Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. 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 495-499 CHAPTER XVIII THE WAR FOR THE UNION TWENTY-NINTH INFANTRY COMPANY B HARVEY A. HITCHCOCK TWENTY-NINTH IOWA INFANTRY The several companies composing the Thirty-ninth Regiment of Iowa Infantry Volunteers were from the following counties: Two from Madi- son, two from Dallas and Guthrie, two from Polk, one from Greene, one from Clarke, one from Decatur and one from Des Moines. These companies were assigned to the regiment, and its colonel commissioned September 12, 1862; and he was directed to order the companies to rendezvous at Des Moines, and assumed command at once. The first company reported at Des Moines on the 20th day of September, and within a week all were in camp, except the company from Des Moines county, which did not join the other companies until the removal of the regiment from Des Moines to Davenport. The whole energies of the officers while remaining at camp, Burnside (near Des Moines), were devoted to instructing the men in drill and other duties of soldiers. On the 26th day of October, pursuant to an order from the governor and commander-in-chief, the regiment moved to Camp Herron, Davenport. Here the men were speedily uniformed, and, on the 4th of November, armed with Enfield rifled muskets, it requiring seven hundred and seventy-three muskets for that purpose. The regiment was mustered into the United States service by Captain H. B. HENDERSHOTT, Second Artillery, November 24, 1862. The delay in mustering was caused by two or three companies not having the minimum number of men, and when mustered, it was upon a special order of the war department, to accept the regiment as it was. Captain HENDERSHOTT mustered in an aggregate of eight hundred and two officers and men. A minimum regiment consists of eight hundred and forty-two rank and file. While at Davenport (counting a few cases at Des Moines) the regi- ment had nearly three hundred cases of measles, and the usual pro- portion of other camp diseases. Many of the men were only convalescent when the regiment was ordered from Davenport to the front, and forty- one men were unable to move with the command, and were left behind in hospital. On the 13th of December the command left Davenport by rail, with orders to report to Brigadier General TUTTLE, commanding at Cairo, arriving there on the 14th inst. The regiment lay at that point two days, during which time it received a disagreeable taste of a Cairo rain and sleet. The men were then transferred to a steamboat, but were so crowded that very many experienced for the first time the exposure they soon learned to endure. From the effects of that exposure many were dropped from the rolls during the next six months, under the head of "died" or "discharged." On the 16th the regiment was ordered down the river, with orders to report to General DAVIES, at Columbus, Kentucky, who, on their arrival at that place, ordered them to take cars for Corinth, Mississippi, to report to General G. M. DODGE. This day the rebel General FORREST first approached the railroad near Jackson, Tennessee, and upon the arrival of the regiment at that place about dark, the command was ordered to debark by Brigadier General SULLIVAN, commanding the district of Trenton, FORREST cut the road that evening a few miles north of Trenton, about half an hour after the train conveying the Thirty-ninth passed over, cutting off the train following it. The regiment was kept lying behind earth-works at Jackson for four days, a momentary attack being expected by the commanding general. Here the men suffered much from short rations, and were unable to cook what they had. It finally became apparent that the move on Jackson was but a feint to hold troops there while FORREST cut the road north of the town. On the 22d instant, the regiment, with two others, was sent up the road to drive off the enemy and repair the road. It arrived at Trenton on the 26th, having been much exposed to rain, and deprived almost entirely of sleep on the road and at Humboldt. FORREST was known to be at Huntingdon, some thirty miles east. Other troops were ordered to Trenton, and two brigades were organized, the Thirty-ninth Iowa, One Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois, and Fiftieth Indiana comprising the brigade. The regiment was ordered to march at dark on the 27th, every man to carry five days' rations and one hundred rounds of ammunition. Not a team or ambulance with the regiment. This was the first march of the regiment. Just from Iowa, many but a couple of weeks out of hospital, all worn out by short rations and loss of sleep, and over-burdened by carrying rations and ammunitions — those who have been in the service will appreciate the condition of the men. The boys marched all night, going in camp when nearly daylight. At eight o'clock were ordered to again resume the march, and marched all day. The next morning many of the men were completely worn out, others were too foot-sore to pro- ceed, and they were compelled to leave over one hundred men. During the day they attempted to make their way back to Trenton, but at Shady Grove were surrounded by a regiment of FORREST'S cavalry and one hun- dred and one were made prisoners. {They did not rejoin the regiment until in October, 1863). That night arrived at Huntingdon. The next day commenced moving south towards Lexington. Both brigades were at Huntingdon. The Second Brigade moved out alone. December 31, 1862, at Red Mound or Parker's Cross Roads, ten miles south of Lexington, the