USA > Iowa > Calhoun County > Past and present of Calhoun County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress, and achievement, Volume I > Part 17
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At the conclusion of the Mexican war in 1847 the United States acquired a large expanse of territory, to which the advocates of slav- ery immediately laid elaim and again the question came up for eon- gressional consideration. According to the views of the opponents of slavery, the "Omnibus Bill," or Compromise of 1850, was a violation of the terms of the Missouri Compromise, because it sought to carry slavery north of the line 36° 30'. Four years later the Kansas-Ne- braska Bill added fresh fuel to the already raging flames and its pass- age was one of the potent influences that led to the organization of the republican party, which opposed the extension of slavery beyond the territory where it already existed.
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In the political campaign of 1860 the issues were clearly defined and some of the southern states declared their intention of withdraw- ing from the Union in the event of Abraham Lincoln's election to the Presidency. The people of the North regarded such declarations as so many idle threats, made simply for political effect. Through the division in the democratic party, Mr. Lincoln was elected and on December 20, 1860, South Carolina carried out her threat, when a convention of delegates, elected to decide what course to pursue. passed an ordinance of secession, deelaring that the state's connection with the Union was severed and that all allegianee to the United States was at an end. Mississippi followed with a similar ordinance on January 9, 1861: Florida seceded on January 10th; Georgia, Jan- uary 19th: Louisiana, January 26th, and Texas, February 1, 1861.
All these states exeept Texas sent delegates to a convention at Montgomery, Alabama, February 4, 1861, when a tentative eonsti- tution was adopted : Jefferson Davis eleeted provisional president and Alexander H. Stevens vice president of the Confederate States of America. Messrs. Davis and Stevens were inaugurated on Friday, February 22. 1861, the anniversary of the birth of George Washing- ton. Henee it was, when Mr. Lineoln was inaugurated on March 4. 1861, he found seven states, with an organized government, in oppo- sition to his administration. Still the President, his advisers and the people of the North generally, elung to the hope that the situation could be overcome without an open rupture between the North and South, and that the citizens of the seeeded states could be indueed to return to their allegiance.
Relations between the two sections of the country were still fur- ther strained about the beginning of the year 1861, when Maj. Rob- ert Anderson, then in command of all the defenses of the harbor at Charleston, South Carolina, seeretly removed his garrison and sup- plies from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter, because the latter plaee could be more easily defended in ease of an attaek. The people of the South elaimed that this move was a violation of an agreement with President Buchanan, and the feeling was intensified when it was dis- covered that Major Anderson, just before his removal. had spiked the guns in Fort Moultrie. On the other hand the press of the North was practically unanimous in justifying Major Anderson's aetion. and in demanding that reinforcement and supplies be sent to him in Fort Sumter. The steamer Star of the West, with 250 men, a stock of ammunition. provisions, ete .. was ordered to Fort Sumter, but on January 9. 1861, while passing Morris Island, the vessel was fired
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upon by a masked battery and forced to turn back. This incident is regarded in the official records as the beginning of the Civil war, though the popular awakening did not come until some three months later.
Soon after President Lincoln's inauguration General Beaure- gard, commanding the Confederate forces in Charleston and vicinity, opened negotiations with Major Anderson for the evacuation of the fort. Slow progress was made and it was not until April 11, 1861, that Anderson, seeing his little stock of provisions daily growing smaller, informed General Beauregard that he would vacate the fort on the 15th, "unless ordered to remain and the needed supplies are received." The reply was not satisfactory to the Confederate com- mander, who feared that the new administration might send reinforce- ments and supplies that would enable Anderson to hold the fort. which, in that case, would become a constant menace to one of the Confederate strongholds. He therefore sent word to Anderson at 3.20 A. M. on Friday, April 12, 1861, that within an hour fire would be opened upon the fort. At 4.30 Capt. George Janes fired the signal gun from Fort Johnson, the shell bursting almost directly over the fort, and a few seconds later a solid shot from a battery on Cum- mings Point went crashing against the walls of Fort Sumter. The war had begun.
Anderson's gallant little band responded promptly and the bom- bardment continued all day Friday. Late in the afternoon fire broke out in one of the casemates of the fort and the Confederates increased their fire, hoping to force the garrison to surrender. But Anderson held out against all the desperate odds until Sunday, the 14th. when he was permitted to evacuate the fort with all the honors of war, even saluting his flag with fifty guns before hauling it down.
When the telegraph flashed the news of Sumter's fall through the loyal states of the North, all hope of bringing about a peaceable settlement of the differences was abandoned. Political controversies of the past were buried in the insult to the flag and there was but one sentiment-The Union must and shall be preserved. On Mon- day, April 15, 1861, President Lincoln issued the following
PROCLAMATION
"Whereas, the laws of the United States have been for some time past and now are opposed and the execution thereof obstructed in the states of South Carolina, Georgia. Alabama, Florida, Mississippi,
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Louisiana and Texas by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings or by the powers vested in the marshals by law:
"Now. therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, in virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution and the laws, have thought fit to call forth, and hereby do call forth, the militia of the several states of the Union to the aggregate number of 75,000, in order to suppress said combinations and cause the laws to be duly executed.
"The details for this object will be immediately communicated to the state authorities through the war department.
"I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate and aid this effort to maintain the honor, the integrity and the existence of our National Union and the perpetuity of popular Government, and to redress wrongs already long enough endured.
"I deem it proper to say that the first service assigned to the forces hereby called forth will probably be to repossess the forts, places and property which have been seized from the Union; and in every event the utmost care will be observed, consistently with the objects afore- said, to avoid any devastation, any destruction of or interference with property, or any disturbance of peaceful citizens in any part of the country.
"And I hereby command the persons composing the combinations aforesaid to disperse and retire peaceably to their respective abodes within twenty days from this date.
"Decming that the present condition of public affairs presents an extraordinary occasion, I do hereby, in virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution, convene both Houses of Congress. Sen- ators and representatives are therefore summoned to assemble at their respective chambers at 12 o'clock noon on Thursday, the 4th day of July next, then and there to consider and determine such measures as, in their wisdom, the public safety and interest may seem to demand.
"In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and eaused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
"Done at the City of Washington, this 15th day of April, A. D. 1861, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-fifth.
"ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
"By the President :
"W. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State."
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On the day following the issuance of the above proclamation, Gov- ernor Kirkwood, of Iowa, received the following telegram from the secretary of war: "Calls made on you by tonight's mail for one regi- ment of militia for immediate service." It is said that when this mes- sage was delivered to the governor he expressd some doubts as to Iowa's ability to furnish an entire regiment. Despite his misgivings on the subject, as soon as he received the call he issued his proelama- tion calling for troops, to-wit:
"Whereas, the President of the United States has made a requi- sition upon the executive of the State of Iowa for one regiment of militia, to aid the Federal Government in enforeing its laws and sup- pressing rebellion :
"Now, therefore, I, Samuel Kirkwood, governor of the State of Iowa, do issue this proclamation, and hereby call upon the militia of the state immediately to form, in the different counties, volunteer companies with a view of entering the active military service of the United States for the purpose aforesaid. The regiment at present required will consist of ten companies of at least seventy-eight men each, including one captain and two lieutenants to be elected by each company.
"Under the present requisition only one regiment can be accepted, and the companies accepted must hold themselves in readiness for duty by the 20th of May next at the farthest. If a sufficient number of companies are tendered their services may be required. If more con- panies are formed and reported than can be received under the present call. their services will be required in the event of another requisition upon the state.
The nation is in peril. A fearful attempt is being made to over- throw the Constitution and dissever the Union. The aid of every loyal citizen is invoked to sustain the general Government. For the honor of our state, let the requirement of the President be cheerfully and promptly met.
"SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD.
"Iowa City, April 17, 1861."
The statement in the proclamation that the companies must hold themselves in readiness for duty by the 20th of May needs some ex- planation. The first telegram from the war department called for one regiment "for immediate service," but late on the afternoon of April 16, 1861, a second message was received by the governor saying: "It
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will suffice if your quota of volunteers be at its rendezvous by the 20th of May."
Governor Kirkwood's next step was to call an extra session of the State Legislature, to meet on May 16, 1861. At the opening of the special session the governor said in his message:
"In this emergency Iowa must not and does not occupy a doubt- ful position. For the Union as our fathers formed it, and for gov- ernment founded so wisely and so well, the people of Iowa are ready to pledge every fighting man in the state, and every dollar of her money and credit. and I have called you together in extraordinary session for the purpose on enabling them to make the pledge formal and effective."
He then explained how, when the call for volunteers eame, he had no funds under his control for emergencies-such as organizing. equipping, subsisting and transporting troops-nor had the state any efficient military law under which he could operate. He also explained how the chartered banks and wealthy, loyal citizens of the state had come to the rescue by placing at his disposal all the funds he might need, and concluded this portion of his message by saying: "I deter- mined, although without authority of law, to accept their offer, trust- ing that this body would legalize my acts."
In this matter the governor did not trust in vain. The immediate and universal response to his call for volunteers had removed any doubts he might have entertained as to lowa's ability "to furnish an entire regiment," and the General Assembly erystallized the patriotic sentiment of the people of the state by legalizing every act of the governor, passing a law for the organization of the militia upon a war footing, and appropriating a sum of money large enough to cover all probable expenses in connection with the raising of volunteers.
IN CALHOUN COUNTY
Barely seven years had passed between the time Ebenezer Com- stock settled in Calhoun County and the fall of Fort Sumter. In the year 1860 the county had a total population of 147, according to the United States eensus. At the beginning of the war the county had neither telegraph. fast mail train nor newspaper. The only means of communication was by stage and several days elapsed after hostili- ties had actually begun before the news reached Calhoun. When the news did arrive there was no division of opinion among the few inhab- itants, all being heartily in favor of upholding the Federal Govern-
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ment in its efforts to suppress the rebellion. From other parts of the state, where better facilities for travel and the transmission of news existed, had come more than enough volunteers to answer the first call and the people of Calhoun County had no opportunity under that call to demonstrate their loyalty. Under the call of July 3. 1861, was organized the
TENTH IOWA INFANTRY
In Company HI of the Tenth Infantry were four men from the vicinity of Lake City, viz: Osear Gray, Norman R. Hutchinson, James Reynolds and George W. Short, some of whom walked all the way to Des Moines to enlist. According to the Iowa Roster of Vol- unteers, the record of each of those men is as follows:
Osear Gray was severely wounded at Corinth, Miss., October 3, 1862, and died three days later.
Norman R. Hutchinson was mustered in as seventh corporal and was mustered out at Kingston. Ga., September 28, 1864, by rea- son of expiration of term of enlistment.
James Reynolds first enlisted in Company K on August 6, 1861, but was transferred to Company H. He died of erysipelas at Bird's Point, Mo., January 14, 1862.
George W. Short was promoted to third corporal on March 5. 1862. Ile was severely wounded in the battle of Champion's Hill, May 16, 1863, and was honorably discharged on Angust 11, 1863, on account of his disabilities.
The Tenth Iowa Infantry was mustered in at lowa City on Sep- tember 6-7. by Capt. Alexander Chambers of the regular army, with Nicholas Perezel, of Davenport, as colonel. The commissioned offi- cers of Company H at the time of muster in were: Jackson Orr, of Greene County, captain; Solomon Shepherd, of Iowa City, first lieu- tenant: Andrew Perteneh, of Greene County, second lieutenant.
On September 24, 1861, the regiment embarked on transports at Davenport and dropped down the Mississippi River to St. Louis, where the men received their arms and equipments. On October 1, 1861. Colonel Perezel received orders to proceed to Cape Girardeau, Mo., which place was then threatened by a Confederate force under Gen. Jeff Thompson. After a short stay at Cape Girardeau the reg- iment moved to Bird's Point. from which base several expeditions were made into the surrounding country. On one of these expedi- tions the regiment encountered a foree of the enemy near Charleston
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and in the engagement that ensued the Tenth lost eight men killed and sixteen wounded. In March, 1862, the regiment took part in the mili- tary operations about Fort Madrid and in the reduction of Island No. 10. It was then engaged at the battle of Tiptonville, Tenn., the siege of Corinth, Miss., and the battle of Inka. General Rose- erans, in his official report of the last named action, said: "The Tenth Iowa, under Colonel Perezel, deserves honorable mention for covering our left flank from the assault of the Texas Legion."
The Tenth was again at Corinth in October, 1862, where it dis- tinguished itself, after which it was engaged during the winter in a number of expeditions destroying railroads, stores, etc. In the spring of 1863 it joined the army under General Grant for the siege of Vicksburg. On the approach to Vieksburg it was engaged at Ray- mond, Port Gibson, Jackson and Champion's Hill, and in the assault on the enemy's works at Vicksburg, May 22, 1863, it bore a conspicu- ous part. After the surrender of Vieksburg, the Tenth joined Gen. W. T. Sherman and marched to the relief at Chattanooga, Tenn. It took an active part in the battle of Missionary Ridge and spent the greater part of the following fall and winter in Alabama, where it was engaged in a number of minor skirmishes.
In the spring of 1864 those who had re-enlisted received their veteran furlough, at the expiration of which they rejoined Sherman's army as the Tenth Iowa Veteran Infantry and took part in a number of engagements of the Atlanta eampaign. The regiment next marehed with Sherman to the sea and was a part of the force that cap- tured Fort McAllister that guarded the approach to Savannah, Ga. Then followed the campaign up through the Carolinas, that resulted in the surrender of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, and the grand review at Washington in May, 1865. The regiment was then ordered to Louis- ville, Ky., and from there to Little Rock, Ark., where it remained on garrison and provost duty until mustered out on August 15, 1865.
THIRTY-NINTH IOWA INFANTRY
According to the state roster, eleven men in Company E. Thirty- ninth Iowa Infantry, came from Calhoun County. At the time the company was mustered in on November 24, 1862, the commissioned officers were: Robert M. Ripley, eaptain : John N. Coulter, first lieu- tenant : Jacob M. Toliver, second lieutenant, all from Greene County. The record of the eleven men who went from Calhoun County is one
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of honorable service, as may be seen by the following extracts taken from the official roster:
John W. Athey, enlisted as a private; captured at Shady Grove, Tenn., December 30, 1862; paroled and exchanged; rejoined his com- pany and was mustered out with the regiment. After the war he removed to Kansas.
Charles W. Beebe, private, killed at Allatoona, Ga., October 5, 1864.
George W. Beebe, mustered in as sixth corporal; promoted to second corporal; captured at Allatoona, Ga., October 5, 1864; paroled and exchanged, and was mustered out with the regiment. Settled in Kansas after the war.
Howison C. Crawford, mustered in as third sergeant; promoted to first lieutenant, August 7, 1864; captured at Allatoona, Ga., Oeto- ber 5, 1864; paroled, exchanged, rejoined his eommand and on Janu- ary 7, 1865, was made captain of the company.
Nelson Gray, enlisted at the age of twenty-three years as a pri- vate, pased through the war "without a scratch" and was mustered out with the regiment. After the war he went to Nebraska.
Benjamin C. Kuder, served the entire term of enlistment as a private and was mustered out with the regiment. Removed to Nebraska.
Benjamin F. Reynolds, enlisted as a private; was transferred to Company HI, Seventh Iowa Infantry, May 30, 1865, and was mus- tered out with that regiment.
Lemuel Salisbury, enlisted as a private; was transferred to Com- pany H, Seventh Iowa Infantry, May 30, 1865; was mustered out with that regiment, and after the war located at Grant City, Sac County.
Hiram Seott, private; captured at Allatoona, Ga., October 5, 1864; was paroled and upon being exchanged rejoined the company; was transferred to Company H, Seventh Iowa Infantry, May 30, 1865; was mustered out with that regiment, and after the war went to Wyoming.
Henry H. Sifford, enlisted as a private; promoted to third eor- poral: captured at Allatoona, Ga., October 5, 1864; escaped and was mustered out at Clinton, Ia., July 13, 1865.
Charles A. Tillottson, private; wounded at Allatoona, Ga., Oeto- ber 5, 1864, and died at Louisville, Ky., June 6, 1865, from the effect of his wounds.
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The Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry was organized under the call of July 2, 1862, and was mustered in at Camp IIerron, Davenport, by Capt. II. B. Hendershott, of the regular army, November 24, 1862, with 933 men rank and file and Henry J. B. Cummings, of Winterset, as colonel. On December 13, 1862, it left its rendezvous at Davenport by rail for Cairo, Ill., where Colonel Cummings reported to General Tuttle. After two days at Cairo, the regiment was em- barked on a steamer for Columbus, Ky. The situation at Columbus had changed, however, so that its services were not needed at that point and it started for Corinth, Miss., under orders to report to Gen. Grenville M. Dodge. Before reaching Corinth the orders were changed and the Thirty-ninth was sent to Jackson, Tenn., to reinforce the post which was threatened by General Forrest. Soon after its arrival at Jackson, Forrest moved northward and it was feared he would destroy the railroad upon which the Union forces depended for their supplies. General Sullivan therefore pursued and the Thirty- ninth Iowa was in the advance brigade in the battle of Parker's Cross Roads, where Forrest was defeated.
On January 6, 1863, the regiment moved by rail to Corinth, Miss., where it remained for a time on garrison duty. Attached to General Dodge's command, it operated in Tennessee and Alabama until the spring of 1864, when it joined General Sherman's army for the advance upon Atlanta. The Thirty-ninth Iowa led the advance through the Snake Creek Gap against Resaca and on May 16, 1864, it was actively engaged at Lay's Ferry. Shortly after that the bri- gade to which it was attached was ordered to Rome. Ga., in pur- suit of Wheeler's Confederate cavalry, and remained in the vicinity of Rome during the greater part of the summer of 1864.
General Sherman established a base of supplies at Allatoona, Ga., where he had about one million rations and some other supplies stored in the early part of October, 1864, guarded by a small detachment of troops commanded by Colonel Tourtelotte, of the Fourth Minne- sota. The capture of the stores at Allatoona meant a new lease of life to the Confederate army and on the morning of October 5, 1864, the post was vigorously attacked by a considerable force commanded by General French. Learning of the movement, Sherman ordered Gen. John M. Corse, to whose command the Thirty-ninth lowa was attached, to make a forced march to the relief of Colonel Tourtelotte. Corse arrived in the nick of time and saved the stores from capture. In this action the Thirty-ninth Iowa was in the thick of the fight and suffered severe losses. Sherman heard the sound of the guns
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at his headquarters on Kenesaw Mountain and hurried General Cox with the Twenty-third Army Corps to Corse's support, at the same time signaling to Allatoona: "ITold the fort; reinforcements on the way." This incident gave rise to the well known hynm: "Hold the fort, for I am coming." The battle was over before the arrival of Cox- won by General Corse and his Iowa soldiers.
After the engagement at Allatoona the regiment returned to Rome for a few days and then joined Sherman at Atlanta for the famous march to the sea. While the army was at Savannah, Ga., the Iowa troops were visited by Governor Stone in December, 1864, Early in January, 1865, the army started on the campaign through the Carolinas, in which the Thirty-ninth Iowa bore an honorable part. Then followed the march to Washington and the Grand Review. The regiment was mustered out at Washington, D. C., June 5, 1865.
MISCELLANEOUS ENLISTMENTS
It frequently happened, especially in the early days of the war, that a citizen of one county would enlist in another and would be credited to the county from which he enlisted. Again, after counties adopted the policy of offering bounties for volunteers, men would sometimes leave their own county and enlist in another in order to obtain a larger bounty.
In the official roster of Iowa troops the name of James B. Scott, who lived in Calhoun County both before and after the war, appears as a member of Company C. Thirty-third lowa Infantry, though he is eredited to Mahaska County. While serving in the infantry he was promoted to sixth corporal and on October 6, 1863, he was trans- ferred to Company L. Ninth Iowa Cavalry, as fifth corporal. The following February he was reduced to the ranks at his own request and on April 23, 1864, he was honorably discharged on account of disability.
Another Calhoun County man who is known to have served in the Union army during the Civil war was Haynes Parker. Old vet- erans state that he was a member of the Thirty-second Iowa Infantry, but the writer was unable to find his name in the official records of that regiment. After the war he lived for several years at Lake City.
Just at a glanee, it may seem that the people of Calhoun County, in furnishing only seventeen volunteers to the army in the great Civil war, were lacking in patriotism. Such was not the ease. When one pauses to consider that the total population in 1860 was but 147, of
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