USA > Iowa > Jackson County > The history of Jackson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion history of the Northwest, history of Iowa miscellaneous matters, &c > Part 53
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 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98
The first company raised in Jackson County was in answer to the Presi- dent's second call for volunteers, dated May 3, 1861. This was Company I, of the Fifth Iowa Infantry, which went into quarters June 24, and was mus- tered into the United States Service at Burlington, on the 17th of July follow- ing. Company A. of the Ninth Regiment, under Capt. Drips, went into quarters in August, and mustered into the service September 24, with a total rank and file of 101 men. Company I, of the Twelfth Regiment, found itself in the service September 16, 1861. Companies L and M, of the Second Cav- alry, entered the service about the same time.
Then came that well-remembered lull in the conflict when sanguine men grew more hopeful, and the desponding less in despair-a time when many thought the war would soon be at an end, and once more would be " beaten the swords into plowshares and the spears into pruning-hooks." But quickly was the spirit of the North again stirred, and the blood of Northern chivalry sent leaping in boiling currents through veins swollen with righteous wrath, when the terrible news of Shiloh-of thousands slain, and Iowa sons in Southern prisons-came to fathers, brothers and friends of those who had gone to the front.
The call of President Lincoln for 300,000 men, August 9, 1862, met with a liberal response from Jackson County. From the plow, from the workshop and counting-house, leaving the schoolroom, the desk, the bar, the pulpit, the press, men of every rank of life, of all ages, grey-beard and youth-those who showed themselves the bravest of the brave, came forth and enrolled their names among the men who were ready to face the cannon's mouth, if neces- sary, to die for their country.
Companies A and I, of the Twenty-fourth, various squads in the Twenty- sixth, and Companies F, I and K of the Thirty-first Iowa Infantry Regiments enlisted from Jackson County in the fall of 1862. Those who were kept at home by age, infirmity or sex, did noble service, too. They assisted with labor, money and words of cheer. Aid societies sprang up. Contributions were made. Sanitary stores were sent out. Mothers and sisters gathered in groups about quiet firesides while they talked over the hardships of absent dear ones on Southern battle-fields, in Ione marches, in death-dealing prisons or death- bearing hospitals. Many a needle contributed its mite, and many a pen its words of comfort, to render camp life more pleasant, and the army less a bar- barism. Viewed in its true light, an even greater debt of gratitude is due to the wives and mothers who gave up their husbands and sons, their natural pro- tectors, and suffered them, with a passive self-sacrifice, to go to a field of car- nage, than to the brave men themselves, who, inspired by the thought of heroic action and gallant service, were led to encounter danger and death for the sake of preserving our common heritage, the legacy of our ancestors.
455
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
In August, 1861, a meeting was held in the Congregational Church in Maquoketa, just before the departure of Company A, of the Ninth Regiment, which was raised under the name of the Jackson County National Guards. This meeting was to concert measures for the comfort of volunteers, and pro- vide means for the families of those in the company known as the Jackson County National Guards. W. W. Eaton was called to the chair, and J. J. Marks was appointed Secretary. An address was made by the chair, and by Capt. Drips. The latter then offered the following resolutions :
WHEREAS, The military company called the Jackson County National Guards has been called by the Governor of Iowa into the service of the United States ; and,
WHEREAS, We believe it to be the duty of every one who lives under the protection of the American flag to contribute, to the extent of his or her ability, in maintaining the Government which that flag represents; and, -
WHEREAS, Many of those who have volunteered in said company have families depending upon them for support ; therefore,
Resolved, That, having a great pride in our country, and wishing to see her well represented in the army of the Union, we will use every exertion to swell the ranks of said company to the maximum required by the Government, viz., 101 men.
Reso'ved, That we pledge ourselves to render such assistance to the families of volunteers as will provide them with all the common necessaries of life while their husbands, fathers and sons are absent fighting our battles.
The following Soliciting Committee was appointed : H. Shellenberger, Will- iam Sears, William Cundill, J. W. Jenkins, S. D. Lyman, J. J. Marks, Edwin Darling, D. A. Fletcher, J. R. Griffin and G. S. Martin. The meeting was closed by an address by J. W. Jenkins. A sword was presented to Capt. Drips, with due ceremony, upon his departure.
The ladies of Maquoketa, during the war, had a Sanitary Aid Society, and contributed much in stores and clothing to the comfort of volunteers. They also contributed money for the relief of those who were afflicted.
