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Iowa and the Rebellion
1Lurton Denham Ingersoll Philadelphia, Lippincott, 1866 CHAPTER XXIII . FOURTH IOWA CAVALRY.
ORGANIZATION AT "CAMP HARLAN," NEAR MOUNT PLEASANT—MOVE BYRAIL TO ST. LOUIS—TO SPRINGFIELD, BY ROLLA—JOIN THE ARMY OF THE SOUTHWEST—MARCH THROUGH ARKANSAS, TO HELENA—ENCAMPED NEAR HELENA ABOUT NINE MONTHS—ACTIVE OPERATIONS OF THE REGIMENT DURING THIS PERIOD—THE CAMPAIGN OF VICKSBURG, THE REGIMENT SERVING UNDER SHERMAN—CAPTURE OF JACKSON—RAIDS. For the following truthful and finely written account of this distinguished regiment, I am indebted to Lieutenant William F. Scott, of Fairfield—the last regimental Adjutant: The Fourth Regiment of Iowa Cavalry was organized and mustered into service at Mount Pleasant. Its camp was called Camp Harlan, in honor of the distinguished statesman, and was located one half mile west of the town. The first company in rendezvous, Captain Benjamin Rector's, arrived at Mount Pleasant October 17th, 1861, from Davenport where it had been sent to join the Second Cavalry. This company was organized at Sidney, Fremont county, August 10th, 1861, for the Second Cavalry, and was composed of men from the counties of Fremont, Page and Mills. It arrived at Davenport about the middle of September, but the Second was then full, and it was kept in Camp McClellan until the raising of the Fourth Cavalry was ordered, when it was removed to Mount Pleasant as a nucleus for that regiment. Captain John H. Peters' Company arrived with, or immediately after Captain Rector's; also from Davenport and also originally raised for the Second Cavalry. Captain Peters' Company was organized in Delaware County about September 1st. These two companies immediately set, to work upon the barracks, and others joining during the month, the quarters for the entire regiment were rapidly built. The next company was Captain Cornelius F. Spearman's, organized in Henry County October 9th and the next Captain James T. Drummond's, organized at the same place and time. Next came Captain Orrin Miller's Company, organized about the middle of October in Henry county, though many of his men came from other places. Next, Captain Edward F. Winslow's Company, organized in Camp Harlan and composed of men from the counties of Henry, Wapello and Mahaska. Captain Alonzo B. Parkell's Company, from Grinned, Poweshick County, was organized about the middle of September for a regiment of "Mounted Rifles," which was to have been organized by E. Clarke, Esq., of Iowa City. That failed and the company volunteered for the Fourth. O. Castle brought a party of men from Johnson County about November 1st, but they were soon after scattered into other companies. Captain Do Witt C. Crawford's Company, raised in Chickasaw and Mitchell counties, and Captain Thomas Tullis', raised in Lee, arrived early in November. A company from Jefferson county began to assemble about this time, and when large enough chose A. R. Pierce for captain. Pleyel's regiment of Lancers was now breaking up, and two companies volunteering for the Fourth Cavalry were sent to Mount Pleasant. These were Captain William E. Harris', organized at Burlington, and Captain William Pursell's, at Winterset, Madison county. Some delays occurred in filling up the companies, and the mustering officer, Captain Alexander Chambers, did not begin mustering until November 23d. On that day and on the 25th all the companies were mustered into the Ignited States service, except Captain Pursell's, which was delayed until December 5th. 4 On June 24th the question of ruin or a march for life having arisen, the army took up its line down the White River with the vague expectation of meeting reenforcements and supplies by boat at some point on that river. These hopes being disappointed at the points expected, and finally at Clarendon, the army turned eastward and pushed through the swamps for the Mississippi, arriving at Helena July 15th. From this time until ordered to join the army before Vicksburg, in April, 1863, the Fourth remained at Helena, none of the many changes of troops at that place affecting it. It was, however, constantly employed here in picketing and scouting, and performed much hard labor, though but few of its operations were of any importance It was encamped on the Little Rock road, a few miles west of Helena, and constantly performed outpost duty for the troops at that point. This involved the continued support of a heavy picket force and the making of frequent expeditions into the country. On September 1st a picket post held by a detail from Company D was attacked, and Private David Mosher killed, and three privates captured. A few days afterward two men of Company AI were captured from a picket post. On October 11th a scouting force of fifty men, of Companies A, G. and H. under Major Ben. Rector were attacked within three miles of camp, when returning from a fruitless hunt. Confident that no enemy was in the country, the force was completely routed. Privates John W. Allen, Company A, and Cornelius Jackson, Watson Frame, and John W. Williams, Company G. were killed, Private Levi B. Williamson, Company A, and Sergeant Thomas Hanker, Company G. severely wounded, and Major Rector and fourteen enlisted men captured. Lieutenant Parsons, Company B. with forty men arrived by a different road in the midst of the rebels' success and changed it into a defeat, driving them from the field, and capturing their Lieutenant-Colonel commanding, and twelve men. Major Rector and all the prisoners of the regiment were exchanged and returned from little Rock in November. On November 8th, a detachment of the regiment under Captain J. H. Peters was attacked near La Grange, Arkansas, but the rebels were defeated and driven from the ground, losing a major, a captain, and twelve men. Captain Peters' loss was in wounded: Second Lieutenant John Tucker and Private Benjamin F. Morgan, Company D, and Privates Charles H. Sisson and Francis Coe, Company H. In November the regiment formed a part of the expedition of Brigadier-General E. &. Hovey against Arkansas Post, which failed to make the passage of the Cut-Off, and returned to Helena. Immediately afterwards a detachment of the regiment joined the force commanded by Brigadier-General C. C. Washburne, which marched to Grenada, Mississippi, and destroyed the railroads in that vicinity. 5 During this winter, and within a few days or weeks of each other, there were accidentally killed, Private John R. D. Birum, Company H. thrown from his horse against a tree, and Corporal Edward Spicer, Company H, and Sergeant Lyman Fluke, Company C, and Private Joseph Henson, Company A, by gunshot, and wounded, Privates Jonathan Morris, Company B. Clinton O. Barrington, Company E, and Jeremiah Wilson, Company I. In a skirmish at Big Creek, two miles west of Helena, in January 1863, Private Benonah Kellogg, Company L, was killed. Major Ben. Rector and Captain Thomas C. Tullis, died in camp at Helena, on January 21st and February 8th, respectively, of disease. Early in April a detachment of the regiment under Major E. F. Winslow engaged a superior force of the enemy at Wittsburg, on the St. Francis River, Arkansas. The rebels were defeated. The loss of the regiment was: Private Daniel Lorregan, Company L, killed, and Privates Henry Fleming, George Sheppard and M. B. South severely wounded. At length, after nine months' harassing and petty service at Helena, the regiment was ordered to the army before Vicksburg, and embarked at Helena, April 29th, 1863. Arrived at Milliken's Bend, May 1st, and on the next day marched up the Bayou Mason on a reconnaissance. Returned on the 4th, and on the 5th began the march to Grand Gulf, by Richmond and Hard Times, Louisiana. Crossed the Mississippi at Grand Gulf, and overtaking the army at Rocky Springs on the 10th, was assigned to Sherman's Fifteenth Corps and at once placed in the advance. On the 12th the regiment was engaged in a sharp skirmish at Fourteen Mile Creek, in which Private Jabez Sibley was killed, and William Pay and Corporal Asa E. Andrews, and Charles W. Lash, were wounded. Major Winslow's horse was killed under him. In the approach to Jackson, on the 14th, the regiment was kept in the advance, but on nearing the city performed flanking duties and was engaged with the enemy several hours. Upon the occupation of the capital, the regiment pushed on in pursuit of the enemy, crossing Pearl River, and marching to Brandon. It returned to Jackson the same night. On the 16th of May, the corps taking up its march for Vicksburg the regiment became the rear-guard. It made a detour by Brownsville, and at that place engaged the enemy's cavalry, though without loss. On the 18th it crossed Big Black River at Bridgeport and closed up in the rear of its corps, in front of the works of Vicksburg. On this day, the regiment having been ordered on a reconnaissance to Haine's Bluffs, Captain J. H Peters being in the advance with twenty men came up to the works, entered an took possession, the enemy having evacuated, though there were still some rebels and a number of guns. Daring the siege of Vicksburg, the service of the regiment was exceedingly active. There being, for some time, no other cavalry with Grant's army, except a portion of the Sixth Missouri, it had that to do which should have employed six or eight regiments of cavalry. Scarcely a breathing moment was allowed from the 1st of May until the last of June. Out of fifty-six days in those two months, the "effective force" of the regiment was in the saddle fifty-two. The men were almost worn out and there were a great many cases of sickness and, in time, a number of deaths from sheer fatigue endured in these times. The duty performed was picketing and reconnoitering in the right rear, a rebel force under General J. E. Johnston constantly promising an attack for the relief of the garrison In the numerous patrols and scoots thus sent out skirmishes often occurred. 6 One on May 24th at Mechanicsburg lasted several hours but the only casualty in the regiment was a slight wound for Private Francis R. Walker, Company F. In another skirmish fought at Mechanicsburg May 29th, the regiment had wounded, Sergeant John W. Corbin, Corporal William Henderson, and Privates Alonzo Cantwell and Isaac M. Vaughn, the last named mortally. About the middle of June detachments of the regiment were sent out Mom day to day to blockade with felled trees: the roads by which it was expected the enemy would advance, for General Johnston's rebels were now becoming strong and saucy. One of these blockading forces, of one hundred and fifteen men under Major A. B. Parkell, detachments from Companies A, F. I and K, was attacked June 22d, by eight hundred rebel cavalry. The enemy succeeded in cutting off one company (I) which was on picket, and nearly surrounding the others, made a furious charge. The overwhelmed and surprised blockaders resisted as well as men could, and cut their way through towards the camp, but nearly one half were left behind—ten killed, five wounded and thirty-two captured. Some of the captured were also wounded. The killed and mortally wounded were: Privates George W. Vandorn, Andrew J. Chapel, John Mann, Wilson S. Hunt, James Buttercase and John McClintock; Corporal John W. Frame and Private John W.. Yancey; Second Lieutenant Joshua Gardner and Sergeant William T. Biggs, mortally wounded. Wounded: Private Levi B. William; Sergeant George W. Caskey; Privates Thomas Miner, William Johnson, and Privates James Moon and William Hole; Second Lieutenant William J. McConelee was among the missing. This affair had, at least, the value of teaching our generals that there were some rebels in their rear; and a strong defense was immediately organized in Johnston's front, under Major- General Sherman. The regiment was stationed in this disposition, at Bear Creek, twenty miles from Vicksburg. General Grant stepped into Vicksburg on the 4th of July, and without the delay of an hour the army under Sherman moved against the rebel General Johnston. On the evening of the 4th, the army was at Black River ready to cross. Johnston's main army was on the opposite bank, ready to cross and attack us. Had the surrender of Vicksburg been delayed one day, there would. perhaps, have been terrible fighting between the Black and the Mississippi Rivers. The regiment now had a new colonel. Colonel A. B. Porter tendered his resignation to General Grant March 8th, and it was accepted about the time now treated of. Major Edward F. Winslow had been commissioned colonel, and at once assumed command. On the 5th, the regiment moved under Colonel Winslow in a brigade commanded by Colonel Cyrus Bussey Third Iowa Cavalry, and crossing the Big Black at Messenger's Ferry took the advance of the army on the main Jackson road. Appeared before Jackson on the 11th, and while the infantry besieged the capital, the cavalry made two hard marches to Canton, and engaged the enemy at that place, though without loss. The regiment being detached for that purpose burnt a bridge over Pearl River, and also burnt a railroad bridge over Black River north of Canton, with one mile of trestle work. The enemy evacuated Jackson in the night of the 16th, and a few days afterwards the army began to move slowly towards Vicksburg. The cavalry encamped at Flowers' on the west bank of Big Black. On the 10th of August, a force of three hundred and seventy-five men from the regiment under Major A. B. Parkell formed part of a force of eight hundred under Colonel E. F. Winslow, which made a raid of over three hundred miles, by Yazoo City, Grenada, and Coldwater to Memphis, Tennessee. This was one of the most remarkable raids of the war. It occupied thirteen days and was made with four days' rations and in perfect order, and the rebels were on both hands in superior force for a greater part of the distance. This command returned from Memphis by transports reaching camp September 1st. |