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SYNOPSIS—The first alarm; approaching the battle field, confusion of wagon trains, panic among the Arkansas cavalry, getting into position, feeling the enemy, battle of Prairie Grove, disasters on our left, charge of my regiment, the 20th Iowa, terrible artillery firing, critical situation, arrival of Gen. Blunt, night and victory; the day after the battle, rebel hospitals, wounded men eaten by hogs, burying our dead.On the 15t?h day of August 1862, fivefull companies fronf Scott county and five from Linn county, Iowa, reported in camp at Clinton, and were at once organized, forming tne 20th regiment, Iowa volunteer infantry, Wra McE Dye, formerly holding rank as captain in the regular army, having already received the appointment of colonel and assumed command of the regiment immedi'ately after its organization. Joseph B. Leake, Esq , of Davenport, then state senator, entered the service as a private in Company G, which he had assisted in recruiting, and had been chosen as its first captain, and was at once promoted to lieutenant-coienel; Wm. G. Thompson, Eslt;f?, of Cedar Rapids, a distinguished member of the *legal profession, was chosen major, and on the idth of August, 1862, the 20th regiment, Iowa volunteer infantry. was mustered into the UnitedStates service, 1,009 good and true men as ever leftJthq state of Iowa.I will now tell you of where we find ourselves on the 4th day of December, 1862 At 2 o’clock a. m on that day we left Camp Lyon, the battlefield of Wilson’s creek, where Gen Lyon was killed the year before, and took the road leading toward CassvHie. marching rapidly until daybreak, when we came upon the 3d division. Many of our men who had drawn new shoes and were now wearing them for the first time, were compelled after marching a few miles to take tnem off. as their feet had become badly blistered Having been for some time previously without shoes and marching barefooted. they now felt uncomfortable, and I observed more of them carried acrossrifle barrels and hanging to knap sacks than were worn on feet.On the morning of the 7th of December at 3 o'clock a. m we find ourselves nine miles south of Fayetteville agd within three* miles of Prairie Grove, having marched the unprecedented forced march of 118 ipilee in three davs, and while in the* act of searching ou* empty haversacks for a few stray cracker crumbs, we were suddenly started by bfcavy discharges of artillery, apparently but a short distance from us on the Cane Hill road. For a moment our motions were suspended In amazement-and men looked Into their comrades* faces with blank astonishment*' This surprise, however,n 1 no OAAtl O O f aH 1each man throwing down whatever rations were in his hands, sprang to his rifle. Orders were then given to load, at will, rlgnt face, forward march in quick time on the road leading toPrairie Grove. Occasionally as the sound increased our race was accelerated to double Quick. After going -some two miles our progress * was somewhat impeded 'by a confusion of wagon trains belonging to the Arkansas loyal cavalry, which escaped capture by the enemy. These trains, owing to the panic of the teamsters, were so jammed together as to completely block up- the road, and many of the
Newspaper Details
Moline Weekly Mail
Moline, Illinois, US
Thu, Sep 21, 1899
Page 7
Full Page
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USA 28 Sep 2022
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