It is a matter of sincere regret to us that we cannot give a full account of the home societies and contributions, and of all that the citizens of Jackson County did on their own territory for the Union cause. There are, however, no existing newspaper-files that could be found covering the period of the war, and we are compelled to speak but generally of those things which we would be glad to mention more minutely.
On account of the freedom with which men volunteered in this county, there was occasion for but little trouble in regard to drafts. We believe there was but one draft in Jackson County, and in that no difficulty was expe- rienced, save in Butler Township. Here an attempt was made to resist the draft, or, rather, to escape it. The enrolling officers found it an impossibility to make an enrollment. Butler Township is largely a timber district, and it was with little difficulty the natives could hide, on the approach of the officer, where they could not be found. The families of those who were liable to draft would refuse to give their names, and irate daughters of Erin would threaten a salute with hot water unless the offending parties would make their absence - more conspicuous than they themselves. Joseph Eaton was appointed a Deputy Provost Marshal for the county and the matter given into his charge. With the assistance of the Assessor's books, he finally succeeded in making an enrollment. Nine men were drafted in Butler Township, and due notice served, according to law, notifying them to report at the county seat within five days. Only two reported, one of whom proved to be a cripple, and the other, for some reason, unfit for service. Efforts to find the other seven proved fruit- less. At last, Deputy Marshal Eaton got a squad of soldiers, and, proceeding to Butler Township, encamped in the barn of one of the richest farmers there.
456
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
The soldiers helped themselves to what they needed, and Eaton informed the citizens they had come to stay ; that unless the drafted men were forthcoming, they would make another draft, and that they would continue to draw until they filled the quota with men who could be found, otherwise, the entire township would have to become fugitives. This began to look like business, and, at a meeting appointed for the following day, some $6,000 were raised to hire substi- tutes, within two hours. The quota was made up of hired men, and the sol- diers were withdrawn without any difficulty having occurred. One. of the fugitives from this township fled to Boston to visit his brother, and had just entered the latter's house when a Deputy Marshal, who had been notified by telegraph, arrested him and started him back to Iowa.
We will sketch, in brief, the history of the regiments in which most of the Jackson County men were enlisted.
NINTH IOWA INFANTRY,
This regiment was raised in northeastern Iowa in August and September, 1861, and was organized in Dubuque by Hon. William Vandever, Member of Congress, who was specially commissioned by the President to raise a regiment in his District. He was made Colonel.
The Ninth Iowa proceeded to Benton Barracks, at St. Louis, with 977 men. From October until January, 1862, the regiment was stationed about Franklin, Mo., for the purpose of guarding railroads. Here they found a most unhealthy region and inclement weather, which, in three months, had reduced their num- ber by death and discharge, some twenty-four men. This loss was more than made up by additional enlistments.
The regiment, on the 7th of March, experienced its maiden fight in the battle of Pea Ridge. Its first experience was a severe one, and while victory crowned the Union side, it was with severe loss and the cost of many brave men. Capt. Drips, of Jackson County, was killed while leading his men on a gallant charge. His loss was deeply felt. He had been a soldier in the Mexi- can war, and was not only a highly respected leader, but a brave and gallant soldier. Out of 560 men of the Ninth Iowa engaged in the fight, 237 were killed or wounded, and 3 captured.
A march of 600 miles on a campaign through Missouri and Arkansas brought the regiment to Helena July 17, 1862, where the regiment was in camp for five months, and had its only experience during the service, in regu- lar camp drill and thorough discipline. Here the regiment received a stand of silk colors from a committee of ladies in Boston, Mass., in honor of their heroic service at Pea Ridge. A couple of days at Vicksburg the regiment was under fire, and, December 31, 1862, formed the Ninth Iowa on Yazoo River.
After assisting at the capture of Arkansas Post, January 11, 1863, the regiment proceeded to Young's Point, La., where, during the months of Febru- ary and March, in a sickly climate, disease brought to the regiment all the evils of the battle-field, and left none of its honors. Assisting at the capture of Jackson May 14, on May 22, in line with the whole Army of the Tennessee, the regiment went first up to the grand assault upon Vicksburg. In a few ter- rible moments, the command lost 79 in killed or wounded. The entire loss in the siege to the Ninth Iowa was 121 men.
