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Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== History of Cass County, Iowa Continental Historical Co., Springfield, Ill: 1884 489-495 CHAPTER XVIII THE WAR FOR THE UNION TWENTY-THIRD INFANTRY COMPANY I. Captain, James R. Coe. First Lieutenant Second Lieutenant NEWTON M. WHITED. JOHN C. BROWN. JOHN J. VAN HOUTON, First Sergeant. EDWARD P. MIDA, Second Sergeant. JOSEPH G. WARNOCK, Third Sergeant. HARVEY INGSBE, Fourth Sergeant. NEHEMIAH C. MOFFITT, Fifth Sergeant. HUDSON REYNOLDS, First Corporal. JAMES SAINT, Second Corporal. AMASA CHAPMAN, Third Corporal. MORRIMAN CARLTON, Third Corporal. JOHN C. McMILLEN, Fourth Corporal. SAMUEL B. STEWART, Fifth Corporal. WILLIAM S. EVERETT, Sixth Corporal. SAMUEL WILSON, Seventh Corporal. HENRY BISHOP, Seventh Corporal. MILTON H. STANTON, Eighth Corporal. EDWARD C. MILLS, Musician. RUFUS L. PEASLEE, Musician. STEPHEN T. CAMPBELL, Wagoner. Privates. Calvin Bradshaw, Garralenus Burris, Jacob H Baldwin, Peter Cocklin, Ebenezer Cummings, William R. Collet, William I. Cocklin, William S. Chapman, John Collins, Lorenzo Decker, Warren L. Dean, Hiram A. Disbrow, William Denny, John Emmons, Ebenezer Friel, James M. Gill, Francis R. Howard, Gerhard A. Hebiug, Richard Haworth, David Heckathorn, Allen E. Hawkins, John W. Haag, Rufus P. Irwin, William Jarvis, Augustus Just, William F. Judd, William Kennard, Jacob Ketner, Joshua M. Kear, Meritt Littlefield, Alfred Leak, Edwin Lowe, Burr Mosier, Joseph McConnell, William McCormick, Allen J. McCarty, Augustus McClintock, Pierce Maher, Joseph Northgraves, Jacob Neth, Granville Pierson, Daniel W. Porter, Samuel Place, James Roberts, William H. Smith, David Stype. Frederick A Seamon, Horace H. Smith, Harrison Stevens William S. Torrence, Daniel O. Toothaker, John W. Tunnell, Francis C. Wilson, John Wilson, William L. Whistler, Wooster J. Woodward, Richard Worth, Newton L. Mills, James A. Trent, Hezekiah Baughman, James W. Bond, Stephen T. Campbell, David Duckett, Jesse Casteel, Simeon Field, Isaiah Duckett, Lyman J. Jardine, George W. Hardy, Martin Obrecht, John Mathew, Daniel S. Parker, William W. Pike, James F. Smith, William A. Pugg, William R. Ferry, Milton H. Stanton, TWENTY-THIRD IOWA INFANTRY This regiment, one of the bravest and most gallant of that noble army of heroes who bore the State flag of Iowa into the jaws of death on many a strongly contested field, was organized at Des Moines, and mustered into the service of the United States, at that place, on the 19th of September, 1862. The officers at that time were, WILLIAM DEWEY, of Fremont county, Colonel; W. A. KINSMAN, of Council Bluffs, Lieutenant-Colonel; S. L. GLASGOW, of Corydon, Major. After a short time spent in training and drilling the men, the regiment was for- warded to Missouri and assigned to active duty. It became a part of the Second Brigade, Fourteenth Division, and took part in many of the engagements of that body of men. Col. W. M. STONE, afterward governor of Iowa, but then commanding the brigade, in making his official report of the engagement at Thompson's, or Anderson's, hill and Port Gibson, says: "The following part was taken by the Second Brigade, consisting of the Eleventh Wisconsin, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel WOOD; the Twenty-first Iowa, commanded by Colonel SAMUEL MERRILL; the Twenty-second Iowa, commanded by Major ASHERTON; the Twenty-third Iowa, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel GLASGOW; and the First Iowa Battery, commanded by Captain GRIFFITHS, in the bloody engagement of May 1, 1863, on Anderson's Hill. About ten o'clock on the night of the 30th of April, when the Fourteenth Division was on its march from Bruinsburg to Port Gibson, the Second Brigade being in advance, I was called upon to lake charge of it, and went immediately to the front. My instructions were to reach Port Gibson at, as early an hour as possible, and occupy the several bridges across Bayou Pierre, at that place. Four companies of the Twenty-first Iowa, and one howitzer from Captain GRIFFITHS' Battery, were sent forward as an advance guard. Two of these companies under command of Lieutenant-Colonel DUNLAP, a brave and skillful officer, were deployed as skirmishers, and the other two, under com- mand of Major VanANDA, were left back as a support to the howitzers. The balance of the brigade moved in column in supporting distance behind. The road over which we moved passed through a country much broken by gorges and ravines, and thickly covered with tall timber, underbrush and cane, so peculiar to the southern country. While moving forward in this order, and about three-quarters of a mile from Magnolia church, our skirmishers were fired upon by a heavy picket force of the enemy, posted in an angle of the road. I immed- iately formed the advance columns in line on both the right and left of the road, and ordered Colonel MERRILL forward with the remaining companies of his regiment. I then moved them slowly forward, covered by skirmishers, until I became satisfied that we had not yet reached the immediate vicinity of the enemy's main force. We then moved for- ward in