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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
m 3 1833 01479 4298
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2010 with funding from
Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/thirdreunionofio31895iowa
THIRD REUNION
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HELD AT
l^EWTOH, IOWA,
Wednesday and Thursday,
August 21 and 22;
1895
NEWTON, I A.
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Officers:
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PRESIDENT:
Col. W. T. Shaw, Anamosa, Iowa.
VICE-PRESIDENTS:
G. L. GODFREY, Second Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa.
S. M'Mahon, Seventh towa, Ottumwa, Iowa.
J. C. Kennon, Eighth Iowa, Van Horn, Iowa.
R. P. Clarkson, Twelfth Iowa, Des Moines. Iowa.
S. M. Chapman, Fourteenth Iowa, Plattsmouth, Neb.
SECRETARY:
R. L. Turner, Eighth Iowa, Oskaloosa, Iowa.
TREASURER:
V. P. Twombly, Second Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa.
IP r o £> r ei m m e.
Wednesday, August 21st.
Reveille. Brigade headquarters and morning" gun.
The forenoon will be devoted to reception of guests at trains by mil-
itary escort, Co. "L," 2nd Regt., and Band Concert at Court
House Park by Brigade Drum Corps and Knights Templar Band.
Dinner from 12 M. till 2 P. M.
Assembly at Court House Park at 2 P. M. (sharp)
Form line and march to Opera House.
Invocation, Rev. E. J. Rice.
SONG, ''AMERICA."
Presentation, or Introduction of Brigade to Mayor and City Council,
Grand Army and Citizens " Robert Burns.
Address of Welcome by Mayor A. K. Lufkin.
Address of Welcome for Grand Army by Col. Meyer.
SONG OF WELCOME.
Response to Address of Welcome by Col. Shaw, for Brig, and 14th la.
MUSIC.
Response to Adr's of Welcome for 2nd la., Capt. C. H. McNeil, Sioux
City. .
MUSIC.
M^Resp'ns to Adr's of Welcome for 7th la., Maj. S. M'Mahon, Ottumwa.
A MUSIC.
g Resp'ns to Adr's of Welcome for 8th la., Col. W. B. Bell, Washington,
Iowa.
MUSIC.
Response to Address of Welcome for 12th la., Capt. T. B. Edgington,
Memphis, Tenn.
MUSIC AND SONG.
Address, "Was Shiloh a Surprise'?" Judge Robt. Ryan, Lincoln, Neb.
Song and Martial Music by Drum Corps.
* ¥ ¥
CAMP FIRM
Wednesday Evening, August 21st, 7:30 P. M.
Assembly at -ring. Headquarters for Camp Fire; inarch to Opera
House.
Thanksgiving Rev E. C. Brooks.
Song "Rally 'round the Flag."
MUSIC.
"Ten Minutes with the Old Boys, "Col. S. A.Moore. 2d la., Bloomliekl,
MUSIC.
'"Shiloh," Capt. J. B. Morrison, 7th la.. Fort Madison.
MUSIC.
Recitation, "Shiloh's Field by Night," Cora M. Patten.
MUSIC.
"The Union Brigade," Capt. E. B. Soper, 12th la., Emmetsburg.
MUSIC.
War Reminiscences Capt. Dan Matson, 14th la., Kossuth.
MUSIC.
'Iowa at Peace and in War," Gen. F. M. Drake, of Iowa.
MUSIC.
b63|
CUEDHESDAY'S PROCEEDINGS.
v v ¥»
During the forenoon of the 21st, Garrett G. A. R. Post, No. lti,
waited at the several trains and as the comrades arrived, escorted
them to the court house, which was made general headquartei's. ICach
regiment had its clerks, and they were kept busy registering names.
General hand shaking was the order. The comrades were then
escorted to entertainment headquarters in charge of Col.VV. K. Man-
ning, Mrs 8. S. Patterson and Mrs. O. C. Meredith, where the assign-
ments were made.
The following are some of the inscriptions on the wall of the
the court room:
"Here's Your Mule " "18(32. Shiloh and War.'' '1895, Peace and Reunion."
"Oral) a Hoot." "Pull the Latch String." "Our Chickens Roost Low."
"Abide Willi Me." "Li Y.hi Don't See What You Want, Ask For It."
The Brigade assembled at headquarters and escorted l>y the
band, marched to the opera house.
The opera house was very artistically decorated with (lags, ban-
ners, Grand Army badges and emblems, bunting and the like. Large
scrolls containing the outline history of each regiment hung on the
walls. A cannon was placed on the left side and a group of stacked
arms on the right side of the stage. The pictures of prominent gen-
erals were also hung on the walls.
The meeting was called to order by Rob't. Burns, a member of
the 7th Iowa, ana ;i resilient of Newton, who presided at the meet-
ing.
After a fervent invocation by Rev. K. .1. Rice, some forty little
girls, all dressed in dainty white, came trooping on the stage, accom-
panied by two diminutive knights, and sang "America" and "Star
Spangled Banner" in such an inspiring and musical fashion that the
audience cheered vociferously, at both the songs and the beautiful
sight presented.
IOWA HOKNNTS NKST li'KKiAUK
The following was the graceful introduction of the chairman,
Roh't. Bums, to the citizens of Newton:
Mr. Mayor, members of the city council and citizens of Ne.vton:
when the stranger is within your gates it is but natural that you
enquire, and it is possibly right that you should know, who is he':'
from whence came be? what is his charactor and reputation?
what are his intentions ami purposes? are they peacefuler are
they hostile? These questions we naturally would like to have
answered, but courtesy to an invited guest forbids our asking them.
But friends and citizens of Newton, it affords me great pleasure
and satisfaction to be able to testify in behalf of the strangers with-
in your gates today, having had the pleasure of their company and
acquaintance for the three years t hat I had the honor to carry a
musket for Uncle Sam. I feel that I am a competent witness.
"Who are they?" They are a part of the rear guard of that gallant
army, that when the lightning Hashed from embrasures of fort
Moultrie and sent an electric thrill through the nervous fabric of
the loyal and patriotic North, left the plows, the machine shops,
the yard stick and school room, and donning the accoutrements of
warfare, faced southward with a lirm and decided purpose- to pre-
serve to posterity what tlie fathers had won. They are the boys
whose gallantry and sacrilice at their maiden battle Belmont—
challenged the admiration of the nation and shrouded in grief many
northern homes.
They are the boys who under the lead of the gallant Tut.tle led
the charge at Donelson over the abattis and frozen snow, compell-
ing compliance with that famous order "No terms other than an
unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted." They
are the hoys from the ever memorable contest at Shiloh, whose com-
meneem nt was on the Sabbath morning, April (i, 18(52, but whose
ending is not yet. But their warfare is over; the scenes of strife
and conllict are long since past and remain only as a memory.
They assemble here today as your guests in peaceful y^ars. Not
the young, hopeful youths of thirty-four years ago, but as old men
who have passed life's meridian, with furrowed check- and hoary
hair long since and prematurely blossomed for the grave and on
weary feet are treading that western incline that reaches down
where the mourning waters wash niton the sands of the unknown
shore.
This my friends is in brief a partial history of the part taken
in the late war by the friends who are with us today and for them
I bespeak your kind hospitality, never fearing for a moment that
it will not be freely extended.
Mayor A. K. Lufkin gave the following eloquent and cordial ad-
dress of welcome:
Oentln iu n: That you .ire welcomi goes without saying. That
we arc most happj to have you here, judge by our hospitality, Had
the keys of our City not long since been lost in the shuttle of opening
our gates to others, we should be pleased to present them to you.
There is no assembly of men toward which the citizens of Newton
feel more kindly^ of which they are more proud, or more anxious to
please, than the famous Hornets' Nest Brigade composed of the 2d,
7th, 8th, 12th and 14th Regiments Iowa Infantry. Some one has said
that "when you cannot entertain your guests let them entertain
you.'' Bo if you lind we are not doing the proper thing, wade in. and
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
we shall expect excellent treatment at your hands. The City is
yours, and if the Comrades do not give yon all you desire report t lie in,
and by the "Powers that be," the confines of the Guard House shall
be tame, in comparison with their punishment!
