CHAPTER IX.
PURSUE THE ENEMY ACROSS BOSTON MOUNTAINS - CAPTURE OF STEAMBOATS AND SUPPLIES - VAN BUREN - PROPERTY DESTROYED - ARRIVAL OF GEN, SCHOFIELD - RETURN MARCH - WITHDRAWAL FROM ARKANSAS - ON RECRUITING SERVICE - JOURNEY HOMEWARD - BATTLE OF SPRINGFIELD - PRESENTATION OF A NEW FLAG BY THE LADIES OF DAVENPORT - REJOIN THE REGIMENT AT ST. LOUIS - PROMOTIONS AND CHANGES.
We tarried in camp at Prairie Grove until the morning of December 27th, when in compliance with previous orders the Army of the Frontier suddenly broke camp and set out in light marching order on an expedition against Van Buren and Fort Smith, where HINDMAN had halted and was endeavoring to reorganize his army after its defeat on the 7th.
Providing ourselves nominally with six days' rations - (in reality with two) - we set out at daybreak, marching rapidly all day and until the moon went down at 2 o'clock on the following morning, when we made a temporary halt at the southern slope of Boston Mountains - a distance of thirty-two miles, our road lying over the roughest country we had yet passed through - up the steepest ascents and down almost perpendicular declivities. Gen. BLUNT, as usual, led the way.
Soon after resuming our march on the morning of the 28th the booming of artillery was heard in advance, and
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we hurried forward, as we had heard the enemy were from 20,000 to 30,000 strong - (which was confirmed by the inhabitants along the road) and hot work was anticipated. The 1st Iowa cavalry were pushed to the front, and when within ten miles of Van Buren, they came suddenly upon a rebel regiment drawn up in line of battle, on whom they immediately charged, dispersing them and capturing a few prisoners.
Gen. BLUNT reached Van Buren with the advance at 12 o'clock same day, but HINDMAN declined battle, and threw his forces across the river with such haste that all his supplies were abandoned and fell into our hands. After taking possession of Van Buren the main body of the army encamped on the heights overlooking the city, while some of our batteries moved within range of Fort Smith, which was vigorously shelled during the evening.
On the morning of the 29th we marched down from our camps and passed through the town. The morning was beautiful, and as regiment after regiment, with bright bayonets gleaming in the sunlight, and the national flags waving in the breeze, wound down round the base of the hill and debouched on the level plain near the city, the spectacle was grand beyond description. This was the first occasion since the breaking out of the war that a federal army had visited the locality, and the spectacle was certainly one well calculated to cause the hearts of traitors to quail as they beheld this host of patriot soldiers, exulting in the prestige of success, advance into their midst, and doubtless the question arose in their
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guilty consciences - "What punishment will now be meted out to us for our treason? "To another class, however, our advent was the harbinger of better times - those who, by maintaining their loyalty, had been for two years subjects of persecution. To this class, our coming was truly a source of joy, and they welcomed us with tears of thankfulness.
As we marched along the principal streets with our colors displayed - the bands playing "Yankee Doodle" and the boys singing "John Brown," the colored people seemed to enjoy it hugely. In passing the public square the Confederate flag was hauled down and the "Stars and Stripes" took its place, the regiments as they passed cheering heartily. A large concourse of people had assembled, and as they witnessed the discomfiture of their rebel colors and heard the vocal concert by our men their faces assumed a scowling expression. Whether this was occasioned by our want of musical skill, or the sentiment of the song, we had no means of knowing but I presume it was the latter, as no staunch supporter of the "chivalry" would sanction the proposition contained in one of the verses, to
"Hang Jeff. Davis on a sour apple tree,"
which I thought the boys emphasized more strongly and repeated oftener than necessary to produce harmony.
Our captures consisted of 100 prisoners, a new battery of three guns, five steamboats loaded with supplies, 300 mules and horses, 120 barrels of whisky, a large amount
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of commissary stores, a train of 100 wagons, and 12,000 bushels of corn.
Notwithstanding the efforts of our commanding generals, the town was much pillaged, but no acts of personal violence committed. Private WISNER of our regiment, who was proverbially hard on rebels, especially in pecuniary matters, acquired on this expedition, a hearse – the only one in the city - which he loaded with an assortment of goods consisting of ladies' bonnets, parasols, umbrellas, straw hats, calico and sugar, and confiscated a full-blood donkey to draw the load.
