Iowa Old Press
Keosauqua Republican
Keosauqua, Van Buren co. Iowa
February 7, 1862
WILL THERE BE A FORWARD MOVE SOON?
Can't tell. Hope so. We are looking for something now
all the time. The telegraph has been announcing every day for a
week that something was under foot. We believe it. We know there
is a great deal of snow under foot now in some places, and in
others a great seal of mud, and has been for a great deal of
time. And it may be that this is what the telegraph refers to.
We thought it meant something else a few weeks ago, when it spoke
of a greater movement on foot at Cairo. It gave the names of four
Brigadiers, each with a division of five or six thousand men, and
the gun boats under Commodore Foote, starting on a grand
expedition down the river; and Smith, at Paducah, had also left
with five thousand men, and was to form a junction with the Cairo
forces somewhere below – we supposed in the neighborhood of
Columbus, - Intelligence from the expedition was anxiously looked
for. It was supposed that the advance guard of the grand army
that was to open the Mississippi and march to New Orleans. All
were anxious to hear of the first conflict, and when the thunder
of cannon was expected from Columbus, the telegraph announced
that the object of the expedition had been accomplished, and it
had got safely back to Cairo; and a few days after we learned
that Commodore Foote had not yet received the mortars for his
fleet, and without the mortars it was useless for the fleet to
start down the river. Scissors! After being told so often that
the fleet was all ready, now to hear it had no mortars! Not only
so, but the Commodore actually lacked a thousand men as having
enough for his fleet! And that recruiting offices had been opened
in different parts of the country for volunteers. Scissors again.
Why was this not known sooner! Ten thousand men might have been
had. It is encouraging to learn that the mortars are now ready at
Pittsburgh, and that an order has been issued for their immediate
shipment to Cairo, and that the Chicago papers state that the
recruiting is going on rapidly in that city, and that the
compliment for the fleet will soon be made up.
Will there be a forward movement soon? It is apparent from what
we have said above, that a forward move from Cairo cannot be
looked for very soon. The mortars are to arrive and be placed in
position on the boats that are to receive them, and the necessary
number of men to man the boats to be raised first. How long it
will take it will be difficult to tell, especially if the men
require as much drilling as those composing other parts of the
army are said to require before being fit for duty.
An expedition was put on foot some time since for the southwest
for Missouri after Price. It is now moving at a snail's pace, and
there is no telling when it will get to Springfield, or what it
will do when it gets there, - whether, if it whips Price it will
follow him up, or whether if he runs it will return to St. Louis
to rust awhile longer in camp. The expedition never got ready to
start until the roads were almost impassable, and now it is
dragging it's slow length along through the mud as best it can. A
part of the force is now at Lebanon, LaClede county, some thirty
or forty miles from Springfield, under General Curtis, awaiting
the arrival of other troops. So this branch of the army, it will
be seen, is moving, or going through the motions. In the mean
while Price has had abundance of time to strengthen his position,
and it is reported that he has been strongly re-enforced from
Arkansas, and is preparing to make a strong defense.
The great Lane expedition, as it has been called, that had some
indefinite period in the future to start from Leavenworth, it
seems was misnamed. If any expedition starts south from
Leavenworth, it will be under command of Gen. Hunter with Lane as
a subordinate officer, if he accompanies it at all, which is a
matter of doubt. In fact, we begin to doubt whether there will be
any expedition of the kind and extent spoken of, from that
quarter at all. Before Lane left Washington it was understood
throughout the country, that every thing necessary had been
arranged in reference to his expedition, as it was called.
His staff was appointed and approved by Gen McClellan, and the
names composing it published. Lane left the city apparently with
flying colors, and when he reached Chicago on his way to
Leavenworth, made a great speech – telling the people of the
great change of sentiment that had taken place in Washington in
reference of conducting the war – of the authority he had
and of the policy he was going to pursue, &c., &c. Before
he got to Kansas Gen. Hunter issued a proclamation stating that
the expedition known as the Lane expedition, when it moved from
that post, would be headed by himself, unless he was otherwise
instructed by the government. At last accounts, Lane and Hunter
were at loggerheads, and there is a possibility of that great
expedition resulting in a great fizzle. So it will be seen that a
move in this direction or with this branch of the army, is not
very flattering.
