The more we share the more we have to share
MILITARY: Civil War History EIGHTH REGIMENT VOLUNTEER IOWA CAVALRY The Eighth Regiment of Iowa Cavalry war organized under special authority of the War Department, bearing date April 7, 1862. The twelve companies of which it was composed were ordered into quarters by the Governor of the State, on dates ranging from August 12 to September 1, 1863, Davenport Iowa, was designated in the order as the place of rendezvous, and there, on the 10th day of September, 1863, the twelve companies and their officers, together with the filed and staff officers of the regiment, were mustered into the service of the United States, by Lieutenant Colonel William N. Grier, of the Regular Army. At the date of its muster into the service, the regiment had an aggregate strength of 1, 234 men. Its camp, near Davenport, was given the name of "Camp Roberts," in official orders. The regiment was fortunate in the selection of Colonel Joseph B. Dorr as its commander. This officer had entered the service November 5, 1861, as Regimental Quartermaster of the Twelfth Iowa Infantry, and had won distinction in the battle of Shiloh. Colonel J. J. Woods, in his official report of the Twelfth Iowa, in that battle, made special mention of his gallant conduct.as follows: "Quartermaster Dorr, although his position did not require him to go into action, volunteered to do so, and throughout the day behaved daringly, if not recklessly, exposing his person to the enemy. Energetic and efficient in his own department, he would fill a higher one with credit to himself and honor to the service." This prediction was fully verified in the subsequent splendid achievements of Colonel Dorr, as the commander of the Eighth Iowa Cavalry. Nearly all the other field and staff and many of the line officers of the regiment had the advantage of having had experience in the service. This was also true of many of the enlisted men, who had also served in other Iowa regiments. The cavalry branch of the service was always the most popular; among those desiring to enlist and, when the organization f the Eighth Cavalry was authorized, the number of volunteers was far in excess of the number that could be accepted. Twenty-two companies, numbering over two thousand men, offered their services to Colonel Dorr, and from that number he had the selection of the twelve companies which composed his regiment. It will thus be seen that the organization of the regiment was perfected under the most favorable conditions. The regiment was only partially equipped and its officers have busily engaged in drilling and instructing the men in the manual of arms and the various evolutions of a cavalry regiment, when, on the 14th of October, it was ordered to proceed to Louisville, Ky. On October 17, 1863, the regiment left Camp Roberts, and was conveyed by rail to Louisville, by way of Michigan City and Indianapolis, arriving there and going into camp on October 22d. On November 4th the regiment took up its first line of march, towards Nashville, Tenn, where it arrived on the 16th, having covered the distance of two hundred and twenty miles by easy marches. At Nashville the regiment completed it equipment, and, and was prepared for active service in the field, but, instead of receiving orders to join the army under Major General Thomas, as he had expected, Colonel Dorr, was ordered to report to General A. C Gillem, then in command of the of the troops on the line of the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad. For the condensed history of the operations of the regiment, which follows, the compiler has had recourse to the official reports of Colonel J. B. Dorr and his Adjutant Henry H. Belfield, made to Adjutant General N. B. Baker. The regiment covered a wide field in its operations, and only the most important events in its history can be included in this sketch. On the 1st of December, 1863, the regiment left Nashville, and, in obedience to his orders, Colonel Dorr proceeded along the line of railroad, then being operated almost exclusively by the Government in forwarding troops and supplies to the armies at the front. The inhabitants of the country were intensely disloyal and hostile to the Government. Adjutant Belfield says in his report: "It was the boast of Humphreys County, of which Waverly is the seat, that but one Union man had lived within its limits, and he had been killed." Nearly every man in the county had at one time been in the rebel army, and those who had been discharged on account of wounds or sickness, and had returned to their homes, were nearly all connected, directly or indirectly, with the guerrilla bands which infested the country. Such were the conditions which confronted Colonel Dorr when he marched with his regiment into that hot-bed of treason and rebellion. He found no considerable organized force of the enemy, only scattered bands of guerrillas (or bush-whackers as they were more generally called), who were so thoroughly familiar with every road and by-path of the woods that they could generally avoid their pursuers; but they were finally hunted down and captured or driven out of the country. Colonel Dorr was instructed to assume the management of the civil as well as the military affairs of a district, embracing eight counties, the ordinary enforcement of the laws by the local civil authorities having been almost entirely suspended. Over this wide region, where a state of general lawlessness and anarchy prevailed, the Eighth Iowa Cavalry and its energetic commander were constantly occupied in endeavoring to restore a semblance of law and order, and in guarding the line of railroad, during the winter of 1863-4. The headquarters of the regiment were established at Waverly, and from that point Colonel Dorr directed the operations of his entire command. One battalion of the Eighth Iowa Cavalry was retained at headquarters, but this battalion –or detachments from it—was engaged in under command of Major Price and Major Thompson, were stationed at different points in the district, from which similar operations were conducted. The First Kansas Battery was detailed for service with the regiment, one section being kept on duty at headquarters and one section detailed for duty with the battalion commanded by Major Price. The extended, operations of the regiment during this period of its service, and the important results accomplished, are shown in the following extracts from the official report of Colonel Dorr. After describing the movements of his regiment, which covered the country in every direction from Fort Donelson on the Cumberland, a distance of about forty miles north, to near Clifton, sixty miles south, embracing a district of one hundred miles by seventy, he says: The report of Colonel Hawkins's ability to concentrate a large force, and to drive us out, which was threatened, proved false. Yet he was prowling over the country with small bands from ten to fifty strong, robbing and plundering all who manifested any sentiment of Unionism, or even less than the bitterest hostility to the Federals. The country was peculiarly adapted for bushwhacking operations, being broken into sharp hills and deep valleys, rugged bluffs and deep gulches, with but very little tillable land. The whole surface has been wooded, and the clearings are small in extent, presenting on all hands the best cover for band of desperate men like Hawkins, who, knowing every foot of