Recollections with the Third Iowa regiment:

Preface

At the solicitation of some of my comrades, the pages of this book were for the most part compiled from a diary which I kept during most of the two years I served with ihem, and M'hich was written amid the scenes it attempts to describe. To furnish them a faithful account of the principal scenes through which they passed during this period, including sketches of the operations in which they were engaged, and of which our Regiment formed a part; a record of what they saw, and did, and suffered, such as I thought they would like to read in future days, has been my object in presenting it in this shape. As it was written for ray comrades, to them I dedicate it; and in giving it to the public, I have only to say that if it suits them, it suits me. With regard to facts which have sinse become history, to which I have had occasion to refer, I may have committed some errors and inaccuracies ; my book was not written in the library of the historian, but in the tent of the soldier, and with few exceptions without other information than such as observation and report could supply. In speaking of prominent officers under whom we served, I have not forgotten that some of them are still my superior officers, and that it in nowise comports with my duties as a soldier to assume to be their historian or critic. But the time has come when the conduct of those who have passed into civil life may be criticized

Preface,

\>y those who were their inferiors in the military service. Of such I have encleayored to speak honestly but plainly, remembering that they dealt plainly with us.

I am under obligations to Col. Scott, 32d Iowa, Lieut. Chas. P. Brown, A. A. Q. M., Fort Pickering, W. B. Lakin, Esq , College Hill, Ohio, for valuable favors and assistance. I trust that time will afford me opportunities of paying them in a better manner than by this public acknowledgment.

And now I give these pages to the public, with the single

regret that the deeds of men who have so many titles to honor

and gratitude could not have been better recorded and by a

more worthy hand.

S. D. THOMPSON,

Fort Pickering, Memphis, Tenn., March, 1864.

Contents

Page.

Preface 3

Chapter I

The "uprising" in Iowa — Patriotism of the people — The Third Regiment — Its character and composition — Spirit and ideas of its members — Our colonel — Our visit to Camp Ellsworth and the First Iowa — The Second and First Iowa advance into Missouri — Our quarters — Our ideas of our treatment — Poor fare, and what some of us "did about it" — Our duties — Complaints about pay — Our arms — We go into camp — Our first camp experience — We chafe exceedingly under the yoke of discipline — Marching ordei's 13

CHAPTER 11.

We break up camp at Keokuk — The parting occasion — The last lingering look — A pleasant steamboat ride — Two nights and a day at Hannibal — We advance by rail into tlie interior of Missouri — Dangers attending the movement — We halt at Chillicothe, Grand River bridge and Utica — Leaving the cars and camping for the night — Condition of the country — Our first night alarm — How we celebrated the Fourth of July — Our uniform — Our rations — Our discipline — Colonel Williams arrives and assumes command — Colonel Smith visits and consults with him — Another false alarm 29

Chapter III

Operations of the rebel general Harris — Three companies of our regiment detailed to join an expedition against him — We are allowed ten minutes for preparation — We join a portion of the Sixteenth Illinois at Palmyra, and with them return to Monroe — The movement delayed by a storm — Coneultation of officers — The column moves — Skirmish of Hager's Woods — We delay and finally camp for the night — And in the morning begin to retreat — Our train burned and the enemy in our rear — A threatened skirmish — He cuts oif our communications and surrounds in large force — Cool conduct of Colonel Smith — We begin to fortify — A night of expectation— Details

VI

Contents.

of our situation— The enemy opens with artillery— And becins to draw in his lines— We lie in our trenches and res^erve our fire— Aid in the right time— The enemy quits the field in panic— An accident — Col. Williams arrives with a portion of the Third Iowa 43

Chapter IV

We prepare to march from Monroe — Arrival of Governor Wood with cavalry and artillery; and of the Fourteenth Illinois— How Mr. Dugan speaks of this in his book — A change of counsels— The Third Iowa moves west on a train — Circumstances of the ride — Failure of an attempt to burn the Charitan River bridge— A few details— How young soldiers originate false alarms — Our camp at Chillicothe— General Huribut assumes command of the troops on the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad — We draw our accoutrements at last — We leave Chillicothe and go into camp at Brookfield 61