The army remained until 6 o'clock P. M., December 29th, when the return march was commenced, after destroying the steamboats, and such other property as could not be taken away. It is to be regretted, however, that Gen. BLUNT found it necessary to commit the greater portion of the city to the flames after we evacuated it. It was a place of wealth and fashion, beautifully located, and containing many handsome residences.
The value of the property destroyed would not fall far short of $300,000, and the loss to the citizens in slaves, who followed us away, was also heavy.
A secesh lady of Van Buren, belonging evidently to the wealthy class, while endeavoring to convince one of our men of the impossibility of the South ever being conquered "by fair means," gave it as a reason why they lost the battle of Pea Ridge," that the Yankee Gun-Boats gave Gen. Curtis the advantage."The ignorance displayed in this assertion may be understood
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from the fact that there is not sufficient water in any creek within ten miles of Pea Ridge to afford good swimming accommodations for a duck.
The regiment returned to Prairie Grove on the 1st of January, after an absence of four and a half days, during which time we had marched a distance of one hundred and twenty miles; and as one day of the time was spent at Van Buren, had averaged thirty-four miles each day. Gen. SCHOFIELD joined the army while on its return from Van Buren, having been absent since November.
The rebel army under Gen. HINDMAN became thoroughly dispersed by this prompt action on the part of Gens. BLUNT and HERRON in following up our splendid victory at Prairie Grove with a pursuit which left him no opportunity to reorganize his forces, who were pushed across the Arkansas river in detachments and hurried towards Arkadelphia, leaving about sixty of his wounded behind with instructions "to take care of themselves!" Two Missouri regiments refused to follow HINDMAN beyond the Arkansas - stacked their arms and dispersed; another soon after left him, taking their arms with them. Two regiments of Texans also stacked their arms and started for their homes, when a cavalry regiment was despatched with instructions to arrest and bring them back, but instead of arresting they joined the fugitives.
Simultaneously with our arrival at Van Buren, Col. Phillips, under orders from Gen. Blunt, advanced into the Indian Territory with 1200 men, and drove the rebel forces of Cols. COFFEE and STURWORT across the Ar-
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kansas at Fort Gibson, and destroyed their fortifications, barracks and commissary buildings at Fort Davis. Col. MCINTOSH, Confederate commander of the Creeks and Choctaws, thereupon communicated to Gen. BLUNT, the determination of those tribes to abandon the rebel cause, and asked for a treaty of peace with our Government. This defection on the part of the Indians, and absence of any considerable force of rebels, virtually closed the war in that region of country, and left our army free to turn its attention to other fields.
On the afternoon of January 1st, 1863, marching orders were received for 7 o'clock on the following morning. At the hour named the tents were struck and wagons loaded, but owing to the bad condition of the roads - which were nearly impassable from the heavy rains of the past few days - after a delay of some hours, the order for moving was countermanded, and we again pitched tents. During the day, Messrs. JAMES W. MEANS and E. A. OLIVER, of Davenport, arrived in camp.
The rain having abated we left camp at 7 o'clock on the morning of January 2nd, and after a fatiguing march of seven hours, bivouacked in a field half a mile south of Fayetteville, where the regiment remained several days.
Gen. HERRON had issued orders sometime previously that two commissioned and ten non-commissioned officers should be designated from each regiment to go home on recruiting service, and accordingly on the morning of
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the 4th the persons named set out on horseback on the journey homeward. We were joined soon after leaving Fayetteville, by Messrs. D. KELLY, CARMAN, E., A. OLIVER and J. W. MEANS.
We proceeded slowly and bivouacked about dark at Mudtown, on the ground occupied the previous night by a party of two hundred "bushwhackers." Each of us in turn performed the duty of "picket" during the night, but no disturbance occurred except from an attempt on the part of Mr. MEANS to "jayhawk" a piece of bacon from a house near by, in which attempt he was detected, and fell back to camp hotly pursued by a small boy and a number of dogs - losing in the affair his penknife and tobacco. The alarm aroused us, and we hastily seized our revolvers and prepared for a fight, but on learning the facts, we proceeded to cook breakfast, and resumed our journey at daybreak.
We pushed on rapidly, arriving at Cassville about 8 o'clock at night, where we bivouacked with a large wagon train just north of the town. Here Messrs. KELLY, MEANS and OLIVER left us, and hurried on towards Springfield.
