USA > Iowa > Roster and record of Iowa soldiers in the War of the Rebellion : together with historical sketches of volunteer organizations, 1861-1866 > Part 71
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95
On the 21st of December, 1864, a force of 3,500 cavalry, under command of General Grierson, left Memphis on an expedition through Mississippi to Vicksburg. No artillery and no transportation train accompanied the- expedi- tion. All the available men and officers of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry, who had not gone upon the campaign against Price, took part in this expedition, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Peters, with Major Woods second in com- mand. Colonel Winslow, who had gone back to Memphis after being wounded at the battle of the "Big Blue," in October, had now sufficiently recovered from his wound to be able to resume command of the brigade of which this portion of his regiment formed a part. His report of the operations of the troops under his command shows in. detail the great damage inflicted upon the enemy, in the destruction of property, capture of prisoners, arms and ammunition.17 The entire casualties in General Grierson's command were 120 killed and wounded, and 7 missing, while the enemy's loss was about 200 killed and wounded, 600 prisoners and 5,000 stand of arms, 4,000 of which were new English carbines, intended for the use of General Forrest's army of cavalry. About 800 horses and mules and 1,000 negroes were taken into Vicksburg. The property destroyed was many miles of railroad and telegraph lines, many bridges and railway trestles, 14 locomotives, 95 cars, 300 army wagons, 30 warehouses filled with army stores, cloth and shoe factories employing 500 hands, 500 bales of cotton, tanneries, machine shops, and a large quantity of corn and hogs. Of the wagons captured, about 200 had been taken by Forrest when he defeated the army of Sturgis at the battle of Brice's Cross Roads. The expedition ended at Vicks- burg on January 5, 1865, the troops having marched 450 miles, gathering sub- sistence for themselves and horses in the country through which they passed. The fighting was mainly done by detachments, General Grierson having had his usual good fortune when conducting a raid through the enemy's country, to evade or mislead the enemy and to avoid coming into conflict with any large force; but the minor engagements were numerous, and, in some of them, the fighting was severe, as demonstrated by the aggregate losses on both sides. The entire command returned from Vicksburg by transports, those conveying the troops of Colonel Winslow's Brigade going directly to Louisville, Ky., the camp equipage and men, which had been left at Memphis, having previously been sent to St. Louis and, from there, to Louisville with that part of the regiment which had returned from the campaign against Price.
17Report of Adjutant General of Iowa, 1865, Vol. 2, pages 1376, 7.
657
FOURTH CAVALRY
On the 16th of January, 1865, the twelve companies of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry were all in camp together at Louisville. The regiment was under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John H. Peters, and formed a part of the same brigade with which it had served so long, the other regiments being the Third Iowa and Tenth Missouri Cavalry, all under command of Colonel E. F. Winslow of the Fourth Iowa. A strong cavalry corps was now being organized for the purpose of sweeping over that portion of the South in which the remaining rebel forces were being concentrated for the final great struggle of the war. The cavalry corps was under the command of Brevet Major General James H. Wilson, one of the most capable officers in the army, in whom General Grant had great confidence. It comprised all the mounted troops of the Departments of the Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee, and had an aggregate number of about 30,000 but, for the purpose of this campaign, only the best armed and mounted men were chosen, consisting of about 20,000 men and officers, who had seen much service, and who could be depended upon to fully comply with every order given them and to carry to successful completion the plans of their com- mander. Winslow's Brigade was one of the best mounted, armed and equipped of any brigade in this great cavalry organization. Just before starting upon this last campaign, the brevet rank of Brigadier General U. S. V. was bestowed upon Colonel Winslow, "for gallantry in the field." The officers and men of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry were highly gratified at this mark of appreciation of the merits of their Colonel and, as a practical evidence of their regard, presented him with an elegant sword and a fine watch.
