CHAPTER I.
THE WAR - ORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT – ITS COMPOSITION – MUSTERING IN - “RED TAPE” - FLAG PRESENTATION - ORDER TO MARCH - ARRIVAL AT CAMP HERRON - BOUNTY - MEN ON A "RAMPAGE" IN DAVENPORT - EMBARKATION FOR ST. LEWIS - INCIDENTS ON THE WAY - BENTON BARRACKS - VENDERS OF “PI-ZAN CAKES” - ORDERED TO ROLLA.
Alternate fortune and disaster for more than a year had followed our arms at points nearest the Capital. Hope seemed to die, and the loyal heart sicken, at the barrenness of those fields where our struggles were called victories. There were such evident glimmerings of distrust, not only among the people towards their commanders, but even among the commanders themselves, that the whole nation trembled for the perilousness of the condition. The erroneous belief entertained during the early part of the war by the people of the loyal States, that the struggle would be of brief duration, now gave way under disaster and defeat. But the bold front assumed by the insurgents, the magnitude of their preparations and resources, and the successive victories that crowned their arms, were well calculated to arouse the hitherto inactive North to an appreciation of their
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danger, and to call forth exertions commensurate with the great principles at stake. They saw this was now no stuggle for place and party power, no strife between a national brotherhood for victory on some measure of mere public policy, but a gigantic attempt to upheave the very foundation of our Union, and raze to the ground the fair fabric of the AMERICAN REPUBLIC. It was with no small interest the lovers of civil and religious liberty, both at home and abroad, gazed upon this opening struggle. Within the folds of our common flag were deeply hidden all the future hopes of freedom throughout the world. Free government was now called to pass through the crucible of internal strife to test her moral strength, and her very ashes destined to be blown away by the hostile breath of despots, or phoenix-like, rise rejuvenated to new duties and a new destiny. Many recreant sons of the Republic, educated at the military schools of the nation, now parracides, drew their swords to destroy that government whose protection they had enjoyed and whose benevolence had reared them. They found in the person of Jeff. Davis a fitting leader for their nefarious scheme, capable and willing to repudiate the fairest form of government that human wisdom ever reared, and become
"Not a murderer masked and cloaked, with hidden knife,
“Whose owner owes the gallows life for life,
"But public murderer!-that with pomp and gaud,
"And basest scorn of Justice, walk abroad
"To wring more tears and blood than e'er were wrung
"From all the culprits Justice ever hung,"
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that upon the ruins of the Union they might raise a new superstructure whose corner stone would be slavery. The issue between LIBERTY and SLAVERY was now for the first time in our National history fairly made, - they had appealed to the sword, and upon the battle-field alone the question could now be decided - and one must die - thanks to a gracious Providence and our brave soldiers - slavery was slain.
Vast rebel armies had been pushed forward to our Southern border, where they occupied strong lines of fortifications. At all points the Government was confronted by insurgent forces already clothed with the prestige of success, and the public mind agitated by vague rumors of "foreign intervention”. But the stern determination of the rebels to disrupt the Government, the insidious efforts of northern sympathizers to tamper with the army, and induce mutiny, only served to fire anew the Ioyal heart of the West. Our broad prairies quickly teemed forth her thousands, who, gladly "rallying round the flag" of their beloved country, made themselves felt along the whole line of the insurgents' assumed territory. Displaying an unconquerable valor at Belmont, Forts Henry and Donelson, Pea Ridge, and Island No. 10, they inaugurated a series of victories which ultimately secured to the Government the possession of the Mississippi river to the Gulf of Mexico. These brilliant achievements seemed at once to infuse new life and vigor into the whole nation, and become a marked epoch in the war. The temporizing spirit of con-
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ciliation, the attempt to keep intact the States and their peculiar institutions, and the yet more suicidal policy of sending back to bondage a people loyal at heart, ever ready to favor by all the means in their power the Federal cause, at times the only means of gaining information of the condition and position of the enemy, which policy had well nigh paralyzed the Government, and had hampered every movement of our forces, began now to give way to a determination to meet the great issue forced upon us by the revolted States with a vigorous action, and an
"unconditional surrender” was now demanded by the Government, the people and the army. Already throughout the entire North the masses were beginning to forsake the peaceful avocations of life, and prepare in earnest for a gigantic struggle to crush rebellion; and by practical demonstrations of physical power prove to traitors in time to come , that "this Union MUST and SHALL BE preserved!" Accordingly when the President's call for 300,000 troops was issued in July, 1862, it met with an immediate and hearty response, notwithstanding, the obstacles thrown in the way of volunteering by open enemies and secret sympathizers. Under this call our regiment was organized.
