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Chapter XIV
Picture included in this chapter is the Battle
of Shiloh
Eleventh Iowa
Infantry
The Eleventh regiment was raised in
September, 1861, in the counties of Muscatine, Louisa, Cedar,
Henry, Washington, Keokuk, Van Buren, Linn and Marshall. Going into
camp at Davenport, it was organized by the appointment of the
following field and staff officers: Colonel A. M. Hare,
Lieutenant-Colonel William Hall, Major J. C. Abercrombie, Adjutant
Cornelius Cadle, Quartermaster Richard Cadle, Surgeon William
Watson, Chaplain J. S. Whittlesey. It numbered nine hundred and
thirty-one men when mustered into service on the 1st of
November. The Eleventh was the first regiment provided with United
States uniforms before leaving the State, and its first sad duty was
to escort to the grave the remains of Lieutenant-Colonel Wentz, of
the Seventh Iowa, killed at Belmont. The regiment embarked for St.
Louis on the 16th of November and in December was sent to
Jefferson City. The winter was spent in that vicinity in various
duties and in March the regiment joined General Grant’s army at
Pittsburg Landing. In the great battle which soon followed, the
regiment was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Hall and was in a
brigade under command of Colonel Hare until he was wounded, when
Colonel Crocker took command. The Eleventh was in General
McClernand’s Division which supported Sherman in the first day’s
battle; this was its first engagement and was sustained with varying
fortune during that bloody day, losing heavily. It was in front of
this regiment that the Confederate General A. S. Johnston, while
leading a charge, was mortally wounded, doubtless by an Iowa
soldier. Lieutenant J. F. Compton was among the wounded. The
regiment was in the march to Corinth, where it remained a part of
the garrison for about three months, and was afterward in the fight
at Bolivar under Crocker. In October, at Corinth, it participated in
the battle of the 3d and 4th, meeting with slight loss.
In January, 1863, the regiment was at Memphis and in February, with
the Iowa Brigade, was at Lake Providence helping to dig the canal.
IT was with Grant’s army through the Vicksburg campaign, but not
engaged in the severe battles. AT the close of this campaign leave
of absence was granted to many officers and men. About this time
General J. D. Stevenson started on an expedition west of Vicksburg
into a region of Louisiana that had not yet been invaded by a Union
army. His command consisted of about 4,500 men and among them was
the Eleventh Iowa, then under Major Charles Foster. The troops were
transported by steamer to Goodrich’s Landing, and about the middle
of August marched into the interior, subsisting on the products of
the country through which they passed. Their route was nearly due
west through a region low and marshy, covered with a dense growth of
timber, almost impenetrable underbrush and rank tangle of vegetation
which excluded the breeze. The August sun beat down so fiercely that
men dropped by scores and hundreds along the line of march. Slimy,
oozing bayous crossed their way and had to be bridged; pontoons and
corduroy had to be laid in the stifling heat. The only water for use
of the army in many places was stagnant, warm and steeped in filth
and decaying vegetation. The men were harassed day and night by
concealed and retreating enemies. The wagons and ambulances were
loaded with sick and exhausted men. The enemy led them on day after
day among swamps and bayous, retiring across the Washita River,
destroying the pontoons and retreating into a wild region toward
Shreveport. The army stopped at Monroe two days, gathering cattle
and provisions, and finding immense stores of cotton which were
neither taken nor destroyed. Here General Stevenson decided to turn
back. The only results of this terrible march, intense suffering and
sacrifice of life, was the collection of a large drove of cattle and
the capture of one hundred and sixty sick Confederates in hospitals.
The next expedition in which the Eleventh was engaged was that which
was known as the Meridian raid, which occupied a month. Nearly all
of the members of the regiment now reenlisted as veterans and were
granted furloughs. They received a most enthusiastic welcome form
their Iowa friends and neighbors and many recruits joined them on
their return to the service. The Iowa Brigade joined Sherman at
Ackworth on the 8th of June, 1864, after the invading
army had marched flanked and fought its way there from Ringgold,
near the north line of Alabama. A few days later the Confederate
army was encountered, strongly posted on the ridges of Kenesaw
Mountain. For nearly a month Sherman’s progress was here blocked and
the time was occupied in skirmishes with the enemy. Our army was
posted within range of Confederate sharpshooters and many fell
victims to their deadly aim.(1)
The Eleventh was not in the assault of
the 27th, but lost several men killed and wounded in
front of Kenesaw. As Johnston retreated, Sherman’s army followed
toward the Chattahoochee River,
where the Confederate army was found
again strongly posted. Here the Union army was held in check for a
week. There was frequent fighting along the line in which the
Eleventh was at times engaged, always bravely doing its duty. Before
Atlanta the regiment was often under fire, and in the great battle
of the 22d of July was in the thickest of the fight.