Before the end of January, the Fourth Division, commanded by Brevet Major General Emory Upton, and to which Winslow's Brigade had been assigned, was ordered to move, by transports, up the Tennessee to Eastport, Miss. Landing there, the troops marched to Chickasaw, Ala., from which place they took up their line of march on the 21st day of March, 1865. From that day to the close of hostilities, and the end of the war, the Fourth Iowa Cavalry was engaged in active operations against the enemy, as shown by the official reports of Lieutenant Colonel Peters, Colonel and Brevet Brigadier General Winslow, and Generals Upton and Wilson.18 The regiment fought in the fol- lowing engagements: Montevallo, March 30th; Montevallo, March 31st; Six Mile Creek, March 31st; Ebenezer Church, April 1st; Selma, April 2d; Fike's Ferry, April 8th; Columbus, April 16th; besides numerous minor skirmishes of :small detachments. The movements of the brigade, from the time it left Chickasaw, Ala., to its arrival at Macon, Ga., are described in detail in Brevet Brigadier General Winslow's report, while those of the Fourth Iowa are des- cribed by Lieutenant Colonel Peters and, from the latter report, the following brief summary is mainly complied:
On the 21st of March, 1865, the regiment marchied from Chickasaw, with 31 officers and 687 enlisted men in the ranks, and 10 officers and 134 enlisted men belonging to the regiment on detached service, making an aggregate of The line of march led over the pine-clad hills of North Alabama. On 862.19
18Report of Adjutant General of Iowa, 1866, pages 133, 342, 127: Vol. 2, 1567. pages 538 to 545.
"The men and officers on detached service, as stated, consisted mainly of tlv. members of Company G. then present for duty, and detailed to act as escort to Brevet Major General Upton, the commander of the division to which the reglement belonged "It should be here remarked that the duty of the Commanding General's escort is tut merely to ride near him for his personal protection. They are required to act is orderlies, in carrying orders to the commanders of brigades and regiments whil In camp, on the march and in battle, and also to act as scouts, and often the olll Is comprise a portion of the General's Staff. These duties were performed with gre credit by Company G, of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry, during the closing cump,ilin of the war. It rejoined the regiment at Atlanta only a short time before the the it was mustered out.
.142
658
HISTORICAL SKETCH
the 30th of March the advance guard, under command of Major Woods, skirm- ished with the enemy for several miles before reaching Montevallo, losing one man wounded. On March 31st, on the south of Montevallo and near Six Mile Creek, seven companies of the regiment had an encounter with two regiments of the enemy, the remaining companies being at that time the rear guard of the column. The Third Battalion, Major Dee commanding, moved into line and dismounted to meet the attack, and orders were sent to Captain Abraham, commanding First Battalion, to follow, mounted in column of companies. The attack was repulsed and the enemy driven from the field, leaving five men killed and two captured. The loss of the Fourth Iowa was five men wounded. On the 1st of April the regiment, preceded by the Third Iowa Cavalry, arrived on the battleground of Ebenezer Church, just as the enemy was being driven from the field, and joined in the pursuit, but suffered no loss. On April 2d, Companies I, F and L, under command of Major Woods, led the advance at Selma, and charged the enemy at his outer works and drove him into his inner line of works, which they also charged and captured, together with a large number of prisoners and five pieces of artillery. In this charge Captain Eugene R. Jones, of Company I, was killed. The other companies, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Peters, followed, charging through the works and into the city, with a loss of one man killed and eight wounded. In the pursuit which followed, Captain Abraham and his battalion captured four pieces of artillery, three battle flags and two hundred prisoners. The flags were captured by Nicholas Fanning, Company B, Charles Swan, Company K, and James P. Miller, Company D. The Third Battalion, under command of Major Dee, was placed on duty in the city as provost guard, while the First and Second Battalions, under command of Colonel Peters, was sent upon a reconnoitering expedition between the Alabama and Cahawba Rivers, occupying four days, and marching ninety miles.
