USA > Iowa > Roster and record of Iowa soldiers in the War of the Rebellion : together with historical sketches of volunteer organizations, 1861-1866 > Part 45
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Woodhurst, Stephen. ( Veteran.) Age 27. Residence Maquoketa, nativity England. Enlisted Aug. 24, 1861. Mustered Sept. 12. 1861. Re- enlisted and re-mustered March 1, 1864. Mustered out Sept. 19, 1865, Selma, Ala.
Woodhurst, William. Age 35. Residence LaMotte, nativity England. En- listed Aug. 11, 1862. Mustered Aug. 11, 1862. Mustered out June 6, 1865, Memphis, Tenn.
Worthington, John. Age 20. Nativity Pennsylvania. Enlisted Dec. 14, 1863. Mustered Jan. 7, 1864. Mustered out Sept. 19, 1865. Selma, Ala.
Wright, John J. Age 43. Residence Maquoketa, nativity New York. En- listed Aug. 24, 1861. Mustered Sept. 12, 1861. Discharged for disa- bility Oct. 6, 1862, Rienzi, Miss.
COMPANY "M"
Wallace. Robert M. Age 27. Residence Rockdale, nativity Pennsylvania. Enlisted Sept. 4, 1861. Mustered Sept. 28, 1861. Promoted Sixth Sergeant April 1, 1863; Fifth Sergeant June 11, 1863; Fourth Sergeant Sept. 16, 1863; Third Sergeant June 1, 1864. Mustered out Oct. 3. 1864, Davenport, Iowa, expiration of term of service.
Wells, Nelson. Age 38. Residence Des Moines County, nativity Pennsyl- vania. Enlisted March 16, 1864. Mustered March 16, 1864. Mustered out Sept. 19, 1865, Selma, Ala.
Williard, John S. Age 18. Residence Clinton County, nativity New York. Enlisted Feb. 22, 1864. Mustered March 1, 1864. Wounded severely; arm amputated Aug. 5, 1864, Holly Springs, Miss. Discharged for wounds Jan. 27, 1865, Memphis, Tenn.
Willis, Alexander G. Age 20. Residence Jackson County, nativity Ohio. Enlisted Oct. 10, 1861. Mustered Oct. 10, 1861. Discharged for pro- motion in Second West Tennessee Colored Infantry, Aug. 16, 1863.
412
ROSTER IOWA VOLUNTEERS
Wilson, George W. Age 24. Residence Warren County, nativity Tennessee. Enlisted March 4, 1865. Mustered March 4, 1865. Deserted July 27, 1865, Decatur, Ala.
Wilson, Nathaniel. Age 39. Residence Andrew, nativity Pennsylvania. Enlisted Sept. 1, 1862. Mustered Sept. 1, 1862. Discharged for dis- ability March 21, 1863.
Wilson, Thomas J. Age 21. Residence Andrew, nativity Ohio. Enlisted Sept. 8, 1861. Mustered Sept. 28, 1861. Promoted Seventh Corporal July 1, 1862; Sixth Corporal Oct. 20, 1862; Fifth Corporal April 1, 1863; Second Corporal June 1, 1864. Mustered out Oct. 3, 1864, Dav- enport, Iowa, expiration of term of service.
Woods, Robert N. Age 19. Residence Maquoketa, nativity Indiana. En- listed Sept. 4, 1861. Mustered Sept. 28, 1861. Mustered out Oct. 3, 1864, Davenport, Iowa, expiration of term of service.
Wright, Jesse W. Age 26. Residence Jackson County, nativity Pennsyl- vania. Enlisted Sept. 4, 1861. Mustered Sept. 28, 1861. Mustered out Oct. 3, 1864, Davenport, Iowa, expiration of term of service.
COMPANY "B"
Yokum, George P. Age 44. Residence Story County, nativity Kentucky. Enlisted July 30, 1861. Mustered Aug. 31, 1861. Discharged Sept. 13, 1861, Davenport, Iowa.
