[PREFACE.]
At the solicitation of some of my comrades, the pages of this book were for the most part compiled from a diary which I kept during most of the two years I served with them, and which was written amid the scenes it attempts to describe. To furnish them a faithful account of the principal scenes through which they passed during this period, including sketches of the operations in which they were engaged, and of which our Regiment formed a part; a record of what they saw, and did, and suffered, such as I thought they would like to read in future days, has been my object in presenting it in this shape. As it was written for my comrades, to them I dedicate it; and in giving it to the public, I have only to say that if it suits them, it suits me. With regard to facts which have since become history, to which I have had occasion to refer, I may have committed some errors and inaccuracies; my book was not written in the library of the historian, but in the tent of the soldier, and with few exceptions without other information than such as observation and report could supply. In speaking of prominent officers under whom we served, I have not forgotten that some of them are still my superior officers, and that it in nowise comports with my duties as a soldier to assume to be their historian or critic. But the time has come when the conduct of those who have passed into civil life may be criticized by those who were their inferiors in the military service. Of such I have endeavored to speak honestly but plainly, remembering that they dealt plainly with us.
I am under obligations to Col. Scott, 32d Iowa, Lieut. Chas. P. Brown, A. A. Q. M., Fort Pickering, W. B. Lakin, Esq., College Hill, Ohio, for valuable favors and assistance. I trust that time will afford me opportunities of paying them in a better manner than by this public acknowledgment.
And now I give these pages to the public, with the single regret that the deeds of men who have so many titles to honor and gratitude could not have been better recorded and by a more worthy hand.
S. D. THOMPSON,
Fort Pickering, Memphis, Tenn., March, 1864.
CONTENTS.
| Page. | |
| [Preface] | 3 |
| [CHAPTER I.] | |
| The "uprising" in Iowa—Patriotism of the people—TheThird Regiment—Its character and composition—Spirit andideas of its members—Our colonel—Our visit to Camp Ellsworthand the First Iowa—The Second and First Iowa advance intoMissouri—Our quarters—Our ideas of our treatment—Poorfare, and what some of us "did about it"—Our duties—Complaintsabout pay—Our arms—We go into camp—Our firstcamp experience—We chafe exceedingly under the yoke ofdiscipline—Marching orders | 13 |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
| We break up camp at Keokuk—The parting occasion—Thelast lingering look—A pleasant steamboat ride—Two nightsand a day at Hannibal—We advance by rail into the interiorof Missouri—Dangers attending the movement—We halt atChillicothe, Grand River bridge and Utica—Leaving the carsand camping for the night—Condition of the country—Ourfirst night alarm—How we celebrated the Fourth of July—Ouruniform—Our rations—Our discipline—Colonel Williamsarrives and assumes command—Colonel Smith visitsand consults with him—Another false alarm | 29 |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
| Operations of the rebel general Harris—Three companiesof our regiment detailed to join an expedition against him—Weare allowed ten minutes for preparation—We join a portionof the Sixteenth Illinois at Palmyra, and with themreturn to Monroe—The movement delayed by a storm—Consultationof officers—The column moves—Skirmish of Hager'sWoods—We delay and finally camp for the night—And in themorning begin to retreat—Our train burned and the enemyin our rear—A threatened skirmish—He cuts off our communicationsand surrounds in large force—Cool conduct of ColonelSmith—We begin to fortify—A night of expectation—Detailsof our situation—The enemy opens with artillery—Andbegins to draw in his lines—We lie in our trenches andreserve our fire—Aid in the right time—The enemy quits thefield in panic—An accident—Col. Williams arrives with aportion of the Third Iowa | 43 |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | |
| We prepare to march from Monroe—Arrival of GovernorWood with cavalry and artillery; and of the FourteenthIllinois—How Mr. Dugan speaks of this in his book—Achange of counsels—The Third Iowa moves west on a train—Circumstancesof the ride—Failure of an attempt to burnthe Chariton River bridge—A few details—How young soldiersoriginate false alarms—Our camp at Chillicothe—GeneralHurlbut assumes command of the troops on the Hannibaland St. Joseph Railroad—We draw our accoutrements atlast—We leave Chillicothe and go into camp at Brookfield | 61 |
| [CHAPTER V.] | |
| Activity of the rebels—Colonel Martin Green—We areordered against him—Details and incidents of the marchfrom Mason City to Kirksville—Character of the HomeGuards—Condition of the country—Our situation at Kirksville—Detailsof our occupation of that place—Arrival ofreinforcements under Gen. Hurlbut—Our complaints andexpectations | 73 |
| [CHAPTER VI.] | |
| Lieut. Call reconnoiters and reports the enemy's position—ColonelScott desires to attack him with the Third Iowa, theHome Guards and the artillery—Gen. Hurlbut declines hisconsent—Dangers of such a movement—Disappointment ofthe men—The General reviews the troops—And issues a proclamation—Hesends it by a flag of truce to Green's camp—Greendon't see the point, but takes the hint and gets readyto leave—The General issues an order against plundering—Furtherdetails of our condition—A detachment goes to Lancasterafter supplies—Escape and pursuit of Green—Detailsof the march—Suffering, straggling and plundering—Nightat Wilsonsville—night at Bear Creek—Scouts from Moore—Junctionwith Moore at Bethel—Appearance of the place—Characterand hospitality of the inhabitants—Change ofplans—Moore and Smith pursue the enemy—Hurlbut andScott move directly toward the railroad—Noon at Shelbyville—Anotherproclamation—A man straggles ahead of thecolumn and is shot by the bushwhackers—Night at Shelbina—Thesituation—We proceed to Brookfield | 89 |
| [CHAPTER VII.] | |
| The expedition to Paris—The forces engaged in it—Detailsof the movement to that place—Conduct of Colonel Williamsand Lieut. Col. Blair while there—They return speedily toShelbina—Green pursues and confronts them with a largeforce—Details of the affair at Shelbina—Colonel Williamsretreats to Hudson where he meets General Hurlbut withreinforcements—The propriety of the retreat discussed—Theaccount of the Rebellion Record | 104 |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] | |
| We break up camp at Brookfield and proceed toward Shelbina—Junctionwith Smith and Moore—Gen. Pope assumescommand—Hurlbut and Williams proceed to St. Louis inarrest—Pope leads a night march against Green at Florida—Feelingsof the troops—Circumstances of that affair—Reportof General Fremont concerning it—We return to the railroadand proceed to Macon—Arrival of Generals Pope and Sturgisat that point—Prospect of active movements | 112 |
| [CHAPTER IX.] | |
| Col. Smith with his own regiment and five companies ofthe Thirty-ninth Ohio, proceed to Platte River bridge andcommence repairing it—Col. Scott is ordered to co-operatewith him against the rebels in that vicinity—We proceed toCameron by railroad, impress transportation and marchtoward Liberty—The first night—Second day's march—Secondnight at Centerville—Cannonading in the distance—Ourfeelings—Lieut. Call reconnoiters as far as Liberty—Wemove at 3 A. M.—At sunrise drive back the enemy's picketsand camp at Liberty—No tidings from Smith—Cannonadingin the direction of Independence and probabilities of anengagement across the river—Col. Scott resolves to attack—Battleof Blue Mills Landing | 120 |
| [CHAPTER X.] | |
