USA > Iowa > Mahaska County > The history of Mahaska County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics > Part 50
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COMPANY C.
Captain James A. Seevers, enlisted October 17, 1861, resigned Novem- ber 27, 1862.
First Lieutenant John D. Shannon, enlisted October 17, 1861, com- missioned Quarter-Master Decem- ber 9, 1862.
Second Lieutenant Edmund Krause, enlisted October 17, 1861, as pri- vate, commissioned Second Lieu- tenant December 15, 1864, mus- tered out December 31, 1864.
Second Lieutenant Ebenezer E. Her- bert, enlisted October 17, 1861, re- signed at Pittsburg Landing April 22, 1862.
Second Lieutenant John D. Kins- man, enlisted October 17, 1861, as First Sergeant, promoted to Second Lieutenant April 23, 1862, killed at battle of Corinth.
Second Lieutenant Sylvester Rynear- son, enlisted as Fourth Corporal November 1, 1861, promoted Sec- ond Sergeant Marchi 1, 1862, pro- moted First Sergeant May 1, 1862, promoted Second Lieutenant Oc- tober 24, 1862, promoted First Lieutenant December 10, 1862, Captain June 26, 1865, mustered out June 29, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky.
First Sergeant Johnson Totten, en- listed as First Corporal October 17, 1861, promoted Second Ser- geant May 1, 1862, promoted First Sergeant November 1, 1862, trans- ferred for promotion in Thirteenth Iowa Infantry.
Second Sergeant Andrew B. McMur- ray, enlisted as Second Sergeant October 17, 1861, reduced to ranks March 1, 1862, promoted Second Corporal November 1, 1862, died at Keokuk October 1, 1864, of chronic diarrhœa.
Second Sergeant William S. Winters, enlisted as private October 17, 1861, promoted November 1, 1862, to Second Sergeant, captured at Atlanta, Georgia.
Third Sergeant Andrew W. Mather. enlisted October 17, 1861, died July 30, 1862.
Third Sergeant David Hoff, enlisted October 17, 1861, as private, pro- moted Third Sergeant July 30, 1862, wounded severely in shoul- der at Shiloh, slightly in leg at Corinth, October 3, 1862, promo- ted Second Lieutenant March 20, 1863, re-enlisted as veteran, re- signed June 9, 1864.
Fourth Sergeant Eli Lundy, enlisted October 17, 1861, reduced to ranks November 1, 1862, discharged De- cember 16, 1862.
Fourth Sergeant Israel S. Warner, enlisted October 7, 1861, wounded severely in breast at Shiloh, pro- moted Fifth Sergeant August 24, 1862, promoted November 1, 1862, to Fourth Sergeant, wounded slightly in leg at Corinth, died August 5, 1863, at Keokuk.
Fifth Sergeant Milton Spain, enlisted October 7, 1861, died of diarrhoea at Corinth, Mississippi, July 3. 1862.
Fifth Sergeant William C. Laird, en- listed as private October 30, 1861, promoted Fifth Sergeant Novem- ber 1, 1862.
First Corporal Noah Griffis, enlisted October 17. 1861, promoted First Corporal May 1, 1862, wounded slightly in leg at Corinth, October 3, 1862, promoted Sergeant, re- enlisted as veteran, Dec. 30, 1863. Second Corporal Chas. M. Stuart, enlisted October 17, 1861, reduced to ranks Marclı 31, 1862, re-en- listed January 1, 1864, promoted First Lieutenant June 24, 1865.
406
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
Third Corporal Walter A. Tanner, enlisted October 17, 1861, killed at Corinth October 3, 1862.
Third Corporal Jacob Timbrel, en- listed as private October 17, 1861, promoted Third Corporal Novem- ber 1, 1862, wounded in thigh at Shiloh.
Fourth Corporal James Hawkins, enlisted October 26, 1861, promo- ted Fourth Corporal November 1, 1862, re-enlisted as veteran No- vember 19, 1863.