Youngs, Francis T. Age 18. Residence LeGrand, nativity Ohio. Enlisted July 6, 1863. Mustered July 6, 1863. Promoted Third Corporal Nov. 1, 1864. Mustered out Sept. 19, 1865, Selma, Ala.
COMPANY "D"
Young, David. Age 39. Residence Burlington, nativity Virginia. Enlisted Jan. 4, 1864. Mustered Jan. 4, 1864. Mustered out Sept. 19, 1865, Selma, Ala.
COMPANY "H"
Yokum, Philip. (Veteran. ) Age 28. Residence Bellevue, nativity Germany. Enlisted Sept. 10, 1862. Mustered Sept. 10, 1862. Re-enlisted and re- mustered March 28, 1864. Mustered out Sept. 19, 1865, Selma, Ala.
Younglove, Sanford. Age 18. Residence Benton County, nativity Canada. Enlisted Sept. 15, 1864. Mustered Sept. 15, 1864. Mustered out July 12, 1865, Decatur, Ala.
COMPANY "I"
Young, Frederick. Age 26. Residence Chickasaw County, nativity Germany. Enlisted Feb. 23, 1864. Mustered Feb. 23, 1864. Mustered out Sept. 19, 1865, Selma, Ala.
413
SECOND CAVALRY
Young, Peter. Age 29. Residence Chickasaw County, nativity Germany. Enlisted Feb. 23, 1864. Mustered Feb. 23, 1864. Mustered out Sept. 19, 1865, Selma, Ala.
Yount, John W. Age 23. Residence Jones County, nativity Indiana. En- listed May 17, 1864. Mustered May 18, 1864. Mustered out Sept. 19, 1865, Selma, Ala.
COMPANY "K"
Yates, Henry H. Age 22. Residence Des Moines County, nativity Illinois. Enlisted Jan. 23, 1865. Mustered Jan. 23, 1865. Mustered out Oct. 31, 1865, Davenport, Iowa.
COMPANY "M"
Yenter, Martin. Age 18. Residence Dubuque County, nativity Pennsylvania. Enlisted Oct. 25, 1864. Mustered Nov. 7, 1864. Mustered out Sept. 19, 1865, Selma, Ala.
Yerian, Frederick W. Age 27. Residence Jackson County, nativity Ohio. Enlisted Sept. 4, 1861, as Eighth Corporal. Mustered Sept. 28, 1861. Promoted Fifth Corporal Feb. 12, 1862; Fourth Corporal March 13, 1862; Sixth Sergeant Oct. 20, 1862; Fifth Sergeant April 1, 1863; Fourth Sergeant June 11, 1863; Third Sergeant Sept. 16, 1863; Second Sergeant June 1, 1864. Mustered out Oct. 3, 1864, Davenport, Iowa, expiration of term of service.
Yerian, William H. (Veteran. ) Age 20. Residence Jackson County, na- tivity Ohio. Enlisted Sept. 1, 1862. Mustered Sept. 1, 1862. Re-en- listed and re-mustered March 1, 1864. Mustered out Sept. 19, 1865, Selma, Ala.
COMPANY "A"
Ziegler, George H. Age 26. Residence Muscatine, nativity Pennsylvania. Enlisted Aug. 1, 1861, as Sixth Corporal. Mustered Sept. 2, 1861. Promoted Fifth Corporal Oct. 1, 1861; Fourth Corporal Dec. 1. 1861; Third Corporal May 17, 1862; First Sergeant June 25, 1862. Reduced to Fifth Sergeant Oct. 1, 1862. Promoted Fourth Sergeant June 24, 1864; Third Sergeant Sept. 1, 1864. Mustered out Oct. 3, 1864, Dav- enport, Iowa, expiration of term of service.
COMPANY "B"
Zahardneck, John J. Age 23. Residence Iowa City, nativity Austria. En- listed Sept. 15, 1862. Mustered Sept. 15, 1862. Mustered out June 25, 1865, Eastport, Miss.
