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Iowa in the Civil War |
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Iowa in the Civil War |
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Articles
from the Davenport Daily Gazette
September 9 - 18, 1862
Transcribed by Elaine Rathmann
Tuesday
Morning
September 9, 1862
(Part 1)
Local
Matters.
Not the Man.—It having been reported in Der Demokrat that a citizen who had once walked to Pike’s Peak and back had claimed and obtained exemption from military duty on account of physical inability. Mr. Henry Tilden, who did walk to Pike’s Peak and home again, was at once fixed upon by a circle of indignant acquaintances as “the man”. Mr. Tilden resides a short distance from the city, is a subscriber to the Daily Gazette, which he receives on the morning of its issue through the kindness of a friend on the M. & M. R. R. Failing for two days to receive his usual supply of news, Mr. T. came to town yesterday to inquire the cause. Imagine his surprise when he learned that he was tabooed as a “sneak,” and that his carrier friend positively refused to do aught for one who would try to dodge the draft.
The following note from commissioner Thompson’s clerk completely exonerates Mr. Tilden, and restores to him all the privileges of honest and patriotic citizenship; the perusal of the Gazette of course included:
Henry Tilden has not made application to have his name stricken from the rolls or any account whatever, nor has he been in the office to my knowledge before this time, when he asked for this statement of facts.~~
A.
J. Smith, Clerk.
Davenport, Sept. 8, 1862.
Military
Exemption for Friends or Quakers
It will be observed that numbers of petitions have been presented to our Legislature from members of the Society of Friends, asking exemption from military duty, on the ground that they cannot conscientiously engage in warfare.
From the beginning, this highly respectable, and in some portions of our country numerous body of Christians, has held a consistent testimony against wars and fightings. In no instance that we are aware of, has there ever been any swerving from this if a single congregation in Philadelphia is excepted. During our revolutionary contest, a small fraction of the body in that city took the ground that defensive warfare was admissible, acted accordingly, and always after were denied association by the original society. In holding to their views, the Friends have borne contumely, have often been rudely despoiled of their property, and have endured patiently the burdens imposed, never failing in any other instance to come fully up to their requirements a citizens, and always manifesting an intense love for Republican institutions, and a willingness to sacrifice almost everything except the cherished principle of non-resistance. State laws, where they exist in large numbers, have generally been so framed of latter years, as to afford them relief from military duty, and the desires of an earnest and God-fearing people have been gratified. From the general respect which they inspire in all their intercourse with the rest of the world, and from their elevated moral and religious character, the sympathy of their fellow men has been secured, and a cordial acquiescence has been awarded to the exemption of the Quaker from the absolute bearing of arms. Indeed, it is universally conceded that he of the broad brim and drab clothing, would, in a regiment, be an anomaly, not to be reconciled.
In putting down this rebellion it is a remarkable fact, that in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where the Friends congregate in the greatest numbers, measures for the relief of the suffering soldiers appear to have an intensity of which hardly any other portion of our Union can boast. We believe there is a more unreserved yielding up of private resources for the welfare of the soldiers in Philadelphia and its vicinity than any other part of our country—a great deal of that unostentatious kind of work which is based upon the principle of not letting the left hand know what the right hand doeth—and this, we as honestly believe, comes from the Quaker leaven so freely interspersed through the community, always quick to recognize the call of the suffering, and ever ready to bind up the broken heart. Young men occasionally unfetter themselves and step into the ranks, in obedience to what they consider their country’s call. Sorrowfully their seniors look after them, their career is earnestly and prayerfully watched, but reproach (it cannot fail to have been noticed in this contest) scarcely, if ever, reaches the end of the tongue. Solemn words of advice, as to consistent moral conduct, have been uttered in our hearing, to such as have enlisted, by counselors from whom reproof would have come likewise had reproof been in the heart. The language was full to overflowing with tenderness, such only as Friends inspired by the deepest emotion can use: but, but—there is ceased. The wanderers from the fold evidently were not cast-aways; and for this state of feeling, the reader, probably can find a reason.
There are a number of Friends in Iowa. In Cedar, in Henry, in Marshall and in Muscatine counties, quite large congregations. We cannot help entertaining the hope that their petitions to the Legislature will meet with favorable consideration. As a people forced into the ranks, they cannot fight. In the army as men, voluntarily there, none would do the work better, for whatever they perform, as a general rule, is done strictly from a sense of duty. They are no eleventh-hour men in the enunciations of their views—not they. From the organization of the society down to the present moment, their utterances as to engaging in war have been the same. Let favorable and considerate legislation in their behalf obtain also in Iowa.