On the 15th of August five full companies from Scott, and five from Linn counties, reported in camp at Clinton, Iowa, and were at once organized - forming the Twentieth Regiment of Iowa Infantry Volunteers. WILLIAM McE. DYE, formerly holding rank as Captain in the regular army, having already received the appoint-
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ment of Colonel, assumed command of the regiment immediately after its organization. JOSEPH B. LEAKE, Esq., of Davenport, then State Senator, entered the service as a private in Company "G," which he had assisted in recruiting, and had been chosen its first Captain, was at once promoted to Lieut. Colonel. WILLIAM G. THOMPSON, Esq., of Cedar Rapids, a distinguished member of the legal profession, was chosen Major, and on the 20th of August the Regiment was duly mustered into the State service. Upon examination of the papers by the proper officer, preparatory to mustering in, a number of the minor boys in several companies found themselves without the written consent of their parents, or guardians, to enlist in the service, without which they could not be received. Here now was a dilemma, a sudden blighting of all their hopes. They had already become attached to their camp and their comrades; the pomp and circumstance of glorious war had filled their youthful hearts with bright hopes for the future. In the phrenzy of their imagination some saw the "strap," perhaps the " leaf," and some even imagined they saw in the dim distance a bright and twinkling "star”. But now they contemplated with melting hearts the tumbling to atoms of those fair fabrics of their future greatness. The youthful spirits of some sunk, and they yielded to their adverse fortunes. Not so with all - there were some "Young Americas" among them, whose characteristic is to laugh at impossibilities. They determined their present rejection should not prevent their departure
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with the regiment. Hurrying away to their homes with a determined energy that gave ample token that they would make live soldiers, procured the proper consent and returned to camp in time to join the regiment before its departure. Others whose homes were at too great a distance to attempt to reach them and return, resorted to other means to accomplish their purpose. Whether they conjured up the spirits from the "vasty deep”, or called expert autographers from the gloomy shades of the silent grave through some generous rapping medium, we do not know, but a few hours found each possessed of the needed document duly signed without leaving camp, and which passed the scrutinizing eye of the inspector. We are not here to moralize on their ingenuity and zeal in securing their position in the regiment, we only know they all made good and brave soldiers.
On the 24th, Capt. H. B. HENDERSHOTT, United States Mustering Officer, arrived in camp, and on the 25th proceeded to inspect and muster the regiment into the United States service. This duty was commenced by reading to us the Articles of War, which is the great statute book of the army. After we were inspected, mustered in and returned to our quarters, the boys expatiated with great freedom upon what they had heard, and what they had promised to perform. Some thought Uncle Sam a little hard on them; others declared it was the hardest "Constitution and By-Laws" of any society they had ever joined, while all agreed it
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was a "difficult matter to be a good soldier, and a very dangerous thing to be a bad one”. The same day each soldier in the regiment received one full month's pay, twenty-five dollars of his one hundred dollars bounty, and two dollars premium - total, forty dollars. A generaI cheerfulness now pervaded the whole camp, and amidst songs, and mirth, and bustle, each swore anew to prove faithful to the other, and fight to the last for Uncle Sam, the Union and the Flag."