COMPANY "I"
Zeigler, Nehemiahı. Age 16. Residence Davenport, nativity Pennsylvania. Enlisted Sept. 2, 1864. Mustered Sept. 2, 1864. Mustered out June 17, 1865, Eastport, Miss.
414
ROSTER IOWA VOLUNTEERS
Ziegler, Charles F. (Veteran.) Age 21. Residence Cedar Rapids, nativity Pennsylvania. Enlisted Aug. 4, 1861. Mustered Aug. 31, 1861. Re- enlisted and re-mustered March 28, 1864. Promoted Bugler Jan. 1, 1865. Mustered out Sept. 19, 1865, Selma, Ala.
Ziegler, David R. ( Veteran. ) Age 22. Residence Cedar Rapids, nativity Pennsylvania. Enlisted Aug. 4, 1861. Mustered Aug. 31, 1861. Re- enlisted and re-mustered March 28. 1864. Promoted Eighth Corporal Aug. 21, 1865. Mustered out Sept. 19, 1865, Selma, Ala.
UNASSIGNED RECRUITS.
Baldwin, James B. Age 21. Residence Eldora, nativity Indiana. Enlisted Jan. 4, 1864. Mustered Jan. 4, 1864. No further record found.
Brown, Joseph. Age 21. Residence Mitchell County, nativity Pennsylvania. Enlisted April 5, 1864. Mustered April 20, 1864. Deserted April 20, 1864, Helena, Ark.
Day, John F. Age 19. Residence Webster County. nativity Maine. En- listed Jan. 19, 1865. Mustered Jan. 19, 1865. No further record found.
Emory, George. Age 22. Residence Mitchell County, nativity New Jersey. Enlisted April 5, 1864. Mustered April 20. 1864. No further record found.
Feazer, George. Age 27. Residence Burlington, nativity Pennsylvania. En- listed Feb. 5, 1864. Mustered March 8, 1864. No further record found.
Fitzpatrick, William. Age 26. Residence Burlington, nativity Indiana. En- listed Jan. 17, 1865. Mustered Jan. 17, 1865. No further record found.
Fleetwood, James. Age 23. Residence Burlington, nativity Illinois. En- listed Jan. 2, 1865. Mustered Jan. 2, 1865. No further record found.
Fraser, John. Age 25. Residence Burlington, nativity Missouri. Enlisted Jan. 20, 1865. Mustered Jan. 20, 1865. No further record found.
Hartman, John W. Age 23. Residence Muscatine, nativity Ohio. Enlisted Aug. 30, 1862. War Department reports: "Died Dec. 18, 1864, Nash- ville, Tenn., as John F. Hartman, Sergeant Company F."
Hawk, Jacob. Age 27. Residence Davenport, nativity Pennsylvania. En- listed Aug. 22, 1862. Discharged for disability Feb. 11, 1863, Cairo, Ill.
Hawk, Josiah. Age 30. Residence Davenport, nativity Pennsylvania. En- listed Aug. 22, 1862. Died Jan. 12, 1863, Hospital, Columbus, Ky.
Hedeman, Clans. Age 29. Residence Iowa City, nativity Denmark. En- listed Aug. 25, 1862. No further record found.
Hunter, William Oscar. Enlisted Aug. 15, 1862. Died of disease Oct. 2, 1862, Davenport, Iowa.
Kelly, James. Age 29. Nativity Ireland. Enlisted Dec. 29, 1863. Mus- tered Dec. 30, 1863. Held as a deserter from First Iowa Cavalry.
415
SECOND CAVALRY
Lee, Thomas. Age 17. Residence Fort Dodge, nativity Illinois. Enlisted Jan. 4, 1864. Mustered Jan. 4, 1864. Died Feb. 15. 1864. Buried in National Cemetery, Mound City, Ill. Section A, grave 404.
McManus, Thomas. Age 31. Nativity Ireland. Enlisted Dec. 18, 1863. Mustered Dec. 18, 1863. Held as a deserter from Seventh Illinois In- fantry.
