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CHAPTER VIII
"THE BOYS IN BLUE" The military history of Winneshiek county is one of which a new country could well be proud. The record has been made by others at a time when its accuracy could be assured, hence we quote without hesitation from previously published historical works. Alexander's History says: "Winneshiek county may well remember with pride the patriotism of her devoted sons in the war for the Union. Immediately on the report of the attack of the rebels on Fort Sumter, men stood ready to respond to the call of the Government for troops, and within a week steps were taken, at a public meeting held at the courthouse, to organize and offer a military company to the Government. That the people as well as officials of the county were prompt to encourage those who should step forward for their country's service, and care for the families they left behind, is shown by the following resolutions which were passed at the time by the County Board of Supervisors, and which were fully carried out: "'Resolved, That under the present aspect of national affairs it is the duty of every community to do its share toward the defense of our common country. "'Resolved, That it is the duty of the county to drill and cause to be equipped at least one company of men; that in order to do so an appropriation by the county, enabling every person to aid in his due proportion in the common defense, is most just and equitable; that the men who risk their lives and spend their time should be provided with the means to be of service as soldiers, and that an appropriation made in pursuance hereof should have precedence of all other claims; therefore, " 'Resolved, That the county funds now in the hands of the treasurer of Winneshiek county, be and the same are hereby appropriated, not exceeding the sum of $2,000 for the purpose of equipping the military company known as the "Decorah Guard," and that the Clerk of the District Court be and he is hereby authorized to issue county warrants to Levi Bullis, D. H. Hughes and C. C. Tupper, who shall constitute a committee for the negotiation of said county warrants, and the purchase of said equipments, the said committee first giving bonds to said county, conditioned that the said appropriation be used for the purpose designed, faithfully and truly. 105 PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 106 "'Resolved, That the families of each member of the "Decorah Guard" receive the following weekly allowance during their term of service, viz: Three dollars per week for the wife, and one dollar per week for each child, to the extent of three.' "Many of the actors in those stirring scenes are men from among us, while several who remained at home contributed these resolutions to Sparks' History, and to it we shall be indebted for most of the remainder of this chapter. "On the 20th of April, 1861, just six days after the booming of cannon, heard at Sumter, had sounded the alarm of civil war, a meeting of the patriotic citizens of Winneshiek county, and Decorah in particular, was held in the courthouse. It was held for the purpose of giving expression to the outraged feelings of a liberty-loving people at the atrocious stroke made against human freedom and American liberty, and to declare their adhesion to the aid flag that waved from the courthouse dome above them. "The brave who died in the mountains of Arkansas, the marshes of Louisiana, the rocky fastnesses of Georgia, and the swamps of Carolina, are remembered less vividly by their old comrades as year by year passes away, and when this generation has gone there will be few to recall the names of the youthful heroes of Winneshiek county who faced fatigue and sickness, steel and ball, and died in the fierce front of battle, facing the foe, or fell victims to malarious diseases. But while their individual memories will have perished, the cause for which they died, the cause for which they perished, the cause of liberty and humanity will remain, and future generations will derive fresh courage to struggle for the right from the glorious example of the citizen-soldiers who crushed the 'Great Rebellion.' "It was Abraham Lincoln, our noble, martyred president, who said at Gettysburg, 'The world will not long remember what we may say here, but they can never forget what we have done here.' And it is a fitting thing that the custom of observance of May 30, of last year, as Decoration Day, has been established; a day when we can strew with flowers the graves of those who sleep in our cemeteries, and revive the memories of those who sleep in distant or unknown graves, holding the names of them all in grateful recollection, and rendering more precious the heritage they have transmitted to us and to our children. "The meeting was called to order, and Capt. John H. Simpson made chairman. This distinction was paid the aged gentleman because of his efficiency in commanding and his co-operation with the first militia company ever organized in Decorah. "Capt. John H. Simpson was born in Ganston, England, March 22, 1796, and died at Decorah, July 2, 1869. He had been a member of the Royal Life Guards (Body Guard of the King) and as one of the battalion, was on his way to the field when the battle of Waterloo was fought. In 1828 he came to America and settled in New York City. He came to Decorah in 1850, and here for thirteen years he lived an honest, blameless life. He was elected captain of the Decorah Guards on the formation of the company in 1859. "There are men yet living in Winneshiek county who remember