We are not sufficiently enlightened in reference to the Burnside
expedition to know whether we can look with reason on anything
stirring from the coast of North Carolina very soon or not. It
seems the government had a great fraud practiced upon it in the
vessels purchased for the expedition. They require more water to
float them than was bargained for, and the consequence is many of
them cannot get through the inlet at Hatteras. Vessels that were
insured to draw only six or seven feet water drew eight and ten,
and seven feet and a half of water is the utmost there is to go
upon in passing through the inlet. Many of the boats are
therefore rendered useless, and some of them have been beached
and destroyed. Some were also lost on account of the roughness of
the weather. What the number of disabled and useless ones from
all causes, we are not well informed – nor to what extent
the expedition has been crippled by the frauds and by the
weather. It is stated, however, that the officers are actively
engaged in repairing damages, as far as possible, and by lighting
the larger vessels, will get the most of the uninjured part of
the fleet through the inlet into Pamlico Sound, and they will be
able to commence operations in a short time. We will continue to
look with interest for more news from this quarter.
[transcribed by M.O., April 2017]
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Keosauqua Republican
Keosauqua, Van Buren co. Iowa
February 14, 1862
The 2nd Iowa regiment has been ordered to Fort Henry, Tenn.
IOWA SECOND REGIMENT McDowell's College St. Louis, Mo., Feb. 4th,
1862
Friend Joel:
Times are dull and monotonous in St. Louis. There is quite a
dearth as to news that is excitable and of the sensation
character. Probably it is only the calm that proceeds the mighty
storm – that some coils of the great anaconda that lies
stretched nearly across the continent is about to move.
No changes have been made here with the exception of releasing a
few prisoners now and then by the Military Board of Commissioners
in daily session here. The prisoners jocosely remark they have
become qualified to be promoted higher (to Alton) for their
mechanical ingenuity is nearly exhausted in getting up a Pipe
with various devices, having accidentally found in the walls a
soft lime stone of which they have worked up a perch or two.
Since special order No. 80, by command of Gen. Halleck, the
ladies have not made themselves so fresh in waving “hostile
flags for the purpose of insulting our troops and carrying on
communications with the prisoners of war.” “Any
carriage or other vehicles, bearing a hostile flag will be seized
and confiscated.” On last evening, three secesh, with bricks
in their hats, passing in a sleigh, thought they would try
halooing for Jeff, but soon found themselves in the cellar of the
military prison and their horses and sleigh confiscated.
George Nixon, a private of company F, died on the 27th of Jan.
last, after a lingering illness of camp disease and diarrhea. A
young man well known about Keosauqua, and an excellent mechanic,
leaves a wife and small family, and none have died out of our
company more regretted than he.
Ed.
NEWS OF THE WEEK Friday February 14th, 1862
FORWARD MOVEMENTS
Greater activity seems to prevail at present among our forces, in
all quarters, than in any future(sic) period. Action is the word
now, and the suspense that has so long brooded over the minds of
the people is being relieved. The important strikes that have
been made during the week gladdens the hearts of patriots, while
they produce gloom and sadness among the rebels.
In another column will be found the news of the expedition up the
Tennessee river and the capture of Fort Henry on the edge of the
state of Tennessee. This second expedition from Cairo resulted in
something more than a mere reconnaissance. The fight on our side
as will be seen was all done by the gunboats, the land forces not
arriving in time to participate in the engagement, else the whole
rebel garrison would have been captured. After handing over the
fort and rebel prisoners to General Grant, who came up soon after
the capture, the gunboats proceeded up the river some twenty
miles to a point where the railroad crosses the river, the bridge
over which they destroyed. This breaks the direct connection of
the rebels between Columbus and Bowling Green, which must be
seriously felt by them.
The value of property captured at Fort Henry is stated at several
hundred thousand dollars. The rebel garrison, except the General
and one hundred others that were taken prisoners, escaped to Fort
Donelson, on the Cumberland river.
THE INSIDE OF FORT HENRY
An army correspondent of the Chicago Tribune says:
It is impossible for me to give a description of the army
captured in the rebel works. There were heaps of old flintlock
guns, mostly of the 1828 pattern, but some old enough and rusty
enough to have been carried by the grandfathers of the rebels.
There were old rifles with shattered stocks tied to the barrel
with shoemaker's waxed ends. There were single and double
barreled guns, some of which saw their best days years ago. There
were a few good guns, but the majority were such as we have
described. There were homemade sabres, or swords, or cleavers, or
knives – one knows what name to give them – but the
most ungainly implements of war imaginable – made by the
poorest and most unskilled of blacksmiths. They were rough,
unpolished blades, about 18 inches long, wide and very thick.
They had oak handles and rough guards. They might do good service
as butcher's cleavers but could not be yielded with great effect
in battle. They were in sheep-skin sheaths, of the poorest kind
of dressing, tan colored, with a slit for the soldiers belt.