The regiment engaged in various campaigns and marches through Missis- sippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and Alabama, pitching their tents at the foot of Lookout Mountain November 23, just in time to take part in the battle above
457
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
the clouds. The close of 1863, found the regiment reduced in number 510 men.
January 1, 1864, was celebrated by the re-enlistment of 287 veterans of the regiment for another term of three years. This entitled them to a thirty days' furlough, and February 14, found them at Dubuque. Returning with 125 three-year recruits, the regiment was soon in active service. Before the 8th of September, it had been honorably engaged in the battles of Resaca, Dallas, New Hope, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, Decatur, Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy. The losses were small compared with some of its previous encounters, being only 90 in killed, wounded and prison- ers. The non-veterans mustered out September 23, 1864.
The regiment was in the famous. " march to the sea," and fought its last battle at Bentonville. The Ninth Iowa was present in the military pageant May 24, which consisted in the review of Sherman's army in the streets of Washington.
July 18, 1865, the Ninth Iowa mustered out at Louisville, numbering 594. The regiment marched over 4,000 miles, and traveled by steamer and railroad some 6,000 more.
The losses during service were, killed, 117; died of disease, 200; dis- charged for disability, 243, or a total list of 560 casualties.
TWELFTH INFANTRY.
The Colonel of this regiment was Jackson J. Woods, of this county. Most of Company I was composed of Jackson County volunteers. The regiment was organized at Dubuque, and mustered into the service Nov. 25, 1861.
The first battle in which the Twelfth Infantry was engaged was at Fort Donelson, where it was in the front line during the battles of the 13th, 14th and 15th of February, 1862. At the battle of Shiloh, about 400 of the regiment were taken prisoners, and the remainder were organized with the Eighth and Fourteenth Iowa and Fifty-eighth Illinois into the Union Brigade. The brigade took an prominent part in the battle of Corinth.
The prisoners having been exchanged October 18, 1862, the regiment was ordered to Davenport to re-organize. It was next ordered to report to Gen. Grant, and was present at the capture of Jackson, Miss., and the siege of Vicksburg.
December 25, 1863, 298 of the regiment re-enlisted as veterans, and the veterans were furloughed for thirty days, beginning March 22, 1864.
The other important battles in the memory of the Twelfth Iowa are Tupelo, White River, Nashville and Spanish Fort. The regiment was mustered out at Memphis January 20, 1866.
The casualties of enlisted men were 91 killed, 210 died of disease, 247 discharged for disability. Total, 548.
TWENTY-FOURTH INFANTRY.
This regiment entered the United States Service at Muscatine, September 18, 1862. Company A was, for the most part, from Jackson County, as was all of Company I. The command departed for St. Louis October 20, 1862, and was, during the remainder of 1862 and the year 1863, stationed in various parts of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, engaging in the battle of Cham- pion Hills on May 16.
458
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
During the spring of 1864, the regiment was engaged in a campaign through Louisiana, taking part in the battle of Sabine Cross Roads. Only about 146 men of the Twenty-fourth Iowa were actively engaged in this battle, the companies from Jackson County with some others having been left in the rear, guarding a train. July, 1864, found the regiment stationed in Louisiana, and, on the 21st of this month, orders were received to embark on the steamer Star of the South on an unknown voyage. The 30th of July found the regiment at Washington City, and from there it proceeded to Virginia. Here, in the battle of Winchester, after a heroic record made in the field, the regiment found its ranks thinned by the loss of 74 men in killed, wounded and prisoners. The battle of Fisher's Hill, on September 22, resulted in but slight loss to the Twenty-fourth, though it was for a time in the hottest of the fight. In the battle of Cedar Creek, the regiment had quite a severe experience, with a total list of casualties, 93. This was the last fight in which the veterans were engaged.
December 4, 1864, it was ordered that the following names of battles be inscribed upon the regimental colors of the Twenty-fourth: Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Vicksburg, Jackson, Sabine Cross Roads, Opequan, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. Early in 1865, the regiment was ordered South, and, until the close of the war, was stationed in North and South Carolina and Georgia. It was mustered out at Savannah July 17, 1865.
Of the regiment, 129 men were killed in battle, 197 died of disease, and 232 were discharged for disability.
TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY.
To this regiment Jackson County contributed a large part of Company A, all of Company B, and squads in various other companies.
