USA > Iowa > Delaware County > Manchester > Reunion of the 12th Iowa V.[eteran] V.[olunteer] infantry 1st-8th, 1880-1903 > Part 40
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The capture of Vicksburg was the crowing and most important event in the great struggle for the control of the Mississippi River which began at St. Louis in May, 1861. With varying fortunes the Federal lines swept slowly southward past Cape Girardeau, Bird's Point, New Madrid and Island No. 10, until the capture of Memphis June 6, 1862. New Orleans had fallen in April and all eyes were now turned to Vicksburg, with its double sweep of the great river along miles of high bluff's, as the scene of the next act in the drama. The 12th Mississippi regiment had been sent to Vicksburg in February. In March a few guns with ammunition were sent from Pensacola, and early in April General Beauregard drew a pro- ject of fortification requiring about 10 guns and a garrison of 5,000 men. The work was begun April 21, 1852, by Captain D. B. Harris with a force of negro laborers.
Upon the capture of New Orleans, General Martin L. Smith was dis- patched to Vicksburg with live regiments, under orders to complete the fortification with the utmost dispatch. He arrived May 12, and by work- ing day and night had six batteries finished and armed when the advance division of Farragut's fleet arrived, May 18. The fleet was accompanied by no land forces, and after giving Vicksburg its first baptism of fire in a desultory bombardment, returned to New Orleans about June 1. Here Farragut found the most urgent demand from the navy department that he should at once capture the up-river city, then the only point on the river remaining in Confederate control. July 22, reinforcements bringing the garrison to al out 15,000 began arriving at Vicksburg, and, June 25, the city and its defenders were placed under command of General Van born. June 25 Farragut again arrived at Vicksburg with his feet, accom- panied by a mortar dotifla and by General Williams and his brigade of about 3,000 men. Collecting a force of some 12.000 blacks, General Wil- liams began work on the celebrated canal across the peninsula, locating it. upon the line as laid ont several years before when the states of Louisiana and Mississippi were m dispute as to their boundaries and the former state determined to dig a canal which should out Vicksburg off from the river. After passing the batteries and getting into position, Farragut bombarded the city pretty steadily for seven days, stating in his official report of the attack that "while the forts can be passed as often as re- quired, 1 am satisfied it is impossible to take Vicksburg without an army of twelve to fifteen thousand men." The fleet, however, remained in the vicinity until July 27 -the principal event of this period being the bril- liant dash into and through the Union vessels by the Confederate ram Arkansas, which caused Farragut great chagrin.
Vicksburg now had a period of respite, Grant's attempt late that fall to march south from his distant base at Memphis being frustrated by the capture of the supplies at Holly Springs without his getting far enough to excite serious alarm. Then came Sherman's December attack on the Chickasaw Bluffs, where he was seriously worsted by General
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Stephen D. Lee. Two months of the succeeding winter and early spring Grant devoted to the "bayou expeditions," vainly trying every conceivable plan to find a way to cross the low land of the Yazoo delta and reach the high ground beyond the right flank of the enemy, now commanded by General Pemberton. Then followed Grant's last and winning effort, which is briefly outlined in the "Record," compiled for the Park Commission by its secretary and historian, General J. S. Kountz.