On the 26th we saw ourselves for the first time an organized regiment. Though we had been enlisted from two counties only, yet the men were comparatively strangers to each other, representing as they did every nationality, and speaking every known language. - Brought together, by one common motive and devoted alike to one common cause, a spirit of companionship at once filled every breast, and we soon found ourselves united in the bonds of' a disinterested friendship that will sever alone with life. The greater portion of the regiment, however, were of American birth, coming from the rural districts, possessed of a hardy constitution and tempered with that vigorous spirit which has ever characterized the farmers of the west. There were also representatives from the "drooping city's pale abortions”, who, under the invigorating effects of out-door exercise and "hard tack" soon rivalled their more robust comrades in feats of agility and strength, and the powers of endurance. None had entered the service from mercenary motives, but all were actuated by principles of the
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truest loyalty, and a lofty devotion to their common country. They saw the Temple of Liberty whose every stone had been cemented by the blood of a patriot father - whose very foundation had been laid deep in the sufferings, the sacrifice and the treasure of the heroes of the Revolution - and they saw her lofty spire pointing upward, teaching them to put their trust in Heaven. - They saw beneath the shade of her walls the exile patriots gathering, and gathering from every land; - they saw the Goddess of Liberty weep as it were tears of blood over the degenerate sons of her once happy home, and they come - not as mercenaries - not as “hirelings”, but as patriot soldiers to offer their services, and if need be their lives, upon the altar of their country. They saw the walls of that Temple broken by the parracidal hand of the traitor, and her very foundation sapped by a treacherous sympathizer, and they come to the rescue. Now their record is a record of glory. No smell of treason is on their garments - their deeds they leave as a rich heritage to their offspring ; - their children will never curse their memory, nor with crimsoned cheek ask them, "Why, father, why did you fill my veins with a traitor's blood?" They felt that this liberty was only given them IN TRUST, that their children and their children's children would yet demand it at their hands, and they would not prove recreant to that trust. Now thoroughly organized, arms and equipments were issued, a regimental band was arranged, drums and fifes drawn, and under the inspiring strains of martial
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music we hurried through the bustle of preparation and entered fully on the discharge of our military duties. - The officers at once organized a "school”, and commenced the study of "tactics" and the "regulations" to qualify themselves for their new duties. They employed as preceptor Lieut. BURLOCK, a graduate of West Point, who proved himself well qualified for the task, and under whose instruction most of the officers soon evinced a good degree of proficiency. Drill hours were established, and officers required to drill their companies. All seemed to enter upon their duties with a zeal and cheerfulness that promised well for the future. In a very few days, however, the novelty of camp life lost its charms, when a spirit of ennui seized both officers and men, and "homesick" began to prevail in its epidemic form throughout the camp. Applications for “leave of absence” were numerous and urgent. “Home”, with its loved ones - its business and its charms - could not be forgotten so soon. Many were successful in obtaining their furloughs, while those who unfortunately failed seemed to have ample satisfaction in freely pouring out their vituperation on what they termed "red tape”. The men abused their company officers for this "unwarrantable abridgment of' the liberties of an American citizen", while the officers, themselves chafing under like constraint, retaliated upon the Colonel; all parties using at the same time the utmost caution that the object of their censure should not become aware of it. This ludicrous restiveness on
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the part of a few of the men was fully equalled by some of the officers in laughable exhibitions of the "hifalutin" accompanied by a few displays of the “spread eagle". What of that, said the boys, had they not been called to fill responsible positions, and why should they fail to demonstrate their importance - otherwise the distinction might fail to be observed. But these little episodes in the incipiency of camp life soon gave way to a better and more harmonious feeling, and officers and men alike exhibited an increased attention to duty and obedience to orders.
The differences in rank were thus first brought to our notice, and imperceptibly began to supplant the first habits of familiarity between officers and men. Distinctions thus once acknowledged, were extended and enforced. Discipline, we were told, demanded it, and it was therefore cheerfully acquiesced in by the men who now considered themselves soldiers, enlisted in a common cause and were ready to make all reasonable sacrifices for the accomplishment of the object which had brought them together. The morale of the regiment seemed to undergo a radical change. Relieved from the restraints of home, many of the men for the first time in their lives, acquired habits of profanity and intemperance, while many heretofore intemperate and profane abandoned both. Strangely fluctuating, surging from one extreme to the other, the whole regiment in a few weeks settled down to a better state of morals than at
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its organization, and would favorably compare with any other in the army.