country and every by- path, are enabled to traverse it in any direction, and avoid contact with Federal troops sent in pursuit. But the regiment entered upon the work of clearing the country of these robbers, with a determination to succeed and fully accomplish the duty. Hawkins and his men were pursued from point to point, and himself, nearly all his commissioned officers an large numbers of his men, captured. Instead of administering the oath of allegiance to the citizens, I adopted the policy of placing them under bonds with sureties, and found this had a wonderful influence towards quieting the country. Repentant rebels have a much greater fear of losing their property than of violating an oath, which, indeed, most of them consider compulsory. One expedition was made during December, which deserves notice as an opening incident in the history of a new regiment. On the 20th, Lieutenant Wilbur F. McCarron, company G, with forty men, crossed Duck Ricer during a violent storm of wind and rain, and under most disadvantageous circumstances, the stream being swollen out of its banks and running at a furious rate. The crossing was not effected until after dark; but, without halting, he pushed out over the low lands, covered with water from the overflowing river, and, traversing a thickly wooded country a distance of fourteen miles, reached the rendezvous of a portion of Hawkins' men, and captured Captain Nance, one lieutenant and twelve men, with their horses and arms. I had expected that Colonel Hawkins and his staff, with twenty- five or thirty of his best men, would have been found there, but he had been to careful of his life and liberty. To trust himself within twenty miles of the post for quarters. The party returned across the river by daylight next morning. Lieutenant McCarron is entitled to much credit for the preseverance under difficulties. The sanitary condition of the regiment, under charge of Surgeon William H. Finley, assisted by Dr. A. S. Carnahan and Dr. D. H. Warren, Assistant Surgeons is most excellent, the eighth Iowa, Cavalry being probably the healthiest, regiment in the service. The report, from which the foregoing extract was made, brought the history of the regiment down to the beginning of the year 1864, at which time the headquarters and positions of the battalions remained as heretofore described. Resuming his report, Colonel Dorr says: Still to come along the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad…. A large amount of stores having, under command of Captain P. C. Morhiser, were stationed there as a guard, and to furnish escort for the train which was employed in removing the stores to Waverly. With our limited transportation and all the teams which would be impressed to the country, this was not effected until the 1st of March. Captain Morhiser discharged the duty with energy and zeal, losing no portion of the stores, although his pickets were attacked on several occasions, and the trains threatened. In the first days of January the weather became severely cold, from which the scouting parties, who were constantly in the saddle, suffered a great deal—one party having no less than twelve men badly frosted, on so badly as to require amputation. In consequence of neglect at Nashville, we suffered badly for clothing, as well as other quartermaster supplies, although every exertion was made by regimental officers to anticipate the wants of the troops. But Thomas's men at Chattanooga were greatly in want, and, as that was the front of the army of the Cumberland, they had to be supplied first. The operations of the regiment, for the remainder of the winter of 1864, may be summarized as follows: In January, Lieutenant Colonel Barner, with two companies of his regiment and one section of the First Kansas Battery, was sent to scour the country along the Tennessee River as far as Fort Henry, which duty he accomplished in a satisfactory manner. In the same month, detachments, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Barner and Major Brown, and a thorough scout of the country on the north and south sides of Duck River, from which they returned with a considerable number of prisoners, horses and arms, having also driven many desperadoes out of the country. About the 1st of February the rebel General Roddy crossed the Tennessee River, at Florence, with a large force of cavalry, for the purpose of making a raid into the district occupied by the Eighth Iowa Cavalry. Captain Burns with his company (A) was detailed by Colonel Dorr to make a scout in the direction of the approaching enemy, and report his movements, while the remainder of the regiment was held in readiness for an engagement; but the rebel General retreated as rapidly as he had advanced and Captain Burns returned from his scout without having come into contact with the enemy. Detachments from the regiment continued to scout the country in every direction and made numerous captures. Captain Burns, with twenty men, by a rapid march overtook and captured Lieutenant Colonel Brewer, of the rebel General Forrest's command, who, with a small escort of a lieutenant and eleven men, was—under orders, from Forrest--making his way to West Kentucky, for the purpose of enlisting recruits for the rebel army. Colonel Brewer, refused to surrender until he was wounded and overpowered, with his escort, only one of whom escaped. Important dispatches were secured with this capture. Captains Evans, Root, Cummings and Shurtz were also quite successful in capturing prisoners. Three rebel mails were captured and important information gained from the letters they contained. Many deserters from the rebel army came to the post at Waver;u and took the oath of allegiance to the Federal Government. Lieutenant Charles Linderman, of Company A, received special mention in Colonel Door's report, for the prompt and efficient manner in which he discharged the duties of Provost Marshal at Waverly. While the regiment had sustained but fe casualties in its numerous skirmishes with the lawless bands it had encountered, it had captured a large number of prisoners, and had succeeded in reclaiming the district in which it operated from a state of anarchy to at least a comparative degree of peace and good order. The regiment was now about to enter upon an active and vigorous campaign against the regularly organized forces of the rebel army, in which it was, for the first time, to operate to conjunction with other cavalry regiments. On March 13, 1864, Colonel Dorr was relieved by other troops and turning over the command of the post at Waverly to his successor, marched with his regiment to Nashville, where he arrived on the 17th and at once commenced refitting his regiment, by procuring horses to replace those which had become disabled, and otherwise completing its equipment. On the 1st of April the regiment started on the march for Chattanooga. It then had 1050 enlisted men in the saddle, well mounted and equipped, with its full complement of officers, and all in excellent health and spirits. It reached Chattanooga on the 10th, and from there continued its march to Cleveland, where it arrived on the 13th and joined the First Brigade, First Division, of Cavalry, commanded by Brigadier General E. M. McCook. The regiment remained in camp at Cleveland until May 3d, when, with its brigade and division, it marched to the front and began the series of operations which were continued to the close of one of