USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Newton > Third reunion of Iowa Hornets' Nest Brigade : 2d, 7th, 8th, 12th and 14th infantry, held at Newton, Iowa, Wednesday and Thursday, August 21 and 22, 1895 > Part 6
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
49
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
were made for the coming battle and positions a signed the several commands, About four o'clock the Union Brigade was aroused and marched to its new position further to the right, and near where the road from Pittsburg Landing entered the town. Here the Union Brigade lay in line of battle, awaiting the approach of the enemy.
Finally. about nine or ten o'clock, the heavy guns from Fort Robinett opened fire: we then knew that the enemy were advancing to the assault. Soon the forts and their surroundings were enveloped in white smoke, and in our front the lines of gray appeared advancing from the woods: with breathless expectation. we watched them slowly approach; to the right and to the left of us. as we were in an angle of the line and near to the town, firing began, when the rebels sprang forward to the charge with the rebel yell. and the whole I'mion hout became a line of fire: still the enemy pressed forward. until within a few yards of our front. when our line gave way: the color harer fell: another seized and held aloft the standard of the Union Brigade. only to fall: Orderly Sergt. John D. Cole. Company B. acting Sergi. Major, Union Brigade, seized the dag and planted it in front of the now rallying lines, only to fall, shot through the lungs, when private Isaac G. Clark, of Company D. rescued and waved aloft the flag. which he proudly carried forward as the line advanced and moved for- ward in pursuit of the now retiring for. This repulse ended the battle. and in the afternoon our forces moved in pursuit of the enemy. In the two days' light, the Union Brigade was badly punished. Of hot more than four hundred men engaged, eight were killed on the field. eighty-six wounded, of whom a number died. and eighteen were reported missing, many of whom were killed or died of wounds in rebel hands. The two Companies composed of the 12th lowa bad engaged in the battle at Corinth less than one hundred and lifty men. but sustained a loss of three killed. four mortally wounded and four commissioned officers and 20 enlisted men wounded. ten of whom so severely as to have been discharged on account of such wounds; among them Ist Lieut. David B. Henderson. afterwards Colonel With Towa and Lient. A. L. Palmer.
While the troops were absent in pursuit of the retreating forces of Price and Van Dorn, the baggage and convalescents were ordered into camp on the old site at camp Montgomery, and the Union Bri- gade occupied its old grounds. Two days after, in attack was made on the camp by a very considerable force of rebel cavalry. but as a large minber of the Union Brigade had not joined in the pursuit of Price, they were ready to fight. and did so. The enemy found it much better protected than they had supposed. and beat a hasty retreat. leaving several men and horses shot down. That evening orders were received to remove the camp within the fortifications, which was done, and when the pursuit of Price and Van Dort was abandoned, the Second Division returned to Corinth as its garrison. where the Union Brigade remained during the remainder of its exi -- tence, doing picket duty and working on the entrele homents, a new and less extensive line of works having been laid out after the battle, which, however, included the principal forts. As our comrades who had been taken prisoners at Shiloh were paroled in October, we were anxious to get north, and finally after long and impatient waiting. an order came on the 17th of December. 1862, dissolving the Union Brigade and ordering its return home to join the exchanged pris- oners and re-organize their old regiments, andon the Isth of Decem- ber, with light hearts and thoughts of a merry Christmas at home. the 12th lowa. under command of Lieut. Col. Coulter. gaily marched
=
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
to the depot and boarded the cars for the north. Arriving at Jack- son, Tennessee, about eleven A. M .. we found consternation and com- motion. Forrest was on a raid. North of Jackson the telegraph lines were cut and an attack was hourly expected. We were ordered to disembark and assist in the defense of the post. That night the track was torn mp and bridges burned almost to as far north as Col- umbus, Kentucky. The disappointment was keen, but there was no help for it, and we climbed down and loaded our guns. and were assigned an exposed position on the picket line. No attack come. After waiting impatiently for three days. we were allowed to go north as guard for the engineer corps and construction train. to rebuild the bridges and track which the rebels had destroyed. For two weeks and over we moved along with the bridge gang, from stream to stream, across the swamps, counting the miles, even the ties, as so much nearer home: sleeping behind anything that broke the chilly wind, sheltered only by our blankets and overcoats. The country through which we passed was composed mostly of swamp, with plenty of cane brakes and thinly populated. We lived of the country. Sometimes foraging was good: sometimes not so good: we ate what we could find and hoped for better with the next move. Our living varied from the milk and honey variety of some neighbor- hoods to roast "razor backs" in others: but taken all in all, with the adventure and the marching, the bridge building and the picket duty and interviews with the nittives, we did not have such a bad time. In fact, if we had not been so anxious to get home by New Years, we would rather have enjoyed the trip. Finally, however, the last burned bridge was reached, the river hastily crossed on false work, and the boys swung out with rapid strides. up the railroad track towards Columbus and toward home. That night we slept in the deserted buildings at Union City, and the next day, Jannary 4. 1863. marched into Columbus, and that night took a steamer for Cairo, arriving on the 5th, and the next north bound train on the Hfinois Cemral bore us Davenportward, where we arrived the 7th of January: received from Adjt. Baker a twenty day furlough and transportation to our several homes.
