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 6
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COLONEL JAMES BAIRD WEAVER.
FIFTH COLONEL, SECOND INFANTRY.
JAMES B. WEAVER was the fifth colonel of the 2d Iowa Infantry. He is a native of the city of Dayton, Ohio, where he was born on the 12th of June, 1833, and a son of Abram Weaver, Esq., formerly a county officer and politician of Davis county. He accompanied his father's family from Ohio to Michigan, and thence to Iowa, where he arrived in 1813. In the year following, he settled in Davis county, where he has since resided.
Colonel Weaver's early education was limited -only such as the West, at that early day, afforded. At the age of nineteen, he began the study of law, which he pursued for two years in Bloomfield, and then, with the late lamented Colonel James Baker, entered the Cincinnati Law School. Leaving that University in the spring of 1856, he returned to Iowa; and, from that date until the commencement of the war, practiced his profession in Bloomfield, Davis county. Soon after estab- lishing himself in practice, he was married to Miss Clara Vinson, a lady of intelligence and worth.
Colonel Weaver entered the service, as first lieutenant of Company G, 2d Iowa Infantry, and with that rank fought at the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh. He was made major of his regiment, vice N. W. Mills promoted to lieutenant-col- onel, and, after the death of Colonels Baker and Mills, was promoted to the coloneley. IIis commission as major was received the day before the first day's fight at Corinth, and that of colonel, in the latter part of the same month.
If we except the part taken by the 2d Iowa Infantry in the
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IOWA COLONELS AND REGIMENTS.
early part of General Sherman's campaign against Atlanta, the history of the regiment, while under the command of Colonel Weaver, has in it little of general interest. From the fall of 1862 to the fall of 1863, it was stationed on garrison-duty at and near Corinth, Mississippi; and, if we except the few expeditions in which it took part during this time, the routine of its camp-life was only occasionally broken by droll camp- scenes and incidents.
In garrison-duty, the day begins something as follows :- awakened in the morning by the braying of mules, the impu- dent clatter of drums, and the shrill whistle of fifes, the soldiers hurry on their clothes and assemble on the company parade grounds for "roll-call." But there is always some delinquent : some lazy fellow throws back his blanket and, sitting upright, rubs his eyes and yawns lustily. He begins to wonder if he will have to "police" to-day, or stand picket, or -- what he will have to do, when the command " fall in" is sounded, and instantly the trumpet-voice of the orderly begins calling, "Buckmaster;" "Bunner;" "Brown;" "Brooks;" -- he hurries on his pants and out into line, but only in time to find his name passed, and himself checked as absent from "roll-call. " The day begins badly; for the thing he most dreaded is now upon him -he is the first on the list of those detailed for "policing," and he curses his ill luck.
Next follows the morning ablutions and toilet, and then breakfast. The 2d Iowa at Corinth were gentlemen; for, in those days, they had black men for their cooks, their "hewers of wood and drawers of water." Tho soldiers chatted and laughed, while their servants fried the bacon, and made the coffee. "Guard-mounting," "company-drill," "dinner-call," and "retreat," followed each other, until finally "tattoo" closed the day. Generally, the history of one day was repeated in that following.
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Of all the troops sent out from Iowa, there has been no regi- ment, where the enlisted men have maintained so much inde- pendence in their relations with their officers, as have those of the 2d Iowa,-none, where the members would endure less of style in their field- and line-officers. In every other respect, the discipline of the regiment was most commendable. In the summer of 1863, while the 2d Iowa was stationed with its brig- ade at Corinth, General T. W. Sweeney, (afterwards dismissed in disgrace from the service for threatening to shoot General Dodge, and a surgeon) issued an order, embracing the follow- ing points :- 1st. There must be no familiarity between enlist- ed men and their officers. 2d. If any enlisted man have any business with the commanding officer of his company, he must transact it through the orderly-sergeant. The orderly-ser- geant, on entering his officer's tent, must remove his hat, and taking the position of a soldier, make known his business. He must never seat himself, or talk about other matters than those relating to the business in question; and, that being atten- ded to, he must leave promptly, and with the proper salute. Violations of the order were to be reported by company-officers, and all offenders severely punished.