Gentlemen, the intense interest for you and your splendid exhi-
bition of heroism, can only be fully realized by those who have
steeled their nerves lor the hottest actions in the war of the Itebell-
ion. But there is within the soul of every loyal citizen, whether or
not he lias heard the sound of cannon in conlfict, thai which dictates
his readiness to defend his country, which dictate.-, that loyall v and
patriotism which is the incentive to raise up armies and navies to
protect the honor, the homes, the wealth of a Nation, and were this
not true, there would have been no Hornets' Nest Brigade. Just in
proportion as this feeling of loyalty and patriotism is intense, can
we, the younger generation, realize and appreciate your bravery,
courage, strength and noble purpose. There is the same fueling of
loyalty to-day on the part of the old and young, there are mother's,
sisters" and lovers' hearts to break the same 'as then, there is the
same pride and heroism to be developed, and it needs only the elec-
tric spark of challenge to all that is near and dear to us, 'to call it
forth. But gentlemen, pardon us if we say, no thank you, none of
that in ours if you please, for the capture of the Hornets' Nest
Brigade called forth a hotter conflict than the taking of a nest of
those little creatures whose "stock in trade" is a ••business
end." What boy has not experienced it! 1 am cognizant of
the tact that history chronicles the actions of no set of
men who were in a more isolated position, who ever fought harder
against greater odds, and stood their grounds longer than did the
Hornets' Nest Brigade. No wonder the rebel commander said that
hornets' nest must be taken, the execution they were doing! But
wait, wait! take it if you can: and for eight long hours they threw
all the forces they could spare upon this little number, met "repulse
after repulse; they flanked, they raked, they stormed, but still it
stood, and it was not until the day was well nigh drawing to a close,
that this Hornets' Nest, indicative of bravery* was forced to yield.
You meet today, dear old defenders of right,' liberty and loyalty, to
talk of war times and of the past, and in a jolly mood, but if Ridpath
had the power to paint with Ins pen as vividly as could Michael
Angelo and Leonardo l)e Vinci with their brushes, a word picture of
the agonies, the torture, the terrible butchery of that day, what a
representation of horror we would .have! The battle of Shi] oh or
Pittsburg Handing, was fought April (ith and 7th, 18(52. [aider Gener-
al Giant were about thirty-two thousand Union soldiers, and General
Albert Sidney Johnson commanded the Confederate forces of about
forty-live thousand men. The divisions of the Union army on the
morning of the (5th were under Genereils Hurlbut, Urentiss. W. II U.
Wallace. Mc( demand and Sherman, respectively. Karlv '
action the army was driven back. The Hornets' Nest Brigacl
in the day held an advanced position and were surrounded b„
taken after the hardest fighting. ••Probably no single battle.
Sherman, "gave rise to such wild and damaging reports a
Shiloh." On the night of the (5th re-enforcements were re<
the Union army, and the next day the rebels were driven ba
Hit: field, leaving the- blue coats in full possession. But the
ports had gone forth, and had it not been for the splendid
ship, and the bravery shown by our men. on the day of the (ith. of
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IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE. 7
which the Hornets* Nest Brigade is an excellent example, the mis-
understandings might have been greater. The war is over an.! many
are the deeds of greatness recorded. The war is over and many a
deed of bravery chronicled, but the history of the War o! the tlcbell-
ion would not be complete with the actions ol the Hornets" Nesl
Brigade left out. Its memory will stand until lips are dust, and until
that other grand example of heroism ir, also forgotten. I refer to
the deeds of the loyal women ol' our laud: patient, suffering, true-
hearted women; doing, loving, acting on the tender side ol life and
being a greater incentive to battle than fear of prison, or gain ol
prize. Should the scene of quietude and peace be changed again to
conlliet you would find these tender souls ever on the helping side—
"And if Peace, whose snow white pennons,
lirood over our land today.
Should ever again go from us,
(God grant she may ever stay)
Should our Nation rail in its peril.
For 'Six Hundred Thousand more'
The loyal women would hear her,
And send you out as before.
'■We would bring out the treasured knapsack.
We would take' the sword from the wall.
And hushing our own heart's pleadings.
Hear only the Country's call,
And next to our Cod. is our Nation;
And we cherish the honored name.
Of the bravest of all brave armies,
Who fought lor that Nation's fame."
Bravery! yes, Heroism! yes, Loyalty! yes, all, all that was in-
dicative of right, honor and protection to a nation's homes was
true of our officers.
"And many a private soldier,
Who walks in his humble way,
With no sounding name or title.
Unknown to the world today.
In the eyes of God is a hero,
As worthy of the bays,
As any mighty Genera]
To whom the world gives praise."
• Gentlemen, you are (twilly welcome.
The little folks then sang "When Johnny comes marching home."
After which Col. Meyer gave the following hearty welcome for the
Grand Army:
In behalf of Garrett Host. No. 16, I extend to you a few words of
cordial welcome.
Our Post was one of the lirst organized in the state, which is
proof that its comrades are wide-awake, keeping fresh in memory,
and are active to send down the line to the coming generations, the
valor, heroism and sacrifices made during the late war to perpetuate
the principles of a free government. So this welcome, at once intro-
duces you into the companionship of comrades in full sympathy and
fellowship of comrades who appreciate the services you rendered our
nation on that bloody Shiloh battlefield, where you earned the signi-
licant name "The Hornets' Nest Brigade."
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE
in addition we mention that our Post is made up of comrades en-
gaged in all the pursuits of life, and endowed with such a stock of in-
telligence, that it is constantly drawn upon to lill manifold civil of-
fices, and their integrity is such that no case lias been known when
there has not been a true account rendered of the t rust, even to the
last penny. So we tender you the assurance that the safety of your
wallets is all the same in or out of your pockets. The ability of the
comrades of the Post is equal to the discharge of any call into oilice,
and there is an expectancy of some to hear tin' call •'Pome up higher,"
but as is often the case with those most competent, there is a diffi-
dence mingled with the expectancy, keeping them back, such as
Gen. Grant, who never would have been called to lead our armies to
the final victory if it had devolved upon his own movement. Rose-
crans had to lose his greatest battle, before the call came to Gen.
Grant to take charge of all the Qnionforces. The political distresses
of the country are such, that, as it seems, some of the comrades of
the Post are anxiously peering forward to political defeats, awaiting
to be called to lead the forlorn hope to victory, and we are sure that
in such a crisis none of our Post would hesitate to heed the higher
calling and assume the awful responsibility, even that of the chief
executive of the foremost nation of the world. Again it has passed
current for years and years that the soldiers while in the ar-
my were constantly appropriating to their own use things that did
not belong to them. Our past is guiltless. There is not a single
comrade that did any such thing, we emphatically repel the charge.
We enlisted and went into the war to fight for righteousness, justice,
liberty and freedom. It was a Holy war. It was tiod's cause. We
fought under the stars and stripes, the banner of the Lord. To him
belong the cattle of a thousand hills, which includes all the porkers,
turkeys and chickens and everything else on all the hills and valleys.
The Bible explicitly says that "The earth is the Lord's and the full-
ness thereof." In so many words it says "All things are yours, wheth-
er Paul or Apollos or ( 'ephas, or the woidd, or life, or deal h, or things
present or things to come, all are yours." Into such companionship
I have the honor to invite you, to invite you, dear, surviving comrades
of the world renowned Hornets' Nest Brigade.
The following responses were made to the addresses of welcome,
each Regiment being represented:
COL. Shaw, Fourteenth Iowa.
Comrades of the Hornets' Nest Brigade, andoftlu Grand Ainu/, cmd
Citizens:
L thank you for the welcome that you have given me as I have
been on the floor, and 1 thank your committee on arrangement- (or
putting on somebody that can't make a speech, so 1 shan't detain
you long. We feel very grateful to the citizens of this town for the
splendid reception of our Brigade, so finely expressed by your men.
1 assure you, it is. very grateful to us old soldiers to have our services
recognized by the people. Nearly a third of a century since this
battle occurred, but the people of the country seem just as willing to
recognize our services now as they did on the day on which they
heard of our success in that battle. And it will be belying every sol-
dier here to say that he doesn't feel grateful for that recognition. It
gives us pleasure to understand that we rendered a service to our
country at that time, that was worthy of memory. It was worthy of
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE. !>
being thought of and felt with gratitude by the people that have
succeeded us. A whole generation has passed since the battle of
Shiloh, and we that remain here are ready to pass out and give place
to a succeeding generation. We believe that our memories remain
green In the hearts of the people yet.
The two great battles of the war that gave the first impulse of
success to the Union, were the battles of Donnelson and Shiloh. On
this we have the authority of the greatest general, Sherman, and all
of you who are old enough recollect the enthusiasm that day the
news from the battle of Donnelson was received in the State of Iowa.
Why, I could show you a special order sheet by den. Baker to the
adjutant general of the state, and 1 suppose' by the authority of the
state, that every man in the state of Iowa was to get drunk and have
the best time he could. Well, now. that was indicative, probably, of
the times. 'The order now would be that every man should keep so-
ber ami not go to the saloons, but go to some good reunion of the
soldiers- but that didn't express Gen. Baker's enthusiasm on that
occasion.
Now the men of the Hornets' Nest Brigade were at that batt'e.
The 2nd regiment that lirst entered the fortifications of Don-
nelson performed the greatest service that had been per-
formed by any one regiment at that time. 1 marched up a
little to the right of them and saw them falling by the hundreds and
never wavering in the ranks, every man pressing forward to the ob-
ject for which they had started. That regiment was in the Hor-
nets' Nest. The 71 h Iowa followed them. That regiment too was in
the Hornets' Nest Brigade. The 14th marched a little to the right,
abreast of them, and that regiment, too, was in the Hornet's Nest
The 12th, a little further to the left, in another brigade, but entc- ed
about the same time. So we feel that we were entitled to some
gratitude from the people for our services, and we feel that those
services have been recognized, which is the most grate fid feeling
that a person can have to know that he has done a good service.