Meeker, Joseph B. Age 44. Residence Jackson County, nativity New Jer- sey. Enlisted Sept. 27, 1864. Mustered Sept. 27, 1864. No further record found.
Mitchell, Charles F. Age 21. Residence Burlington, nativity New York. Enlisted Feb. 2, 1865. Mustered Feb. 2, 1865. No further record found.
Moultou, Charles E. Age 21. Residence Fort Madison, nativity England. Enlisted Sept. 22, 1862. No further record found.
Orr, Samuel T. See Company C, Fourth Cavalry.
Oslett, John. Age 20. Residence Jackson County, nativity Germany. En- listed Sept. 26, 1864. Mustered Sept. 26, 1864. No further record found.
Powers, James. Age 21. Residence Dubuque, nativity Ireland. Enlisted Oct. 1, 1864. Mustered Oct. 6, 1864. No further record found.
Schlans, John. Age 28. Residence Davenport, nativity Germany. Enlisted Sept. 23, 1862. No further record found.
Smith, Matthew. Died of disease June 11, 1862, St. Louis, Mo. Buried in National Cemetery, Jefferson Barracks (St. Louis), Mo. Section 38, grave 115.
Smith, William H. Age 26. Residence Fort Dodge, nativity New York. Enlisted Jan. 2, 1864. Mustered Jan. 2, 1864. No further record found.
Thayer, Edward S. Age 23. Residence Cedar Falls, nativity Texas. En- listed Sept. 3, 1864. Mustered Sept. 3, 1864. No further record found.
Thompson, Henry. Age 23. Residence Jackson County, nativity New York. Enlisted Sept. 27, 1864. Mustered Sept. 27, 1864. No further record found.
Tompson. Charles W. Age 23. Residence Burlington, nativity Ohio. En- listed Feb. 2, 1865. Mustered Feb. 2, 1865. No further record found.
Van Lusen, Norris H. Age 27. Residence Hamilton County, nativity New York. Enlisted Sept. . 1, 1864. Mustered Sept. 1, 1864. No further record found.
Wahlman, Frederick. Age 21. Residence Iowa City, nativity Germany. Enlisted Aug. 22, 1862. No further record found.
Walker, Harvey. Age 18. Residence Hamilton County, nativity Indiana. Enlisted Sept. 1, 1864. Mustered Sept. 1, 1864. No further record found.
416
ROSTER IOWA VOLUNTEERS
Williams, John. Age 20. Residence Davenport, nativity Massachusetts. Enlisted Sept. 16, 1864. Mustered Sept. 16, 1864. No further record found.
Wright, George. Age 21. Residence Burlington, nativity Indiana. En- listed Jan. 2, 1865. Mustered Jan. 2, 1865. War Department reports: "No record found."
Wright, Martin. Age 23. Residence Burlington, nativity Canada. Enlisted Jan. 2, 1865. Mustered Jan. 2, 1865. No further record found.
Third Regiment
Iowa Volunteer Cavalry
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27
HISTORICAL SKETCH
THIRD REGIMENT IOWA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY
The Third Regiment of Iowa Cavalry was organized under the proclamation of President Lincoln dated July 23, 1861. The preliminary organization of the twelve companies, which were subsequently assigned to the regiment, had been under the charge of Hon. Cyrus Bussey, acting as Aide-de-Camp to Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood, and, under the direction of that energetic and capable officer, several of these partially organized companies had per- formed very efficient service in protecting the southern border of the State of Iowa from invasion by rebel forces from the State of Missouri. Upon the completion of their organization, the twelve companies were ordered to ren- dezvous at Keokuk, Iowa, and arrived at that place on dates ranging from August 3 to September 13, 1861. They were there mustered into the service of the United States by Captain Charles C. Smith and Lieutenant Ira K. Knox, of the United States Army, between the dates August 30 and September 14, 1861. When the muster was completed, the rolls showed an aggregate strength of 1,096 men, rank and file.1 Cyrus Bussey was appointed and com- missioned Colonel of the regiment August 10, 1861.
