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The Twenty-fourth Iowa was now about to enter upon an entirely new
field of warfare, in which but few of the regiments from its own State
had been called to serve, On the 4th of August it was conveyed by rail
to Harper's Ferry, where it arrived at midnight and moved out on the
Winchester Pike and went into bivouac. On July 6th the regiment
commenced a series of movements in connection with the army; first
marching to Halltown, to intercept the army of 30,000 rebels, under the
command of General Early, which was moving towards Maryland and
Pennsylvania; but the rebel general was not yet ready for a general
engagement, and, handling his force with consummate skill, managed to
avoid a conflict.
The Union force arrived at Cedar Creek, near Strasburg, Va., on August
12th , where it encamped and remained until the 15th, when it fell back
to Charleston, where General Grover had just arrived with
reinforcements from Washington, and a re-organization of the army took
place. The Twenty- fourth Iowa was assigned to the Fourth Brigade,
Second Division, Nineteenth Army Corps, with Colonel Shunk, of the
Eighth Indiana Veteran Infantry, commanding the brigade, General Grover
commanding the division, and General Emory commanding the detachment of
the Nineteenth Corps. The Army of the Shenandoah consisted of two
divisions of the Nineteenth Corps, the Sixth Corps commanded by Major
General Wright, the Army of Western Virginia commanded by General Crook
and about 10,000 cavalry commanded by General Torbet, making in all an
army of about 40,000, under command of Major General Sheridan.
On the 3d of September, General Sheridan began the series of movements
which led up to the battle of Winchester, September 19. 1864. The part
taken by the Twenty-fourth Iowa in that battle is described in the
official report of Lieutenant Colonel Wright, as follows:
HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-FOURTH IOWA. INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS,
CAMP RUSSELL, VA., NOV. 19, 1864.
COLONEL:
I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by
the Twenty-fourth Regiment of Iowa infantry Volunteers in the battle of
Opequon, or Winchester, Va., Sept. 19. 1864.
The regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel J. Q. Wilds, but
circumstances beyond his control prevented him from making an official
report, prior to the battle of Cedar Creek, at which place he was
severely wounded, and has since died; for this reason I take the
responsibility of making it myself. On the 18th of September, orders
were issued from army headquarters, requiring all transportation to be
sent to the rear, also all extra baggage, retaining only such articles
as could not be dispensed with; these to be carried by the men, and
officers' horses. Thus, stripped of everything that would encumber its
movements, the Army of the Shenandoah retired to rest in camp near
Berryville, Va., on the evening of the 18th with orders to be in line
of battle ready to move at 2 o'clock next morning.
The Twenty-fourth Iowa belonged to the Fourth Brigade, Second Division,
Detachment Nineteenth Army Corps. The brigade consisting of the Eighth
and Eighteenth Indiana Veteran Volunteers and the Twenty-fourth and
Twenty-eighth Iowa was commanded by Colonel D. Shunk of the Eighth
Indiana, the division by Brigadier General C. Grover, the corps by
Brevet Major General Emory. At 3 o'clock the advance sounded, and the
Nineteenth Corps moved out on the Winchester Pike, halting about three
miles west of Berryville, for the Sixth Corps, commanded by Major
General Wright, to pass, as it was to have the advance. The Army of
Western Virginia, under command of General Croc, moved by another road
to the right.
Shortly after
sunrise, the Sixth Corps having passed, the Nineteenth Corps was put in
motion. The Second Division, having the advance, arrived at Opequon
Creek about 9 o'clock A. M., when heavy skirmishing and some
cannonading was heard in the front, near Winchester. Here we received
orders to push forward rapidly, as the cavalry and Sixth Corps were
already engaged. When we had reached a point about three miles from
Winchester, we turned to the right and moved in the direction of the
Winchester and Martinsburg Pike about one mile, and formed line of
battle on the right of the Sixth Corps. The Second Division was formed
in two lines.
