CHAPTER VI - continued
74
Urbana Township: Geo. R. Robinson, Alvin
Stocker, Wm. Mahon, Jephtha Robinson, Minrod Martin, C. C. Vancleve, Wm.
McIntyre, Joe Myers, Adam Law, Tos. Forster, W. R. Stoops, D. J. McIntyre, Wm.
Gutch, and J. J. Dale.
Franklin: Mark Talley, Bryant Finney, Jacob
S. Ware, Thomas Murray, A. D. Palmer, Stewart Townsend, Geo. Grimes, and Samuel
R. Potts.
Wayne: Geo. W. Youtsey, A. J. Phillips, - - Bromes, James S. Hogeland, Daniel Striblen, Isom Adcock, J. W. Payne, and
Wm. Spurling.
Cedar: S. B. McCarkle, Geo. Kirkendall, Geo.
Crosier, I. L. McCoy, Bartley Murr, Joshua Weaver, Wm. Wills, Rufus Witham,
Alfred Goss, Lot King, Hubbard Wilson, and Wm. Burnett.
Union: Elias Gilbert, Isaac Hittle, D. C.
Watson and Michael Heffron.
Military Organizations
The following is a list of the militia
organizations in Monroe County from 1861 to 1865, as shown by rolls on file in
the Adjutant General's office:
Monroe Guards, Captain H. Saunders;
organized May 11, 1861; accepted for Sixth Infantry.
Monroe Light Horse, Captain Daniel Anderson;
organized May 11, 1861; accepted for First Cavalry.
Volunteer Militia of Urbana Township, Captain
J. M. Taylor; date of organization not given.
Albia Rifles, Captain H. Bachelder; organized
August 24, 1861.
Stacyville Union Guards, Captain Levi J.
Bidwell; organized June 15, 1861.
Melrose Guards, Captain W. H. H. Lind;
organized October 21, 1861.
Urbana Grays, Captain J. M. Taylor; organized
July 156, 1861.
Monroe Guards, Captain Geo. P. Bartow;
organized September 16, 1862.
Melrose Grays, Captain James M. Blue;
organized July 10, 1862.
Albia State Guards, Captain John Hull;
organized May 30, 1863.
Franklin Sharpshooters, Captain Jno. L.
Smith; organized August 23, 1864.
75
Military Company of Monroe Township, Captain
Elias Combs; organized August 20, 1864.
Lovillia Independent Company, Union Township,
Captain John Walker; organized August, 1864.
Urbana Union Company, Captain Newton Vancleve;
organized September 16, 1864.
The Albia Invincibles, Captain Levi S. T.
Hatton; organized September 16, 1864.
Union Township Military Company, Captain
Allen Roberts; organized August 27, 1864.
Rough and Ready Company, Mantua Township,
Captain W. J. McCormick; organized August 18, 1864.
Military Company, Cedar Township, Captain
John Amos; organized August 24, 1864.
Pleasant Corner Company, Pleasant Township,
Captain Wm. Glass, organized August 12, 1864.
First Company, Troy Township, Captain Henry
Saunders; organized August 6, 1864.
Osprey Rangers, Captain John M. Hays;
organized September 6, 1864.
Wayne Township Company, Captain Thos. P.
Jones; organized August 6, 1864.
Bluff Creek Rangers, Captain Chas. Claver;
organized August 18, 1864.
Gilford Township Company, Captain Isaac P.
Babb; organized August 23, 1864.
Pleasant Township Company, Captain Wm. Robb;
organized August 27, 1864.
A number of companies in the foregoing list
of militia organizations were but partially organized, and did not receive any
arms or accouterments from the State, in sufficient numbers. Indeed, at the
present day, there is some dispute as to the actual existence of one or more of
these companies, but their rolls are on file in the Adjutant General's office at
Des Moines.
The threatened invasion of the southern Iowa
border by rebels during the war, and especially during its closing period, when
a guerrilla band did make a raid into Davis County, called some of this
"raw militia" into existence. They were armed principally with their
own squirrel rifles, shot guns, and fire arms of every description. The State
distributed a few old muskets among them, and also supplied many citizens with
arms, which, when the scare was
76
over, and quiet restored, were called in by the Adjutant
General, and were recovered to the State arsenal with some delay and
difficulty.
In 1875 two militia companies were organized
in Monroe County. The Albia City Guards, organized independently of the State
militia law, was organized by John Doner, who is at present sheriff of Monroe
County. He acted as captain of the company. The company was soon organized as
Company E, Fifth Regiment, Iowa National Guards, and was assigned as the color
company of the regiment, carrying with it the regimental band, with Cass Ramsay
as leader. Captain Doner continued in command of the company. Captain Doner's
company was also enrolled in the State Militia as Company E.
The other company was chiefly composed of
veterans of the late war, and was enrolled as Company K, with W. A. Gray, as
captain. Captain W. S. Coen also commanded the former company on the resignation
of Doner, and Harry Moore succeeded Gray as captain of the latter. Both
companies disbanded in two or three years.
List of Soldiers Residing in Monroe County Who Enlisted from Other Localities
This list was made July 1, 1896.
J. T. Rowe, Company A, 3d Illinois Infantry (Mexican War).
John Walker, Company B, 4th Illinois Infantry.
E. T. Paulline, Company F, 38th Illinois Infantry.
Wesley Donegan, Company A, 10th Illinois Infantry.
C. Stewart, Company E, 12th Illinois Infantry.
Joseph Wallace, Company C, 15th Illinois Infantry.