After a song by the Ladies Quartette, Capt. Dan Matson, of the Fourteenth, then gave us "War Reminiscences," that called to the minds of many of the comrades several incidents that occurred during their sojourn in Dixie: -
I feel more insubordinate, tonight, toward my Brigade Comman- der than fever felt before. He taught me silence in the ranks when on duty, and here in gross violation of this positive training of Army Regulations, he bids me talk to this andience: and this is not all. I charge him with further violation of Regulations. in that he orders me into action, placing me under a severe cross fire. without furnish- ing me ammunition: and, too. the treasured haversack with ts three days rations; and the old canteen are missing. Inerned' I fins less! under fire! and the old chief in the rear! Boys, it aint like it used to be: you know he once told us that he never put ns in tough places with- out being himself in the lad, and we threw it back at him. Old men,
Dr. Staples of the Fourteenth tells a story on Col. Shaw that may be new to some of you. Our first Chaplain bad a wry neck and held his head to one side. His horse also had a wry neck and held his head over the opposite way. They cut quite a figure on parade occasions
12
IOWA HORNETS NEST BRIGADE.
One day at Benton Barracks, the Regiment was formed for battalion drill, while the Colonel not altogether calmly, awaited the appear- ance of his orderly with "oll Peter his horse his mood was very much like that of Phil Sheridan. at Five Forks, when Warren and the 5th corps didn't come to time. Somebody was in danger of getting relieved. The Chaplain who was standing near by, holding his old stiff necked horse, thinking to help his Commander out of the dilemma, led old "crooked neck" up to the Colonel and meekly said: "Col., you can take my horse." There was a pause as if Nature stood trembling for the answer; the explosion which followed would be hard to describe: it was none of your ricochet shots; it took the old Domnie and old twist neck right amidships. Suffice it to say. the horse had to be closely blanketed for many weeks until his hair grew out again, and when Donmie arose to his feet, it was noticeable that his head was a couple of degrees more out of fine. The Col- onel was famous for looking out for his boys: he took good care to get us all that was coming to us, and sometimes we got things that were not exactly our due according to exist- ing Regulations. the early part of March. 1862. while encamped at Metal Landing on the Tennessee river -after the Don- elson fight -awaiting transportation to Pittsburg, he concluded one day it was time the men had some fresh beel. So riding up to Bri- gade Headquarters, Col. Lauman, he addressed him: "Lauman, my men need some fresh beef"; "Well," says bauman, et haven't got any; it can't be had!" Shaw replied, "I can get it." "Well get it." said Lauman a little testify. Shaw wheeled his horse and rode back to camp and reining up before the quartermaster's tent: "Buell," he called to that official. "get on your horse and come with me." Mounting in obedience to the order, the two took the road leading from the river into the country. About two miles out they came upon a man plowing with a yoke of oxen. Stopping him, the Colonel enquired. "Old man, what do you want for those cattle?" "Don't want to sell 'em sah! Have to make my crop with them." "That is not the question," says Shaw, "What will you take for them?" "('an't sell 'em sah," was the reply. "Well," says Shaw, "if you are a Union man you will be glad to give them up for the use of the men lighting in the Union cause: if you are a rebel they ought to be tak- en from you. Unhitch 'em." Seeing no way out of the trade, the old Tennesseean unhooked the oxen and the Col. and quartermaster drove them off. Arriving at camp a detail was quickly made. soon eight quartersof beef were hanging up to the adjacent trees. One quar- ter was issued to each of the seven Companies and the eighth was cut up for headquarters, field and staff, etc. Gallant old Major Broat- beck of the 12th, sat on his horse silently watching the procession his mouth watering for a slice of the juicy meat. Unable to stand it longer, he rode up to Col. Shaw, lifting his cap he said, "col. Shaw, you is the best Col. to your men vat ish." "Sorgt .. cut the Major a steak and hand it to him." On securing it the Major bosted his thanks and rode away. Then Shaw directed the Sergt. to cut off a steak and send it to Brigade Headquarters with the compliments of Col. Shaw. Thus the Fourteenth obtained their first supper of beef at the expense of the Confederates: but it wasn't the last. Some months later, when we with the comrades of the Ist Brigade were boarding at the Hotel Davis in the old cotton shed at Cahaba, Ala- bama, our generous host one morning rolled into the pen several barrels of corned beef. We knocked in the heads, when horrors! if a ten inch shell had dropped in there sizzling it couldn't have caused a
43
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
bigger scatterment. The aroma that arose from those barrels ranked Gen. Halleck- whom we all swore by those days and was stronger than Sampson that beef was tougher when we tried to cook it than the yoke that was on the cattle that Col. Shaw and Buch bought of the old Tenesseean, up at Metal Landing.
