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 5
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At Shiloh, Colonel Tuttle was placed in command of a brig- ade, where he won new laurels. His command consisted of the 2d, 7th, 12th, and 14th Iowa regiments, and, with it, he held a portion of that line which saved the Federal army from capture. After the fall of General W. H. L. Wallace, in that deadly cross-fire of the enemy, and just at the mouth of that flanking swoop that swallowed up the Sth, 12th, and 14th Iowa, Colonel Tuttle, at the request of Captain McMichael, General Smith's aeting assistant adjutant-general, assumed cominand of the division, which he held the remainder of that day, and until the enemy were finally repulsed and driven from the field. At Shiloh, he showed himself to be cool and calculating in danger, and on the 9th of the following June, he was rewarded with the commission of a brigadier-general. Subsequently to his promotion to the rank of a general officer, and until the spring of 1864, when he left the service, General Tuttle, a principal portion of the time, commanded a division in the field. During the fall of 1862, and the following winter, he was in command at Cairo, Illinois; but, in the spring of 1:03, was relieved and placed in command of the 3d Division,
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15th Army Corps. He joined Sherman in the march through Jackson to the rear of Vicksburg, and, in the assault and cap- ture of Jackson on the 11th of May, was with his division in the advance. His division moved against the south side of the rebel capital, while General Crocker's made the assault on the west.
There is a solitary political chapter in General Tuttle's his- tory. He was the Democratie candidate for Governor of Iowa, at the fall election of 1863, and the following brief extract from his Address to the People will show his views upon the all-ab- sorbing political question of the day."
"I am in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war to the full extent of our power, until the rebellion is suppressed, and of using all means that may be in our possession, recognized by honorable warfare, for that purpose. I am for the Union without an if, and regardless of whether Slavery stands or falls by its restoration ; and in favor of peace on no other terms than the unconditional submission of the rebels to the constituted authorities of the Government of the United States."
In size General Tuttle is above the medium, with broad, square shoulders, and weighing one hundred and ninety pounds. He has a sanguine, bilious temperament; light, florid complexion ; and gray eyes. His mental and physical organ- ism seem to be in perfect sympathy ; for he is slow of speech, and slow in action. He has none of the dash of Sheridan ;- he is more like General Grant-slow and sure. Ordinarily he does not draw conclusions rapidly ; but, if the circumstances be such as to give him no time for deliberation, he seems equal to emergencies, for his judgments are nearly always correct. He is naturally modest, unassuming and unostentatious. He has large hope, but little self-esteem, and laeks confidence in his own ability. But he is stubborn, and his deliberate opinions are not easily shaken.
COLONEL JAMES BAKER.
THIRD COLONEL, SECOND INFANTRY.
Colonel JAMES BAKER of the 2d Iowa Infantry, who fell mortally wounded, while leading his regiment in a charge against the enemy at Corinth, was a native of Gallatin county,
Kentucky, where he was born the 25th of December, 1823. 1 Hle was reared and educated in Shelbyville, Indiana, where his father removed with his family in his son's infancy. In 1852, he came to Iowa and settled in Bloomfield, Davis county. At Bloomfield, he entered the practice of law, in partnership with his brother-in-law, H. H. Trimble, to which he devoted his exclusive attention from 1855 to 1861. He was a successful lawyer and had, at the outbreak of the war, secured an exten- sive practice.
In April, 1861, Mr. Baker entered the Volunteer Service, as captain of company G, 2d Iowa Infantry. He was the first volunteer from Davis county, and enrolled his name in the old Methodist Church of Bloomfield. Entering the field with his regiment, he served with it with the rank of captain, till the 2d of November, 1861; when he was promoted to the lieutenant-coloneley of his regiment. Less than eight months later, he succeeded General Tuttle to the coloneley.
The history of the 2d Iowa Infantry, from the 22d of June, 1862, (the date of Colonel Baker's commission) till September following, is nearly the same as that of all the Federal troops camped at and in the vicinity of Corinth: the regiment did little except camp- and picket-duty.