Fergus Mayor, Company B, 38th Illinois Infantry.
S. M. King, Company E, 20th Illinois Infantry.
Owen O'Maley, Company F, 22d. Illinois Infantry.
G. W. Fordyce, Company A, 33d Illinois Infantry.
Morgan Wynn, Company A, 33d Illinois Infantry.
S. M. Brunhall, Company F, 36th Illinois Infantry.
Oscar Moffitt, Company E, 42d Illinois Infantry.
Chas. Gott, Batter A, 3d Illinois Light Artillery.
Spencer Spillar, Company E, 50th Illinois Infantry.
Henry Brown, Company A, 86th Illinois Infantry.
G. W. Anderson, Company K, 65th Illinois Infantry.
J. P. Early, Company F, 93d Illinois Infantry.
Marion Keelon, Company B, 100th Illinois Infantry.
77
John W. Alford, Company I, 101st Illinois Infantry.
W. French, Company K, 112th Illinois Infantry.
J. M. Bellman, Company H, 126th Illinois Infantry.
Joseph Wood, Company H, 126th Illinois Infantry.
Thad. S. Steward, Company K, 137th Illinois Infantry.
Joseph Garver, Company I, 156th Illinois Infantry.
John Hickson, Company B, 9th Illinois Infantry.
Frank Hartman, Batter G, 1st Illinois Artillery.
Ben F. Rose, Company B, 5th Indiana Infantry.
Clay Eshom, Company A, 14th Indiana Infantry.
Frank Campbell, Company C, 14th Indiana Infantry.
Tim Kennedy, Company C, 20th Indiana Infantry.
Geo. Loer, Company B, 33d Indiana Infantry.
H. H. Mercer, Company E, 15th Indiana Infantry.
Joseph Main, Company A, 37th Indiana Infantry.
A. S. Lidell, Company E, 39th Indiana Infantry.
Ed I. Ramsay, Company B, 43d Indiana Infantry.
S. A. sparks, Company K, 43d Indiana Infantry.
Geo. Nevens, Company K, 43d Indiana Infantry.
M. M. McDowell, Company H, 44th Indiana Infantry.
Marion Long, Company B, 50th Indiana Infantry.
W. D. Russell, Company D, 97th Indiana Infantry.
David Richart, Company E, 101st Indiana Infantry.
John Willis, Company H, 135th Indiana Infantry.
Wm. Willcox, Company K, 147th Indiana Infantry.
Henry Daring, Wilder Battery.
Z. Elington, Company E, 7th Ohio Infantry.
Joseph Ryan, Company C, 8th Ohio Infantry.
H. B. Moore, Companies B, A, and F, 13th, 27th, and 25th Ohio Infantry.
Butler Raney, Company D, 15th Ohio Infantry.
J. C. Howay, Company A, 23d Ohio Infantry.
W. N. Crawford, Company B, 36th Ohio Infantry.
C. L. Root, Company K, 39th Ohio Infantry.
W. B. Dewey, Company B, 41st Ohio Infantry.
J. K. Welt, Company E, 52d Ohio Infantry.
Ben Hall, Company B, 62d Ohio Infantry.
Wm. Davis, Company D, 81st Ohio Infantry.
C. L. Nelson, Company C, 81st Ohio Infantry.
J. F. Junkin, Company B, 18th Illinois Infantry.
Chas. McCombs, Company F, 98th Ohio Infantry.
Aaron Millard, Company K, 3d Iowa Cavalry.
C. W. Montgomery, Company H, 58th Illinois Infantry.
78
Mike Moser, Company F, 2d Ohio Infantry.
A. J. Otley, Company A, 19th Iowa Infantry.
Wm. Porter, Company H, 2d Iowa Infantry.
Ben Robbins, Company B, 3d Iowa Infantry.
S. D. Sarver, Company M, 3d Iowa Cavalry.
Noah Schofield, Company E, 1st Iowa Colored Cavalry.
B. Seracy, Company K, 2d Iowa Infantry.
J. N. Smith, Company E, 61st Illinois Infantry.
N. J. Smith, Company G, 57th Indiana Infantry.
J. G. Thayer, Company D, 15th Iowa Infantry.
J. B. Varner, Company A, 4th Iowa Infantry.
Joe Walden, Company B, 30th Iowa Infantry.
D. W. Williams, Company B, 36th Illinois Infantry.
D. W. Williams, Company B, 36th Illinois Infantry.
J. M. Woodruff, Battery I, 2d Connecticut Artillery.
T. N. Wright, Company K, 61st Illinois Infantry.
Francis May, Company F, 40th Iowa Infantry.
Whaley Wilson, Company A, 40th Iowa Infantry.
Ezra Gurwell, Company -, 45th Iowa Infantry.
Ed Dougherty, Company A, 45th Iowa Infantry.
Eli McAlister, Company E, 4th Iowa Cavalry.
David Hansell, Company B, 5th Iowa Cavalry.
Frank Perrin, Company A, 5th Iowa Cavalry.
Levi W. Billings, Company B, 7th Iowa Cavalry.
J. W. Nye, Company L, 7th Iowa Cavalry.
Isaac Judson, Battery I, 4th Iowa Artillery.
A. G. Young, Company K, 36th Ohio Infantry.
J. D. Ralston, Company D, 15th Iowa Infantry.
J. W. Neff, Company G, 17th Missouri Infantry.
Wm. Haycock, Company E, 15th United States Infantry.
