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Iowa and the Rebellion
Lurton Denham Ingersoll Philadelphia, Lippincott, 1866 TWENTY-THIRD INFANTRY.
ORGANIZATION AT DES MOINES—MOVES TO THE "FRONT"— CAMPAIGN INMISSOURI —JOIN GENERAL GRANT'S ARMY— BATTLE OF PORT GIBSON— BATTLE OF BLACK RIVER: BRIDGE—COLONEL KINSMAN SLAIN-BATTLE OF MILLIKEN'S BEND-SIEGE OF VICKSBURG- The Twenty-third Iowa Volunteers, by universal consent the heroes of the battle of the Black River Bridge, and the equal sharers with other troops of the honors of many battlefields, were recruited from counties in no less than three of our Congressional Districts—the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth— though it is but just to state that Polk, the capital county, contributed more generously to the organization than any other county. It was decidedly just and proper, therefore, that the regimental rendezvous should have been, as it was, at Des Moines. Hither the different companies moved in the latter summer and early autumn of 1862, and were mustered into the service of the Union on the 19th of September. The field and commissioned staff officers were: Colonel William Dewey, of Fremont county; Lieutenant-Colonel William H. Kinsman, of Pottawattamie; Major Samuel L. Glasgow of Wayne; Adjutant Charles O. Dewey; Quartermaster Robert W. Cross; Surgeon A. H. East, with Assistants S. V. Campbell, C. B. Bosbyshell; Chaplain Reverend Arthur J. Barton. It was a stout regiment of hardy men, with an aggregate of nine hundred and sixty. Not long after organization the regiment left "Camp Burnside" near Des Moines, for the front. Its first campaign was in Missouri, in which State it spent several months, performing guard, provost, and garrison duties, and engaging in a number of minor expeditions wherein the troops did considerable marching, suffered no little hardship, met the enemy in skirmish, and became enured to war. While at West Plains, smallpox broke out in the regiment, but its ravages were happily stayed in a short time. The regiment performed heavy duties, especially by marching over the mountains of southeastern Missouri, and into the borders of Arkansas, during the winter. But the campaign was more remarkable for the sufferings of the troops than for any great good accomplished. Colonel Dewey was among the first sufferers. He died of disease at Patterson, the last of November, and was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel Kinsman, promoted. Major Glasgow was promoted lieutenant-colonel, and Captain Charles J. Clark, major. Very early in 1863, Colonel Kinsman was put in arrest by General Davidson, for refusing to obey an order. The order made by General Davidson, an unprincipled and tyrannical Virginian, was itself illegal. The Colonel was afterwards tried by court-martial, and acquitted of the principal charge, but nominally punished for using disrespectful language to a superior officer. I suppose very few officers who knew General Davidson, ever spoke of him in respectful language, except as required by regulations. The regiment took part in that march of suffering from West Plains by Eminence to Iron Mountain, elsewhere in this work described, and went into encampment at the lastnamed place in the latter part of February. Having made a halt of about a fortnight, the line of n arch was taken up for St. Genevieve. Thence the regiment moved down the Mississippi, but made a considerable halt at New Madrid and again at Memphis, so that it was the 1st of April when the command disembarked at Milliken's Bend, and joined the forces under General Grant, about to institute the grand campaign of Vicksburg. The brigade, in which were the Twenty-first, Colonel Samuel Merrill, the Twenty-second, Colonel W. M. Stone, and the First Battery, Captain Harry Griffiths, of Iowa troops besides the Twenty-third, was assigned to Carr's Division of McClernand's Thirteenth Corps. The regiment remained in camp near Milliken's Bend, engaged in drill and reviews, till the army started on the famous roundabout march for the stronghold. The details of the difficult, laborious march, need not be here set forth. A number of transports and gunboats having run by the batteries of Vicksburg, the troops embarked, and moved down the river to a point not far above Grand Gulf, but on the opposite bank of the river. Here those first transported disembarked, while the vessels returned for others. The 29th of May, Admiral David D. Porter, with a fleet of seven gunboats bombarded Grand Gulf in the presence of the army. The morning was clear and beautiful. There