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Annals of Iowa
70Vol. I Iowa City, October, 1893 No. 3 THE TWENTY-FOURTH IOWA VOLUNTEERS. There is one remarkable circumstance connected with this brief siege, viz., while within 35FROM MUSCATINE TO WINCHESTER. BY THAD. L. SMITH. (Concluded from July number.) AFTER THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. miles of Black River, whither the cars were running, and having an almost unobstructed communication to the rear, at no time were we supplied with half rations by the Government. The Fifteenth and Seventeenth corps had passed through this region while en route for Vicksburg, and left but little in the country. The army had to be supplied with green corn from the fields, and upon this and fresh beef it was principally subsisted. At least this was true with regard to our twelfth division. The water, except where it could be obtained from springs, was exceedingly bad. The enemy in compliance with an order from General Johnston had killed their stock and thrown it into the lagoons, in the first instance to prevent its capture by our forces, and in the next for the purpose of poisoning the water. Although this did not operate as successfully as he had hoped, owing to the hot dry weather, and the scarcity of water, it was the means of great annoyance, and in many instances may have operated disastrously to the health of the command. Jackson contained but very few munitions of war, Johnston having succeeded in destroying or carrying away all that was valuable. Several hundred prisoners too sick to travel, or tired of the contest, fell into our hands. The Government works of the city had been partially destroyed by General Sherman in May. General Johnston having collected a considerable quantity of supplies which he was compelled to store in the business buildings of the city and could not get away with him, had set fire to them, which resulted in the destruction of its principal business blocks. The destruction thus commenced ended in the almost complete devastation of the city, leaving it a mass of charred and blackened ruins. The capitol buildings and others were burned by our soldiers in revenge for the torpedoes scattered about the streets, resulting in the murder of several of our men. The were usually placed under the ground in the streets and sidewalks, with wires attached, and a very slight jerk would suffice to explode the concealed infernal machine. It was the first general destruction of private property during the campaign by our troops, for which the losers may feel grateful to the inventors and abettors of this unrecognized, cowardly and barbarous mode of warfare. The want of supplies and the heat and drouth rendered the pursuit of Johnston impracticable, and the forces prepared to return to Vicksburg as orders indicated. The division set out on the morning of the 21st by slow and easy marches, returning by Raymond road. The weather was extremely hot and sultry, the water bad and the dust deep. In direct disobedience of orders, the troops were marched rapidly along, and in all their marches never before suffered so severely from heat and fatigue. Fifty miles were passed over in the latter part of July in less than two and a half days. Five or six from our regiment alone, men who had participated in all the hardships of the campaign, fell down as they marched along, utterly overcome by heat and fatigue, some of whom never fully recovered from its effects. It was cruel and heartless, because useless. The regiment reached its former camp in the rear of Vicksburg about 1 o'clock A. M. of the 23d, and marched into Vicksburg on the following morning, encamping on the river beside about a mile below the city. The city itself was in a most deplorable condition. All life and energy had been swept out of it by the terrible ordeal through which it had recently passed. Of the citizens, some had fled North seeking peace and rest, while others, following the fortunes of the Southern 71 cause, sought relief within their own lines. The debris of a large army cooped up within its limits for 47 days had rendered it almost uninhabitable. Munitions of war of all kinds were lying about in every direction, as if left where they were last used, or as if the contents of some mighty arsenal had been suddenly hurled into the air and scattered within its limits, shattering its dwellings and spreading destruction everywhere to life and property. Never perhaps in the history of the world has it fallen to the lot of any city to undergo an equal amount of bombardment from all sides for so long a period Many were the victims reported to have fallen while quietly walking along its streets. Upon either side of the streets and along the bluffs were to be seen the underground