L. N. Tyrrell, Company I, 2d Kansas Cavalry.
H. C. Beemer, Company B, 6th Kansas Cavalry.
W. T. Johnson, Company G, 19th Kansas Cavalry.
A. R. Barnes, Company C, 8th Wisconsin Infantry.
Wm. Remey, Company D, 35th Wisconsin Infantry.
Thos. Remey, Company -, - Wisconsin Infantry.
Paul C. Oehler, Company I, 1st Arkansas Infantry.
John Dilts, Company C, 12th Michigan Infantry.
Boise Piersol, Company B, 22d Michigan Cavalry.
Henry Maneor, Company I, 15th Michigan Infantry.
M. J. Brown, Company I, 7th Michigan Cavalry.
D. W. Kenworthy, Company D, 1st Oregon Cavalry.
Wm. Nelson, Company K, 1st Colorado Cavalry.
79
Wm. Jameson, Company -, 10th Tennessee Infantry.
J. B. Baskett, Company B, 4th Tennessee Cavalry.
G. L. Eaton, Company C, 6th New Hampshire Cavalry.
D. Allsion, Company D, 3d Virginia Cavalry.
H. Rosseau, Company F, 1st Nevada Cavalry.
J. J. Budd, Company I, 22d United States Army.
Patrick Ferris, Heavy Artillery.
Matthew Speer, Signal Corps.
Wm. M. Glenny, surgeon, United States Volunteers.
R. C. Davis, Company D, 19th Iowa Infantry.
John Harbison, Company A, 30th Iowa Infantry.
A. Grayson, Company B, 25th Illinois Infantry.
W. B. Fench, Company K, 112th Illinois Infantry.
W. Gragg, Company E, 2d Missouri Cavalry.
John Hoyt, Company C, 7th Iowa Infantry.
Jas. Howell, Company I, 7th Kentucky Infantry.
W. J. Johnson, Company C, 16th Illinois Infantry.
J. M. Johnson, Company C, 16th Illinois Infantry.
E. B. Brown, Company D, 177th Ohio Infantry.
D. O. Clapp, Company K, 46th Iowa Infantry.
Francis Clear, Company C, 7th Iowa Infantry.
Monroe Johnson, company C, 1st Iowa Infantry.
Paris Howard, Company D, 7th Iowa Infantry.
J. D. Clouse, Company H, 7th Iowa Infantry.
S. Beedle, Company I, 7th Iowa Infantry.
Ben Chedister, Company B, 7th Iowa Infantry.
Isom Adcox, Company I, 7th Iowa Infantry.
Sumner Smith, Company K, 7th Iowa Infantry.
W. S. Cousins, Company H, 7th Iowa Infantry.
Jas. Phipps, Company B, 9th Iowa Infantry.
J. J. Moody, Company B, 14th Iowa Infantry.
J. C. Robinson, Company K, 14th Iowa Infantry.
J. M. England, Company I, 14th Iowa Infantry.
O. J. Plymate, Copany C, 18th Iowa Infantry.
S. A. Newell, Company C, 18th Iowa Infantry.
Frank Criddlebaugh, Company F, 23d Iowa Infantry.
Andy Riley, Company A, 29th Iowa Infantry.
Jacob Mater, Company B, 30th Iowa Infantry.
J. B. Snodgrass, Company I, 30th Iowa Infantry.
J. H. Little, Company D, 32d Iowa Infantry.
G. L. Robb, Company E, 33d Iowa Infantry.
Sam'l Ream, Company C, 33d Iowa Infantry.
J. A. Crozier, Company H, 17th Iowa Infantry.
80
Richard O'Connell, Battery d, 1st United States Artillery.
Ira G. Campbell, Company B, 83d Illinois Infantry.
Tom Ramsey, Company I, 20th Wisconsin Infantry.
John Doner, Battery D, 1st Illinois Light Artillery.
Thos. Boyle, Battery -, 3d Iowa Artillery.
A. H. Leech, Company H, 94th Ohio Infantry.
J. Runyan, Company F, 44th Ohio Infantry.
T. B. Shipley, Company B, 122d Ohio Infantry.
David Nichol, Company G, 174th Ohio Infantry.
T. W. Campbell, Company A, 59th Ohio Infantry.
J. C. Smith, Company B, 176th Ohio Infantry.
L. A. Chamberlin, Company B, 41st Ohio Infantry.
H. H. Herrington, Company B, 41st Ohio Infantry.
Geo. Shahan, Company G, 3d Pennsylvania Infantry.
T. B. Hildebrand, Company B, 49th Pennsylvania Infantry.
E. Granley, Company C, 79th Pennsylvania Infantry.
H. Q. Adams, Company H, 140th Pennsylvania Infantry.
Conrad De Ross, Company H, 150th Pennsylvania Infantry.
A. Burlingame, Company G, 168th Pennsylvania Infantry.
D. C. Miller, Company M, 1st Cavalry.
Robt. C. Payne, Company B, 8th Cavalry.
Thos. F. Allison, Battery T, 5th Light Artillery.
A. D. Halsey, Company K, 3d New York Infantry.
W. H. Sanford, Company H, 24th New York Infantry.
Carl Moses, Company I, 15th New York Infantry.
W. T. George, Company A, 143d New York Infantry.
Fred Kurtz, Company I, 15th New York Infantry.
J. F. Randolph, Company F, 27th Missouri Infantry.
E. Husted, Company D, 51st Missouri Infantry.
M. Murphy, Company E, 12th Missouri Cavalry.
W. G. Gregg, Company B, 2d Missouri Cavalry.
John W. Terry, Merrill's Horse.
Fred G. Wentry, Battery B, 1st Missouri Artillery.