Provisions of all kinds were found in abundance, flour, bacon,
corn, pork, sugar and molasses. There was a good supply of shoes,
blankets, camp kettles and tents sufficient to accommodate
several thousand men.
There is need that I should enlarge upon the effects of this
victory, either upon the nation or the rebels. Your readers will
be quick to see it's importance – how it flanks both Bowling
Green and Columbus – gives us the connecting railroad
between those places, open to us the northern section of the
cotton growing region, and gives us a prestige which will be felt
by every soldier in the Union army, and every patriot in the
land.
[transcribed by M.O., April 2017]
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Keosauqua Republican
Keosauqua, Van Buren co. Iowa
February 28, 1862
FURTHER FROM FORT DONELSON
Fort Donelson via Cairo, Feb. 20.
The number of field pieces taken in the Union victory here is
much larger than heretofore telegraphed. We have at least 70
guns. Among them are bronze and iron rifled pieces of English
manufacture. Taylor's battery captured a beautiful rifled piece,
an imitation of the Parrott, made in England, and two bronze
rifled pieces.
The prisoners will amount to full 15,000, all contrary assertions
notwithstanding. The small arms captured amount to 20,000. So far
as I can ascertain, our loss is:
49th Illinois, Killed and wounded, 40.
Taylor's Battery, 1 killed and 4 wounded.
18th Illinois, killed 45; about 60 wounded.
17th Illinois, killed 4, wounded 20.
12th Iowa, killed 3, wounded 64.
58th Ohio, wounded 8.
14th Iowa, 6 killed, 50 wounded.
2nd Iowa, 38 killed, 150 wounded.
9th Ills., 35 killed, 60 wounded.
41st Ills., 17 killed, 140 wounded.
20th Ills., 21 killed, 118 wounded.
30th Ills., 19 killed, 17 wounded.
8th Ills., 56 killed, 186 wounded.
21st Ills., 40 killed, 200 wounded.
12th Ills., 35 killed, 109 wounded.
It is utterly impossible, as yet, to male out anything like a
full list of the names of the killed and wounded. I will send
them to you as soon as they can be made out by the officers. The
number of rebels killed, is at the least calculation 800, and
their wounded more than double that number. Other important
movements are now on foot in this region. Keep your ears open for
stirring news.
MORTALITY LIST
Company F - The following is the official list of the
killed and wounded in company F, 2nd Iowa regiment, at Fort
Donelson:
KILLED - 2nd Lieutenant William C. Harper; Sergeant G. W. Morse;
Privates W. S. Crooks; S. G. Metz; G. B. Shriver; W. Vinson; John
Vandorn.
WOUNDED – Corporals Samuel Hoofman, groin; James Sprague,
neck; Privates F. M. Armstrong, groin; Alonzo Bradford, thigh;
Chas. S. Coger, arm; J. H. Duffield, shoulder and neck; H. D.
Duffield, slightly; James Carr, slightly; Ed. Goddard, arm; H. C.
Houk, thigh; John S. Marriott, shoulder and arm; John Morrow,
slightly; Geo. Smith, slightly; Andrew Shriver, head; F. B.
Wilson, head and hip; William W. Walker, slightly. Of the
wounded, H. C. Houk and Andrew Shriver have since died.
Of the final charge, which caused the rebels to hoist the flag,
the brigade commander, (Col. Lauman) in his report says:
“The second Iowa, Col. Tuttle, led the advance, followed by
the 52nd Indiana, (temporarily attached to my brigade) who were
ordered to support them. This regiment was followed closely by
the 25th Indiana, the 7th Iowa and the Iowa 14th. The Sharp
Shooters were previously deployed as skirmishers on our extreme
right and left. Col. Tuttle led the left wing of the regiment in
line of battle up the hill, supported by the right wing advancing
at a distance of about one hundred and fifty yards in the rear.
So soon as he came in range of the enemy's fire, he led his men
forward without firing a gun up to and charged into the rebel
works, driving the enemy before him and planting his colors on
their fortifications. He was closely followed by other regiments
in the order of advance before named. The enemy were closely
pursued and driven back behind their inner works. Night coming
on, we held the position we had gained, and remained under arms
until morning, intending at dawn of day to re-commence the
attack. In this engagement the 2nd Iowa suffered terribly.
Captains Slaymaker and Cloutman fell just as they entered the
enemy's fortifications. Cloutman was instantly killed and
Slaymaker died gallantly shouting to his men to go forward and
consummate the work.