dwellings whither the inhabitants had fled for safety. Some of them were floored and carpeted, and presented a tolerable appearance of comfort, but, having only one narrow door for the ingress of light, must have been very dark prisons. Add to this the pangs of hunger and the long suspense, and we have a picture of physical suffering scarcely equaled in the annals of the world. Of course all the citizens who had chosen to leave the city were allowed to do so at the outset of the siege. Those who remained will not be likely so to elect again. The city had been stubbornly defended to the last, and its fall was a most important event in the history of the rebellion. It dragged down with it Port Hudson, the last barrier to our navigation of the Mississippi River This accomplished, the scene of important movements shifted immediately to east Tennessee, and thence proceeded until the Confederacy was again severed by the legions under Sherman. With what pride the soldiers of that army gazed upon the bosom of the mighty river freed at last from all rebel dominion after two years of bloodshed! From the first hour that the sullen boom of the cannon on the bluffs behind us had announced opposition to its free navigation, the young West had dedicated herself to the overthrow of the presumptuous enemy. Her sons standing upon the riverbank on that morning felt that she had fulfilled her pledge. It only remained to destroy the foe still in arms, and its waters would be free for navigation forevermore. The work of refitting the army after its long and arduous campaign was immediately begun. As all needful supplies were at hand, this occupied but a few days. Orders were issued allowing five per cent. of the command to visit their homes on thirty days' furloughs. Orders were received to proceed at once to the Department of the Gulf, then under command of Gen. Banks. Embarking on board of transports, the division left Vicksburg on the morning of the 2d of August. Proceeding directly to Natchez, our regiment disembarked on the 4th inst. The city was almost as silent and lifeless as a churchyard. The wealthy portion of the late inhabitants had fled to the interior, bearing away with them the greater portion of their slaves, in anticipation of its early occupation by our forces. The streets, however, were very clean, as it had never suffered by the presence of any large force within its limits. All places of business were closed and Sunday seemed to prevail throughout the entire week. The troops were encamped immediately back of the city. Rest, after the late toilsome campaign, was here promised them. The arrangements for their comfort were still incomplete when orders were again received to reembark on the 11th inst.—having remained but one week. Two days later we again encamped at Carrollton, Louisiana. Here we were doomed to swelter through a month of laborious rest upon the banks of the Mississippi river, under the broiling August sun, unrelieved by breeze or shade. Quitting Carrollton on the 13th of September, the command proceeded by rail from Algiers to Brashear City, one hundred miles distant, arriving the following day. Brashear City is situated on Berwick Bay, and is about thirty-five miles inland. It is an inconsiderable village, surrounded by swamps and infested with mosquitoes from January to December of each year. The bay is less than a mile in width at this point, but affords an excellent harbor. The wharf and depot buildings are extensive and commodious. An enormous supply of Confederate and quarter-master's stores were captured by a few daring Texans during Gen. Banks' advance upon Port Hudson. Upon one 72 side of the building the Rebels had facetiously posted in large letters the following words: "Major-Gen'l Banks, Chief C. S, Stonewall Jackson's army and Chief of Ordinance for the Rebel Army in Louisiana!" Meanwhile preparations were being made for an advance through the Teche region, one of the finest and richest in the South. Four days were occupied in crossing over the troops. The army set out from the imaginary city of Berwick on the morning of October 3. Strict orders were issued forbidding any foraging, except by details organized for that purpose, but the habit of living off the country, acquired in the late campaign, rendered the utmost vigilance on the part of the officers commanding necessary for the enforcement of the order in a region where yams, pork, beef and poultry abounded. A natural suspicion that the Government was not being benefited by the vast quantities of sugar and cotton which were being collected and forwarded to Brashear City by speculators, doubtless increased the desire to disobey the order. Gen. Ord expostulated, threatened and punished, but withal effected very little. He then increased