies under Colonel Merritt, about-facing, delivered a fire that emptied several saddles, and placed the rebel captain out of battle; and thus the fight went on.
In the meantime, rebel infantry had been pushed up the ravine, and appeared on our extreme right. They advanced rapidly up the hill, delivering a continuous fire, but were re- pul-ed. They re-formed and advanced again, and were a second time repulsed. During the second advance, Lyon fell. I should state that before this happened, Major A. B. Porter, with companies A, F, D, and E, of the First Iowa, had been sent to the rear to watch the Black Horse Cavalry.
Sigel had, a long time ere this, been defeated, and a portion of the rebel troops that had repulsed him were now advancing up the north-east bank of the creek. To check these, the Reg- ulars were sent across the creek ; but in that quarter there was little fighting. The battle was of more than five hour's dura- tion. The First Iowa was at the front five hours. Of the retreat Colonel Merritt says:
" About twelve o'clock, M., the order was given to retire from the field, which was done in good order. As we retired over the hill, we passed a section of Totten's Battery occupying a commanding point to the right, and supported on the right
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by companies A, F, D, and E, of the Iowa troops, under com- mand of Major Porter, and on the left by one company of Regular Infantry under command of Colonel Lothrop. This command sustained our retreat with great coolness and deter- mination, under a most terrific fire from the enemy's infantry. After the wounded were gathered up, our column formed in order of march, and, the enemy repulsed, the battery and infantry retired in good order. Thus closed one of the most hotly-contested engagements known to the country."
Such, briefly, was the battle of Wilson's Creek. Though imperfect in detail, I believe that, so far as it goes, it is cor- rect. Compared, however, with the brilliant accounts of our modern war-historians, it would not be recognized as the same engagement. It was the first battle of importance fought in the South West, and, becoming the theme of exciting com- ment in almost every paper in the loyal and disloyal States, gradually increased in proportions, till it was in print one of the most sanguinary battles of modern times. And it was in fact a severely contested and bloody fight ; for the loss of the 1st Iowa Infantry alone was more than one hundred and fifty. This regiment however suffered more severely than any other of the troops, and was admitted by all to have borne itself with conspicuous gallantry. Captain Alexander L. Mason, a native of Indiana, and a resident of Muscatine, was the only commissioned officer killed. He fell in a charge at the head of his company. Captain Frederick Gottschalk and Lieutenants HI. Graham and William Pursell were wounded. The loss of the regiment in killed was only eleven, though several died afterwards of their wounds. Colonel Bates was not present in the engagement, though I am advised he made an effort to be. He was left sick at Springfield.
The following is the roll of honor, as given by Lieutenant- Colonel Merritt :
"It is with great pleasure that I acknowledge valuable aid and assistance from Major A. B. Porter, Adjutant George W.
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Waldron, who was wounded in the leg, and Sergeant-Major Charles Compton ; and to express my unbounded admiration of the heroic conduct displayed by both officers and men. No troops, regular or volunteer, ever sustained their country's flag with more determined valor and fortitude. They have cov- ered themselves with imperishable honor, and must occupy a conspicuous place in the history of their country."
In this connection, it is proper to state that the term of ser- vice of every line officer of the regiment expired on the afternoon of that evening in which they marched out to Wil- son's Creek ; but not one of them elaimed exemption from the coming battle. The same can not be said of officers of some other troops. The term of service of the enlisted men of the 1st Iowa Infantry expired four days after the battle.
Wilson's Creek was a drawn battle; for, though the Confed- 1 erates kept the field, they did not make pursuit. They had been severely punished; but I doubt if that alone deterred them, for, in numbers, their strength exceeded that of the Federals more than four to one. They had not yet nursed their treason to that fanatical point which made it synonymous with patri- otism, and they were cowards.
After the fall of General Lyon, Major, now General Sturgis, assumed command of the Federal forces and fell back to Springfield, and soon after to Rolla. In the meantime Gen- ral Sterling Price, who had succeeded McCulloch in command of the rebel forces, occupied the country, and in the latter part of the month, moved north and laid siege to, and captured Lexington.