This was a new article in the regiment's code of discipline, to which it would not yield submission. But Colonel Weaver, always anxious to comply with orders, added one of his own ; and, with a rhetorical flourish, held his company-officers responsible for all infringements of the former. Both were read to his regiment on dress-parade, and were grected with three groans. One stormy night not long after, when the colo- nel was in bed, a shot was fired through his quarters, the ball passing within four or five inches of his person. For some reason or other, no more was said about the obnoxious order, and the men visited the tents of their company-officers as usual.
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IOWA COLONELS AND REGIMENTS.
After Vicksburg had fallen, and Port Hudson, and the Mis- sissippi had been opened from its mouth to its sources, there was little need for the magnificent army of General Grant, in its old field of operations. On the west side of the Mississippi, the power of the Confederacy was inconsiderable: its chief strength lay on the east side of the river. Rosecrans success- fully engaged Bragg at Murfreesboro, and forced him baek across the tail of the Cumberland Mountains, to and beyond Chattanooga. Then, himself defeated, he was beaten back to Chattanooga, and there beseiged. After the fall of Vicksburg, therefore, Chattanooga became the chief point of interest, in military operations in the South West. General Grant's vic- tory at Vicksburg was the consummation of success in that quarter, and he therefore planned immediate relief for the Army of the Cumberland, at Chattanooga.
In order to open and proteet new lines of communication between Nashville and Chattanooga, and to render that one already open more secure, Corinth was to be evacuated, a large extent of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad abandoned, and General Dodge's command ordered across the country to the Nashville and Decatur Railroad. Hence it was that the 2d Iowa, with its brigade and division, was transferred from Corinth to the line of the above named road. General Dodge's command left Corinth and crossed the Tennessee, at Eastport, with the rear of General Sherman's Corps, then on its way to Chattanooga.
The 2d Iowa marched directly to Pulaski, Tennessee, where were established the head-quarters of the regiment. Pulaski was also General Dodge's head-quarters. Colonel Weaver was made commandant of the post, and held the position during the following winter, and until just before the expiration of his term of service. The services of the 2d Iowa were, in the meantime, the same as those of other troops, stationed on rail-
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road guard-duty. The regiment however, marched on no expeditions, and was, at no time, attacked by the enemy. It was at Pulaski that the 2d re-enlisted, and from that point left for Iowa on veteran-furlough.
Soon after its return from Iowa, the 2d Iowa, with the bal- ance of Dodge's command, took the field. Leaving the non- veterans at Pulaski, the regiment, in the latter part of March, 1864, marched to the front, by way of Elkton, Huntsville and Bridgeport. It had been so long stationed in camp that the news of its assignment to the front was hailed with much satisfaction, and demonstrations of joy, along the line of march, such as song-singing and the like, were frequent. The Elk river was to be crossed at Elkton, and there was no bridge and no boats; but that was no obstacle; for the regiment, and indeed the whole brigade, stripping off all but their shirts, waded the stream, amid shouting and laughter. There are always some wags in every regiment, and at such times as these, they crack their jokes and make much sport.
On arriving at Huntsville, General Sweeney's Division, (the 2d) to which was attached the 2d Iowa, was joined by that of General Veatch. These troops constituted General G. M. Dodge's command - the celebrated left wing of the 16th Army Corps. They proceeded from Huntsville to Chattanooga, and from Chattanooga, over the battle-ground of Chickamauga, on to Dalton.
At Dalton, General Jolinson was strongly intrenched, with the finest rebel army ever mustered in the South West; and so confident was he of his strength that he had boasted he would march on Chattanooga, and, having driven the Federal forces from that place, would move on and capture Nashville. But Dalton was to fall with but little bloodshed. General McPher- son, moving through Snake Creek Gap, gained Johnson's left flank, and compelled him to evacuate his strong works and fall
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back to Resaca. In this flank movement, the first in General Sherman's " flanking campaign," the 2d Iowa took part. Soon after, Colonel Weaver was mustered out of the service, and returned to his home in Bloomfield. His three year's term expired on the 28th of May, 1861. From that time to the present, the 2d Jowa Infantry has been commanded by Colo- nel Noel B. Howard.
Colonel Weaver is one of the handsomest of the Iowa colonels. He has a symmetrical, well-developed person, which, with his dignified address, intelligent countenance, and dark-blue eyes, makes him interesting and pleasing. He is too small for a great man, and yet, with his dignity and self-assurance, he impresses a stranger favorably.