the beef ration to two and a half pounds per day, sent out yam details, but still pork and poultry found their way into camp. An order then appeared permitting citizens to use arms in defense of their property. This exasperated the troops to such a degree that he could find no guard who would molest the foragers. The corps yielded a willing obedience to all other particulars, although the General's determination in this matter had rendered him exceedingly unpopular. The army moved forward leisurely and uninterruptedly. The 1,500 troops under Gen. Green could do comparatively nothing in opposing the advance of the two corps, the 13th and 19th. Their cavalry would occasionally attack a foraging party, but seldom inflicted any other damage than to facilitate their return to camp. The advance occupied Vermillionville October 10, where the army rested until the 21st. The weather now began to grow cooler, and many suffered from an insufficiency of proper clothing for the season. A cold, drizzling rain setting in on the morning of the 23d continued throughout the day. All will long remember that day as one of the most dismal and disagreeable in their experience. The troops encamped about Opelousas on the evening of this day. A few only advanced beyond here.- A little more than a week was occupied in eating out the corn stores, to give place to cotton and sugar in the wagons, when the conquering army set out on its return. Thus far the enemy had not favored us with a skirmish. The army marched to Carencro Bayou November 1. On the following day the 19th corps continued its march towards New Iberia. The 13th corps bad one brigade under Gen. Burbridge posted about three miles in advance of the main body of the troops. The brigade remained thus situated through the 2d. During the day small bodies of the enemy were observed scouting about the lines, but his known weakness dispelled all fears of his being able to cope with any p" of our force so situated. During the day a lamentable disaster occurred to the 24th. A foraging party was sent out under command of Capt. J. C. Gue, for the purpose of procuring sweet potatoes. They were not more than two miles from camp and were busily engaged in loading the wagons, when a party of some thirty horsemen were observed about half a mile away, but apparently dressed in blue, and created no fear among the foragers. One of the party, appearing to be an officer, leaving his companions, rode slowly towards the fence, as if desirous to speak with those within the field. The Captain rode out to meet him and ascertain his business the", The horseman rode up to the fence about sixty rods distant from the party and stopped. It is somewhat wonderful that in a country known to be infested with guerrillas the Captain should have advanced so far, but impelled by a strange fatality. he continued until within ten or fifteen rods of the man, when the Rebel, disguised in a blue uniform of the U. S. army, drew up a carbine and shot him through the left breast, killing him almost instantly. It was but the work a moment for him to leap the fence and rob his victim. This done, he hastily withdrew with his booty. The detail fired several ineffectual shots at him, 73 and hurried rapidly to the Captain s side. One of the party was dispatched to the camp for assistance in case of an attack, while the remainder placed the body in the wagon and secured the Captain's horse. Company C was immediately sent to their assistance. Satisfied with the result of their cowardly exploit, the enemy made no further attempt upon the party of fifteen men with the wagon, and all soon after returned in safety to camp. The Captain was a gallant and able young officer, and his tragic death was lamented by the entire regiment. He was buried on a little knoll near the encampment on the day following. The work of paying off the troops under command of General Burbridge was begun on the following morning. While this was being done, the enemy made a sudden and unexpected attack upon them and succeeded in routing the greater portion before they were prepared to meet him. Troops were immediately sent to their assistance, and soon succeeded in beating off the enemy, but not until he had killed many and secured a number of prisoners. A deserter had, no doubt, reported the condition and situation of the troops, upon which General Green, who had been hovering about our lines, determined to make the assault with a view of inflicting whatever injury was possible under the circumstances. He succeeded but too well, escaping with small loss to his command. He is the same general who afterwards led his troops in a charge upon a gunboat above Grand Ecore during the Red River campaign, losing his head by a cannon ball as a result of his temerity. During the