One of the most pleasing incidents at Camp Clinton was the presentation of a flag to the regiment by a patriotic lady of Lyons. The presentation ceremonies were neat and appropriate; the Rev. G. F. MAGOUN addressing the soldiers in an eloquent and patriotic speech, which was responded to on behalf of the regiement, by Major Thompson, in a likeable and eloquent manner. The remainder of our stay at Camp Clinton was "devoted to arranging our Company business and to drilling.
On the 30th orders were issued to prepare to remove to Davenport on the following day, and we hailed the prospect of a change with delight. The morning of the 31st found the regiment busy at an early hour breaking camp and making hasty preparations for our removal. The camp was now somewhat agitated by the startling intelligence that we were to march the entire distance front Clinton to Davenport - forty miles. The announcement of such a vast undertaking was received with dismay. Some pronounced the report false - some declared it was impossible to perform the journey in less than ten days, while others boldly maintained "the thing couldn't be done at all". Some said they always knew that
“Mans inhumanity to man”
“Had made its countless millions weep”
and now they too were to be made its victims. Some
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censured the President of the United States - some the Governor - some the Adjutant General - but the greater portion of the grumblers contended that the company officers were to blame; but they, poor fellows, were as much averse to the undertaking as the men. Before the hour of departure, however, our anxiety was relieved by the information that we would be transported on boats. It was late in the afternoon before our arrangements for departure were complete, and at twilight we marched aboard the steamers Bill Henderson, Add. Hine, Canada and a barge, which had just arrived at the landing. I have since often travelled on a single boat, with an entire brigade, and the brigade and regimental quartermasters' transportation on board, which occupied less space than our regiment did at this their first embarkation on three. My sleeping apartment for the night was an old cheese box with my back against the wall - the only unappropriated spot I could find upon the boat. "Tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep”, now cast her leaden sceptre o'er our weary limbs, and soon hushed our troubled minds to rest. No incident of importance occurred on this our first voyage, except that a great many small articles persisted in getting into the possession of the wrong men, occasioned by the confusion incident to a crowded boat.
We arrived at Davenport on the morning of September 1st, and disembarked a short distance above the Railroad bridge. After detailing guards for the baggage still remaining on the boats, until transportation for
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it could be obtained, the regiment formed and marched to "Camp Herron”, stopping a few minutes on the way at the Burtis House. The barracks then in process of erection, under direction of Mr. J. S. CONNER, A. Q. M. A., were completed the following day, when we took formal possession. Our sutler, W. K. SPEARING, was already established in camp, and prepared to supply our wants for camp life to a limited extent.
The following complimentary notice of our regiment appeared in one of the daily papers on the morning after our arrival :
" TWENTIETH REGIMENT. - This splendid body of men arrived from Clinton yesterday morning. They were under command of Major THOMPSON, Col. DYE having gone to his home in Marion. They landed at East Davenport and marched down town and out to Camp Herron, which is just being fitted up. After arriving at camp most of the boys got furloughs to go to their homes, and the livery stables were well patronized by them. During the day their quarters were visited by immense numbers of our citizens who are more deeply interested in this regiment than in any other which has left the State. They will probably remain here a day or two, if not longer."
Those of the regiment who had enlisted from Scott county were here paid the bounty due them from the county, viz : $75 to married and $50 to unmarried men. This bounty was very gratefully received by the men, as it enabled them to provide for their families – render
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them comfortable, and lessen their regret at parting. Lines were established around the camp, but no particular regard was paid to an order for confining the men within them. Every indulgence was allowed that they might have ample opportunity to arrange such home matters as was necessary before finally leaving for the field. From a continued expression of kindness on the part of the citizens, and particularly the ladies, our stay at Camp Herron was rendered exceedingly pleasant; it imparted a cheerfulness to the men and kept them in the best of spirits.