the memorable meeting over which he presided, and how his patriotism
gave vent, in the greatest effort of his life, in a patriotic
speech that sent the blood tingling through the veins of every
listener. In his speech he tendered the remainder PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 107 of his life for the defense of his country, though the snows of 65 winters rested on his brow. He was not accepted. Younger men, with stronger sinews and harder muscles, volunteered their services. DECORAH GUARDS "But one week intervened before there was a reorganization of the Decorah Guards, and men better fitted for the hardships of a soldier's life superseded the members of the original company. The Decorah Guards, as they originally were, underwent a complete transformation, only three of the old company being retained in the ranks of the new organization. The old officers resigned, and new ones were elected. This was the first company of men in Winneshiek county to enlist in defence of the stars and stripes. They were men in the full vigor of life, men of sterling worth, the very flower of our young county, as the following summary of the company indicates: The oldest men in the company (two of them) were aged 36, one 34, one 32, one 31, one 30, one 29, two 28, three 27, three 26, six 25, eight 24, seven 23, ten 22, nine 21, nine 20, eleven 19, ten 18, making a total of officers and men of 85, with an average of 22 years, 8 months and 22 days. "The company was known as the Decorah Guards, until mustered into the service; then they assumed the name of Company D, Third Regiment of Iowa Volunteers. The officers of the new company were: "Captain--G. R. Willett. "This company was enrolled in Winneshiek county, and ordered into quarters by the governor of the state, May 21, 1861. The company left Decorah for Keokuk, their rendezvous, May 28, 1861, and was mustered into the United States service June 10, 1861. The date of the company's departure from Decorah for the scenes of war will remain a memorable one in the recollection of the hundreds of citizens who met on Court House Square to bid the boys a last farewell. The ladies had prepared a beautiful flag, which was presented to the company by Miss Carrie McNair, whom I feel compelled to more than casually mention; and in order to do so I shall be obliged to digress from the main subject. "Carrie McNair was born in Livingston county, N. Y., about
the year 1832. She came to Decorah in the year 1860, at that period
in our national existence when the very atmosphere was deadened
with treasonable imprecations against the Union, and when the
cloud of rebellion had so spread its mammoth proportions as to
nearly obscure the bright sunlight of freedom. Being a woman of
strong emotional nature, a lover of liberty and union, she early
identified her PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 108 self with the Union side of the controversy that then threatened a separation of states; consequently, out of respect and appreciation of her noble nature, and her sympathy with the Union, she was chosen, of all other women, better fitted to make the presentation. In 1862, following the many bloody battles, and not infrequent disastrous engagements, Miss McNair felt that there was need of her services in the crowded hospitals. With a heartfelt desire to render the Union any services in her power, and an anxiety and willingness to alleviate the sufferings of brave men who had fallen wounded in their country's cause, she became a nurse in a soldiers' hospital at St. Louis. She served in this capacity until the end of the war, and furnished aid and comfort to thousands of poor unfortunates. "Following the presentation of the flag, there was a presentation of Bibles and Testaments. The scene was such as never had occurred before, and was solemn, impressive and trying. "The company, in vehicles, pursued their course to McGregor, and from thence to Keokuk, and from here, soon after, they were transported to scenes of active service, in Missouri. "The first hard fought battle that the company engaged in was at Blue Mills, September 7, 1861, although previous to this they had been engaged in many hotly contested skirmishes. In the battle of Blue Mills