The First and Third
Brigades formed the first line, and the Second and Fourth Brigades the
second. The Twenty-fourth Iowa was on the left center. the Twenty-
eighth Iowa on the left, Eighth Indiana on the right, Eighteenth
Indiana on the right center, the Fourth Brigade being on the extreme
right. Soon after, the First Division, Nineteenth Corps, commanded by
General Dwight came up and formed in the rear as a reserve. In this
position we remained until about 12 M., when the advance sounded and
the whole line moved forward steadily. The front of the whole division
was covered by a strip of woodland, near a third of a mile wide. Beyond
this woodland was an open field about one-fourth of a mile wide, beyond
which was woodland again.
When
the second line emerged into the open field, the first line was just
entering the wood on the opposite side, having driven the enemy's
skirmishers across the open field, and were driving the enemy. The
enemy, discovering that our right flank was unprotected, threw a heavy
column of infantry, with one battery of artillery, around on our right,
nearly at right angles with our lines, and kept them concealed in a
deep hollow. In consequence of a flank fire from this column, the first
line gave back and passed through the second, when about half way
across the field. This created some confusion, but the line was soon in
good shape again, and moving forward steadily.
When within one hundred yards of the woods, the column that had been
thrown around on our right opened out with musketry and canister shot,
showering the iron hail along and almost parallel with our ranks and
mowing down our men by the score. As soon as the flank movement was
discovered, the whole line was ordered to fall back to the woods, which
was done in as good order as could be expected under the circumstances.
The line was reformed and advanced about one fourth of the way across
the field and halted, holding the enemy at bay until some troops could
be thrown around to our right, as the enemy's lines extended nearly
half a mile to the right of ours.
Up to this time the Twenty-fourth had had two officers mortally
wounded, and two more severely: six enlisted men killed, and about
thirty wounded. This line was held under a most destructive artillery
fire from both the front and right flank for about two hours, when
General Crook came up with the Army of Western Virginia and formed on
the right, relieving the most of the Fourth Brigade. Captains Rigby,
Smith and Martin, with Lieutenant Lucas, had been posted with their
commands in a point of timber nearest the enemy, with orders to hold it
at all hazards, and were not relieved. I had supplied them with
ammunition, and when the fresh troops in making the final charge came
up even with them, they moved forward with the line, which drove the
enemy from every position taken until it became a perfect rout.
In this last charge the Twenty-fourth lost a number of brave soldiers
wounded, and one killed. After the Fourth Brigade was relieved (except
as above mentioned) boxes were filled with ammunition, and it was moved
to the extreme right in order to prevent any more flank movements of
the enemy, but General Averill, coming in with his cavalry, rendered
the movement entirely unnecessary. After the enemy was entirely routed
and driven pell-mell from the field, the regiment was got together, and
marched about two miles, and went into camp near Winchester, on the
Front Royal Pike.
Casualties
during the day: Officers mortally wounded 2, severely, 4. Enlisted men
killed, 9; wounded, 56; captured, 3. Total 74; a list of which is
hereto appended. I cannot close this report without referring to
Captain J. R. Gould, of Company D, and Lieutenant S. S. Dillman, of
Company E, both having been mortally wounded while leading their men on
in the hottest of the battle. Both were brave almost to rashness. In
them the Twenty-fourth Iowa lost two valuable officers and society two
valuable men.
I have the honor to be, most respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant,
ED WRIGHT, Lieutenant Colonel Twenty-fourth Regiment Iowa Infantry Volunteers.
COL. N. B. BAKER, Adjutant General of Iowa (10)
It will be seen from the foregoing report that the Twenty-fourth Iowa
had, in its first battle in the east, gloriously maintained its
previous proud record, and had upheld the honor of its State while
fighting beside the trained veterans of the Army of the Potomac.