Intellectually, he is rather brilliant; I am told he is a grace- ful and interesting public speaker. Ilis worst fault is an affectation in delivery.
He has some vanity, and was proud of his position as colonel of the 2d Iowa. For instance: just after being commissioned a lieutenant, it is said he returned to Bloomfield and attended church in full uniform, sporting the whole regulation outfit. "From his walk," said an officer of his regiment, "you could tell that he was colonel of the 2d Iowa."
He was a good and brave officer, and there are few who were as cool as he in battle. At Shiloh, while the 2d and 7th Iowa were running that terrible gauntlet, on the afternoon of the first day's fight, Captain Moore, of company G, was shot through both legs and disabled. Lieutenant Weaver stopped, picked him up, and bore him from the field. Under the circum- stances, not one man in five thousand would have imitated his example. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and is one of the few officers who abstained from the use of liquor in the service.
COLONEL NOEL B. HOWARD.
SIXTHI COLONEL, SECOND INFANTRY.
NOEL B. HOWARD is one of the youngest officers of his rank in the service, and one of the best. He was born in the State of Vermont, in the year 1838; and was educated, I think, at the Norwich Military University of the same State. Just before the outbreak of the war, he was teaching a military school in one of the southern Atlantic States. Coming North, he was stopping in Lyons, Clinton county, Jowa, at the time Captain Hugh P. Cox's company of the 2d Iowa was being recruited. He enlisted in that company, and on its organization was elec- ted first lieutenant. With that rank he entered the service. After the battle of Fort Donelson, he was promoted to the captainey of his company, (I) and, on the 13th of October fol- lowing, was made major of his regiment. He served with the rank of major till the spring of 1864, when he was made lieutenant-colonel, rice Lieutenant-Colonel Henry R. Cowles, resigned.
Colonel Weaver left his regiment at Resaca: since that time it has been commanded chiefly by Colonel Howard. In the terrible battle of the 22d of July, before Atlanta, he was wounded, which left the regiment for several weeks in con- mand of Major M. G. Hamill. After the fall of Atlanta, the 3d Iowa Infantry was consolidated with the 2d. This, with the recruits and drafted men assigned to it, increasing its num- bers to above the minimum of a regimental organization, entitled the 2d Iowa to a Colonel. Lieutenant-Colonel How- ard was accordingly promoted to that rank ; and no officer in the Federal army more richly merited the position.
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The opening and closing days of the war were the most eventful to the 2d Iowa. It gained pre-eminent distinction at Fort Donelson, and closed its brilliant record, (for the war is virtually over) in the campaigns from Dalton to Atlanta, from Atlanta to Savannah, and from Savannah to Raleigh.
After leaving Resaca, Georgia, the operations of the 2d Iowa, up to the time of the capture of Atlanta, were briefly as fol- lows :- On the 14th day of May, it marched with its brigade to Calhoun Ford, on the Oostanaula river, and assisted in forcing a crossing of that stream. It was the first regiment sent across, after which, having deployed as skirmishers, it held the enemy in check till the other troops were over. The Oostanaula was crossed on the morning of the 15th instant, and in the after- noon of the day following, the march was directed toward Rome. At Rome Cross Roads, the 2d Iowa engaged the enemy as skirmishers, and held the left of its division. Defeated at this point, the enemy fell back to Kingston, and beyond. The 21 Iowa, with its brigade and division, followed, and reached that place in the afternoon of the 19th of May. From King- ston, the regiment marched to Dallas, where it was engaged; from Dallas to Acworth Station, and thence to Big Shanty, near Kenesaw Mountain, where it arrived on the 10th of June. At Big Shanty, it was detached for a time from its brigade, and assigned to provost- and fatigue-duty ; but it joined it again near Lost Mountain on the 3d of July, and the same day assis- ted in throwing up fortifications on Niek-a-jack creek.
From the 3d of July, until the arrival of MePherson before Atlanta, the movements of the 2d Iowa were the same as those of the other troops of its corps. Marching up past Marietta, it crossed the Chattahoochie at Roswell, and then followed out through Decatur to the east side of Atlanta. In approaching Atlanta, on the 20th instant, the regiment was deployed as skirmishers, and occupied a position between its own corps
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and the 23d. That day, it was engaged but slightly ; but, on the 22d instant, it took an active part in repelling the desperate assaults of the enemy on the Army of the Tennessee. For the part taken by the 2d Iowa in that day's fighting, I refer to the report of Major Hamill.