Among the files in the office of the Adjutant General of Iowa are several letters describing in detail the events connected with the attempted rebel invasion of the State in the summer of 1861. These letters were addressed to Governor Kirkwood by Hon. Cyrus Bussey, then acting as Aide-de- Camp to the Governor, and show the methods adopted to meet the threatened invasion. Colonel Bussey had gone to St. Louis and asked General Fre- mont to give him an order for arms and ammunition with which to equip the militia companies in that part of the State. There seemed to be a plentiful supply of ammunition, but arms could not at that time be procured as fast as they were needed. Colonel Bussey succeeded in getting 50,000 rounds of ammunition shipped to Keokuk, with the assurance that the guns would be shipped as soon as they could be procured. A day or two later a freight train arrived in Keokuk with 1,000 guns, consigned to Colonel G. M. Dodge, at Council Bluffs. Colonel Dodge had gone to Washington and suc- ceeded in procuring these arms for his regiment, the Fourth Iowa Infantry, then in rendezvous at Council Bluffs. Colonel Bussey, without waiting for instructions, took possession of the guns and distributed them to the troops at Keokuk, and they at once marched across the border, reinforced the small body of troops, under Colonel Moore, who were bravely resisting the advance of the invaders, and won a signal victory over them. In his letter reporting his action to the Governor, Colonel Bussey says: "I am aware that I had no authority over United States arms, in transit to arm United States troops, but, without these guns and the ammunition I had procured. Green could have captured Keokuk and destroyed much property. It was fortunato that the ammunition I had procured at St. Louis was the right caliber to fit the guns." The bold, prompt and energetic action of Colonel Bussey, in that crisis,
1Report of Adjutant General of Iowa, 1863, Vol. 1, page XI; also Vol. 2, pages 451 to 508 inclusive.
(419)
420
HISTORICAL SKETCH
marked him for the successful leader of men and great enterprises which he afterwards became, and made him worthy of the high honor which came to him at the close of the war, when he was promoted to the rank of Brevet Major General of Volunteers. The regiment was very fortunate in the selection of Colonel Bussey as its commander. While he had not received a military edu- cation, he was a very able man, possessing in a high degree the requisite qualifications of a leader of men. He secured the confidence and respect of his officers and men from the day he took command of the regiment. The dates of appointment and commission of the other field, staff and line officers, together with their record and that of every non-commissioned officer and enlisted man in the regiment, from the commencement to the close of its service, will be found in the subjoined roster. The roster has been carefully transcribed from the official records, supplemented by such other information as it was possible to obtain from reliable sources, and the compiler hopes that it will, in the main, be found correct.
In the following pages, the compiler has endcavored to condense the history of the regiment into a description of the most conspicuous features of its service. With the wealth of material at his command, included in the official reports extending over the long period of its service, it would have been a much less arduous task to have written an extended history than to condense it into the narrow limits rendered necessary by the magnitude of the work and the giving to each organization an approximately equal amount of space.
On the 4th of November. 1861, the regiment was ordered to proceed to Benton Barracks, near St. Louis, Mo .. where it arrived on the 6th. Before leaving the State it had-by the persistent effort and energy of Colonel Bussey-been provided with the necessary camp equipage and horses, but did not receive arms until its arrival at Benton Barracks, and then was com- pelled to take the field armed only with sabers and revolvers. The carbine, or revolving rifle, so necessary for the complete armament of a cavalryman, was not supplied until the regiment had been in active service for a long time.
On the 12th of December. 1861. the Second Battalion, consisting of four companies, under command of Major H. C. Caldwell, was ordered to Jefferson City, Mo. Owing to the fact that this battalion did not rejoin the other eight companies of the regiment for nearly two years, during which time it per- formed most important and arduous service, the compiler finds it impossible to give a connected history of the operations of the regiment as a complete organization; he will, therefore, proceed to give an account of the operations of the battalion which was the first to take the field, covering the time until the regiment was reunited at Benton, Ark., early in October, 1863; and the description of the operations of the other two battalions, covering the same period of time, will then be given, followed by the operations of the regiment as a whole. The official report of Major Caldwell, covering the period to October 28, 1862, is here given in full:
HEADQUARTERS SECOND BATTALION, THIRD IOWA CAVALRY, Camp near Lebanon, Mo., Oct. 28, 1862.
