ORGANIZATION AND CHANGES--RECONNOISSANCE BY GENERAL
ROSS--DISPOSITION OF THE HATCHIE PRISONERS--THE STATE
ELECTION IN OUR REGIMENTS--EFFECT OF THE NEWS OF THE
NORTHERN ELECTIONS UPON OUR TROOPS--WILD REPORTS OF
THE ENEMY'S ADVANCE--FORTIFYING--PREPARATIONS FOR
A GENERAL ADVANCE--ARRIVAL OF GENERAL GRANT--GRAND
REVIEW--ARRIVAL OF NEW REGIMENTS--REORGANIZATION
OF OUR DIVISION--GENERAL MARCHING ORDERS--FIRST
DAY'S MARCH--SECOND DAY'S MARCH--VANDALISM OF THE
TROOPS--JUNCTION WITH THE LEFT WING--OUR CAMP AT
LAGRANGE--ORDER AGAINST VANDALISM--POSITION OF THE
ENEMY--PREPARATIONS AND RECONNOISSANCES--DAILY
INSPECTION OF AMMUNITION--ARRIVAL OF COLONEL
WILLIAMS--RESIGNATION OF LIEUT. COL. TRUMBULL--THE
SOMERVILLE MARCH--REVIEWS AND MARCHING ORDERS.
Brigadier Gen. Lauman assumed command of the 4th Division, and
Colonel Pugh again took command of the 1st Brigade, which he
had commanded so well in the battle of Shiloh. Major General
McPherson was put in command of the 2d Division of the District
of Jackson,--embracing the country around Bolivar held by the 4th
Division and the troops of General Ross, the previous command
of General Hurlbut and still included in his command,--with his
headquarters at Bolivar.
On the 9th of October, General Ross went out to reconnoiter in the
direction of Ripley, but returned without meeting anything of
consequence. We again relapsed into the quiet of camp life, and began
our customary drills and reviews. Our wounded were cared for in the
hospitals at Bolivar, but as fast as they were able to be moved, were
sent to Jackson and further north. The prisoners taken in the late
battle were sent under escort of the 28th Illinois to Holly Springs,
and delivered over to be exchanged.
While at this camp we witnessed among ourselves the novel experiment
of soldiers being allowed to vote on matters which pertain to their
State, and to their several communities at home. The commissioner
appointed, in pursuance of the act of the Legislature, to take the
vote of our regiment, P. F. Crane, Esq., of Fayette county, arrived
several days before that of the election, and much of the time
during his stay with us enjoyed the hearty but rough hospitalities
of Company F. No military duty interfering, the election was held
on the usual day for the State, the 14th of the month. That morning
the _minors_ were sent on picket to give all the legal voters a
chance. The polls were opened at the Adjutant's tent. The whole
affair passed off with a marvelous degree of quiet and order. There
was no drunkenness, no wire-pulling, no trickery, no coercion, no
undue persuasion. If some of our fellow citizens at home could have
witnessed the election, characterized by not a single disgraceful
scene, but where every man, like a citizen sovereign, voted
unquestioned the ticket of his choice, they would have been put to
shame at the disgraceful conduct which marks many elections held amid
the restraining influences of society and civilization. And could
they have seen it, how it would have put to shame (if aught could put
to shame), the detested, corrupt, traitorous and cowardly crew, who
advocated the withholding of this just and simple right from the men
who, they would allege, had forfeited it, because they had placed
themselves a voluntary living wall between them and their country's
foes! No event ever did more honor to the patriotism and wisdom of
a legislative body, than did these elections to the Legislature of
Iowa. Most of those who had hitherto voted or sympathized with the
Democratic party, viewing its present workings as tending more to
embarrass the Government than to reform its abuses, the vote for its
candidates was very light--less than forty out of about three hundred
votes cast. (I write from memory and can not give the official
figures.) And what was still more significant, Mahoney, the traitor,
only got two votes!
When the results of the Northern elections became known, it cast a
gloom over the great majority of our regiment, and of the regiments
around us. A crushing defeat of our main armies would not have had
so chilling an effect on the _morale_ of our best troops as this.
