USA > Iowa > Johnson County > Leading Events in Johnson County, Iowa, History > Part 45
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they tried in vain. They were dying here, all could see that, and they would never be of any further use to the government if they remained here. If discharged or furloughed it could be no worse - and probably much better. Let me give you one item. Dr. Noyes, the surgeon, afterwards became unwell and he is now home on a furlough. Had he shown a tenth of the regard for the soldiers that he did for his own health, these men might now be rugged and well; or if they must die they should have been surrounded by the comforts of home, and have had their eyes closed by a kindred hand.
"A sick soldier in the morning attends 'sick call,' in a hurry states his case, and in a hurry gets something to take. It may cure him or it may make him worse. However sick a soldier may be he has to abide by the decision of the surgeon, or it may be the surgeon protem, the steward, whose prac- tical experience has not been very long. If the surgeon's re- port says a man is sick he has to be sick. If he says he is able to do duty, his actual illness does not excuse him. I have seen men so sick that they could not walk straight, their faces showing that they were sick, and yet they were reported for full duty. Sergeant Wicks was reported for duty the day be- fore he died. John B. Gill, Co. H, who died at Corinth, be- fore we came to this camp, was reported for duty in the morn- ing and died before night.
"The friends at home may think the hospital a good and safe place but the soldier knows better and will stay out of it as long as he can."
This letter from Mississippi is signed by "Ike."
Such letters came from those on the field. Others from the ones who had not yet gone from the state camp are dif- ferent in character. The twenty-eighth was still in camp at Davenport in November, 1862, and communications from them are full of an anxious desire to be on the move to the very point of conflict. Camp Pope seemed satisfactory enough but the moving from there caused a member of the twenty-eighth, who signs himself "28th Iowa," some annoyance which he puts into the following words: "At an early hour all was bustle, and at seven o'clock all marched out, giving Camp Pope [Iowa City] a final farewell; they went in order to the cars where they embarked under the direction of Col. Miller.
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This required some time and at nine o'clock we were off. About forty, who were sick, were placed in a car by themselves and attended by the surgeons. Everything was in fine order on the cars and all went well until about one o'clock in the afternoon when we came to a 'Battalion halt' by order of Adjt. Gen. Baker in front of the Burtis House, where we were ordered to file right to Camp Herron where the general said comfortable quarters awaited us. And such comfortable quar- ters! Would that Gen. Baker had to occupy them for a year. We found a few shanties, eight in number, room for about seventy men. But the 28th, or nine companies of us crowded in, leaving Company A out in the cold without any shelter. Gen. Baker made promises every half hour, that he would find quarters, until Col. Miller came to the conclusion that he did not mean to do so and marched the company down town to the Pennsylvania House. This brought the general to terms and he found a good place for the company. We marched through some of the principal streets of Davenport yesterday and were highly praised for our efficiency in drill, which was thankfully received, coming as it did like balm to a wounded soul, after the abuse we received in removing us from Camp Pope, where we had comfortable quarters, to such infernal quarters as these.
"We would not complain were it for the good of our coun- try, but when it comes merely to accommodate a town we must enter our protest. We have a rumor that we leave tomorrow, yet no one knows." 405
The first days out from the old camp near home made the "boys" think much of home and correspondence was "brisk." As time passed, and as war became real, when writing and mailing letters were done with difficulty, the home folks heard less frequently. During the first days that the fortieth was out one of them wrote: "During the short week since leav- ing Iowa City the 40th has traveled by rail and steamboat, occupied four camps and two forts, besides lying about loose a good share of the time. As to our living, it is not of the best and we may hope to fare better before the close of the war. Cold meat, or no meat, coffee with no cream or sugar, and bread as hard as 'Pharoah's' heart is part of the romance of soldiering.