The monotony of the camp was occasionally relieved by a couple of "unruly members" of the regiment who, having ventured too far within the precincts of "tangle foot", and indulged somewhat freely in "that which inebriates”, manifested a strong desire to enter at once on their new profession - fighting. One of them, after figuring as principal in a general fight on the levee, and receiving a severe gash on the head from the fragment of an iron pot, was finally captured and brought to camp lashed down on a dray. The other, after a general engagement with the citizens of East Davenport, and a skirmish with the squad sent to arrest him - who finally captured him without the loss of a single man - was brought triumphantly into camp.
Many of the Linn county men who had obtained leave of absence at Camp Clinton to visit their homes, again rejoined the regiment here. The officers prepared themselves with mess chests and made such re-arrange-
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meat of their wardrobes and baggage as was deemed necessary for future comfort and convenience.
On the evening of Sept. 4th orders were issued to prepare for moving, and on the following morning we broke camp at half past eight o'clock, and marched to the landing where the steamer Metropolitan waited to receive us on board. Notwithstanding the disagreeable condition of the weather and roads, the landing was crowded by a concourse of friends who had assembled to take their final leave of the regiment. I will not attempt to describe the tender leave taking scenes which there came under my own observation - the parting of husbands and wives - mothers and sons - brothers and sisters - of sweethearts - of friends and associates - for they were of such frequent occurrence during the early part of the war, that the reader has often seen and doubtless felt that which it is impossible for me to describe. The daily papers thus chronicled our departure :
"DEPARTURE OF THE TWENTIETH. - This noble body of men left our city yesterday afternoon for Benton Barracks, St. Louis, on the steamer Metropolitan. The soldiers were first apprised of their departure by the announcement that the boat had come which was to take them down the river, and they immediately commenced their preparation for moving. By 3 o'clock the entire regiment was at the river ready to go. Then came the parting, and oh it was sad. Parents bidding adieu to their sons, many of them having previously sent other
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dear boys to the field of battle. Widowed mothers giving up their only sons to their country, with hearts bursting with grief. Wives with their little children gathering around them, parting from their husbands, bowed down with the desolating thought that they might never again see on earth the loved face of husband and father. Sisters bidding farewell to brothers, lovers to their betrothed, friend parting from friend, all combined to make the scene most impressive and affecting. When the bell sounded and the boat moved off with the loved ones on board, tearful eyes watched them till they were out of sight, and heavy hearts wended their sorrowing way to their desolate homes once more. And yet this scene is only one of hundreds now being enacted all over the country."
Capt. BATES attempted to address, from the boat, the multitude on shore, but from the confusion could not be heard. Adjt. Gen. BAKER coming on board at 3 o'clock, the cables were loosed and the boat rounded out amidst waiving of handkerchiefs and cheers from the people on shore, which received a hearty response from those on the boat. Moving down the river to the point below Rock Island, the boat neared the shore to permit Gen. Baker to land. Again pushing off the boys bravely brushed away the tear that was dropped at parting from friends, and talked freely of the future. The shade of evening soon began to gather around us, accompanied by a severe gale, compelling us to again land. But during that short passage Mr. JOHN C. MAGILL,
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who had been sleeping on the boat, attempted to pass to the barge, then in tow, and accidentally fell between them and was drowned; the darkness of the night and the continuance of the storm rendering every effort to rescue him unavailing. His body was afterwards recovered near Muscatine, and decently interred. This was the first casualty in the regiment since its organization, and cast quite a gloom over it. We deeply regretted the loss of one who bid so fair to become a brave soldier and who had won the confidence and esteem of all his comrades. But this loss was partially forgotton when on first roll-call we found that we were relieved of two of our boys - John Bray and Benj. W. Clark, who, perhaps, under the treasonable influence of copperhead teaching, had deserted us at the landing.