Tuesday
Morning
September 9, 1862
Part 2
The
Attack on Fort Donelson
Iowa has a life interesting Fort Donelson, won by the gallant charge of the Second Regiment and the scarcely less eminent bravery of the Seventh, and Fourteenth, at the attack which subjugated that Tennessee rebel stronghold to Federal authority. Our readers will therefore be especially interested in the following extract from a letter written to the Cincinnati Commercial, by a. L. McKinney, Chaplain of the 71st Ohio, in which he recounts how the rebels sought to recapture the fort—but did’nt (sic) quite do it.
The Federal force at the fort was 155 men in all, of the 71st Ohio, and these were surprised on the 25th ult., by a summons to surrender by a force of 750 rebels under Col. Woodward, who had succeeded in getting a few of his men within the Federal lines by a skillful ruse, capturing eight of the pickets and with one field piece appeared in front of our unprepared forces. The letter says:
The first warning we had of their approach was their appearance in force not to exceed half a mile from our camp. The ‘long roll’ sounded, and the men were in line in a few moments. A flag of truce was sent in by the rebels, and a surrender demanded. Major J. H. Hart commanding our forces, said that they should have a reply in thirty minutes. The commissioned officers were then called into headquarters, and the question put: Shall we surrender? The unanimous and firm reply was, ‘No!’ ‘We fight.’ This reply was made known to Lieut. Col. Martin, the bearer of the flag of truce, who returned to the rebel lines. In less than ten minutes another flag was sent in , accompanied by Col. Woodward, who again demanded the surrender of the fort, offering the most honorable terms (?) and protesting his reluctance to hurt us. On being asked by Major Hart if we might have the privilege of verifying his statements as to the strength of his forces, he very promptly and politely answered ‘yes.’ Capt. McConnell was accordingly deputed to pass along his lines and ascertain the facts and report; twenty minutes being given to make the ‘reconnaissance.’ The Captain, after as thorough examination as time would permit, reported that the enemy, in his opinion, did not number of 400 or possibly 500, and one small cannon, (which was captured from our boys at Clarksville) and that we could whip them. Col. Woodward, however informed him that he had part of his forces posted south of our camp, but that the twenty minutes were nearly up; hence no time was left to ascertain the fact. The rebel regimental flag was partially concealed form our view, and as we supposed it would be employed as a signal by them, we sent a flag of truce demanding that their colors be placed where they could be plainly seen by us. They complied and planted them in full view. We tied our flagstaff to the forward wheels of a howitzer resolved not to strike it without a desperate struggle. At about three o’clock P. M. the rebel cavalry raised the yell and charged in fine style down the hill, lying east of our entrenchments into the ravine and up the hill, and a portion of them up Main street, north of our position, which brought them in range of our musketry, when a terrible fire was opened on them by our boys, unhorsing a number, killing and wounding a number of horses and men. It was during this heavy musketry that col. Woodward’s horse fell dead under him, struck by three bullets. The chivalrous colonel did some fine crawling for about twenty feet to escape the shot directed toward him. A bullet broke the skin slightly on the side of his head. Notwithstanding their leader was down, on dashed those of the charging column yet in their saddles till they reached Spring street when they wheeled to the left at right angles still coming at a furious speed and receiving our fire at every opening between the houses till they reached College street, down which they essayed to make a charge directly upon our earthworks, but the second platoon of company B, Capt. McConnell’s, poured into them such a galling fire, that they were again repulsed and scattered in the wildest confusion. I saw more than a score of riderless horses careering over the hills and through the ravines.”
“from the time the enemy made the attack till he was repulsed and entirely driven off, was about one hour, thought the sharp firing did not continue more than thirty minutes. The rebel loss from all that we can gather, as information is constantly coming in, will not fall short of thirty killed and wounded. We took no prisoners as it was imprudent for any of our troops to leave the earth works, as our force was too small. Not a man among us was hurt. This is accounted for in the security of our entrenchment.”
Work having been sent to Fort Henry for re-inforcements (sic), Col. Lorre, of the 5th Iowa cavalry arrived at Donelson the next morning with 130 men, started in pursuit of the enemy, overtook him at Cumberland Iron Works a distance of seven miles, attacked them in strong position, charged a battery and drove the rebels from their cannon and rendered it useless before retiring. After waiting a renewal of the fight for an hour, Col. Lorre retired, having lost fifteen or twenty men killed and wounded.
Friday
Morning
September 12, 1862
Local
Matters.
Another
Company came down on the steamer Denmark yesterday. They are from Jones county,
and number 102 good looking, able-bodied men. We understand their average weight
is 160 lbs. Capt. Austin is their commander. They are the sixth company for the
31st regiment, which will probably be mustered in this week.