On April 7th, a detachment of sixty men of the regiment, under command of Lieutenant J. T. Reynolds, had a skirmish with the enemy at Fike's Ferry, in which J. T. Mendenhall, of Company L, was severely wounded in the face, from the effect of which he died a few days later. On the 9th of April, the regiment marched with the army to Montgomery. After a brief engagement outside the works, on April 13th, in which the regiment was not called upon to participate, the city was surrendered. On April 14th, a detachment, under Captain F. S. Whiting, while reconnoitering along the banks of the Coosa River. captured three steamboats, laden with cotton and provisions. They were taken to Montgomery and turned over to the Post Commander. On the 16th of April, the regiment, with its brigade and division, arrived opposite Columbus, Ga. After réaching a point on the extreme left of the enemy's works, and just beyond the range of his artillery, the brigade moved, by a circuitous route, to the front of the enemy's works on the right, and took a position near the main road leading to the only remaining bridge over the Chattahoochee River, and there awaited orders to charge and gain possession of the bridge. Under orders from General Upton, the First Battalion, under Captain Abraham, and the Second, under Captain Dana, were dismounted; and the Third Bat- talion. under Major Dee, was ordered to remain mounted and await orders. The dismounted column moved down the road and charged the enemy's works, clearing the line, then, turning to the right, moved down the line of intrench- ments on the double-quick and charged and captured the principal fort with its garrison of 250 men and 6 guns. A few men were left to hold the fort, and the line pushed forward to the bridge. Sharp fighting took place between the fort and the river, but the enemy was driven across the bridge in great confusion. Our men, mingling in the darkness with the flying enemy, rushed over it and
659
FOURTH CAVALRY
captured two guns, commanding the passage from the east end. The Third Battalion now came up, mounted, and, moving over the bridge, charged through the city after the retreating enemy, capturing a large number of prisoners. First Lieutenant S. N. Miller was the first officer over the bridge, followed closely by Lieutenants S. O. Black and L. H. Dillon. Sergeant Joseph Jones was mortally wounded while gallantly fighting for the guns commanding the passage of the bridge. The guns and gunners were captured and the bridge cleared for the unobstructed passage of the troops. Sergeants Henry C. White, Harry Bodkin, Charles H. Smith, Corporal William McCully, and Privates R. Cosgriff, John Kinney, Martin L. Tucker, John Andrews, Henry Trimble and Joseph Winemiller, were among the first to cross the bridge and to engage in the desperate fight for the possession of the guns. Each one of the following named men captured a battle flag in the engagement at Columbus: Corporal Richard Morgan, Company A; Private Edward J. Bebb, Company D; Sergeant Norman F. Bates, Company E; Private John Hayes, Company F; Private Ell Sherman, Company I; Private R. Cosgriff, Company L; Private John Kinney, Company L. Private Robert C. Wood, of Company A, while acting as orderly. was captured early in the engagement and confined in a house near the bridge. He escaped when the charge was being made, and assisted his comrades in capturing the rebels who had, for a short time, held him as a prisoner. Lieutenant Colonel Peters, near the close of his official report, says:
In thus mentioning the names of officers and men who have taken an active part in the late battles, I fear a wrong impression may be made in regard to all not named; and, in this connection, I desire to say that no single officer, non-commis- sioned officer or private, so far as I have been able to learn, has failed to do his whole duty and to do it well. If any one has been more prominent than another, it has been on account of his good fortune in having been in the right place at the right time. We have lost no man by straggling from the command during the cam- paign. The men have taken excellent care of their horses, and have uncomplainingly marched on foot a considerable portion of each day's march, in order to save their horses. They have always exhibited the best of spirits, and have been always eager to meet the enemy. I cannot therefore speak of individual instances of gallantry without feeling that, by implication at least, I am doing injustice to the remainder.
