|
Iowa and the Rebellion Lurton Denham Ingersoll Philadelphia, Lippincott, 1866 CHAPTER XXV. TWENTY-FIRST INFANTRY. ORGANIZATION—A WINTER IN MISSOURI—BATTLE OF HARTSVILLE— DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI—ASSIGNED TO THE THIRTEENTH ARMY CORPS— THE VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN—THE BATTLE OF PORT GIBSON—IN RESERVE, AT THE BATTLE OF CHAMPION HILLS—BATTLE OF THE BIG BLACK RIVER— THE ASSAULT ON THE WORKS OF VICKSBURG—THE SIEGE—THE SECOND CAMPAIGN OF JACKSON—ORDERED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF— CAMPAIGNING IN LOUISIANA—IN TEXAS-AGAIN IN LOUISIANA—IN ARKANSAS—TENNESSEE—ONCE MORE IN LOUISIANA—MOVE TO ALABAMA—THE CAMPAIGN OF MOBILE—CONCLUSION . The Twenty-first regiment of Iowa Volunteers was organized at "Camp Franklin," near the city of Dubuque in the latter part of August, 1862. One of the companies forming a part thereof, some two months before, and more, had been mustered into the service at Clinton, under that special authority of the Department of War, by which as we have seen, the Eighteenth regiment was authorized. But that regiment being filled by other companies, this was transferred to the Twenty-first, and became Company A therein. The other companies were mustered into the service on the 18th, 20th, 22d, and 23d days of August, Samuel Merrill, of Clayton county, having already been commissioned Colonel, Cornelius W. Dunlap, of Mitchell, Lieutenant-Colonel, and S. G. Van Anda, of Delaware, Major, the organization was complete at the date last mentioned. The regiment at this time had an aggregate of nine hundred and seventy-six men. That company which had been recruited by special leave of the authorities was recruited in various counties, but a majority of its members were citizens of Mitchell, Black Hawk, and Worth. The other companies were from Dubuque, Clayton, and Delaware, each of which contributed generously to this gallant command—Dubuque county giving no less than four companies, Clayton three, and Delaware two. So, though the regiment was not entirely from the Third Congressional District, it was near enough so to be claimed as belonging thereto. But, happily, the claim was merged in the broader and better one of the State at large, and the country, for both which, before the men returned to their homes they did most gallant service, and left behind them in honored graves mans beloved comrades 6 The Twenty-first halted nearly a fortnight at Iron Mountain, and then marched to St. Genevieve on the Mississippi, arriving at that post on the 11th of March. there many furloughs were granted to the sick, and to a number of officers. On the fifth, one wing of the regiment, under Major Van Anda, embarked on the steamer Groesbeck, and moved down the river. It was soon followed by the other wing, and about the 1st of April the regiment found itself at Milliken's Bend, Louisiana. Here, upon the organization of the army for the campaign of Vicksburg, the Twenty-first Iowa was assigned to the Second Brigade, Fourteenth Division, Thirteenth Corps d'Armee, Colonel Harris, Eleventh Wisconsin, commanding brigade, General E. A. Parr, the division, and General McClernand the corps. The line of March was taken up on the 12th, and that night the regiment encamped at Richmond, Louisiana. But, without relating here particular incidents of this toilsome, laborious, amphibious march, let it suffice to state that on the last day of the month, the regiment landed from transports, which had run the batteries of Vicksburg and Grand Gulf, about fifteen miles below the latter place on the Mississippi shore, having since the 12th undergone labors of great severity, and witnessed spectacles which had never before passed before the visions of the men— magnificent mansions, now in ruins, surrounded with shrubbery of a thousand kinds, whose delicious fragrance sweetened the air with a singular delightfulness; the terrific bombardment of Grand Gulf by the gun-boat fleet, responded to with equal spirit by the land batteries—the repose, and beauty, and loveliness of Peace, by the side of grim, horrid War. But General Grant gave his troops no time to moralize on these contrasts. General McClernand's corps in the advance, taking time only for the men to place in their haversacks three days' rations (which were to last a fortnight) pushed on from the landing at Bruinsburg for the bluffs some three miles back. Reaching the bluffs some time before sunset, McClernand continued to advance rapidly, hoping to be able by a forced march to surprise the enemy if he should be found near Port Gibson, and prevent him from destroying the bridges over Bayou Pierre on the roads leading to Grand Gulf and Jackson. He did not succeed in surprising the enemy, but his movement very speedily resulted in