We left Cassville at daybreak on the morning of January 6th, and reached the camping ground at Crane Creek after nightfall, where we bivouacked with a party of emigrants. All along our route from Fayetteville, we had heard accounts from citizens, of the great scarcity of salt, and one of these emigrants, who was from Arkansas, informed me that the article could not be procur-
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ed anywhere in the country through which he had traveled. At Elkhorn Tavern, where we stopped for dinner on the second day after leaving Fayetteville, we observed a large crowd of people gathered about a wagon standing in front of' post headquarters. On inquiry we learned that the wagon contained two barrels of salt, which some enterprising speculator had brought from Rolla, and was retailing to citizens at the modest price of forty cents per half pint. But previous to selling, his customer was under the necessity of procuring a certificate of his loyalty from the post commander, after taking the oath of allegiance. Some of the persons had travelled thirty and others fifty miles, and after receiving their half pint in a tin cup, or small sack, seemed much elated with their good luck. In Arkansas, many of the farmers had resorted to the expedient of digging up the surface of the ground in their old smoke-houses, which was put into water, and after standing a day or two, this water was boiled, from which a small quantity of salt was procured.
Soon after resuming our journey on the morning of' the 7th, we passed a small post held by a detachment of Missouri State Militia, and the Lieutenant in command told us that a "bushwhacker" had been killed the night previous a short distance beyond, on the road. But one of his men afterwards informed us that the man was a resident of the neighborhood, who had been absent in HINDMAN'S army, and was one of those who deserted from the rebel army after the battle of Prairie Grove. He was on his way home, and being recognized while
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passing the post, one of the men followed and shot him. As we passed the place where the murder was committed the spot was marked by a small pool of blood, and an old hat lying beside a newly made grave on the roadside.
We arrived in Springfield on the evening of the 7th much fatigued by our long ride, and retired to bed early - hoping to resume our journey toward Rolla on the next day. Sometime during the night we were aroused by the rapid movement of wagons in the street, and great confusion in the tavern where we were stopping. Jumping out of bed we hastened down stairs, where we found the household goods being hastily removed in wagons, and were informed that a large rebel force under Gen. MARMADUKE had captured Ozark, and were rapidly advancing on Springfield.. After a short deliberation we came to the conclusion that it was another "Militia Scare," and walked out on the street to observe the hurry and bustle going on among shopkeepers and sutlers, who were busily engaged moving their goods to "Fort No 1" for safety. Soon after daybreak, we repaired to the office of Col. CRABBE, of the 19th Iowa, post command and requested permission to proceed on our way to Rolla. He informed us that Gen. BROWN had given orders that no person should be allowed to leave the lines, and he also stated, that the report of MARMADUKE'S advance was true, as the pickets had all been driven in from the direction of Ozark, and that place captured and burned the night previous; however, he advised us to see Gen. BROWN about the matter. On
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leaving Col. CRABBE'S office, seeing Gen. BROWN and staff ride into the public square, we crossed over to speak to him. While doing so, and expressing our belief that MARMADUKE would probably not venture to attack Springfield, our argument was suddenly disproved by the report of artillery close by the outskirts of the town, and the striking of a twelve pound shot near us in the square, which ricochetting, passed over our heads and went crashing through the Chambers House, on the opposite side of the square. The General then remarked: "You see, gentlemen, the ball has already opened; the Adjutant General will assign you to duty. Please report to him at once," and then rode off. Returning to our rooms at the tavern we secured our revolvers and swords, when we were ordered by the Adjutant General to report for duty at Fort No. 1, where the Government property had been removed for safety. On arriving we found the 18th Iowa on duty in the fort, which was well filled with all descriptions of property - public and private - but by far the greater portion consisting of sutlers' goods. A great many families from town were also in the fort, with their household goods, and carts loaded with similar property were constantly arriving. The defenses consisted simply of a breastwork some eight feet high, with a twelve foot ditch, two brass 12-pounders, and a garrison of 389 men. After reporting for duty, we were ordered to organize the sutlers, citizens, and commissary clerks into a company, and issue arms to them, which we proceeded to do at once and found ourselves in command of as
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disorderly a set of scamps as could well be collected together. Afterwards we had leisure to observe the progress of the fight, which by this time had become very animated in the neighborhood of the military prison and Fort No. 4, where a charge made by the rebels had driven the State Militia back nearly through the town; but they were met here by a detachment of convalescents near a tobacco warehouse, which had been fitted up hastily as a hospital - (Dr. RISTINE of the 20th Iowa acting as surgeon in charge,) - and in turn driven back beyond the military prison. Again they rallied, and renewed the attempt to get possession of the town - fighting desperately from house to house - sometimes advancing half way through the place, but each time repulsed by the convalescent detachment and forced to retire, after losing heavily. Every loyal citizen having been armed, they were enabled to render great assistance by firing from the windows and doors of their dwelling houses.