J. H. Brewer, Company A, 6th Missouri Cavalry.
The Soldier Dead in Oak View Cemetery, Albia, Iowa
A complete list of deceased soldiers in Oak
View Cemetery, May 30, 1896, with date of death as far as known.
Wills, James H., Company E, 6th Iowa Infantry, died May 14th,
1862.
Kellogg, Solomon, Company E, 6th Iowa Infantry, September 15,
1862.
81
Lyons, James C., Company A, 36th Iowa Infantry, December 3,
1862.
Craig, David, Company H, 17th Iowa Infantry, August 21, 1863.
Smith, W. H., Company A, 36th Iowa Infantry, August 31, 1863.
Webb, John W., Company K, 36th Infantry, September 6, 1863.
Varner, M. J., Company A, 36th Iowa Infantry, September 13,
1863.
Jennings, Daniel, May 28th, 1864.
McCahan, R. G., Company H, 2d Iowa Infantry, September 18, 1864.
Chamberlain, D., Company H, 2d Iowa Infantry, December 29, 1864.
Woodruff, John W., Company I, 7th Iowa Infantry, May 16, 1865.
Wilson, P. D., Company C, 6th Iowa Infantry, February 14, 1866.
Orman, J. H., Company E, 6th Iowa Infantry, July 4, 1866.
Babb, A. H., Company H, 1st Iowa Cavalry, July 4, 1866.
Boals, S. T., Company K, 36th Iowa Infantry, March 1, 1867.
Buchanan, G. W., Company D, 22d Iowa Infantry, March 3, 1867.
Parmenter, Asahil, Company G, 37th Iowa Infantry, January 3,
1868.
Wough, Alex, Company F, 8th Iowa Cavalry, July 6, 1868.
Cousins, Moses, surgeon, 36th Iowa Infantry, November 26, 1868.
Craig, J. W., Company H, 17th Iowa Infantry, October 22, 1870.
Shields, D. W., Company —, 85th Pennsylvania Infantry, October
17, 1871.
Maxwell, W., Company A, 122d Ohio Infantry, February, 1872.
Codner, J. W., Company I, 8th Iowa Infantry, April 18, 1872.
Wilson, R. M., Company D, 22 Iowa Infantry, August 25, 1875.
Harding, B. F., Company C, 8th Iowa Cavalry, November 23, 1875.
Ritchie, A. J., surgeon, 2d Kansas Infantry, August 20, 1876.
Norman, W. H., Company D, 22d Iowa Infantry, December 14, 1876.
82
Hobson, Samuel, Company G, 11th Iowa Infantry, June 1, 1882.
Breese, Tim, Company A, 36th Iowa Infantry, November 12, 1882.
Tucker, T. A., Company G, 46th Iowa Infantry, 1882.
Smith, T. H., Company D, 16th Ohio Infantry, April 1, 1884.
Smith, T. J., Company E, 6th Iowa Infantry, May 31, 1884.
McMichael, Wm., Company I, 8th Iowa Infantry, February 7, 1886.
Sinclair, Hugh, Company D, 22d Iowa Infantry, July 15, 1887.
Phinney, Wm., Company D, 22d Iowa Infantry, March 10, 1888.
Lambert, W. S., surgeon, 6th Iowa Infantry, March 13, 1888.
Wood, J. H., Company -, 11th Indiana Infantry, August 20,
1888.
Miller, Henry, Company G, 46th Iowa Infantry, February 19, 1890.
Collins, C., Company K, 8th and F, 19th Indiana Infantry,
January 15, 1891.
James, Blucher, company, regiment, and date of death unknown.
Darling, Cyrus, company, regiment, and date of death unknown.
Cowager, Jacob, Company C, 46th Iowa Infantry, date of death
unknown.
Hilliard, Wm., Company H, 17th Iowa Infantry, date of death
unknown.
Hartzer, J., Company C, 8th Iowa Cavalry, date of death unknown.
Jones, David, Company E, 2d Iowa Infantry, date of death unknown.
Waples, Wm., Company F, 17th Iowa Infantry, date of death
unknown.
Beaver, S. F., Company B, 58th Illinois Infantry, date of death
unknown.
Newton, Elisha, Company G, 25th Indiana Infantry, died April 9,
1893.
Ferguson, James, Company E, 6th U. S. C. T., died December,
1892.
Welch, Wm., Company G, 37th Iowa Infantry, August 17, 1893.
83
Bagley, E. R., Company B, 54th Illinois Infantry, June 26, 1893.
Brock, George W., Company K, 17th Ohio Infantry, date of death
unknown.
Two United States soldiers, name, company, regiment, and date of
death unknown.
Saunders, Henry, captain, Company E, 6th Iowa Volunteer
Infantry, July 16, 1894.
Cuberly, Felix, Company E, 3d Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, November
15, 1876.
Kellogg, Josiah, Company G, 46th Iowa Volunteer Infantry,
September 14, 1895.
Sylvester, L. S., Company F, 8th Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, April
1, 1896.
Powell, Chas., Mexican War, died November 15, 1872.
Teas, Joseph b., Black Hawk War, died February, 1872.
Richardson, D. A., Black Hawk War, died May 20, 1874.
Webb, John, War of 1812, December 5, 1872.
Kendall, Francis, Black Hawk War, July 12, 1878.
Lambert, Isaac, War of 1812, died March 15, 1880.
Howard, John, Black Hawk War, date of death unknown.
Hatch, Martin, War of 1812, date of death unknown.