At the first charge of Gibbons Brigade on our lines at Shiloh, Comrade J. U. Guthrie of Co. K, Ilth lowa, captured the flag of one of the rebel Regiments. He only got the colors; a rebel sergeant got away with the staff. Methinks I can see brave Guthrie's beam- ing countenance yet, as a minute or two later he held it up to our view, saying, "See here, boys, I've got their flag!" He folded it up and placed it across his breast, buttoning his jacket over it. In this way it was carried until his capture at the close of the day. when he destroyed it.
A wounded rebel belonging to Lee's army lay a little distance from the roadside on the line of the Confederate retreat from Petersburg to Appomattox. He was terribly hurt and called most piteously for help. Along the road trudged a Yankee private be- longing to the 5th corps that immortal body of men who, under the inspiration of its commander, the Knightly Griffin, kept up with Sheridan's cavalry all through that remarkable pursuit, thereby ren- dering the glorious consummation possible the Yankee boy hearing the plaintive appeal, went over to where the dying man lay. Stoop- ing down, he said, "What can I do for yon Johnnie?" "Oh. can't you give me a drink of water?" Unslinging his canteen, he placed it to the parched lips of the sufferer, who drank to his satisfaction. " What else can I do for you, Johnnie?" the injured man, "Won't you pray for me?"
"I'm dying," said This was a stun- ner. The tender hearted fellow would do anything to alleviate the suffering's of his enemy. He would have willingly carried him in his arms if it had been any use, but pray he couldn't. In his distress he looked to the road for help. Seeing a squad of our soldiers passing, he called to them; and some three or four left their ranks and went to him. When they reached his side, hesaid to them. "Boys, here's a confed. He is dying. I've given him water, and now he asks me to pray. I can't. Won't one of you fellows pray ?" One of the number was equal to the task. He said, "Boys, let us pray," and they all knelt down, while a few words were offered to the Throne on High in behalf of their dying forman. Friends, nuthinks the Record- ing Angel would catch the words of that prayer and write them in His book.
After Mrs. T. M. Rodgers had sung that beautiful solo. "Veteran- Song," Gen'l. F. M. Drake was then introduced and received a most hearty welcome. He spoke briefly as follows, on the subject "lowa at Peace and in War":
I hardly know how to address a camp fire like this. It looks like I ought to say "ladies and gentlemen." but ladies were not soldiers during the war, but they stood behind the soldiers and sometimes I think they stood in front of the soldiers. At any rate. Idon't think the rebellion would have ever been put down if it hadn't been for the assistance of the ladies.
I see that the toast from which I am to speak is " lowa at Peace and in War." { would have a great deal to say were I to fully reply to that toast, but it is late. I am going to say but a few words The
44
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
first is to say, that I regard lowa, proud lowa as the greatest state in the Union, and that I am glad to know that I have grown up with it. I was on its soil before it was the state of lowa. It was Michigan territory when I came here, and then it was Wisconsin territory, and now it is lowa, and has been for half a century. During the war no state responded more readily and more in proportion to its popula- tion than the state of lowa. We had much to accomplish. My first service, in 1861, the first time that I was assigned to a command dur- ing the war -I see present today. unexpectedly. General Prentiss - assigned me to command St. Joe, in 1861. I was not at the Hornets
Nest, but here is Col. Shaw that was, and my friend. Col. Moore. from the " hairy nation" Davis county. The Colonel and I lived in the "hairy nation." That is a part of fowa. in itself. That was before the war. From 1846 until Sumpter was fired upon, Col. Moore and myself were humble citizens of the " hairy nation" and we have nev- er been ashamed of it are you. Colonel, ashamed of that nation? And so we have grown up.