absence of the troops in front, an attempt was made to pillage the camp, the enemy doubtless supposing it to have been left unprotected. Companies H and K, under Major Ed Wright, had been dispatched to cover the left flank of the camp, and arrived just in time to frustrate their design. A brisk skirmish ensued, in which four of the enemy were killed and the remainder put to rout without any damage whatever to our boys. The 19th corps returned during the night of the 3d, and rumors having been circulated that the enemy had been greatly reinforced, an attack was anticipated on the following morning, but he failed to make his appearance. The army resumed its march on the morning of the 5th inst., and camped on Vermillion Bayou, where it remained without further molestation until the 16th. Proceeding to New Iberia, it remained there until the 19th of December. During our month's stay here, vast quantities of sugar and cotton were brought in from the surrounding country and shipped to New Orleans. It was estimated that one hundred teams were daily employed in this business. Two regiments were daily sent out as guards with the teams. From New Iberia these products were shipped to Brashear City. Upon small steamers navigating Bayou Teche. The country about is exceedingly fine and thoroughly cultivated. The immense quantity of sugar stored away from the crops of three previous years seemed almost incredible. Each plantation had its own sugar mill, in which were stored from one to five hundred and in some cases one thousand hogsheads of sugar. It has not yet come to light whether "Uncle Sam" was greatly enriched from his share of this property. Had he procured all of it, it would not have remunerated him for the expense of that useless expedition. While here Col. Slack, our brigade commander, went home on leave of absence, and the command of the brigade fell upon Colonel W. H. Raynor of the Fifty-sixth Ohio, a quiet, gentle. manly officer. Colonel Wilds, with ten men, was also ordered home on recruiting service, leaving the regiment under command of Major Ed Wright. The troops set out on their return to New Orleans on the 19th of December. Marching to Brashear City, they were transported by rail from there to Algiers, where they arrived December 25. We were paid on the day of our arrival. The regiment wallowed about in the mire of this camp until January 21, 1864, when our brigade started for Madisonville, where it arrived the 23d. During the expedition the command was composed of the 19th Army Corps under the command of Major General Franklin, the 13th 74 Army Corps under Major General Ord, and a small body of cavalry under General Lee—Major General Banks being in command of the whole army. The campaign was conducted ;n the most approved style. The soldiers were well supplied with rations, transportation, etc. A signal corps and military telegraph formed a part of its ornamental appendages, and if the expense was great and the results small, we were at least a victorious army, with "none to molest or make us afraid." JANUARY, 1864.—The regiment was now in the 2d brigade, 3d Division, 13th Army corps, Colonel W. H. Raynor, 56th Ohio, commanding, and General George F. McGinnis commanding the division. We went into camp at Algiers, Louisiana; the weather was very wet, mud and water rendering the camp almost impassable to man or beast. Frequently, after B heavy rain, the water would raise several inches on the floors of the tents. We remained in this condition until the 14th, when General McGinnis procured the warehouses on the bank of the river immediately below town, and ordered the regiment moved there. These warehouses were large and had a fine pier in front, for recreation. Here we remained and enjoyed ourselves hugely until the 21st, when the division was assigned to the "District for the defense of New Orleans," commanded by Major General Reynolds, and ordered to report to Brigadier General Grover at Madisonville, Louisiana, a small town on the north side of Lake Pontchartrain. The regiment left Algiers on the 21st, moved by railroad to Lake Port, and from there to Madisonville on the steamer N. P. Banks, arriving at midnight of the 21st, and bivouacked in the streets. On the morning of the 22d we went into camp west of town on a sand ridge. We were ordered to make our camp as pleasant as possible, as we should probably retrain in it for some months, consequently the camp was laid out according to the latest and most approved style, and beautifully decorated with small pine trees in which the country abound. We remained in this camp until the end of the month, spending the time pleasantly, building fortifications, drilling, etc. This was the most pleasant camp it had ever been the privilege of the 24th to enjoy since leaving Camp Strong at Muscatine. It was not unusual to hear the remark made by both officers and men that they would be willing to spend the balance of their natural lives soldiering, providing they could do it in a camp like that. FEBRUARY 1.—The regiment went into camp at Madisonville, Louisiana, spending the time in the usual camp duties, such as building works, doing picket duty, drilling, etc. We remained until the 26th, when we were ordered to ship on board the steamer Kate Dale for Lake Port and thence by railroad to New Orleans. We left Madisonville at sunset the evening of the 26th and arrived at Lake Port at 10 o'clock We shipped our "traps" from the boat to the cars, then laid down on the upper side of the depot floor and slept till morning. At eight o'clock on the morning of the 27th the regiment started for New Orleans, and arrived in due time. We transferred our goods from the cars to the ferry boat and from the boat to the camp at Algiers, La., by sunset the same evening. On the 28th we arranged camp and prepared to live. On the 29th we were mustered for pay. MARCH 1.—The regiment went into camp at Algiers, La We received notice that on the 3d of the month a review would come off by the Commanding General. The review passed off to the satisfaction of all concerned. The Twenty-fourth did its duty well; was especially complimented by the General for the beauty of its marching and maneuvers generally. 4th.—We were ordered to ship on the cars for Berwick Bay, La. We transferred all our "traps" to the cars, and were ready to move by 12 o'clock M., when we received a telegram that a bridge was broken, and we would probably have to remain at Algiers several days, consequently everything was again transferred to camp, the tents were pitched and matters put in condition for living. 75 5TH.—We were ordered to load on the cars again for Berwick Bay, at which place we arrived at midnight on the 6th, and went into camp about a mile from the bay. We were ordered to turn over all camp and garrison equipage that could be dispersed with on an expedition, send back to New Orleans all extra baggage, and prepare for a lengthy and rapid expedition, which we obeyed to the letter. Company F was here detailed as Provost Guards and ordered to report to the Division Commander. We left Berwick Bay on the morning of the 13th for Shreveport, La., on what is generally known as Banks' Red River Expedition, Colonel W. H. Raynor commanding brigade, General Cameron commanding 3d Division, and General Ransom commanding 13th A. C., consisting of the 3d and 4th Divisions. We arrived at Franklin, La., on the evening of the 14th; rested one day and drew some clothing and ammunition. We left on the morning of the 16th and arrived at Washington on the evening of the 20th. Here we came up with the 19th A. C., under command of Major General Franklin. Rested on the 21st, we left on the morning of the 22d, arriving at Alexandria on the morning of the 26th and went into camp about two miles above town on the banks of Rapides Bayou. Resting the 27th, we commenced the march again, taking the advance on the morning of the 28th, arriving at Kane river on the evening of the 29th, where we had to build a bridge, which was completed on the 30th. On the 31st we resumed the march, arriving at Natchitoches at noon on the 1st of April, having traveled during the month by railroad 100 miles, and marched 290 miles. The weather had been fine all the time, the roads were good, and everything passed off to the satisfaction of all concerned. APRIL 1.—The regiment went into camp at Natchitoches and remained until the morning of the 6th, when we took up our line of march for Shreveport. We arrived at Pleasant Hill on the evening of the 7th, and found the cavalry skirmishing in front. The brigade was ordered out to support the cavalry. We marched about one mile, when it was discovered that the enemy had left. The brigade then returned to camp with orders to be ready to march at daylight the next morning. At daylight we took up the line of march, the 4th division having the advance. Companies A, D, I, C and H having been detailed as escort for the train, were left back. About 8 o'clock P. M. our advance came up with the enemy, but drove him without any difficulty. Upon arriving at St. Patrick's Bayou the 3d division was ordered into camp to remain until the 19th Corps came up, as it was understood we had found the enemy in force, and would make a grand attack the next morning. At 2 o'clock P. M., we were ordered forward, and took part in the battle of Sabine Cross Roads, or Mansfield. After the battle was over the regiment was ordered to fall back to Pleasant Hill. Major Wright having been detailed to command the brigade, Captain Martin assumed command of the regiment. We arrived at Pleasant Hill about sunrise on the morning of the 9th, when the detachment of the 13th Army Corps, under command of General Cameron (General Ransom having been severely wounded), consisting of the 3d and 4th divisions, we. ordered to take charge of the trains and proceed to Grand Ecore on Red River. We started about 12 o'clock M. and arrived at Grand Ecore on the evening of the 11th and went into camp. We remained at Grand Ecore until the 22d, during which time the regiment threw up strong fortifications. Here Major Wright returned to the regiment, having been relieved by Lieutenant Colonel Wilson of the 28th Iowa, as Brigade Commander. We left Grand Ecore on the morning of the 22d and reached Kane River about 2 o'clock A. M. on the 23d, where we found the enemy strongly posted on the opposite side of the river, contesting our crossing. We moved up the river to the right, waded it, and by making a circuitous march flanked him and drove him out, put down a bridge and by 10 o'clock next day Banks' army was all safe across, when we again took up the march for Alexandria, arriving there on the evening of the 25th. During this retreat I think we had some of the most tiresome marches we ever experienced, marching all day and all night. Men would go to sleep walking along the road. We remained at Alexandria the remainder of the 76 month, threw up some slight works and did some skirmishing with the enemy, a few of whom followed us up. Before leaving Grand Ecore Company A was detailed to guard the steamer Hetty Gilmore to Alexandria. During the trip the guerrillas made an attempt to capture the boat. A sharp fight ensued in which the company had two men severely wounded, Sergeant Chas. Wager and Private R. McKinley. The guerrillas were driven off, and the company returned to the regiment upon its arrival at Alexandria. We were mustered for pay on the 3Oth. Colonel Slack of the 47th Indiana returned and took command of the brigade, General Cameron of the Division, and General Lawler of the detachment of the 13th Army Corps. MAY 1.—The regiment went into camp at Alexandria; the next day it was ordered out to the front, deployed as skirmishers, driving the enemy about three miles, when we were ordered back, and encamped behind a briar hedge, two miles north of Alexandria. Here Lieut. Col. Wilds joined the regiment, having been absent since December 6, on recruiting service in Iowa. We remained there until the 4th, when we were ordered forward and drove the enemy to Middle Bayou; then fell back to camp again and remained until the 6th, when we were ordered forward with the 3d and 4th divisions of the 13th A. C. under command of Gen. Lawler. We drove the enemy to Middle Bayou and encamped for the night. We moved forward the next morning and drove the enemy to the bridge across Bayou Rapides, which is about twelve miles north of Alexandria. We killed a major and wounded a few of the enemy and had several men slightly wounded. The command fell back that night and encamped on Middle Bayou until the 13th, when Gen. Banks commenced his retreat from Alexandria. We arrived at Simsport on the evening of the 17th, and remained there doing picket duty, etc., whilst a bridge was being built across the Atchafalaya river. Crossing the Atchafalaya on the evening of the 20th, we arrived at the Mississippi river near the mouth of Red river on the morning of the 21st, and at Morganza Bend on the evening of the 22d. We remained at Morganza Bend until the end of the month. During the stay at Morganza the regiment went out to the Atchafalaya on a reconnaissance and was fired into by a small band of guerrillas concealed in the bushes, killing Captain B. G. Paul of Company K and wounding four enlisted men. JUNE 1.—Regiment went into camp at Morganza Bend, between the levee and river, with but very little protection from the rays of a southern sun, which caused a number of Gases of sickness. We left Morganza Bend on the 13th, arriving at Carrollton next morning, and went into camp at Greenville Station on the New Orleans & Carrollton Railroad. We remained in this camp until the 21st, when we moved to Kennerville, a small town on the New Orleans & Jackson Railroad, about sixteen miles from New Orleans. We remained at Kennerville until the 26th, when a "big scare" was gotten up at Thibodeaux, and we were ordered to report to Brig. Gen. Cameron as soon as the circumstances of the case would admit; consequently we immediately started for Algiers, where we took the railroad and arrived at Thibodeaux on the morning of the 27th, finding everything quiet along the lines. We went into camp and commenced preparing the rolls to muster for pay, which we did on the 30th, without further interruption. JULY 1.