Rose, Benjamin, Mexican War, died May 20, 1890.
History of the First Iowa Cavalry
Within the limited space assigned, it is of
course impossible to give anything near like a complete history of this brave
and intrepid cavalry regiment. To do so would require a volume in itself.
In making this sketch, the writer has
obtained his information from various sources by personal inquiries, the
Adjutant General's Records, and from a perusal of Chas. H. Lathrop's very
elaborate and accurate "History of the First Iowa Cavalry."
When the First Iowa Cavalry was organized for
the United States service in 1861, the field and staff was composed as follows:
Fitz Henry Warren, colonel; Chas. E. Moss, lieutenant colonel; E. E. Chamberlain
and Jas. O. Gower, majors; M. B. Cochran, surgeon; D. B. Allen, assistant
surgeon; Jas. Lathain, chaplain; Dr. J. E. Stone, adjutant; M. L.
Morris, quartermaster.
Of the twelve companies composing the
regiment, Company A was enrolled in Lee County and organized at Keokuk,
84
with W. M. G. Torrence as captain. He was afterwards promoted to
major; and was also promoted to colonel of the 30th Iowa Infantry.
Company B, the "Hawkeye Rangers,"
was also organized in the spring of 1861, with W. E. Leffingwell as captain.
Later he was succeeded by Sam'l F. Burdett. This company was enrolled chiefly
from Clinton and Jackson counties.
Company C was enrolled from the counties of
Des Moines, Louisa, and Lee, with Levi Chase as captain.
Company D was enrolled from Warren and
Madison counties, and organized with P. G. Bryan as captain.
Company E was organized in Henry County, with
William Thompson as captain. He afterwards commanded the regiment.
Company F was enrolled chiefly in the
counties of Washington and Johnson, with Jas. O. Gower as captain. He afterwards
rose to major and then colonel.
Company G, known as the "Hardin
Rangers," was enrolled from the counties of Hardin, Dubuque, Black Hawk,
Jones, and Delaware, with Jas. D. Thompson as captain.
Daniel Anderson, Col. First Iowa Cavalry
Company H was enrolled in the counties of Monroe and Lucas, and organized at Albia, with Dan'l Anderson as captain, afterwards colonel of the regiment; Riley Wescoat
85
as first lieutenant, afterwards captain; and Wm. S. Whisemand as
second lieutenant, afterwards captain and major.
Company I went from Wapello and Keokuk
counties, with a few from Hancock County, Ill. I. W. Caldwell was elected
captain and rose to the rank of major and lieutenant colonel. Dr. David C.
Dinsmore was first lieutenant and W. H. Kitterman second lieutenant; Dinsmore
was promoted to captain.
Company K, or "Union Rangers," was
enrolled in Clayton, Allamakee, and Winneshiek counties, with Robt. L. Freeman
as captain.
In pursuance of an order from the Governor,
these companies were directed to meet at Ottumwa, June 5, 1861, to organize into
a regiment. An organization was accordingly completed and Fitz Henry Warren was
chosen colonel.
At this time no call had been made to Iowa
for cavalry, and, indeed, but one regiment of cavalry had been called, and that
was the First Illinois Cavalry. It was mustered into the United States service
but a few days before.
By an act of Congress approved in July of
that year, the number of companies constituting a cavalry regiment was raised
from ten to twelve. This added to the First Cavalry Companies L and M.
The men of Company L were from Dubuque,
Jackson, and Jones counties. H. H. Heath was captain.
Company M was called "The Black Plume
Rangers," and the men were mostly from Clinton County. It was organized
with W. H. Ankeny as captain. The Iowa Legislature tendered this regiment to the
Secretary of War as an independent regiment. The men of the regiment owned their
own horses, and after having been mustered into the service at Burlington and
taken a temporary position at Keokuk, Col. Warren offered his regiment to Major
General John C. Fremont, whose headquarters were at St. Louis. Fremont
declined to accept the regiment unless they would sell their horses to the
Government for $119 a head for all that would pass inspection. They were fine
horses and were worth much more at that time. Besides, the Government allowed
the owner of a horse forty cents a day for use and risk of his animal. An appeal
was taken to the Secretary of War, and a preemptory order was issued from the
War Department directing Fremont to receive the regiment with their horses and
horse equipments, and to pay the owners of the horses forty cents per day for
their use.
86
The regiment was then assigned to Camp
Benton, near St. Louis, being conveyed thither on board boats. Six of the
companies were carried as far as Montrose on board the Jennie Whipple,
and from there the Hannibal City took them to St. Louis. The other four
companies went down on the next boat about forty eight hours later, leaving
Companies L and M at Burlington, to await their equipments. They remained until
October 13th.
While the first section of the regiment was
on its way down the river, and while passing Alton, Ill., a man on bluff fired
at the boat, but the ball fell short and imbedded itself in a barge, among the
horses. The shot was evidently aimed at a group of troopers sitting around the
pilot house.
On October 18th, Companies A, B, F, and G,
under command of Captain Leffingwell, were ordered to join Pope, and embarked on
Missouri River steamers, which transported them to Camp Price, near Jefferson
City, and afterwards joined Pope at Humansville and became his body guard.
On November 1st a forced march was made to
Springfield to receive a threatened attack by General Price on the 3d, but Price
did not put in an appearance. He was hovering around Springfield, but a few
miles south of the town, and Fremont's army was anxious to make a dash at his
rebel hordes. They were doomed for bitter disappointment, however, for on
November 2d General Hunter, arriving to reinforce Fremont, was ordered to
supersede the latter. Hunter, in taking command, evacuated Springfield and fell
back to the Missouri River. This left the southern part of Missouri to the mercy
of Price's army. A short time later General Halleck succeeded Hunter.