To N. B. BAKER, Adjutant General, State of Iowa.
GENERAL : I herewith transmit to you a memorandum of the service of the Second Battalion, Third Iowa Cavalry. This battalion, composed of Company E, Captain George Duffield ; Company F, Captain B. F. Crail, since resignation of Cap- tain A. M. Robinson ; Company G. Captain E. Mayne; Company H, Captain Jesse Hughes, under my command, was ordered into the field from Benton Barracks, December 12, 1861, proceeded to Jefferson City, and from thence to Booneville,
421
THIRD CAVALRY
Glasgow, and into the country adjacent. In the course of this expedition, one hundred and seventy-three kegs of powder were captured from the enemy. On December 25th, were stationed at Fulton. Callaway Co., Mo., and were engaged constantly during the winter and ensuing spring in scouting, capturing and dis- persing rebels and rebel gangs, and securing quantities of ammunition from the enemy which had been secreted for future use. In the spring detachments of my command were stationed in the counties of Callaway. Audrain and Monroe. In the forepart of the summer these counties were constituted a sub-district under my command.
On the 31st day of May. I proceeded with detachments of Companies G and F. under command of Lieutenants Mccrary and Hartman, respectively. to attack a rebel camp on Salt River. At the first intimation of our approach, the rebels fled precipitately : we wounded several, captured all their horses, camp equipage, and part of their arms. Our casualties were two men, of Company G, woundled. On the 22d day of July, 1862, detachments of Companies F and G, under command of Lieutenants Stidger and Hartman with sixty men, encountered the rebel Porter three hundred strong at Florida, in Monroe County: notwithstanding the great lisparity in numbers, the detachment fought the rebels gallantly for one hour, when they were forced to fall back upon the post of Paris; three rebels were killed, anl many wounded. Our casualties were twenty-two men wounded an! two tak n prisoners. On the 24th day of July, 1862, with one hundred men. encountered the rebel Porter with his force of about four hundred men, strongly posted in th cense brush on the "Botts" farm in Monroe County. Killed one rebel and wounded man. others. Our casualties were one man killed, Captain B. F. Crail, of Company F, and nine men wounded. Porter fled south into Callaway. whither we pursued.
On the 27th day of July, 1562, one hundred men of the Ninth Missouri S. M. and fifty men of Company E, und r con mand of Captain Duffield of Company E, drove the rebel Porter with his force, which had been augmentel to nearly right hundred men, from Brown's Springs in Callaway County. He retreated in the direction of Moore's Mill. On July 2Sth a detachment of Missouri S. M. Merril's Horse, and of this Battalion, with a section of the Third Indiana battery, all under command of Colonel Guitar, encountered Porter in a strong position in a dense thicket near Moore's Mill in Callaway county.
After a desperate fight of four hours the rebels w re utterly routed with a loss of thirty killed and nearly one hundred wounded; a great many guns and horses fell into our hands. The casualties of this battalion were four men killed and twenty wounded. Com- pany E of this battalion had twenty-seven horses killed. The rebels fled northward. this battalion with the cther forces continued in pursuit, and on the 6th day of August found the rebels two thousand strong posted in the town of Kirksville, in Adair county. A severe engagement ensued, resulting in a complete rout of the rebels. Rebel loss one hundred and twenty-eight killed, two hundred woun l d and forty taken prisoners. We captured two hundred stands of arms and about two hundred horses. Casualties in this battalion : Killed, Captain E. Mayne, Company G ; wounded, Captain Jesse Hughes, Company H; Lieutenant M. I. Birch, Company H, and ten men. Battalion continued in pursuit of rebels and rebel hands until they were utterly routed and dispersed, when we were ordered to this post where we are now stationed.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant. H. C. CALDWELL, Major Second Battalion, Third Iowa Caralry ?