Fifth Corporal Wm. H. Romesha, enlisted February 16, 1862, as pri- vate, promoted Fifth Corporal No- vember 1, 1863, re-enlisted as vet- eran February 16, 1864, wounded in side at Atlanta Angust 27, 1864. Fifth Corporal Wm. R. Good, en- listed October 17, 1861, died at Keokuk June 18, 1862.
Fifth Corporal Wm. T. Algood, en- listed November 17, 1861, promo- ted Fifth Corporal November 1, 1862, re-enlisted as veteran private November 19, 1863.
Sixth Corporal James M. Ballinger, enlisted October 17, 1861, reduced to ranks Angust 18, 1862, dis- charged for disability.
Seventh Corporal Uriah A. Smith, enlisted October 17, 1861, re- duced to ranks March 31, 1862.
Eighth Corporal Robert W. Oldham, enlisted October 17, 1861, reduced to ranks August 18, 1862.
Eighth Corporal John Stackley, en- listed November 1, 1861, promo- ted Eighth Corporal May 15, 1862. Musician Louis Crowder, enlisted October 17, 1861, re-enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864, wounded near Atlanta July 28, 1864, dis- charged for wounds.
Musician John P. Jones, enlisted as private October 17, 1861, promo- ted drummer December 31, 1861, discharged July 12, 1862, re-en- listed as veteran Dec. 21, 1863.
Wagoner Wmn. P. Hazlett, enlisted October 17, 1861.
PRIVATES.
Ables, H. C., enlisted October 12, 1861, transferred July 1, 1864, to veteran reserve corps.
Antry, Simon P., enlisted Novem- ber 1, 1861, wounded severely in leg at Shiloh, and discharged August 20, 1862.
Borrell, Henry, enlisted October 17, 1861, wounded severely in leg at Shiloh, and discharged August 20, 1862.
Bolton, Geo. T., enlisted October 17, 1861, discharged December 16, 1862, at Abbeville, Miss., for dis- ability.
Brown, Wm. H., enlisted October 17, 1861, wounded severely in hand at Shiloh, and discharged at Corinth September 28, 1862.
Bordrick, Chas. W., enlisted Novem- ber 12, 1861, killed at Shiloh.
Bowles, Frank, enlisted January 4, 1862, died of fever at Monterey, Tenn., June 3, 1862.
Bolton, I. J., enlisted January 4, 1862, died of measels at Keokuk, March 13, 1862.
Chadwick, Oliver, enlisted January 4, 1862.
Campbell, Win. T., enlisted January 28, 1862, died of measles at Keo- kuk March 11, 1862.
Curry, John G., enlisted December 28, 1861.
Cooley, James, enlisted March 21, 1864, wounded at Atlanta August 23, 1864.
Dysart, Simon K., enlisted October 17, 1861, died of fever at Keokuk May 19, 1862.
Devore, David, enlisted October 17, 1861, wounded slightly in side at Shiloh, and discharged December 16, 1862.
Dawsey, James, enlisted October 17, 1861, discharged for disability at Corinth July 6, 1862.
Douglas, Benjamin, enlisted Octo- ber 17, 1861, died at La Grange, Tenn., January 9, 1863.
407
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
Dove, Isaiah, enlisted November 1,
1863, wounded slightly in leg at Shiloh, and discharged for disabil- ity at Corinth June 13, 1862.
Dawson, Andrew J., enlisted Decem- ber 16, 1861, deserted May 16, 1862.
Dickson, Joseph W., enlisted Janlı- ary 4, 1862, discharged October 10, 1862, for disability.
Dickson, Robert H., enlisted Janu- ary 4, 1862, re-enlisted as veteran January 4, 1864.
Haines, John Q., enlisted October 17, 1861, discharged for disability at Corinth June 16, 1862.