On the night of the 19th of September the regiment went into camp near
Winchester. The next morning it marched towards Cedar Creek, and in the
evening found the enemy strongly entrenched at Fisher's Hill. The
Twenty-fourth Iowa actively participated in the movements which
followed and which culminated in the battle of Fisher's Hill, in which,
and in the pursuit which followed, the regiment participated, but
fortunately-owing to the positions to which its brigade was assigned-it
had but one officer and four men wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Wright, in
his official report,(11) describes minutely the part taken by his
regiment in the battle of Fisher's Hill, and highly commends the
officers and men for their prompt obedience to orders and the gallant
manner in which they conducted themselves during the battle and the
subsequent pursuit of the enemy. The rebel General Early and his army
had again been defeated and compelled to retreat up the Shenandoah
valley.
In all the operations of its brigade and division, from the 23d of
September until the 19th of October, upon which latter date the
Twenty-fourth Iowa fought its last battle, the regiment performed its
full share of duty and always acquitted itself with honor. Although it
remained in the service for nearly six months after the battle of Cedar
Creek, the remainder of its history, while characterized by the same
faithful devotion to duty, was not marked by further severe conflict
with the enemy. The compiler deems it most fitting, therefore, that the
conduct of the regiment in the memorable battle of Cedar Creek, as
portrayed in the official report of its gallant commander, should
occupy' the greater portion of the space left at his disposal for this
historical sketch. In this, one of the most remarkable battles of the
great War of the Rebellion, the Twenty-fourth Iowa suffered heavy loss,
and ended its battle history by as splendid and heroic fighting as was
ever exhibited upon any battlefield. The official report is here given
in full:
HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-FOURTH IOWA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS,
CAMP RUSSELL, VA., Nov. 19, 1864.
COLONEL:
I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by
the Twenty-fourth Regiment Iowa Infantry Volunteers in the battle of
Cedar Creek, Va., on the 19th of October. 1864. The regiment belonged
to the Fourth Brigade, Second Division. Nineteenth Army Corps, Brevet
Major General Emory commanding corps, Brigadier General Grover
commanding division, and Colonel Shunk, Eighth Indiana Veteran
Volunteers, commanding brigade. The brigade occupied the left of the
second line, which was about two hundred paces in rear of the line of
works occupied by the first line. The left of the brigade rested about
two hundred yards to the right of the pike leading from Winchester to
Stanton.
The works in our front were occupied by the Third Brigade, Second
Division, Nineteenth Army Corps with Battery D, First Rhode Island
Artillery, near the pike on the left. The regiment occupied the right
center of the brigade, with the Twenty-eighth Iowa on the left. The
Eighth Corps, under command of Major General Crook, was posted on the
left of the pike, and about three hundred paces to the front. The Sixth
Corps was on the right of the Nineteenth, with its right thrown back
toward Middletown, about one mile. Our teams parked about one mile In
the rear. The enemy was in camp at Fisher's Hill, some four miles to
the front. In this position we rested on the evening of the 18th, not
even suspecting our danger, or the Yankee trick that Early was going to
play on us the next morning.
Soon after
retiring to bed, Colonel Wilds, then in command of the regiment,
received orders to have the men under arms at precisely 5 o'clock next
morning, as the first line was to make a reconnaissance to the front,
and the Fourth Brigade was to move up to the works as soon as vacated.
In obedience to this order, at 6 o'clock the regiment was in line of
battle, and really to move to the works. Having reason to believe that
the reconnaissance would not last more than one or two hours, as the
order was not to bring on an engagement, everything except, arms and
accouterments were left in tents. At ten minutes past 5 o'clock, firing
commenced on the picket line of the Eighth Corps.
Supposing it to be only a reconnaissance by the enemy, it created but
little alarm. In a few minutes heavy firing commenced on the left and
front of the Eighth Corps. It was not yet daylight, and a dense fog,
which had settled to the ground, rendered it almost impossible to
distinguish objects at any distance. Soon after the firing commenced on
the left, the brigade was ordered to move by the left flank, until the
left of the Twenty-fourth Iowa rested on the pike. Colonel Wild's
ordered me to ride to the left of the regiment, and to lead it to the
place indicated, but, before reaching the pike, I was ordered to halt
and take position, as we were already receiving the enemy's fire. The
regiment was halted, and the right thrown forward so as to form a line
across the crest of the hill, at an angle of forty-five degrees with
the pike. The right of the brigade, Eighteenth Indiana Veteran
Volunteers, supporting the battery on the left of the first line.