the preliminary skirmishing of the first pitched battle of the campaign, namely, 7 THE BATTLE OF PORT GIBSON. This was a treble engagement so far as the Twenty-first and some other Iowa regiments were concerned. The battle was brought on and fought in this manner: Colonel Harris' brigade had the advance of the column, and the extreme vanguard was the Twenty-first Iowa regiment. While the column was in rapid motion toward Port Gibson, and at about ten o'clock on the night of April 30th, Colonel W. M. Stone, Twenty-second Iowa, was ordered to take command of the brigade, Colonel Harris being sick. Colonel Stone was instructed to march on Port Gibson as rapidly as possible, and occupy the several bridges across Bayou Pierre at that place. Four companies of the Twenty-first Iowa, and one howitzer from the First Iowa Battery, Captain Harry Griffiths, were sent forward as advance guard. Two of the advance companies, under Lieutenant-Colonel Dunlap, were deployed as skirmishers, the other two, under Major Van Anda, moved in support of the howitzer. The remainder of the brigade, the Twenty-first leading, moved in supporting distance behind, formed in column. The road passed through a country much broken by gorges and ravines, and supporting a dense forest of tall timber, thick underbrush, and the cane peculiar to the southern country, the thoroughfare itself running on a narrow, elevated ridge, or a chain, rather, of ridges of this character, with deep and impenetrable ravines on either side. I} was over such a road as this, that the Twenty-first Iowa formed the advance of the grand army, on this night march. The guide who pointed out the way was an old negro slave. About four miles from Port Gibson the road divides in two parts, one turning abruptly to the right the other to the left, but both leading to the town. Near this fork in the road was a house of worship—Magnolia church. When our skirmishers came to within about three-fourths of a mile of this church they received the fire of the enemy's pickets, posted in an angle of the road. Colonel Stone promptly made the proper disposition of his brigade, and moved forward, ready to deploy into line at a moment's warning, and with a strong covering line of skirmishers. This was about midnight. The march continued. As the skirmishers approached Magnolia church they received a heavy volley of musketry from the enemy, strongly posted both on the right and left of the church. The advance soon became engaged, and Colonel Stone ordered up the whole brigade to its support. The howitzer of the First Battery, in the advance, replied to the enemy, who had now opened with artillery, with great spirit and apparent accuracy, Sergeant William K. Leebert commanding the pieces The battery, and Klaus' Indiana Battery, soon opened on the enemy from a ridge in rear of our advance, whereupon there ensued an artillery battle long to be remembered by those who witnessed it. The fire of the rebel batteries was quite accurate, and disabled many of our men and horses. The flashes of the discharges in the darkness of the night, the shells screaming and bursting in the air, the rattle of grape shot through fences and timber, altogether formed a scene of more awe-inspiring power than almost any battle-field of the war. At about two o'clock the firing ceased on both sides as if by mutual consent, and the weary soldiers laid themselves down upon their arms to sleep. Thus ended the first act in the tragedy of Port Gibson. The enemy commenced the battle early on the morning of May 1st, Colonel Stone's Brigade for some time receiving their fire of artillery, and responding thereto with great spirit and effect, before other troops were deployed into line. Nevertheless, the sun had not rose high in the heavens, nor dispelled entirely the morning mist, before Osterhaus delivered a vigorous attack upon the enemy's right. The position of the enemy here was well chosen, and it required an hour's severe fighting to drive him from it. Meanwhile, General Carr, Stone's Brigade in reserve, attacked the enemy's left, moving over a rugged country, and through almost impenetrable canebrakes, and presently Stone's Brigade, marching on and to the left of the main road by Magnolia church, gallantly delivered attack on the rebel left center. The action now became general, except at the center, where a continuation of fields extending to the front of McClernand's lines for more than a mile separated the antagonists. Hovey's Division had gone into the fight, and General A. J. Smith's was holding the center, ready and eager to join in the combat. Osterhaus' Division held his ground on the left, whilst Carr and Hovey steadily advanced on the right, capturing many prisoners, two stands of colors, two twelve-pounder howitzers, three caissons, much