The organization of the regiment was completed at Clinton, September 30, 1862, and it was soon ordered to St. Louis. Though present at the battle of Chickasaw Bayou, the command was not engaged. The Twenty-sixth was at the front, and the principal regiment engaged in the battle of Arkansas Post January 11, 1863, and lost 119 men, or over 25 per cent in killed and wounded of the number engaged.
From January to April, the command was at Young's Point, La., on picket and fatigue duty. It then accompanied Gen. Steele in what was known as the Deer Creek raid. The regiment was present at the siege of Vicksburg, and variously engaged from May 18 until the 4th of July in the assault upon that city. August and September, the regiment was engaged with the ague along the malaria district of Black River. In a more glorious warfare, the men were present at Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge and Ringgold, in November.
In May, 1864, the regiment was engaged at Resaca and Dallas, with a loss of 23 men in the former battle. In June, it was present at Kenesaw Mountain, and, in July, at Decatur. During the fall of 1864, the regiment was engaged in almost constant skirmishing in Georgia, accompanying Sherman to Savannah, and thence through the Carolinas to Washington City, where the command was mustered out June 6, 1865.
The loss in killed during the war was 79; died of disease, 202; discharged for disability, 138; total, 419.
459
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
THIRTY-FIRST INFANTRY.
Companies F, I and K of this regiment were from Jackson County. The regiment was mustered into the service by Capt. Hendershott, at Davenport, October 13, 1862.
To sketch the movements of this regiment would be simply to duplicate the sketch of the Twenty-sixth Infantry, given above. The command was engaged at Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Deer Creek raid, Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Ringgold, with Sherman on his "march to the sea," north through the Carolinas, and mustered out at Louisville June 27, 1865.
The loss in killed of this regiment was small, being only 25, including both officers and men. Disease was more cruel, claiming as his portion 271 by death and 163 discharged for disability. Some of the latter were discharged on account of wounds.
SECOND CAVALRY.
This was the only regiment of the early Iowa cavalry which maintained its individuality throughout the war, and was, upon the whole, the largest cavalry regiment in the West, usually numbering not less than 800 men. Other cavalry regiments were divided up for orderly service, but the officers of the Second, opposed any separation of their men, thus securing for the command a most enviable record and a nation's praise.
Of the officers of the regiment, the following were promoted to the ranks named : First Colonel, Washington L. Elliott, to Brigadier General ; Second Colonel, Edward Hatch, to Major General, now Colonel and Brevet Brigadier General ; Third Colonel, Datus E. Coon, to Brigadier General.
Of the regiment, Companies L and M were from Jackson County. The command was mustered into service at Davenport September 1, 1861, which place they left in December, remaining at Benton Barracks until February, 1862, when the regiment was ordered to Bird's Point, Mo., and followed Jeff Thompson about one thousand miles through that State. The command was present at the taking of New Madrid, in March, and Companies K and L were the first troops to occupy Island No. 10, taking 195 prisoners and immense stores. April 12, the regiment was ordered to Hamburg Landing, Tenn., and was there engaged in skirmishing, with small loss, until April 28, when a charge was made on Monterey, Tenn. The regiment was in Gen. Pope's Division of the investing army of Corinth, and was engaged in almost daily skirmishes.
On May 9, the regiment performed the most brilliant exploit of its whole career, when, at Farmington, it charged into the face of Bragg's entire army, covering Gen. Payne's retreat, and saving him from what otherwise would have been fell disaster. Four hundred and twelve men were here engaged with a loss of fifty men and one hundred horses in a few minutes.
May 28, 1862, the regiment started on a march to the rear of Corinth, riding almost incessantly for three days and nights. At Booneville, Miss., with a loss of about twenty men, the regiment burned two trains of cars, ten thou- sand stand of arms, about one million rounds of ammunition, besides great quan- tities of other stores, and this with the enemy in sight in large force.
August 26, 1862, they were engaged with Gen. Faulkner, at Rienzi.
September 20, actively at Iuka, and in the battle of Corinth ; not only took part, but also engaged in the pursuit as far as Ripley.
460
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
In the later fall of this year, the regiment occupied the advance position in Grant's Central Mississippi army, being the first to occupy Lamar, Holly Springs, Lumpkin's Mills, Wyatt, Oxford, Water Valley and Coffeeville. Sharp engagements took place at all these points, the one at Coffeeville on December 5, being quite disastrous. The regiment took part in the pursuit of Van Dorn after his raid on Holly Springs, following him to New Albany, Miss., and returning to Grand Junction, Tenn., for winter quarters.