Corinth, Mississippi, where, on the 3d and Ith of October, 1562, was fought one of the most important and decisive
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battles of the war, especially in the South West, and where the 2d Iowa Infantry, for more than a year was stationed on garrison-duty, is a point to which attaches much interest in the history of the war. It was the first Confederate town of conse- quence in the South West besieged by the Federal forces. It is situated in the north-east corner of Mississippi, and is at the point of intersection of the Memphis and Charleston, and the Mobile and Ohio Railroads. To the enemy, it was a place of great importance.
From the 30th of May, 1862, the date of the place's evacuation by Beauregard, till the early part of the following September, every thing remained quiet at Corinth. Indeed, no considerable rebel force was in its vicinity; for, after its evacuation, the greater part of the rebel army was transferred to the neigh- borhood of Chattanooga, Tennessee. General Sterling Price made his appearance at Iuka, about twenty miles east of Cor- inth, on the thirteenth of September, and, on the nineteenth of that month, General Rosecrans fought with him the battle of luka. Defeated at that point, General Price marched his army, by a circuitous route, round to Ripley, where he was joined by Generals Van Dorn and Villipigue. The combined rebel force numbered now not less than forty thousand, and, in Van Dorn's opinion, was sufficient to capture Corinth. Price, who had recently felt the mettle of the Federal troops at Iuka, thought otherwise; but Van Dorn was the ranking officer, and an attack was determined on and ordered.
The enemy marched on Corinth from Ripley, and first encountered a detachment of Federal troops at Chewalla, a small town north-west of Corinth. This was on the afternoon of the second of October. In the meantime General Grant, having learned of the enemy's approach, had made prepara- tions to meet him. The attack on Corinth was made from the direction of the enemy's march-on the west and north-west
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of the town-and met serious resistance two and a half miles out, on the Chewalla road.
The 21 Iowa Infantry, attached to the 1st Brigade of the 2d Division, was among the troops sent out to encounter the enemy, and, marching in a north-westerly direction, formed line of battle at the front. Frequent changes of position hav- ing been made to check-mate the advances of the enemy, the regiment finally became hotly engaged near what was known as the White House. Near the White House, the position of the 2d Iowa was as follows: it was stationed on high ground, and in the edge of timber. In its front, the country was open, affording almost an unobstructed view for a mile or more to the left and front. The regiment was assaulted in this position by the enemy in force, who, by a charge, endeavored to break the Federal line; but they were repulsed. They did not renew the charge, but returning to within musket-range, and covering themselves as much as possible behind stumps and old logs, opened on the Federal lines with their rifles. The fighting continued in front of the 2d Iowa for nearly an hour, but with no advantage to the enemy; for, whenever they advanced so as to expose themselves, they were driven to cover by the sharp and accurate fire of the regiment.
But now heavy columns of rebel re-inforcements were seen approaching in the distance, and for the regiment to remain where it was, and allow the enemy in its immediate front to hold their position till their re-inforcements arrived, would result in certain defeat. Colonel Baker was sitting upon his horse, watching the movements of the enemy, and contempla- ting the course to be pursued, when Lieutenant, now Major Hamill stepping to his side, said, "Colonel, let us charge the enemy." The suggestion was adopted and a charge ordered, which resulted successfully ; but just as the enemy were being routed, Colonel Baker fell from his horse, mortally wounded.
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As he fell, he said, "Thank God, I fell while my regiment was victoriously charging!" He was borne from the field on a litter, and placed in hospital at Corinth, where he lay for three days and nights, breathing regrets for his sad fate. "Poor Charlie, (his wife) if it were not for you, I could die more wil- lingly." Ile was never a father, and doted on his wife with the fondest affection.
From the first, there was no hope of saving his life, and he was drugged to kill his intense pain. He lingered till the morning of the seventh of October, when he died. Of the Jowa colonels, he was the first that had fallen in battle, and the second that had fallen in the service of the country. Colonel Worthington, of the 5th Iowa Infantry, had been shot during 1 the siege of Corinth by a frightened sentinel.
When Colonel Baker fell, Lieutenant-Colonel Mills assumed command of the 2d Iowa, and soon after was ordered to fall back in the direction of Corinth, and take position in the vicin- ity of the Federal battery, Robinette, where the regiment remained during the following night. In the next day's engagement, Colonel Mills received a wound which terminated fatally, five days after the death of Colonel Baker.