A short time after the first battalion of the
regiment took the field, Companies C and H, under command of Captain Levi Chase,
were ordered to Rockport, via Jefferson City. Here they joined Prentice in his
campaign in northern Missouri, after which they returned to Jefferson City to
spend the winter.
About this time, Companies D and I were
ordered out, under command of Captain Caldwell, to join General Pope. They
joined the first battalion at Syracuse, a small town in Morgan County. After a
series of marches and skirmishing now and then, the regiment finally got its
real taste of war at the battle of Blackwater, on the 19th of December, 1861.
In
this engagement the enemy surrendered uncondi-
87
tionally, after making a running fight. In this fight Companies
A, D, F, and I, and small detachments of B and G, were absent on scout duty, but
350 men of the First Cavalry, under command of Torrence, and 75 men from the
Fourth United States Cavalry, together with a section of Missouri Light
Artillery, all under the command of Colonel Jefferson C. Davis, of Indiana,
captured 11,900 of the enemy, including officers and men.
Early in 1862 the First Iowa Cavalry was
divided into several small detachments, some doing cavalry guard duty, others
scouting, skirmishing now and then, and drilling whenever not otherwise engaged.
On January 8, 1862, the First Battalion of
the First Iowa Cavalry, a portion of Merrill's Horse, commanded by Major Hunt,
and a squadron of Ohio Cavalry, were ordered by General Pope to attack some
rebel camps in the vicinity of Silver Creek, in Randolph County, Missouri.
The
rebel force consisted of about 800 men, under command of the noted Poindexter.
The army fled after a short encounter, leaving about 60 of their number killed;
100 wounded, and all their equipage and 200 horses to the Union forces. The
latter lost 5 killed and about 20 wounded. The Union force engaged in the battle
of Silver Creek was 520 men.
At the end of 1862 the regiment had to send
for 275 recruits to fill up its depleted ranks.
On April 21, 1863, a detachment of 500 of the
regiment, and 250 of the 8th Missouri Cavalry, all commanded by Major Caldwell,
of the First Iowa, joined Vandever in an attack on General Marmaduke in
southwestern Missouri.
On the morning of May 1st the command
attacked the
87
rear of the enemy at a place about 40 miles from Chalk Bluffs,
and, after a running fight which lasted all day, the enemy was finally driven
out of the State.
In June the regiment, in command of Lieutenant Colonel Anderson, took up a march to join General Davidson at Pilot
Knob, in his contemplated move against Little Rock. It was a tedious march of
nearly two hundred miles, mostly through the swamps of the White and St. Francis
rivers, which were infested with guerrillas.
On the 9th the command reached White River,
near Clarendon. The regiment participated in almost continuous operations.
They
had a fight with the enemy at Montevallo, Mo.; another at Lot's Peach Farm; and
another at Big Cliffs. At this latter place Judge Dashiell, of Monroe County,
then a quartermaster of the Second Battalion of the First Iowa Cavalry, was
dangerously wounded in the lungs. Several companies of the regiment next
participated in a skirmish at Clear Creek, St. Clair County, Mo.
In the autumn of '62 Colonel Warren was
promoted to the rank of brigadier general, and the command of the regiment fell
on Captain Jas. O. Gower.
On September 20, 1862, the regiment took up a
line of march for Springfield, the city having been threatened by the enemy.
It
arrived on the 27th.
In October the regiment, with brigade and
division marched southward to join Blunt and Brown in a contemplated attack on
the enemy of 13,000 under Cooper, near Newtonia. The enemy retreated on their
arrival.
On the 16th of November the regiment was
transferred to General Herron's division.
It is impossible to follow minutely the
operations of the regiment while under General Herron, as space is limited, but
we find that they were a fire brand to the guerrilla hordes of Missouri, and
usually fought greatly superior numbers, and nearly always got the better of
them.
On August 18, 1863, the regiment, with the
brigade and division, crossed the White River, and on the 25th it was
skirmishing with Marmaduke's cavalry, driving it to its stronghold at Bayou
Metoe.
The charge at Bayou Metoe was led by Colonel
Dan. Anderson, commanding the First Iowa Cavalry. It was made to save the only
bridge across the stream, and the regiment was galled terribly by the rebel
batteries and infantry
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on either side of the stream. The enemy, finding they could not
hold the bridge, set fire to it and it burned. In this determined charge Colonel
Anderson had his horse shot from under him, and the regiment lost several killed
and 36 wounded.
The regiment proved of efficient service to
Steele in the capture of Little Rock.
During the campaign Lieutenant Sam'l T. Craig
was detached on staff duty with General Davidson.
Following is a report of his, concerning
movements in the vicinity of Helena:
"Devall's Bluff, August 26, 1863
"Brigadier-General J. W. Davidson:
"Dear Sir, - In compliance with your
special order, I took charge of the steamboat Progress at Clarendon,
Arkansas, and proceed down White River and thence up the Mississippi, arriving
at Helena, Arkansas, at midnight on the 17th inst.
"I delivered your dispatch to the Adjutant General at post, to be forwarded to General Steele in the morning, he
having moved his forces for Clarendon, Arkansas, the 15th inst.
"We took coal and proceeded to Memphis,
Tenn., arriving there on the 18th inst., at ten o'clock, and delivered your
letter and presented requisitions for ammunition to Lieutenant Colonel Benmore,
assistant adjutant general Sixteenth Army Corps, District of Memphis; the
steamer Progress being much damaged, caused by its running into the
river banks and breaking its wheel.