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"In the military decalogue, the command to bid adieu to dear relations and friends is not the most agreeable order that could be given to men fond of society and partial to home and its enjoyments. However the first duty of a soldier is to obey orders, and although the officers and men of the 40th were given such a short time to prepare for departure every man was at his post of duty. The day that witnessed our departure from Iowa City was bright, cold and beautiful and the 'boys' were right glad to exchange the monotony of camp life for more active duty. At 9:30 a. m. the shrill whistle of the locomotive warned us of departure and were taken by way of La Salle, Ill., to Cairo in modern 'Egypt,' where the regiment immediately embarked on the steamer 'Express' for the destination of Columbus, Kentucky (where the regi- ment was then encamped).
"There are rumors of a fight now, that the rebels are ap- proaching and since I have been writing the facts are more tangible. We have been kept under arms since daylight this morning. The rebels will have to come in force if they take Columbus.
"Lieut. Col. Lucas of your place was here a day or two since looking for his regiment, but as communication is cut off south of here he returned to Cairo. I also met Lieut. Geo. S. Hampton late of Gen. Mckean's staff, but now on the staff of Brig. Gen. Tuttle, who is from Iowa. Tomorrow will be Christmas and the 40th wishes their many friends in Iowa City a 'merry time.' We are sleeping on our arms and in- stead of eating Christmas turkey, may be in a fight, but I doubt it."
This letter was written by "Boots." 406
The fortieth was heard from once more in an emphatic way when "Boots" said something concerning the southern sym- pathizers of the north: "The soldiers of the west have en- dured too much in hardships and privations during the present war to tamely submit to the abuse heaped upon them by the northern rebels. They entered the service of their country to put down treason and to punish traitors, and the class of traitors that skulk behind fancied security of distance from the scene of action will certainly be severely punished if they persist in their present attempts to distract the loyal senti-
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ments of the states of the west. Patriotism tried and true is not a patriotism of conditions. It is love of country that knows no bounds and a determination to uphold the govern- ment and to battle to the last for the legacy of free institu- tions. Shame and disgrace upon the cowardly scoundrels who defend the government only when the policy of the administra- tion is shaped to suit their fancies."
"Boots" reported again in March, 1863, and this time gave a financial statement of his regiment's contribution to the support of the "home folks." He saw more in the green backs at first than some others probably at the time: "There is joy in the camp of the 40th. The paymaster with bushels of greenbacks has been here and the regiment paid up until the last of December. Not far from sixty thousand dollars was paid the regiment and to the credit of the soldiers let it be said that the loved ones at home were not forgotten as the following account may show." Then followed the sums from different companies amounting to nearly forty thousand dol- lars that was sent home.
Mingled pride and grief mark all letters from the field of battle; compliments on bravery of men, sympathy for those bereaved, a merited promotion, and in the same sentence al- most the account of a fallen son, the choicest of the family. In this connection it may serve to illustrate by mentioning the experience of one Johnson county boy who won a deserved promotion from the post of sergeant to that of first lieutenant, made on the recommendation of his brigade commander, Gen- eral M. K. Lawler, and others in command. The reason for his promotion as given in this account expressed in condensed form: "On the 22nd of June, 1863, Sergt. Joseph E. Griffith of Co. I, 22nd Iowa Infantry, with twelve others of the same regiment scaled the walls of the fort immediately in our front, engaging in a hand to hand contest with twice the number of the enemy. They overcame them but their victory was dearly bought. By twelve o'clock Sergt. Griffith and David K. Trine were the only ones left of the twelve." Sergeant Griffith was a son of Reverend Evan Griffith who at that time lived on "Old Man's Creek" not far from Iowa City, and the battle in which the incident occurred has been mentioned as
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Vicksburg, where the twenty-second was ordered to make the assault.
On July 4, 1865, Governor Kirkwood in responding to a toast reminded the citizens of the monument due the soldiers of the county who lost their lives in the recent war. This was in harmony with the action taken in other counties and at the time met with a hearty response from the listeners, which "was to be," in his opinion, "a county movement."