In closing his report, he says:
We marched from Columbus April 18th, and, on the 20th, I was directed to leave the main column at Thomaston, by General Winslow, and proceed to Barnes- ville and destroy all bridges, culverts, depots, tanks, etc., between Barnesville an ] Macon. I cut this road at Barnesville and destroyed some distance of track on the evening of the 20th. On the 21st, I reached Forsyth, where 1 became satislled that the reported armistice had been actually declared. I thereupon ceased all further destruction of the railroad and marched towards Macon, reaching my present camp about noon of the 22d. Direct line of march of campaign 496 miles. Total number of miles marched 610
In his recapitulation, Lieutenant Colonel Peters gives the names of all the killed and wounded of his regiment during this last campaign of the war.2 The losses were 3 men killed and 24 wounded. There were 10 horses killed in action and 136 abandoned on the march, and 738 were captured from the enemy The regiment captured 2,436 prisoners during thé campaign, also 21 pieces of artillery and 10 battle flags.
In his official report, General Winslow highly commends the conduct of the officers and men of his old regiment, and makes special recommendation
20The entire list of all the killed and wounded of the regiment is embra 1 In the subjoined roster.
660
HISTORICAL SKETCH
that the brevet rank of Major be conferred upon Captains Lot Abraham and A. B. Fitch, and, that of First Lieutenant, upon Second Lieutenant Loyd H. Dillon, for conspicuous gallantry on the battlefield.
Towards the last of April the regiment, with its brigade, was ordered to move to Atlanta and, on the 9th of May, went into camp at that place. The war was over; but the condition of affairs in almost every portion of the South was such as to render the presence of the federal troops a necessity for a con- siderable length of time. While the headquarters of the regiment were in At- lanta, and Lieutenant Colonel Peters was assigned to the command of the post, many companies and detachments were kept on duty at out-lying points, where they were mainly occupied in preserving order, protecting property and paroling rebel soldiers. Early in August these companies and detachments were all ordered to return to the regimental camp at Atlanta, and there, on the 8th day of August, 1865, the companies and company officers of the Fourth Regiment of Iowa Veteran Volunteer Cavalry were mustered out of the service of the United States; the Field and Staff were mustered out August 10, 1865. A few days previous to that last important event in its history, the regiment was assembled on parade, with every officer and man present for duty, in the ranks, and, with Colonel and Brevet Brigadier General Winslow in command, the following fare- well order was read:
HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, FOURTH DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, M. D. M., ATLANTA, GA., August 7, 1865.
GENERAL ORDERS
No. 3.
COMRADES : The war is ended. The last order you obey directs your return to your homes. Let your future be as commendable as your past has been glorious. Your career as soldiers is over. You go home as citizens, to reap the reward of your campaigns. Your country will always cherish the memory of her brave defenders. Seven States have been traversed by your columns. Their soil has been con- secrated by the blood of your companions. Your victories will impress their localities on your minds. Though the battles of the war are over, let us recollect that those of our lives continue to the end, that our orders are from Him whose plans are always successful, and that justice is no less a divine attribute than mercy. I shall hear of your behavior in civil life, and believe that you will daily evidence the fact that well disciplined soldiers can become equally good citizens. During the long period in which I have been associated with you, I have had many occasions to be proud of your conduct, and have often rejoiced that I commanded such brave men.
While I regret to separate from such gallant officers and men. I rejoice with you that our country is intact and united, our government stronger than ever, and that the necessity for our armed service no longer exists. Confident that, when again required, you will be as ready to take the carbine and saber as you now are to abandon them. I part from you with many and sincere wishes for your future prosperity and happiness.
Official.
E. F. WINSLOW. Brevet Brigadier General.
W. BECKWITH, Captain and A. A. A. G.21
While the regiment had ceased to be a part of the Army of the United States, it was not allowed to disband until it reached Davenport, Iowa, to which place it was ordered to proceed by rail. Owing to the large number of troops which were being transported to their respective States at this time, and to the limited railroad facilities, a full week was occupied on the journey. The regiment reached Davenport August 19th, but it was on the 24th day of August. 1865, that the last pay roll was signed. the last man received his honorable dis- charge. the regiment disbanded, and the survivors departed for their homes.