column in the previous order, and as our skirmishers reached the bead of the lane in front of Magnolia church, they received a tremendous volley of musketry from the enemy, strongly posted on the right and left of the church. I again formed the advance companies in line, and sent an order back for the entire brigade to move forward to our support. The ad- vance howitzer was placed in a position in the lane; but while these dispositions were being made, the enemy opened a battery upon us at short range, throwing shell in rapid succession all around us. Finding myself in the face of the enemy in a position carefully selected with a perfect knowledge of the ground, I concluded at once that we had reached the place where the battle of the night was to be fought. The infantry were formed in line and the batteries ordered in position on the rear of our advance. In the meantime the howitzer in the lane, commanded by Sergeant WILLIAM K. LEEBERT, was replying to the rebel battery with great spirit and apparent accuracy. Soon our entire battery opened upon the enemy, in conjunction with Captain CLOUSE'S First Indiana Battery, and continued to return the enemy's fire with great rapidity until two o'clock in the morning, when by mutual con- sent the firing on both sides ceased, and our men lay down upon their arms to await the coming dawn, when they were to meet the rebel in- fantry face to face in bloody combat. This artillery duel was one long to be remembered by those who witnessed it. The fire of the rebel batteries, on account of their knowledge of the ground, was quite accurate, and many of our men and horses were disabled by them. Tbe extreme darkness, the screaming and bursting of shells, and the rattle of grape through fences and timber, conspired to render the scene presented by this midnight battle one of most terrific grandeur. Soon after sunrise, the battle was renewed by the enemy, who held their position during the night. Their batteries opened upon us with great vigor, and their infantry moved forward to the attack. My com- mand was promptly in line, and Captain GRIFFITHS vigorously returned their fire with his admirable battery. Other brigades and batteries were soon engaged on our right and left, and the two contending forces became hotly engaged. Our position being in the center of the line, I was ordered by Gen. CARR to hold my infantry in readiness to charge the enemy's lines, when the decisive moment should arrive, though we were all the time in range of the rebel artillery and musketry. About ten o'clock it became evident that the enemy were massing their forces upon our immediate front, as their musketry was increasing in volume, and rapidly advancing towards us. At this juncture, I moved my brigade forward in double lines of battalions for the purpose of charging upon the advancing columns of the enemy. We were compelled to cross a deep hollow, thickly covered on both slopes with underbrush and cane, but my men moved forward with the spirit and steadiness of veteran troops, and with unbroken lines. When the thicket was passed, and as we ad- vanced into the open field, close to the enemy's lines, we opened our fire upon them with such rapidity and precision, that, unable to re- sist it, they soon broke and retreated in utter confusion. This ended the battle of the morning. Our victory was complete. The dead and wounded of the enemy lay thickly scattered over the ground, while their prisoners and small arms that fell into our hands were counted by the hundreds. We remained but a few minutes on the victorious field. I moved at once in pursuit of the retreating foe, and when about one mile from the late field, my advance regiment, the Twenty- third Iowa, was fired upon from the timber. I saw at once that the enemy had been strongly reinforced, and were determined to make another stand. Their position was well chosen, on a high hill covered with timber, and commanding the entire ground over which we were com- pelled to approach. My command was soon in line, with Captain GRIFFITHS' battery in position, which soon opened with its usual spirit upon the enemy. Simultaneous with this the rebel batteries opened upon us with accurate range, and for about half an hour we sustained alone the concentrated fire of their infantry and artillery. Finally, other brigades and batteries became engaged, and the battle raged with terrific fury along our lines; my command, however, re- mained in front during the entire engagement, and all the time under the enemy's fire. They retired only after the battle had ceased, and the enemy had again retired from the field. During these five hours' hard fighting, I am proud to say that the officers and men of the brigade acted with the utmost coolness, and with a determined courage that would Lave done honor to the bravest of troops. They promptly obeyed every command, and displayed a degree of heroism which nothing but the influence of exalted patriotism could have produced. To Colonel MERRILL, of the Twenty-first Iowa; Lientenant-Colonel GLASGOW, of the Twenty-third Iowa; Lieutenant-Colonel WOOD, of the Eleventh Wisconsin; and Major ANDERSON, of the Twenty-second Iowa, I