"The regiment, with its brigade, was marched from position on the line between the 15th and 23d Corps, on the morning of the 22d, to position on the extreme left, to meet a rapid advance of the enemy on the left flank of the 17th Corps. We took position on the left flank of the brigade, the 7th Iowa on our right, on a ridge running almost at right angles with the line of the 17th Corps, and in an open field. Company G, under command of Captain Duckworth, was deployed as skir- mishers; but had advanced only a short distance, when the enemy was discovered in the edge of the woods, advancing in force directly in our front. Our skirmishers being hard pressed retired to the left to avoid exposure, and until the regimental- front was uncovered, when the regiment opened a well-directed fire on the enemy's advancing column, checking him, and throwing him into confusion. After fruitless efforts to rally his men under our fire, he was driven from the field, leaving
dead, wounded, and arms in our hands."
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"About the close of the engagement, Lieutenant-Colonel N. B. Howard was severely wounded, and compelled to leave the field, leaving the regiment in my command. Captain George Heaton, and three sergeants were severely wounded; one corporal mortally, and four privates, slightly. The cap- tures were twenty prisoners, one hundred and sixty-seven stand of arms, and one stand of colors.
"Were I to make special mention of the officers and men who did their duty well, and who deserve promotion, I should have to mention every member of the regiment; for each officer and soldier deported himself as if the safety of the army and the success of our cause depended on his individual efforts. No soldiers ever discharged their duties better-none were ever more deserving of the lasting gratitude of the country."
The day following this terrible engagement, the 2d Iowa took up a position on the extreme left of the army, which it hold till the morning of the 27th; and then, with its corps, swung round
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to the west side of Atlanta. Throwing up earth-works, the regiment remained in this position till the Sth of August follow- ing, when it was ordered to take up an advanced position.
But the movement in which the regiment most distinguished itself, during the campaign, was that which resulted in the evacuation of Atlanta. Captain John A. Duckworth, a most excellent officer, who afterwards died as Sherman was approach- ing Savannah, gives the following account of the part taken by his regiment in the first part of this brilliant movement. After stating that on the 20th of August, the 2d Iowa had assisted in destroying the West Point railroad, he goes on to say :
"On the morning of the 30th, in company with the 7th Iowa Infantry, the regiment was ordered to support the cavalry under General Kilpatrick, when the advance on Jonesboro was commenced. Taking the main road leading to that point, the command moved out at a brisk step, and under a burning sun, carrying, besides arms, ammunition, clothing and rations, a number of intrenching tools. A force of the enemy's cavalry was found at Strithesville Post-Office, six miles north-west of Jonesboro, posted on an eminence in an open field, and pro- texted by a barricade of rails. This position the regiment, sup- ported by the 7th Jowa, was ordered to charge. Two companies, (B and G) under command of Captain Lewis, were deployed as skirmishers. Major M. G. Hamill assumed command of both regiments, and the movement commenced."
" The line moved cautiously until it arrived at the edge of a corn-field, through which it had to pass, when the charge was ordered. The regiment advanced in the most gallant style, driving the enemy from the erest of the ridge, and taking pos- session of their defenses. In this charge, Major Hamill was wounded, who, it is needless to say, was doing his duty in the coolest and bravest manner. Skirmishers were advanced, and the enemy driven from his second position, in the edge of the woods. Throwing out an additional company as skirmishers, (E) the command again moved forward, under Major Mahon of the 7th Iowa. The enemy was found in his third position near Liberty Hill Church, which was charged, taken and held, by companies B, G and E, and a squadron of cavalry. Here
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five companies of the 7th Iowa took the advance, supported by the remainder of the two regiments united ; but after advancing a mile further, orders came to join the brigade."
That same day the advance was continued to Flint River, where the 2d Iowa arrived late in the evening, and fortified. The next day, the 31st, the river was crossed, and the enemy went in heavy force; and from that time until Hood's defeat and flight, the regiment was much of the time under fire. Atlanta was evacuated on the night of the 2d of September, and, with the exception of the brief pursuit which was made to Fayetteville, the campaign was closed.