"The steam, White River, is so crooked
and narrow, and the captain and pilot either had determined to sink the boat or
were so frightened that they caused the boat to run at such a rate of speed that
she could not make the bends of the river at many places without striking the
bow and then whirling round; and being a stern wheel boat, she was much damaged.
Captain Sweet required to the 20th instant to repair her.
"Having ascertained from the Ordnance
Department at Helena and Memphis that Lieutenant Hubbard did not procure
ammunition for the batteries on account of the informalities in the requisition,
I reported to General Hurlbert and informed him of the necessity of your getting
the ammunition, and he ordered the Ordnance Department at
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Memphis to issue ammunition upon my requisition for batteries
and small arms required by the division.
"The steamer being repaired and landed,
we proceeded down the Mississippi at 3 o'clock p. m., on the 20th inst., arrived
at Helenea on the 21st, at 6 o'clock a. m. Quartermaster Noble, of the post,
took charge of the steamer and loaded her with convalescent soldiers of the
Twenty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers and commissary stores.
"We proceeded from Helena on the 33d
inst. at 6 o'clock a. m., arrived at the mouth of White River at 3 o'clock p.
m., and were ordered by the Admiral in charge of the gun boats and convoys to
assist the steamer Sallie List in towing two barges of hay up White
River, but refused to furnish us with a convoy.
"We proceed up White River, and our
cargoes being wide, and the river narrow, and the night very dark, we attempted
to anchor, but our anchors being insufficient to hold our cargoes (the hay
barges being placed between the steamers, the front barge extending about half
its length in front), with some difficulty we steamed up the river until we
arrived at a point where the banks of the stream were low and marshy. We tied
up
at the cut off about two miles below St. Charles Landing on the night of the 23d
instant, and by placing lumber on the shore, we were able to put out a picket
guard; but were not molested during the night, for it was impossible for our
enemy to approach us on account of the marshy ground.
"At daylight we proceeded, and while
passing Crockett's Landing, about 7 o'clock a. m., the enemy fired into our
boats several volleys with small arms from the north bank of the river, and
wounded six men on the steamer Progress.
"The lieutenants in command of the
convalescent soldiers not showing any disposition to command, notwithstanding
they outranked me, I took command, and, with the assistance of my ordnance
sergeant, rallied the convalescent, and forming protection for the men, by
placing boxes of hard tack around the outer railing of the boat, and placing
their knapsacks on the same, they were caused to kneel down and fire upon the
enemy without waiting further orders. There being two surgeons on the Sallie
List, the wounded were taken below, and are doing well and properly cared
for.
"Having one section of the Fifth Ohio
Battery on board I placed the gun on front of the barge of hay, which extended
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in front of the boats about half its length, and the sergeant in
charge of the gun was able to shell the timber in which the enemy were
concealed. This had the desired effect and dispersed them.
I had placed guards over the pilots, from the
fact that the one piloting the Progress had threatened to turn our
cargo over to the enemy before we returned. But it so happened that when we were
fired upon, Captain Sweet was at the wheel and stood unflinchingly at his post,
notwithstanding that his pilot house was pierced by the enemy's bullets, showing
the dangerous position he occupied.
"The pilot house of the steamer Sallie
List was well protected with sheet iron, but the pilot deserted his post,
and the mate of the same had suffered or allowed the boat to be cut partially
loose from our own, so that she was dragging us ashore - evidently planned so
that the enemy could board our boats. But with the assistance of the ordinance
sergeant, with revolvers in hand, we went on board of her and demanded that the
mate make her fast to our boat, which he did immediately, and, with the untiring
energy and efficiency of Captain Sweet, we steamed up the river; and, under my
directions, the sergeant in charge of the piece of artillery shelled the banks
of the river on the south all the way up to Clarendon wherever the banks were
sufficiently high for the enemy to approach the river. A squad of colored people
at one place approached and made signs for us to land, but I did not think it
was prudent.
"Our loss was six wounded - three
severely and three slightly; one was Brown, clerk of the sutler of Merrill's
Horse; the other five were of the Twenty Seventh Wisconsin Infantry. We arrived
at Clarendon, Ark., on the 24th inst., and were ordered by the commander of the
post to wait for convoy.
"We proceeded from Clarendon with convoy
on the 25th, and arrived at this place at 7 o'clock p. m. on the 26th, and at
once commenced loading on wagon train all the ordnance, for the purpose of
transporting the same to your command at Brownsville, Ark.
"Hoping that the above and foregoing
report will be sufficient for my seeming delay. I have the honor to be, General,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) "Sam'l T. Craig,
"2d Lt. Co. H, 1st Iowa Cav. Div.,
"Department of the Missouri."
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On October 1, 1863, Colonel Anderson, by
order of General Davidson, was placed in command of the Second Cavalry Brigade,
Major Caldwell being in command of the regiment, and on the 15th of the same
month it went into camp for the winter a couple of miles further down the river.
In 1864 the First Cavalry waived its right to
a furlough, and joined with General Steele in the Camden expedition, which was
really to cooperate with Banks in the Red River expedition. A part of the
regiment, having lost their horses, marched as a dismounted battalion of
infantry, Captain A. U. McCormack, of Monroe county, commanding one of these
companies.