In the morning, as day dawned, we were attracted to the inner
fortifications by the sound of a bugle, and saw the rebels
displaying a white flag. I instantly dispatched Lieut. Col.
Parrott to ascertain the intent of it, who reported that an
officer wished to see me. I repaired to the spot and received
from him offers of capitulation, which I at once forwarded to you
– the result is well known.
LETTER FROM FORT DONELSON
The following letter written by Mr. D. McWorkman of this
place, written to his wife, has been handed us, and we take the
liberty of publishing it in full, believing it will be read with
interest by our readers:
FORT DONELSON FEB. 20,1862
It has now been ten days since I had a pen in my fingers, ten
days of unceasing toil, and I find it difficult to write at all;
but I will do the best I can, perhaps among you, you can make it
out.
Well, we left St. Louis on Monday the 10th. You have heard of the
“Hamilton Order” concerning our regiment. It hurt me
very much and I cried like a child. As we came down the river we
were cheered at every town, but cheers had no charms for me.
About midnight of the 12th, the Col. Came to me and I had a long
talk with him which cheered me up some. We finally reached Cairo.
Until this time our destination was Fort Henry, on the Tennessee,
which is only 12 miles from here, but when we got to Cairo the
order was changed to this place. So we passed on up the Ohio to
Smithland, and then up the Cumberland. We now knew we would soon
get into a fight, provided we could get up in time. A force had
gone ahead of us by steamers, and when we got to Smithland, six
gun boats had gone up. Our old boat was awful slow, and I was
afraid it would all be over before we could get up.
All along through Kentucky we were welcomed by shouts and cheers.
Old men seemed mad with joy. I never witnessed such unmistakable
signs of pleasure. At one place, about the Tennessee line, an old
grey headed man, with two little girls, one in each hand, came
down to the waters edge saying, “God bless you my Union
friends,” “God bless you my dear Union friends.”
It seemed to come from an honest heart. All the cheers up this
way were for the “Union” and the dear old flag under
which we have lived and prospered for so long.
On Thursday morning we ran out of wood, and landed for a supply
of twenty cords, and while here heard the gun boats firing; in a
moment 300 men of the 2nd were on shore carrying it in. The Col.
Worked like a Turk. Captains and Lieutenants pitched in and we
soon got it aboard and steamed on. Now we came up with the fleet,
with which was a little tug, which went on, but soon returned
with orders to prepare to disembark our forces with two days'
rations. How far we were below the Fort nobody seemed to know.
Our little tug which the boys named the “Grand Rapids”
was running up and down like wildfire all the time. We landed on
the right bank of the river Thursday night, but did not go on
shore until Friday morning. All seemed quiet, but on Friday
morning when day broke there lay our gunboats, 17 steamboats and
the little “Grand Rapids.” The regiment went ashore,
formed and marched off to the right. I wanted to accompany them,
but as there was nothing I could do, I was left behind.
Soon after the gunboats moved slowly up the river. Some said the
Fort was four miles, some five, and some said seven miles up the
river. I was now told the land forces had been skirmishing on the
right wing since Wednesday 2 o'clock. A light snow fell on
Thursday night and the high hills were clothed in white. But our
men marched off with haversacks only; we knew not where they
were, and could not get their blankets to them. When the gunboats
started, I went up the river about a mile to the top of a high
hill; I could see the position of their batteries, about a mile
and a half off, but close down to the river bank. The gunboats
came slowly on and opened fire with shot and shell. I don't know
the names of them but one, except the “Tyler” kept off
and fired at long range. The firing was not rapid at first, but
the boats, except the “Tyler,” continued to advance,
and soon the battle commenced in earnest, and there was a
constant roar of artillery, which reverberated grandly among the
hills. But the boats moved on in gallant style, and the thunder
of the artillery was as fairly grand, and beyond any language of
mine to describe.
When we first came up with the fleet, a peculiar feeling crept
over me; it was not fear, I think, but a sickening sensation, but
I did not feel it afterwards. But to the fight. How long it raged
I cannot tell. But the rudders of the boats, two of them at
least, being disabled, the boats drifted slowly back and the
firing ceased. As the boats drifted by me I could see they had
had it pretty hot. Their decks were covered in splinters, the
flagstaff of one had been shot away. When they landed I went down
to them. They had lost several men. One man had been torn into
shreds. I saw them pick up pieces of flesh as big as my two
hands, a number of them too, and throw them into the river. One
man had both arms shot off. All Friday night our boys lay without
blankets, and from my hearts core I pitied them, but we could do
nothing to relieve them. Saturday morning I heard they were on
the left wing, about six miles from where our transports lay.