Waiving all consideration of the questions involved, it was too
plain to all that these elections indicated a dissatisfaction with
the administration, an opposition to the prosecution of the war, a
sympathy with the common enemy, and in general, a disaffection among
the people, where all should be struggling unitedly for the salvation
of the Republic. Though many good and patriotic men acted with the
party, we could not but see that, with scarcely an exception, every
traitor in the North likewise acted with it, and we heard with
mortification and rage the exultations of the enemy, who proclaimed
its triumph as a triumph of their cause among us. But the most
alarming feature of this indication of disaffection to the Government
was, that it took place at a time when the two main armies of the
enemy were scarcely checked in their marches of victory,--when his
hordes on the Potomac and the Ohio had scarcely begun to recoil from
their attempted invasion of our homes and firesides. That, at a time
when the public danger increased, a portion of the people should have
increased their factious opposition to the Government, was to the
brave soldiers struggling against an all but successful enemy, really
disheartening. In such times as these, it should be the chief lesson
of the citizen to learn, that, however weak or lacking in wisdom the
Chief of the State may be, the only resource of the nation's safety
is for the people to rally around him as one man, and to accomplish
by spontaneous action what he fails to do. Honor and gratitude to
those who stand by their country's Chief when danger thickens; but to
those who desert him and turn against him, let due infamy be accorded.
We still had wild and ridiculous reports of the enemy advancing upon
us in great force. The Memphis _Bulletin_ promulgated them, and many
of the soldiers believed them with a credulity that was disgraceful.
They did not stop to think that the enemy's army was numerically
less than ours; and that his force being manifestly equal to ours
at all other points, could not be superior to it here. Whether the
generals believed these reports or not, it is difficult to say. At
least they began to construct fortifications at Bolivar, and for this
purpose heavy details were made each day, and the work was pressed
vigorously until, under the personal supervision of Major General
McPherson, himself an engineer of the first order, a line of works
were constructed by no means inferior in character, and capable of
protecting the front of a large army.
But in the midst of these defensive operations, preparations for a
general advance began. A six months supply of clothing, camp and
garrison equipage, was issued to the troops; draught animals were
shod, and wagons put in a state of repair; and an immense quantity
of ordnance stores was brought forward. On the 28th of October the
guns of Fort Sanderson announced the arrival of Major General Grant.
In making preparations for a campaign, the first thing a general
wants to know is the number and condition of his effective troops,
and in order to make this investigation in a satisfactory manner,
it is very desirable that he should _see_ them. Accordingly the
following morning was memorable for a grand review. The two divisions
were drawn up in hollow square near Fort Sanderson. The lines thus
formed were nearly three miles in length, exclusive of cavalry and
artillery. The appearance of General Grant was the signal for a
salvo of thirteen guns. He rode at a slow walk along the lines,
eyeing the troops with great scrutiny. Exclusive of numbers, there
was not in this review much of the "pomp and circumstance of war."
At those points of the line where the General was at a distance and
not approaching, the men, excessively fatigued with standing still,
sat down, and in some places the ranks became quite broken. We then
passed in review before the General, and returned to our camp through
suffocating clouds of dust.
Meanwhile new regiments, organized in the summer, began to arrive,
and were distributed among the old brigades. The 4th Division was
re-organized so as to be composed of three brigades, the 1st under
command of Colonel Pugh, the 2d, of Colonel Hall, 14th Illinois, the
3d under command of the gallant E. K. Johnson, of the 28th Illinois.
The 1st Brigade was composed of the 3d Iowa, 53d and 103d Illinois;
the 2d Brigade of the 14th, 15th, 46th and 76th Illinois; the 3d
Brigade of the 28th and 32d Illinois, and the 53d Indiana and 12th
Wisconsin. The latter was a splendid regiment numbering nearly a
thousand men. It had seen much service, but had never been in action.
The 25th Indiana was detached from the division some time after this
at LaGrange. Until then it continued with the 2d Brigade.
On the 1st of November we received marching orders. The recent order
of General Halleck, reducing the transportation of the army, was now
in our cases put into effect. We were to take but six teams to the
regiment. Officers were required to confine their baggage to valises
instead of trunks, and to turn over their surplus baggage, at their
option, to the Depot Quartermaster for storage, who would receipt for
the same. Three days rations were taken in haversacks, and two in the
wagons. Our surplus wagons were detailed to haul the baggage of the
103d.