Now I don't mean to say anything, I don't know that f could be
heard if I did say anything: old age is crowding on me. i am the
only colonel left, not only in the Brigade but in the five Iowa regi-
ments that stood at what is called the Hornets' Nest. 1 admit that
there seems to be an impression that we did more fighting than 'lie
other fellows, and that is a mistake. I think we did about as much
killing with as little hurt to ourselves as anybody on that field. - "as
much hurt to the enemy, and that was my idea of what a soldier
should be.
I have been in the Mexican war -trained under (Jen. McCrea,
an old Indian lighter, and I have been for live or six years on the
plains, and I had an idea that a soldier was a man who hit the enemy
and didn't get hit himself. Well. I admit we didn't suffer very much,
and although the lighting was more heavy in front of us, charge af-
ter charge was repulsed with very Lit Liu loss to ourselves. On the
left of us was much heavier lighting— in Huribut's brigade and Ban-
man's brigade, two regiments at least which have a right to claim
a position in the Hornets' Nest Brigade; beyond that was Williams'
brigade, with the -'ird Iowa and an Illinois regiment, in the front of
which Johnson put his best brigade. 1 might say here, that the
heaviest lighting was done to the left of us and not in front of the
Hornets' Nest Brigade. That we did stand there and resist every
attack made upon us, and hold our ground from morning till." night,
10 IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIG \DK.
is another fact, and it was largely owing to the position which we
occupied -an old sunken road, and the thick timbei in front of us,
and which the rebels themselves designated as the Hornets' Nest.
We didn't call it the Hornets' Nest. And we remained there a little
too long, until we got surrounded and captured. Now I say that here
—I don't want it to get out.
To some of our friends I want to say. that, the government has
concluded to make of the battle-field of Shiloh, a national park, and
to allow us to put up monuments where we fought and where we
stood that day, and some of the men want to put up a monument
where they surrendered. Now some fellow will come along and read
that— that we surrendered there: he won't read why we surrendered;
if he did read it he wouldn't understand it. and my opinion is, we bet-
ter not say anything about that surrender.
1 don't know as this is a reply to our address of welcome; but 1
say, we are all very grateful for the manner in which we have
been received, and it is all very pleasant. Some of you are not as
old as I am. I think I am about the oldest here, with the exception
of Gen. Prentiss. Jf you want to hear about the battle of Shiloh,
Gen. Prentiss is the man to talk to you about that.
And by way of an apology, I had appointed Judge Chapman, of
Nebraska, to take my place and reply to this address of welcome.
He is not here. I appointed Doctor but he is not here,
and now that you have been bored by my remarks, why, just lay it to
the Doctor.
CAPT. C. H. McNeil, Second Iowa, Sioux City.
Mr, President, Ladies, Gentlemen and Comrades:
It had been well had my friend Col. Ryan took the hint when I
wrote him that possibly I could not be here at the opening exercises,
and had appointed some one better qualified to [ill the place, but he
did not "tumble worth a cent." lie did not let me off- here I am. 1
will not prolong your agony long.
The Iowa brigade, consisting of the 2nd, 7th, 8th, 12th and 1 1th
Iowa regiments has been called the Hornets' Nest Brigade. You
have heard of the part they performed at Shiloh and how the term
originated. The organization was a temporary one. After Shiloh,
where so many of our comrades of the 8th, 12th and 14th were made
prisoners, and' during the defense of Corinth, the members of these
regiments were formed into a regiment and called the Union Bri-
gade. The Iowa boys were not particularly proud of this organiza-
tion; although they did not forget, they were ready and willing when
called upon to do their duty; and at the first day's light in the battle
of Corinth, in October, '02 "in company with the 7th ami 2ml Iowa
and 52nd Illinois, gave the rebels the onl\ repulse they met that day.
After the prisoners were exchanged, these regiments forming this
organization were transferred to other commands, and the organiza-
tion known as the Hornets' Nest Brigade terminated as a body.
Those were busy days to us, comrades. We were making history
rapidly, though 1 do not know that any of us were hungering after
the job of making hhstorv.
It has been saidthat the old soldiers delight to meet and pat
one another on the hack and make each other believe that we are all
heroes. Possibly this is so. II" so, just pardon me a little. The
term is a general one and we have heard it freely applied in the
eloquent address of welcome by His Honor, the Mayor. All boys in
blue were caheu heroes, and ItrusL the honor was deserved. But,
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE. 11
comrades, we must not take all the credit and forget the girls in
blue. Our mothers, sisters, wives and sweethearts all performed
their part, and the long, weary years of the terrible struggle pa-
tiently sufi'ered at home, hoping and praying for the end of the ter-
rible conllict, writing long, cheerful, lo\ ing letters to the loved ones
in the field., encouraging them and cheering them during the
long weary hours ol camp life.. And, comrades. I submit, il the
boys in blue are termed heroes, are not the girls in blue equally en-
titled to the term of "sheroes"':'
Since the termination of the war, T have been unable to attend
any of the reunions of the regiment, but 1 promise myself the pleas-
ure of dciing so in the future. It certainly is a pleasure to meet and
feel the warm hancl-clasp of the comrade who has marched and
fought with you, shoulder to shoulder, in the struggle to preserve
the Union. More than one-third of a century has passed since the
battle was fought which we meet this da\ to commemorate. Com-
rades, we are all on the short side of life's journey. The new genera-
tion are fast forgetting the services rendered our country by the
soldiers of the war, but, comrades, we cannot forget them: we must
not forget the trials and sacrifices of 18(51. Many lie sleeping in the
graves of the south: thousands lie sleeping in the graves in national
and private cemeteries. We still have those among us suffering
from wants, exposures and privations. It is therefore meet that we
should assemble to do honor to the dead and to the living' hero. In
behalf of the 2nd Iowa, and the cordial greeting and kind words —
I thank you.
Ma, i. Samuel M'Maiion, Seventh Iowa.
Mr. President, < liairman . Ladiex and (leiillemcn, and Comrade oj
the Brigade:
It seems to me about the best appreciation a man can feel or
make to a welcome of such splendid hospitality as is presented to
us today, is the effort that be makes to accept it. And I have come
300 miles to accept their hospitality today, my friends. 1 think,
however, the last twentj miles from the trunk line of the Central
railroad of Iowa, from New Sharon to Newton, was the longest half
of the journey, and there is about thirty comrades that came along
with me on that eventful journey, who will back me up in what I
say. AYe investigated the town of New Sharon pretty thoroughly
this morning and had plenty of time to do it: then we started out
and we got to Lynnville, and we stayed at Lynnville awhile, and
then the train commenced backing, backing down, and the conduc-
tor happened along and he was a hotel clerk kind of a fellow— he
didn't waste any words on passengers, and I asked him: "Where are
we going now, conductor, we seem to be going back." Says he, "We
aregoing to Newton, sir, going to Newton." I couldn't quite under-
stand il until we gol bacl< to the .Innctiou. We got back to the
Junction and then we gol beaded is est again. Well, we jogged along
and linally we got to Murphy and I knew that we were close to New-
ton when we got to Murphy, because Murphy reminded me of an
Irishman that was in my regiment, and 1 knew that the reunion was
approaching close. Only, his name was not Murphy. We will call
him old.loe. Now old Joe belonged to the same nationality that
Murphy di es. Old.loe regularly got drunk, just as often as he could
get enough but it took a good deal to supply him. And it was mid-
dling scarce down at the front so we didn't often have much bother
with it. bill one evening we were down in northern Mississippi and
12
IOWA HORNETS NEST BRIGADE
we were chasing Chalmer's cavalry. Now you fellows know just
what it was to chase cavalry a-foot back. (Laughter.) When we
got to where Chalmer's was, he wasn't there; well, we marched about
thirty miles, L think: we started about 4 or f> o'clock in the morning
and wore the boys out that da}', hunting Chalmers, and every man
was dead tired out when they said we might go into camp. That was
an invitation to spread our blankets on the grass and get out the
little tin cups on our hips here and boil some coffee and go out and
forage for the rest of our supper, and some of the boys started out
and that night 1 noticed there was an unusual stir in camp. I
thought something had been discovered, I couldn't tell just what and
I didn't take very much pains to inquire because 1 was terribly tired
and 1 didn't think the boys would keep it up very long, lint the next
morning we started out bright and early again — there wa'n't any
eight o'clock breakfast those days, it was get up about an hour be-
fore daylight, you know, and pick your teeth and start. And we
marched about an hour or so. and every fellow was cross, and his
hair was pulling and his feet were sore, and 1 think most of them
were damning everything in sight pretty much, including the main
officer, and Old Joe edged up alongside of me and he had two can-
teens on. Well that was very unusual, very unusual for a regiment
in light inarching order and it wasn't the proper thing, and 1 asked
Joe what he was doing with so much baggage-. Says he, "Captain,"
he whispered up in my ear. says he, "would you like a drink?"1 Says
1, '"it depends on what it is Joe.'' " Well," says he, "just put this can-
teen on you," and 1 put on the canteen and pretty soon 1 was thirsty
and took a drink; says I, "Joe, where did you get this'.-''' " Why,
Captain, we went out foraging last night for our supper and the
boys got to a house and they found a nagur there and he told them
where there was a barrel of apple brandy buried out in the back yard
and we got as many of the boys as we could li ml and we all tilled up
our canteens and I don't think there was much of the barrel left
when we got through." This was all confidential; this wasn't the
proper kind of intercourse between an officer and a private soldier
[loud applause] hut it was strictly confidential between Joe and I.