Chapter V

Activity of the rebels — Colonel Martin Green — We are ordered against him — Details and incidents of the march from Mason City to Kirksville — Character of the Home Guards — Condition of the country — Our situation at Kirksville— Details of our occupation of that place — Arrival of reinforcements under Gen. Huribut — Our complaints and expectations 73

Chapter VI

Lieut. Call reconnoiters and reports the enemy's position — Colonel Scott desires to attack him with the Third Iowa, the Home Guards and the artillery — Gen. Huribut declines his consent — Dangers of such a movement — Disappointment of the men — The General reviews the troops — And issues a proclamation— He sends it by a flag of truce to Green's camp — • Green don't see the point, but takes the hint and gets rea !y to leave — The General issues an order against plundering — Further details of our condition — A detachment goes to Lancaster after supplies — Escape and pursuit of Green — Details of the march — SuflFering, straggling and plundering — Night at Wilsonville — night at Bear Creek — Scouts from Moore — Junction Avith Moore at Bethel — Apjrearance of the place — Character and hospitality of the inhabitants — Change of plans — Moore and Smith pursue the enemy — Huribut and Scott move directly toward the railroad — Noon at Shelbyville — Another proclamation — A man straggles ahead of the

Contents. vii

column and is shot by the bushwhackers — Night at Shelbina — • The situation — We proceed to Brookfield 89

Chapter VII

The expedition to Paris — The forces engaged in it — Details of the movement to that place — Conduct of Colonel Williams and Lieut. Col. Blair while there — They return speedily to Shelbina — Green pursues and confronts them with a large force — Details of the affair at Shelbina — Colonel Williams retreats to Hudson where he meets General Ilurlbut with reinforcements — The propriety of the retreat discussed — The account of the Rebellion Record 104

Chapter VIII

We break up camp at Brookfield and proceed toward Shelbina— Junction with Smith and Moore — Gen. Pope assumes command — Ilurlbut and Williams proceed to St. Louis in arrest — Pope leads a night march against Green at Florida — Feelings of the troops — Circumstances of that affair — Report of General Fremont concerning it — We return to the railroad and proceed to Macon — Arrival of Generals Pope and Sturgis at that point — Prospect of active movements 112

Chapter IX

Col. Smith with his own regiment and five companies of the Thirty-ninth Ohio, proceed to Platte River bridge and commence repairing it — Col. Scott is ordered to co-operate with him against the rebels in that vicinity — We proceed to Cameron by railroad, impress transportation and march toward Liberty — The first night — Second day's march — Second night at Centerville — Cannonading in the distance — Our feelings — Lieut. Call reconnoiters as far as Liberty — We move at 3 A. M. — At sunrise drive back the enemy's pickets and camp at Liberty — No tidings from Smith — Cannonading in the direction of Independence and probabilites of an engagement across the river — Col. Scott resolves to attack — Battle of Blue Mills Landing 120

Chapter X

Arrival of Smith — His march from the railroad — Why he arrived too late — Our feelings on his arrival — The situation the morning after the battle — What should have been done — • Smith starts for St. Joseph — Burying the dead and caring for the wounded- -Scott's official report — Comments on the same — ■ Gallantry of Scott and Lakin — Official report of the enemy — viii Contents.

Estimate of his force — Account in the ^lissouri Republican — Account in Pollard's "First Tear of the War" — The necessity and merits of the battle 135

CHAPTER XL

We start for the railroad — Arrival at Centerville — Arrival of a courier from Sturgis — March to Plattsburg — Orders from Sturgis — Turn toward Kansas City — Night at Smithville — March resumed toward Liberty — Sturgis retreats three days from an enemy who does not jjursue— We think his pursuers turn against us, and turn to the west to elude them — Strike the Missouri at Parkville and prepare to cross on a flatboat — A steamboat arrives and conveys us to Leavenworth — We return next day to Wyandotte — Our stay at AVyandotte — Move to Kansas City — Arrival of Lane's Brigade — Comparison between Lane and Sturgis — They quarrel about precedence in rank — Lane moves out of town — Hospitality of the citizens 152

Chapter XII

The troops leave Kansas City — We are not in a condition to march South — Rumored removal of the regiment to Quincy — Proceed by steamboat and railroad to Quincy — Our arrival and situation there — We are paid and prepare to leave — The citizens give a ball in our honor — Incidents of that night — We proceed to Benton Barracks — Col. Williams, his release, conduct, and rearrest — Changes — Our sanitary condition — We are ordered to the North Missouri Railroad — Disgraceful conduct of certain captains 165