the most remarkable campaigns in military history. Before starting on the campaign, Colonel Dorr had been assigned to the command of the First Brigade, and Lieutenant Colonel Barner was left in command of the regiment. On the 5th of May Major Price, of the Eighth Iowa Cavalry, who had been sent with a detachment of his regiment on a reconnaissance, found the enemy only about four miles in advance of the brigade, on the road leading to Dalton. On May 6th, detachments from the Eighth Iowa and other regiments made a careful examination of the enemy's position and the approaches to it, and, on the 7th, the brigade, with the Eighth Iowa Cavalry in advance, moved down the Dalton road and drove the enemy out of Varnell's Station. Skirmishing was continued during the day and, at 4 p. m., the brigade occupied a position two miles west of the station, which it reached under fire from the enemy's artillery. During the execution of the movement the regiment had several men wounded and several horses killed On May 9th the brigade again advanced and reached a point three miles south of Varnell's Station, the Second Brigade occupying a position on its left. In the engagement which ensued the enemy was driven back three miles. The Eighth Iowa Cavalry led the advance and captured a temporary line of works erected by the enemy, Company E taking the most conspicuous part in the capture, and Corporals Pease and Sharp, of that company, particularly distinguishing themselves by their brave conduct, which was subsequently rewarded by their promotion. While the First Brigade was successful in this movement, the Second Brigade, advancing on its left, was outflanked by the enemy, and its commander and 120 of his men were captured. Colonel Dorr moved his brigade promptly to the support of the Second, upon learning of its disaster, and successfully covered its retreat from its exposed position, which could not be maintained. On May 10th the brigade made another forward movement, in the direction of Dalton, driving the enemy from a wooded ridge. On May 11th and 12th the forward movement was continued, and there was more or less skirmishing with the enemy, who continued to fall back until he reached a strong position at Ray's Gap. On May 13th Colonel Dorr received orders to attack the enemy at the Gap, and at once moved forward with his brigade, his own regiment taking the advance, but, just as preparations for the attack had been completed, the skirmishers discovered that the rebels had abandoned their strong position during the night and were again retreating towards Resaca, the town of Dalton being also evacuated about the same time. Colonel Dorr's Brigade followed in pursuit of the enemy, on the valley road towards Tilton, near which place the Eighth Iowa relieved the First Tennessee, and, again taking the advance, soon came up with and engaged the enemy and drove him from his position. The pursuit was continued until the enemy was again found, in heavy force, posted in a strong position, and another engagement ensued. Reinforcements came to the aid of the First Brigade, and the enemy was again driven from his position and forced to retreat. Night coming on, the pursuit was abandoned and the tired troops went into camp. On May 14th the whole division moved to Tilton. The First Brigade was ordered to construct barricades, while the Second Brigade engaged the enemy on the left of the infantry. On the 15th, the enemy evacuated Resaca, and Colonel Dorr was ordered to move forward with his brigade. The Eighth Iowa had the advance and crossed the Conasauga River, four miles above Resaca, and moved rapidly forward to McClure's Ferry. On the Coosawattie River, where a brigade of General Stoneman's had halted, and was hesitating about attempting to ford the river, as camp fires could be seen for some distance up and down the stream, on the opposite side, indicating that the enemy was posted there in strong force. Colonel Dorr determined to cross the river with his brigade, and ordered the Eighth Iowa to move forward and enter the fo5rd, while two companies were posted to cover the crossing, should the enemy be en-countered. The crossing was effected in safety, however, the rebel force having retreated, leaving the burning camp fires to deceive and delay the advance of the Union forces. After crossing the river, Colonel Dorr sent detachments from the Eighth Iowa to scout the roads in different directions. One of these detachments encountered the enemy's pickets five miles from the river, and discovered the main camp of the rebel force. The next morning the brigade and division moved forward, and the enemy again retreated. On May 19th, six companies of the Eighth Iowa, under command of Major Root and Price, had a brisk engagement with a rebel force, in which the enemy was driven from a strong position. Company G, under Lieutenant McCarron, and Company M, under Captain Hoxie, were conspicuous in the charge and won special mention in Colonel Dorr's report. From the 22d of May to the 1st of June, the Eighth Iowa Cavalry, with the other troops of its brigade and division, was engaged every day in skirmishing with the enemy, the most notable of these skirmishes occurring on the 24th, when Lieutenant Colonel Barner with his regiment steadily pushed the enemy for three miles, encountering stubborn resistance and freely exposing his men to the fire of both artillery and musketry. During this advance, Captain M. M. Walden, of Company H, made a brilliant and successful charge with his company; and again, on the 25th, Captain Hoxie and Lieutenant Anderson, with the men of their companies, Captain Hoxie and Lieutenant Anderson, with the men of their companies, exhibited conspicuous bravery under the fire of a rebel battery. From the 1st to the 17th of June, the regiment, with its brigade and division, continued to advance with the rest of the army, and the enemy was steadily forced back to Kenesaw Mountain on the right and Lost Mountain on the left of his line, his center holding a position on Lost Mountain. On June 17th, the enemy was driven from his position on Pine Mountain and, on the same day, McCook's and Stoneman's cavalry were ordered forward to engage in the struggle for the possession of Lost Mountain. The Eighth Iowa Cavalry reached the base of the mountain at noon and was placed in support of the Eighteenth Indiana Battery, which was directing its fire against the rebel batteries on the crest of the mountain. That night the regiment went into camp a short distance from the base of the mountain, and the next morning, and the next morning, in advance of the brigade and division, moved around to the north side of the mountain and had reached the Dallas road, when the enemy was discovered to have evacuated his strong position and was again retreating down the valley. Some companies of the eighth Iowa and Second Michigan Cavalry went in pursuit, and harassed the rebel cavalry which constituted the rear guard, following them about five miles, when they took refuge behind their infantry. On the same day, Captain Walden, with a detachment from the Eighth Iowa, captured a hospital and a considerable number of prisoners. The prisoner remained in camp at Lost Mountain until July 1st, when, with its brigade and division, and in co-operation with General Stoneman's Cavalry division, it again assumed the aggressive and was soon engaged in conflict with the enemy. On July 5th, the two divisions of