I mounted “Billy” and took two blankets, and started
over the roughest road imaginable. The blankets I took for the
Colonel, as I knew he could not take a great deal of exposure. I
soon came in hearing of the crack of the rifles of Col. Birge's
sharpshooters. I got off and hitched my pony, shouldered my
blankets, and started off afoot, as the limbs began to fall above
my head, and I did not know how soon some cuss might take aim at
me. But I could not see them, not a man, though their
entrenchments were in sight. But I soon saw how the land laid.
They would creep up and fire and drop down again to keep out of
sight of Birge's Boys. They had two nasty little howitzers up on
the hill that were throwing grape down in this direction hot. But
they aimed too high. I asked a soldier where the 2nd was, he told
me right down on my left, they were forming to storm the
entrenchments. They were down in a deep ravine and would soon be
in view. I watched a moment and there opened a perfect storm of
musketry from behind the breastworks; another moment I saw the
left wing of the 2nd led by the gallant Colonel up to the
entrenchments. They were in line and had not fired a gun. Right
over they go and away goes all rebeldom, and not being able to
reach them with their bayonets they opened fire.
I took off my cap to cheer, but in swinging it around my head the
rim came off and the crown went sailing down the hill. I knew it
would not do to go after it just then, so I waited until they run
off back across the hills, which they did like a flock of sheep,
with their white blankets across their shoulders. When I went
back I met Capt. Abe Wilkins of company F. I took his hand and
said Capt. I am so glad to meet you safe. I saw he was full, he
replied, “We have beat them, but have lost some as good men
as the sun ever shone on. George Morse is dead; Lieutenant
Harper, Captain Cloutman of company K, and Captain Slaymaker of
company C.” His voice trembled like a child's. I went on.
The wounded and dead had been carried back.
I soon came to Cloutman, he was a splendid fellow. He was shot in
the breast and had died instantly. Lieut. Harper was shot in the
heart with a large ball that passed entirely through his body. I
took my two blankets and covered these two bodies. The next man I
saw was Maj. Chapman, he was shot through the thigh, but he never
flinched. I helped put him in an ambulance. George Morse fell
inside the entrenchments, almost all the others on the outside on
the hillside. He was shot directly through the head. Sergeant
Doty, of company D, a splendid fellow, fell dead on the parapet.
I stayed until 11 o'clock at night and then rode back, our
regiment went back to hold what they had so bravely gained in the
afternoon. I enquired of someone of Voltaire, and he said he
though he was down, for he had seen him with the colors, and he
had told him he was the last of the color guard, and when he
looked back a moment afterwards the colors were in other hands. I
supposed he was killed, and did not know better until after the
surrender, when I saw him with the banner in his hand.
Sunday morning, to my surprise the fort surrendered, bag and
baggage. I found George Bonney after a good deal of hunting, he
and Voltaire got off without a scratch. But many of our boys were
wounded, but the battle was won with as little loss as could have
been expected. Our regiment fought on the left wing. On the right
was some hard fighting. I saw some 61 out of one Ills. Reg. lying
side by side after the fight, but they sold their lives bravely.
The ground was covered with their slain, mostly cavalry at this
point. How many have been killed you will learn before I will. A
great victory has been won, mainly attributable to the 2nd Iowa.
The Col. covered himself all over with glory. He was fired at on
all sides. Two villains shot at him at one time, one of our boys
drew up and killed them both at one shot. The Col. was hit on the
wrist with a spent ball, did not break the skin but paralyzed his
arm for a time. He is now all right. Joel Tuttle did not get a
scratch, but I saw him after the fight covered in burnt powder.
He had been in the hottest of the fight. Leut. Col. Baker was
shot through the cap but did not get a wound. Everybody praises
the regiment.
We went into the Fort first after the surrender. I thought I was
6 feet high and weighed a ton, as I rode along the line I met a
Kentucky regiment soldier, we were then filing in, I asked him
where our regiment was. He replied, “By God, where it ought
to be, in the advance,” first over the entrenchments and
first in the Fort. Company “F” has 8 men killed. This
is the greatest loss of any one company. We have about 45 dead
and 165 wounded. But I must end this letter. All praise without
end our brave Col., Lt. Col., and Major, Adj't., Sgt. Major, all
the Capts. And Lts., Privates, &c. of the regiment. They did
all that men could do. We will soon go forward.
[transcribed by M.O., April 2017]