Lieutenant-Colonel Abercrombie, in his report of the action of the
22d, says:
“Major Foster was wounded early
in the action, faithful in discharge of his duty. Captain Neal was
killed instantly by a grape shot. Captain Barr is missing. Captain
Rose was wounded and captured. Lieutenant Caldwell was killed and
Lieutenants Pfouts and Wylie wounded. I would make honorable mention
of Sergeant J. G. Safeley who, with Sergeant Buck (afterwards
killed) and a party of picked men to the number of thirty or forty,
made a dash over the works held by the enemy, bringing over more
than their own number as prisoners, among whom were a colonel and
captain. During the action a Confederate flag was captured by
private G. B. Haworth and a banner belonging to the Forty-fifth
Alabama was captured by Private Edward Siberts.”
Altogether the regiment
captured ninety-three prisoners. Captain J. W. Anderson and Adjutant
B. W. Prescott are mentioned for gallant conduct. Major Charles
Foster died of his wounds and was greatly lamented by the regiment.
He was an excellent and popular officer and had been a member of our
State Senate. The loss of the Eleventh in this battle was one
hundred and thirty-seven enlisted men. Colonel Abercrombie was
mustered out in November, and Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin Beach
succeeded to the command of the regiment. John G. Safeley was
promoted from sergeant-major to adjutant on the 15th of
September. Chaplain Whittlesley died from over exertion in care of
the wounded after the Battle of Shiloh. John G. Miller succeeded
Watson, who resigned as surgeon on the 4th of March,
1863. The Eleventh marched with the army to Savannah, and early in
1865 sailed for Beaufort and not long after took up line of march
for the North. It lost two men at the Battle of Bentonsville and
soon after was present at the surrender of Johnston. At Washington
it marched in the grand review, where Lieutenant-Colonel Beach
commanded the Iowa Brigade. The Eleventh reached Davenport on the 19th
of July, was warmly welcomed by the citizens and was there
disbanded.
Twelfth Iowa Infantry
The companies composing this
regiment were made up largely of men enlisted in the following
counties: Dubuque, Jackson, Delaware, Black Hawk, Hardin, Fayette,
Winneshiek, Allamakee and Linn. They went into camp at Dubuque
during the months of October and November the regiment numbered nine
hundred and twenty-six men. The first field and staff officers were:
J. J. Woods, colonel; J. P. Coulter, lieutenant-colonel; S. D.
Brodtbeck, major; N. E. Duncan, adjutant; J. B. Dorr, quartermaster;
C. C. Parker, surgeon; and A. G. Eberhart, chaplain. The regiment
was sent to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, soon after its organization,
and during two months’ stay suffered severely from sickness—measles
and pneumonia prostrating nearly half the members, seventy-five of
them dying while there. Among the dead was Captain Charles Tupper,
of Company G, an officer of great promise. In February the regiment
joined the army of General Grant, then starting on the campaign up
the Tennessee River, and witnessed the capture of Fort Henry on the
6th, and on the 12th of February moved with
the army against Fort Donelson. The regiment was in Colonel Cook’s
Brigade of Smith’s Division, and did excellent service in the severe
engagements that resulted in the brilliant victory. This was their
first battle, and the officers and men sustained the high reputation
already won by Iowa soldiers. Soon after the battle the Twelfth was
sent by steamer, with the army, to Pittsburg Landing. While lying
here Major Brodtbeck resigned on account of ill health, and Captain
Edgington, of Company A, was promoted to the place. In the great
battle of Shiloh, which opened early on the morning of April 6th,
the Twelfth was in General W. L. Wallace’s Division and in the
brigade commanded by Colonel Tuttle. This brigade consisted of the
Second, Seventh, Twelfth and Fourteenth Iowa regiments, and no
troops on the field fought with more stern determination. As the
commands of Sherman and Prentiss were gradually driven from their
positions they fell back to the line held by Hurlbut and Wallace.
Here a terrific conflict ensued. In overwhelming numbers the
Confederates charge again and again upon our lines and were met with
continuous fire of musketry and artillery that has seldom been
surpassed. So stubborn was the resistance that General A. S.
Johnston, commander of the Confederate army, finding column after
column driven back with shattered ranks, at last led another charge
in person and in it fell mortally wounded. This part of the field
has been appropriately named the “Hornet’s Nest,” to designate the
spot where, for hours, the hottest fight of that bloody conflict
raged. General Wallace was mortally wounded; Prentiss and most of
his command were surrounded and captured after five hours of heroic
fighting. Woods says in his report:
“After receiving orders to fall
back, seeing ourselves surrounded, we nevertheless opened fire on
that portion of the enemy who blocked our passage to the landing,
who after briskly returning our fire for a short time, fell back. A
heavy fire from the enemy on our left was going on at the same time.
Seeing the enemy in front falling back, we attempted a rapid
movement to cut our way through; but the enemy on our left advanced
rapidly, coming in behind us, pouring into our ranks a most
destructive fire. The enemy in front now faced about, and opened on
us at short range, the enemy in our rear still closing in on us
rapidly. I received two wounds, disabling me from further duty. The
command now devolved on Captain Edgington, acting as field officer.