"Well," says J, "Joe, bow in the world did it happen that you didn't
get drunk'.-"' It happened Joe bad one of these quart attains, you
know, they carried on their belts to make coffee in and it held about
a pint and a half. "Well," says he, "Captain, I was very dry and I
knew it wouldn't do to get drunk, and 1 just took and tilled that full
and 1 thank it down and I wouldn't drink any more because f was
aleered I'd get drunk." Now the question with me was, how much it
would take to make Joe drunk: I never found out. The poor fellow is
gone now and in a better country I hope. Now this has all come up
from Murphy.
Well, friends, I have had a fashion of attending these reunions,
year after year, and I have grown to be very fond of them and I no-
tice most ol the boys are beginning to come out. Some of them did-
n't use to come out. but I see several of the boys, the familiar faces
ol the old army boys now showing up at these reunions, but 1 never
took ahy coaxing; 1 was always glad to come to them, and 1 notice
one contrast, year after year, down here in the body of the hall; I see
tin heads of the fellows growing a little whiter, a little whiter every
year, and then 1 look off in the galleries' and 1 see the beautiful,
blooming faces that have come up, grown up from babies, children,
since the war, and I feel as I look over these galleries that we are
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
13
assured wherever we go of ;i warm welcome every time. And it does
me good to tell some of these old army stories to these beautiful
girls to whom the war is only a memory and a matter of history, and
the manly boj's that come out to look down over the gray heads of
the men that they have already read about in history, although the
time has hardly come for that yet. That will o.ome when we are all
gone, hut as the years go by, my friends, the record that these walls
display today will be impressed deeper and deeper on the minds of this
generation — of the generations coming and growing up, and when we
reilect on it the babies and children of the war are the stalwart men
of today; thirty-three years, one third of a century; why, just think
of it. I don't realize it. When I COine to these reunions I feel just
about as young as [ did when I started out at lit years old, into the
old Seventh Iowa. I don't feel quite as bright often, after a hard
day's work, but it renews me, this coming here ami looking over
these faces and opening my heart to them, and I believe we all feel
the better and the younger for it. But the work, and the actions
and the privations, and the sel f-denials of the men of tin- war will be
better appreciated in the next generation, even, than the\ are now.
Did it ever occur to you what the possible result would have been
had the war proved a failure? Did it ever occur to you that no fur-
ther south than the line of the Missouri river, running through our
beautiful sister state, would have been a line of fortifications, such
as are built on the Rhine, in Europe today? Has it ever occurred to
you that the railroads that have been built through Iowa since the
war would have gone into fortilicat ions no further south than the
Missouri river, with two hostile nations looking across their lines of
bayonets at each other? lias it ever occurred to you that out of the
money that it has cost for our 14,000 school houses, it would have
gone into recruiting barracks for a standing army? lias it ever
occurred to yon that the ten millions of school fund that Iowa pours
out with a lavish hand for the education of her beautiful yout h would
have gone to pay the soldiery? Think of it. Think of it. Ifas the
possible result of the failure of the war, that your bayonets helped
to bring to a successful termination, ever occurred to you?
Now 1 started in to express the thanks of the Seventh regiment
for this glorious welcome which you have given us today. 1 read it
in the faces in the gallery rather than in the graceful words of the
speakers that have preceded me. I feel it, ladies ami gentlemen,
and boys and girls, in my heart, and I speak for every man of the
Seventh regiment, that they endorse every word 1 say, and 1 want to
say to you all, God bless you for this glorious welcome.
COL. W.
Bell, 8th towa.
Mr. President. Ludt
Hud GeiitL men, <d(d ( '
om
•add
1 feel that I am in a situation that in one sense is unfortunate,
and in another sense is rather fortunate. 1 am fortunate to \\.\w
been preceded by so many in the way of a response to our address of
welcome, that has been so well done, that it leaves so little for me to
say. On the other hand, 1 am like the boy that always liked to say
his piece first because some person else that talks before him, is apt
to say it and he is left without anything to say, but as I have been
seated here, watching the proceedings of this happy reunion, it oc-
curred to me, according to the notification of the program that I had
for this occasion, that one matter has been overlooked. Tf I remem-
ber, there was a quotation at the head of the program from the high-
14 luWA UOltNUTS' NJiST U1UUADK
est authority, something like this: "And I. will send hornets before
thee which will drive out the Eivite, the Canaanite and the Hittite
from before thee.-'
It .seemed to me 1 might be mistaken on this, but it seemed that
it was a part of the program, and as no one else lias made any appli-
cation or explanation in retrard to it, I thought"! would undertake
to make a few remarks on that. It seems that it certainly is applic-
able to this brigade. That it was so intended. And that there was
work for this brigade to do on this occasion. Ami 1 have been puz-
zling myself to think what part the sth had better undertake on this
occasion. 1 would feel loath to assign them to tackle the C'anaanites
for various reasons; it seems to me that the 7th Iowa would be the
proper regiment to assign to that task, for the reason that the num-
ber seven is a perfect number, and if the 7th Iowa is not a perfect
regiment, it comes within one of it. [Applause. 1
I had about concluded that I would, suggest to our boys that they
had better tackle the Hittites, and I want to say to the good people
of Newton, that if these Hittites have much in this world. I promise
them that the 8th will ha\e some of it before morning. You remem-
ber t lie context of that that this work was not to be done all at once:
for the good of that people it was to be 'done little by little, and I
will venture to promise that on the part of the 8th, that the work
they do not accomplish on this occasion, they will come back again
at your request and linish up the job.
I want to say to the good people of Newton that we heartily ap-
preciate the reception they have given us. here. Col. .Meyer expressed
my idea when he said, the soldiers should be proud that they had talc-
en a part in accomplishing that that was worths, that that was ap-
preciated by the people. And 1 would remind the good people of
Newton, the ladies and gentlemen, that this is not local, this feeling
this feeling of gratitude on the part of the citizens here that they
delight to show forth to the soldiers of the war that it is a national
feeling, a genuine patriotism. It is a feeling that is innate in human
nature, provided that we appreciate it, when it is administered oil
our side of the issue. The ladies on the opposite side of the contest
in the late war were a power there as much and in the same propor-
tion" as the women were a power on the Union side of the issue. 1
want to then, return thanks here, not only in the name of the com-
rades that are present of the 8th, but in the name of all tin' soldiery
of the country. We would respond and bring you hearty greetings in
response to this national patriotic sentiment, and. ladies and gentle-
men, if I have not sufficiently expressed our appreciation of your
kindness and id' your entertainment of us here, we will just remind
3'ou that actions speak louder than words ami we will see you later
on.
CaPT. T. 15. EDGINCrON, Twelfth Iowa.
Mr. lJvesui(k')tl, and Comrades of flu Hornets? Nest I>riyadc\ ami ('Wi-
zens of Newton :
One speaker said he had come over three hundred miles to attend
this meeting. 1 would state to you that 1 have come over a thous-
and miles. 1 did not come this thousand miles to deliver you a speech
but when 1 learned that I was expected to make a speech I well nigh
turned aside and concluded I must not come. I. did not believe that
I could entertain you, and 1 do not think that i can entertain you
very well now, and 1 think I shall make my remarks but brief. But
IOWA HOKNKTS' NHST IlKUl AUK. 15
1 feel a pri.de in the people of Iowa. ,1 pride in their success as a
people, and a pride in them that is well nigh akin to idolatry. I
came to Iowa comparatively one of the early pioneers: 1 came when
the larger part of your state was a wilderness, a mere playground
tor the whistling winds. Those places now have l>een tilled up by
settlers and your people are made up of the best elements- those
that were not born here were made up ot the best elements from the
eastern and middle states, and when 1 went with tin- balance of your
people into the war, your character was not yet made, because you
wtrre a State too young at that time to have been said to have had a
character. But you have a character now and if you want to know
what your character is, go among the people that I live among.
They were the people who were on the other side in this light and if
there are any people on the face of the globe that the confederates
haveanadiuirationfor.it is the people o! Iowa and the Hornets'
Nest Brigade. [Applause.] Why, on the lirst day of this month they
had a great reunion at Brighton. They invited me, not because of
anything personal to myself hut because 1 was one of that grand
Hornets' Nest Brigade from the slate of Iowa, and 1 accepted their
imitation, and 1 came to look over their program, I found 1 was the
lirst speaker on the list, and 1 did not go. The reason I didn't go was
because I didn't want to be making any speeches. I had been to
their reunions before and they had treated me in the most hospitable
manner, which I ascribed somewhat and to a very large degree,
because of their admiration for Iowa people.
As 1 said, when we went out into the war, the state of Iowa was
too young to have much of a character as yet. There had been no
great war in which her people had participated, and even today
when you come to measure her by the ages of empires or states, why
she is a young state yet. in her swaddling clothes and standing beside
of the cradle in which her infancy has been reared. If you were
aware of the great admiration those people have for you, you could
then understand the feelings that I have to desire to be in some
measure still identified with the people of Iowa, and while my home
is not here, my heart is often here, and 1 sometimes visit you because
1 love to mingle with the people of Iowa.
Now as I said before, this idea of character. This grand state of
Iowa has verified a character for bravery which is not excelled by any
state of this Union: her people have acquired a character for hospit-
ality that is not excelled by any state in this Union, and when you
come to understand the underlying cause for this, you find that one
of the great causes of it is the grandeur of her women. Now it was
not my purpose to say bu't a few words to you, but I know that this
welcome that you give us, is not to" us alone, those of us
that- are mere survivors of the late war or survivors of
the Hornets' Nest Brigade, but you wish to honor those ot us
that are not here, those who have fallen since the war from disease,
and those who died in camp or in prison, and especially do you come
here to honor those brave boys who went up to their rest by way of
cannon's mouth, the minnie hall and the sword, that the nation
might be free, that man might be iwvy ami thai the nation might be
preserved. Now as I say, it is not thus alone, and we feel, that in a
certain sen-..:, that the fittest did not survive w.hen you come to this
matter of war— the fittest have fallen and the uulittest, as a general
rule, have survived.
1G IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
I noted what Col. Shaw said about our not being in the hottest of
the iiti'ht and at one period of the battle I would stale, that so far as
the Twelfth Iowa was concerned, that during the e.,rlv part of the
day, in the morning, a part of our regiment was not in the hottest
of the fight, hut after we'were surrounded and after we had about-
faced to tight another enemy in our rear, then the Twelfth Iowa was
in the hottest of the light and it was there that ( !o. A. the company
to which I belonged, had six killed and twelve wounded out of an
entire number of thirty-three who were actually that day on the
held, and those six were' killed in what is called Hell's Hollow, if 1
understand terms right. I haven't talked these matters over, but if 1
understand our position right, Hell's Hollow is the place where we
about-faqed and made a light the second time.
Now I wish to say one word more. This battle of Shiloh in which
about ten thousand men bit the dust, about ten thousand killed and
wounded on each side, was the bloodiest battle that had ever been
fought on this continent, and in any other up to the date that it had
been fought. It is said of one or two battles that are equal, so since
—I have not compared notes to see whether that be true or not but
[ have this to say, that the confederates had planned that battle
with consummate skill, it was their purpose to destroy onr army under
Grant before Hindi could reach there with his forces, and alter ( I rant's
army was Testroyed they had their own theory an I leisure time to
destroy the other army, anil it was the conjunction of these armies
that they expected to prevent by accomplishing our ruin before that.
Now then, it was this Hornets' Nest Brigade, the persistent light
that it made during that day, that enabled Huell to cross and saved
our army from destruction on that very day, and my opinion is, that
the Hornets' Nest Brigade will go down in history beside' the defend-
ers who defended the pass of Thermopalae. And when you come to
speak of the fact of onr having surrendered— it is true we did surren-
der after we were surrounded and thrown into confusion, but it was
through no fault of the Hornets' Nest Brigade, and through no want
of bravery on the part of the soldiers, and through no want of skill
on the part of any of our commanders.
r have talked to you longer than I had intended to talk. 1 want
to say though one word more. These soldiers are passing away.
They are the survivors of the Hornets' Nest Brigade, and they are
the particular jewels of the State of Iowa. You remember that Cor-
nelia, the mother of the Gracchi, drew to her bosom her seven sur-
viving sons after one of them had fallen in defense of the rights of
man, saying as she did so, "These are my jewels." r|1hese old one-leg-
ged men, these old gray headed men, are the jewels of the state of
Iowa, and they are your pride and I am so glad that you thus delight
to honor them. Again I thank you for your hospitality thai you
have extended to the Twelfth Iowa, and to the Hornets' Nest
Brigade.
The audience then arose and sang the stirring song "While We
Were Marching Through Georgia," amidst waving of hands and
shouts. The most elaborate address of the day was then given by
Robert Ryan, of Lincoln, Neb:— "Was Shiloh a Surprised" It was a
written production and showed great care and much thought in its
preparation:
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE. 17
Was sin 1,011 a Surprise?
It is but natural that as participants, we should discuss the bat-
tle of Shilohin the light of what we saw and did, but this very cir-
cumstance subjects us to a suspicion of being somewhat biased, and
it may be, unfair in our statements. General Grant and General
Sherman each denied the want of preparation for that battle charg-
ed by the officers in command of the army of the Cumberland, as well
as by those in command of the Confederate forces and the issue thus
joined was discussed with a vigor ami directness, which a proper res-
pect for the memory of our deceased commanders renders impossible
to us. This, however does not deny the right of a fair analysis of the
testimony of those distinguished officers in support of the negative
of the proposition under consideration.
General Grant's hrst written description of the battle of Shilob was
made public in Feb., 1885— almost twenty-three years after the trans-
actions which its author undertook to describe. In explanation of
this great delay he said that "Events had occurred before the battle,
and others subsequent to it: which determined me to make no report
to my then chief. General Halleck, further than was contained in a
letter written immediately after the battle informing that an en-
gagement had been fought, and announcing the result." The occur-
rences to which General Grant referred are matters known to every
person at ail conversant with his career; 'the misunderstanding of his
movements and of his plans during and after the investment of Fort
Donelson. The undeserved censure with which he was visited, and
his practical removal from command after the achievement of the
first great success with which the Union arms. had been crowned
After the battle of Shiloh, General Halleck in person took com-
mand, while General Grant, still nominally in command of his old
district and army, was entirely ignored and not even permitted to
see one of the reports of General Buell or his subordinates as to that
battle until they were published by the War Department, long after
the event. These reasons of the commanding general of the Union
forces for not making an official report, without doubt justified a
feeling of resentment on his part, but against whom should it have
been directed? The practical result of the course pursued by (ien.
Grant was to subject to misrepresentation and censure akin to that
of which he complained, thousands of his faithful subordinate officers
and soldiers, who had the right, confidently to look to him for vindi-
cation against the unjust aspersions under which they have suffered.
He himself said in the article referred to that correct reports had
been published, but these hail appeared at a period long subsequent
to the rebellion and after the public opinion had been erroneously
formed. At such meetings as these, it is possible to correct to some
extent the erroneous conceptions of events entertained by the public
and no one is so directly intei ested as ourselves that thi^ should be
accomplished. That the mere historian is apt to be anything but
discriminating is well illustrated by the statement in a school his-
tory of Barnes' Historical Series entitled "A Uriel History of the
United States" on page L40, This model of reckless carelessness
occurs in an account of the Siege of Yorktown and is in this lan-
guage: "Batteries were opened upon the city, and the vessels in the
harbor fired by reel hot shells." With such statements of the doings of
Revolutionary fathers in mind, it is not at all surprising that the youths
of this generation dare to tackle the cannon (ire cracker. It is to
be hoped that in these meetings no material will be turned out suit-
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
able for the manufacture of such a bit of nonsense as that above
quoted.
The history of the selection of Pittsburg Landing as the base of
operations has been but meagerly described by parties qualified to
speak on that subject. After the surrender of Forts Henry and
Donelson, it was the purpose of General Halleck to mass the forces
of Generals Grant and Buell against the Confederate army at Cor-
inth. General Sherman, with four brigades, was required to land at
some point on the Tennessee river below Eastport, and make a break
of the Memphis & Charleston Rail Road between Tuscumbia and Cor-
inth. After unsuccessfully attempting to comply with his orders at
points beyond Pittsburg Landing, General Sherman, on March 14th,
18G2. dropped down the river with his four brigades to that landing,
where he found General Hurlbut and his division. General Smith,
who was acting in place of General Grant, directed General Sherman
and Genera] Hurlbut to disembark their divisions at Pittsburg Land-
ing and take positions well back, leaving room for the whole army
General Smith did not live to report what were his designs, but to
General Sherman he stated that he intended soon to come up in per-
son and with his whole army make a lodgment on the railroad as
contemplated by the orders of General Halleck. On March 18th, Gen.
Hurlbut disembarked his forces and on the 19th General Sherman
did likewise. Within a few da3rs, the division of Genera* Prentiss
arrived, and, shortly afterward, it was followed, first, by the division
of General McClernand, then by that of Gen. W. H. L. Wallace. All
this time Gen. Smith was at Savannah suffering from the injury
\\ hich within a short time caused his death. On the 13th day of
March, Gen. Grant was restored to his command, according to his
own statement, and yet the events above described, at least till
after the landing of the divisions of Gen. Hurlbut and Gen. Sherman,
were according to the statements of the general last named under
the direction of Gen. Smith. Of the whereabouts of Gen. Grant
from March l.'lth until after March 19th. we have no information
either from his narrative or that of Gen. Sherman and we are equal-
ly uninformed as to the exact time when Gen. Grant actually took
charge of affairs at Pittsburg Landing. It is however clear from
what has already been said, that for the selection of Pittsburg
Landing as the base of operations against Corinth, Gen. Smith was
directly responsible, and it is equally clear, that at this landing two
divisions had been disembarked on March 19th — a 'period of eighteen
days before the battle of Shiloh. At whatever date Gen. Grant may
have assumed actual command of the forces at Pittsburg Land-
ing, it admits of no question that he adopted the choice of base
made b}' his predecessor in accordance with which troops had been
landed.
The Mobile & Ohio Rail Road crossed the Memphis Ac Charleston
Rail Road at Corinth twenty-two miles south-westward from Pitts-
burg Landing. Between these points there were roads, which by
«u'H uduumg. iieiween uiesc poinis mere were roaus, wmen ny
the spring rains, had been rendered heavy but not impassable. At
Pittsburg Landing the Tennessee river ran due north, passing
along the west side of Savannah about eight miles further on in its
course. If all intervening impediments to his view could have been
removed, a person standing on the summit of the hill which over-
looked the landing and facing westward, would have had behind him
the swollen waters of the Tennessee river, and in front he would
have had spread out before him an undulating expanse of country
covered with timber, except as there was dotted here and there a
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE. 1!)
small farm, or there were the unfenced lines of highways of which the
locations were governed by the conformation of the grounds to he
crossed. To his left, at a distance of about two miles, this person,
if nothing intervened, and his eyes were keen enough, might have
made out the place where the river received the waters (if Lick creek
from whence he could have traced upward the meandering course of
that stream toward its source in a south-westerly direction for a
distance of about five miles where it was intersected by a branch
running from the south-west. To his right, at a distance of about
three-fourths of a mile could have been discerned the mouth of
of -Snake creek from which with his eyes he could have followed that
creek from the river first, northward, thence, after describing a
curve his ascent would have been south-westward for about three
miles till he reached the mouth of Owl creek. From this point of
intersection this confluent stream would have been traceable toward
its sources in a direction somewhat west of due southward, for a dis-
tance of about five miles. These streams for the distances they
have been traced, were on April fi, 18(i2, swollen witli rains and for
the most part skirted with their own overflow waters. Within the
view supposed there was partially enclosed by the Tennessee river
on the east, by Lick creek and its tributary on the south, by Snake
and Owl creeks on the north and west, an irregular shaped tract,
about five miles across between Lick and Owl creeks where they
were farthest apart. Where these creeks made the nearest approach
to each other was farther out than the above line of measurement
and was beyond the Shiloh church, which was about two and one half
miles from the landing. At a distance of from three to four miles
from the landing, the interval was of but about two miles between
the tributary of Lick creek above indicated and Owl creek, and this
interval was all that was lacking to completely enclose the tract.
which as has already been stated, was partially surrounded by the
Tennessee river and its tributaries. It is scarcely necessary to
state that from a point near the landing there was a divide which
ran in the direction of Corinth between Lick creek and its tributary
on the one side and Snake and Owl creeks on the other.
On the morning of April litli 18(52 there was left open to the at-
tack of the Confederate forces only the interval above referred to,
the flanks of the Union army being protected by the creeks already
described. The outermost line of the Federal army reached from
the bridge on Owl creek to the Lick creek ford. Its right was com-
posed of three brigades, and the left of the fourth brigade of Gen.
Sherman's division, the intervening space was held by the di-
vision commanded by General Prentiss. About half a mile
behind this line was Gen. McClernand's division, and. still nearer flu-
river, were the divisions of General llurlbut and Gen. Smith the
latter under command of lien. W. II. L. Wallace. The distinctive
features of the battle which followed have been described by Gen.
Buell in language at once terse, direct, and forcible. In the 'maga-
zine article entitled ''Shiloh Lie vie wed" he said: "An army compris-
ing 70 regiments of infantry, 20 batteries of artillery, and a' suffi-
ciency of cavalry, lay for two weeks, and more, in isolated camps,
with a river in its rear, and a hostile army claimed to be superior in
numbers 20 miles distant in its front, while the commander made his
headquarters and passed his nights nine miles away on the opposite
side of the river. It had no line of battle, no defensive works of any
sort, no outposts properly speaking, to give warning or. check the
advance of an enemy, and no recognized head iuriag the absence of
20 IOWA HORNETS' NKST URIGADE.
its regular commander. On a Saturday the hostile force arrived and
formed in line of battle without detection or hindrance within a mile
and a half of the unguarded arm}', advanced upon it the next morn-
ing, penetrated its disconnected lines, assaulted its camps in front
and (lank, drove its disjointed members successively from position to
position, capturing some and routing others in spite of much heroic
individual resistance, and steadily drew near the landing and depot
of its supplies in the pocket between the river and the impassable
creek." In this energetic language of General Buell ihe facts are
summarized whereon is founded the charge that Shiloh was a sur-
prise by which were very nearly accomplished the designs of the
enemy. The reports of the general officers on the Confederate side,
written just afterwards, tell the same story of want of preparation
as does the above quoted language of General Buell. In the account
given of this battle by the President of the Confederate States
the unanimous testimony of all the officers whose reports were made
to his government was summarized in a clear and concise corrobora-
tion of General Buell's account of the events which preceded and
attended the Easter Sunday morning attack upon the forces of Gen-
eral Grant. With the aid of the material at his- command, the son
of General Johnson, the Confederate commander, compiled an ac-
count of the same events as did President Davis with the same result
as to the proposition that the surprise of the Federal force was
almost complete. That this conclusion was reached in all fairness
and candor is evident from the apology which William Preston John-
son offers on behalf of General (Irani and which, because in
some measure it seems to meet the criticism of General Buell, is
reproduced as it was written. Beginning at the bottom of page 551
of the first Volume of the "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War,''
this apology reads as follows: "Grant has been severely criticised for
his placing his army with the river at its back. But he was to take
the initiative. lie had the larger army, under cover, too, of his gun-
boats; he was expecting Buell daily; and the ground was admirable
for defense. Indeed, his position was a natural stronghold. Flanked
by Owl and Lick creeks, with their marshy margins, and with his
front protected by a swampy valley he occupied a quadrilateral of
great strength. His troops were stationed on woody heights, gener-
ally screened by heavy undergrowth and approached across boggy
ravines or open fields. Each camp was a fortress in itself, and the
line of retreat afforded at each step some like point to rally on. He
did not fortify his camps it is truer but he was not there for attack,
but for defense." Reduced to the simplest form, this apology is based
upon three assumptions; first, that as General Grant intended to at-
tack, the enemy might confidently be expected to await his pleasure
in that regard; second, that if attacked, it could only be in the front;
and third, if worsted there lay behind his troops advantageous posi-
tions upon which they could fall back and make successive stands in
their retreat toward the river. The first of these assumptions has
been the cause of the greatest military disasters recorded in history.
When the fortunes of the Continental army were at their lowest ebb,
the British had good cause to expect that attack would not come
from that quarter, ami yet, in this expectation they were cruelly dis-
appointed by the sudden appearance from across the Delaware very
early on a bitterly cold and stormy December morning of the mere
skeleton of an army, which, upon every consideration of comfort and
probabilities should have remained in quarters and near their warm,
safe and comfortable fires. This attack was successful because it
63220
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE. 21
was improbable. Later than Shiloh, General Grant unexpectedly
crossed the Mississippi river below Vicksbnrg, cut louse from his base
and conducted a three weeks campaign so buhl in its conception, so
brilliant in its execution, and so momentous in its consequences,
that thenceforward no one could doubt what a great general the war
had disclosed on the Federal side. These successes were attained —
the one by General Washington; the other by General Grant — simply
because each of those generals unexpectedly assumed the initiative.
The reliance upon the successive favorable positions for making
stands, the last justiiication offered, within itself implied that there
was properly to be considered the possibility that General Johnson's
forces might advance suddenly from Corinth, ami, assuming the
initiative, drive the Union torees back to their several favorable
positions for defense. This is a clear admission of an essential prop-
osition under consideration, and that is, whether General Grant
should have taken into account the possibility of a Confederate
attack. General Sherman, while he has insisted that it was justifia-
ble to rely upon the assumption that the Federal forces were to take
the initiative, has made no mention of the favorable nature of
grounds for defense at different points behind him as affording an
excuse for neglecting to fortify his front. The disadvantages, in
case of an attack which might have resulted from having in the
rear the Tennessee river and on each Hank an impassable stream,
were stated by General Grant on page 12,'! of the second volume of
his Memoirs. Speaking of an interview with President Lincoln,
General Grant's language was as follows: "1 should have said that in
our interview, the President told me he did not want to know what I
proposed to do. Hut he submitted a plan of campaign of his own,
which he wanted me to' hear, and then to do as 1 pleased about it. lie
brought out a map of Virginia, on which he had evidently marked
every position occupied by the Federal and Confederate armies up to
that time. He pointed out on the map two streams which empty
into the Potomac, and suggested that the army might be moved in
boats and landed between the mouths of these streams. We would
then have the Potomac to bring our supplies, and the tributaries
would protect our Hanks while we moved out. I listened respectfully,
but did not suggest that the same streams would protect Lee's Hanks
while he was shutting us up." Of a somewhat similar tendency is
General Grant's description of the report made to him by General
Barnard as to General Butler's forces being corked as in a bottle
between the James and Appomattox rivers which is to be found on
pages 15 j and 152 of volume second of the above mentioned Memoirs.
From these two incidents, it would seem probabie that the position
occupied by the Hnion forces and near Pittsburg Landing, was not in
accordance with General Grant's theory as to what would have been
a proper base from which, to conduct offensive operations. However
this may have been. General Grant would not abandon a position
once taken by him, or a line of procedure once adopted, for, as he
said of himself as a boy, "One oi my superstitions had always been
when I started to go anywhere, or to do anything not to turn back,
or stop, until the thing intended was accomplished." That this pe-
culiarity remained with him long after he had attained his manhood,
no student of his life and character can for a single moment doubt.
But, finding his army encamped where it was when he resumed com-
mand, why at some time was not the possibility of a surprise placed
beyond peradventure? The front upon which an attack could be
made was only about a mile and a half or two miles across. On the
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
nii'ht of Friday, April 4. there \j;is such a Confederate demonstration
against the outlying Federal forces, that Gen. Beauregard advised
the abandonment of the contemplated attack because he believed a
surprise had thereby been rendered impossible. Notwithstanding
this fact, there were established no outposts and, although there were
but two roads by which the Confederates could advance near the
Federal front, no means for finding whether an advance was in pro-
gress over either of these roads was adopted.
The Union army calmly and confidently ignored the possibility of
an advance from Corinth, until early on Sunday morning, when
something unusual opposite its front caused General Prentiss, of his
own motion, to send out a detachment to ascertain the cause and the
nature of the disturbance. This detachment opened the battle of
Shiloh. For the most part the immediate front of the Federal army
was covered with forest trees, yet although the divisions of General
Sherman and General Hurl but respectively had been encamped in the
vicinity since March 19th, not a tree had been felled, neither had a
shovelful of dirt been disturbed for purposes of defense.
General Sherman, who has been General Grant's principal witness
in defense of this non-preparation, justified it in the following lan-
guage found on page 229 of the tirst volume of his own Memoirs:
"We did not fortify our camps against an attack, because we had no
orders to do so and because such a course would have made our raw
men timid. The position was naturally strong, with Snake creek on
our right, a deep bold stream with a confluent, (Owl creek) to our
right front: and lack creek, with a similar confluent on our left, thus
narrowing the space over which we could be attacked to about a mile
and a half or two miles. At a later period of the war we could have
rendered this position impregnable in one night, but at this time we
did not do it and it may be it is well we did not." In this defense
there are at least two obscure statements. Of these the first is that
"we had no onlers to do so." Who should havr given these orders and
to whom should they have been issued? By the expression "we had
no orders to do so," "it is probable that General Sherman meant that
the division commanders had received no such instructions from Gen-
eral Crant. This perhaps localizes the responsibility, but it does not
excuse the oversight. The ever recurring question still remains,
should chevaux de frise have been improvised by the use of forest
trees felled for that purpose-, and should not some sort of earth em-
bankments have been constructed? The closing sentence of the quo-
tation just made from General Sherman's Memoirs makes it very
clear that one single night's preparation would have rendered the po-
sition impregnable, but he darkens counsel with this final clause "and
it may be it is well we did not." Why could it be well we did not do
so? The only suggestion of a reason for this conclusion which he
gave, was that though the course suggested would have made Hie po-
sition impregnable vet it would have made our raw men timid. As
this proposition that shelter would have made our raw men timid is
the only one to which attention has not already been devoted let us
see what value General Sherman practically attached to securing
cover, for raw troops for the purpose of enabling them to hold their
position. In his report to General Grant's assistant adjutant general
of date April 10th, 18(i2, (page 2;S7 volume I of his Memoirs) General
Sherman after having described the abandonment of his original
camp made use of the following language: •'This was about half-
past ten A. M. at which time the enemy had made a furious attack
on General McClernand's whole front, lie struggled most determin-
IOWA HORNETS' N EST BRIGADE. '2'A
edly. but, finding him pressed, I moved McDowell's brigade directly
against the left Hank of the enemy, forced him back some distance,
and then directed the men to avail themselves of every cover trees,
fallen timber, and a woody valley to our r i <^ lit. We held this position
for four long hours, sometimes gaining and at others losing ground;
General McClernand and myself acting in perfect concert and strug-
gling to maintain this line." Not only was this position held by raw
men under cover for four hours, from half-past ten A. M., that is till
half-past two P. M., according to this direct statement of General
Sherman, but this was followed by language, the fair import of which
is, that it was held until 4 o'clock, and would have been held still
longer, but for the fact that General Hurl but had fallen back and it
was necessary that General Sherman's division should take such a po-
sition as would enable it to cover a bridge, by which it was expected
that the division of General Lew Wallace would arrive upon the bat-
tlefield. If the cover afforded by trees, fallen timber, and a wooded
valley to its right inspired General Sherman's division with the tena-
cious courage which he ascribed to them, what would have been the
effect upon the whole army if the felled trees with sharpened branch-
es pointing toward the enemy, backed by intrenchments, had ren-
dered impregnable the defensive line of the Union army? It is in-
conceivable that troops could be so raw that an impregnable position
furnished for their protection would render them timid.
General Grant's account of the battle of Shiloh giving his rea-
sons for failing to provide against an offensive movement on the part
of the enemy, was written nearly twenty-three years after the events
which he undertook to describe and to explain. Meantime he had
brought the civil war to a successful close, had commanded the Fed-
eral armies through anxious reconstruction times and had tilled the
office of President of the United States for two terms. During all
these years which ended with his second term, his mind had' been oc-
cupied with planning and achieving one success alter another. Af-
ter his retirement from the chief magistracy of the nation, he was
engaged in extensive business enterprises which, through the treach-
ery of his partner, brought financial wreck to his cherished projects.
There was during these almost twenty-three years, but little opportu-
nity for reflection upon the situation and events attendant upon the
battle of Shiloh. General Grant, on page 1(55 of the first volume of his
Memoirs, makes the very opposite observation, that his experience
since the Mexican war had taught him that things are seen plainer af-
ter the events have occurred. It is well to bear this in mind, for, doubt-
less unconsciously to himself, his account written so long after the bat-
tle, has suffered in its accuracy from lapse of time. General Sherman,
for almost his entire account of the battle of Shiloh in his Memoirs,
quoted his official report made shortly afterwards, as therefore, be-
ing the most reliable.
The excuse offered by General Grant on pages .'5f>7 and 358 of the
first volume of his Memoirs, is at. follows: "The criticism lias often
been made that the Union troops should have been intrenched at Shi-
loh. Up to that^time the pick and spade had been but little resorted
to at the West. 1 had, however, taken this subject under considera-
tion soon after re-assuming command in the field, and, as already
stated, inj- only military engineer reported unfavorably. Besides
this, the troops with me, officers and men, needed discipline and drill
more than they did experience with the pick, the shovel and the axe.
Reinforcements were arriving almost daily, composed of troops that
had been hastily thrown together into companies and regiments —
24 IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
fragments of incomplete organizations, the men and officers strang-
ers to each other. Under all these circumst? nces, I concluded that
drill and discipline were worth ntore to our men than fortifications."
ft is with profound regret that one part of this quotation is read,
and that is the expression that the troops needed discipline and drill
more than they did experience with the pick, the shovel and the axe.