the Unionists were driven back. "Wm. B. Miller, of Company D, was killed in this engagement and Captain Willett, Second Lieut. Ole Anderson, and Priv. Wm. B. Heckert, were seriously wounded. Captain Willett's wound occasioned his resignation, and the promotion of Lieut. E. I. Weiser to the captaincy of the company. "Lieutenant Anderson fell, wounded in the temple, and was left on the field for dead. Company D having been obliged to retreat, he fell into the enemy's hands. His body was stripped of all clothing but the pants, and he was robbed of everything by the rebels. The next day after the battle the rebels were obliged to retreat, and then Company D reclaimed his body. Lieutenant Anderson lay unconscious three weeks, and it was a question for a long time afterwards whether he would survive or not. He entered the army a perfect athlete, and a perfect man, physically and mentally, and today, from the effect of that wound, incurred at the cost of duty and bravery, he is a mere wreck of his former self. As an officer he was efficient and brave to a fault. "The battle of Shiloh, fought on the 6th and 7th of April, 1862, was the next great conflict in which Company D participated. Under the hottest fire and amid the most trying scenes, Company D behaved itself with coolness and bravery. After passing through that fiery ordeal, a summary of the loss it sustained showed the following: Killed-Edward Knapp, Hans H. Stenson, and Samuel D. Smith. Wounded-Capt. E. 1. Weiser, Corp. J. H. Farber, Geo. H. Culver, Jas. S. Daskam, Hans Gulbrandson, Thos. Heath, Peter B. Hulverson, Knudt Knudson, Matthew Kellogg, Gilbert Knudson, Henry H. Sheldso, Geo. H. Kelley, John Jas. Fisher, Hiram S. Daskam. "The battle of Hatchie, fought on the 5th of October, was the scene of the next hotly contested engagement in which Company D took an active part. "The company lost the following: Wounded-Capt. E. I. Weiser, Corp. C. C. Watson, Geo. Culver, Martin E. Oleson (mortally), and Martin Pepper.
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 109 "In the battle of Hatchie the second Captain of Company D was made incapable for active service by a rebel bullet. "Captain E. I. Weiser was born in York, Pa., April 10, 1835, and emigrated from the place of his nativity to Decorah in 1856. Being possessed with a warm heart and a genial nature, and a patriotic love of country, the threats of war against the Union aroused his impulsive nature to a desire to make any sacrifice --hardship, suffering, even life itself--in his country's cause. As a result, when the first cry of a distressed country was heard, calling on her sons for protection against the assaults of traitors, Capt. E. I. Weiser was the first and foremost of her patriots in Winneshiek County to respond. Capt. E. I. Weiser was the first man to enlist from Winneshiek County in his country's service in the late Civil war. He enlisted as a high private in Company D, and was elected first Lieutenant at the first election held by the company. "Capt. E. I. Weiser participated in many warm skirmishes
and two hard fought battles. He was wounded at Shiloh; also at
Hatchie, on the 5th of October, 1862. The wound he received at
Hatchie disabled him for further active military service during
the war. Eight months he was detained in the hospital by his wound,
and seven of these eight months he was compelled to lie in one
position--on his back. He was with his company one week while
it was at Memphis. While here the boys of Company D presented
him with a silver pitcher, as a mark of their regard and the appreciation
they had for him as a soldier and commander. Capt. Weiser was
brave, cool, efficient, and possessed all the noble attributes
requisite in a successful commander. His physical disability is
a glorious certificate of his bravery. "Company D next went to Memphis where it remained six months, and from thence to Vicksburg. They were engaged in the siege of Vicksburg up to the date of its surrender. Vicksburg surrendered July 4, 1863. The white flag was raised on every fort at 9 A. M. on the 3d. The rebels sent out a flag of truce, and wished to surrender on conditions. Gen. Grant sent back word that nothing but an unconditional surrender would be accepted. On the 3d, when the white flags were hoisted, all firing ceased. The rebels came outside of their works and held a sociable with our boys. On the 4th of July, at 10 A. M., the rebels marched outside of their works, were drawn up in a line, and stacked their arms, and promptly at 11 A. M. the stars and stripes proudly floated over the rebel works. "In this siege, on the 26th of June, Thomas Kelly, of Company D, was mortally wounded. He lived about a week, having won, in dying, the honor of being the bravest among the brave. "The Third regiment received orders on the 5th to take up their line of march for Black River, to look after Johnston, who, with a large force had been prowling in the rear. On the 12th of July, 1863, about 225 men of the Third Iowa, among which number were many of Company D, made an assault on rebel works, behind which were ensconced about 10,000 of Johnston's men. The result of the assault was a whirlwind of death. In the first volley fired by the enemy 125 out of the original 225 were almost instantly mowed down. There were about 800 men engaged, but 225 who ventured right into the jaws of this fiery hell. The commander in charge was immediately relieved of command. "On the 7th of July Johnston evacuated Jackson, the scene