"1Report of Adjutant General of Iowa, 1866, page 119.
661
FOURTH CAVALRY
The Commonwealth of Iowa has honored itself in making provision for the perpetuation of the memory of its brave sons who went forth at the call of their country and fought, suffered and-alas, how many-died, that the bless- ings of a free government might be transmitted to their posterity. Among all the records of faithful, loyal and efficient service, contained in the military archives of the State, none are more full and complete, or reflect greater honor upon its history, than that of the Fourth Regiment of Iowa Volunteer Cavalry.
SUMMARY OF CASUALTIES.
Total Enrollment
1,932
Killed
44
Wounded
120
Died of wounds
11
Died of disease
199
Discharged for wounds, disease or other causes
272
Buried in National Cemeteries
97
Captured
94
Transferred
35
FOURTH REGIMENT IOWA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY
Term of service three years.
Mustered into the service of the United States, at Mount Plea- sant, Iowa, January 1, 1862, by Captain Alexander Chambers, United States Army.
Mustered out of service August 10, 1865, Atlanta, Ga.
Roster of Field, Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Staff Officers at muster in of organization, together with subsequent appointments from civil life.
FIELD AND STAFF.
Asbury B. Porter. Age 53. Residence Mount Pleasant, nativity Kentucky. Appointed Colonel Oct. 1, 1861. Mustered Dec. 26, 1861. Resigned March 19, 1863.
Thomas Drummond. Age 30. Residence Vinton, nativity Virginia. Ap- pointed Lieutenant Colonel Dec. 24, 1861. Resigned June 3, 1862.
Simeon D. Swan, Age 31. Residence Mount Pleasant, nativity Pennsylvania. Appointed First Battalion Major Sept. 17, 1861. Mustered Dec. 26, 1861. Promoted Lieutenant Colonel June 4, 1862. Resigned July. 13, 1863.
Joseph E. Jewett. Age 49. Residence Des Moines, nativity Vermont. Ap- pointed Second Battalion Major Oct. 14, 1861. Mustered Dec. 26, 1861. Promoted First Battalion Major June 4, 1862. Resigned Jan. 2, 1863. See Company D, Second Cavalry.
George A. Stone. Age 28. Residence Mount Pleasant, nativity New York. Promoted Third Battalion Major from Company H, Nov. 2, 1861. Mus- tered Dec. 26, 1861. Promoted Second Battalion Major June 4, 1862. Mustered out for promotion as Colonel of Twenty-fifth Infantry, Aug. 10, 1862.
George W. Waldron. Age 33. Residence Dubuque, nativity New York. Appointed Regimental Adjutant Dec. 8, 1861. Mustered Dec. 26, 1861. Mustered out June 1, 1862. See Field and Staff, First Infantry.
Simon P. Lauffer. Age 30. Residence Mount Pleasant, nativity Pennsylvania. Appointed Regimental Quartermaster Nov. 19, 1861. Mustered Dec. , 26, 1861. Mustered out April 21, 1862, St. Louis, Mo.
(662)
663
FOURTH CAVALRY
William T. Allen. Age 27. Residence Iowa City, nativity Vermont. Pro- moted Regimental Commissary from Regimental Commissary Sergeant Sept. 15, 1862. Mustered Sept. 16, 1862. Promoted Captain and Com- missary of Subsistence of Volunteers, Aug. 10, 1864.
Warren Beekwith. Age 28. Residence Mount Pleasant, nativity New York. Promoted First Battalion Adjutant from Company C, Dec. 25, 1861. Mustered Dec. 26, 1861. Promoted Captain of Company C, Jan. 1, 1863.
Watson B. Porter. Age 25. Residence Mount Pleasant, nativity Illinois. Promoted Second Battalion Adjutant from First Lieutenant of Com- pany C, Dec. 25, 1861. Mustered Dec. 26, 1861. Promoted Captain of Company C, April 15, 1862.