The Vicksburg campaign opened March 29, 1863, with General Grant's order for The advance of General Osterhans' division from Milliken's Bend, and closed July 4, 1863, with the surrender of Pemberton's army and the City of Vicksburg. Its course was determined by General Grant's plan of campaign. This plan contemplated the march of his active army from Millikin's Bend, La., to a point on the river below Vicksburg, the rumung of the batteries at Vicksburg by a sufficient number of gunboats and transports, and the transfer of his army to the Mississippi side. These points were successfully accomplished and, May 1, the first battle of the campaign was fought near Port Gibson. Up to this time General Grant had contemplated the probability of uniting the army of General Banks to his. He then decided not to wait the arrival of Banks, but to make the campaign with his own army. May 12, at Raymond, Logan's division of Grant's army with Crocker's division in reserve, was engaged with Gregg's brigade of Pemberton's army. Gregg was largely outmimbered and, after a stout fight, fell back to Jackson. The same day the left of Grant's army, under MeClernand, skirmished at Fourteen Mile Creek with the cavalry and mounted infantry of Pemberton's army supported by Bowen's division and two brigades of boring's division. After the battle of Raymond, Sherman's and Melhorson's corps of Grant's army moved toward Jackson. They reached that city May HA, and occupied it after a brief and spirited engagement with the small force there under General Joseph E. Jolmston, who reached that place the night of May 13. General Grant had now interposed his army between the armies of Gen- eral Johnston and General Pemberton. He left Sherman's corp one day at Jackson to complete the destruction of the stores and as umeb as pos- sible of the railroads there. McPherson's corps marched from Jackson, May 15, towards Vicksburg. May 16, MeClernand's and MePherson's corps of Grant's army engaged three divisions of Pemberton's army at Champion's Hill, Pemberton's forces were driven from the field in some confusion and with severe loss in killed, wounded prisoners and guns. Two divisions fell back towards Vicksburg. One division ( Loring's) was eut off from the others and did not fall back to Vicksburg, but marched to Crystal Springs and a little later united with Johnston's army at Jack- son. May 17, a part of Pemberton's army attempted to hold the works en the east side of Big Black river, but was driven from its intrenchments with considerable loss in prisoners and guns by the 13th corps of Grant's army. May 18, Pemberton's army took position in the defensive works around Vicksburg, Stevenson's division on right, Forney's in the center and M. L. Smith's on the left. Bowen's division and Waul's Texas Legion were held in reserve, but later Green's brigade of Bowen's division was placed in the line of defense. Late in the afternoon of the same day Grant's army began taking position in the line of Investment. Sherman's
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corps on the right resting its right on the Mississippi river above the city, McPherson's corps in the center and MeClernand's corps on the left of McPherson. May 24, Lauman's ( fourth) division, sixteenth army corps, took position on the left of MeClernand, and June 15, the investment was completed by Herron's division from the Department of Missouri, taking position on the left of Lauman and resting its left on the Mississippi river below Vicksburg. May 19 and again May 22, assaults were made by Grant's army but were repulsed with severe loss to the assailants. From May 22 to July 1, regular siege operations were carried on by Grant and opposed by Pemberton. During this time Admiral Porter's fleet rendered valuable assistance, and Grant was reinforced by three divisions of the sixteenth corps, two divisions of the ninth corps and Herron's division. With the exception of Lauman's and Herron's divisions, which took position in the line of investment as above noted, all these reinforcements and a part of the army with which he began the campaign were employed by Grant against the army of General Johnston. This last named army, with headquarters at Jackson, was assembled with the hope of raising the siege or assisting Pemberton to break through Grant's line. No force of Johnston's army crossed the Big Black river during the siege and defense. At the surrender, July 4, it was close to and on the east side of that river."
