Iowa Old Press
Keosauqua Republican
Keosauqua, Van Buren co. Iowa
May 2, 1862
REPORT OF BRIG. GEN. TUTTLE - HEADQUARTERS 1ST BRIGADE,
2ND DIVISION PITTSBURGH, TENN., APRIL 10, 1862
Brig. Gen. J. McArthur, Commanding 2nd Division –
General:
I have the honor to report the part taken by the 1st Brigade in
the action of the 6th and 7th, as well as such other regiments
and corps as were under my command during the engagement.
On the morning of the 6th, I proceeded with my Brigade,
consisting of the 2nd, 7th, 12th and 14th Iowa Infantry, under
direction of Brig. Gen. W. H. L. Wallace, and formed a line on
left of his Division. We had been in line but a few moments when
the enemy made their appearance and attacked my left wing, (12th
and 14th Iowa) who gallantly stood their ground and compelled the
assailants to retire in confusion. They again formed under cover
of a battery and renewed the attack upon my whole line, but were
repulsed as before. A third and fourth time they dashed upon us,
but were each time baffled and completely routed. We held our
position about six hours when it became evident that our forces
on each side had given way so as to give the enemy an opportunity
of turning both our flanks. At this critical juncture, Gen.
Wallace gave orders for my whole brigade to fall back, which was
done in good order. The 2nd and 7th retired through a severe fire
from both flanks and re-formed, while the 12th and the 14th, who
were delayed by their endeavors to save a battery which had been
placed in their rear, were completely surrounded and cut off, and
compelled to surrender. In passing through the cross fire Gen.
Wallace fell mortally wounded, and as you were reported wounded,
and Captain McMichael informing me that I was the ranking
officer, I assumed command of the Division and rallied what was
left of my Brigade, and was joined by the 13th Iowa, Col.
Crocker, 9th Ill., Col. Meray, 12th Ill., Captn. Stephenson, and
several other fragments of regiments, and formed in line on the
road, and held the enemy in check until the line was formed which
resisted the last charge, just before dark of that day.
On Monday morning I collected all the divisions that could be
found, and such other detached regiments as volunteered to join
me, and formed them in column of Battalion, closed in mass; as a
reserve for Gen. Buell, and followed up his attack until we
arrived near the position we had occupied on Sunday, where I
deployed into line in rear of his forces, and held my command
subject to his order. The 2nd Iowa and the 12th Ill., were called
on at one time. The 2nd was sent to Gen. Nelson's Division and
was ordered to charge bayonet across a field on the enemy, who
were in the woods beyond, which they did in the most gallant
manner, the enemy giving way before they reached them. The 7th
Iowa under orders from General Crittenden, charged and captured
one of the enemy's batteries, while the 13th Iowa rendered
General McCook valuable service near the close of the engagement
On Tuesday the 8th, when our forces were again called to arms, I
called out the 2nd division, and all obeyed the call with
alarcity except Col. Crafts J. Wright of the 13th Mo., who
refused to obey orders and did not make his appearance during the
day. The division remained on the field all day and were ordered
to return to camp after dark. The officers and men under my
command behaved nobly and gallantly during the whole time, with
the exception above named. The officers deserving special mention
in this report are so numerous that I will confine myself to
field officers alone.
Lt. Col. Baker, of the 2nd Iowa, Lt. Col. Parrot and Maj. Rice of
the 7th Iowa, Col. Woods of the 12th Iowa, Col. Shaw and Lt. Col.
Lucas of the 14th Iowa, particularly distinguished themselves for
bravery and ability on the field. Col. Crocker of the 13th Iowa,
although not under my command originally, was attached to it on
Sunday evening. He proved himself to have all the qualities of a
good and efficient officer, and was prompt to duty when the enemy
was to be met. Col. Mersy, 6th Ill., also proved himself a brave
and efficient officer. Col. Morton, commanding 2nd Brigade, and
Col. Baldwin 3rd Brigade, on the last day turned out their
Brigades promptly and marched in column to the outposts. Col.
Wood of the 12th Iowa was twice wounded, and when the enemy was
driven back on Monday he was re-captured, and is here, un-fit for
duty.
Appended I send you a list of the casualties of the Brigade only,
as others will report directly to you.
Very respectfully,
Your obt. Servt.,
J. M. TUTTLE
Col. Commanding 1st Brigade 2nd Division
List of Killed Wounded and Missing in the Iowa Second
COMPANY A
Killed – Geo. W. Friend, Wm. W. Clark.
Wounded – Sergeant John Mackley in right arm severely, Corp.
Joseph Collins in leg slightly, Privates William Robinson in
shoulder severely, John Kepple in knee severely, Joseph Conley in
leg severely, John Hough in neck slightly, Jas. Wilson in wrist
slightly, E. Wilson in leg slightly, James Feehin in hand
slightly.
Missing – James Quicksell.
COMPANY B
Wounded – Captain R. M. Littler left arm severely, Privates
M. L. Thompson left arm severely, David J. Scott leg slightly,
Henry H. Port finger slightly, Bryan Parrell arm slightly.
Missing – Jacob Weary.
COMPANY C
Wounded – Privates William H. Sutliff left hand slightly,
Edward Corcoran left shoulder severely, Jefferson Wooster fore
finger left hand slightly, Charles Rowan left arm.
COMPANY D
Wounded – Captain N. W. Mills chin slightly, Sergeant W. E.