I believe that since the war the state of lowa has doubled its population. We have less illiteracy in the state of lowa, and it is so pronounced and niderstood in the United States, and of course we put the United States against the world I have a right to.
Now I am not going to enter into any details in regard to the war. It is sufficient to say that we had over four years of war. 1 know that because I served over four years myself. We had a bloody war. We were at war because we were forced to war. and for the purpose of settling the question of the great Declaration of Inde- pendence in regard to freedom. It had been said it had been expressed that this was a land of freedom, and yet it was not true, and it had been decreed by God Almighty himself that slavery could not be wiped out except at the price of blood, and blood was shed, and today after more than four years of bloods war, fighting our own flesh and blood. lighting our own citizens of our conmon country. we have a land of liberty and freedom. The only land under God's heavens that can be said is a land of liberty and freedom. It was a des- perate engagement. a desperate conflict, but under God Almighty it was a grand conflict, and while the nation was in tears and in mourning, when the sunlight came out and shown upon this grand land of liberty and freedom, we all rejoiced: even amid tears we rejoiced, and today we rejoice for this great country. this land of liberty and of freedom.
I think I shall say no more: I thank you for your kind atten- tion. (Applause.)
At the close of Gen. Drake's speech and when it was suppos- ed the meeting was closed. Gen. Prentiss hastily arose, came forward and asked the audience to wait a moment. He then re- lated the following incident of Gen. Drake's early boyhood:
Let us not go yet. Time makes mighty changes. It was in 1848: I was fortunate enough in those days to be a packer of pork, down at the month of the Des Moines river, in Missouri - made con- siderable money at it and a couple of men stole a span of horses. I and another person started to catch them. It was late in the fall. We wended our way up the Des Moines valley, rapidly as we thought, trailing the team. Finally, one cold damp evening-it was just commencing to rain and hail together. We had got wet
45
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
riding. We noticed a very kind hearted looking man standing in front of a cabin down near Centerville, lowa Riding up to the gate, there stood a youth with ragged rubber boots on who it ap- peared had been looking after some stock. Iasked the question - . could we find shelter here tomight? " We never turn strangers out such a might as this," was the response. We entered the cabin - first. our effort was to look after our horses. The boy with the boots on, a young lad, says, "Gentlemen, walk in. I will put the horses up." They were put away and in cante the young man. In the night there was a terrible snow storm. There in the log cabin the show came in between the cracks: we couldn't sleep while it was snowing. Finally, someone came lightly into the room with a heavy confort, spread it over the pair that was lying in the bed: I was one, my friend the other; and tucking the comfort around our feet, went out gently. It was the mother of that boy with the rubber boots ou, that took care of General Prentiss horse that night, and little did he expect that man was to become Governor of lowa.
The remarks of Gen. Prentiss caused great applause and gave a most joyous ending to the camp fire.
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
Programme. Thursday, August 22nd.
Reveille and morning gun.
Forenoon devoted to business meeting of Brigade and of Regiments, and social.
Dinner from 12 M. till 2 P. M. 2:30 P. M. - Assemble at Brigade headquarters. MUSIC.
3 P. M. - Address by. MUSIC.
Maj. Gen'l B. M. Prentiss
I P. M. - Form line and march to School House for exercises there under the management of Jasper County Normal. Order of March:
1. Knights Templar Band. 6. Grand Army.
2. Brig. Band Drum Corps. 7. Women's Relief Corps.
3. C'o. L 2nd Reg. I. N. G. 8. Ladies of the Grand Army.
1. Firemen in Uniform. 9. Hornets Nest Brigade.
5. Normal School.
Exercises at the School House Grounds:
MUSIC.
Welcome to Brigade for Jasper Co. Normal Prof. D. M. Kelly MUSIC.
1. Kinkead, Sth Jowa Response R. M. Terrill, 12th Jowa MUSIC.
CAMP FIRE.
Thursday Evening, August 22nd, 7:45 P. M.
Assemble at Brigade headquarters and march to Opera House.
. Rev. C. C. Harrah Prayer.
MUSIC.
"Johnson's Surrender to Sherman.". Col. G. L. Godfrey, 2nd lowa, Des Moines.
MUSIC.
"The Long Roll," .... Prof. A. N. Currier, Sth lowa, Dean of faculty, State University, lowa City. Miss Belle Lambert Recitation.
MUSIC. "W'e took Touch of Eibows. ". . Wm. T. MeMakin, 14th lowa. Middleton MUSIC.