The spring and summer of 1863 were spent in constant reconnaisance. The regiment started on Grierson's raid, but was ordered back, and, in April, was sharply engaged at Birmingham and Elliston. At Jackson, Tenn., July 13. the Second Iowa experienced some severe service. At Grenada, August 13, the regiment, in company with the Third Iowa Cavalry, burned sixty loco mo- tives and about five hundred cars, being the accumulated rolling-stock of several railroads.
The command was in brisk encounters at Salem, Miss., October 8; at Wyatt's October 13; at Moscow, November 4; at La Fayette, Tenn., December 25; and at Collierville, December 27-8, 1863. Smith's raid from Tennessee into Mis- sissippi was shared by the regiment in February, 1864, after which a large part of the volunteers re-enlisted as veterans and were allowed to return to Iowa on veteran furlough in April, 1864.
Returning to Memphis in June, the Second Cavalry joined Sherman's army, but was left with Thomas when "Old Tecumseh " cut loose at Atlanta. It con- tinued under Thomas' command, taking part in various skirmishes in Tennessee and Alabama.
At the battle of Nashville, December 15, 1864, the regiment made a brill- iant charge, and was the first to place their colors upon the enemy's works in storming the second fort.
This was the last severe fighting. During the entire service, from the time they entered Tennessee, the regiment could scarcely have been said to have a permanent camp a day's march from the Memphis & Charleston Rail- road, Along this line, most of its skirmishes took place. The command was in most constant and fatiguing service during 1862-63, and, on an average, used up a supply of horses every six months. The regiment mustered out at Selma, Ala., September 19, 1865. The casualties were not heavy when com- pared with the time of service and the number of engagements. There were : killed, 66; died of disease, 172; discharged for disability, 167; total, 405.
For the facts given in this sketch we are largely indebted to Capt. W. S. Belden, Company L.
SOLDIERS' FESTIVAL.
When the Jackson County soldiers had returned at the close of the war. they were deservedly commended for their valor in the field and the faithful discharge of every duty, however irksome.
The close of the conflict was here, as elsewhere, the cause of general rejoicing, a rejoicing, however, that was not unmixed in many homes with sad memories and bitter recollections, of those left on Southern battle-fields or hos- pital cemeteries.
In August, 1865, a grand festival was given to the returned heroes of Jackson County. Of this re-union, we quote as follows, from the report of a newspaper correspondent :
"The festival was held in a grove. About six thousand people were pres- ent. At 11 o'clock the President called the vast multitude to order, and prayer
461
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
was offered to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, invoking blessings on our country and its brave defenders. Then followed a short, affecting address to the soldiers, welcoming their return home, delivered by Rev. E. K. Young, Pastor of the M. E. Church at this place, followed by a patriotic reply on behalf of the soldiers by Col. J. J. Woods.
"The occasion was taken by Company G, of the Eighth Iowa Cavalry, to present to their Lieutenant, W. F. McCarron, a beautiful sword, on which was inscribed the names of thirty-one battles in which they had been engaged, and also to give to his keeping the remnant of the battle-flag of their regiment. It was a mere handful of rags. The company, like the flag, was also a remnant, and I thought I could see their manly breasts heave with emotion, and their eyes moisten as they looked upon their tattered flag, under which they had fought and bled and seen their comrades fall. And yet they were proud of their record. A dignified presentation speech, couched in generous language, was made by Judge Palmer, to which Lient. McCarron replied, thanking his company for their confidence and good will.
"When Company I, of the Twenty-fourth, was organized, the ladies of Maquoketa presented it with a. flag, bearing the following inscription : 'Company I, Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry.' To-day the company returned it to the ladies, but to the inscription they added, 'Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Vicksburg, Jackson, Red River Campaign, Opequan, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek.' ยท
"Of Iowa regiments. Jackson County raised, of infantry, Company I, of the Fifth; Company A, of the Ninth ; Company I, of the Twelfth; Companies A and I, of the Twenty-fourth ; Company B, of the Twenty-sixth, and Com- panies F, I and K, of the Thirty-first; and of cavalry, Companies L and M, of the Second; Company G, of the Eighth, and one company of the Fifth. The people feel proud at the mention of any of these, and well they may, as the records of the war, especially of Donelson, Shiloh, Pea Ridge, Farm- ington and of Vicksburg, will testify.
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.