This great struggle was participated in upon the Federal side by or- panizations ( regiments or parts of regiments and batteries) representing states as follows: Illinois-infantry 62, cavalry 10, artillery 15; total 77. Indiana - infantry 24, cavalry 2, artillery 2; total 28. lowa-infantry 28, cavalry 2, artillery 2; total 32. ( The Iowa regimentsengaged were: infan- Try, 3, 4, 5. 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31, 35, 38; cavalry 3, 1; artillery 1, 2. Kansas infantry 1. Kentucky-infantry 3. pioneers 1; total 4. Massachusetts-infantry 3. Michigan infantry 7, artillery 2: total 9. Minnesota-infantry 3, artillery 1; total 4 Missouri .. infantry 17, cavalry 3, artillery 7; total 27. New Hampshire -- infantry 3. New York - infantry 3, artillery 1; total 4. Ohio- infantry 26, cavalry 1, artillery 11; total 38. Pennsylvania- infantry 4, artillery 1; total 5. Rhode Island -infantry 1; Regulars infantry 2, artillery 1: total 3. West Virginia- infantry J. Wisconsin -- infantry 13, cavalry 1, artillery 3; total 17. ( The Wisconsin commands were the 8th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 17th, [8th, 20th, 23rd 25th, 27th, 29th, and 33rd infantry regiments; the 2nd cavalry regiment: and the Ist, 6th and 12th batteries of light artillery. )
'This makes an aggregate of 192 regiments or parts of regiments of infantry, 19 regiments of cavalry and 46 batteries of artillery-257 organi- zations, not including eight regiments of negroes in process of enlistment. This means that General Grant had approximately 45,000 rank and file when he began the campaign, 40,000 when the siege opened and 70,000 at. its close -- about two-fifths of whom were on the Big Black river line to oppose the threatened advance of General J. E. Jolmston. The casualties in his force, as summarized in the Official Records ( Vol. 24, Part 2, p. 167), were 98 officers and 1416 enlisted men killed, 474 officers and 6921 enlisted men wounded, 10 officers and 443 enlisted men captured or missing-total 9,362. About one-half of this loss was sustained in the battles preceding the siege and the remainder after Vicksburg was invested. The army
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had 220 pieces of light and heavy artillery in position about Vicksburg June 30, not including the armament of Porter's feet.
General Pemberton's Vicksburg army, as shown by the statistics taken at its parole, consisted of organizations representing states as fol- lows: Alabama-infantry 9, artillery 3; total 12. Arkansas -- infantry 5, cavalry 1, artillery 2: total 8. Georgia- infantry to, artillery 1; total 11. Louisiana-infantry 7, artillery 18; total 25. Missouri-infantry 5, cavalry 2, artillery 5; total 12. Mississippi --- infantry 13, artillery 9: total 22. Maryland --- artillery 1. Tennessee --- infantry 7, cavaly 1, artillery 8: total 16. Texas --- infantry 3, cavalry 1, artillery 1: total 5. Virginia --- artil- lery 1. This, including "City Guards" and " Partisan Rangers, " credited to Mississippi, and, in the total, three companies paroled as " Signal Corps" with no state named, makes an aggregate of 62 regiments or parts of regi- ments of infantry, three of cavalry and 14 batteries of artillery -102 organizations.
The returns of casualties in the Confederate army, as given by the Official Records, are seriously incomplete, but an aggregrate is shown of 1364 officers and men killed, 3740 officers and men wounded and 4256 officers and men captured and missing-a total of 9.390, not including the 29,491 offleers and men surrendered with Vicksburg, 496 of whom are returned as sick or wounded in hospital. Of the above casualties 805 are reported killed, 1,938 wounded and 120 captured or missing during the siege-Ster- enson's division only reporting for the period from May 19 to June 13, and the brigades of Vaughn and Baldwin not being reported at all. Lienten- ant General Stephen D. Lee, in papers recently contributed to the "Pub- lications of the Mississippi Historical Society," says Pemberton's "March return shows present for duty 48,829 men," including the garrison of 7.000 at Port Hudson and some smaller garrisons elsewhere. He also gives 20,009 men as the total number of reinforcements sent by the Confeder- ate government to Mississippi to relieve Vicksburg." As to the siege be states that "the entire army for the defense of Vicksburg, after the city was invested, did not reach 19,500 men for duty." Considering the num- ber surrendered, this appears too small: but it is certain that the number of active defenders of the city admitted of almost no reserve force, and kept practically every man on duty in the trenches, throughout the IT days and nights of the close and exhaustive struggle a fact that testifies more than mere words to the heroism and valor of the garrison.
Such, in brief and imperfect outline, is the chapter of history that has made the name of Vicksburg as well and widely known as that of any of the world's great battlefields. Its result was anquestionably more potent in effect upon the pending struggle than that of any single operation of the war. For not only was an army of more than 40,000 men destroyed for present usefulness and very large captures made of munitions of war (172 pieces of artillery and 30,000 stands of small arms at Vicksburg alone ), but the great inland waterway came permanently into Federal use and control, the Confederacy was eut in twain and the cast shut off from the desperately needed food products of western Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas.