Hiler, C. V., enlisted October 17, 1861, re-enlisted as veteran De- cember 6, 1863, missing at Atlanta July 22, 1864, prisoner.
Hunt, Levi, enlisted October 17, 1861, died March 21, 1864, at home, of chronic diarrhœa.
Hensell, Henry, enlisted October 17, 1861, discharged July 20, 1862. Hensell, George, enlisted October 17, 1861.
Hinkle, Benjamin, enlisted October 17, 1861, died of fever at St. Louis May 18, 1862.
Hodge, Nathan, enlisted December 29, 1861, discharged for disability at Quincy, Ill., October 20, 1862. Huit, Wm., enlisted December 29, 1861, discharged May 23, 1862. Hunt, Eden R., enlisted October 17, 1861, wounded severely in side at Shiloh, and in right leg at Atlanta. Hawley, Jerome R., enlisted October 17, 1861, wounded slightly in hand at Corinth October 3, 1862, re-en-
listed as veteran Jannary 1, 1864. Hawkins, Stephen E., enlisted Janu- ary 4, 1862, re-enlisted January 4, 1864, wounded severely in hand near Atlanta, Ga., July 21, 1864. Jackson, Wm., enlisted January 6, 1862, wounded slightly in arm at Corinth October 3, 1862, re-en- listed as veteran January 4, 1864, died at Vicksburg February 20, 1864.
Jackson, Byron, enlisted October 17, 1861, afterwards drummer, died at Vicksburg December, 1863, of in- flammation of the bowels.
Jackson, Geo. S., enlisted October 17, 1861, re-enlisted as veteran Jannary 1, 1864.
Johnson, Charley, enlisted Novem- ber 1, 1861, wounded severely in arm at Shiloh, captured near At- lanta July 22, 1864.
Kirk, Caleb L., enlisted October 17, 1861, wounded at Shiloh and died from wounds at Keokuk, May 12, 1862.
Lewis, Jacob H., enlisted -, re- enlisted as veteran January 2, 1864.
Lundy, Edmund, enlisted October 17, 1861, discharged at Grand Junction, Miss., November 13, 1862, for disability.
Lewis, Geo., enlisted October 17, 1861, discharged July 25, 1862. Lewis, Henry, enlisted January 4, 1862.
Lathrop, J. R., enlisted October 30, 1861, re-enlisted as veteran De- cember 6, 1863, wounded in left arm near Atlanta, July 22, 1864, discharged at Keokuk June 14, 1865, for disability.
Lloyd, Samuel, enlisted November 23, 1861, wounded in leg at Shi- loh, and killed at Corinth.
Myers, John D., enlisted October 30, 1861, died at St. Louis Janu- ary 12, 1863.
Myers, Wesley W., enlisted October 30, 1861, discharged for disabil- ity.
Miller, Joseph F., enlisted October 17, 1861, discharged for disability at Corinth October 23, 1862.
Morton, James, enlisted Jannary 8, 1862, left the service at Corinth July 11, 1862, re-enlisted as vet- eran January 4, 1864, wounded near Atlanta, Ga., July 4, 1864.
Quitance, Chas., enlisted Jannary 4, 1862, died at Odin, Ill., of Bron- chitis.
408
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
Reed, Wm. J., enlisted January 2, 1862.
Spates, Wm., enlisted January 4, 1862.
Rea, John C., enlisted October 17, 1861, wounded slightly in head at Corinth, captured' near Atlanta, July 22, 1864.
Smith, Edward, enlisted October 17, 1861, discharged for disability, July 15, 1862.
Spates, R. T., enlisted October 17, 1861, re-enlisted as veteran No- vember 19, 1863, wounded at At- lanta in left hand.
Tanner, A. C., enlisted October 17, 1861, killed August 9, 1864, on picket duty.
Vancleave, Henry, enlisted January 1, 1862, wounded severely in left leg at Atlanta, July 22, 1864.