of the last engage- PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 110 ment, and here, in rebel hospitals, were found the wounded who had survived the disastrous charge of the 12th inst. Among the number was Lieutenant McMurtrie, who had both legs broken by rebel shots. His right leg had been wounded with a piece of shell, and was so badly shattered that amputation was necessary. The left leg had been broken by a minie ball. "It was found necessary, on the 21st of July, to remove the wounded to Vicksburg. The journey had to be made in ambulances. Lieutenant McMurtrie was among the unfortunates that had to submit to the removal. Words cannot express the suffering this trip entailed upon him in his weakened condition. "On the 23d he was placed on a hospital boat to be sent North, but died before the boat left the wharf, at 2 p. m., July 25, 1863. "Lieutenant McMurtrie was born at Homer, Michigan, June 30, 1837. He came to Iowa in 1856. He was promoted first lieutenant of Company D, May 21, 1862. "Lieutenant McMurtrie was endowed with a great moral character, which lost none of its noble attributes by his army career. He died a brave soldier, lamented by his comrades in arms and all who knew him. "C. W. Burdick was promoted first lieutenant, to fill the vacancy caused by Lieutenant McMurtrie's death, which post of duty he held from that time until his three years enlistment had expired. At this time Lieutenant Burdick was the only commissioned officer in the company. During three years' service, Lieutenant Burdick was off duty but twelve days. He took an active part in every skirmish and battle in which his company was engaged, and was never touched by an enemy's fire. Few men, and I doubt if any, in Iowa can show a better record than this. "The engagement at Jackson was the last of any note in which Company D took an active part. The time of enlistment of Company D expired on the 10th of June, 1864. The Company was stationed at Kingston, Georgia. All that did not reenlist, started home to be mustered out of the service. Many of the boys remained. At the memorable battle of Atlanta, fought July 22d, the Third Iowa literally fought itself to death.
COMPANY H—"IOWA GREY HOUNDS" "Company H, Ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry:
was organized at Decorah, in the months of PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 113 "After remaining at Camp Union, Dubuque, until the middle of October, the regiment was sent to St. Louis, and went into camp at Benton barracks. A few weeks were passed in the usual routine of camp duty, when the regiment was ordered to Pacific City, Missouri, and passed some little time in guarding railroads and arresting guerrillas. During this time the regiment was perfecting its discipline; and the diseases incidental to the climate and season, joined to the hardships of camp life, were thinning the ranks of all men who were deficient in physical vigor. "When the expedition against Price was organized, the Ninth was ordered to Rolla, Missouri, and after a week spent in camp at that place, started on the march for Springfield. The march was made in winter, and the crossing of the Gasconade. the roads knee-deep in mud, and the cold, inclement weather tested the endurance of the men, and when the regiment was placed in the advance, after the capture of Springfield, it earned its title, 'The Iowa Greyhounds,' by marching one hundred and thirty-five miles in four days in pursuit of Price. Company H received its 'baptism of fire' at Pea Ridge, and the day before the fight marched forty miles on a half-pint of cornmeal to the man. It mustered fifty-two men when the fight opened; twenty-two were unwounded at the close of the struggle. "On that field the boys, .most of them beardless, who six months before were laboring on farms and in workshops, showed themselves able to defeat the practiced riflemen of Missouri and Arkansas, the rangers of Texas, and the trained regiments of Louisiana. "The march across Arkansas, in the summer of 1862, followed the conflict at Pea Ridge. Some time was passed in camp Helena and in December the regiment took part in the first attack on Vicksburg. The expedition up the dark Yazoo and its unfortunate results, were amply avenged at Arkansas Post, January 10, 1863. "In all the operations that culminated in the capture of Vicksburg the Ninth was actively engaged-from digging in the canal to storming rifle-pits and batteries. And in the charge on the 22d of May, Company H lost eighteen men killed and wounded out of a total twenty-six men in action, and of these nine were killed on the field or mortally wounded. From Vicksburg to Jackson, thence back to Vicksburg, up the river to Memphis, thence to Tuscumbia, where a severe conflict took place, then up the sides of Lookout mountain, under the lead of Osterhous, followed by a rapid pursuit of the routed foes, and the fight at Ringgold, is a brief outline of the work Company H took part in during 1863. The majority of the company re-enlisted as veterans, and after their return from furlough the boys found themselves a part of the mighty host Sherman was about to lead 'to the sea.' "For seventy days from the opening of this memorable campaign,
members of Company H who participated in the operations, were
constantly under fire, with perhaps slight intermission prior
to the crossing of the Chattahoochee. The fights at Resaca, New
Hope church, Burnt Hickory and Kenesaw mountain, showed the valor
and discipline of the Ninth. On the 22d of July the Ninth was
one of the Iowa regiments that, under the eye of Sherman, recaptured
the battery of DeGress, and drove the rebels, at the bayonet's
point, from the entrenched line they had wrested from the loyalists.
At Ezra's church, on the 28th PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 114 of July, and at Jonesboro, where the fate of Atlanta was decided, the boys of Company H were actively engaged. "After the capture of Atlanta and the pursuit of Hood, who was left to the 'tender mercies' of Thomas, the boys followed Sherman to the sea, and Company H furnished its full quota of able and accomplished 'bummers.' From Savannah the company marched through the Carolinas, taking part in any 'little unpleasantness' that came in the way, and actively participating in the closing fight at Bentonville. After resting a few days at Raleigh, the regiment marched to Washington and took part in the 'Grand Review,' and was shortly after mustered out of the service at Louisville, Kentucky. "That Company H did its whole duty, the following figures, taken from the adjutant general's report, prove: "Company H, 9th Iowa-Total killed and wounded . . . . .53 "The above table shows the extent of the loss sustained by Company H in battle, as compared with the reported losses of the other companies organized in this county from the same cause. I do not think the above figures do full justice to Companies E, K and D, Thirty-eighth Iowa, far no regiment organized in the country suffered to such an extent by disease. Stationed in localities where to breathe the air was to inhale death, the boys of Companies E, D and K performed their alloted duty, sustained by naught save the feeling of patriotism, and faced death uncheered by 'the shout of victory, the rapture of the strife.' "Died of disease: Company D, 3d Iowa, 10; Company H, 9th Iowa, 15; Company G, 12th Iowa, 17; Company E, 38th Iowa, 34; Company D, 38th Iowa, 37; Company K, 38th Iowa, 37. "Company H, at the time it was mustered in, was commanded by M. A. Moore, who achieved no particular distinction. He resigned in the spring of 1863, and was succeeded by O. M. Bliss, who enlisted as a private and secured promotion by meritorious services. Captain Bliss was as true a soldier as ever drew a sword. Brave, earnest and patriotic, he 'dared to' lead where any dared to 'follow.' After facing death on twenty fields he died from injuries received by a fall from his horse while acting as major, after the capture of Atlanta. J. H. Phillips succeeded to the captaincy, and commanded the company until its service was ended. . "In writing this brief sketch of the career of Company H,
embracing a period of nearly four years, and services performed
in eight states, from the Ozark mountains to the Atlantic ocean,
a hundred incidents and memories crowd on the mind PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 115 that space will not permit me to relate. Nearly sixteen years have elapsed since 'we took the oath of muster with right hand raised to heaven,' and in looking back, the boys of Company H will instinctively date their memory of army life from the bitter, persistent struggle in the wild ravines of the Ozark, where their first blood was shed. And during all subsequent campaigning, Pea Ridge was the standard whereby to measure the severity of the conflict. And the boys of the Ninth will ever remember, with proud gratification, the tribute their valor received from the ladies of Boston--a stand of colors emblazoned with the name of their fiercest battle. COMPANY G, TWELFTH IOWA "The third company raised in the county was one that became Company G, Twelfth Iowa. It was enrolled at Decorah in September, 1861, ordered into quarters at Dubuque, September 3°, and mustered into the United States service November 5, 186L It was officered as follows: "Captain-C. C. Tupper. "The company became a portion of the regiment from the date of its muster in, and from that time on until disbanded always acted well its part. Company G was noted in its regiment for its excellent moral status and soldierly efficiency. It saw hard service, and took an active part in the following hotly-contested battles: Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Corinth, Jackson, Vicksburg, Jackson siege and capture, Brandon, Tupelo, NashvilIe and Brentwood Hill. Besides these battles, the company did excellent service as skirmishers. The company early met with a severe loss in the death of its first captain, C. C. Tupper. "Captain C. C. Tupper was born at Auburn, New York, December 24, 1832, and came to Decorah in May, 1857. He had received a liberal education, and prior to taking a residence in Iowa had served as agent of the Associated Press and local manager of the telegraph offices at Buffalo and St. Louis. He was admitted to the bar soon after his arrival, but for a brief time edited the Decorah Journal, a democratic newspaper. When the war broke out he took an active and intensely patriotic interest in every movement. Military life was always attractive to him, and he was unusually well versed in the manual of arms. He assisted in organizing the two companies from Winneshiek county that found place in the Third an.d Ninth regiments, and helped prepare them for the field. When it became evident that a third company must be drawn from the county, all eyes turned toward Captain Tupper to take its lead. Although of a frail constitution, and physically unfitted for the severe trials of army life, his patriotism overrode all prudence, and he consented. The company was rapidly recruited, and assigned to the Twelfth Regiment of Iowa Volunteers. But Captain Tupper's association with the company was only a brief one. He was idolized by his men, beloved by all his associate officers, and thoroughly respected by his superiors. But these could not protect and defend him from disease and death. Whi1e going from Dubuque to St. Louis with the regiment he caught a severe cold, and in
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 116 six weeks died at Benton Barracks, in St. Louis, a victim of capilliary bronchitis. In his death the terrible evils of war was first brought directly home to the community of which he had been a member. He had been the leader in the best social circles, the active abettor of every public enterprise, and his death carried sadness and mourning to almost every household in the county. Of friends who mourned his death there were scores upon scores; of enemies, none. "The sad event narrated above necessitated the promotion of Lieut. L. D. Townsley to the captaincy of the company, which office he held until mustered out of the service, November 25, 1864. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Shiloh, in which engagement he sustained a severe wound in the left arm, and suffered with the rest of his brother officers the hardships of prison life. After his exchange he was often employed in important detached duties, which he always filled with credit to himself and country. He served out his entire term of service, and is now residing in Chicago. "Lieut. J. F. Nickerson was made first lieutenant, and was stunned at the battle of Fort Donelson with what was supposed to be a solid shot from the enemy's batteries. From this he never recovered, was sick and ill the morning of the Shiloh fight, but persisted in going out with his company to the front, was taken prisoner, and died in rebel prison at Montgomery, Alabama, May 31, 1862. Kind but firm, a noble, brave man, beloved by his friends and all who knew him, a martyr to the cause. "Orderly Sergeant J. E. Simpson was promoted to be second lieutenant, but resigned on account of ill-health in 1862, and is now living in Decorah. "A. A. Burdick, second sergeant, was made orderly and then first lieutenant, and was killed at the battle of Tupelo, July 14, 1864. He was the quartermaster of the regiment, and had been ordered to the rear with his train; but after seeing his wagons properly 'parked' he came to the front, and volunteered to assist in bringing forward ammunition. While thus engaged he was struck by a shell and instantly killed. He died as a soldier would wish to die, with his face to the enemy and in the heat of battle. Lamented and mourned by all who knew him, no better man or braver soldier ever offered up his life that his country might be saved. "Anton E. Anderson, third sergeant, became second lieutenant, served with credit to himself until mustered out, at expiration of term of service, December, 1864, and died at his farm, some years after the war, near Eldorado, Iowa. "Robert A. Gibson, fifth sergeant, became orderly sergeant,