CHAPTER XIIL

Preparations — We move North by railroad — Details of the ride — March from the railroad — Night on the frozen ground — Feelings and conduct of the soldiers toward the citizens — Night at Martinsburg — March to Mexico — Character of the citizens — Bad conduct of certain of the men — What the Major did about it — His speech — Its eflFect — An excess of quinine and lack of bread — Return march to Martinsburg — The New Year — March to Wellsville — Sickness — Conduct and character of Surgeon Edwards — Foraging and plundering — Movement of troops to the front — Anxiety to go with them — Fort Donelson — Discontent at being left in the rear— Trial and release of Col. Williams —He assumes command and begins reforms — Marching orders 175

Contents. ix

Chapter XIV

Leave Afexico for St Louis — Conduct of some of the men and officers— Journey from St. Louis to Savannah, Tenn, — Scenes on the passage — Captain Albert Hobbs — Loyalty of the people on the Tennessee river — Move to Pittsburg Landing — The situation — Criticism, «S:c 189

Chapter XV

The enemy's reconnoissance April 4th— The alarm -^th April— The ii.vTTLE of Shiloii— The soldier's impression of a battle — Stragglers nnd their shameful conduct — The different movements and positions of our division and brigade in the battle — Appearance of General Grant — Gallant charge and repulse of a rebel brigade 206

CHAPTER XVL

The enemy massing against the left — Our successful stand — Retreat and our successive positions therein — We form the left of Prentiss — His gallant conduct and capture — Capture of Major Stone — He and Prentiss vindicated — Scene on the bluff -Night and Buell — The cannonade — The night 221

CHAPTER XVIL

The battle on "Monday — Defeat of the enemy's right wing — Firmness of the left — Gallant conduct of Gen. Hurlbut— Col. Johnson in command of a part of our divided brigade — Victory— Flight of the enemy and failure to pursue 233

CHAPTER XVIIL

A survey of the field— Plundering the dead — Civilians and relic-seekers — Congratulatory orders — Camp on a field of graves 243

CHAPTER XIX.

Preparations to advance on Corinth — Morale of army and sanitary condition — Advance to Shiloh Springs — Inspection by

General J. Advance to Pea Ridge — Gov. Yates — Picket

skirmishing — Battle of Russellville House — Arrival of Col. Scott — A night on picket in face of the enemy — The evacuation AND OCCUrATION OF CoEINTH 257

X Contents.

CHAPTER XX.

Resume of the movements of our regiment — Sherman's movements towai-cls Memphis— Camp on the Heights of Hatchie — Camp on Spring Creek and Wolf River — Colonel Williams again— Incidents of the march from LaGrange, Tenn., to Holly Springs, Mississippi— Return — Resignation of Lieut. Col. Scott — Arrival in Memphis — Gen. Sherman as a military man — Marching orders 278

CHAPTER XXL

Lieut. Col. Trumbull— Leave Memphis — Night on Wolf River — House burning — Reach and bridge the Hatchie — Hardships and murmurs — March toward Bolivar — Arrival at Bolivar — A reconnoisance towards Grand Junction — Attempt of the enemy to get in our rear — Return to Bolivar — Reinforcements 291

CHAPTER XXIL

A day's march toward Corinth — Arrival of Gen. Ord — Situation and movements of the enemy — Battle of Mata- MORA — Carrying the bridge of the Hatchie — Disastrous situation— Reserves ordered into action — Hurlbut saves the day — Carrying the Heights — Retreat of the enemy — Bivouac on the field— Reconnoisance, details, etc. — Return to Bolivar — Fruits of the victory — Losses 303

CHAPTER XXIIL

Col. Trumbull's official report — General Hurlbut's parting review — His parting orders — How they were received— Congratulatory orders of Gen. Grant — Telegram from the President 317

CHAPTER XXIV.