cavalry marched from the right to the left flank of the army, and took position at the fords of the Chattahoochee River, where they remained until the 18th, guarding the fords. Skirmishes with the enemy's cavalry were of daily occurrence. On the 18th, Colonel Dorr marched with a detachment of his regiment across the river, to observe more closely the movements of the enemy. This was the first time any of the cavalry had crossed the Chattahoochee. On the next day Major Isett, with a small detachment, crossed the river on the same mission, and, on the 22d, the entire division was ordered to cross and move forward to Atlanta, a report having been received that the rebels had evacuated that place, which was soon found to be a mistake, and the division took position at Mason's Church, where, on July 23d, it was attacked by a large force of rebel cavalry, which attack was successfully repulsed. Colonel Dorr has resumed command of his regiment on the 22d, having been relieved of the command of the brigade by Colonel Croxton, upon whom the command devolved, on account of his being Colonel Dorr's senior in rank. On July 24th the division moved to a new position, near Atlanta, but returned to Mason's Church on the 25th, and, on the following day, again successfully resisted an attack from the enemy. The compiler has thus far given only a condensed description of the operations of the Eighth Iowa Cavalry, from the time it started on the Atlanta campaign, May e, 1864. Its subsequent operations to the close of the year are fully described in the report of Colonel Dorr, from which the foregoing summary has been compiled; and, at the risk of exceeding the limitation of space assigned to this sketch, the compiler feels that is is but just to Colonel Dorr and his regiment that the remainder f his excellent report should be given without any attempt at abridgment. The report is dated, "Waterloo, Ala., January 15, 1865," and the following quotation covers the operations of the regiment from the 27th of July to the 31st of December, 1864. On the 27th, orders were received to make a raid upon the enemy's communications, and the regiment, with the balance of the division and a part of Colonel Harrison's Brigade, crossed the Chattahoochee River and moved down the west side, re-crossing at Riverton Ferry, six miles below Campbellton. On the 28th, reached Palmetto Station, on the West Point and Atlanta Railroad, about dusk; destroyed the depot, some public stores, a quantity of cotton, and about one and a half miles of the track and telegraph. Left Palmetto about 9 p. m.. and reached Fayetteville at daylight on the morning of the 29th; halted some three hours and then moved forward, First Brigade in advance. During the night, and before reaching Fayetteville, the Second Brigade captured a considerable wagon train and a number of prisoners. After leaving the last named place, a considerable number of wagons and prisoners were captured, and, about 8 o'clock, the expedition reached the railroad half a mile north of Lovejoy's Station. The first Tennessee, which had the advance, having met with slight resistance, a battalion of the eighth was sent forward to reinforce that regiment. On arriving at the railroad, pickets were thrown out on all the roads, and the work of destruction upon the road commenced. A detachment of the eighth, on picket at the Station, destroyed one box car containing goods, and three or four platform cars, water tank and a wood shed. A small reconnoitering party was sent out toward McDonough, from the Eighth. Between one and two miles of road was destroyed and the telegraph for some distance. At 2 p.m., commenced the retrograde movement towards the Chattahoochee, First Brigade in the rear. About one mile west of Lovejoy's Station found Jackson's Division of rebel cavalry had got on our road, and between us ands Second Brigade. Almost at the same moment I received orders from Colonel Croxton, commanding brigade, to move forward and attack the enemy. The regiment moved ip at a trot, and at a short distance came up with the brigade commander, who ordered me to charge them with the Eighth. I advanced at a fast trot until within striking distance, when I ordered the charge, and the regiment, right in front in column, dashed forward gallantly on the enemy. The rebels were in column in the road, and in line on the right and left of the road. Their front gave back rapidly before this headlong charge, but those in the rear and on the left of the road poured in a most deadly fire, before which the head of the column went down like grass before the scythe. That portion of the enemy's force on the left of the road had been mostly concealed from me,. By the nature of the ground. I saw, just as the head of the column struck the enemy, that this portion of their home must be routed, or the column in the road would be exposed to a flank as well as a front fire. Instantly I ordered the companies in rear of the First Battalion into the field on the left of the road, for the purpose of charging that portion of the enemy's line. But at this critical moment, I discovered that they had not come up, having been ordered by Colonel Croxton, as they were following the First Batallion, to turn off the road and form in a filed to the left. I had but 292 men with me on the raid, and by this order, without notice, I was left, with about 100 men, to charge an entire brigade, and that the best brigade in the rebel service, composed of the Third, Sixth and Ninth Texas. Indeed, it has never been certainly ascertained that Jackson's whole division was not there; a battle flag believed to be his was in the field, on the left of the road, and nearly reached by my men. Of course so small a force was obliged to fall back, which they did, to an angle of the road about 134 yards from where the column struck the enemy's line, and from which they had been driven. This position was held until the Fourth Kentucky and First Tennessee came up on our right. The enemy attempted to move to our left flank, but were prevented by a portion of the Eighth, and a part of Second Brigade sent back by General McCook. Orders being received from Colonel Croxton to move forward by a road to the left, the whole brigade withdrew and moved rapidly forward toward Newnan, on the West Point and Atlanta Railroad, intending to cross the Chattachoochee opposite or below that place. The loss of the Eighth was eight or nine killed and about fourteen wounded, including among the killed First Lieutenant James Horton, Company K, Acting Adjutant, and Second Lieutenant Joseph H. Cobb, Company G. Both were as gallant young officers as ever drew a sabre. Both fell at the head of the column, and it to die for one's country if glorious, theirs was a glorious death, for they met it boldly and unflinchingly to the very shock of battle. William Christy, Sergeant Major, fell, terrible wounded in four places, but, too brave to yield, courageously made his way without assistance to the rear. All the officers and men, with few exceptions, did nobly ion this fight. Of course our dead and the severely wounded we were compelled to leave in the hands of the enemy, the only ambulance belonging to the regiment being in advance with the ambulance train. During the night following we continued the march through swamps and over most difficult roads, Portions of the regiment, under command of Major Root and Isett, operated on the flanks and rear. About