The term of service of the 1st Iowa Infantry had now expired, and, returning to their homes, they were welcomed as the first heroes of the State in the war. Wherever they appeared, they were looked on with wonder. They had gained more distinction in that solitary battle than is now Recorded our veterans of twenty battles; but they are the sires
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of our military prowess, and who would detract from their hard-earned glory ?
Colonel Bates is a fine looking man. He is five feet nine inches in hight, and has a well developed and pre-possessing person. He has a social disposition, and makes a warm friend and a sleepless enemy. I do not admire his political course, and may be prejudiced against him; but this certainly must be conceded-he is entitled to much credit for surmounting the obstacles of poverty and a deficient education, and for making himself what he is.
The Colonel, I think, was not popular with his regiment. He would allow no foraging. In restoring the seceded States to their proper functions in the Union, and in establishing within their limits a respect for the laws of the Government, he believed more in moral suasion than in corporal castigation. His officers and men charged him with being too kind to the rebels, though they gave him credit of being sincere in his convictions. After leaving the service, he continued to act and vote with the so-called Peace Party.
MAJOR-GENERAL SAMUEL R. CURTIS.
FIRST COLONEL, SECOND INFANTRY.
SAMUEL RYAN CURTIS, Iowa's distinguished statesman and soldier, was the second colonel, and the first general officer appointed from the State. He is Iowa's first and oldest major- general, and, at the time of entering the service, was more widely known than any other officer sent out from the State; for, almost from the State's infancy, he has stood prominent among her public men.
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General Curtis was born on the 3d day of February, 1807, and calls himself a native of Newark, Licking county, Ohio. In point of fact, he was born while his parents were on their way from Connecticut to the West, and somewhere in the State of New York. He was educated at the West Point Military Academy, where he held the highest military office in his class. Graduating in 1831, with a brevet second-lieutanancy in the 7th Infantry, he was soon after assigned to duty at Fort Gibson in the Indian Territory. In the following year, he resigned his commission, and returning to Ohio, studied law, and was ad- mitted to the bar. From 1837 to 1839, he was chief engineer of the Muskingum River Improvement. Later he practiced law in Wooster, Ohio, and was actively and successfully en- graged in the practice, when war was declared with Mexico. He was now summoned to Columbus by the Governor of Ohio, and made adjutant-general of that State; and not long after was commissioned colonel of the 3d Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which he led to the field.
Ile served on the Northern Line in Mexico under General Taylor, and was for a time on the staff of General Wool; and,
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as governor, commanded the cities of Matamoras, Camargo and Saltillo.
At the close of the war, he returned to Ohio; but finding his law business had wasted away during his absence, and being urged to take the position of chief engineer of the Des Moines Improvement, he left that State, and coming West, settled in Keokuk, Iowa. He was for a time engaged in the practice of the law in the city of Keokuk, and had for partners Colonel J. W. Rankin and the Honorable Charles Mason. From 1850 to 1853, he was engineer-in-charge of the harbor and other works of the city of St. Louis, where the dike that he construc- ted, which connects Bloody Island to the Illinois shore, will, for many years hence, stand a monument to his credit. It secures to the city of St. Louis great commercial advantages. During the two following years, he was chief engineer of the American Central Rail Road, running through Illinois, Iowa, and other States.
In 1856, General Curtis was elected to Congress from the First Congressional District of lowa, and in 1858, and again in 1860, was re-elected from the same district. In the canvass of 1860, his opponent was the Honorable C. C. Cole, now Judge of the Supreme Court of Iowa, and one of the ablest debaters and most popular men in the State. No better proof could be had of the general's ability as a statesman, and of the integrity of his record, than this final endorsement of him by the people: indeed, nearly every section of his District gave him increased majorities.