Further mention of this topic is found in 1883 when a com- mittee of the Johnson County Soldiers' Monument Associa- tion met in the city hall, where perhaps twenty-five members from the entire county were present. Only a few townships were unrepresented at the time that Chairman Captain S. D. Pryce distributed the blank books and circulars intended for canvassers for the subscriptions to the monument fund. The plan as outlined is contained in the following instructions :
"We, the undersigned citizens of Johnson county, agree to pay the amount opposite our respective names, for the pur- pose of building a monument in Iowa City, in commenmoration of the Johnson County soldiers who fell in the late war of the rebellion."
It was further stated in these instructions that the sum raised should be held by the treasurer and used for no other purpose, the amount to be raised when fully paid in to be $3,000. Solicitors were to canvass the county for this fund and in the conclusions of the circular it was clearly stated that in case of failure to raise this amount the sums subscribed would be returned to the several subscribers.
It was further determined at this meeting that the town- ship chairman should have charge of the canvass in his town- ship. Captain Pryce suggested that it might be possible that the county supervisors would authorize a contribution as they had done in Sangamon county, Illinois, where $5,000 had been appropriated for such a purpose. That some such assistance would be given was not at all probable unless the public senti- ment demanded it. Mr. Switzer outlined a plan by which it was thought a large sum might be raised, that was "to call on the county candidates for a contribution." The proposi- tion of placing the names of deceased soldiers upon the monu- ment was put over until the next meeting. Captain B. Owen,
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W. H. Goodrell and E. G. Stephens were made a committee to ascertain the names of soldiers buried in the potters' field and the probable cost of procuring a lot and removing their remains. It was further agreed to appoint full committees from each township in the county to raise this fund for a soldiers' monument.
However, the Johnson County Soldier's Association, which had the monument matter in charge, concluded to disband in November of the year in which they began work on sub- scriptions and when this was proposed it met with approval, since the funds already raised were to be turned over to the Grand Army of the Republic, which had been recently or- ganized, and since most of the association were members of the Grand Army, the "Monument Fund" was left in their hands.407
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CHAPTER XXXIII
The Spanish-American War and the G. A. R. Reunion
W AR news in 1861 was slow in reaching the community surrounding Iowa City since no lines of telegraph were then in existence to this point, news coming by train or messenger. Not so in 1898 when Spain first gave offense to the United States and to humanity in general by her treatment of Cuban subjects. Then every movement of national moment was known the hour following. Under such conditions the mil- itary companies of the Iowa National Guard were awaiting a call on short notice since they would first be called to enlist in the service of the United States when troops were needed.
Company I of Johnson county made preparations for such a call by the examination of members and recruits by the ex- amining surgeon, Captain J. W. Harriman. Many young patriots and would-be warriors were ready for examination and passed as to physical competency, but sometimes parental objections interfered, even as in Civil War days, so that the minor could not go without breaking the home regulations at least. Sometimes consent was given even under protest for the war spirit is hard to resist. The call of Captain E. F. T. Cherry for volunteers met with a ready response, although the volunteer must have military or drill experience to be ad- mitted at all to this enlistment. That all who wanted to go should understand the conditions and feel the responsibility of being in earnest in the undertaking, Captain Cherry re- quired every volunteer to sign a pledge which read as follows: "We, the undersigned, of our own free will and accord, hereby agree to enlist in volunteer service of the United States upon the call of the president of the United States or the governor of the State of Iowa, for the term of years which may be specified in such call."
Preparatory to the expected call, big boxes and trunks of
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blue suits, blankets and other necessaries of war were packed, guns were put into serviceable condition and knapsacks made ready for the march. When this had been done the recruits were put through a drill for test of their efficiency. In this connection it should be noted that the University collegiate faculty passed the following resolution: "That all members of the senior class now in good standing who enter the ser- vice of their country, in the army or navy during the present term, shall not thereby be prevented from graduating in June." In addition it was understood that any instructor or professor who should enter the service of the United States in this war would be reinstated on his return. Students vol- unteered under these conditions until the number had reached above seventy-five. The coaches were on the Rock Island tracks ready to carry Company I and the recruits to Des Moines as soon as the call should come. Captain Cherry as- signed members of the company to night duty so that if a call should come from I. N. G. headquarters all the company could be notified at once and the start would be made for the Des Moines rendezvous. Preparations were continued until the call came on Monday night, April 25, 1898. The Rock Island had orders to carry the company to Des Moines and the company was commanded to report there on the following morning, which order was punctually obeyed. The city coun- cil of Iowa City appropriated fifty dollars to purchase a flag for Company I, which was to be forwarded to any point where the company might be located after the colors were secured.
Local enthusiasm during the time of preparation and be- fore the final departure was marked by processions, music and speeches, which to the Civil War veteran must have re- called the old days of 1861. While no one knew just what he was shouting for, there was the spirit of war in the land and this was enough to stir the martial music of drum corps or the patriotic feelings of those who had never known what the term "war" meant. The call for one hundred thousand men if needed was answered many times in the minds of those who marched and countermarched and burned red fire to show how full of fight they were.408
The real test of feeling came when Company I boarded the cars and was off to Camp Mckinley at Des Moines. As
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one said, in substance, not since the Civil War has so moment- ous a sentence as the one telling of the departure of the boys of Company I, been placed in print, and it was a sentence fraught with much meaning, since no one knew where the be- ginning of this war might lead and war takes the best the country affords. It might be an outing of a few weeks; it might be many years of service and few could tell why the hush came over the hearts of the crowd when they stopped to think of what might be the fate of many of these strong young fellows who were moving out into the first experience of actual battle or the trials of camp or prison life. While there was hope that no further call would come, there was the assur- ance that more men would be ready when the call should come. One can imagine the grizzled veterans of the sixties feeling an almost irresistible desire to join the company and once more to follow the worn battle flag of other days when war was nearer home and men fought brothers instead of Spaniards. Mothers and fathers gave up the same hopes at the departure of company I, so far as it affected their home, as the mothers and fathers of 1861, and no one knew in April, 1898, but that many hundred thousands might be called upon to serve before the cause was satisfied. The community was proud of the home company and the student volunteers who might be among them, and the public understood that if need- ed the full fighting strength of Johnson county would be avail- able.
The telegram to Captain Cherry came at 9:30 on Monday night, April 25, and read as follows: "Assemble your company and report at Camp Mckinley, Des Moines, tomorrow morning." This telegram was at first supposed to mean that the train to carry the company would soon be along and rush orders were issued to members living out some distance. When it was learned later that the train would not be available until nine on the following morning there was some time for reflection and rest. A second telegram came later in the evening from Adjutant General Byers saying: "Bring all your guard men who will volunteer." This last telegram led to some further excitement, since the demand seemed to be pressing.
The night before departure was given to final preparations
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22D IOWA INFANTRY AT REUNION, IOWA CITY, SEPTEMBER 22 AND 23, 1886
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of baggage, both personal and company property. Captain Cherry, under orders from headquarters at Des Moines, secured supplies of rations for two days at the Des Moines camp. In this list of eatables he made the following order: "Bread, 100 loaves; canned beef, 75 pounds; tomatoes, 1 case; soda crackers, 42 pounds; matches, 1 dozen boxes; eggs, 60 dozen; candles, 5 pounds; salt, 1 sack; pepper, 1 sack; sor- ghum, 2 gallons; soap 6 pounds; sugar, 25 pounds ; coffee, 12 pounds ; potatoes, 2 bushels; rice, 15 pounds; and lard, 1 pail. Remember this was for only two days, since general supplies would soon be on hand at Camp Mckinley.