March 27, 1863, "Jacob H. Womeldorf, first corporal, became fifth sergeant, was taken prisoner with his company at Shiloh; was held prisoner for some time, and suffered great hardships that so broke down his health as to compel him to return home in 1863. He was afterward sheriff of Winneshiek county. "Nelson B. Burdick was eighth corporal, and but a youth at school when he went into the service. He contracted the measles at Benton Barracks, and was never well afterwards. He took part in the battles of Fort Henry, Donelson and
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 117 Shiloh. Warm-hearted, generous towards all, he became a universal favorite. The hardships endured in rebel prisons were too much for his impaired frame. He reached home and died among his friends. "John Steen, private, became quartermaster sergeant in 1864, and his whole term of service to the end was marked with ability and efficiency. Since the war he has held several positions of responsibility and trust, and is now living at Wahoo, Nebraska. "The regiment was ordered to Davenport for final pay and discharge, January 25, 1866. THREE MORE COMPANIES "In 1863 Winneshiek county again came to the front and contributed, for the suppression of the rebellion, three companies in addition to the brave men she had before sent. The companies were, respectively, D, K and E, and formed a part of the Thirty-eighth Regiment. Henry A. Cleghorn was captain of Company E. "Company K was officered as follows: "The officers of Company D were: "These companies were mustered into service at Camp Randall, Dubuque, Iowa. From here they were transferred to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri, where they spent Christmas and New Years, 1863-4. They were next transferred to Fort Thompson, which they retained charge of nearly six months. "The Thirty-eighth Regiment was next transferred to the main forces then besieging Vicksburg. In this siege the Thirty-eighth, including the three companies from Winneshiek county, formed the extreme left of the Union line. Their position was in the very heart of a malarious swamp, and here was contracted the germ of a disease which afterwards carried off these brave men by the hundreds. Within ten days after the surrender of Vicksburg the Thirty-eighth was ordered to Yazoo City, on the Yazoo river. At Yazoo City the regiment remained about a week. "While there the disease bred in the swamp opposite Vicksburg began to break out, and many men died. The regiment returned to Vicksburg. They were next ordered to Port Hudson to aid in the subjugation of that place, but did not reach the scene of action until the stronghold had fallen. The Thirty-eighth remained at Port Hudson about a month, and while here the disease contracted in the swamps broke out in all its virulence. So universal was the prostration of the soldiers, that during the month, there were on an average from three to fifteen only in the whole regiment that reported able for duty. Almost hourly the death of a companion in arms was announced to his sick and dying comrades. It was while lying here that the regiment met with its severest losses. Here it was they lost their beloved colonel. "D. H. Hughes was commissioned colonel of the Thirty-eighth
Regiment, by Gov. Samuel Kirkwood. He was born in Jefferson county.
New York, Sep- PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 118 tember, 1831, and died Aug. 7, 1863. He died from the disease which carried almost universal death to his entire regiment. Colonel Hughes graduated at the Albany Normal Institute in 1853. In 1854 he was employed on the Prairie Farmer, Chicago. He married Adaliza Matteson, in Watertown, Jefferson county, New York, in March, 1855, and immediately thereafter came to Decorah, engaging in the practice of law. Colonel Hughes was a man of commanding stature, fine presence, the soul of honor, and became a lawyer of considerable repute. He was a democrat in politics, but was elected county judge of Winneshiek county in the fall of 1859, notwithstanding the county then, as now, was of strong republican complexion. He was the candidate of his party for state senator in the fall of 1861, and only failed of an election of nine votes. The colonel was a war democrat from the outset, and pending the consideration of a petition of prominent republicans and democrats to become an independent candidate for judge of the district court of the tenth judicial district, hearing the cry of his country for more troops, Judge Hughes promptly cast aside his political opportunity to enter upon a patriotic duty; and, warmly espousing her cause, made a stirring canvass of the county in that behalf, and thus drifted into the army. "Colonel Hughes, while stationed at New Madrid, was called to St. Louis as judge advocate in some trials then pending, and from his bearing on that occasion, and the ability he displayed, upon the conclusion of the trials the court (and