In the march from Dalton, and in the battles and skirmishes fought around Atlanta, the loss of the regiment was fifty-five officers and men, killed and wounded. Eight were killed, among whom were Lieutenant T. K. Raush, and Sergeant Cyrus Bartow. Lieutenant V. P. Twombly, regimental adju- tant, was the only officer wounded near Jonesboro.
The services of the 2d Iowa, subsequently to the fall of Atlanta, are substantially the same as those of the other Iowa troops, who accompanied Sherman on his tour, via. Savannah, to Raleigh, and thence to Washington. At the National Capi- tal, it joined in the Grand Review ; and I am told, held the post of honor in the triumphal march of the Army of the Ten- nessce.
Colonel Howard is a small, pale-faced man, with a weakly voice, and weighing not more than one hundred and fifteen or twenty pounds. A stranger would judge that he had little capacity for physical endurance; but he is as hardy as a knot. He is quiet, and unpretending in his manners, and quick in his movements. To look at him, one would not judge him to be the man that he is; though his countenance indicates much energy and intelligence.
He is a model soldier. From the very first, he was known
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in the 2d Iowa, as "the nicest young man in the regiment." When his regiment left Keokuk, he was its best drilled officer, and, while a line officer, he had the best drilled company. He always did his duty quietly and faithfully ; was always popu- lar and approachable, and never became inflated by flattery or promotion.
COLONEL WILSON G. WILLIAMS.
FIRST COLONEL, THIRD INFANTRY.
Colonel W. G. WILLIAMS, of the 3d Iowa Infantry, was born in Bainbridge, Chenango county, New York, in the year . 1823. He is a descendant of one of the earliest settlers of Con- necticut. His father, on the maternal side, was a resident of Danbury, Connecticut, and, at the capture and burning of that place by the British under Governor Tryon, was taken pris- oner. Colonel Williams, while young, removed with his parents to Utica, New York, then a small village, where he passed his youth, and received a good academie education. On attaining his majority, he removed to New York City, and was, for several years, engaged in the importing business. HIe came West in 1855, and, locating in the city of Dubuque, opened soon after, a mercantile house. After following this business for several years, he sold out his interest to a younger brother, and purchased a farm in Dubuque county, on which he has since resided.
At the outbreak of the war, Colonel Williams was among the first in the State to tender his services to the Government. He was for a long time unsuccessful; but finally, through his own persisteney, and aided by the earnest endeavors of his friends, he was commissioned colonel of the 3d Iowa Infantry.
He retained this rank until November, 1862, when he resigned his commission and returned to his farm in Dubuque county.
The 3d Iowa Infantry, which was made up from nearly every part of the State, was rendezvoused in the city of Keokuk, and mustered into the United States service, on the
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10th day of June, 1861. It has the saddest, and, all things considered, the proudest record of all the troops furnished by our patriotic State. Strife for position has been the bane of this war, especially with the Federal army; and I need not add, what was the first source of discontent with the 3d Iowa Infan- try. This proved a great misfortune to the regiment. Like the 1st, 2d, 4th, 5th and 6th Iowa Infantry regiments, the 3d first served in Northern Missouri. It went to the front under Captain R. G. Herron, a brother of Major-General Herron ; for Colonel Williams was left behind, not yet having received his commission. The regiment arrived at the pretty, and just before that time, flourishing city of Hannibal, in the last of June, and two days later, left on the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, which it was to assist in guarding.
It entered the field under many disadvantages. It not only had no commanding officer above a captain, (for neither Lieu- tenant-Colonel Scott nor Major Stone had yet received their commissions) but it was without transportation and equip- ments. It was armed with the Springfield musket of the pat- tern of "1818," but had no cartridge-boxes, belts or bayonet- scabbards. When it went on board the train for the West, on the morning of the 1st of July, 1861, it did not have even a cartridge-only burnished guns and bayonets; and its route lay through that section of the State in which the rebel Thomas Harris was organizing his forces. But what was the greatest matter of surprise to the regiment, it was sent off without rations. It was stationed along the road in detachments, in the vicinity of Utica, and that night was the regiment's first night in the field. It was tired and sleepy, and the detach- ment at Utica threw themselves on the wet ground and slept, without even establishing a picket-post. Lieutenant S. D. Thompson, of the 3d lowa, who has written a history of the regiment, quaintly remarks that they trusted in Providence.
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