In the two day's engagement at Corinth, the loss of the 2d Iowa was severe-especially in officers. When it marched out to the front on the morning of the 3d, there were, in officers and enlisted men, an aggregate of three hundred and forty-six. In the first day's battle, it lost three officers killed, and two wounded; and in the second, one killed, and five wounded. The entire loss of the regiment, in killed, wounded and mis- sing, was one hundred and eight. Thirteen enlisted men were killed. The officers killed dead, were Lientenants Huntington, Snowden, Bing, and George W. Neal.
The following is from Major Weaver's official report :
"Among those who distinguished themselves was Adjutant
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George L. Godfrey, who could always be seen and heard charging along the line upon his horse, shouting to the men to be cool and steady. Ile is one of the most valuable young officers with whom I have ever met, Captains Cowles, McCulloch, Mastic, Howard, Ensign and Davis were marked instances of bravery and efficiency upon the field, and reflected great credit upon themselves and their commands. Cap- tain Holmes, on account of a wound received in the battle at Fort Donelson, was unable to take command of his company during the engagement.
"Conspicuous for bravery, were Lieutenants Parker, Duffield, Marsh, Wilson, Tisdale, Suiter, Hamnill, Hall, Blake, Duck- worth, Ballinger, Twombly and McCoid. After Lieutenants Parker and Twombly of company F, were wounded, Sergeant James Ferry took charge of the company, and displayed marked efficiency and courage. Likewise after the fall of Lieutenants Huntington and Suiter, of company B, Sergeant Lewis, (acting lieutenant) took charge of the company, and rendered most satisfactory service. Too much credit can not be bestowed upon our excellent First Assistant Surgeon Elliott Pyle, then in charge of the Medical Department of the regi- ment. He was most indefatigable in his attention to the wounded. Nor upon our Quarter-Master Sergeant John Lynde, who was ever present upon the field to supply the wants of the men. Sergeant-Major Campbell distinguished hinself throughout the battle for coolness and bravery. Color- Sergeant Harry Doolittle, whilst supporting the colors, was again wounded, and Color-Corporals Henry A. Seiberlich, G. C. Phillips, G. B. Norris, I. C. Urie and John H. Stewart were all wounded, whilst supporting the old flag."
Captain Ensign distinguished himself by capturing a bat- tle-flag, and in the charge upon the battery, was the first to reach it, and turn the guns upon the enemy.
Colonel Baker was a man of middle size, and had a stocky and vigorous form. He had a dark, or olive complexion, black hair, and dark, lustrous eyes. In personal appearance he was extremely prepossessing. With his friends he was extremely sociable; but he had little to say to strangers. During the last months of his service, he became somewhat convivial in his
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habits, which was doubtless occasioned by his inactive camp- life at Corinth.
The Colonel had great independence of character, and never fawned nor flattered. He never asked favors; but, for prefer- ment, relied solely on his merit and ability. He had fine legal talent, and there were few lawyers in Southern Iowa who were his superiors. But he had one peculiarity-a weak- ness, if it may be so termed, attributed by his friends to his native modesty, which he could never overcome-he never attempted to address a jury or a publie assembly without at first showing signs of fear. It could be seen in his pale face, his compressed lips, and in the nervous tremor of his hand. This is the more remarkable since he was a fine public speaker, and never spoke with hesitancy.
The Colonel was a fine officer: indeed, the State has fur- nished few better. His remains now lie buried on his former happy homestead in Bloomfield, and a fine monument, erected by his wife, marks the spot of his burial.
COLONEL NOAH WEBSTER MILLS.
FOURTH COLONEL, SECOND REGIMENT.
The memories of the noble dead, who have fallen in battle, we shall ever cherish; and the names of those who distinguished themselves most, we shall, regardless of their rank, hold in the highest honor. Though NOAH W. MILLS, at the time of his death, held only the rank of a colonel, yet, I believe, we have rarely sustained a greater loss in the death of a general officer.
The subject of this memoir was a native of Indiana, and was born in Montgomery county of that State, on the 21st day of June, 1834. In his early history there is little of special interest. His education, which was liberal, he received at Wabash College, Indiana. He had to defray his own educational expenses, and, for that purpose, passed much of his time in a printing-house. In college he was noted simply for his honesty, morality and industry. Naturally modest, he did not seek that distinction in his class to which his talents entitled him. For several months after leaving college, he was employed with an engineering corps, but subsequently became an employee of the Adams Express Company, in whose service he remained one year. While in the service of this company, he began the study of law, the profession for which he had always mani- fested a preference; and, as an example of his industry, it may be stated that his leisure moments, while passing to and fro over the road, were devoted to the study of his chosen pro- fession. He was admitted to the bar in 1856, and in the fall of the same year removed to Des Moines, where, renouncing for the time his legal pursuits, he engaged in the book and printing business, with his brother, F. M. Mills, Esq., under the firm
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name of Mills & Co .; and the zeal and skill which he carried with him into the business were, I am informed, important elements in the success of this enterprising house.
Colonel Mills was one of the first in Polk county to enter the War of the Rebellion. His keen sense of honor and love of justice, his horror of anarchy and hatred of the institutions which were threatening to produce it, were the chief induce- ments for his entering the army; for he was naturally of a retiring disposition, and hated contention. He entered the service as a lieutenant in Captain, now General Crocker's com- pany, which, being too late in its organization for the three- months service, was assigned to the 2d Iowa Infantry. At its rendezvous in Keokuk, Captain Crocker was elected major of the regiment, and Lieutenant Mills was promoted to the cap- tainey of his company. He held this rank till the 22d of June, 1862, when he was made major. Two days later he was com- missioned lieutenant-colonel ; and on the Sth of October follow- ing, the day after the death of Colonel Baker, he was promoted to the coloneley of the 2d Iowa Infantry. He entered upon his military career with the lowest rank of a commissioned officer, and, in seventeen months time, attained, by gallant and meritorious conduct, the highest rank within the gift of the State Executive. But he was entitled to even greater distinc- tion ; for, after his death, General Rosecrans said : "He was a gallant officer, and richly merited promotion to the rank of a brigadier."
To give his military history in detail is needless; for it is to be found in the history of his gallant regiment. He served with his regiment in all its campaigns, and fought with it in all its battles; and the force of every blow which it dealt the rebellion was augmented by his gallantry and prowess. That his merit as an officer was not of the common sort may be seen from the two following incidents; the first occurring on the
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hights of Fort Donelson, and the second on the battle-field of Shiloh :
At Fort Donelson, after the hights had been gained, and the works of the enemy captured, the left wing of the 2d (the right wing had not yet come up) had started, in their enthu- Kinsin, in pursuit of the enemy, to the ravine below, when they were halted by Colonel Tuttle and ordered to re-form, so as to meet the assault of a Tennessee regiment moving against them on the right. The order was no sooner given than the company of Captain Mills, quitting the pursuit, instantly rallied in a cirele around him ; reminding one, as General Tuttle expressed it, "of a brood of chickens huddling around their mother, on the approach of danger." No more striking instance of the confidence reposed in him by his men could be given.
Hle was equally fortunate in securing the confidence of his superior officers. At about four o'clock on the afternoon of the first day's fight at Shiloh, that portion of the line formed by General Tuttle's Brigade was being held successfully : every thing in the immediate vicinity looked as though the advance of the enemy had been checked, though the heavy firing at the left and right rear indicated otherwise. Just at this juncture, Captain Mills, who held the right of his regiment, and the right of the brigade, sent a sergeant to General Tuttle with word that the enemy were passing his flank on the right, and that the command was in imminent danger. "Did Captain Mills send you to'me?" inquired General Tuttle. "Yes." "Well then, there must be something wrong, and I will report It to General Wallace."
The facts are now well known. On a reconnoisance being made, the statements of Captain Mills were found to be cor- rect; but only in time to save two regiments of the brigade from capture. After the danger was passed, General Tuttle reinarked: " Had any one but Captain Mills reported that fact
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to me I should have taken no notice of it ;" and thus he saved the 2d and 7th Iowa regiments from capture at Shiloh. " H". was the coolest man in battle I ever saw; (I again use the language of General Tuttle) and his watchfulness and valor were worth a regiment."
Colonel Mills' last engagement was that of Corinth, October 3d and 4th, 1862. On the afternoon of the first day's fight, the gallant Colonel Baker was mortally wounded; and the com- mand of the regiment devolved on Lieutenant-Colonel Mills. He himself was struck in the foot by a spent ball, and his horse killed under him, in the same charge in which Colonel Baker fell; but fortunately he was not disabled.