At daylight the camps had disappeared from the fields, the batteries
were limbered up, long lines of baggage wagons stood where the camps
had been, and dark columns of infantry completed the scene. Before
eight o'clock the column stretched out on the Grand Junction road.
The men were in excellent spirits; for it was generally believed that
we were going this time to stay. The road was somewhat dusty, but the
day was cool and the march easy. We made ten miles and camped south
of Spring Creek, near where General Lauman had halted and shelled
the enemy in his memorable retreat. General McPherson believed in
military discipline; and notwithstanding the men were tired with
carrying their heavy knapsacks, he caused a strong camp guard to be
posted around each regiment, and ordered that the men be confined
strictly to its limits. The arrangement created great displeasure
towards him. It was repeated, though in a milder degree, in all our
subsequent marches under him. Before night, Logan's division came up
and camped near us.
The following day's march was characterized by a degree of vandalism
which was disgraceful to all concerned in it, and even to the army at
large. Fences and buildings were set on fire all along the line of
march, and in some instances almost under the eye of General Grant.
Decent respect to our General should have spared him the sight of
such humiliating occurrences. Most of it was laid to the cavalry in
advance.
Near Grand Junction where the State line road crosses the one on
which we were marching, we found the head of General Hamilton's
column, coming from Corinth, but now at a halt and waiting for our
column to defile past and take the LaGrange road to the right.
The right wing, General McPherson, went into camp around LaGrange,
and the left wing along Wolf River, south of Grand Junction, and near
Davis' Bridge. The 3d Iowa went into camp that night on the precise
ground it had occupied in the summer. General McPherson established
his headquarters in an elegant building near us. The railroad was
repaired from Bolivar, and preparations for a continued advance
immediately began.
The vandalism of both wings of the army in burning fences and
buildings on the march hither, called forth a severe order from
General Grant. This failing to accomplish its purpose, another one
was issued assessing the amount of property destroyed to the smallest
corps to which the act could be traced, whether division, brigade,
regiment, company, detachment, or single man; the amount to be
assessed against them, or him, on their pay rolls, and deducted from
their pay. This had the desired effect for a while, but it was soon
forgotten.
The enemy under Van Dorn and Price were camped south of us, at,
or this side of Holly Springs. The time we lay at this point was
consumed in preparatory reconnoissances, rebuilding the railroad
bridge over Wolf River south of Grand Junction, and otherwise
preparing for a general invasion of Mississippi.
About noon, November 5th, an order came to our regiment to march
immediately in light order, taking one day's rations in haversacks.
It was a reconnoissance of the 1st Brigade with a section of Mann's
Battery, Col. Pugh in command. Captain McCall was in command of the
3d Iowa. We moved south, taking the Holly Springs road, and, when
about eight miles beyond our outposts, those of the enemy came in
sight. Our infantry deployed on either side of the road, and our
artillery commenced throwing shells. The country was open and level,
and afforded a fine view. We could see our shells strike the ground
and burst about three-quarters of a mile from us.
The enemy fled, and we again advanced. About sundown our cavalry came
up with the retreating cavalry of the enemy and repulsed them after a
brief skirmish, in which the rebels lost one killed and two wounded.
Darkness coming on, we retraced our steps and arrived in LaGrange
about 9 o'clock, having made in one afternoon a march of eighteen
miles, besides some skirmishing.
The following evening an order was read to our regiment on parade
that the troops of the division would hold themselves in readiness
to march in the morning on a reconnoissance, in force, with the
exception of two regiments of Gen. Veatch's Brigade, one of which was
to be left to guard Ball's Bridge, and the other as a reserve and for
picket duty, and one regiment of Col. Johnson's Brigade left to guard
the bridge over Wolf River on the Holly Springs road, and one battery
also to be left behind. We were to be provided with two day's rations
in haversacks, and one hundred rounds of ammunition to the man. The
imprudence of reading such an order, on a public parade, is at once
apparent. A single citizen might have conveyed its contents to the
enemy, and he, taking advantage of our folly in thus informing him of
our force and designs, might have punished it severely.