The enemy had, however, so closely surrounded us that their balls
which missed our men took effect in their ranks beyond us. To have
held out longer would have been to suffer annihilation. The regiment
was therefore compelled to surrender. The officers and men stood
bravely up to their work, and never did men behave better.”
The killed and wounded
numbered more than numbered more than one hundred and fifty and over
four hundred were captured, eighty of whom died in southern prisons.
Colonel Woods was recaptured in the next day’s battle. The prisoners
were taken to Corinth and from there sent to various prisons. About
half of the men were paroled in May and sent to St. Louis; the
remainder, or those who survived, were paroled in November. Their
sufferings had been great, and many were so disabled that they never
regained health or strength.
About one hundred and fifty members
of the Twelfth, who were not in the Battle of Shiloh, escaped
capture and were organized into the Union Brigade under command of
Lieutenant-Colonel Coulter. The paroled men were exchanged in
January, 1863, and returned to duty. Lieutenant-Colonel Coulter
resigned in March and was succeeded by Major Edgington, and Captain
J. H. Stibbs, of Company Dm was promoted to major. The regiment
served under Sherman in the Jackson campaign and participated in the
siege and capture of Vicksburg. After the fall of Vicksburg the
Twelfth marched with Sherman’s army against Johnston. In the latter
part of July the regiment went into camp at Bear Creek, fifteen
miles east of Vicksburg, where it remained until October. Here
Lieutenant-Colonel Edgington resigned and Major Stibbs assumed
command of the regiment, as Colonel Woods was in command of a
brigade. Captain Van Duzee, of Company I, was promoted to major.
About the middle of November the regiment joined the command of
General Hurlbut and was soon after placed in charge of Chewalla, and
remained there until the close of January, 1864, the veterans of the
regiment reenlisted as veterans. In March, 1864, the veterans of the
regiment visited their homes on furlough, returning toward the last
of April. The regiment was sent to Memphis and was engaged in
guarding lines of railroad. On the 13th, 14, and 15th
of July it was engaged in fights with the enemy in the vicinity of
Tupelo. On the 12th, while guarding a train, it was
attacked by a Confederate brigade, and after a desperate conflict
defeated the enemy. On the 17th the Battle of Tupelo was
fought, in which the Twelfth did excellent service. It was stationed
behind a barricade constructed along an old fence, where it was
repeatedly assailed by the enemy’s columns; enemy’s charges. Late in
the day it joined several other regiments in a charge on the
Confederates, which drove them from the field.
On the next day the regiment was
assigned a position on the Pontotoc road, protected by a breastwork
of cotton bales, where it took an active part in the battle. Its
loss during the three days was nine killed and fifty-five wounded.
Lieutenant A. A. Burdick, a gallant young officer, was among the
killed, and Captain C. L. Sumbardo was severely wounded. Lieutenant
A. A. Burdick, a gallant young officer, was among the killed, and
Captain C. L. Sumbardo was severely wounded. In August it was
stationed at Holly Springs, where Lieutenant-Colonel Stibbs was
placed in command. Companies A. and F, under command of Captain
Hunter, were stationed at a post near the mouth of the White River,
where they built a stockade. The little garrison, consisting of
less than fifty men, was, on the night of June 4th,
attacked by nearly four hundred Confederates. A desperate fight
ensued, in which the little band fought with unsurpassed heroism
against overwhelming numbers. AT one time a number of the enemy
entered the stockade, but was met by Sergeant Isaac Cottle and
Corporal George D. Hunter with revolvers, who attacked them with
such fury that they fled. The two brave men were, however, fatally
wounded in the heroic encounter which saved the post from capture.
After losing fifty men, including their leader, the Confederates
were defeated, and retired leaving their wounded on the field. Early
in September the Twelfth, under General Mower, embarked on a steamer
with the army for White River. Landing at Duval’s Bluff the army
started in pursuit of General Price, who was retreating toward Cape
Girardeau. For nineteen days the men marched through rain, mud,
swamps and rivers on short rations. On the 6th of October
the army embarked for St. Louis, where a supply of clothing was
procured and a fresh start made to join General A. J. Smith’s army
in pursuit of Price. They followed the Confederate army to the
Kansas line, but were not able to overtake it. On the 30th
the army turned back and ended one of the hardest marches of the
year, reaching St. Louis on the 15th of November. On the
22d, Colonel Woods left the service, his term having expired. The
non-veterans were also here mustered out and the regiment was
reduced to about two hundred men present for duty. The next service
was under General Thomas in his Nashville campaign, where the
Twelfth fought with its usual gallantry. In January, 1865, it was at
Eastport, Mississippi, under command of Major Knee, who had been
promoted from Captain of Company H. In February it joined General
Canby in his expedition against Mobile, and did good service in that
brilliant campaign. It continued in the service doing garrison duty
until January, 1866, when finally it was mustered out at Louisville,
Kentucky, on the 20th. Lieutenant-Colonel Stibbs had been
promoted to colonel and Brevet Brigadier-General before being
mustered out of the service.
End Note:
1—Lieutenant Alfred Carey was mortally
wounded on the 15th of June, and died July 25th |