—The regiment went into camp at Thibodeaux, had a "big time" on the 4th—stars shone brightly, eagles spread their wings—and several of the lesser lights tried to display their oratorical powers in proving that the Rebellion was near its end. On the 6th we received orders to be ready to move on the next morning for Algiers by railroad, where we were to report to Major- General Reynolds for embarkation to some unknown point. We arrived at Algiers on the evening of the 7th and went into camp near the railroad depot, where we remained until the morning of the 22d. During our stay the regiment was supplied with an entire new outfit of arms and accouterments, turning over the old Enfield rifles which had become much worn by service, receiving in lieu thereof near Springfield rifled muskets and accouterments. On the evening of the 21st orders came to embark on the transport "Star of the South"; obeyed orders, and by 9 o'clock next morning everything was in readiness to start on the unknown journey. Arriving at the mouth of the Mississippi river just after dark, we could not cross the bar till morning. Next morning about sunrise we weighed anchor and bade adieu to the "Father of Waters." After passing the bar, the sealed orders were opened and read. These orders directed us to report to the commanding officer at fortress Monroe. After passing through the necessary amount of sea sickness required to make a sea voyage pleasant, and without anything having happened of particular interest, we arrived at Fortress Monroe on the evening of the 28th and were ordered to report to Major-General Halleck, at Washington, D. C. Reaching Alexandria, Virginia, on the evening of the 30th, where we had to ship all our goods on another boat, as the Star of the South could not sail up as far as Washington, a ferry boat carried us to the "City of Magnificent Distances" about 12 o'clock the same night. We unloaded our goods upon the wharf, made down our beds and slept until morning. The command reported to Glen. Halleck the next day, and received orders to store all extra camp and garrison equipage and extra baggage, and report to Brevet Maj.-Gen. Emory, commanding 19th A. C., at Monocacy, Maryland, as soon as possible. The storing was all attended to properly and at dark we were going for Monocacy as fast as steam could carry s. We reached Monocacy about daylight on the morning of the 1st of August. AUGUST 1.—The regiment went into camp at Monocacy, Maryland, near the pike leading to Frederick, Col. Wilds commanding the brigade and Col. Molineaux commanding the division. We remained there until the evening of the 4th, when a big scare occurring at Harper's Ferry, we were ordered on board the cars with the utmost dispatch. Arriving at Harper's Ferry about midnight, we moved out to the works on the Winchester Pike and slept on our arms. Leaving Harper's Ferry on the 6th, we moved out to Halltown and went into camp on the left of the pike, leading to Charlestown, a place rendered historical by the trial of old John Brown. We left Halltown on the 10th in search of Gen. Early, who was reported to have an army of some 30,000 men endeavoring to make another raid into Maryland and Pennsylvania. We arrived at Cedar Creek, a small stream rising west of Little North Mountain and emptying into the north fork of the Shenandoah near Strasburg, on the evening of the 12th. Here we remained until the 15th, when it becoming evident that Early would not give us fight in that position, we fell back to near Charlestown, arriving there on the 18th. Here Gen. Grover came up with reinforcements from Washington and a reorganization took place. The 24th was assigned to the 4th Brigade, 2d Division, 19th Army Corps, Col. D. Shunk, 8th Ind. Vet. Vols., commanding brigade, Gen. Grover commanding 2d Division, and Brevet Maj.-Gen. Emory commanding 19th A. C. The Army of the Shenandoah now consisted of two divisions of the 19th A. C., Gen. Emory commanding—the 6th corps, Maj.-Gen. Wright commanding, the Army of Western Virginia commanded by Gen. Crook, and about 10,000 cavalry commanded by Gen. Torbert—in all about 40,000 under command of Maj.-Gen. Sheridan. Remaining at Charlestown until the 21st, the army moved to Bolivar Heights, between Hall. town and Harper's Ferry, and entrenched. On the 28th it was. moved out about two miles southwest of Charlestown, where it entrenched. Then we mustered for pay on September 1. NOTE.—Mr. Smith's history of the Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry ends here. He did not live to complete It. There is, however, a continuation of the history of the regiment in the report of Gen. Ed Wright to the Adjutant General of Iowa, in 1865. This, with possibly other data, will be presented to an early number of THE ANNALS, completing the narration down to the close of the war. |