am under great obligations for the coolness and promptitude with which they obeyed my orders in the various movements of the field. Their associate officers, too, are entitled to great credit, all of them, as far as I have been able to learn, performed their duties nobly. To the dauntless and heroic men of the ranks, and the line officers, all honor is due. Never did brave men endure more, with less murmuring than they, during these thirty consecutive hours of hard marching and severe fighting, and when the history of the war is fully written, they will be remembered among the bravest defenders of the Republic. I desire to make particular mention of Captain L. H. WHITTLESEY, of the Eleventh Wisconsin, acting Assistant Adjutant General, for his great energy and activity throughout the battle. He was always at the right place at the right time, and almost constantly in the hottest portion of the field. No braver man or truer soldier ever entered the field of battle, and I shall be much pleased to see him occupy a position where his talents and bravery could be more successfully employed. Lieutenant JACKSON, of the Eleventh Wisconsin, and Lieutenant WATERBURY, of the Twenty-third Iowa, acting Aids, rendered me essen- tial service, and they both displayed the greatest coolness and bravery in carrying orders under the hottest of the fire. I must also avail myself of this opportunity to express my admir- ation of the gentlemanly deportment, the coolness and conspicuous bravery of the Brigadier General commanding the division, during all the severe fighting. His presence on the field during the heaviest of the battle, and the clearness and self-possession with which his orders were given, contributed much to infuse confidence among all who were under his command. With me there is a higher significance attached to the victory of yesterday than the mere defeat and rout of the enemy. We fought the veteran troops of the Confederacy, who gloried in the laurels won upon the earlier fields of the war. They were gathered from several States, and were led by a general who fought us at the memorable battle of Shiloh over a year ago. We have met them again, upon more equal terms and in a contest as fierce as Shiloh, considering the number engaged. Hand to hand we fought them, and demonstrated the fact, beyond all dispute, that the fiery valor of the South is no match for the cool and stubborn courage of the Western soldier." General E. A. CARR, commanding the division, issued the following general order to the troops under his command, congratulating and praising them for their heroic conduct in this conflict: "I desire to congratulate the officers and soldiers of this division on the brilliant and successful manner in which they have performed their duty in the different conflicts of the late battle near Port Gibson. * * * * * * Coming from Missouri, where you had endured great hardships during the last winter, you were honored by being placed at the head of the grand army of the Mississippi, and you have proved yourselves well worthy of that honor. You have encountered and defeated the same men against whom we have so long contended in Missouri and Arkansas, and you have added another wreath to those you won at Black Water, Black- well's Station, Frederickton, Pea Ridge, Round Hill, Hartville, Haines' Bluff, and Post of Arkansas, and I am sure you will go on with your glorious achievements until the demon of rebellion shall be destroyed and our land shall once more rejoice in the blessings of peace and prosperity. While we mourn our fellow-comrades, we cannot forget that they have offered up their lives for the noblest of purposes —that of preserving to their country a government at once free and stable, which shall give, in conjunction with the largest liberty to the citizen, the greatest security for his life and property. To their friends and to our wounded comrades we tender our - sympathies, and hope that time and the thoughts of what they suffer for will soothe their pain and sorrow. The loss of the First Brigade was killed, twenty-six; wounded, one hundred and forty-three. That of the Second Brigade was — killed, fifteen; wounded, seventy-nine. Total in the division, two hundred and sixty-three. This comprises only those placed hors du combat. Scratches are not reported. When all have done their duty, it is invidious to make distinc- tions, but the conduct of some individuals seems to merit special mention, even at the risk of leaving out deserving men whose names have not been reported to me. These shall receive their due credit as soon as I am informed of their merits. Brigadier-General W. P. BENTON distinguished himself in daring gallantry and good management during the whole battle. Indiana continues to be glorified in her sons. Colonel C. S. HARRIS, Eleventh Wisconsin, though he had been obliged to give up the command of his brigade on account of illness, was on the field and shared the dangers. Colonel WILLIAM M. STONE, Twenty-second Iowa,who succeeded to the command of the Second Brigade, took his place with the extreme advance guard, at night,during the advance upon the enemy, exposed himself freely, and exerted himself so much that he became completely ex- hausted in the afternoon, and was compelled to relinquish his command to Colonel SAMUEL MERRILL, Twenty-first Iowa, for above an hour. By his bravery and admirable management of his brigade, he reflects his new honor on his noble State. In this engagement, the Twenty-third lost the following men: Killed — CALVIN JOHNSON, A ; J. G. WEBB, C; C. C. BATTERILLE, D; MORTIMER W. GOSS, E; W. H. CUMMING, F; HENRY BURNS, K. Total, six. Wounded — Lieutenant D. P. BALLARD, G. W. SMILEY, J. E. BANNING, H. J. HIESTAND, A; W. BISSEL, HENRY CARR, G. W. McLAUGHLIN, William MUSGROVE, B; WILLIAM WOODWARD, James O'BLENNIS, C; W. HOGUE, JACOB A. TABLER, D; Captain WILLIAM R. HENRY, MARSHALL CRAIG, E; GEORGE T. CAVENDER, A. A. BROWN, WILLIAM FRANKS, D. H. SKIDMORE, E. A. JONES, F; N. W. HIATT, H; FRANK R. HOWARD, PETER COCKLIN, JACOB NETH, I; ALVEY SMITH, JAMES HOILE, HARRISON HUBBARD, DAVID INMAN, K. Total, twenty-seven. In the same month, the Twenty-third Iowa achieved immortal honors at the battle of Black River Bridge, of which they were the acknow- ledged heroes. At that place but a few minutes were occupied in the assault and carrying of the works raised by the rebels, but these were of so serious a nature, and the resistance so stubborn, that although the Twenty-third carried them by storm, it was only at fearful loss. They were supported and assisted by the Twenty-first Iowa, and after the fight, General LAWLER passed down the lines and shook each man by the hand. According to HORACE GREELEY, General GRANT called it one of the most brilliant and daring achievements of that momentous campaign. In all the other engagements that resulted in the fall of Vicksburg this celebrated regiment took a prominent part. On the 7th of June, 1863, about a month prior to the fall of that city, about a hundred and twenty of the men of the Twenty-third, were surprised by a body of the rebels and although the engagement lasted but a few moments, over sixty of the little band of heroes were either killed or wounded. Captain J. C. BROWN, of company I, was among the latter, and was sin- cerely mourned by his comrades. In many a stricken field the Twenty-third bore off honors. The principal battles participated in by them, were Jackson, Fort Esperenza and Spanish Fort, and was finally mustered out at Harris- burg, Texas, on the 26th of July, 1865. It lost while in the service, forty-one killed, two hundred and thirty-three died, and three captured. Captain COE, of company I, resigned soon after the regiment got into Missouri, on account of ill-health, and was succeeded by J. C. BROWN. The latter was killed at Milliken's Bend, in 1863, and was succeeded by Capt. J. J. VAN HOUTEN. The ladies of Lewis presented company I, of the 23d with a beauti- ful flag, which became the regimental flag, and was the winding sheet of the regiment's Colonel (DEWEY) when he died. Captain J. J. VAN HOUTEN, who commanded company I, of the Twenty- third Iowa regiment of Infantry, died in Atlantic, during the latter part of October, 1884. The Telegraph spoke of him thus: "Captain J. J. VAN HOUTEN died at the store of J. C. YELZER, in Atlantic, last night, between 11 and 12 o'clock. He had been in the employ of Mr. YETZER for several years and boarded at his house and slept at the store. He had been unwell for several days and last evening was found in the yard back of the store by CHARLES CHAPMAN, lying down and unable to get up. Mr. CHAPMAN summoned help and carried him into the store. Dr. REBER was immediately summoned and attended him, but he was past medical help and he gradually grew weaker, suffering greatly until death relieved him of all pain. Mr. VAN HOUTEN came to Lewis in January, 1861, and has lived in this county ever since. He was a printer by trade, and set the first type ever printed from in this county. He learned his trade in Des Moines, and was foreman of the Cass County Gazette, published at Lewis, from the time it was established in January, 1861, until August 1, 1862, when he enlisted in company I, Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, and was made orderly sargeant. He served three years in defense of his country, and that be was a brave and faithful soldier all his comrades will testify. He was promoted and when mustered out August 16, 1865, was captain of the company. During the many years he had been in the employ of J. C. YETZER here a friendship had grown up between the two men which rivaled that existing between Damon and Pythias. VAN was well known to the citizens of this county, and no man had more friends. He had long been a member of the order of Odd Fellows and also of the Grand Army of the Republic, and the members of those orders as well as the printers of this city will escort the remains to the train this evening. The funeral will occur at Des Moines to-morrow at 2 o'clock, and his ashes will be laid to rest beside those of his parents. Of the family there are now living, one brother and seven sisters, all of whom reside in Des Moines, except two sisters, who live in Florida." ===========================================================================