The fog was so dense that it was impossible to tell what was in front
of us, and, as the Eighth Corps was failing back at the time, our fire
was reserved until the enemy had pressed his columns close up to and
charged the battery on the right, one piece of which was captured. We
held the position, however, until Colonel Shunk, discovering that the
enemy had thrown a column across the pike on our left, ordered the
brigade to fall back about five hundred yards, and take position
parallel to and facing the pike. This was done in good order, and the
position taken and held, until it became necessary, in the opinion of
General Grover, to fall back, in order to prevent being cut off
entirely. (Up to this time the regiment had lost six men killed and
about forty wounded.) The order was given to fall back as rapidly as
possible in the direction of the camp of the Sixth Corps. The enemy
came in heavy force on our left and captured four officers and about
forty men. The brigade fell back about one mile and formed between the
First Brigade, General Birge, and the Sixth Corps, which was on the
left.
Previous to this time, Colonel Wilds
had been wounded and carried from the field. I had also received a
bruise on my hip from a piece of shell and a wound from a musket ball
in the left arm near the elbow, which sickened me so that I could not
ride for near an hour, and the regiment was commanded by Captain L.
Clark, during my absence. Soon after I returned to the regiment, which
was then in the position above mentioned, the enemy made a flank
movement to the left of the Sixth Corps, rendering it necessary for it
to fall back, and we were ordered to retire by the right of regiments
to the rear.
We moved in this manner nearly three mile, halted, took position,
procured ammunition and prepared to renew the battle. After we had
rested about half an hour, Major General Sheridan came on the field,
having been absent since the morning of the 18th . He ordered the
Eighth Corps to take position on the left of the pike between
Middletown and Newtown, the Sixth Corps the center, and the Nineteenth
Corps the right. Sent two divisions of cavalry to the right, and one to
the left. The Fourth Brigade was formed on the extreme left of the
Nineteenth Corps, connecting with the right of the Sixth Corps. In this
position the troops were ordered to rest, and throw up some temporary
works.
About 12 o'clock I was ordered to move
the Twenty-fourth Iowa to the extreme right of the Nineteenth Corps,
and protect the flank, I immediately moved to the place indicated, took
position and threw out a skirmish line. In this position I remained
until 3 o'clock P. M., when I received orders to call in my skirmishers
and take my place in the line, as it was going to advance. My
skirmishers had just reported when the advance was sounded. In order to
get my position in the line, I had to double quick about one mile, and,
during the greater part of this distance, we had to pass through the
fire of the enemy's guns, which overshot our advancing columns, the
shells exploding in the rear. About 3 « o'clock, I got my place in the
line, which, steadily advanced, driving the enemy from every position
taken until we reached the camp we left in the morning.
Here we halted and made some coffee, (those of us who were fortunate
enough to have any,) the first we had tasted since the evening of the
18th . We found one wounded officer there, who had hidden among the
rocks during the day, and quite a number of our wounded men. Everything
was taken from our camp, leaving the men and most of the officers
without haversacks, blankets or shelter tents. At 8 o'clock P. M., the
regiment moved forward, with the brigade, to a point near Strasburg, to
protect the parties that were sent out to collect the property
abandoned by the enemy in his hasty retreat. There we bivouacked for
the night, without fires, the men suffering severely for want of
blankets and proper clothing to protect them from the excessive cold.
On the following morning (20th) the remainder of the Second Division
came up, and we went into camp about one mile from Strasburg.
It would appear invidious to mention individual cases of gallantry,
during the day, when all, both men and officers, did their whole duty.
I cannot close, however, without referring to the bravery of our
lamented Colonel Wilds, who was wounded soon after daylight and died
November 18th . In him we lost a noble, brave and efficient officer.