From the organization of the party, he has been an earnest and consistent Republican; but that for which he became most distinguished in Congress was the part he acted in securing the passage of the Pacific Rail Road Act. Others have claimed the honor, but he is the father of this enterprise, as is evidenced by his elaborate speeches and demonstrations of record in the
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unnals of Congress. I should also add that he was a leading member of the Committee on Military Affairs. He had, I am credibly informed, much to do with the efforts of the House, in countervailing the schemes of Jeff Davis, in his manip- ulations of our military forces to his base purposes.
General Curtis' patriotism was always fervent, and, though others have made a more brilliant reputation in the war, none responded more promptly to the first call of national alarm; and, I may add, none have led armies and fought battles with more uniform success. Leaving his home in the West on the first news of the attack on Fort Sumter, he started for Washington; and, meeting at Philadelphia the gallant 7th New York, Colonel Lefferts, embarked with it on transports for Annapolis. From that point the march was made through the heat and dust by day and night to Washington. Returning to Keokuk, he assisted in raising volunteers, and was, on the 1st of June, elected colonel of the 2d Iowa Infantry, (the first three-years regiment from the State) by the unanimous vote of the officers and men. Ten days later and at midnight, he was summoned by General Lyon by telegraph to Northern Missouri, and marched next day with his regiment for that point. Besides capturing many prisoners, gims &c., he established at once in Northern Missouri the military authority of the Federal Government.
In the latter part of June, he left again for Washington to be present at the fourth session of Congress, and while there was made a brigadier-general. He now resigned his seat in Con- gress, and, reporting at St. Louis, Missouri, was soon after placed in command, first_of Jefferson Barracks, next of the Camp of Instruction at Benton Barracks, and finally of the St. Louis District. While hokling the last named command, the President devolved on him the duties connected with the change of commanders-a most delicate and painful service,
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which he neither sought nor desired; but for the prudence and decision he discovered in the discharge of these duties, he re- ceived the special thanks of Mr. Lincoln.
In December 1861, General Curtis was placed in command of the District of Southwest Missouri, and at once repaired to Rolla, where he established his head-quarters. Having organ- ized his armny in the carly part of January 1862, he marched against General Price, and drove him through Missouri and Northern Arkansas. On this march, the enemy were encoun- tered in several skirmishes and engagements. The culminating one was the sanguinary battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas. It resulted in a brilliant victory to the Federal arms, and in the restoration of the flag and the authority of the Government in that State.
Although the battle of Pea Ridge was one of the earliest and most decisive of the war, yet, I believe, less is known of it, than of any other of equal magnitude, especially of those fought in the South West.
In the latter part of January, 1862, nearly four months after the march of General Fremont was made from Jefferson City to Springfield, General Curtis left Rolla, Missouri, for the purpose of capturing or dispersing the rebel army under General Sterling Price. His command consisted of the divisions of Sigel, (subse- quently Osterhous') Asboth, Davis and Carr, and numbered about twelve thousand men. Passing through Lebanon, Marsh- field, Springfield and over the old Wilson Creek battle-field, he arrived in the vicinity of Pea Ridge on the evening of the 20th of February. He first met the enemy north of Springfield -though neither there, nor at any point between that and Sugar Creek, did he meet with determined resistance. Shortly before the arrival of Curtis at Sugar Creek, Price had been re-inforeed by McCulloch, and, in consequence of this, quite a severe engage- ment took place at the above named point. At Sugar Creek,
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Sigel, who had made a detour, rejoined the main army, which now pressed on to Osage Springs, a position which flanked Cross Hollows, the rebel strong-hold, and compelled its cvarnation by McCulloch. From the 21st of February to the 5th of March, General Curtis' forces remained in this vicin- Ity, the enemy in the meantime collecting all his forces in the front. Being informed of the enemy's great increase of strength, and his designs to assume the offensive, General Cur- tis ordered all his several divisions, by different routes, to fall back to Sugar Creek and Pea Ridge to give battle, should the enemy force one. At this time General Sigel was near Bentonville, Carr was at Cross Hollows, while General Jeffer- son C. Davis was already on Sugar Creek, just at the base of Pea Ridge.
On the morning of the 5th of March, Captain H. H. Griffiths, of the 4th Iowa Infantry, (subsequently of the 1st Iowa Battery) who was field-officer of the day, found the picket-line in com- motion, and, on inquiry, learned that a government foraging train had been captured. Soon after it was learned from scouts, contrabands and from loyal citizens, living in the vicinity of Cross Hollows, that General Van Dorn, having formed a june- tion with Price, was advancing to give battle, and that night Colonel Carr, under orders and accompanied by General Curtis, marched back to Sugar Creek, a distance of fourteen miles. That same afternoon, General_Sigel also received orders at his eunp near Bentonville, to forthwith move back to Sugar Creek, distant about sixteen miles; for General Curtis was now satis- fied that a great battle was imminent, and it was his purpose to concentrate at Pea Ridge, and engage the enemy from that strong position. Colonel Vandever, of the 9th Iowa Infantry, who was near Huntsville, in command of a brigade, was ordered to march day and night till he reached the place designated.
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Pea Ridge, Arkansas, is a narrow plateau, running nearly east and west, and lying near the Boston Mountains. Along its southern base is the historic stream of Sugar Creek, whose northern bank is in many places precipitous, rising to the hight of two or three hundred feet. On its top, Pea Ridge has a few cultivated fields; but for the most part is covered with a short and stinted growth of oak of great density. Its northern slope is gradually deseending, and terminating in wild, deep ravines. Just north of these ravines are abrupt, rocky and rugged hills, and, among and in the vicinity of these, is the celebrated Cross Timber Hollows, so named, it is said, from the heavy timber which was felled there by General McCulloch, in October 1861, to block the advance of General Fremont, in his march from Springfield. Running along through Cross Timber Hollows, and over Pea Ridge and Sugar Creek, is the Wire, or Butterfield road. Its course is nearly due north and south. Branching off from this road to the west, and about four miles north of Sugar Creek, is the Lee town road, which, after passing through a small village by that name, bears round to the south to Bentonville. It was over this last named road that General Sigel fell back to Pea Ridge. Carr returned with his division from Cross Hollows, over the Wire road; Cross Hollows lying south of Pea Ridge, and, as I have said, some fourteen miles distant from it.
On the morning of the 6th of March, the divisions of both Carr and Davis were at Sugar Creek, and in position, throwing up temporary field-works, while the command of Sigel was just moving out of Bentonville; and here it was that Sigel first met the enemy. It happened in this wise: having halted in Bentonville with a small force until after the departure of the greater part of his command, he was attacked by the rebel army and almost completely surrounded. Forming his small force-scarcely six hundred men-he broke through the ene-
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my's lines and, though still closely pursued and his flanks severely pressed, marched for several hours, sustaining an almost continuous engagement; indeed, the enemy did not cease their attacks until the arrival of reinforcements, sent and led by General Curtis in person. That he was not entirely cut off and compelled to surrender was due as well to the superior discip- line of the troops, as to the skill displayed by General Sigel, in managing his rear defences. Thus the enemy were checked, and Sigel arrived safely on the north bank of Sugar Creek.
At midnight on the 6th of March, the position of General Curtis' forces were as follows: The enemy were expected to advance from the south across Sugar Creek valley, and the troops of General Curtis were therefore drawn up in, line of battle on the high bluffs, facing that valley. Davis' and Carr's divisions held the left, and Sigel's and Asboth's the right; and the whole front was defended by strong works, thrown up during the day and night. The commissary-stores had been sent back to the rear to Elkhorn Tavern, and placed under charge of Major Weston, provost-marshal of the army; for it was supposed that that was a place of safety. Early on the morning of the 7th instant, General Curtis became convinced, from the reports of his scouts, that a heavy body of the enemy was moving round his right, for the purpose of attacking his right flank and rear. A change of front to the rear was there- fore ordered, so as to face the road west, along which the enemy were now advancing. Before this movement had been com- pleted, a detachment of cavalry and light artillery, well sup- ported by infantry under Colonels Osterhaus and Bussey was ordered from the new centre. Its object was to attack the enemy while they were moving by the flank. But in the meantime Major Weston was attacked at Elkhorn Tavern, by rebel infantry. Elkhorn Tavern was the point where the new right was to rest, and Carr's Division was already on its
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way to reinforce Major Weston's command, and to order the train to a place of safety. It was this prompt movement on the part of General Curtis that saved him his army, and for the coolness and judgment that prompted it, he is entitled to great credit. Nor is it true, as has often been stated, that General Sigel, at Pea Ridge, saved the Federal army from de- feat and capture. He did well the duties of a subordinate officer, and is entitled to great praise for the manner in which he wrested his mere handful of men from the enemy's grasp at Bentonville; but, on the 7th of March, and after the change of front, he held the extreme left which was not engaged at all.