Second Brigade, con- sisting of the three regiments named, a section of artillery, and a company of cavalry, came in contact with FORREST'S whole command, numbering between six and seven thousand men, and eleven pieces of artillery. The Second Brigade had 1,545 men and two pieces. Our forces fought from nine in the morning until three in the afternoon under great disadvantages of numbers, artillery and position. At three o'clock ihe First Brigade made its appearance, and FORREST fled pre- cipitately, leaving in our hands some three hundred prisoners, four hundred horses, seven cannons and a large number of small arms. The loss of the Thirty-ninth was three killed, thirty-three wounded and eleven prisoners. January 1, 1863, the regiment again took up the line of march for Jackson, arriving there the evening of the 2d. On the 6th it took cars with orders to report To Brigadier General DODGE at Corinth, accord- ing to the orders we received at Columbus. At 7 p. m., we arrived and were by General DODGE assigned to the Third Brigade (Colonel M. M. BANES), Second Division (Brigadier General DODGE'S), Sixteenth Army Corps (Major General HULBURT). The Thirty-ninth remained at Corinth until the 2d of November, 1863, doing usual garrison duty. The regi- ment made several marches guarding trains that took up two or three days at a time, and once moved to Lagrange, Tennessee, to ward off a threatened attack on the railroad. The raid into Alabama to cover Colonel STRAIGHT'S movements was made during this time. At Corinth it laid out a regular camp and erected excellent log barracks for offi- cers and men, some eighty in number, admitted by all to be the best quarters in the division. On the 15th day of April, 1863, General DODGE'S division moved out as before stated, to cover the raid of Colonel STREIGHT into Georgia. The regiment marched by easy marches to Bear Creek, where our advance encountered the enemy, who disputed our passage. A pontoon was, however, soon thrown over the creek and our forces moved on to Tuscumbia, skirmishing almost every mile, until they arrived at Town Creek, Alabama. The enemy who were under General RODDY were re-inforced by General FORREST, and the united forces seriously endeavored to prevent the crossing. The whole forenoon was occupied in artillery duels. The Union forces had four fine batteries, and the whole, together with the movements of the troops being within observation, gave us a lively and pleasant day. After noon there were built three bridges over the creek under their fire, when our whole force advanced and the enemy prudently retired. Colonel STREIGHT had started in a south-westerly direction around them the night before, and our object having been accomplished, our men marched back unmolested. General FORREST having turned in pursuit of Colonel STREIGHT. The regiment arrived at Corinth on the 2d of May. May 6th, company H, which was on duty guarding a corral a few miles from Corinth, was surrounded by eight hundred rebel cavalry, and the captain and most of his company made prisoners. November 2, 1863, the regiment, together with the entire command of Brigadier General DODGE, left Corinth en route for Pulaski, Giles county, Tennessee, a distance of one hundred and twenty-five miles. The march occupied ten days, including, four days' delay at Iuka. Nothing worthy of mention occur- red on the trip. The weather was fine, the daily marches short, and the regiment seemed delighted, as on some holiday excursion. It reached Pulaski, on the Nashville and Decatur railroad, on the llth. On the 12th a portion of the force was sent south on the railroad, and a portion went north. General DODGE'S headquarters being fixed at Pulaski. Our brigade went north, and the regiment was stationed on the railroad at Reynolds' Station, Giles county, seven miles north of Pulaski. Five companies were stationed at regimental headquarters at Reynolds' Station above mentioned. Three companies were posted at two grist mills, grinding flour and meal for the command, and two com- panies were stationed at railroad bridges, guarding them. All the companies erected comfortable log barracks, and the detached companies good stockades. January 21, 1864, regimental headquarters was moved to Culleoka, twenty miles farther north, with six companies. The com- panies detached at the mills were relieved, and two of them stationed at railroads bridges, thus giving the regiment twenty-five miles of railroad and country to hold and maintain quiet. On the 26th of January, 1864, the enemy made an attack on Athens, Alabama, and fearing another raid on the road, the regiment was ordered to immedi- ately throw up strong earthworks or stockades. Work was immediately commenced, and the citizens, white and black, in the town and vicinity were ordered to assist. About one hundred and fifty helping, a very strong stockade was soon erected. On March 12, the regiment with the brigade, took up the line of march for Athens, Alabama, where it arrived on the 15th, where it went into camp, after a very pleasant march. General SHERMAN now began his preparations for the Atlanta cam- paign, and the march to the sea, and the Thirty-ninth, as a component part of the heroic Sixteenth Corps, took part in all its engagements. What need is there here to write the history of that campaign, so well known to all; simply to say that wherever found, the Thirty-ninth always added laurels to their regiment and credit to the State, and were mustered out at the close of the war, at Washington, June 5, 1865. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------