Captain Knott and Lieutenant Kurtz were wounded and captured, but both
were retaken in the evening. Captain Smith, and Lieutenant Davis, were
captured in the morning about daylight. The loss of the regiment was:
Killed; enlisted men 7; Wounded; officers 6, enlisted men 39. Captured;
officers 2, enlisted men 39. Total casualties 93; a list of which is
hereto annexed.
I have the honor to be, most respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
ED WRIGHT, Lieutenant Colonel Twenty-fourth Regiment Iowa Infantry Volunteers.
H. B. BAKER, Adjutant General State of Iowa.(12)
During
the remainder of the mouth of October the regiment participated in the
various movements of its brigade and division in the Shenandoah Valley,
but did not again come into contact with any considerable force of the
enemy. In the early part of November the regiment was engaged in the
duty of escorting supply trains for the army. On the 8th of November,
1864, the officers and men of the regiment recorded their choice for
President of the United States, with the following result: Whole number
of votes cast, 303, of which Abraham Lincoln received 285 and George B.
McClellan 18. On November 10th the regiment arrived at Camp Russell,
where the army of the Shenandoah was encamped, and during the remainder
of the month was engaged in the erection of fortifications and building
cabins for winter quarters.
In
December the winter quarters were completed, and the regiment was
engaged in the performance of picket and escort duty until the close of
the month. On December 30th the regiment was assigned to the post at
Winchester, Va. On the 6th of January, 1865, the Twenty-fourth Iowa
left Winchester and proceeded by rail to Baltimore, thence by steamship
to Savannah, Ga., where it went into camp and remained for two months.
It then moved to Morehead City, N. C., and, from that point, to
Goldsboro and Raleigh, escorting transportation trains. After the
surrender of the rebel General Johnston's army, it returned to
Savannah, moved thence to Augusta, Ga. with the Twenty-second and
Twenty-eighth Iowa, crossed the river at Augusta and went into camp
near the town of Hamburg, S. C., where it remained until the 6th of
June, when, with the other Iowa regiments, it was ordered to return to
Savannah. Its last long march was completed on June 20th.
The regiment then went into camp at Savannah, where it remained until
the 17th day of July, 1865, on which date it was mustered out of the
service of the United States. A few days later it was provided with
transportation to Davenport, Iowa, and, upon its arrival there, was
disbanded, and the survivors returned to their homes, there to resume
and discharge the duties of citizens, with the same fidelity they had
shown as soldiers, while engaged in the defense of their country
against armed treason and rebellion. No Iowa regiment has a more
distinguished record than the Twenty-fourth, and there were only a few
others whose operations covered such a wide extent of territory.
Everywhere, in camp or garrison, upon the march, in battle, and under
all the vicissitudes of its long and arduous service, it maintained in
the highest degree the honor of the flag and its State. The archives of
the State of Iowa end of the War Department at Washington contain no
more glorious record of valor and patriot service than that of the
Twenty-fourth Regiment of Iowa Infantry Volunteers.
SUMMARY OF CASUALTIES
Total Enrollment.1,204
Killed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Wounded. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260
Died of wounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Died of disease. . . . . . . . . . . . . .201
Discharged for disease, wounds or other causes 235
Buried in National Cemeteries. . . . . . .117
Captured . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Transferred. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
TWENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Term of service three years
Mustered into service of the United States at Muscatine, Iowa
September 18, 1862, by Captain H. B. Hendeshott, U.S.A.
Mustered out of service at Savannah, Ga., July 17, 1865
Roster of Field, Commissioned and Non-commissioned
Staff Officers at muster in of organization, together with
subsequent appointments from civil life.