Samuel F. Cooper. Age 34. Residence Grinnell, nativity Massachusetts. Promoted Third Battalion Adjutant from Fourth Sergeant of Company E, Dec. 25, 1861. Mustered Dec. 26, 1861. Mustered out Sept. 6, 1862. See Field and Staff, Fortieth Infantry.
J. Marshall Rust. Age 32. Residence Sidney, nativity Virginia. Promoted First Battalion Quartermaster from Second Lieutenant of Company A, Dec. 25, 1861. Mustered Dec. 26, 1861. Promoted Regimental Quar- termaster April 12, 1862. Promoted Captain of Company A, June 5, 1862.
William P. Brazelton. Residence Mount Pleasant. Appointed Second Bat- talion Quartermaster Oct. 18, 1861. Mustered Dec. 26, 1861. Promoted Second Battalion Adjutant April 15, 1862. Mustered out July 29, 1862.
Ira F. Phillips. Age 39. Residence Mount Pleasant, nativity New York. Promoted Third Battalion Quartermaster from Company C, Dec. 25. 1861. Mustered Dec. 26, 1861. Mustered out April 18, 1862.
Andrew W. McClure. Age 33. Residence Mount Pleasant, nativity Ohio. Appointed Surgeon Oct 20, 1861. Mustered Dec. 26, 1861. Resigned April 24, 1863.
Wellington Bird. Age 45. Residence Mount Pleasant, nativity Pennsyl- vania. Appointed Assistant Surgeon Nov. 29, 1861. Mustered Dec. 26, 1861. Promoted Captain and Commissary of Subsistence of Volun- teers, May 18, 1864.
William McK. Findlay. Residence Bloomfield. Appointed Assistant Sur- geon March 7, 1863. Mustered March 13, 1863. Resigned June 2, 1863.
Charles Fitch. Age 38. Residence Van Buren County, nativity New York. Appointed Assistant Surgeon July 6, 1863; not mustered. Regiment below minimum. Commission revoked.
Samuel W. Taylor. Age 47. Residence Glasgow, nativity Connecticut. Ap- pointed Assistant Surgeon June 4, 1864. Mustered June 7, 1864. Mus- tered out Aug. 10, 1865, Atlanta, Ga.
Robert R. Taylor. Age 36. Residence Cedar Rapids, nativity Virginia. Appointed Assistant Surgeon March 13, 1862. Resigned Oct. 22, 1862
664
ROSTER IOWA VOLUNTEERS
David Stewart. Age 31. Residence North Liberty, nativity Pennsylvania. Appointed Assistant Surgeon Dec. 2, 1862. Promoted Assistant Sur- geon of Twenty-eighth Infantry; commission in this regiment revoked.
Stephen Cummings. Age 36. Residence Hopkinton, nativity New York. Appointed Assistant Surgeon July 2, 1863. Mustered July 20, 1863. Mustered out Aug. 10, 1865, Atlanta, Ga.
William Robinson. Age 40. Residence Grinnell, nativity New York. Pro- moted Additional Assistant Surgeon from Third Battalion Hospital Steward June 1, 1862. Promoted Assistant Surgeon Jan. 7, 1863; Surgeon June 28, 1863. Mustered out Aug. 10, 1865, Atlanta, Ga.
Andrew J. Kirkpatrick. Age 44. Residence Mount Pleasant, nativity Ohio. Promoted Chaplain from Company K, Nov. 29, 1861. Mustered Dec. 26, 1861. Discharged Dec. 5, 1864, Memphis, Tenn., expiration of term of service.
NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
Edward D. Ketcham. Age 23. Residence Mount Pleasant, nativity New Jersey. Promoted Sergeant Major from First Corporal of Company C, Feb. 1, 1862. Promoted Adjutant Sept. 15, 1862. Mustered Oct. 26, 1862. Resigned Sept. 29, 1863.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.