Late in the afternoon one company of the 18th Iowa left the fort, taking with them one of our two 12-pounders. They proceeded beyond the military prison without meeting resistance, but in attempting to get their gun in position near a clump of timber just east of Fort No. 4, were suddenly assailed by a force of the enemy concealed in the bushes near by, and compelled to retreat, leaving the gun behind, after their artillery horses had been all killed, which, however, the enemy were unable to take away at once on account of the vigorous firing by the convalescents, who pressed forward at once when the
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disaster was seen. The company lost the Captain in command, who was killed, and several men badly wounded, when they returned to the fort.
Gen. BROWN was treacherously shot from the window of a house in town, early in the fight, and badly wounded. The command then devolved on Col. CRABBE, who acquitted himself well in conducting the defence of the place.
After nightfall the rebel general sent in a flag of truce with a request that "the town be surrendered and there - by spare the further effusion of blood;" and stating also that his forces were ample to take it by storm on the following day. Col. CRABBE, however, disregarded Gen. BROWN'S wish to comply with this demand, and returned a positive refusal. Had the demand been made early in the day, before the attack commenced and Gen. BROWN was wounded, there is little doubt the rebels would have taken quiet possession of the place without fighting.
The expedition was fitted out on purpose to capture Springfield, with its large depots of army supplies, by Gen. MARMADUKE, who advanced with great rapidity from the Arkansas river with a force of 5,000 mounted infantry, and two pieces of artillery drawn by ten horses each - marching a distance of over fifty miles in the twenty-four hours preceding their arrival at Springfield, skirmishing with our pickets and scouting parties nearly the entire distance. The rebels dismounted at daybreak two miles from Springfield, where they left
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their horses, and, after some delay in forming line of battle, advanced to the attack on foot in two columns.
The forces defending the place consisted of the 3rd Missouri Cavalry, commanded by Col. W. KING; 453 men of the 4th Missouri Cavalry, Missouri State Militia, commanded by Col. GEO. H. HALL; 389 men of the 18th Iowa, Commanded by Lieut. Col. Z. T. COOK ; 378 men of the 2nd battalion of the 14th Cavalry, Missouri State Militia, commanded by Lt. Col. JOHN H. POUND; 223 men of the enrolled State Militia, under command of Capt. PHILLIPS; and 560 convalescents, stragglers and citizens-making a total force of about 2,600. There were also, in addition to the two guns at Fort No. 1, two old howitzers, and one 6-pounder - the latter mounted on wagon wheels.
The fight lasted thirteen hours, when the enemy retreated in the direction of Lebanon, but no force was sent in pursuit.
All the movements of the rebel general were characterized by doubt, hesitation, and an apparent want of confidence in his men. Every day's march from the Arkansas River was stimulated by bulletins in which his army were promised complete success in the capture of Springfield, and a permanent re-establishment of Confederate authority in Missouri. Frantic appeals to the "down-trodden" "oppressed" citizens of the State to "rise in the majesty of their wrongs and drive the accursed vandal invaders from their soil!" was made - but the "oppressed" people not responding with sufficient alac-
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rity he adopted the more sure mode of conscription to secure their support. Neither old age nor youth was exempt; boys of twelve years, and decrepid old men of seventy, were seized upon and hurried from their homes, without arms or previous preparation.
The feeble resistance encountered from detachments of State Militia at the posts on his route of march, was dwelt upon by the rebel general as an indication of weakness on the part of the government forces, and served to inspire confidence among his men of the ultimate success of the enterprise.
The hesitation on the part of the rebels in making the attack, was the means of their own defeat and salvation of Springfield; for, had they immediately advanced to the charge on horseback without allowing time to complete preparations for the defence of the place, no considerable opposition would have been encountered from the militia; but the delay gave ample time to arm and equip the convalescents in the various hospitals in town, who, with the 18th Iowa, constituted the principal Union forces present for defence, and by whom the rebels were repulsed and defeated.
A large number of recruiting officers from other regiments arriving on the day following the battle, we consolidated the various detachments into a company, which numbered sixty-two men, and were furnished arms and horses, when permission was granted us to proceed on our journey to St. Louis.