We moved at 9 o'clock, taking the Holly Springs road. Major General
McPherson was in command, and General Lauman was also along. Captain
McCall commanded the 3d Iowa. A steady march without any exciting
incident brought us late in the afternoon to the brick church near
Lamar, where the division had camped previously in the summer, when
under Sherman. We had scarcely stacked arms when a distant noise of
skirmishing began in front. At first we paid little attention to
it; but soon it increased into indistinct vollies. We were ordered
to keep on our accoutrements and to be ready to fall in line at any
moment. Two companies, one of them Company K, of our regiment, under
Lieut. Lakin of Company F, were sent out as skirmishers in a thick
wood on the right. Just as we had got enough grass pulled to sleep
on, we were ordered to take a new position, half a mile in advance.
We had not gone to sleep when various accounts of the skirmishing
we had heard in advance began to come in. It proved to have been an
affair of the cavalry. Ours, three battalions, respectively, of the
1st West Tennessee (mounted infantry), the 7th Kansas Jayhawkers
(mounted infantry), and the 2d Illinois (cavalry), came up with the
enemy's, consisting of two battalions of Jackson's celebrated cavalry
under Col. Montgomery. A ruse was adopted to draw the rebels into
a trap. Our mounted infantry dismounted and concealing themselves
on either side of the road, which ran through a narrow lane, the 2d
Illinois Battalion then advanced, and coming upon the enemy, appeared
to be confounded at his numbers, and began a precipitate retreat.
The enemy pursued with great haste, and when he came between the two
lines of dismounted infantry, they opened a sudden fire upon him.
"Amazement seized the rebel thrones." They whirled about in great
panic and began to retreat. But before they turned, the boys had shot
down several horses in the rear of their column. Upon these poor
animals, plunging and floundering, now rushed the whole mass, pent
up in the narrow lane. The boys closed in on them, and succeeded in
securing one captain and sixty-four men, many of whom were horribly
bruised and mutilated. Besides these, two or three had been killed.
But this impudent trick was soon after surpassed by the ambitious
Jayhawkers. Lying in wait, they saw a large party of the enemy move
up and post themselves as a grand guard. The Jayhawkers waited till
they got well asleep, and then crept up behind them, and woke them up
to tell them they were prisoners. The whole thing was accomplished
without any noise or disturbance. A few minutes after, a sergeant
came up. He, too, was taken. Then came a lieutenant and a private.
They shared the same fate.
I give the accounts of these exploits furnished by men who
participated in them. The prisoners we saw, talked with, and counted.
They numbered a hundred and twelve. They were without uniform,
though not ragged--but a dirty, wo-begone looking set. Many were
horribly bruised and clotted with blood. They said that if Jackson
had been in command their disaster in the lane would never have
happened. But he had been promoted to be a brigadier general, and
Montgomery, his successor, had proven himself incompetent to fill the
place.
Most of the next day, the infantry and artillery remained where they
had spent the night; but the cavalry pushed on as far as Cold Water
River, where it met the enemy in force of infantry and artillery, and
was forced back. We heard the dull booming of his cannon when they
opened upon our cavalry, and guessed correctly what the sounds meant.
Soon after, the 3d Iowa was sent forward to support the cavalry, but
after advancing about two miles was recalled. The cavalry retired
deliberately and the enemy did not pursue.
About four in the afternoon, we took up the return march for
LaGrange. The air was cool, and when once in motion we led out at a
brisk pace. The dust was somewhat annoying, but what was more so, the
troops had set fire to the fields and fences, and we were compelled
to march along burning lanes through intense smoke and heat, between
two lines of fire. We reached our camps about eight o'clock in the
evening.
After this reconnoissance, by order of General McPherson, the
ammunition in the cartridge boxes of the men was inspected each day
on dress parade by a staff officer sent for the purpose. Forty rounds
of cartridge were furnished each man, and whenever a deficiency
was found that the soldier could not account for, he was charged
at the rate of fifty cents for each cartridge. The boys were very
careful never to get caught without their full number. Should they
find their number short, it was easy to borrow for the time of some
comrade who did not go on parade. When the marches again commenced
the arrangement was dispensed with.
About this time General Lauman was succeeded in the command of the
4th Division by Brig. Gen. McKean. Our regiment listened to his
parting orders with extreme regret. I do not know whether this
feeling was common to the whole division; but the soldiers of the 1st
Brigade felt that he was their general, and feared our division would
not get another commander who would be so proud of his trust and
fulfil it so well.
At LaGrange, Col. Williams again joined us. His appearance was
greeted with many demonstrations of disrespect on the part of the
rank and file. Captain Smith, who had been home on recruiting
service, came with him. The Captain was well and warmly received.