We arrived at Montrose on the morning of the 6th and were transferred to barges, on which we were floated over the Rapids. Amusements of various kinds now began to be introduced to while away the tedious hours of our passage; some engaged in aquatic sports - one man swimming nearly the entire distance from Montrose to Keokuk - officers practiced at target shooting with revolvers, but most sat gazing upon the beautiful scenery along this grand river, and responding to the hearty cheering and waiving of flags and handkerchiefs, which greeted us as we passed, by fair hands and smiling faces, who were ever foremost in those tokens of encouragement. Again at Keokuk the regiment re-embarked on board the steamer and proceeded to St. Louis. Arriving
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on the morning of the 8th, after making the necessary arrangements about our baggage, &c., we were marched to Benton Barracks. Along our march we were greeted at every point by the waiving of flags from windows on either side of the streets, and by many other demonstrations of welcome. Iowa troops, who have all made a short stay in St. Louis, have ever met with a hearty reception from the citizens of that city. The uniform good behavior of the soldiers have won their confidence and respect, and frequently received the warmest tokens of approval. We felt encouraged and proud of the complimentary notices, in the daily papers of St. Louis, of our advent into that boiling cauldron where disloyalty and treason had raised its guilty head, and where the wicked hand of the assassin had already crimsoned her soil by the blood of the patriot.
Benton Barracks are situated in the suburbs of the city, about three miles from the landing, being erected on the grounds formerly occupied by the County Fair, and the buildings erected for their use being generally occupied as hospitals. We were here placed under Gen. MCKEAN, who was then in command of the forces collected at this camp. Gen. FREMONT had superintended the erection of these barracks, which were ample for the accommodation of 30,000 troops. All the arrangements were complete, but form their long use without a proper police, which had been sadly neglected, they were unfit, till thoroughly cleansed, for our reception.
From the beginning of the war until this time, no
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well digested general system of sanitary discipline had been adopted in the army. But the increasing prevalence of those diseases peculiar to the camp now demanded the attention of the commanders, and for the future, both in camp and in the field, a rigid system of sanitary regulations were inaugurated, which contributed largely to the comfort and health of the soldier.
We found in this camp a large number of Missouri and Illinois regiments, together with those who had been captured and paroled belonging to the 8th Iowa Infantry - the latter awaiting their exchange. Here was a new field for the men of the 20th - presenting new, varied and strange scenes. For the first time in our lives we were in the presence of an army. Here we received our first lessons of strict obedience, and learned the duties, the dangers and the glory of a soldier. Mingling freely with our companions in arms from our sister States, who had, like us, voluntarily rushed to the defence of our common country, there soon prevailed a cordial friendship between us and them which is and will be long cherished by the regiment in our fondest remembrance.
Our men here encountered their first enemy. These were the little bare-legged, dirty-faced boys and girls who constantly prowled around camps contiguous to large cities, with baskets filled with what they appropriately called "Pi-zau-cakes”, which were eagerly bought by the soldiers, and which produced diseases as fatal as did the swamps and bayous of the Mississippi. It has been said
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that these little urchins have slain more Iowa soldiers than were killed in all the battles with rebel armies in Missouri. Some of our men were induced to buy and eat this trash, but the majority had not sufficiently forgotten the dainty food of their, homes to be induced to partake of it. Much sickness prevailed in some of the companies at the time of our arrival at St. Louis, and it soon increased. We here lost by death two of our brave boys, before our departure.
Lieut. Col. LEAKE having received his commission now took command of the regiment. Company and battallion drills were performed daily - dress parade and guard - mounting regularly observed - officers and men improved rapidly, and as everything now indicated an early departure to a field of active operations, we all felt the importance of making every preparation our limited time would allow. Many articles necessary for a field campaign which had been heretofore unknown or neglected, were now procured. By the experience, however, of a short march into the interior of Missouri we learned that we had encumbered ourselves with a large amount of useless and burthensome baggage, and as transportation became difficult and limited, the force of circumstances”, soon divested us of everything superfluous.
Orders were received on the 12th of September to prepare to move to Rolla. This materially increased the bustle and hurry of the camp, and on the evening of the 13th we received our final orders to march the following day.