it was a court of strangers to him, too) unanimously recommended his promotion to brigadier-general, which document, however, he would not allow to go forward, alleging as a reason his brief experience as a military commander, and that there were already lives enough under his charge. Such was his modesty and noble character. Colonel Hughes died respected and beloved by all his soldiers, and not more universal was the mourning in camp over the death of their commander than that of his host of friends at home. "The Thirty-eighth took their departure from Port Hudson for New Orleans, where they remained about three months. ,It was next transferred to Point Isabel, on the Rio Grande river. After leaving Port Hudson Company E was without a commissioned officer for nearly a year. The regiment was next sent to Brownsville, Texas. While here Quartermaster T. R. Crandall was made captain of Company E, and Walter Green was made its first lieutenant. "August, 1864, again found the regiment in New Orleans. From here it was sent to Morganzie Bend. While at Morganzie Bend the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-eighth were consolidated, and afterwards known as the Thirty-fourth. The new regiment numbered 1,056 men. Company E, of Winneshiek, and Company F, of Fayette, were likewise consolidated, and afterward known as Company K. Captain Rogers, of Company F, and Lieutenant Green, were relieved of duty, and T. R. Crandall made captain. H. T. Shumaker, of the original Company F, was made first lieutenant, and O. J. Clark made second lieutenant. Companies D and K were likewise consolidated. The Thirty-fourth participated in the siege of Fort Gains and Fort Morgan, on Mobile Bay, and here it remained until these forts capitulated. The Thirty-fourth was also present at the charge on Fort Fisher. The regiment was engaged in the last battle of the war, which was the taking of Fort Blakesly, the day before Lee's surrender. In this engagement, in just eighteen minutes, over 1,500 Union soldiers were slain and
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 119 wounded. The regiment was mustered out of the service at Houston, Texas, but did not disband until it reached Davenport. COMPANY D, SIXTH IOWA CAVALRY "Company D, Sixth Iowa Cavalry, was the last company donated
to the Union cause by Winneshiek county. Although the men composing
this company enlisted with the intention and expectation of fighting
rebels, they were transferred to other fields of duty-which was
even more undesirable-that of fighting Indians. The company was
mustered into the United States service in February, 1863, with
the following officers: "Captain-T. W. Burdick. "The United States forces, in which was Company K, had several engagements with the Indians, each time coming out victorious, with great loss to the Indians and small loss to themselves." In 1840, Fort Atkinson was erected to provide headquarters for the supervision of the Winnebago Indians and to protect them from predatory bands from other tribes. The fort was commenced June 2, 1840. In June, 1842, Old Mission, about four miles southeast of Fort Atkinson, was established for the education of the Indians. In 1840 a government teamster froze to death between Joel Post's and Fort Atkinson. June 6, 1841, the first white child, Mary Jane Tupper, was born
at Fort Atkinson. In 1846, Capt. E. V. Summer, afterwards General Summer, who commanded In 1847, Captain Morgan's company was mustered out, and Captain Parker given charge of the fort till the Indians were removed in 1848. In 1848, Gotlob and Gotleib Kruman and others are said to have come and settled near Fort Atkinson. Details are given elsewhere. In 1848 the Winnebago Indians were ordered removed and the permanent settlement of the county commenced; for details of which, see earlier chapters and the township histories in succeeding chapters. Fort Atkinson was abandoned as a military post in 1848, but it remained in charge of the Government until 1853, when it was sold at auction. In 1849, first settlement of Decorah by Wm. Day and family-a notable event in county history. THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR For many years no company of militia has been credited to Winneshiek
county, and for that reason more than any other there is no record
that will give accurate PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 120 details of the number who enlisted from this community in the Spanish-American war of 1898. The patriotic spirit was not lacking, however; we recall a number who joined the company at Waukon. There were others, claiming Decorah as their home, who were members of the United States troops or of the militia in other states who saw service in the Philippines. The records do not disclose any fatalities among those who went from Winneshiek, although several contracted fever in camp. |
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