Lieutenant Crosley also joined us about that time; but was soon after
detailed as aid on the staff of the brigade. Lieut. Col. Trumbull,
who had been compelled to remain behind on account of sickness,
joined us from Bolivar. He soon after tendered his resignation for
reasons which were well understood and appreciated by his friends.
It was not without much difficulty that he procured its acceptance,
General McPherson at first refusing his concurrence. With scarcely
an exception, he parted from us with the sincere regrets and good
wishes of the whole regiment, both officers and men.[2]
The morning of the 23d of November is memorable for the most
remarkable march ever performed by our regiment. The enemy's cavalry
appeared in our rear in the direction of Somerville, about sixteen
miles northeast of LaGrange. Our cavalry was at the time busy with
the enemy in front. Accordingly, the 3d Iowa, the 41st Illinois and
a section of artillery were sent to look after them. We marched at
six o'clock. Colonel Trumbull stood before his tent as we started.
The tears came into the gallant Colonel's eyes as he looked at the
boys for the last time. We were delayed for some reason near General
McKean's head quarters, and did not leave the town till eight
o'clock. Marching leisurely, and halting for a short rest, at a
small stream seven miles out, we reached Somerville at one o'clock.
The guerrillas were of course gone. After resting till half past
two, we began the return march. Our regiment, which had hitherto
been in the rear, was now in advance. The column at once assumed a
brisk gait. Soon after, a courier arrived with a dispatch from Gen.
McKean to hasten back, as a general movement was on foot. The speed
of the march was now accelerated, so as to keep the artillery horses
much of the time at a trot. The officers must have known that it
was impossible for the men to march at so unreasonable a gait; to
keep in the ranks was out of the question. Many fell behind and some
sank exhausted by the way. It was after dark when we reached the
creek where we had rested in the forenoon. Here about two hundred,
including the stragglers that came up, remained and passed the night
without an officer or a picket posted. It was perhaps well that the
enemy did not know their situation. When we reached the pickets, many
more fell out of the ranks and remained around their fires. Only
about twenty men and two officers reached camp with their colors--a
fitting eulogium on fast marching. Nearly all, however, were present
at morning roll-call, thus showing that they did not leave the ranks
from a disposition not to acquit themselves in the most creditable
manner. This extraordinary march of thirty-two miles in twelve hours
called forth a complimentary order from General McKean.
Meanwhile, Capt. Brown, whose resignation had been accepted at
Bolivar, returned as major, and assumed command of the regiment, Col.
Williams still being sick. The captain had been promoted while home,
at the request of a majority of the officers of the regiment. His
appointment gave very general satisfaction among the men.
General Grant returned from Columbus, whither he had been to consult
with Gen. Sherman. He reviewed the troops by brigades, and caused
orders to be issued for the animals to be shod and subsistence
drawn for an immediate march. The enemy was in force and fortified
at Abbeville, south of Holly Springs, on the Tallahatchie. General
Sherman marched from Memphis on the 26th of November, taking
direction to the right of his position. Orders came on the 27th for
us to march in the morning at 6 o'clock, taking all our baggage,
three days rations in haversacks, and two in wagons. On account of
the limited transportation, we would have to carry our knapsacks, now
containing our winter's supply of clothing, and very heavy. On this
account we promised ourselves anything but an easy march.
FOOTNOTE:
[2] This gallant and high-minded officer joined us with some military
experience, having served in the Mexican war. He was with us in all
our battles, and on all occasions behaved with a degree of courage
and resolution seldom equalled, nowhere surpassed. In camp and on
the march his conduct was no less meritorious. He kept himself
thoroughly acquainted with his duties, and on all occasions commanded
the highest personal and official respect. His generosity knew no
distinction of rank; for a gallant officer or soldier he could not do
too much, and there was but one offense which he could not forgive:
misbehavior in the face of the enemy. To those guilty of this he was
particularly intolerant. In short, he possessed in a high degree the
elements which make up a successful soldier, and his comrades, and
those who served under him, have learned with gratification that he
is again in the service, as colonel of the 9th Iowa Cavalry, with the
gallant Knight, first lieutenant and then captain of his old company
in the 3d Iowa, as lieutenant-colonel.