Reorganization and changes — Reconnoisance by General Ross — Disposition of the Hatchie prisoners— The State election in our regiment — Effects of the news of the northern elections upon the troops — Wifd reports of the enemy's advance — Fortifying — Preparations for a general advance — Arrival of Gen. Grant — Grand review — Arrival of new regiments—General marching orders — First day's march — Condition of the troops — Our camp at LaGrange — Position of the enemy — Arrival of Col. Williams— Resignation of Lieut. Col. Trumbull — The Somerville march— Reviews and marching orders 329

Contents. xi

CHAPTER XXV.

The army in motion to the South — Character and scenes of the tirst day s march — Bivouac at Holly Springs — An earthquake— Tlie cavalry division and the enemy's rear guard — Cannonading — Camp Lumkin's Mills — A storm — Movement of Slierman, retreat of the enemy and advance of troops — Our division left behind — We advance —Rebel works on the Tallahatchie— Scenes and scenery of the march — Oxford — Join the army at Yockono Creek — The Thirty-third Wisconsin — The situation and movements — Raid of Van Dorn — Movements to open the communications 345

CHAPTER XXVI.

Retreat of the army — Commendable spirit of the troops — • ^larch to the Tallahatchie— Ridiculous rumors — Christmas — We go into camp — Return of Dickeys raid — Our condition as to supplies — The New Year — March to Holly Springs — We go into camp — March of Denver's division— Our situation — Burning of Holly Springs — March again to the north — Bivouac at Cold Water— Reviewing and speculating over the campaign — Arrival at Moscow 258

CHAPTER XXVII.

Reorganization of Grant's army — How our division was posted — Descent of guerrillas upon our forage train — We march to Memphis and go into camp— A glance at the officers of our regiment — Gen. Laumans regimental drills —Review of the Fourth division — Col. Br^-ant's movement against Chalmers—Our division ordered to Vicksburg — Parting with my comrades — Their journey down the river and affair with the guerrillas near Greenville — Arrival at Young's Point — Their view of Porter and Steele engaging the enemy — Proceed up the Yazoo and occcupy Haines' Bluff — The captures — Blowing up the magazines — The 2'2d of May — They move to take position in the investing lines — Their position and operations south of the city— Their subsequent position and operations. 373

CHAPTER XXVIII.

SuRREXDER OF ViCKSBURG — Our division moves with Sherman against Johnson — March to Jackson — The place besieged—Disastrous CHARGE OF Colonel Pugh's Brigade — The blame imputed to Gen. Lauman — He is relieved of command— His parting orders — The feeling in regard to him — Our losses — Subsequent movements of the Third Iowa — Conclusion 386

RECOLLECTIONS.

Chapter I

The "uprising" in Iowa — Patriotism of the people — The Third Regiment, its character and composition — Spirit and ideas of its members — Our Colonel — Our visit to Camp Ellsworth, AND THE First Iowa — The Second and First Iowa

ADVANCE INTO MISSOURI OuR QUARTERS OuR IDEAS OF OUR

TREATMENT PoOR FARE, AND WHAT SOME OF US "DID ABOUT IT''

Our DUTIES — Complaints about pay — Our arms — We go into CAMP — Our first experience — "We chafe exceedingly under the

YOKE OF discipline — MaRCHING ORDERS.

Whex at the commencement of the Tvar the loyal States vied with each other in offers of men and money to the Government, lovra, in proportion to her population and resources, was not behind any of her sisters. The First Regiment of Infantry, the quota of the State under the call for three months men, was promptly formed, and sent to the designated rendezvous. But the people wanted to do more than this. Companies were formed in all parts of the State. Thousands of names were enrolled. It was not the question who should be permitted to stay at home, but who should have the privilege of going. The eagerness with which

14 Recollections with tJie Third Iowa.

the claims to acceptance of so many different companies were pressed upon the Governor, must have been a source of great embarrassment to him.

The interval between the first and second call for troops was to many who had tendered their services, unsuccessfully, a period of unpleasant and unprofitable suspense ; for it was a matter of uncertainty to all, whether the services of any more troops would be required. And who could tell ? The rebellion was so entirely without a precedent in our history, that the most far-seeing could not say whether it was a shortlived insurrection that could be frightened to death by military preparation, or a movement strong in its organization and formidable in its proportions.

But this period was, nevertheless, one of preparation. Men were settling their affairs, and preparing for the contingency which might call them from their homes. At leno;th, a call was made for an additional number of troops to serve for three years, unless sooner discharged. This altered the plans of many who thought to enlist merely for honor and a little adventure. The prospect was now that they would have decidedly too much of both. Nevertheless, the supply of men greatly exceeded the demand. None who had enlisted with worthy motives were disposed to shrink from the prospect.

Under this call the Second Regiment was organized ; and the unsuccessful candidates still waited in hope and doubt. Finally, in the last days of May, the companies which were to compose the Third Regiment received orders, to their great joy, to repair to the designated rendezvous, and by the close of the first week in June, they were assembled in Keokuk.

Though comrades now, its members were, for the most part, strangers to each other. It belonged to no section, but rather to the State at large. The northern, central and southern portions were represented. In point of material it was a mixture of such elements as a border State would be likely to furnish. There were among us men of almost every State in the Union, and of almost every civilized country. Nearly all, however, were Western men either by birth or long residence, and were (is it boasting to say it ?) tempered with that hardy, resolute spirit which is characteristic of Western men, especially of those who dwell on the frontier. The greater portion were from the rural districts, and trained to active, out-door pursuits. Those who were from the towns were for the most part river men. If there were among us any of " the drooping city's pale abortions," they soon learned to imitate the rough virtues of their comrades.

In point of ideas, there was as great a difference as of birth or nationality. It is claiming nothing to say that money had not entered into the calculations of those who first tendered their services to their country. The one great thought was the preservation of the Union. But such was the constitution of our ideas, that we saw in the accomplishment of this object ulterior results widely different. Each loved the Union for what "it was to him. To the Irishman, it was an asylum where he could enjoy that civil liberty, and exemption from the oppression of an established church, which had

16 Recollections witli the Third loiva.

been denied him at liome. He proposed to figlit now for the preservation of that liberty. He saw in the destruction of the Union an invitation to the ambitious monarchs of Europe to fetter us with such chains as bound his own unhappy country. This was why he had enlisted.

To the Englishman in our ranks, America was now his country. It was to be the dwelling-place of his children. It promised more than any other to promote the peace and happiness of its people, and the progress of civilization. It was a branch of that great Saxon tree, which, continually spreading, already overshadowed the earth. Should it fall into the whirlpool of Gallic anarchy ? Should it degenerate into a contemptible Mexican civilization ? God forbid. He was ready to defend it with his blood.

We had among us the poetical, Heaven-ascending German. He proposed to fight for an ideal. That ideal was liberty. It was to him the symbol of progress, the talisman which was to lift man from earth to Heaven. He saw in the rebellion a reactionary movement, a tendency from democracy to aristocracy — from the power of the people to the one man power ; a repudiation of the doctrine on which the Republic was founded ; — nay, more, an attempt to found a Government on a maxim of absolute injustice, the assumption that one man has the right to own another. Could such a movement succeed ? Was progress bafiled ? Had the age begun to retreat ? He proposed to fight, not for the unity of the nation alone, not alone because it was now his country, but for that principle of liberty

Btcollcdlons witli the Third loiva. 17

"\\'liic1i he saw, more fully than anywhere else eniLodied in her institutions, — that democratic principle which is destined one day to be the foundation of all human government.

But the great majority were native Americans, coming, immediately or remotely, from every section of the Union, with Various ties and various ideas. They combined all these motives and ideas, and more. To vindicate the national honor ; to avenge the insults done the flas: ; to overthrow all traitors and brino; them to swift punishment ; to save the nation from disintegration and ruin ; — this was why they proposed to fight. Their country was too dear an inheritance to be easily given up. Had the Fathers fought in vain ? Had Washington, ]\Iadison and Jefferson lived to organize anarchy and confound the world ? Had it taken the wisdom and blood of a generation to found and build a temple which treason could tear down in an hour ? Was the reason of the ages to be contradicted ? Was justice to be overthrown ? Was Progress to stop here ? Must the Lamp of Liberty which had been lighted to guide the footsteps of the nations go out in the gloom which was gathering around us ? Such were the questions we asked ourselves. As far as we could do, our deeds have answered them.

Thus of whatever section, of whatever country, with whatever ideas, we had now joined hands and were comrades, — all moving toward one grand, patriotic holy object, the preservation of our country and of liberty.