Vancleave, Joshua V., enlisted Jan- uary 1, 1862, wounded slightly in hand at battle of Corinth, October 3,1862, transferred to Marine Brig- ade at St. Louis, January 3, 1863. Weaver, Cyrus, enlisted January 4, 1862, deserted at Corinth July 11, 1862.
Whaling, O. M., enlisted October 17, 1861, discharged for disability at Lake Providence, La., March, 1863.
Whitlock, Asa, enlisted October 17, 1861.
Whitlock, E. B., wounded slightly in abdomen at battle of Shiloh.
Wymore, G. W., enlisted October 17, 1861, wounded and missing at battle of Corinth, October 3, 1862.
Wymore, Amos, enlisted October 17, 1861, discharged for disability at Grand Junction, Miss., No- vember 13, 1862.
Whitaker, Noah, enlisted October 17, 1861, died at Keokuk of meas- les January 6, 1862.
Williams, Benj., enlisted October
17, 1861, discharged for disability at Grand Junction, Miss., Novem- ber 18, 1862.
Walker, Smith, enlisted December 28, 1861.
Wilkins, H , enlisted March 28, 1864, died of chronic diarrhea at Rome, Ga., August 4, 1864.
Williams, Clark, enlisted December 28, 1861, discharged for disability at Grand Junction, Miss., Novem- ber 18, 1862.
Youngblood, James, enlisted No- vember 1, 1861, wounded severely in thigh at battle of Shiloh, re-en- listed December 6, 1863.
Fallow, Greenville, enlisted , re-enlisted as veteran February 1, 1864, killed at Kenesaw Moun- tain, Ga., June 19, 1864.
Fields, Wilson, enlisted March 26, 1864, died of chronic diarrhea at Atlanta, September 11, 1864.
COMPANY D.
First Sergeant Edward C. Fowler, enlisted October 15, 1861 as First Corporal, promoted First Sergeant March 14, 1862, killed at battle of Shiloh.
First Sergeant Benj. F. Stevens, en- listed October 1, 1861, as Third Sergeant, promoted First Sergeant July 1, 1862, missing after battle of Corinth.
PRIVATES.
Benbow, Edom, enlisted October 15, 1861, died October 26, 1864, at Atlanta, Ga., of chronic diarrhœa. Hetherington, James E., enlisted October 15, 1861, re-enlisted as veteran December 31, 1863.
White, J. W., enlisted October 1, 1861, died at Keokuk January 26, 1862.
1
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
409
COMPANY G.
Fifth Sergeant Jacob Mc Vay,enlisted February 25, 1862, as private, wounded in hand at Shiloh, pro- moted Fifth Sergeant October, 1862, promoted Second Sergeant August 1, 1864, Second Lienten- ant December 22, 1864, re-en-
listed as veteran February 1, 1864.
COMPANY H.
Alfred Baker, enlisted February 10, 1862, and was discharged at Keo- kuk for disability, September 30, 1862.
SEVENTEENTH INFANTRY.
This regiment rendezvoused at Keokuk and mustered into the service with Jno. W. Rankin as Colonel, April 16, 1862. Proceeding to St. Louis to receive equipage the new volunteers reached Mississippi in time to as- sist at the siege of Corinth. The part taken by the Seventeenth in the bat- tle of Iuka received, probably unjustly, the censure of Rosecrans. Smarting under this, the command went into the battle of Corinth with the determin- ation to wipe out the stain cast upon its reputation. Its success is best told by the following general order, No. 145:
" The General commanding cannot forbear to give pleasure to many, besides the brave men immediately concerned, by announcing in advance of the regular order, that the Seventeenth Iowa Infantry, by its gallantry in the battle of Corinth, on the fourth of October, charging the enemy, and captur- ing the flag of the Fortieth Mississippi, has amply atoned for its misfortune at Iuka, and stands among the honored regiments of his command. Long may they wear with unceasing brightness the honors they have won.
" By order of Major General, W. S. Rosecrans.
C. GODDARD, A. A. A. G."
Notwithstanding, the whole number of casualties was but twenty-five, of whom only two were killed.
Before Vicksburg, at Chattanooga and in the defense of Tilton, these troops fonght with a bravery unrivaled. In the defense of Tilton, the gar- rison was compelled to surrender, and the entire regiment with the excep- tion of forty or fifty men, were carried away prisoners. Those who remained were furloughed and were a sorry looking band when compared with the stout nine hundred and fifty-six, who had left Iowa two and a half years before.
The regiment was mustered out at Louisville, July 25, 1865.
COMPANY C.
Second Corporal Jacob L. Mason, enlisted as private March 27, 1862, promoted Sixth Corporal, promo- ted Second Corporal, date not known, re-enlisted as veteran March 29, 1864, captured at Tilton, Ga.
PRIVATES.
Barrickman, Geo., enlisted March 14, 1862, captured at Tilton, Ga. Cox, Harvey, enlisted February 10, 1862. Martin, Wm., enlisted March 6, 1862.
410
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
McKee, Wm., enlisted March 11,
1862, died of diarrhea at Farm- ington, Miss., July 19, 1862.
McCormick, James F., enlisted March 7, 1862, discharged at Quincy for disability December 9, 1862.
Summerlot, Levi, enlisted March 16, 1862.
Tomson, Theodore, enlisted March 19, 1862, re-enlisted as veteran, commissioned First Lieutenant January 30, 1864, prisoner at Til- ton, October 13, 1864.
Wright, David, enlisted March 14, 1862, captured at Tilton, Ga. Appleton, Geo. W., enlisted
1862, re-enlisted as veteran March 25, 1864, prisoner at Tilton, Ga. Bodenhammer, A. C., enlisted-
1862, discharged at Keokuk Octo- ber 14, 1862.
Champion, J. R., enlisted
1862, discharged October 30, 1862, at Keokuk for disability.
Doan, Wm. H., enlisted -- 1862, captured at Tilton, Ga.
Elmer, James, enlisted - 1862,
discharged at St. Louis Novem- ber 13, 1862, for disability.
Fenner, John D., enlisted
1862, discharged for disability at Jackson, Tenn., June 30, 1863.
Graham, John R., enlisted 1862.
Hardy, Wm. D., enlisted
1862, wounded May 16, 1862, at Champion Hills, discharged Sep- tember 2, 1864.
Marshall, John, enlisted -- 1862, . discharged October 16, 1862, for disability.
Larimer, Thos. M., enlisted as veter- an March 21, 1864, captured at Tilton, Ga.
Stafford, Thomas, enlisted March 27, 1864, wounded at Inka.
Bodenhammer, J. M., enlisted April 8, 1862, discharged for disability at Cairo January 6, 1863.
COMPANY I.
Vogeler, Jacob, enlisted January 1, 1862, killed at Jackson, Miss., May 13, 1862.
EIGHTEENTH INFANTRY
Contained squads in Co's D and K, from Mahaska county. The men were mustered in at Clinton, the place of rendezvous, in the early part of August, 1862, with John Edwards, of Lucas county, as Colonel.
The regiment was almost immediately ordered into the service in the army of the Southwest, where, after a wearisome campaign, it was made a part of the garrison of Springfield during the winter of 1862-3. It had a taste of real war in the battle of Springfield in January, 1863, in which a loss of fifty-six was incurred in killed and wounded. The irksome duties of the garrison continued until the fall of 1863. After a vain chase in pur- suit of Shelby, the regiment was again placed on garrison duty at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.
Disastrous campaigning and some brilliant skirmishing at Prairie D'Anne, and about Camden, tried the energies of the Eighteenth until their brilliant struggle April 17, near Poison Spring, in defense of a forage train, where, for a considerable time, the regiment " kept at bay " a force of five to one of its number. At Jenkin's Ferry it was used as a reserre force, and was not brought into action.