| Arrival of Smith—His march from the railroad—Why hearrived too late—Our feelings on his arrival—The situationthe morning after the battle—What should have been done—Smithstarts for St. Joseph—Burying the dead and caring forthe wounded—Scott's official report—Comments on the same—Gallantryof Scott and Lakin—Official report of the enemy—Estimateof his force—Account in the Missouri Republican—Accountin Pollard's "First Year of the War"—The necessityand merits of the battle | 135 |
| [CHAPTER XI.] | |
| We start for the railroad—Arrival at Centerville—Arrivalof a courier from Sturgis—March to Plattsburg—Orders fromSturgis—Turn toward Kansas City—Night at Smithville—Marchresumed toward Liberty—Sturgis retreats three daysfrom an enemy who does not pursue—We think his pursuersturn against us, and turn to the west to elude them—Strikethe Missouri at Parkville and prepare to cross on a flatboat—Asteamboat arrives and conveys us to Leavenworth—Wereturn next day to Wyandotte—Our stay at Wyandotte—Moveto Kansas City—Arrival of Lane's Brigade—Comparisonbetween Lane and Sturgis—They quarrel about precedencein rank—Lane moves out of town—Hospitality of thecitizens | 152 |
| [CHAPTER XII.] | |
| The troops leave Kansas City—We are not in a conditionto march South—Rumored removal of the regiment to Quincy—Proceedby steamboat and railroad to Quincy—Our arrivaland situation there—We are paid and prepare to leave—Thecitizens give a ball in our honor—Incidents of that night—Weproceed to Benton Barracks—Col. Williams, his release,conduct, and re-arrest—Changes—Our sanitary condition—Weare ordered to the North Missouri Railroad—Disgracefulconduct of certain captains | 165 |
| [CHAPTER XIII.] | |
| Preparations—We move North by railroad—Details of theride—March from the railroad—Night on the frozen ground—Feelingsand conduct of the soldiers toward the citizens—Nightat Martinsburg—March to Mexico—Character of thecitizens—Bad conduct of certain of the men—What theMajor did about it—His speech—Its effect—An excess ofquinine and lack of bread—Return march to Martinsburg—TheNew Year—March to Wellsville—Sickness—Conduct andcharacter of Surgeon Edwards—Foraging and plundering—Movementof troops to the front—Anxiety to go with them—FortDonelson—Discontent at being left in the rear—Trialand release of Col. Williams—He assumes command andbegins reforms—Marching orders | 175 |
| [CHAPTER XIV.] | |
| Leave Mexico for St Louis—Conduct of some of the menand officers—Journey from St. Louis to Savannah, Tenn.—Sceneson the passage—Captain Albert Hobbs—Loyalty of thepeople on the Tennessee river—Move to Pittsburg Landing—Thesituation—Criticism, &c. | 189 |
| [CHAPTER XV.] | |
| The enemy's reconnoissance April 4th—The alarm 5thApril—The Battle of Shiloh—The soldier's impression of abattle—Stragglers and their shameful conduct—The differentmovements and positions of our division and brigade in thebattle—Appearance of General Grant—Gallant charge andrepulse of a rebel brigade | 206 |
| [CHAPTER XVI.] | |
| The enemy massing against the left—Our successful stand—Retreatand our successive positions therein—We form theleft of Prentiss—His gallant conduct and capture—Captureof Major Stone—He and Prentiss vindicated—Scene on thebluff—Night and Buell—The cannonade—The night | 221 |
| [CHAPTER XVII.] | |
| The battle on Monday—Defeat of the enemy's right wing—Firmnessof the left—Gallant conduct of Gen. Hurlbut—Col.Johnson in command of a part of our divided brigade—Victory—Flightof the enemy and failure to pursue | 233 |
| [CHAPTER XVIII.] | |
| A survey of the field—Plundering the dead—Civilians andrelic-seekers—Congratulatory orders—Camp on a field ofgraves | 243 |
| [CHAPTER XIX.] | |
| Preparations to advance on Corinth—Morale of army andsanitary condition—Advance to Shiloh Springs—Inspection byGeneral J——Advance to Pea Ridge—Gov. Yates—Picketskirmishing—Battle of Russellville House—Arrival of Col.Scott—A night on picket in face of the enemy—The evacuationand occupation of Corinth | 257 |