The
Change in the Gazette
The Muscatine “Courier” noticing the change in the management of the “Gazette” says: We judge from the first issue under the new arrangement, that the “Gazette” has fallen into hands able to maintain its present standing.
Davenport Gazette.—Alfred Sanders, the founder of this paper, gives notice that he has disposed of it, and takes leave of his readers, in its issue of the 8th. The “Gazette” was first published on the 26th day of August, 1841, and has been published by Mr. Sanders just twenty-one years. We judge he is the senior editor and publisher in the State. In parting with one so long connected with the press of Iowa, we must be permitted to express our earnest wishes that prosperity, to his heart’s content, may attend him in his future pursuits.—Burlington Hawkeye.
Changed Hands.—The Davenport
“Gazette” has changed hands, Mr. Alfred Sanders, its founder, having retired
from editorial cares. He is one of the oldest editors in the State, having
started the “Gazette” twenty-one years ago, and has, as he expresses it in
his valedictory, “seen it arrive to full age.” We wish him abundant success
in whatever he may undertake in the future. The new firm, called the Gazette
Co., is composed of James McCosh, Edward Russell, Fred Koops, and Levi Davis.
They are all old, well-known citizens of Davenport, and will with Ed. Russell
for Editor, fully sustain the reputation the paper has heretofore enjoyed, of
being one of the best dailies in the State. May you have plenty of “fat
takes,” gentlemen.—Muscatine Journal.
Found Drowned.—From a private letter, received in this city from Port Louisa, fifteen miles below Muscatine, we learn that on Sunday last some boys discovered the dead body of a soldier lying on a sand bank in the river about a mile above the Port. The boys went to town and told of it, when a number of citizens went out and brought in the body, when an inquest was held. There were on his person four likenesses, one of a girl and three of men; $5.10 in money, a note for $25, a canteen, an old comb and a tompion*. The body was decently interred. The people at Port Louisa supposed the deceased was a member of the Twentieth regiment, which passed down a day or two before. The Captain of the Metropolitan, however, denies that any one fell overboard during the trip. Some of the employees on the boat, however, say that two men fell into the river, one of whom was drowned. We will know positively in a few days.
Since the above was written, we
have received the Muscatine Journal, which says the deceased was slender built,
five feet three inches high, heavy sandy beard and hair. On his canteen was
marked ‘J. Bonnets.’ The note of hand was signed J. W.. Duvlin, and was
partly obliterated. These effects are in the possession of Justice Wm. Kennedy,
at Port Louisa.
Pastors
of Churches Exempt from Draft
Executive Office, Iowa, Iowa City, September 11, 1862
Editor Gazette:--The following has just been received by Gov. Kirkwood from the War Department, which will relieve the class referred to.
N. H. Brainerd, Mil. Sec’y
Every Minister who has pastoral charge of a church or congregation, shall be exempt from draft for military services.
By order of the Secretary of War
C. P. Buckingham, Brig. Gen. And
A. A. G.
~~~
*(From Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary--tompion, aka tampion: obsolete old French, ca 1625--a wooden plug or a metal or canvas cover for the muzzle of a gun.)
Tuesday
Morning
September 15, 1862
From
the 11th and 16th Iowa
Iowa and Illinois Whip the Rebels
From the “Iowa Brigade”
Camp
Near Bolivar, Tenn.,
Sept. 10, 1862
The account of the fight on the 29th ult. And the death of Lieut. Col. Hoge has already been given to our readers in the letters of Dr. Maxwell, but we republish now for the sake of the connection with the after exploits of the rebels, in which they found that Iowa and Illinois troops fight to hurt:
Ed. Gazette.—Since my last note to you, we have had some stirring news to tell from this vicinity. On Friday August 29th a large force of rebel cavalry, some seven to ten full regiments under General Armstrong ran against our pickets west of this town. One or two regiments under Col. Leggett, 68th Ohio, were sent out to meet the enemy, and afterwards a large reinforcement under Col. Chambers, of the 16th Iowa. The enemy retired, however, before the latter force came into action, 25 of our men having been killed and 200 wounded and missing.
Lieut. Col. Hoge, 2d Illinois cavalry, was killed while cutting his way back through the enemies lines to our own, having previously charged through with some 40 of his regiment.
The enemy lost in that engagement nearly as many as we did. They passed on and around Bolivar, crossing the Hatchee river where they camped Saturday night, 15 miles north of town at Clover Creek ford. Sunday morning they struck the Mississippi Central Railroad about 9 miles north-east of Towns Station, to which point the 11th Iowa are guarding the road. When they first reached the Railroad, company C, of the 45th Ill., were guarding it. After a short fight this company was captured, some 35 in number, and the rebels went on towards Jackson, burning bridges and trestle work as they went.