17
IOWA HORNETS NEST BRIGADE
THURSDAY'S PROCEEDINGS.
[ BUSINESS MEETING. ]
Newton, Iowa, August 2nd, 1895. - The Brigade assembled at the Opera House at 10 a m. for the transaction of business. The Presi- dena, Col. Shaw, in the Chair. The Secretary presented the following report :
NEWTON, LOW .. AUGUST21, 1895.
To the connues of the low a Hornets' Nest Brigade. I submit the following report:
RECEIPTS:
Sept 2. 1890. to cash from dues .198.00 .. " ofder No
10.25 5.00
1
5.30
July 11. 1895
20 2. Aug. 20.00 By balance due, order s 20.21
$201.11
EXPENDITURES.
Sept. 2, 1890. by balance due secretary. $17.00
I Boh Ribbon
.. Printing Badges. 1.25
Rent for hall 8,50
Singing Books. Turk Moore 5.00
Express charges on music books Receipt. Treasurer & P. Twombly Express to Franchiets. .35
15.00
Expense of Secretary 8 30
July 11. 1895, 18000 Postals and Printing 20.75
Ang. 7. Postage and stamps 1.55
13. .. Bill of Baldant (Badges). 23.81
Printing Badges 2.50
.. Expense and Services of Secretary 12.00
$201 11
Our Constitution calls for a Reunion every three years, the last one was held at Des Moines Sept. 2. 590, and this one should have been held in 198 but the World's Fair coming that you and the hard time . Following. The eventive com- mittee decided. manispour's. it would be better to post pour the reunion.
At a meeting of the executive committee had in Des Moines. June 1- 1590. an invitation was extended by the citizens of Newton, through Col. Ryan to hold our reunion this lattal that plays. The committee accepted the invitation and set the date for Angust 21 and 22. 1895
The following comrades were elected a committee on arrangements with D Ryan as chairman:
D Ryan.
V. P. Twombly. 2nd lowa.
R. P. Clarkson. Reth lowa. Joe. Medarrah. 14th lowa. Robert Burns. Ch lowa
At our former reunions i had sent ont printed notices to the secretaries of the different regiments for distribution but I decided this time to send the notices myself. I wrote the secretaries of the different regiments for the list of their members, te which they promptly responded.
19
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
July ith I had 1800 cards printed giving notice of our reunion All. but about IN of which weresomt to the courades of the different regaments Between 50 and ) cards were sent io tas n'ssppistacoughmat the state. Comirdl Bact, Sey. of the ith lowa. living in the same placei do kindly on ciled to send out the notices for lus regiment for whica t tender tim thanks. Ithink by july 20 the eards were all sent Allow inie lo siggest to one and ul u you would always give the regiment and company to when you velong it would aid the secretary very much: many of the comm ades neglected to do this
Another ting always respond to any notres sent you by your secretary. promptly Out of the Large mumber of the notkes sent less than 200 responded; only about 29 cards were returned uncalled for. So l tthink the greater number imust have reached the comiades to whom they were sent. I think allof th o secretaries will indorse me in this suggestion, that in order to pel- fect the roll of any regument the commades should reply plomptly. giving name. town county, state and company, and unless thisis dolte lo ous call sticeed In making a satisfactory roll for himself of others.
I desire to thank the officers of the Brigade for the kind assistance rendered ime in the performance of my duties: to the secretaries of the legitments of the Brigade for their willingness to ad ing and their promptness ill replying to all my communications. Colivan the chairman of the Cobantee on Atiangelnchl, the secretary of alty og nization is always brought in close contact with the one having charge of any sju d reinons, and I can testify to the Colond's pish and energy in his endeavors to make this reunion a success. Joan asure yon he is a stayer fron away back. no light duty for hum of those around hun when there is anything to do, and I thank hin for mis umform kundness and help to ile
Thanks are due the following ladies for their kindness, in preparing the badges:
Mrs. MeMillen. Mrs. Basr. whose husbands are members of the th lowa, Mrs. Morelind, whose husband formerly belonged to the an Jowa. Mrs Eddy and Mrs. Turner, the other halves belonging to the sth Jowa, and the Misses Cairie Noble. Mattie Wagoner and Agnes Turner.
Im closing I desire to thank the comrades present for their prompt icsponse to the fnotices of the reunion sent. also to those who are not present but are unavoid- ably detained. .
R. L. TURNER. See't Jowa Homets Nest Brigade.
The report was adopted. The treasurer, V. P. Twombly, being absent his report was read by the secretary as follows:
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.