A recapitulation of the losses sustained by the battalion during the cam- paign shows six killed, sixty-five wounded and two captured by the enemy, total seventy-four. This was a heavy percentage of loss-more than thirty per cent of the actual number of the battalion able for duty. There is a slight discrepancy in the official reports as to the loss of the detachment of the Third Iowa Cavalry in the battle of Moore's Mill. Colonel Guitar, the senior officer in command, in his official report states that the loss of Major Cladwell's battalion was 2 killed and 24 wounded, and that the horses killed
2Report of Adjutant General of Iowa, 1863, Vol. 2, page $56.
·
422
HISTORICAL SKETCH
belonged almost entirely to the Third Iowa Cavalry.3 At the battle of Kirks- ville the loss of the Third Iowa was one-third of the total loss sustained by all the Union troops engaged. In his official report Colonel John McNeil men- tions the gallant conduct of Captain Mayne, who was killed at the head of his command, and also commends the bravery and efficiency of Major Caldwell.‘ It will thus be seen that this battalion performed most efficient and gallant service in those early days of the war, doing more than its share of the fighting and losing more than its proportion of men in the engagements in which it fought in conjunction with other troops. The subsequent operations of this battalion, prior to the time it rejoined the regiment, embraced such a wide scope that the compiler finds it impossible to describe them in detail, owing to the limited space assigned to this historical sketch. He therefore has recourse to the summarized record of the services of the battalion as given by a well known compiler of Iowa military history.3
The rebels in this part of Missouri being utterly dispersed, soon after the affair of Kirksville, Major Caldwell reported with his command at Leb- anon, a considerable town about fifty miles southwest of Rolla. He was soon after- wards appointed Lieutenant Colonel, in place of Trimble, who, having been severely wounded at the battle of Pea Ridge, resigned early in September, 1862.6 The duties of Lieutenant Colonel Caldwell's command in southern Missouri were similar to those which had been done north of the river. By the campaign of Pea Ridge, Missouri had been cleared of rebels in force. Subsequently, General Curtis having marched with the Army of the Southwest through Arkansas to Helena by Batesville, southwestern Missouri became again uncovered and liable to incursions from the insurgents moving through the passes of the Boston Mountains. Wherefore, General Schofield, with headquarters at Springfield, eventually organized the Army of the Frontier, which covered the State against the threatened attack, and in December, by the battle of Prairie Grove, warded off the principal danger. Nevertheless, Missouri was perturbed, and restless as the waters of a boiling caldron. Her Union citizens were harassed, galled, murdered by bands of roving guerrillas, and frequently considerable bodies of troops made forays into the State. It may readily be believed, therefore, that it was a difficult as well as dangerous task to protect our long lines of communications to the frontier army. This service also involved the keeping down of outbreaks and the covering of a frontier from the Iron Mountains of Missouri to the Boston Mountains of Arkansas. In this important line of duty Lieutenant Colonel Caldwell was engaged for several months, his command augmented by Companies L and M, which did not join in Curtis' march through Arkansas, being constantly engaged in fatiguing service, and oftentimes meeting the enemy in skirmish or in battle. A detachment of his command was engaged at the sharp battle of Hartsville in January, 1863, and in a number of affairs of lesser note his troops acquitted themselves with great credit. The detachment was engaged in these services of importance, but of no such general interest as to meet with much public notice till the summer of 1863, when it joined the cavalry division under General Davidson in the campaign of Little Rock. Moving by Pilot Knob, the detachment marched into Arkansas near the southeastern corner of Missouri, and thence, moving south- ward, joined the column under Steele near the White River, and took prominent part thenceforth in the operations which resulted in the capture of Little Rock. Afterwards, the command was actively engaged in movements in the direction of Camden, and performed services both valuable and brilliant.
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