ammunition, and placing large numbers of the enemy hors-de-combat. But just as we had fairly driven the rebels from their strong position, General Baldwin came up to the aid of Bowen, the rebel general commanding, with heavy reenforcements, causing loud shouts along the enemy's lines. Just about this time, however, General Osterhaus, who had been reinforced by Logan's Division, by a flank movement and a brilliant charge led by Osterhaus in person, had discomfited the enemy's right and taken three pieces of his artillery. Wherefore the rebels everywhere fell back, and the second act was closed, with loud shouts on the part of the Union troops, who continued to press forward for more decisive victory The enemy was again found posted in a strong position more than a mile to the rear of his former lines. Here Hovey and Carr, with a brigade of General A. J. Smith's Division, and Stevenson's Brigade of Logan's Division, had some difficulty in defeating the enemy; for our troops had again to move over hills and through cane-brakes under a heavy fire of artillery and musketry. The battle raged with great fury, first on our right, where Hovey delivered a fine attack, at length succeeding in enfilading the rebel lines with his artillery. The combat then surged over to the center, where Carr, and Smith, and Stevenson had a hot engagement, and in the fierce struggle beat back the enemy, and gained the day. It was now nearly dark, and as the shades of night closed upon the field which our troops had won, they took their first real repose since leaving D'Schron's Landing, more than twenty-four hours before. The battle of Port Gibson, if not decisive, was a fine precursor of the brilliant successes which made the campaign of Vicksburg memorable. The Union loss, in killed and wounded, was eight hundred and forty-eight and five missing, all of which except about fifty, fell upon the Thirteenth Army Corps. We captured from the enemy five hundred and eighty prisoners, but his loss in killed and wounded was not ascertained. It must have been heavy. The rebel historian notes the battle as "the first mistake with which Pemberton had opened his chapter of disasters," but he is entirely reticent upon the subject of losses. Reflecting upon the duration and nature of the battle, I persuade myself that the enemy's losses in killed and wounded were equal to our own, whilst their losses in materiel and trophies were considerable against absolutely nothing in these respects on our side. 8 The Iowa regiments of infantry besides that whose history is now under our immediate consideration which bore a prominent part in this engagement were the Twenty-second, Twenty-third, Twenty-fourth, and Twenty-eighth, whilst no artillery on the field performed better service than our First Battery. The Twenty-first, Twentysecond, and Twenty-third were in Colonel Stone's brigade, as was the battery. The other infantry regiments named were in Hovey's Division. 9 These commands all fought with as conspicuous gallantry as any men could have displayed with similar orders to obey. The Twenty-fourth was in support of artillery throughout the day and lost but few men. The Twenty-eighth, Colonel Connell, performed similar service much of the time in this its first battle, but three of the companies supported an Indiana regiment in a charge on a rebel battery, which was taken, together with many prisoners. The regiment lost quite heavily in wounded. The Twentysecond, Major J. B. Atherton commanding, was in the thickest of the fight. Adjutant D. J. Davis, Lieutenants William M. De Camp, D. W. Henderson, and John Francisco, and many men were wounded, and two killed. The Twenty-third, Lieutenant-Colonel Glasgow, lost more heavily than any of our regiments engaged. Lieutenant D. P. Ballard was among the wounded. The First Battery was handled throughout with consummate skill, and suffered a loss of five men wounded. Colonel Stone in his official report of the operations of the brigade specially names Colonel Merrill, Lieutenant-Colonel Glasgow, Major Atherton, commanding regiments, and Lieutenant-Colonel Dunlap and Major Van Anda, as entitled to praise. He also mentions Lieutenant Waterbury, of the Twenty-third, acting aid-de-camp, and states, generally, that the officers and men of the brigade behaved with the utmost coolness and exhibited a determined courage that would have done honor to any troops. General Carr, division commander, gratified with the fine conduct of his troops, bestowed praises upon them in no mincing manner. He spoke in the highest terms of Colonel Stone; of the Twenty first Iowa, "first in battle and one of the last to leave the field ;" of the Twentythird Iowa which, "with its gallant commander, behaved admirably;" he mentioned Lieutenant-Colonel Dunlap, Major Van Anda, Captain Crooke, and Sergeant Kirst, of the Twenty-first, and passed a glowing compliment upon Sergeant Leebert, in charge of the howitzer on the advance. In fine, the Iowa commands behaved finely at the battle of Port Gibson, according to the well established custom of the troops of the State, and received the just encomiums of their generals. As for the Twenty-first, though it was under fire as long as any regiment in the field, it lost none killed, but had seventeen wounded, and two missing among the former Lieutenant-Colonel Dunlap. 2 On the day after the battle, the regiment marched to Port Gibson and Bayou Pierre, where the right wing bivouacked, but the left wing, Major Van Anda, returned to Port Gibson. On the 6th line of march was resumed. Moving nearly to Jackson, the course of the march was changed directly for Vicksburg. In the battle of Champion Hills, fought on the 16th, the regiment was posted with the reserve, and was not called into action till near the close of the combat, when it moved with the command sent out to flank the enemy's right, but the enemy had put himself in retreat before it gained position, so that throughout the day it was but slightly engaged. General Grant pushed rapidly on in pursuit of the rebels, and on the 17th was fought the battle of Big Black River Bridge—a short but terrible combat wherein the troops engaged, and especially the Twenty-first and Twenty-third Iowa, displayed a daring which amounted to heroism, accomplishing invaluable results by a dashing charge, but leaving many of their men dead and wounded on the field. I shall speak of this action in my account of the Twenty-third regiment. Let it suffice to state here that Colonel Merrill was there well nigh mortally wounded, and that the loss of the regiment, out of less than three hundred engaged, was thirteen killed and seventy wounded. On the 19th our regiment marched to the rear of Vicksburg and took its position in line, which very soon became a line of investment. During all the operations which followed—the sharp-shooting of the 19th, 20th, and 21st; the terrible assault of the 22d; the siege accompanied by so many labors, discomforts, dangers—the Twenty-first faithfully, gallantly, patiently performed the duties assigned it. In the assault its bravery and dash were conspicuous among all the regiments which on that bloody day so bravely and dashingly marched into the jaws of death. Lieutenant-Colonel Dunlap still suffering from his wound received at Port Gibson, was unable to lead the regiment in the assault, and it was commanded by Major Van Anda. 2 The others wounded were: C. E. George, C. D. Hewett, R. H. Cunningham, Charles Rhul, Daniel Shilling, A. B. Story, W. J. Comstock, John Busby, S. Brenton, Robert Strain, Isaac St. Hughes, Edward Murray, John Van Kuran, Missing, John Love, I. C. Thompson. Dunlap, however, came on to the field as fast as his wound would allow him to walk, and was killed after the charge had been made. Major Van Anda was wounded during the charge. Captain Harrison, Captain Greaves, Lieutenants Roberts, Adams, Childs, and Bates were also wounded, Roberts and Bates mortally, the latter dying in the hands of the enemy. Out of two hundred and eighty officers and men who took part in the assault, the regiment lost one hundred and thirteen in killed and wounded. From the assault until the 3d of July, the regiment remained in the trenches, often working night and day, advancing the parallels to the enemy's works. The siege was very fatiguing and confining to the men. The rebel sharp-shooters in front of this part of our line of investment completely commanded every portion thereof, so that no man dared to raise his finger above the works. The troops could hardly stand on their legs, without making targets of their heads. On the day before the capitulation, the regiment marched toward Warrenton, but in the evening returned to its accustomed position. On the next day it rejoiced with unspeakable gladness at the triumph of our arms, and because thereby it was relieved from duties more irksome than any it had ever been called upon to perform. The Twenty-first, at this time under command of Captain W. D. Crooke, joined in the movement against Johnston which immediately followed the victory of Vicksburg, and participated in the siege of Jackson and the destruction of railways and public property which followed the second capture of that capital. In the heavy skirmishing which accompanied this campaign before Johnston evacuated Jackson the regiment lost one man killed and fourteen wounded. The campaign over, it returned to Vicksburg and remained in encampment there until near the middle of August, diseases in many forms, the results of the siege, attacking the men and carrying numbers to the grave. |