We accordingly left Springfield early on the morning of
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the 10th, following close in the rear of MARMADUKE'S army, which was moving in the direction of Rolla.
Maj. THOMPSON, Dr. RISTINE, and Lieut. STARCK accompanied us. We proceeded cautiously, with videttes thrown out in advance, expecting an attack hourly. The telegraph posts had been cut down, and the wires were lying in the road, but we saw no enemy until near sunset, when a couple of Confederate soldiers were discovered by our videttes, who immediately gave chase. They escaped, however, by concealing themselves in the woods, after abandoning their horses.
On reaching Sand Springs, we found the block house burned, and saw the sky lighted up off to the right in the direction of Hartsville, by burning buildings, marking the route of the rebel army. Discharges of artillery were also heard occasionally in that direction, denoting that they had encountered the forces of Gen. WARREN, and a fight was in progress. Soon after dark we found the roads so bad as not to admit of our proceeding further that night, and bivouacked at a farm house at the junction of the Rolla and Hartsville roads. Our pickets on the Hartsville road were particularly cautioned to be vigilant, and fire promptly on any one who advanced on that road. About 2 o'clock next morning we were aroused by a shot from our picket in that direction, when we seized our arms and prepared for defence. After waiting a few moments, and no enemy making his appearance, the officer of the guard went out and was informed by the picket that he had fired at some one concealed
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in the bushes, who had refused to obey his order to halt. We were more enlightened, however, next morning, when the owner of the farm requested payment for a cow which had been shot the night previous by our picket.
We found the people all along the road towards Rolla much excited in view of the probable march of MARMADUKE toward that place, and the certainty of a great destruction of property if his progress was not stopped. We arrived at Rolla on the 12th, and embarked next morning on the cars for St. Louis, where we arrived the same night.
We were paid off here on the 14th, and arrived in Iowa on the 18th, where recruiting offices were opened in Davenport and Cedar Rapids.
On the evening of April 17th a beautiful flag was presented to the regiment, by Miss LIZZIE RAMBO, of Davenport. The ceremonies took place at Metropolitan Hall - Judge J. F. DILLON delivering the presentation address on behalf of the young lady, which was responded to by Lt. Col. J. B. LEAKE. The flag had been purchased by a subscription taken up for the purpose by the fair donor. This was a very opportune present, as we had been without the National colors since the battle of Prairie Grove - the flag originally received from the Government having been eaten by our mules at a time when forage was scarce.
We found recruiting parties from almost every Iowa regiment in the field, hard at work on our arrival, and
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as the prospect of success in this line seemed somewhat discouraging, we soon became impatient to return to the field. We therefore applied to be relieved, and rejoined the regiment at St. Louis, after an absence of four months.
On rejoining the command we found the following changes and promotions had occurred during our absence:
Capt. RUFUS H. LUCORE, of Company H, resigned on the 19th of December, and was succeeded by Sergeant Major GEORGE H. GRAY, who had been promoted from 1st Sergeant of the same company.
Capt. CHAS. E. COOK, of Company I, resigned on the 22nd of December, and 2nd Lieut. J. C. MCCLELLAND, of Company A, was commissioned as Captain of Company I. 1st Lieut. STEPHEN L. DOWS, of Company I also resigned on the 5th of January following, and 2nd Lieut. JAMES W. CARVER, of the same company was promoted to fill the vacancy. Wm. E. EARL, also of the same company, succeeded Lieut. CARVER as 2nd Lieutenant - being promoted from 1st Sergeant.
Capt. SYLVANUS B. BYRAM, of Company K, resigned on the 29th of December, and 2nd Sergt. HENRY B. DOOLITTLE, of Company C, 2nd Iowa Infantry, was promoted to be Captain of Company K. 2nd Lieut. ELIAS TAYLOR, of Company K, who had died at Cassville on the 25th of October, was succeeded by 1st Sergt. WILLIAM J. STEEL, of the same company.
1st Lieutenants ALPHONZO H. BROOKS, Company D, GEO. H. BENNETT, Company G, and ELIJAH STONE,
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Company K, had tendered their resignations and were absent from the regiment.
First Lieut. JOHN G. G. CAVENDISH, of Company E, not having recovered from his wound received in the battle of Prairie Grove, was also absent.
Dr. K. S. MARLIN, our 2nd Assistant Surgeon, joined the regiment in December.
Brigadier Gen. F. J. HERRON was now in command of the Army of the Frontier, having been promoted to the rank of Major General.