On the morning of departure Captain Cherry and his of- ficers assembled the company in the Armory where all of them answered to roll call with knapsacks strapped to their backs. Captain A. B. Cree, of Civil War fame, addressed the boys in this last assembly before moving forward to the depot. He said here: "True bravery is not recklessness. Appre- ciate danger, do not rush into it with foolhardiness, but be prepared to meet it when duty calls. Moral character makes truly brave men, and as I look into your earnest young faces I see that nobility of character written there. I know that you will be brave and do your duty in a manner worthy the great state of Iowa, as the good, noble fathers of some of you did theirs, when in my command a generation ago. May you return to us unharmed."
Then the march began to the Rock Island station after formation on College street, and preceded by a number of G. A. R. men, including Captain Cree, carrying his own flag, they passed up the street, stopping near the corner of the campus to be photographed. From here they were accom- panied by the University battalion and band, and as the lines passed toward the station, the factories of the city saluted with every whistle. This was the spectacular part, the real feeling was expressed when the final farewells were said. Only one who was a participant in these scenes should attempt to describe them and hence one must use for the most part the words of another. The assembled friends and onlookers at the depot numbered thousands, some say three, some say five thousand, but the number is not material to the sentiment of the occasion. It was not unbecoming for the young sol-
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dier going out from home, and breaking away from that mother who gave him up with such an effort if he shed a few manly tears of affection and felt the ties of family growing stronger than ever before, as one said: "The scene was most affecting and stirred the very soul-depths of all, moving to tears even those who had no kinfolk in the ranks. It was im- possible to gaze upon those partings and steel the heart, for nature must have been adamantine to withstand such a scene." Then when the long train bearing other companies along with Company I pulled out from the station the whole assembly uttered one final farewell, each hoping that the boys might all return unharmed. But it was not to be so, and many must have felt that all could not escape in the dangers of a great military camp, both in a physical and a moral sense as it is usually found in time of actual warfare.
Anxious mothers thought of this thing, some unknown writer signing herself "F. S." sent the following to the local papers at the time: "In behalf of the fathers and mothers who are permitting their treasured boys to enlist in the army, at the call of their country, let one heart proclaim, "tis not done without sacrifice,' but with love most true, mingled with sorrow most deep. In the pride of a noble and high minded son, who, with lofty thoughts of patriotic duty firing his young heart, has sworn allegiance to the flag, on enlisting in the national guard, dare his parents lessen his sense of honor, and for their own ease of mind, bid him stand back? No! though hearts are rent and broken in the conflict. Let those who can, not censure those who can not, do this thing. But pray for their peace and for the keeping of the brave boys who march forth not with the impulse of 'nervous excitement,' or of sentiment, but with pride and patriotism in their hearts for their native land. Whether the warfare is approved or not, is not the question. Our country is calling men to arms. The stars and stripes are afloat. Let the sons of America respond to the upholding of our national banner and God be with them." 409
As in 1861 the company was scarcely off until a relief society was organized to care for their need in the field, and before they had been long at Camp Mckinley, a great hamper of good things for "the boys" went from Iowa City, and its im-
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mediate place of preparation was at the house of Captain Cree. It was said to contain such good things and in such quantities that it would have made "Tom Brown's days at Rugby" one perpetual holiday. Not one hamper of this kind but others followed until the veterans of the Civil War were led to re- mark about the difference in the conditions when quick trans- portation was sure to carry the good things to Company I, while the twenty-second never received any of the good things sent from Iowa City then by the wives and mothers of Johnson county. Captain Cree said, "the mystery of where these good things went had never been solved, but it was still well known that none of the brigade officers died of starvation."
Amid all the good times in the camp at the capital of the state there was some impatience at the delay in moving to the front, and the uncertainty was not removed for the fiftieth regiment to which Company I belonged under the new organi- zation, until this regiment was ordered to Tampa, Florida, on May 25, 1898. When the company set out from Camp Mc- Kinley the roster included all but one of the members, private Gulliver, who had to remain in the hospital at Des Moines. As then formed, the company was composed, according to pub- lished account, of officers and privates as below :
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