Four miles this side of Medon Station, and 12 miles from Bolivar, the enemy met company H, 11th Iowa, Capt. Beach, 45 men and one company of the 45th Illinois, 30 men. Captain Beach was returning from a trip to Jackson on a guard to the train, and seeing the smoke of the burning bridge, went out to assist the Illinois company to put out the fire. They came on, followed by a locomotive, and had extinguished the fire at four bridges, when on approaching the fifth they caught the rebels in the very act of firing the bridge, and attacked them. A few shots were exchanged, when Captain B. saw at the distance of nearly half a mile a large column of cavalry moving up to cut off their retreat, and he at once ordered his men to fall back to the Station. Scarcely had this movement commenced, when from every side the rebels rushed on shouting like demons and pouring in a continuous fire upon the foe, who did not seem inclined to come to close quarters. Presently the dirt road deviated by a wide circuit from the track of the railroad, and our boys keeping straight up the railroad at double quick, reached the shelter of cotton bales around the station. Here, with four companies of the Illinois 45th, our soldiers kept at bay three thousand of the enemy, giving back shot for shot and ball for ball, the contest raging for 4 hours, and until night ended the scene. We had fortunately some barrels of water in the fort, and a barrel or two of vinegar which were used to extinguish the burning cotton. One man of company H, 13th Iowa, Sergt. Budd, was killed, and 5 were wounded, all in the head, not dangerously, except one.
The next morning the secesh broke camp and fled northwardly; meeting, however, two regiments of our troops—the 30th and 20th Illinois Infantry—and another sharp fight ensued. At first we lost two cannon, which were cut off and the carriages burned; the rebels then returned and charge fiercely time and again on our troops, but were again and again repulsed until they fled in confusion, leaving as the result of both days fight at and near Medon 150 to 200 killed and 30 prisoners, Co. C, 45th Illinois, alluded to above. I think the war shows no more gallant fighting than our troops manifested through these contests.
A part of the same force of rebels went on to near Humboldt and attacked the guard of the M. & O. R. R. there, and were again repulsed, with the loss, among others, of Lieut. Col. Jackson, one of the their most noted partisan chiefs in this region. We have had plenty of hard work to do for the past three or four weeks, and plenty to eat. Sweet potatoes and peaches are abundant, and comparatively cheap. The health of the regiment is good, and we feel confident of our ability to do our task until reinforcements come in from the new recruits.
Col. Hare of the 11th has resigned and Lieut. Col. Hall will probably be his successor. He has been elected to this position by the vote of the company officers present.
Yours truly. Co. B. 11th
Iowa.
History
of the 20th Iowa
Benton Barracks
St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 10, 1862
Editor Gazette:--The Twentieth may now be counted among the regiments regularly in the service, and to give a complete narrative of our experiences, I briefly review our ways and doings form the first. The regiment is composed exclusively of companies organized in Scott and Linn counties, ranked as follows:
Company A—Captain Bates, Linn Co.
Company B—Captain Coulter, Linn Co.
Company C—Captain Thompson, Scott Co.
Company D—Captain Torrey, Scott Co.
Company E—Captain Barney, Scott Co.
Company F.—Captain Hubbard, Linn Co.
Company H.—Captain Altman, Scott Co.
Company I.—Captain Cook, Linn county.
Company K.—Captain Byram, Scott Co.
Companies A and B were in the rendezvous, at Clinton, at the time the 18th regiment left the State; companies C and D went to Clinton on the same boat, Aug. 13th; company E, on the 14th, and the others within two or three days following.
The Colonel and Major had been appointed previous to the above named dates. The Lieutenant colonel was appointed the 26th, and other staff officers at intermediate times. They are as follows:
Colonel—Wm. McE. Dye, formerly Captain of regulars.
Lieutenant colonel—J. B. Leake, Scott county.
Major—Wm. G. Thompson, Linn county.
Adjutant—C. S. Lake, Johnson county.
Quartermaster—J. H. Rice, Johnson co.
Surgeon—H. Ristine, Linn county.
Chaplain—Uriah Eberhart, Linn county.
The first and second assistant surgeons, positions are yet vacant.
The muster of the regiment was
first made individually by captains Altman and Torrey, who held commissions as
Second Lieutenant per general order No. 75. Captain Altman mustered companies B,
G, and I. Captain Torrey mustered companies A, C, D, E, F, H. and K.
State
Items.
Jones county has 2,988 enrolled
militia, including 902 volunteers, and 172 exempt on surgeons’ certificates
and 239 otherwise, leaving 1,645 subject to draft.