And now looking around us, we saw everywhere matter for encouragement. Every omen seemed propitious. Every circumstance argued success. The In ortli was united. There was no party now. At worst, we could but suppose the South likewise united against us. In that case we were twenty millions ; they eight millions. We had a navy ; they had none. We could blockade their ports, and cut off their supplies from foreign nations. We possessed manufactures, and means of keeping up our material. In this respect they were almost entirely deficient. We possessed a variety of resources which rendered our governmeiit self-sustaining in the most adverse events. They depended solely upon cotton, which now they would not be able to sell. And then their servile population, we supposed, instead of being a help, would be a great embarrassment. Besides, were Ave not engaged in a just cause ? and would not, then, this great disparity in our favor enable us speedily to overcome them ? With such strength, fortified in right, it seemed impossible that a single reverse could come upon us. Our enthusiasm, as yet untempered by disappointment or disaster, was unbounded. The future seemed full of glorious events, and we longed to be hurried into it. We had but one desire — to be uniformed, equipped and led on.

For a leader we wanted a man, who, while possessing some knowledge of military affairs, should have none of the exclusive spirit we understood to exist among the ofiiccrs of the regular army. To suit our tastes, he must be at once commander and comrade. Such a colonel we were prepared to respect — to idolize. Who

Recollections ivitli the TJiird Iowa, 19

•was he to be ? It was understood that Captain Herron and Congressman Vandever were candidates. We disliked the Captain, because he had been to a military school, and the Congressman, because he had never been to one ; it was evident, we would be hard to suit. But it soon became apparent that, want whom we would, our wishes would not govern the appointment. Governor Kirkwood desired to consult only the wishes of the officers in the matter. There was a man. Nelson G. Williams, of Delaware county, whose claims to the colonelcy of one of the first regiments his friends, through the press and otherwise, had urged with great pei'tinacity. It was said that he was a military man, and yet a private citizen, and not a politician. Many had spoken in favor of him ; no one against him. He was the man. It was determined to call this Cincinnatus from his obscurity. In a caucus of the commissioned officers he received nineteen votes, and, on the strength of this nomination, was appointed.

We were mustered into the service of the United States by Lieut. Alexander Chambers, of the regular army, since colonel of the 16tli Iowa. Before this ceremony took place, the Articles of War were read to us, and from them we inferred that it was no easy matter to be a good soldier, and not at all safe to be a poor one. Those who did not wish to be sworn in after hearing them read, were allowed to decline. A few did BO ; and the farewell salutations these " deserters," as "We chose to call them, received from their late comrades were not at all calculated to make them feel joyful or proud. As our field officers were not yet announced,

20 HecoUections with the Third Iowa,

Captain Herron, as senior officer, assumed command of the regiment. He was in every respect a gentleman ; but liis discipline, though wholesome and correct, was such as our democratic ideas enabled us poorly to appreciate.

On the 10th of June, we, for the first time, saw ourselves as a regiment. The regiment was formed in the proper order of the companies, and marched in column of sections, through the principal streets of the city. We had no arms ; and every company had its own style of uniform. Nevertheless, as we marched along, we caught, from the admiring glances of the citizens, an idea of our importance, and that such a sight as "jve presented was not to be seen every day, and that we were destined to play no unimportant part in the war for the Union.

On the llth of June the people of Keokuk celebrated the obsequies of Senator Douglas. Of course the "military" had to take part in it. The three regiments were assembled, and following each other in their appropriate order, marched in column of platoons, to slow time, through the principal streets, and then through clouds of dust, and under a melting sun, away up the Mississippi to a point somewhere between Keokuk and Fort Madison. Here for the iirst time we got sight of a hearse, magnificently trimmed in black, into which a number of verdants were seen to peek, doubtless in expectation of getting a sight of Douglas. We were allowed to break ranks which was a great relief to us, as we expected to be compelled to stand in our places and undergo the infliction of an oration. The whole being over, the battalions were again formed and marched back to their quarters to quick time. The citizens, who rode in carriages, or walked on the green sward, pronounced this military display a grand affair ; but the soldiers who had been compelled to keep the dusty road, going and coming, pronounced it an intolerable bore. Some went so far as to express the profane wish that the great senator had never been born.