The morning of the 4th of October dawned with but little hope for the Union army at Corinth. Our lines on every hand had been forced back, and on the north, west and south sides of the city, the enemy had possessed themselves of the outer defences; and the contest, which would decide the final issue, could be of but short duration. Soon after day-light, the enemy resumed their advance, and a few moments later the battle was raging in every quarter. On the north side, Battery Robinette was repeatedly charged; but the enemy were each time repulsed with dreadful slaughter. Despairing of success at that point, they massed their forces on the south side, and, with an appalling yell and at double-quick, came dashing into the town, many of them even reaching the Tishamingo House. At this critical moment, when victory was almost perching on the banner of the enemy, three Iowa regiments sprang to the rescue, and, with an answering yell of defiance, charged the rebel legions and drove them back in utter confusion. To the 2d, 7th, and 17th Iowa regiments belong the credit of meeting and repelling the final assault of the enemy at Corinth. The last desperate charge of the enemy on Battery Robinette had been niado just before.
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In this final charge, Lieutenant-Colonel Mills was conspicu- ous. Springing to the front of his regiment, he snatched its tattered battle-flag from the color-guard, and, in the very face of the foe, cheered on his men to the onset. It was in this charge, and after the enemy had been routed, that he was wounded. He was shot in the foot with a musket-ball, which entered at the big-toe joint and lodged in the heel. A week after he was wounded he was attacked with lock-jaw, from which he could receive no relief; and he died at sun-down, on Sunday evening, the 12th of October, 1862. He retained his consciousness to the last. He knew he must die, and wrote: (he could not speak) "I am not alarmed, if the danger is great. If this is to be fatal, it is my time, and God is wise and just: I am not afraid to die." And he added: "In the army I have tried conscientiously and prayerfully to do my duty ; and, if I am to die in my youth, I prefer to die as a soldier of my country. To do so as a member of the 2d Iowa is glory enough for me."
To leave his beloved wife and his two dear little children, was his greatest cross; and many kind and touching messages he left them. The grief of that noble woman but few can understand; for, in the engagement at Corinth, she sacrificed her all. Her father, General Hackelman, of Indiana, was killed in the first day's battle. Colonel Mills' farewell to his parents was: "Your teachings have done mne good through all my life, and I honor and thank you for them." But he had a Christian burial in a Christian land, which in a degree assuaged the grief of his friends; and John A. Kasson, his warm friend, and one of Iowa's most eloquent and distin- guished sons, pronounced his eulogy.
Immediately after learning of the death of Colonel Baker, Governor Kirkwood promoted Lieutenant-Colonel Mills to the coloneley of the 2d Iowa Infantry ; and, though he did not live
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to receive his commission, he died a full colonel of that nob !.. regiment.
The names of Colonels Baker and Mills are immortal-at least in the annals of Iowa. In life their regiment learned their worth, and in death it mourned their loss :
"Resolved, That in view of the gallant conduct of these brave men, we, the officers and men of the 2d Iowa Infantry, join in paying fitting honor to their memory.
Resolved, That, at Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth, they dis- played that coolness and bravery, which will secure for them a place upon the brightest page of our history; while posterity will gratefully remember and emulate them, as among the most worthy martyrs in the cause of their country."
Colonel Mills was tall and erect in person, and, in health, had the appearance of being rather portly. He had light-gray eyes, a fair, florid complexion, and light-brown hair. His voice was clear and kind: his manners frank and unas- suming. He had good literary taste; was a good writer and a fine scholar. In civil life he was quiet, urbane and industrious; and, though young, was a prominent, useful and influential citizen. Though few predicted for him great success as & military man, yet, his friends and those who knew him best, were not surprised at his brilliant military career. He was taught from childhood to hate Slavery. From the first he saw it was the cause of the war, and he believed there could be no peace till it was utterly destroyed. Soon after entering the field he wrote to his friends: "I never fail to pray that this rebellion may be the beginning of the end of Slavery." With him the maintenance of Liberty and Justice were paramount. To this end he gave his life a willing sacrifice; and his friends can rejoice that it was not given in vain.
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