noon, on the 30th, the head of the expedition on entering Newnan, unexpectedly came upon Roddy's dismounted cavalry, on their way to Atlanta. This force, in addition to Wheeler's whole cavalry, which came up soon after, gave the enemy fully eight thousand men, and enabled them to force back the Federal column and occupy the road in our front. The Second Brigade was in front, followed by the First Brigade, Colonel Harrison's Brigade being in the rear; and both the Second Brigade and Harrison's were slightly engaged. The Eighth, was ordered to dismount in the road where the whole command was halted, and throw up barricades, which was done. We remained in this position some time without hearing anything of the enemy. Absent for some minutes at a few hundred yards from the regiment, on account of a wound received at Lovejoy's on the 29th, I received orders to move forward, and requested the Adjutant General, Captain William A. Sutherland, who brought me the order, to give it to Major Root, who was with the regiment. In a few minutes I overtook the regiment, which had moved forward half a mile, and found it had made a charge, one portion under Major Root and another portion under Major Isett. The enemy gave way in confusion, and Major Isett captured a large number of the horses of Ross's Briigade. General Hume, commanding a brigade, was captured by Lieutenant George M. Detwiler, of Company C, but was recaptured by the enemy, together with the gallant officer by whom he had been taken. The Eighth had cleared the way, as Captain Walden reported to me just as I came up, and which fact was reported to the brigade commander. Had the whole division then moved forward, we should have been able to hold the road. But the enemy so largely outnumbered that portion of the expeditionary forces engaged that they soon rallied and again occupied the road. In this encounter, which lasted some thirty minutes, great gallantry was displayed by both officers and men. The Eighth lost severely. I reformed the regiment near and to the right of the battery, the Second Indiana and fifth Iowa Being on the left. In a few minutes the enemy again advanced and made a desperate effort to take the battery. I advanced with the Eighth dismounted, and drove the enemy from our front. The Second Indiana and the Firth Iowa did the same. Twice more the rebels made desperate efforts to capture our guns, but were each time bravely met and handsomely repulsed, the battery firing canister at short range. It was five o'clock when General McCook determined to abandon his artillery, ambulances and wounded. The artillery carriages were cut down and the pieces spiked, and heavily loaded with percussion or shell. About this time Colonel Croxton, commanding the brigade, being reported missing, I received orders to take command of the brigade. Major Root having been missing since the first charge. I directed Major Isett to take command of the regiment. But I soon learned from Captain Sutherland that the other regiments of the brigade could not be found. Of the Eighth there was not far from one hundred, which was indeed all that was left of the First Brigade. Of these, several were wounded and were without arms, having lost them in the fight. After abandoning the artillery; the column moved to the left and crossed some fields, intending to take a by-path through the woods, which entered the LaGrange road some little distance from the battlefield. Just as the head of the column entered the forest, General McCook rode back to where I was, and asked if I could form the Eighth on the brow of the hill that we had just passed, and "check the enemy." I replied, "I can." He then ordered me to do saying: "This retreat must be protected." At once I directed Major Isett to form the Eighth on the ground indicated. This was in plain sight of the enemy, who were seen advancing. In this position we were obliged to remain, seeing the enemy moving towards our flank, until the fragments of regiments, the stragglers and skulkers, who filled the road upon which the column had moved, got out of our way. Every minute's delay I knew lessened our chances of escape, but there was no help for it, and the regiment, with a few exceptions, gallantly did their duty, calmly awaiting orders, General McCook, with the main column, was heard sharply engaged as he successfully cut his way out. Knowing the enemy was moving in force upon the LaGrange road to cut us off, and seeing he did not intend to attack us where we stood, I determined, by moving on the left flank of the retreating column, to gain a position between the enemy and the supposed intersection of the road, on which the column was moving with the LaGrange road. The movement was commenced, but on reaching the timber I found it was impracticable to move with any celerity, and was compelled, therefore, to follow the column. We had marched but a little distance, however, before we met a regiment in a stampede, (Fourth Tennessee, I think) saying they were cut off. As there was no passing the column in that narrow forest road., we were compelled to turn about and move back until we could get out of the road and let the Tennessee regiment by, which we did, and then move forward again; but it was too late. The enemy had thrown a brigade on this our only outlet from the scene of battle and disaster, and, after a few more fruitless efforts, the fragment of the regiment, exhausted, worn out with fighting and loss of sleep, gave up to the overwhelming force around them. Seventeen men and three commissioned officers, escaping by different routes, reached the retreating column and got safely into the Federal lines. Our loss in killed and wounded will never be accurately known. According to the reports of the Federal surgeons, left in charge of our wounded at Newnan, more than half the wounded in hospital there belonged to the Eighth, and it is reasonable to suppose that among the killed there was the same proportion. Our dead upon the battlefield were robbed of all valuables, and in most cases entirely denuded of their clothes. I saw fifteen of my own regiment lying thus beside the road. The loss of the enemy, as reported by themselves, was between five and six hundred in killed and wounded. Although enemies, they deserve the credit of fighting well. In this engagement, which was of the severed character, the men and officers of the Eighth behaved with a gallantry and steadiness which drew from General McCook a public compliment on the battlefield. As on the day before, there were but few exceptions to this, while there were many instances of great gallantry displayed. Major John H. Isett, Captain P. C. Morhiser, A. A. A. G., of the Brigade, Captain (now Major) Shurtz, who was desperately wounded, Captain James w. Moore, chaplain E. B. Doane, Lieutenants Henry Moreland, W. F. McCarron, C. F. Anderson, Jackson, Morrow, W. T. Ogle, G. M. Detwiler, Jacob T. Haight (wounded), and John B. Loomis (killed), are fairly entitled to mention for their coolness and good conduct under very trying circumstances. Lieutenant H. H. Belfield, Adjutant, Lieutenant Cornelius Bennett, R. Q. M., and Lieutenant J. E. Pritchard, R. C. S., deserve special mention for their activity and zeal in assisting the regimental commander, and for bravery under fire. Many instances of great gallantry on the part of enlisted men came under my notice, but so great a period of time elapsed before I had the opportunity to prepare this paper that many of them have escaped my memory. It is a pleasure, however, to specially mention one Orderly Sergeant, John H. Huff, Company D, whose gallant bearing particularly attraced my attention, both of Lovejoy' and Newnan. The Governor of the State has promoted him to a Lieutenant upon my recommendation. Sergeants Peter H. Seay, Company A, R. Hoffmaster, Company K, Noah Lantz, Company H, William Pulliam, Company F, (since died,) J. D. Brown, Company H, Francis M. Thomas, and James C. Rucker, Company L; Corporals Joseph Benson, Company A, George M. Snead, Company H; and Privates L. F. Deselin, Company D, Morris Lyons, Company K, William Mithcell, Company G (killed); Albert G. Briley, John R. Dowlin, James M. Nye, William Wimberly, D. W. Wood, company I; John Paisley, Company M; William H. Brown, W. W. Elliott, Company H; C. Mason, George Dalson, Joseph S. Johnson, Company K; William Hart, J. J. Roberts, Company E; William Blood, Company M, and Joseph B. Chamberlain, Company A, deserve special mention for courage and good conduct. I take the greater pleasure in incorporating their names in this report, because the enlisted soldier, whose gallantry wins promotion for his commanding officer, rarely reaps any other reward than the consciousness of having done his duty. He bleeds and dies for his country, he wins her battles and crowns her standard with glory; at last he occupies six feet by two of her's or a foreign soil, and leaves no void behind, except in the hearts of those who call him father, son or brother. Two hundred and ninety-two enlisted men and twenty-four commissioned officers started on the McCook raid; twenty men and officers returned to our lines. I cannot say all I would of the gallant dead, or the equally gallant living, who became the victims of remorseless traitors in the vile prisons of the Southern Confederacy. Their gallantry has endeared them to me and to their surviving comrades, and it is but a brief and well merited tribute to their sufferings to say that they bore them as men and patriots. May those who languish in Southern captivity soon be restored to their friends and regiment, to battle with renewed determination for their country. Let me here pay a just need of praise to Dr. Daniel H. Warren, First Assistant Surgeon, who had not only undergone all the hardships and fatigue of the campaign untiringly, and ever ready cheerfully to discharge his utmost duty, but, when ordered by me to remain among our enemies, in charge of our wounded, acquiesced without a murmur, and he remained a prisoner for four and a half months, during which he waited on our sick and wounded, many of whom owe their lioves to his assiduous devotion to his duties. He was relieved from a rebel prison in December, and has been commissioned Surgeon of the regiment by the Governor. That portion of the regiment which had become dismounted during the campaign was concentrated at Kingston, Ga., under command of Major A. J. Price, a young but zealous and intelligent officer. He resigned his commission on Surgeon's certificate of disability ion September, leaving the command of the regiment to Major Root. In the same month the Second Battalion proceeded by rail to Nashville, and thence to Franklin, Tenn., where it was soon joined by the other companies. The regiment took on active part in the pursuit of Wheeler, and afterwards of Forrest, fighting at Franklin, Campbellsville, Pulaski, and near Florence. I reached the regiment and resumed command on the 7th of November, near Florence, Ala., soon after Hood began his advance on Nashville, and the Federal cavalry slowly fell back before him. Northeast of Columbia we had some skirmishing in which the Eighth had a few wounded. At Franklin, or rather east of Franklin, we made a stand, the rebels having become so confident as to be troublesome. General Schofiled determined to punish their temerity, and, accordingly, with the infantry at Franklin, and the cavalry on the fords of the Harpeth above the town, he awaited their approach. They came on, and the fight which ensued is long to be remembered. A brilliant victory was achieved by both infantry and cavalry, and, so severely were the foe handled, they did not further molest the march of the army, but kept at a respectful distance during our march to Nashville, where General Thomas had determined to draw Hood in order to crush and destroy his army. On the 2d of December the cavalry crossed the river and encamped at Edgefield. On the 5th, the Eighth marched for Kentucky to press horses; returning on the 11th with two hundred and seventy-five fine animals. On the 13th, recrossed the Cumberland, and, after a halt of one day, moved on the 15th out of Nashville with the Grand Army, to attack Hood. The Eighth took place in line one mile south of the Charlotte pike, at the base of a high hill, from the east of which the battlefield was spread out like a panorama. The battlefield was a splendid sight. Deep columns of eager troops moved forward against the enemy, who have courted and merited the defeat the experienced by his boastful rashness. On our right, was Johnson's Division of cavalry, on our left the Second Miochigan, dismounted. Soon came the order to move, and the eighth advanced by battalion, the Second in column under Captain Evans, the third in line to the right and a little in rear of the Second Battalion, the First under Major Root, in column and reserve to rear of right flank of third Battalion. In this form the regiments crossed a creek a quarter of a mile in front, when the enemy opened upon us. The Second and Third Battalion in line charged a hill in our front and cleared it of the enemy. A little skirmishing at nightfall was all the fighting that fell to the share of the Eighth on that glorious day. About dark our brigade moved over to the Hardin Pike. On the 16th, supported Hatch's right wing, whose division did some splendid fighting, and the army achieved the grand victory of that day. On the 17th, commenced the pursuit after Hoods defeated army. The eighth captured one hundred and twenty-eight prisoners, including four commissioned officers. On the 18th, reached Spring Hill, when a sudden change of weather induced a halt of two day. On Christmas Day we passed through Pulaski, in pursuit still, and on the 31st reached Waterloo, Ala., and received orders to build winter quarters. Before concluding this sketch it is just I should say that, from July 11th, the detachment at Kingston, Ga., and the whole regiment from September 25, 1864, was under the medical care of Dr. J. F. Smith, Assistant Surgeon. He has been with it during the whole fall campaign, and shared in all its hardships, and has proved himself a most efficient and skillful officer, as well as in all respects a gentleman. The health of the command is the best evidence of his efficiency. Dr. William H. Finley, Surgeon, was compelled, by the almost total failure of his health, to resign, which he did in May, 1864. Major Brown was a good officer, and would have won an enviable reputation had he remained in the service. In summing up the history of the regiment for the year 1864, I may be permitted to say that it has seen about as hard and continuous service as has fallen to the lot of any command in the same time. It has, without including skirmishes, which are many, taken part in fifteen engagements, the casualties amounting to one hundred and sixty-eight, not including over two hundred men and officers taken prisoners. I am, General, Repectfully, your obedient servant, J. H. DOOR, Colonel Eighth Cavalry. The conclusion of the history of the regiment is embraced in the report of Adjutant Henry H. Belfield to Adjutant General Baker. The report describes one of the most remarkable cavalry expeditions of the war, in which the brigade to which the Eighth Iowa Cavalry was attached performed the most conspicuous and hazardous service. The compiler, therefore, deems it most appropriate to embrace the entire report of Adjutant Belfield in the concluding portion of this historical sketch. While the report is dated after the muster out of the regiment, it was recognized as official by the Adjutant General, coming, as it did, from the late Adjutant and executive officer of the regiment, and being in compliance with the request of General Baker. The report is, therefore, here quoted in full, as follows: Dubuque, Iowa, December 9, 1865. General: I have the honor of resuming the history of the Eighth Iowa Cavalry at the point where left by the pen of its lamented Colonel. Waterloo, Ala., on the Tennessee River, nearly opposite Eastport, Miss., was reached December 30, 1974. On the night of the 31st, the welcome orders were received to go into winter quarters, and were communicated to the regiment January 1, 1865. A fine camp was immediately laid out and in a few days, substantial log houses were erected. At the same time detachments from the regiment were employed is scouting, guard and fatigue duty, etc. In the night of January 16th, orders were received to move in the morning with four days rations, and, on the 17th, the Eighth, and two other regiments of our brigade (First Tennessee and Second Michigan) crossed the river and bivouacked beyond Eastport, supported by a brigade of infantry and a section of Napoleon guns. We made a rapid advance on Corinth, Miss., passing through Iuka and Barnesville on the 18th. On the 19th, the Eighth, having the advance, charged into Corinth, driving out Ross's Brigade of rebel cavalry. The object of the reconnaissance having been accomplished, we returned to Waterloo, having lost one man killed, James H. Crow, Company H. The intervening time having been busily employed in refitting, drilling, etc., on the 11th of March we again crossed to the south bank of the Tennessee where, at Chickasaw, Ala., were rendezvoused, in a few days, the entire cavalry corps of the Military Division of the Mississippi Brevet Major General James H. Wilson commanding our division (the First). On the 12th, we exchanged our Burnside carbines for the Spencer, and, on the 22d of March, about six hundred strong, we joined in the general advance. Colonel Dorr was in command of the regiment, and the only field officer with it, Lieutenant Colonel Barner and Major Root being on detached duty in the rear, and Majors Isett and Shurtz not having yet rejoined the regiment from captivity. Assistant Surgeon Smith, having obtained leave of absence, and Lieutenant Pritchard, being Acting Brigade Commissary, the Staff was reduced to Surgeon Warren, Adjutant Belfield and Quartermaster Bennet. General Wilson's command marched by various roads in the general direction of Selma, Ala., meeting with but trifling obstacles, except in the bad roads and swollen rivers, until we reached Elyton, March 30th. Here our little brigade of fifteen hundred Spencers was detached from the main column and ordered to capture Tuscaloosa, while Wilson himself moved on Selma. No supply train or battery accompanied us; nothing but the allowance of pace mules, three ambulances and General Croxton's private baggage wagon. On the evening of March 31st, when about twenty-two miles northeast of Tuscaloosa, we unexpectedly found ourselves within two miles of Jackson's division of rebels, four thousand strong, with artillery. The enemy did not, however, attack our hastily formed line that evening. In the morning of April 1st, after some skirmishing and considerable maneuvering, General Croxton rapidly and quietly withdrew by an unfrequented road, marched some forty miles, and reached the Black Warrior by night at Johnson's Ferry, thirty-five miles from Tuscaloosa. By evening, April 2d, the whole brigade had crossed, by means of a little flatboat; and the evening of the 3d brought us to Tuscaloosa, though on the side of the river opposite from the town. The pickets were surprised, and the bridge captured and crossed by midnight. The Mayor formally surrendered the town to Colonel Dorr at 1 o'clock, a. m., April 4th, a few hours after the receipt of a message from General Jqckson that he "had defeated the Yankees, and Tuscaloosa was safe." Destroying rebel supplies, scouting in all directions and constantly skirmishing with the enemy, who hung around us on all sides, we evacuated Tuscaloosa on the morning of the 5th, destroying the bridge over the Black Warrior, and two captured cannon. Then commenced one of the most remarkable campaigns of the war, known as the "Naval Expedition of Croxton's Brigade." Being wholly in the dark in regard to the position or movements of General Wilson, from whom we were cut off by Jackson, and being equally ignorant of the design of Forrest, General Croxton proceeded with the greatest caution. Placing the Blak Warrior between himself and Jackson, he moved out on the Columbus, Miss., road, turning, April 6th, in the direction of Eutaw. On the afternoon of that day he unexpectedly found himself in the presence of a greatly superior force of rebels under Wirt Adams. We immediately recrossed the Sipsey, and made a forced march to Northport, opposite Tuscaloosa, taking possession of both places April 7th. In this retreat two of the three ambulances were abandoned, and the Seventh Kentucky Cavalry, being in the rear, was severely handled, but the enemy were handsomely repulsed by the Second Michigan Cavalry. The Eighth skirmished with the enemy on the flanks, losing several men captured. Others were cut off and made their way to our lines at various points. One of these, belonging to Company G, was drowned, while attempting to swim Sipsey River, pursued by the enemy. On the 8th of April we left Northport, and marched northeast. On account of the rains, not only were the roads in very bad condition, in some places nearly impassable, but the streams were very much swollen. Creeks had become rivers, rivers rushing torrents. The usual fords could be crossed only by swimming or ferrying. The ingenuity of the troops, however, was equal to the emergency. Bridges were repaired, canoes discovered hid in out of the way places, rafts were built, some mode of crossing always contrived, so that our progress was little impeded by the Sipsey, North, Black Water, Black Warrior, Coosa, Chattahoochee and other streams. The men and horses crossed most of the rivers by swimming, the arms, saddles, etc., being ferried in canoes, flats, or sugar troughs. April 15th, Haskins and Hughes, of Company Am were drowned while crossing the Sipsey. On the 16th, Bryant, of Company E, lost his life in the same stream. But little of interest occurred till April 22d, when we crossed the Cososa River and marched on Talladega. The Eighth was in advance, Lieutenant Crawford leading with Company L. General B. H. Hill's Brigade occupied the town. A few companies of the Eighth charged them with the sabre, routing them, Company L having one wounded in the head, with a sabre cut, and two captured. Having replenished our commissariat, and destroyed government and railroad property, we moved, on the 23d, on the Blue Mountain Road in pursuit of General Hill. During the day his brigade was annihilated and his only piece of artillery captured. The Eighth was unfortunately in the rear, and had only a few skirmishes, in which, however, Wright of Company E, and Standard, of Company K were killed. The bridges, depots and rolling stock of the Blue Mountain Railroad were destroyed from Talladega to the terminus of the road, together with all the iron and niter works, which rendered that region of country so valuable to the rebels April 24th the Eighth was detached and sent to Jacksonville, Ala., which we captured, Company E, Lieutenants Anderson and Pease, leading and driving some hundred or more rebels from Blue Mountain to and through Jacksonville. We rejoined the brigade at night, having marched near forty miles. The prayer of the Eighth, to burn Newnan, Ga., seemed about to be granted, for, on the 25th, we moved out on the Newnan road. But, on the 24th, while crossing the Chattahoochee River, nine miles distant from Newnan, a white flag, announced the surrender of Lee, the death of Lincoln, the Sherman- Johnston armistice, and prayed for a cessation of hostilities on the part of General Croxton. The General assented, and our designs on Newnan were frustrated. We passed through on the 27th, and proceeded by easy marches to Macon, Ga., reporting May 1st at that place to General Wilson, who had long before regarded us as lost. On the 28th of May, while the regiment was lying in camp at Macon, Colonel Dorr died. Since the 14th he had been affected by what the physicians called neuralgic rheumatism, induced by the exposures of the campaign. Nothing serious, however, was apprehended by either Doctor Warren, Surgeon of the Regiment, or Doctor McCluer, Medical Director of the Cavalry Corps, both warm personal friends; and the Colonel attended to business every day, cheerful and uncomplaining, though apparently at times suffering severely. On the morning of the 28th he arose as usual, but soon retired to his tent. Seized with a congestive chill, he sank rapidly, and, without rallying, breathed his last about 8:30 o'clock a. m., despite the most unremitting efforts of his attendants and friends. Having cared for his family, his last words were in regard to his regiment. His body was embalmed and sent home in charge of Lieutenant Bennett, escorted to the depot by the brave men whom he had so often led to victory. Colonel Dorr was a man of great personal bravery and strict integrity, an energetic and skillful officer, a rigid disciplinarian, an obedient soldier, an uncompromising patriot. Entering the service as Regimental Quartermaster of the Twelfth Iowa Infantry, he distinguished himself on the field of Shiloh and was captured with most of his regiment, when he might, without dishonor, have been safe in the rear. Escaping from a rebel prison, he obtained permission to raise the Eighth Cavalry, at a period which seemed the darkest hour of the War. At that time, when the value of mounted troops seemed to be unappreciated by the Government, Colonel Dorr saw their utility, and advocated their employment in large bodies as independent commands. Wilson's grand raid, in 1865, was but the embodiment and successful realization of ideas expressed by Colonel Door, in the spring of 1863. Wonderfully succeessful in raising his regiment, the Colonel sought active employment for himself and his command, The region between Nashville and (what is now) Johnsonville felt the vigor of his military and the equity of his civil administration. The histories of his regiment and brigade, recorded in former reports, attest his untiring energy, his sleepless vigilance, his freedom, from all selfish motives, and his zealous care for his men, while utterly reckless of his own personal safety. Twice wounded, twice a prisoner, he emphatically led his men where none but the braves dared to follow; as devoid of fear when directing or leading a charge as when viewing a dress parade. He was a good citizen, a fast friend, an enemy to all fraud and corruption, and honest man. Shortly after the death of Colonel Dorr, Major Root arrived and assumed command of the regiment. He was soon followed by Colonel Barner. By Order of General Wilson,, the Eighth prepared for muster out, and left Macon for Nashville, July 28th. Reaching Atlanta, we were ordered to return and muster out at Macon. We reached Macon on July 29th, and, on August 13th, were mustered out by Lieutenant S. S. Culbertson, U. S. A. Leaving Macon August 14, 1865, we were carried by rail to Clinton, Iowa, August 21st, and were paid off August 27th, by Major E. S. Bailey. I have the honor to be, General. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, HENRY H. BELFIELD, Late Lieutenant and Adjutant, Eighth Iowa Cavalry. BRIGADIER GENERAL N. B. BAKER, Adjutant General of Iowa.. It may well be said of the Eighth Iowa Cavalry that, during its somewhat less than two years of active service in the field, it made a record unsurpassed by that of any of the splendid regiments from its own or any other State. It is a record of which the survivors of the regiment may well be proud. But few of the men who marched and fought with the regiment are living at the time this sketch is written. A few years hence the last survivor will have crossed the river of time and joined his comrades on the shores of eternity. May the memory of their brave deeds be cherished by a grateful posterity. SUMMARY OF CASUALTIES Total enrollment 1,442 Killed 46 Wounded 123 Died of wounds 24 Died of disease 124 Discharged for disease, wounds or other causes 90 Buried in National Cemeteries 85 Captured 259 Transferred 22 COMPANY "I" Chandler, Levi. Age 25. Residence Bloomington, nativity Maine. Enlisted Aug. 13, 1863, as Fifth Sergeant. Mustered Aug. 27, 1863. Mustered out Aug. 13, 1865, Macon, Ga. COMP ANY "F" Dey, John B. Age 18. Residence New York, nativity Ohio. Enlisted June 24, 1863. Mustered Aug. 21, 1862. Mustered out Aug. 13, 1865, Macon, Ga. COMPANY "L" Fike, Thomas S. Age 22. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Iowa. Enlisted July 12, 1863. Mustered July 12, 1863. Promoted Wagoner Sept. 25, 1864. Mustered out Aug. 13, 1865, Macon, Ga. COMPANY "F" Isley, Henry H. Age 18. Residence Monroe, nativity Indiana. Enlisted June 24, 1863. Mustered Aug. 21, 1863. Mustered Aug 13, 1865, Macon, Ga. COMPANY "G" Lyle, Cline. Age 18. Residence DeWitt, nativity Pennsylvania. Enlisted Sept. 7, 1862. Mustered Sept. 7, 1863. Mustered out Aug. 13, 1865, Macon, Ga. COMPANY "F" Palmer, James. Age 18. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana. Enlisted June 24, 1863. Mustered Aug. 21, 1862. Mustered out Aug. 12, 1865, Macon, Ga. Sterrett. Finley. Age 19. Residence Monroe, nativity Pennsylavania. Enlisted July 27, 1862. Mustered Sept. 25, 1863. Taken prisoner July 30, 1864, Newnan, Ga. Mustered out Aug. 13, 1865, Macon, Ga. COMPANY "G" Swords, William H. Age 18. Residence DeWitt, nativity Ohio. Enlisted Sept. 8, 1863. Mustered Sept. 14, 1863. Wounded and taken prisoner Oct. 30, 1864, Florence, Ala. Mustered out June 2, 1865, clinton, Iowa. Wade, Charles L. Age 21. Residence Bloomfield, nativity New Jersey. Enlisted Aug. 27, 1863. Mustered Aug. 31, 1863. Promoted Seventh corporal June 1, 1865; Fifth Corporal July 1, 1865. Mustered out Aug. 13, 865, Macon, Ga.