On the 23d, Colonel Daniel Anderson having
been placed in command of the post at Little Rock by order of General Steele,
the command, numbering about 7,000, went on a skirmishing expedition to the
south of Little Rock. They encountered the enemy almost daily. Their first
encounter was at Benton; then, on March 9th, at Arkadelphia; April 2d, at
Spoonville; April 3d, near the town of Antoine; the 3d and 4th, at Elkins' Ford;
the 10th and 12th, at Prairie de Anne; the 14th, at White Oak Creek; the 15th,
at Camden Cross roads and the capture of Camden; the 25th, at Mono Creek; the
30th, at Jenkin's Ferry.
After the Camden campaign, the veterans
crossed the Arkansas River on their homeward march for a furlough, arriving at
St. Louis on May 9, 1864. From St. Louis the veterans came on to Burlington on
the 16th, and departed for their homes on a furlough.
On the 23d their furlough expired, and they
returned to St. Louis on the 25th. At this time Colonel Anderson resigned, and
Major Wm. Thompson was promoted colonel of the regiment.
Soon after their arrival, the veterans were
mounted on horses and ordered to northern Missouri, where they performed
considerable scout and skirmish duty until October, when they were ordered to
Jefferson City to oppose the entrance of Price into Missouri.
For a time the regiment encountered frequent
collisions with guerrillas and border ruffian hordes, and in a large measure
checked the operations of these lawless bands.
On September 27th Bill Anderson captured
Centralia and also the express train from St. Louis. After robbing the express,
baggage, and passengers of #30,000, he found a
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squad of the First Cavalry boys on the train. There were 23 of
them, and they were separated from the passengers, arranged in a line, and shot.
On the 27th Major Johnson, commanding
detachments of Missouri Militia, in all 147 men, followed the the trail of the
guerrillas to Centralia, and attacked the combined forces of Bill Anderson and
those of the Todds, Pools and Thrailkill.
Johnson did not know their exact numbers, and
rashly attacked them against the advice of loyal citizens of the town. Johnson
and his men were nearly all killed, except Lieutenants Jaynes, Gill, and Moore,
and 20 of the men. The guerrillas lost but 3, and 10 wounded. Johnson was
scalped and many of his men were mutilated in various ways. Frank James, the
noted outlaw, was one of Anderson's men.
When General Price, at the head of 25,000
rebels, composed of guerrillas and soldiers of the rebel army, occupied a
position in the vicinity of Jefferson City, in his memorable raid into Missouri,
the First Iowa Cavalry and the Thirty Ninth Missouri Infantry were ordered to
that place to combat his forces. They participated in almost daily brushes with
the enemy on their march to unite with the other Federal forces. With Rosecrans'
and Pleasantson's forces, the regiment harassed Price's army from place to place
until about the 25th of the month, when it was totally defeated and demoralized.
Marmaduke, Crawford, Cabill, and other noted rebel leaders were captured.
After the defeat of Price's army, the Union
forces retraced their course into Missouri, and part of the regiment returned to
Jefferson City and participated in the election of Lincoln; a part of the
regiment accompanied Rosecrans, as train guard, to St. Louis; and the remainder
went to Jefferson City, but was also transferred to St. Louis by steamer on the
15th and 16th of November.
The regiment remained in St. Louis until the
16th of December, when it again went out for active service. It revisited the
region of the White and St. Francis rivers, the scene of its first conflicts,
and from thence went to Little Rock.
On the 14th of January, 1865, Major Jenks,
with a force consisting partly of a detachment of the First Cavalry, was ordered
to attack General Cooper with a force of 1,600 men up the Arkansas River. They
went by boats, and killed and wounded 90 of the enemy.
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On the 22d an expedition under General Carr,
consisting of the First Iowa, First and Third Missouri, and Tenth Illinois
Cavalry, Twenty Ninth Iowa Infantry, and the Twenty Fifth Ohio Battery, was sent
below Camden to attack the rebel general Greene. Colonel Wm. Thompson commanded
the Second Cavalry Brigade, and Major John McDermott commanded the regiment;
Lieutenant Sam'l T. Craig, of the First Cavalry, also acted as brigade
quartermaster.
On their march they passed Mark's Mills, and
passed through the battle field where General (now Governor) Drake, with the
Thirty Sixth Iowa Infantry, had a desperate encounter with a superior force, and
was defeated on account of the overwhelming number of the enemy. The bodies of
the dead soldiers had been placed in shallow graves, and the hogs and other
animals had dug many of them from their resting places, exposing their skulls
and bones to view.
After engaging in several skirmishes with the
enemy, the regiment, on February 1, 1865, was detached from the brigade and
ordered to Memphis.
While stationed at Memphis the following
named officers of the regiment were assigned to special duty: Captain R. M.
Reynolds, acting assistant inspector general; Lieutenant Sam'l T. Craig, acting
assistant adjutant general.
The next move was an expedition into the
Mississippi, in which the command had frequent skirmishes with the enemy, but
sustained no serious loss.
The regiment returned to Memphis on March
11th, and then, in company with other regiments, went on a tour into Tennessee.
At about this time Richmond had fallen, and
the First Iowa Cavalry, the Fifth and Twelfth Illinois, Second Wisconsin, and
Seventh Indiana Cavalry regiments were ordered to Texas on June 15th. They were
transferred by boat, and arrived at Natchez on the 25th.
At Alexandria, General Custer took command of
the troops, and here began a series of abuses and ill treatment on the part of
Custer, towards the regiment, which is a lasting blemish to the character of the
long haired hero, who in after years met a terrible fate in the Little Big horn
massacre.
The First Iowa had been recommended to him as
the next best in efficiency of any regiment in the United States