Another Warning.—A soldier, a member of the 21st Iowa, coming in on the train from the West yesterday, fell from a car, lighting head foremost upon one of the tracks, hurting him very seriously so that doubt are entertained of his recovery. His name was not known to any on the cars. He was properly cared for. The sole cause of this accident was intoxication.—Dubuque Herald, 13th.
Wednesday
Morning
September 17, 1862
(Part 1)
Local
Matters.
The
21st on the Way.—The Henry Clay was at Dubuque yesterday morning
taking on the 21st Iowa Infantry, Col. Merrill. They will be at the
levee early this morning.
Personal.—Col.
Wood, of the Iowa Twelfth, arrived in town yesterday morning, and put up at the
LeClaire House. The Colonel has recovered form wounds received at Shiloh, where
he was taken prisoner, but subsequently released by Beauregard, who had in vain
endeavored to “pump” him about our army. The Colonel, we understand, is to
drill one of the new regiments either here or at Muscatine.
Pastor
or M. E. Church.—Rev. Mr. Trusdale, chaplain of the famous Second Iowa
Cavalry, has been appointment by the Iowa Conference, now in session at
McGregor, to the pastorship of the Methodist church in this city, corner of
Brady and Fifth streets. Mr. Trusdale has noble performed his duty as chaplain,
and his regiment will regret much to part with him.
Sixth
Cavalry.—Col. Galligan has taken a store-room in Forrest’s block, and opened
a recruiting office there for the newest cavalry regiment of the State—the
Sixth. This regiment will very probably be called upon to do frontier service,
and it ought to be filled up rapidly. Now is the time to get into a cavalry
regiment, and into a battalion, to rendezvous here. Call in and see Col.
Galligan and Lieut. Kilbourn at the upper store-room in Forrests’ block.
Returned.—Mr.
A. F. Stonebraker, of company B, 2d infantry, arrived here yesterday morning on
his way home. Mr. S. has been discharged on account of injuries received in the
service. Mr. S. left Corinth last Wednesday. The Second regiment is now at
Corinth, Rienzi having been evacuated. The Second cavalry is also there, and, in
fact, there is a general falling back of our troops on Corinth. Price is
reported advancing with 60,000 men, many of whom, however, are unarmed, but
Price is furnishing the arms as fast as he can jayhawk them. Corinth itself is
in danger of attack, and it is not impossible that place will be abandoned on
the approach of the enemy, if reinforcements do not arrive.
Indian Troubles in Minnesota.—Our esteemed fellow-citizen G. L. Davenport, Esq., returned home from Minnesota yesterday morning, having left St. Paul last Friday evening. Our readers are aware that the object of Mr. Davenport’s visit was to examine into the nature of the Indian troubles in Minnesota, and if possible, arrange for their settlement. The long and intimate acquaintance of Mr. D. with the character and habits of the Indian would have enabled him to be of great service in effecting a reconciliation had such a result been possible. Leaving our city with the supposition that the whole difficulty had originated between some quarrelsome band of Indians and some swindling or at least incautious whites, Mr. Davenport felt quite sanguine of success. The result has blasted all his expectations. Instead of a small band being the aggressors, he found whole tribes engaged in the fearful work of destruction. The Sioux being the originators of the attack, and ostensibly the only tribe at war, there is little reason to doubt that their number has been greatly swelled by the braves of the Chippewas and Winnebagoes. At least six hundred whites have perished in the massacres at fort Ridgely, New Ulm, and neighboring settlements, while about two hundred women and children are held as prisoners by the Sioux. There can now be no doubt that the war inaugurated will, and must, be one of extermination or expatriation. The people of Minnesota are insisting with united voice that the entire State be cleared from the presence of Indians, friendly or otherwise. In the special session of the Legislature it was proposed to erect block-houses and stockades along the whole Indian frontier, at intervals of ten miles each to be occupied by fifty armed men, and keep the intervening space patrolled by cavalry. It is probable that this will be done; at any rate, the authorities are determined to secure the State from further ravages. Gov. Ramsey has about 4,000 men enrolled, and will soon have them equipped for the war. Large quantities of ammunition have arrived at St. Paul from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio. The details of the sufferings of the people driven from their homes are horrifying. Mr. Davenport thinks there is even reason to fear serious difficulty next winter on our border; and certainly his opinion is entitled to attentive consideration by our State Executive. We are indebted to Mr. D. for Minnesota papers from which we will give extracts hereafter.
Wednesday
Morning
September 17, 1862
(Part 2)
Military
Appointments.
Majors
The
following appointments have been made and commissions issued therfor:
