Fourth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Cavalry
Page 644
On the 11th of May, Lieutenant Colonel Swan was ordered
to move rapidly in the direction of Hayses Bluff and reconnoiter that fortified
position for the purpose of ascertaining whether it was still occupied
by the enemy. Early in the afternoon, the advance guard of the regiment
came within sight of works, and continued to advance cautiously, but not
encountering opposition. Captain Peters with his company was ordered to
move forward for closer observation and meeting with no enemy, he rode
into the fort and found but twenty of the enemy, who surrendered without
resistance.
The strongly fortified position had been hastily evacuated. Captain
Peters at once got into communication with Admiral Porter, whose fleet
of gunboats was lying in the Yazoo River, below, out of range of the guns
of the fort, and a detachment of marines was landed, under command of Lieutenant
Walker, to whom Captain Peters turned over the fort and prisoners. Captain
Peters moved on to the fortification at Snyder's Bluff, which he found
had also been abandoned by the enemy.. That night the regiment bivouacked
in the rear of McPherson's Corps and remained in that temporary camp for
several days, sending out scouting and reconnoitering detachments to observe
the movements of the enemy. The camp was afterwards moved to a fine location
in the rear of General Sherman's position. The effective force of the regiment
was constantly drawn upon for scouting duty and most of the men and officers
were in the saddle during the day and many times far into the night. This
incessant service told severely upon both men and horses, and the effective
strength of the regiment became fearfully reduced as the days wore on,
both men and horses breaking down when the limit of physical endurance
was reached. In the performance of these duties several conflicts with
the Army occurred.
On the 24th of May, near Mechanicsville, a large detachment
of the regiment under Major Parkell, joined with detachments of other cavalry;
all under command of Lieutenant Colonel Swan met a similar force of the
enemy and, in the skirmish, the fourth Iowa had one man wounded and one
horse killed. On May 29th near the same place. Major Parkell,
in command of all of the effective force of the regiment, had quite a serious
engagement with the enemy, in which he had one officer and six men wounded.
Major Winslow, whose battalion ws supporting the artillery, was wounded
in the leg by a piece of shell, and though he continued on duty, suffered
from the wound for many months. On the 22nd of June, a detachment
of the regiment composed of 30 men each from companies A, F, I, and K,
120 men and officers under command of Major Parkell was sent to blockade
the road near the Bear Creek ford, by falling trees, and then delay the
expected advance of the enemy. While engaged in this work, the pickets
which had been posted were attacked and those who were not killed, wounded
or captured were rapidly driven in. And Major Parkell found himself and
his small command confronted with an overpowering force of the enemy. He
made a most gallant resistance but his valor and that of his men and officers
could not prevail against such tremendous odds; and he was compelled to
retreat, with a loss of more than one-half of the detachment. The pursuit
was not long continued. The commanding officer of the rebel force, naturally
expecting that reinforcements would be encountered soon halted and retreated
with his prisoners. The loss of Major Parkell's detachment was 8 killed,
17 wounded, and 36 captured. The enemy left 15 men dead upon the field
and one officer, a Major, mortally wounded, who evidently was supposed
to be killed, as they carried off the rest of their wounded. Their total
loss could not, therefore, be ascertained, but it no doubt reached if it
did not exceed that of the Fourth Cavalry, except in prisoners. Upon learning
of the attack, the remainder of the regiment was quickly mounted and hurried
to the relief of their comrades, but was not able to overtake the rebels
before they had reached the lines of their own army. The division commander
was justly criticized for sending so small a force so far in advance of
the Union Lines, without adequate support being provided in case of attack.
Lieutenant Joshua Gardner and Sergeant William T. Biggs died from the effect
of wounds received in this engagement. All of the captured were exchanged
and returned to the regiment in October, except Lieutenant William J. McConnelle,
who remained in prison a long time and was finally exchanged and discharged
without returning to the regiment, and Private James A. Livingston , who
was reported to have died of his wounds in prison.
Page 645
On the 20th of June 1863, Major Winslow was promoted to Colonel
of the regiment, succeeding Colonel Porter who had resigned on account
of ill health. Upon assuming command of the regiment, Colonel Winslow proceeded
with great energy to improve the condition in the manner of more strict
enforcement of discipline and in other respects. He had secured the confidence
and respect of the men and officers, and his efforts to improve upon the
methods of those who had preceded him in command of the regiment were appreciated
by all. They were now thoroughly seasoned soldiers and comprehended the
absolute necessity for a more strict and impartial enforcement of discipline.
Had this feeling been shown at an earlier period, Lieutenant Colonel Drummond
would most likely not have resigned on account of the difference of opinion
between Colonel Porter and himself as to the proper discharge of the duties
of the commander of the regiment. The experience of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry
was not greatly unlike that of other volunteer organizations. It generally
took a long time for the men to discover that implicit obedience to orders
constitute the first duties of a soldier, and also to discover those among
their officers who were best fitted not only to command them in time of
battle, but in best care of them upon the march, in camp and under all
conditions of the service. For this reason the early commanders of regiments
met with greater difficulties than those who succeeded them and they were
often subjected to unjust criticism--at least this was true with reference
to a majority of them.
Immediately after the surrender of Vicksburg, on the 4th of
July, 1863, General Sherman's army moved against the rebel army, commanded
by General Johnston. On the morning of July 5th , Sherman's
infantry were upon the march towards Jackson. A cavalry brigade, composed
of the Third and Fourth Iowa, Second Wisconsin, and Fifth Illinois under
command of Colonel Cyrus Bussey, of the Third Iowa, crossed the Big Black
River at Messinger's Ferry, and at once took the advance of the army on
the road to Jackson. From the morning of the 6th to the 11th
of July, Colonel Bussey's command was constantly at the front, had numerous
skirmishes with the enemy and rendered valuable assistance to General Sherman
in driving the rebel army into its entrenchments at Jackson and in subsequent
operation during the short siege which followed ending in the evacuation
of the works, by Johnston, on July 17th and his retreat
Page 646
across Pearl River. While the siege was in progress, Bussey's cavalry
had been active, and, in obedience of orders, from General Sherman, proceeded
to destroy a portion of the railroad, immediately in the north of Jackson,
then marched towards Canton, twenty five miles farther in the north, in
conjunction with a force of infantry and artillery, engaged the enemy,
driving him into Canton on the night of July 17th. That night,
the enemy evacuated Canton, and the next morning Colonel Bussey marched
into town with his command, and proceeded to destroy factories and machine
shops which had been engaged in the manufacture of equipments for the rebel
army, also, cars and locomotives, which had been used by the rebels in
transporting supplies for their army. Immediately after entering Canton,
Colonel Bussey had ordered the Fourth Iowa Cavalry to march rapidly to
the Big Black River and destroy the long railroad bridge and a mile of
trestle work together with the railroad property at Way's Bluff. The regiment
promptly executed this order, meeting with no resistence from the enemy,
and rejoined the command that night. Colonel Bussey then marched from Canton
to Messinger's Ferry and went into camp. The Fourth Iowa Cavalry's camp
was located on the Flowers Plantation, a beautiful place surrounded by
a luxuriant growth of trees, shrubs, and flowers, where it remained about
three months. Notwithstanding the beauty of the location, the semi-tropic
climate was unhealthful to these men who had been reared in the north and
there was much sickness in the regiment.
Upon his return from Jackson, General Sherman had established his headquarters
about a mile , north of the camp of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry, and an acquaintance
was formed between the General and Colonel Winslow, which grew into a warm
friendship. From the day (May 12th, 1863) that General Sherman
had been a witness to the gallantry and coolness of Winslow under the fire
of the enemy and the skill with which he handled his men, he had kept him
in mind as an officer who would deserve promotion. Closer observation had
confirmed the General's first estimate and he determined to organize an
Independent Cavalry Brigade and to place Colonel Winslow in command of
it. General Sherman had planned an important and a hazardous expedition,
the successful execution of which would inflict heavy damage upon the enemy,
but require the exercise of great skill and good judgment on the part of
the officer, who would be selected to command it. General Grant approved
the plan, leaving all the details for the execution of it to be arranged
by General Sherman. In his letter of instructions to Colonel Winslow, General
Sherman states that there is a large amount of railing stock-- 70 locomotives
and 500 (?)cars --on the Great Central Railroad between and at Water Valley
and Granada to be moved, if possible, to and above Granada and thence to
Memphis. He also states that General Grant had ordered that a Cavalry force
to proceed from Memphis to Grenada and to cooperate with the force under
Colonel Winslow in carrying out these instructions. In an expedition of
this kind, it was, of course, necessary to invest in the commanding officer
the authority to act upon his own judgment, but he was to carry out his
instructions, in so far as it was possible to do so, and to use his own
discretion as circumstances should require. The official report of Colonel
Winslow shows that his instructions were strictly complied with, except
in the matter(1) of getting the railing
stock into Memphis which turned out to be impossible. The operations of
the regiment and brigade during the expedition are fully described, and
with that particular clarity of detail characteristic of Colonel Winslow's
reports. The compiler regrets that limitation of space will not permit
the insertion of the entire report in this sketch.
Page 647
The following extracts will, however, serve to show the indomitable
will of the commander, and the bravery, and good discipline of his officers
and men, some of the difficulties encountered and overcome, and the important
results achieved.
In accordance with instructions, the forces under my command, consisting
of the Third Iowa, Fourth Iowa, and Fifth Illinois Cavalry regiments, eight
hundred men left camp on Big Black River at 8 o'clock a.m. on the 10th
inst....reached Yazoo City at 8 o'clock on the 12th inst. The
gunboats, transports and troops had left this place early on the 11th
inst.(2) After waiting in bivouax until
the morning of the 11th inst., I decided in opposition to the
voices of the officers commanding regiments to rush forward without further
delay....We bivouacked at 10 p.m. on Harlan's Creek thirty miles from Yazoo
City and eight miles from Lexington. Entered Lexington, where the Third
Iowa, Major Noble and Lieutenant Jones, A.A.C.S. was left to procure rations,
while the main force pushed forward to Durant And captured at noon a train
of cars just from Grenada. Captain Peters was immediately placed in charge
of the engine and proceeded five miles below Durant and burned a bridge
on the track. I learned that there was one engine and about ten cars, also
that the railroad bridge over Big Black River had just been repaired, the
captured train being the first one ordered over it. Resting until 4 o'clock
P. M. when the Third Iowa came up the columns moved to West Station going
into bivouac at 11 P.M. twenty four miles by way of Durant and twenty miles
direct from Lexington. At this point, some cars and engines were found
and with the train from Durant forwarded to Tilden--twelve miles--arriving
at 11 o'clock 14th inst. when the Cavalry was delayed until
6 P.M. to make up trains. Reaching Winona---twelve miles---at daybreak
on the 17th, it was found that the enemy, which now appeared
in front, had destroyed a small bridge above town. I therefore, decided
to leave the trains, now comprising thirteen engines and sixty cars, and
pushed forward into Grenada, where I heard some force of the enemy were
posted. I caused to be burned a bridge below West Station, one below Vaiden,
and two below and near Winona that the trains might not be carried off
if we should be forced to abandon them temporarily. Under my instructions,
I intended to return-to Winona - and run them into Grenada. I found Lieutenant
Colonel Phillips, Ninth Illinois Mounted Infantry, with two brigades--fifteen
hundred men.
Upon learning of the approach of Colonel Phillips command, the rebel forces,
stationed at Grenada, had burned two bridges north of that place, thus
making it impossible to get the locomotives and cars beyond that point.
Those at Grenada were, therefore, destroyed, while those left north of
that place were abandoned. Colonel Winslow then assumed command of all
of the Union forces and proceeded on the march to Memphis on the 23rd
of August, 1863 having marched 265 miles. The total casualties were 11
men killed and wounded. The loss of the enemy in killed and wounded was
not definitely ascertained, but 56 of their number were captured and paroled.
During this expedition, the Fourth Iowa Cavalry was commanded by Major
Paskill.
1. Report of the Adjutant General of Iowa, 1865, pages 1315 to 1317
2. According to his instructions, Colonel Winslow was to have secured supplies at Yazoo City from the Commissary of the Union troops stationed there. His failure in so compelled him either to return to Vicksburg for supplies or to continue his march and take the chances of procuring supplies for his men as well as forage for his horses, from the country at the time of his march. He boldly decided on the latter course, in opposition to the judgment of his officers.