Under these circumstances it almost seems strange that it was so late as 1895 before the matter of establishing a National Park here was even agitated. And it is to Captain John F. Merry. of 27th lowa Infantry, a
10WA
VICKSBURG PARK MONUMENT.
In memory of 8th, 12th and 35th Iowa Infantry, Third Brigade, commanded by Col. J. I. Woods of 19th lowa ; Third Division, commanded by Brig. - Gen. Tuttle; 15th Army Corps, commanded by Gen. Sherman, March 29-July 1, 1863. Breered on Vicksburg battlefield by the State of lowa.
Copyrighted 1904, by Edmund H. Prior, Postville, Jowa, designer, sculptor and contractor.
TWELFTH IOWA
comrade of the Grand Army from Dubuque, lowa, well known through- out the west and south as Assistant General Passenger Agent of the Illinois Central railroad, that belongs the high honor of finally taking the initiative in the matter, as well as of lending most valuable aid in carrying it to success.
The Confederate line of defense in 1863, consisting of redoubts, redans and lunettes on the higher points, connected by curtains of trenches or rifle- pits, followed a high, rugged and almost unbroken ridge from the river below, having an extension of eight miles. From this main ridge spurs set out frequently, separated the one from the other by, and ending abruptly in, deep and sharp ravines. No continuous ridge confronted the one occupied by the Confederate line, the investment line of the Union army was compelled to cross the steep ridges and deep ravines above described. The roughness and ruggedness of this area cannot be appre- ciated without being seen. This tended to make the place impregnable against Grant's assaults in 1863.
As the line or ridge held by the Confederates and assaulted and be- seiged by the Federals was the battle-ground, it will be readily under- stood that it is closely followed by the Park boundaries. These have been established by the purchase for the United States of 1,232 acres of land, including the entire Confederate line upon the one side and also, for three and one-half miles in the center, the main Federal line of in- vest ment with all the ground between. This includes the points of great- est historical interest and importance, constitutes the main Park and is trom one-third to one-half a mile in width throughout. Sufficient land to inchide the earthworks and to construct avenues behind them extends trom this main Park to the river above the city along both lines, known respectively as the North Confederate and North Federal Wings. The South Confederate Wing is also continuous to the river below, but the Federal line will be shown by a series of loop roadways reaching the more important positions.
The plans of the commissioners include the construction of a macad- amized Confederate avenne behind the Confederate works from river to river, of a Federal avenue from the east gate of the National Cemetery to Fort Garrott, the south end of the main Park, and of avenues along the loops which constitute the South Federal Wing-in all about twenty miles, not including the country roads, which radiate from the city through the Park like the spokes of a wheel, and which, within the Park limits, will be transferred to and improved by the government. When this shall have been dene, the works that frown upon each other from the opposing hills restored with their artillery in position, and the whole beautified by memorial structures erected by the several states to the valor of their sons and illustrated by tablets showing the deployment of the armies and giving the history of each unit with its losses-when this shall have been accomplished, where can the American citizen, young or old, lind so interesting or inspiring a scene of one better calculated to stir every patriotic impulse?
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The Lincoln Monument.
The Monument occupies the center of a pretty little park, opposite the railroad depot and faces west. At the four corners are mounted massive pieces of ordnance relies of the Civil War secured through the efforts of Congressman Hangen of the Fourth District of lowa. The ligure of Lincoln bears the unmistakable featuresof the great man. It is truly Lincoln. In his right hand he bears the scroll. representing the "Emancipation Proclamation."
On the four sides are beautiful bronze designs in bass-relief, viz:
On west side. The "Surrender at Appomatox", "seene in the MeLean Honse". Generals Grant and Lee in front, Sheridan on extreme right, Rawlins, Porter, Williams and Ord standing, Col. Marshall of Lee's stat, Col. Parker of Grant's staff. (See cut, "The Surrender", in this book. )
On the east side, "Battle of Shiloh". Old log church as it was at the time of the battle. Gen'i Sherman on horseback. Color Bearer Il. J. Grannis, with colors in front. Capt. W. W. Warner of Co. C, cheering on his men who have captured a piece of artillery. Surgeon C. C. Parker, attending wounded soldier.
South side, "Soldiers Leaving Home". Soldiers marching, church spire in the distance, figure of Thomas Henderson ( brother of Col. Hen- derson ) of Co. C, the first soldier from Clermont township killed in battle, taking leave of wife and children.
On north side, "Battle of Mobile". Admiral Farragut in the rigging of his flagship, Hartford. Other officers peering through the smoke. Admiral Dewey, then a Lieutenant on the extreme left in charge of "Jack- ies" working a gun. On base below is the inscription -- "Erected in 1902 in Memory of the Soldiers and Sailors of the Civil War. 1861-1865."
LINCOLN MONUMENT.
Freeted as clermont. Jowa, in 1903 in memory of the soldiers and sailor - of the Civil Marks Activernot William Barraber.
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Statue of Col. Henderson.
The statue of Col. Henderson is wonderfully striking and is a master- piece of sculptor's art in every detail. The figure is of heroic size, seven feet, six inches high .. The sculptor caught the Colonel's best and strong- est expression. He is represented as about to call to order the House of Representatives, over which he presided for four years, with a gavel in his left hand. Under his left arm he supports a eruteh. In this way both the military and eivil life of Col. Henderson is perpetuated in bronze. The gavel stands for Hon D. B. Henderson, the statesman, and the crutch for Col. Henderson, the soldier. The whole monument is verystriking and the Friends of Col. Henderson as well as those who look upon his statue as a work of art, are both pleased.
The following inscription is on the pedestal of the Henderson statue:
David B. Henderson Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, 1899-1903.
Lieutenant of Company C, Twelfth Regiment, lowa Infantry Volunteers, 1861.
Colonel of the Forty-Sixth Regiment lowa Infantry Volunteers 1864.
Member of Congress of the United States from the Third District of Iowa, 1883-1903.
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Columbia's Slag.
By a Comrade on "The New Bronsides" in Mobile Bay, 1864.
Of all the flags that proudly float o'er Neptune's gallant tars, Or waves on high in victory, above the Sons of Mars, Give us that flag - Columbia's flag - pure Emblem of the free, Whose brilliant stars flashed through our Wars for truth and liberty.
Beneath its folds we fear no for our Hearts shall never quail, With Losoms bare the storms we dare and Brave the battle's hail, E'en when our decks of boats were ploughed. And their planks with gore dyed red, Our gallant tars, firm at their guns, ne'er Paused to count their dead.
Far o'er the sea to every clime this Honored flag shall go, And through all time its fame sublime With brighter hues shall glow; For freedom's own that flag is now Its guardians, freedom's sons.
Its enemies dispersed shall be Upon the land and main, It's stars so bright 'mid storm and night Shall never shine in vain; No foreign power nor treason rife Shall shake our courage keen, We'll give our life to hold that flag - supreme.
Not honor we seek, nor life's shallow fame, Nor glory, nor hope of renown; We'll battle for God, and our Country's fair name, And the flag that will never come down.
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Regrets and Reminiscences.
DUBUQUE, IOWA., JUNE 18, 1903. MR. GEO. E. COMSTOCK, SEC.
DEAR COMRADE :- Your kind invitation to attend the reunion of the gallant old Twelfth was received several days ago; but I did not answer, hoping that I would be able to attend. I promised Col. Henderson this morning that, if possible, I would attend; but now I find at the last moment that I cannot get away. The strike which has prevailed here for six weeks has kept newspaper men on the jump. No one can possibly regret this more than I. I had hoped to be present and once more shake the hands and look into the eyes of my old comrades, with whom I went out in the long ago, to fight for the best country and the best flag In the world.