A civilian has no idea of the extent of country embraced in the lines of a great battle, and will be surprised when told that the right and centre of Curtis' line at Pea Ridge were several miles apart. He can better understand that to handle troops successfully under such circumstances, requires great coolness and judgment - and that is just what makes a good general.
The fighting now opened on the right and in the centre with great fury ; and in the centre the enemy were at first successful. The Federal cavalry, sent out under Osterhaus and Bussey, were routed and lost their artillery ; and General Curtis there- fore ordered Davis to Osterhaus' support. On arriving, he assumed command, for he was the senior officer; and now the centre was held firmly. Soon Davis assumed the offensive, and assaulting the enemy, re-captured the lost battery, and either killed or mortally wounded Generals McIntosh and Slack. McCulloch had been killed before Davis came up.
In the meantime General Carr had met the enemy and fought a most unequal and terrible battle on the right. Opposed to his division were the commands of both Price and Van Dorn. From sun-rise to near sun-set, Carr fought with but few reinforcements, and, though his troops displayed the
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grentest bravery, he had, toward night, been forced back nearly a mile; and now his troops had left but little ammuni- tion.
The enemy now having developed their strength and posi- tion, it became evident to General Curtis that he must re-form his line; and the order was promptly given. He divined the object of the enemy, which was to force back his right, cut off all lines of retreat, and dash his army to pieces against the Bos- fon Mountains. The commands of Sigel, Davis, Asboth and Osterhaus were brought up from the left and centre, and thrown into position, facing the north and confronting the main body of the enemy under Price and Van Dorn. But while this movement was in progress, General Curtis, in com- pany with Asboth and a small portion of his division, rode to the right to the immediate relief of Carr, who, by this time, as I have said, had been driven back nearly a mile. Riding on to the ground he met the 4th Iowa Infantry, who, having fired their last cartridge, were gradually yielding ground to the enemy. He at once ordered them to about- face and charge the enemy, which they did in such gallant style as to check their further advance that night. During the night, the troops were afforded rest and sleep, and fresh supplies of ammunition, and early on the following morning the struggle was renewed. I should not omit to state that during the night a third and last line was formed; and it was now for the first time quite continuous. Carr held the right, as he had done the entire day before, Davis the centre, and Asboth and Sigel the left; but these last troops did not get into position till after the fighting of the morning begun. The right and centre was the only part of the line engaged, and the fighting was being principally done by the artillery. Soon Sigel came up on the left, and forced the enemy's right from a strong position it had taken up on one of the hills in
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Cross Timber Hollows. It was now the moment of victory, seeing which General Curtis ordered a general charge. The enemy struggled fiercely for a moment, but their lines were soon broken at all points, and they fled in utter rout from the field. But for one thing, large numbers of them would have been captured-Cross Timber Hollows gave them a sure and almost unmolested way of retreat.
It was a splendid victory ! For his bravery, watchfulness and skill, General Curtis well deserved to be made a major- general; and only thirteen days after the last day's battle, he was promoted to that rank. General Sigel received a like pro- motion ; but, on account of ill health, was soon after compelled to leave the field. He never returned to the Army of the South West.
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