was not a cloud to be seen in the heavens. Not a breath of air was astir. The majestic river flowed by in sublime silence, with an unrippled surface, smooth as the polished face of a mirror. About eight o'clock the fleet dropped down the river to begin the attack. Presently the remarkable silence was broken by the heavy boom of a single cannon, and directly the battle began in earnest. It was a grand sight—the moving monsters in the water, belching forth flame, and smoke, and iron; the immovable hills, wreathed with smoke, and sublimely vocal with the thunder of heavy ordnance; the air filled with the flying, screaming missiles, the waters boiling like the waters of a great cauldron; the transports and the levee crowded with troops, eager spectators of the noisy battle, and who rent the air with shouts when the gunboats made successful shots or silenced the enemy's guns. 3 The engagement lasted more than five hours, when the fleet, having silenced nearly all the hostile guns, withdrew from the contest. As the battle closed, the troops fell into line, and marched across the peninsula on a levee of the river. The army marched in ranks of four, and when all the troops had filed into line they were plainly visible on their elevated position from head to end of the column, and presented a scene of surpassing interest. Reaching the river below Grand Gulf, they prepared a hasty supper, and went into bivouac on the green Ward. Thousands had gone to sleep, when a tremendous sound of heavy guns shook the earth, and aroused the slumbering army. The cannonading continued thirty minutes, when a dark object with a mouth of flame appeared in the river toward Grand Gulf Then another, and another. The transports had run by the batteries under cover of the fire of the gunboats. Their arrival, with the welcome intelligence of "no casualties," brought forth loud cheers from the whole army. Early on the following morning the troops embarked, and after a short voyage down the river landed at Bruinsburg. The Twenty-third joined in the march into the interior, which was at once commenced, and which very soon brought on, as is well known, the battle of Port Gibson. The brigade was at this time commanded by Colonel Stone, of the Twenty-second Iowa, and formed the van of the army It was first in the battle of Port Gibson, and the last out of it. The Twenty-third, Lieutenant-Colonel Glasgow commanding, fought with uncommon gallantry in this its first battle, and suffered more heavily than any regiment in the brigade. 2 The command took part in the subsequent movements of the division, which belonged to the corps that, having fought, almost alone, the first battle of the campaign, was not called into action in the two succeeding engagements. A division of this corps, that of Hovey, stood the brunt of battle at Champion Hills, the other divisions being but slightly engaged or in reserve. Carr was among the latter. But the rebels having been thoroughly beaten, the troops of the reserve moved at once in pursuit, and, having captured many prisoners before sunset, continued to march on in the direction of Vicksburg, giving no rest to the wicked rebels. They attempted to make a stand at Black River, but were driven by McClernand from that their last position outside the works of Vicksburg, by a sharp engagement, fought on the 17th of May. This was called THE BATTLE OF BLACK RIVER BRIDGE The pursuing Unionists, leaving their bivouacs at daylight on the morning of the 17th, pushed rapidly forward, McClernand's Corps in the advance, and Carr having the extreme front. The enemy was found strongly posted on both sides of the Black River. At this point the bank of the stream on the west side consists of high bluffs rising abruptly from the water's edge. On the east side there is an open, level bottom, about one mile in width, surrounded by a deep, miry bayou, from ten to twenty feet wide. Following the line of the bayou was a line of defenses, consisting of a series of works for artillery, and a line of breasts arks. The bayou served admirably as a ditch in front of the enemy's outer line of works; beyond which was another line, shorter than this, and about one-half mile in rear of it. Both extended from the river above the bridge to the river below. The position of the enemy, was, therefore, on an island, strongly fortified by the work of the engineer. 4 2 The casualties were six slain, and twenty-seven wounded. Namely: Killed, Calvin Johnson, J. G. Webb, C. C. Battleille, Mortimer W. Goss, W. H. Cumming, Henry Burns. Wounded, Captain William R. Henry; Lieutenant D. P. Ballard; G. W. Smiley, J. E. Banning. H. J. Hiestand, W. Bissel, Henry Carr, G. W. McLaughlin, William Musgrove, William Woodward, James O'Blennis, W. Hogue, Jacob A. Tabler, Marshall Craig, George T. Cavender, A. A. Brown, William Franks, D. H. Skidmore, E. A. Jones, N. W. Eliott, Frank R. Howard, Peter Cockling, Jacob Neth, AIvey Smith, James Voile, Harrison Hubbard, David Inman. McClernand immediately invested the place, Carr's division on the right, Osterhaus on the left. Brigadier-General Lawler, now commanding the brigade which Colonel Stone had commanded at the battle of Port Gibson, occupied the extreme right of the line. General Benton's Brigade extended from Lawler's left to the railroad. A few hours having been spent in skirmishing, General Lawler discovered that by moving a portion of his troops under cover of the river bank he could get a position from which the enemy's works could be successfully assaulted. A charge was accordingly ordered. The Twenty-second Iowa moved under cover of the river bank, but the other troops charged across the bottom, through the bayou, over the enemy's works, every foot passed being under a murderous fire, and in a very few minutes, eighteen guns and fifteen hundred prisoners were the trophies of this short, sharp battle. Those of the rebels who escaped set fire to the bridge, so that immediate pursuit was impracticable. The battle was ended. The charge had hardly occupied more time than it takes to tell of it. But along its track, the ground was covered with the dead, and the dying. The victims of this short combat numbered three hundred and seventy-three, most of whom belonged to the Twenty-first and Twenty-third regiments of Iowa Infantry. Among the slain was Colonel Kinsman of the Twenty-third. He had received two wounds through the body. He was as gallant an officer as ever drew a sword. Of an amiable disposition, brave almost to rashness, ever attentive to the wants of his troops and always prompt to insist upon their having all their rights, he was beloved by his command universally, as he was by all who knew him in the walks of private life. His death, heroic though it was, cast a gloom all over Iowa, which was deeply poignant in that part of the State where he had long lived. His regiment lost heavily in line officers, and in men. It went into the fight with most wonderful enthusiasm. The sutler of the regiment, seizing a gun, took part in the assault. He was slain. When the command came out of the fight, the companies scarcely averaging a score of men, General Lawler passed down the line, and with speechless emotion seized every man by the hand. Then, completely overcome, the brave man lifted up his voice and wept. 3 3 So also did Iowa weep at the great immolation of the Twenty-third regiment at Black River Bridge. The loss of the regiment in killed and wounded very heavy. Colonel Kinsman having been slain, and the regiment soon moving away in charge of prisoners, will, perhaps, account for the fact that no official report of the engagement, so far as the regiment is concerned, was ever published. I am indebted for my meager account of the battle to reports of general officers. 5 The assault was called by General Grant, who never deals in injudicious praise, a brilliant and daring movement. It was "eminently brilliant," says McClernand, "and reflects the highest credit upon the officers and men who achieved the victory." Besides the Twenty-third, the Twenty-first Iowa was prominently engaged in this battle. It was on this field that Colonel Merrill, of that gallant command, was severely wounded, whilst bravely leading his regiment through a storm of bullets. The command then devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel Dunlap. He speaks in the highest praise of the conduct of officers and men. "Major S. G. Van Anda," says Lieutenant-Colonel Dunlap, in this, his last official report, for in the next engagement of the regiment he was slain, "received the highest credit for the coolness and bravery with which he conducted the charge, the left being in front, through the storm of leaden hail. Much of the success of the charge is owing to his gallant conduct and daring example. Captain Harrison was one of the first officers on the enemy's works. Captains Swivel, Voorhees, Watson, Boardman, and Crooke behaved with great coolness. Lieutenants Roberts, Childs, and Dolson, received the praise of all who saw their bravery. Lieutenant Howard, acting adjutant, received a mortal wound while gallantly performing his part in this gallant charge. We lost many of our bravest men; but it was a great undertaking, and the object most important. " All accounts agree in speaking of the conduct of officers and men of the Twenty-third in terms of unqualified praise. Captain McCray was mortally wounded, as were Lieutenants S. G. Beckwith and J. D. Ewing. Of others who fell I cannot speak for want of official reports. I may state, however, as illustrative of the fearful ordeal through which the assaulting column passed, that of the thirty-seven members of Captain Goodman's company who were engaged in the charge, twenty-two were hit. His two lieutenants and his orderly sergeant were slain, and a number more of his command received fatal wounds. He himself had a leave of absence in his pocket, which he had carried from Milliken's Bend. To the Twenty-third was awarded the duty of guarding the prisoners. It marched to the Yazoo, in guard of several thousand officers and men, the captured at Champion Hills and Black River Bridge, and embarked, after a most fatiguing march, for Memphis. The voyage was made, with some delays on the way. Returning, the regiment disembarked at Milliken's Bend. This post was garrisoned for the most part by negro troops, who had but recently been received into the service, and were, consequently, raw and inexperienced. General Dennis was in command of the post, his forces numbering about fifteen hundred men. On the 6th and 7th of June, a considerable engagement took place. THE BATTLE OF MILLIKEN'S BEND. The Union troops were encamped along the bank of the Mississippi, between the river and the levee which is here about one hundred and fifty yards from the stream. Breastworks had been thrown up on the right and left of the encampment. There were a few rifle-pits along the levee, which is at this place about eight feet high. These were the defensive works of Milliken's Bend. In the rear of the levee is a large plantation, abounding in fruit and ornamental trees and hedges. The colored troops occupying this encampment were, the Ninth Louisiana, Colonel Lieb, the Eleventh, Colonel Chamberlain, and part of the First Mississippi. The Twenty third Iowa, Lieutenant- Colonel Glasgow, was, except a small force of cavalry, the only command of white men present, and this had been so reduced by the casualties of its honorable service, that it numbered less than two hundred men fit for duty. 6 Early on the morning of the 6th of June, Captain Anderson, commanding two companies of the 10th Illinois Cavalry, and Colonel Lieb, Ninth Louisiana, colored, made a reconnaissance in the direction of Richmond. Colonel Lieb marched on the main Richmond road to a railroad depot, about three miles from town, where he met and drove the enemy's advance, but in anticipation of an attack in force fell back slowly toward Milliken's Bend, directly after the first brush of the engagement. He had countermarched about half way to the Bend, when Captain Anderson, who had marched by a different road, came dashing up in his rear, hotly pursued by the rebels. Colonel Lieb instantly formed his blacks in line of battle, who delivered a volley into the advancing enemy, which turned him at once to the right about. He retired precipitately, with considerable loss. This closed the contest for the day. Colonel Lieb returned to the Bend, where he was reinforced by the Twenty-third Iowa, reduced in strength as above stated. At three o'clock of the following morning, the enemy appeared in strong force, advancing against our left in close column by division, with many troopers on his right flank. The force now at the Bend consisted of the Twenty-third Iowa and the African brigade, and numbered less than eleven hundred combatants. They did not open on the enemy till he had got within point-blank musket range. They then let drive a well directed volley plump into the rebel columns, which caused them to waver and recoil. But only for a moment. They were rallied, and soon again moved to the assault with great intrepidity. The colored troops were not well armed, and were not yet skillful in the use of their weapons, some of them having been drilled but a few days. Wherefore, though they fought with acknowledged gallantry, their execution was not first-rate, and the enemy gained our works. There ensued a fearful hand-to-hand contest. The rebels, rushing over the works with the savage cry of "no quarter," were met by the blacks with bayonets and clubbed muskets. The dreadful melee continued many minutes, black men and white mingling in the strange encounter, and falling together in the deadly strife. At length, our forces, receiving an enfilading fire, fell back to the defense of the river bank, when the gun-boats "Choctaw" and "Lexington" came to the rescue, and by a few broadsides soon sent the rebels tumbling over the works and the levee. They again essayed attack, now moving against our right, but were quickly repulsed. The battle closed at noon, in the complete defeat of the rebels, who left more than an hundred of their dead upon the field, and who lost in others killed and in wounded probably not less than five hundred more. The loss of the Unionists was about six hundred. The Twenty-third Iowa lost in killed and wounded about fifty officers and men, among the former being Captain John C. Brown, a gallant officer and worthy man, one among the many representatives of the Iowa press w ho gave their lives in defense of the Union against rebellion. Adjutant Thomas Free, of the Eleventh Louisiana, who was here conspicuous, and who received several balls through his uniform, was a citizen of Iowa. But Colonel Chamberlain, of that regiment, who had been Major of the First Iowa Cavalry, conducted himself; I regret to say, in a very unsoldierlike manner. All others, officers and men, so far as records show, behaved most handsomely, The Twenty-third fought with unsurpassed courage and tenacity. "The officers and men, who fought at Milliken's Bend," says General Dennis, "deserve the highest praise for their gallant conduct, and especially Colonel Glasgow of the Twenty-third Iowa, and his brave men." It is undoubtedly true that this regiment won the proudest honors of the day on this "dark and bloody field. " 7 The battle has become specially memorable from the fact that it was the first considerable engagement in which negro troops took part. Their conduct here was highly gallant and meritorious—so much so that it received the warm encomiums of General Grant. It was regarded, therefore, as a justification of a policy which had met with much opposition, and had not been adopted by the general government without much misgiving and long hesitation. It was a marked coincidence, too, that an Iowa regiment fought with the African brigade in the battle, for it was an Iowa General, Hugh T. Reed, who did more, perhaps, than any other officer in the army, to bring into favor the employment of colored troops. He had advocated the policy with all the arguments which an acute and powerful mind could suggest, and had, before this battle, put it into practical operation at Lake Providence, of which post he was in command for several months, and though frequently attacked, invariably sent off his assailants thoroughly convinced that a battle there would be a useless waste of rebel blood and life. In another respect also, besides that of the gallantry of Lieutenant-Colonel Glasgow and his command, was the battle peculiarly interesting to the people of Iowa. Even that gallantry might not have saved the troops from utter defeat, perhaps general massacre, but for the timely aid of the gunboats of the Navy. Those gunboats were the fruits of Iowa statesmanship. It was James W. Grimes, a Senator of the United States from Iowa, who inaugurated and established the plan by which our rivers and our ocean coasts were protected by iron-clad vessels. In the general dearth of statesmanship which prevailed in the early era of the rebellion, there was, nevertheless, vigorous growth in naval affairs. It is but the truth of history, that Mr. Grimes, the leading member of the naval committee, put flesh, and blood, and sinew, and muscle about the dry bones of the Navy Department, and breathed therein a living soul. To his statesmanship is due no little of the national glory which sprang from the achievements of Foote, of Farragut, of Du Pont, of Winslow, to the common stock of which Porter might also have added, but for his unfortunate inability to distinguish between a matter of fact and a matter of imagination. Milliken's Bend was only one of an hundred engagements made Union triumphs by the help of the navy. After this battle, the Twenty-third returned to its brigade and took position in the investing lines around the works of Vicksburg. The regiment was not strong in numbers, but the officers and men who had escaped the ravages of battle and disease endured the severe labors and trials of the siege with as good spirit as was possible. The siege having been successfully concluded, the regiment marched with the expeditionary army against Jackson, and having taken full part in that campaign, returned to the vicinity of Vicksburg in the latter part of July. |