Field and Staff
Byam, Eber C Rank: Colonel
Wilds, John Q. Rank: Brevet Colonel
Wright, Ed Rank: Brevet Brigadier General
Byam, Charles L. Rank: Adjutant
Baldwin, Jr., Luke Rank: Quartermaster
Ely, John F. Rank: Surgeon
Lyons, Henry M. Rank: Surgeon
Lanning, J. Meek Rank: Assistant Surgeon
Witherwax, John M. Rank: Surgeon
Cook, Sylvanus S. Rank: Assistant Surgeon
Vinson, Felix W. Rank: Chaplain
Skinner, Elias Rank: Chaplain
Carroll, George R. Rank: Chaplain
Non-Commissioned Staff
Camp, Daniel W. Rank: Adjutant
Eshleman, Albert B. Rank: Quartermaster
Maxon, Johnathan H. Rank: Commissary Sergeant
Starr, Samuel J. Rank: Hospital Steward
Vansant, James E. Rank: Drum Major
Eatherton, William L. Rank: Fifer Major
Line Officers
Names of company officers at muster in of their companies.
Company "A"
Henerson, Stephen H. Rank: Captain
Lawrance, Chauncey Rank: 1st Lieutenant
McKinley, Seymour J. Rank: 2d Lieutenant
Company "B"
Rathbun, Stephen W. Rank: Captain
Fobes, Benjamin F. Rank: 1st Lieutenant
Rigby, William T. Rank: 2d Lieutenant
Company "C"
Johnson, Silas D. Rank: Captain
Gue, Jeremiah C. Rank: 1st Lieutenant
Pound, Edwin H. Rank: 2d Lieutenant
Company "D"
Casebeer, Jacob B. Rank: Captain
Gould, Joseph R. Rank: 1st Lieutenant
Branch, John H. Rank: 2d Lieutenant
Company "E"
Clark, Leander Rank: Captain
Strong, James W. Rank: 1st Lieutenant
Dillman, Sylvester S. Rank: 2d Lieutenant
Company "F"
Dimmitt, Wilbur C. Rank: Captain
Hayzlett, John G. Rank: 1st Lieutenant
Bradshaw, Centenary B. Rank: 2d Lieut.
Company "G"
Vinson, Felix W. Rank: Captain
Smith, William W. Rank: 1st Lieutenant
McNary, Richard Rank: 2d Lieutenant
Company "H"
Carbee, William Rank: Captain
Knott, Abraham R. Rank: 1st Lieutenant
Dutton, Isaac B. Rank: 2d Lieutenant
Company "I"
Martin, James W. Rank: Captain
Tubbs, Ara E. Rank: 1st Lieutenant
Lane, William Rank: 2d Lieutenant
Company "K"
Williams, Jams D. Rank: Captain
Green, Thomas Rank: 1st Lieutenant
Loomis, Aaron M. Rank: 2d Lieutenant
Report of Adjutant General of Town, 1863, Vol. 1, pages 8 and 11.
Report of Adjutant General of Iowa, 1863, Vol. 1, pages 850 to 883
Original Roster of the Regiment.
War of the Rebellion Official Records, Series 1, Part 1, Vol. 24, page
610. War of the Rebellion Official Records, Series 1, Part 1, Vol. 24,
page 583. The tabulated statement shows the losses by regiments, as
follows: Forty-seventh Indiana, killed 5, wounded 20, missing 1;
Twenty-fourth Iowa, killed 1, wounded 5; Twenty-eighth Iowa, killed 3,
wounded 14, missing 3,, Fifty-sixth Ohio, killed 6, wounded, 3, missing
7; Second Illinois Light Artillery, Battery A, killed 1. Total,
89.
War of the Rebellion Official records, Series 1, Vol, 24, Part 2, Pages 40 to 47 inclusive
War of the Rebellion Official records, Series 1, Vol. 24, Part 2, page 54.
War of the Rebellion Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 24, Part 2 page 40.
Which gave the name to the battlefield
War of the Rebellion Official Records. Series 1. Vol. 24, Part 2, page
8. Tabulated returns of casualties in battle of Champion's Hill.
See Revised Roster of the Regiment, following this sketch.
Report of Adjutant General of Iowa, 1865, Vol. 2, pages 1144 to 1162 inclusive.
Report of Adjutant General of Iowa, 1865, Vol. 2, pages 1153, 4, 5.
Report of Adjutant General of Iowa, 1865. Vol. 2, pages 1166, 7.
Report of Adjutant General of Iowa, 1865, Vol. 2, pages 1157, 8, 9.
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