Houston head slightly, Corporal L. B. Houston ankle slightly,
Privates P. Boyle leg slightly, J. W. Burbridge arm slightly, R.
D. Barnett hand slightly, John Sharp head severely, J. H. Looby
arm severely, Wm. Riddle thigh severely, A. B. Rush arm
slighhtly.
Missing – George Leighton.
COMPANY E
Killed – Ord. Srgt. Amos H. Wimer, Privates Elijah Newby, J.
H. Haverstick.
Wounded – Captain John T. McCullough arm slightly, 1st
Lieut. D. B. Wilson arm and stomach slightly, Srgt. H. A. Miller,
Corp. D. Brown foot severely, Corp. D. L. Stallcup shoulder
slightly, Privates Theodore Boggs hand severely, Reuben Coop hand
severely, John C. Duncan hand severely, Charles J. Reed hand
severely,
Slightly Wounded – Elwood Williams, Jas. M. Hughes, James
Ross, John J. McKee, L. T. Webster, Thomas J. Patton, Marion
York.
Missing – Daniel Walmer.
COMPANY F
Wounded – Captain Abe Wilkin left arm severely, 2nd Lieut.
William Brawner left side severely, Srgt. William Miller left leg
severely, Private John W. Sullivan.
COMPANY G
Wounded – Captain Samuel A. Moore in both legs severely,
Corp. Herman D. St. John arm slightly, Corp. John A. Demuthe head
slightly, Privates Charles E. Dunn right arm severely, Davis
Proctor right side slightly, Henry H. Jones left hip slightly.
COMPANY H
Wounded - 1st Lieut. Hiram Scofield thigh severely, J. N. Hamil
foot severely, Thomas Curran leg severely, Henry C. Russell hand.
COMPANY I
Killed – Corporal A. S. Cooley.
Wounded – Captain Hugh P. Cox in left leg severely, Srgt. S.
L. Toll arms and breast severely, Corp. N. Rogers back slightly,
Corp. P. Daly face slightly, Privates G. P. Cook foot severely,
W. T. Gauger leg severely, John S. Herwick leg severely, W. H.
Laird shoulder severely, J. Lueben ankle severely, W. Robinson
head slightly, C. H. Reeder leg slightly, W. F. Robins neck and
wrist slightly, G. G. Wittier shoulder severely, G. Meseher not
known.
COMPANY K
Killed – Private John Ohling.
Wounded - 1st Lieut. John E. Mobley left arm severely, Corp. W.
H. Henderson foot slightly.
[The 7th had 9 killed, 17 wounded and missing.
The 12th had 18 killed, 53 wounded and 417 missing.
The 14th had 7 killed, 26 wounded and 235 missing.
Capt. Newbold, of Company F, 14th, is from this county. We notice
that he, with 31 of his men, are prisoners.There was one killed
and one wounded in this company. Corporal Benj. F Jacobs was
killed. We have been unable from the report to learn the name of
the wounded.]
HOW THE THREE IOWA REGIMENTS HAPPENED TO BE CAPTURED
A correspondent of the Dubuque Times gives the
following explanation of the manner of the capture of the 8th,
12th and 14th at the battle of Pittsburgh:
PITTSBURGH LANDING, APRIL 10.
Dear Times: - Though the news of our fight at Pittsburgh
Landing will reach you long ere this does, I will venture a line.
The whistling of bullets is not as unpleasant as I had
anticipated. But for their effect, the music would be
exhilarating. The rebels attacked us on last Sunday morning with
Beauregard in command. The army on both sides was immense, and
the carnage commensurate. The battle field was six miles long,
and the range of the Minnies and Dahlgreens will indicate the
width.
On Sunday about 7 o'clock p.m., one portion of the line of our
troops, composed of several Iowa Regiments with Ohio troops on
one flank, and Illinois troops on the other, seemed to be a point
of special attack. The enemy engaged with both infantry and
cavalry. In this hour of peril, when every man ought to do or
die, the Ohio and Illinois troops fell back, or rather, took to
their heels, and fled, leaving the line something in the shape of
a U, the middle of the letter being represented by the Eighth,
Twelfth and Fourteenth Iowa. This conduct on the part of the
right and left flanks, while the Iowa boys stood their ground,
gave the advancing enemy a chance to surround our boys, which
they were not slow to improve; and though they fought bravely,
they could not escape. And they fought, until their officers saw
that to continue the struggle was to sacrifice all the noble
lives entrusted to their keeping, so what could they do but
surrender?
But it was inevitable, and now those three noble Iowa regiments
above named, are prisoners.
Where, in the meantime, were the troops who ought to have stood
by the Iowa boys? Away down at the steamboat landing, huddled
together like frightened sheep, to the number of thousands!! And
there they stand, and even refused to return to the command of
distinguished officers, until the General in command ordered
ordered our own gunboats to commence shelling them, if they
remained disobedient!!
Mr. Editor, these are rather stubborn facts, more so because the
organs of military renown, especially of Illinois, have sought of
late to claim all bravery for their own men.
On Sunday night reinforcements under Gen Buell began to arrive
and continued to pour in all day Monday. Beauregard found he had
more than his match; and after a hard and very fruitless cope
with the far famed “Ananconda,” he fled in ignomious
disgrace on the evening of Monday. Our forces set out at once in
his pursuit – and furthur this deponent saith not.
[transcribed by M.O., June 2017]