| [CHAPTER XX.] | |
| Resume of the movements of our regiment—Sherman'smovements towards Memphis—Camp on the Heights ofHatchie—Camp on Spring Creek and Wolf River—ColonelWilliams again—Incidents of the march from LaGrange,Tenn., to Holly Springs, Mississippi—Return—Resignationof Lieut. Col. Scott—Arrival in Memphis—Gen. Sherman asa military man—Marching orders | 278 |
| [CHAPTER XXI.] | |
| Lieut. Col. Trumbull—Leave Memphis—Night on WolfRiver—House burning—Reach and bridge the Hatchie—Hardshipsand murmurs—March toward Bolivar—Arrival atBolivar—A reconnoissance towards Grand Junction—Attemptof the enemy to get in our rear—Return to Bolivar—Reinforcements | 291 |
| [CHAPTER XXII.] | |
| A day's march toward Corinth—Arrival of Gen. Ord—Situationand movements of the enemy—Battle of Matamora—Carryingthe bridge of the Hatchie—Disastrous situation—Reservesordered into action—Hurlbut saves the day—Carryingthe Heights—Retreat of the enemy—Bivouac on thefield—Reconnoissance, details, etc.—Return to Bolivar—Fruitsof the victory—Losses | 303 |
| [CHAPTER XXIII.] | |
| Col. Trumbull's official report—General Hurlbut's partingreview—His parting orders—How they were received—Congratulatoryorders of Gen. Grant—Telegram from the President | 317 |
| [CHAPTER XXIV.] | |
| Reorganization and changes—Reconnoissance by GeneralRoss—Disposition of the Hatchie prisoners—The State electionin our regiment—Effects of the news of the northernelections upon the troops—Wild reports of the enemy'sadvance—Fortifying—Preparations for a general advance—Arrivalof Gen. Grant—Grand review—Arrival of new regiments—Generalmarching orders—First day's march—Conditionof the troops—Our camp at LaGrange—Position of theenemy—Arrival of Col. Williams—Resignation of Lieut. Col.Trumbull—The Somerville march—Reviews and marchingorders | 329 |
| [CHAPTER XXV.] | |
| The army in motion to the South—Character and scenes ofthe first days march—Bivouac at Holly Springs—An earthquake—Thecavalry division and the enemy's rear guard—Cannonading—CampLumkin's Mills—A storm—Movementof Sherman, retreat of the enemy and advance of troops—Ourdivision left behind—We advance—Rebel works on the Tallahatchie—Scenesand scenery of the march—Oxford—Join thearmy at Yockona Creek—The Thirty-third Wisconsin—Thesituation and movements—Raid of Van Dorn—Movements toopen the communications | 345 |
| [CHAPTER XXVI.] | |
| Retreat of the army—Commendable spirit of the troops—Marchto the Tallahatchie—Ridiculous rumors—Christmas—WeWe go into camp—Return of Dickey's raid—Our condition asto supplies—The New Year—March to Holly Springs—We gointo camp—March of Denver's division—Our situation—Burningof Holly Springs—March again to the north—Bivouacat Cold Water—Reviewing and speculating over thecampaign—Arrival at Moscow | 358 |
| [CHAPTER XXVII.] | |
| Reorganization of Grant's army—How our division wasposted—Descent of guerrillas upon our forage train—Wemarch to Memphis and go into camp—A glance at the officersof our regiment—Gen. Lauman's regimental drills—Reviewof the Fourth division—Col. Bryant's movement against Chalmers—Ourdivision ordered to Vicksburg—Parting with mycomrades—Their journey down the river and affair with theguerrillas near Greenville—Arrival at Young's Point—Theirview of Porter and Steele engaging the enemy—Proceed upthe Yazoo and occupy Haines' Bluff—The captures—Blowingup the magazines—The 22d of May—They move to take positionin the investing lines—Their position and operationssouth of the city—Their subsequent position and operations | 373 |
| [CHAPTER XXVIII.] | |
| Surrender of Vicksburg—Our division moves with Shermanagainst Johnson—March to Jackson—The place besieged—Disastrouscharge of Colonel Pugh's Brigade—Theblame imputed to Gen. Lauman—He is relieved of command—Hisparting orders—The feeling in regard to him—Ourlosses—Subsequent movements of the Third Iowa—Conclusion | 386 |