After battle report from Arkansas Post

ABBOTT, TORRENCE, DETWILER, THAYER, BURK, ALEXANDER, MCCLERNARD, SHERMAN, VANCE, SMITH, CLENDENING, JENKINS, DODSON, EDWARDS, YORK, ANDREWS, JONES, CREIGHTON, HENDERSON, DAVIS, HEDGES, HOWE, KING, HAMILTON, ARCHER

Posted By: Donald Detwiler (email)
Date: 3/25/2003 at 19:59:35

The following appeared in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-eye on February 14,1863.

The 30th Iowa at Arkansas Post—Report of Col. Abbott
--------Headquarters 30th Iowa Infantry

Sp Brig. 1st Div’n, 15th Army Corps,

Arkansas Post, Ark. Jan. 12, 1863

General: in compliance with your order of this date, I herewith respectfully submit a detailed account of the action of my regiment in the engagement of the 11th last. Not being immediately present with my Regiment during the engagement in consequence of my serious illness at the time, I take the liberty of copying from the report of Lieut. Col. Wm. M. G. Torrence, commanding in my absence, which I trust you will find quite satisfactory:

Agreeable to order—I have the honor to report to you the part the regiment, while acting under my command, took in the late battle of Jan. 11th, 1868. After disengaging my troops of every thing in the way of luggage which might be disposed of, by order of Gen. Thayer I gave direction to follow close up by the right flank of the 4th Iowa Infantry, and to form line of battle on its left at a designated point, if precticable, and if not, to form line of battle in its rear and advance as it advanced and to halt as it halted and in every move top act in conjunction with it. But after striking the double quick, I very soon found it impossible to form either on its left or rear, and I halted my command and allowed the 4th Infantry to file by, this being done I instantly formed line of battle and moved forward through the timber, over logs and brush, as best I could, until within one hundred and fifty or seventy-five yards of the enemy’s breastworks, forming his extreme left when I came to an open space of ground. Here I halted, giving instructions to fire, lie down and load and fire lying down, which they did for the space of about three hours, during which time they did little more than silence and keep silent some small artillery pieces planted by the enemy at that part of the breastworks, together with the musketry in the hands of the enemy in the rifle pits. During said time no change of position was made, save one, when by a flank movement, I shifted further to the right. This secured me a more strong hold of the enemy’s left. Here we remained until the order was given all along the line to cease firing, as the enemy had hoisted a white flag. After firing ceased on the right the enemy rose up in great numbers from their rifle pits in full view. I was about moving my command forward when to my great surprise and mortification, two of my best line officers were wounded by the enemy, viz; Capt. Wiley Burk, Co I, in hand, and Lieut.Alexander of the same company in the arm, neither of which is considered dangerous, and was thus engaged when Gen. Thayer , in person, directed my color guard to advance and plant our colors on the enemy’s works; which was promptly done. At the same time General Thayer gave orders for the regiment to come inside the breastworks and prevent straggling parties from retreating by his left rear. Soon after the entire regiment was detailed to conduct the prisoners up to and inside of the fortifications, where General Sherman had taken up his headquarters. This later duty proved more arduous than it should have been, but for the tardiness of the regiment detailed by commend of General McClernand, to be placed under charge of Col. Vance, of the 77th Illinois volunteers, who had orders to take charge of the prisoners for the night. It was after midnight before the regiment was relieved. There is nothing further which I deem my duty to mention, save that both officers and men generally acted well for new troops.

I might mention with great propriety to you a few striking instances of cool and commendable courage displayed by some of the men, they having fallen under my immediate notice during the action; but I forbear mentioning any same one, and that is the case of James M. Smith a private of company C, a single young man not yet arrived at his majority, who has been doing the duties of Adjutant for some time past, owing to the indisposition of the Adjutant’s health. I have been famillarly conversant with him for the past two months, and find him to be a young man of irreproachable character and one altogether deserving of public confidence; his conduct on the battle field in the late engagement was such as to secure implicit confidence in his courage and ability and to jistify the belief that he is entirely capable of filling a more important position than he now does.

Annexed find a list of the killed and wounded. Hoping this will meet with your approval I remain General your most obdient servant.

CHARLES H. ABBOTT

Col. 30th Iowa Vol. Inf.

To Brig. Gen. John M. Thayer, Com’dg 3d Brigade, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Miss.

List of the killed and wounded of the 30th Iowa Infantry in the battle of Arkansas Post, Arkansas, Jan. 11, 1863

J. H. Clendening, Sargt. Major, bruised in shoulder by shell.

Company A—James Jenking, mort. wounded, leg shot off by shell; James P. Dodson, slightly, leg.

Company B ---Lafayette Edwards, killed; H. M. York, Sargt. severly, thigh; Pilent Andrews, flesh wound, leg; Thos. L. Jones, hand.

Company C---Hugh L. Creighton, 2nd Lieut., slightly, side by shell; William Henderson, Corp., killed; Oliver H. Davis, slightly, hand; Benj. F. Hedges, head, severe; John W. Howe, shoulder, slight; Webster M. King, ankle, severe; Cameron Smith, foot, slight.

Company D---I. W. Detwiler, Sergt., thigh, mortal; C. W. Hamilton, Corp., side and hand, slight; Charles E. Archer, head; Charles Carnaham, side, since died.

Company E---James McCoy, shoulder, severe.

Company F---A. Bigley, foot, slight; W. B. Wayland, severe; A. Fox, slight; B. W. Conway, leg shot off; E. Alwalt, hand, slight; Jas. Phelps, arm; John S. Ballinger, hand; F. Worthington, thigh; G. Tharp, hip; C. H. Hill, hand

Company G---Capt. R. D. Creamer, hand, severe; Ed E. Chapman, neck, slight; Wm. Peck, hand.

Company H---H. Gregg, Sergt., shoulder, severly.

Company I---Capt. Ulay Burk, hand; Wm. L. Alexander, 1st Lieut., left arm; James Mullen, killed; Samuel Harness, shoulder, severe; Alvin McNeal, wrist; Corporal Ash, hand, slight.

Company K---Thomas J. Foster, killed; Samuel C. Loomis, killed; Elias McMullen, breast, slight; S. G. Maple, thigh, severe; Isaac S. Edward, hand, slightly.

(Note: The Sergeant I. W. Detwiler from Company D was Isaac Winfield Detwiler of Van Buren County. He left behind a wife, Emma, and two children, Douglas and Isaac. Isaac was born after his father’s death.)