From this time the regiment was on garrison duty at Ft. Smith most of the time until the date of its muster out-often enduring hardships, poor rations and heavy labor.
[NOTE .- This regiment mustered out at Little Rock, Arkansas, July 20, 1865.]
411
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
Quarter-Master Sidney S. Smith, commissioned August 9, 1862.
Commissary Sergeant David M. Clover, commissioned August 9, 1862, discharged at Springfield, Missouri, for disability February 24, 1863.
COMPANY D.
PRIVATES.
Badger, David W., enlisted July 7,
1862, promoted First Corporal, captured by guerrillas at Darda- nelles, Ark., May 11, 1864.
Billings, Wm. J., enlisted July 7, 1862, wounded and captured at
Poison Spring, Ark., April 18, 1864.
Billings, Joseph, enlisted July 7, 1862.
Clark, Win., enlisted June 18, 1862. Gardner, Aaron B., enlisted July 11, 1862.
Hoover, Aaron A., enlisted June 18, 1862.
Hull, L. R., enlisted July 11, 1862, died of typhoid fever December 30, 1862, at Springfield, Mo.
Joy, James M., enlisted July 11, 1862.
Kinceback, Conrad, enlisted July 11, 1862.
Robertson, Franklin, enlisted June 18, 1862, taken prisoner at Poison Spring, Ark., April 18, 1864.
COMPANY K.
First Sergeant Charles Stanley, en- listed July 7, 1862.
Fifth Sergeant Wesley Depew, en- listed as private July 7, 1862, pro- moted Fifth Sergeant August 27, 1862.
First Corporal Woodson Brown, en- listed July 7, 1862, discharged for disability at Springfield, Mo., Jan- uary, 19, 1863.
Fourth Corporal Simeon Stevens, enlisted July 7, 1862, died at St. Louis, Mo., of congestion of brain, January 22, 1863.
Seventh Corporal Henry Bond, en- listed July 7, 1862, died of ty- phoid fever, at Springfield, Mo., December 6, 1862.
Wagoner Barnabas B. White, en- listed July 7, 1862, discharged for disability February 18, 1863.
PRIVATES.
Alloway, Nelson, enlisted July 7, 1862.
Beaghen, Wm., enlisted July 25, 1862.
Bircher, Rudolph, enlisted July 7, 1862, discharged for disability October 7, 1863.
Bond, Wm., enlisted July 8, 1862, discharged for disability January 19, 1863.
Billings, Joseph M., enlisted July 10, 1862.
Cousins, Cornelius, enlisted July 7, 1862, died at Springfield, Mo., Nov. 15, 1862.
Clover, David M., enlisted Angust 8, 1862.
Doan, Levi C., enlisted July 7, 1862.
Follett, Wm. F., enlisted July 7, 1862, discharged for disability February 24, 1863.
Grimes, M. D., enlisted July 8, 1862, discharged for disability February 25, 1863.
Galer, John B., enlisted July 7, 1862.
Hale, Albert, enlisted July 7, 1862. Hale, John F., enlisted July 7, 1862. Neal, Samuel, enlisted June 25, 1862.
Ramy, Wmn., enlisted July 7, 1862. Summer, John M., enlisted July 7, 1862.
Taylor, Levi H., enlisted July 7,
1862, taken prisoner at Moscow, Ark., April 13, 1864.
White, Abner C., enlisted July 7, 1862, discharged for disability February 24, 1863.
White, Elihu, enlisted July 22, 1862. Williams, Geo. W., enlisted July 7, 1862, died March 13, 1863, at Springfield, Mo., of fever.
412
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT INFANTRY.
This regiment contained a greater number of Mahaska county men than any other engaged in the war, and its gallant record will, by general consent, be adjudged a more minute notice than can be accorded to others. The regi- ment was raised and organized by the gallant General S. A. Rice, of whose brilliant record and noble sacrifice we have occasion to speak elsewhere. The companies of this regiment, composed of four from Maliaska, three from Keokuk, and three from Marion county, were all filled up and organized about the first of September, 1862, within a short time after Colonel Rice's commission as commander of the regiment.