I had also looked forward with pleasure to a gathering where I should see four of Iowa's distinguished sons and statesmen-Allison, Henderson, Larrabee and Dolliver -- men who have won honor and fame for their state and for themselves, and who have never been found wanting in sympathy when the interests of the men who preserved a nation are at stake.
It is eminently fitting that a monument to the Immortal Emanel- pator should be erected at Clermont, for in no other section of this grand state did he have more royal supporters during the dark days of the war than in Clermont. Gov. Larrabee was one of them. He fed the soldier's widow and the soldier's orphan, and in other ways gave of his substance for their support.
It is eminently fitting also that a statue should be erected to Col. Henderson, for whom the heart of every old soldier of the 12th will ever remain as steadfast and true as is his friendship for them. It was from Fayette county that three farmer boys went down to the Southland and fought on fields of blood and death, where one of them found a brave and honored soldier's grave. Another, wrecked physically because of the hardships he endured, is now sleeping in the bosom of the land he fought to save, and the third is with you today, with shattered limb, but whose heart is whole and strong and as full of the patriotie fire of the day, when with his two brothers, he knelt at his mother's knee, to receive her blessing before departing for the field of battle. I trust that the reunion may be the grand success we all wish it to be and that joy and good fel- lowship may reign supreme.
The shadows of the long night of silence are fast enveloping all of us. Only a short time and we shall all have passed from the scenes of life. Our monument will be a preserved and mighty nation-the greatest of all nations-and we will begeath it to a nation of intelligent, liberty- loving freemen.
Yours in F. C. and L.
M. D. NAGLE, Co. 1, 12th lowa V. 1.
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PORTLAND, ORE., JUNE 15, 1903. G. E. COMSTOCK, SEC.
DEAR COMRADE: - My heart was made to thrill with gladness, when my good friend Dr. James Barr of this city informed me, that a reunion of the 12th Iowa Inft. would soon be held, and that a few lines from me for the noted occasion were earnestly solicited. Comrades, I assure you it is a gratifying privilege, which brings me at this remote time into touch with the memorable 12th fowa, the regiment of my boyhood days, when we all went to war in '61. It may be I am unknown to you, as I was early in the war striken down by disease and discharged by reason of Surgeons Certificate of Disability, March 13, 1802. Though my exper- ience as a soldier was cut short, yet a long and painful illness which fol- lowed, worked in me a soldier's fellowship and kindred feeling, so real that I feel I am one of you, as much so, as though I had fought on with you to the end of the war. I do not know that my love for you could be deeper, for I am in soul, mind and spirit with you and for you, There has been during the coming and passing of the years, a lingering and living memory of the 12th in my heart and affections, and it would be a happy event to me to attend the reunion and take my comrades by the hand, and enjoy the exercises of the exellent program which I have before me. But I must not take too much time in expressing my warm regard for you all, which is a boly exhibition of my soul. I was one of live brothers who responded to the calls of President Lincoln. Three of the brothers were at one time in the famous 2nd Iowa Cavalry, which lowans remember with pride. I am the only male survivor of my family, which with your families, and the many thousands of others stood for the Union and "Old Glory" during the dark days of the rebellion. We have with our people in all the (coming) years since the war entered into the war-fruits, that have come from the sacrifices made by our dead. and by our living comrades. It is a legacy enriched by the heriosm and lives of our comrades that has made our Nation in growth and glory to be what it is today. Who is more elated to see this day, or can be, than the old soldiers of the Union Army? Who knows more, by what sacrifices and heroic efforts, our national greatness, prosperity and peace has come, than the ones who made personal denial, and gave up all for native country, to save the union and to hold the flag? Surely, Comrades we know, not in part, but fully. And who should share bountifully of the governments benefits, and of the peoples' gratitude more than the old soldiers of GI to 5? We have perhaps little cause for complaint but much to rejoice over, and be thankful for.
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