The rendezvous was at Oskaloosa, the encampment being on the county fair grounds, and named Camp Tuttle, in honor of the gallant colonel of the Second Infantry. October 1st, the regiment was solemnly sworn into the service, and numbered in all nine hundred and eighty men.
The command left their barracks November 20, marching to Eddyville, and there taking the cars for Keokuk, thence by steamer to St. Louis, where the men were assigned to provost guard duty and to the guarding of prisons. At midnight, December 21, command was passed through the regiment to get ready to move, and in the early morning a transport steaming down the river was conveying the young volunteers to Columbus, Ky. Reaching that point on the morning of the 24th, they disembarked and were marched to the bottoms, just below town, where they were drawn up in line, expect- ing attack until the middle of the afternoon, when work was commenced, throwing up earthworks, and was continued far into the night. A sorry Christmas, and several succeeding days and nights were spent in line with- out shelter, the men sleeping on the bare ground in mud and rain. Tents were afterward procured, but on New Year's day were struck, and the regi- ment moved to Union City, Tennessee, where an attack was expected. None was made, and on the 3d the command returned to Columbus. January 8, 1863, found the regiment on steamer, bound for Helena, Arkansas, which point was reached in five days. A camp was pitched one-half mile south of town. Expeditions were made to Yazoo pass and Fort Pemberton during the weeks following-the latter without success, the former for the purpose of clearing the pass of obstructions, which was done in a season of almost incessant rain fall, occasioning much sickness and disability among both offi- cers and regiment. The camp was moved April 9th, to a better location northwest of town. About this time Colonel Rice assumed command of the brigade, and Lieut. Colonel Mackey became the first officer in the regi- ment. Picket duties, scouting parties, foraging expeditions, the repelling of fancied invasions, drilling, etc., took up the time of the regiment, and taxed the energies of the soldiers until July 4th.
It was the resolve of the Confederate Lieut. Gen. Holmes, commanding a large body of troops at Little Rock, to take his fourth of July dinner at Helena. Reveille aroused our men about two o'clock A. M .; pickets were driven in at four o'clock, and fighting commenced at the same time. A full description of the battle would not here be in place, but, be it remembered, that the Thirty-third Iowa acquitted itself bravely and heroically. The en- emy was defeated and driven back toward Little Rock, about eleven o'clock, A. M. Lieut. Colonel Mackey commanding the Thirty-third, has the follow- ing to say of his regiment: "The men were very much exhausted, having been constantly engaged for six hours. The loss of my own regiment was:
413
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
Killed on the field, 17; wounded, 52; taken prisoner, 17 (of the wounded several afterward died). I went into the engagement with five hundred men. The officers and men of the entire command behaved themselves splendidly. The force we had to contend with was at least five to one, and I feel perfectly safe in saying that the regiment took as many prisoners as we had men in action." Special mention is made of Captains Lofland and Yerger.
The enemy was afterward followed toward Little Rock, and that place was captured on September 10th. Rude log barracks were built by the men themselves, where they were quartered until the commencement of the south- western expedition in March, 1864.
In course of this expedition considerable skirmishing and artillery duel- ling took place on Prairie D'Anne, in Hempstead County, Arkansas, from the 10th to the 13th of March. Gen. Steele, commanding Union forces, re- solved to march rapidly upon Camden, then unoccupied, and get possession of it before the rebels could reach it. His purpose becoming known a lively race followed between the two armies. There was more or less skirmishing all the way, but with the Thirty-third holding the van, the advanced column entered Camden on the evening of the fifteenth, and occupied the strong works of the rebels. Here they were for five days without rations. The men lived on four ears of corn apiece per day, which they ground in hand- mills and made into cakes.
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