Discipline and drill were for the purposes of education and prepara-
tion of men and officers for the performance of their duties; no one
has ever urged that this was requisite with respect to the use of the
pick, the shovel, and the axe. Relieving this quotation of this irrev-
alent antithesis, the reasons for not fortifying in advance will be,
first, the pick and shovel had been but little resorted to in the west;
second, a military engineer had reported unfavorably, and, third, the
time could be spent- more profitably in drilling than in making in-
trenchments. The argument that because the pick, spade, and axe
had been but little resorted to, in advance of the battle of Shiloh, lias
little weight, for the proper course to be taken was for the determina-
tion of West Point graduates, educated long before the civil war at
National expense, that they might be equipped for just such emergen-
cies. Neither General Sherman nor General Grant failed to expatiate
upon the rawness of the Federal officers and troops- at that time under
their command— it could therefore hardly have been expected that
from this source should come the wisdom which should dictate what
preparation should be made. With the lessons of experience came
this wisdom, and with the approval of General (.'rant himself, the
soldiers in the Wilderness illustrated the course of preparation which
should have been made against Shiloh.
in the fifty-first chapter of his Memoirs General Grant said: "Jt
may be as well here as elsewhere to state two things connected with
all "the movements of the Army of the Potomac; first, in every change
of position or halt for the night, whether confronting the enemy or
not, the moment arms were stacked the men intrenched themselves.
For this purpose they would build up (tiles of logs or rails, if they could
be found in their front, and dig a ditch, throwing the dirt forward on
the timber. Thus the digging they did counted in making a depres-
sion to stand in, and increased the elevation in front of them. It was
wonderful how quickly they could, in this way, construct defenses of
considerable strength. When a halt was made with a view of assault-
ing the enemy, or in his presence, these would be strengthened, or
their positions changed, under the direction of engineer officers."
This quotation describes the precautions of a veteran arm)' adopted
by common consent in successsive operations in which, always, that
army took the initiative. General Sherman's testimony, too, was
that in one nij^ht the position at Shiloh could have been made im-
pregnable. When knowledge of the ill advised attack- on the night of
April 4th, upon the Union outposts, came to General Beaurogafd, he
advised that the proposed attack, then under way, should be aband-
oned, for, he argued, the Federal forces would be found intrenched to
their eyes. The fact that a civil engineer could only find a suitable
line for intrenehments farther back than the advancedencampments,
and, that this line would have been subject to the disadvantage of the
enemy preventing the use of the waters of the creeks on the Hanks,
cuts no great figure, for the intrenehments which this officer evidently
had in mind were such as would withstand a prolonged attack, in
which event it would be important to have access to an abundance of
water. The proximit}- of General Lew Wallace with his division.
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE. -•>
the rapid approach of General Buell with a reinforcing army, and the
facilities for obtaining other troops, as well as the impossibility of
bringing forward necessary supplies from Corinth by the Confeder-
ates, precluded the possibility of any lons> continued attack. What
was therefore needed, was not an elaborate line of intrenehments
sufficient to withstand such an attack but such Lntrenchrnents as
could have been quickly constructed, and which would have effectu-
ally guarded against the possibility of a surprise. As this would have
taken but one night, but Little time for drill and discipline would have
been lost, while safety would have been insured and the battle of
Shiloh avoided. The battle of Shiloh has been but little understood,
or rather, to speak more accurately, has been persistently misunder-
stood from the standpoint of General Grant, simply because the
weight of the evidence is decidedly opposed to his contention and
because the excuse urged by himself and General Sherman, falls short
of meeting this evidence, and of producing conviction in the mind of
the thinking public. The impression has gained general acceptance
that Shiloh was a surprise, and that, from its commencement until
the close of the light on the first day, the efforts of the Federal
divisions, brigades, and regiments were to recover from the well sus-
tained advantage which had accrued to the Confederate forces from
their gallant and unexpected initial attack". In no later part of the
war was it necessary for either General Grant or General Sherman
to offer an excuse for a duty omitted, or an opportunity unimproved.
If General Grant had frankly confessed that his want of proper
preparation at Shiloh was attributable to over-confidence, just as he
acknowledged his mistake in ordering the last charge at Vicksburg,
and the final attack at Told Harbor, his great military reputation
could have suffered little diminution anil the perverse refusal to
understand the battle of Shiloh would no longer have existed.
Between the lines, however, there crops out something of a confession
in the following quotation from page .'1(>S of the first volume of the
Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant: "Up to the battle of Shiloh I, as
well as thousands of other citizens, believed that tin- rebellion
against the Government would collapse suddenly and soon if a decis-
ive victory could be gained over any of its armies. Donelson and
Henry were such victories. An army of more than 2J ,000 men was
captured or destroyed. Bowling Green, Columbus and Hickman. Ken-
tucky, fell in consequence, and Clarksville and Nashville, Tennessee,
the last two with an immense amount of stores, also fell into our
hands. The Tennessee and Cumberland rivers from their mouths to
the head of navigation were secured. But when the Confederate
armies were collected, which not only attempted to hold a line
further south, from Memphis to Chattanooga, Knowille, and on to
the Atlantic, ' but assumed the offensive, and made such a gallant
effort to regain what had been lost, then, indeed. 1 gave up all idea of
saving tin* Union, except by complete conquest/' If tin- author of
this language had frankly confessed that his reliance upon what he
conceived must necessarily follow the fill of forts Henry and Donel-
son, had prevented such precautions as, in the face of the enemy he
should have adopted, and that, from this oversight there had been
rendered possible such a surprise that only by the determined resist-
ance of all the divisions of his army, had complete disastei been
averted until nightfall, there would have been expressly conceded
only what is the natural, if not the necessary inference to be de-
rived from the language just quoted. His admission that the battle
2(> IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
of Shilob completely destroyed his belief that the defeats which had
been sustained at Henry and Donelson, would work the dissolution of
the Confederacy, was an admission not only of too great confidence
on his part, but that, of this confidence, Shiloh was a complete
rebuke. The verdict of history upon consideration of the abundant
evidence available must be that Shiloh is. correctly understood, and
that there is st;ll less accuracy in the charge that this battle has
been most persistently misunderstood. There exists no reason why
the great thinking public should wish to deceive itself in regard to
this particular battle. It is fast becoming, as each of its survivors
soon must be. a thing of the past. The dispassionate historian will
gather his facts from insensate records which, while they may bear
witness to the present existence of prejudice and self justification,
can communicate none of that virus to his narrative of events.
Then, and not till then, will it be fully recognized that at Shiloh
while the mistake of one general imperilled the safety of the entire
Federal army, the rectification was by thousands of officers and men,
perhaps raw in drill and discipline, yet united in purpose and stead-
fast of faith in a noble cause the preservation of the Federal Union.
General Prentiss closed the session with a few chosen remarks
stirring the audience and making a happy closing to the afternoon's
exercises.
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
Camp Fire.
The comrades assembled at brigade headquarters at 7:30 P. M.
and escorted by the drum corps, marched to the opera house, which
was rapidly filled to the utmost capacity; the citizens seeming to cu-
ter fully into the spirit of the occasion.
Robert Burns presided at the camp fire. After an earnest invo-
cation by the Rev. E. C. Brooks, followed by a song, the first shot was
fired b}' Colonel Moore, of Bloemfield. The speech was full of fun,
interspersed with the serious side of a soldier's life and was enjoyed
by the audience.
"Ten Minutes with the Old Boys."
Mr. President, Ladies and Cfeiitlenwn and Comrades:
1 ought not to begin my remark's with an apology but I believe it
is due this audience that (should. There was a time when I could
say what 1 had to say to an audience, and say it the same day.
But I felt the nudge of the good wife's elbow in my ribs this morn-
ing at .'1 o'clock and she said: It is time for you to get up if you
are going to go to Newton today, you had better start. And now
when you take a man of my age, almost seventy-four years old,
who is kicked out of bed in the early morning, at the early hour
of three o'clock, and then getting here on a freight train after
three hours delay, feeling as 1 do, as if I had been boiled witli
cabbage, you must forgive me if 1 do not entertain you.
1 promised to try to talk ten minutes with the old. boys, and
when I say "the oid boys'' you know what 1 mean. I mean the
fellows who have grown gray with the weight of years, the men
who, in the early prime of early manhood went out, bidding farewell
to everything at home, and went away to the south-land to do and
dare and die for what they believed was the right. And many of
them are here tonight, many of them who have grown old ami "it
will be but a little while -and 1 say it, I don't know that 1 regret it
-because there is a time when the poor wearied soul seeks rest,
when the poor wearied body wants rest it will be but a little time un-
til delicate hands, with the touch of an infant's kiss will close down
the eyes of these old men, and it is for good-bye. But it will come to
him as a rest, looking back over the years of his manhood and the
great struggle in which he has participated, that this might be a
home, a resting place for the children that were yet unborn. He will
say, 1 have tried faithfully my duty: 1 have stood and looked into the
face of the foe, met death a thousand times and yet never shrank
from it; and then he will say, why should I shrink from it now. They
will go away with the conscious rellection that the world has been
some better by their having lived in it.
Now sometimes the question is asked me, why is it these old men
cling together so closely? Can anybody tell your1 Well, there are
some things that nobody can tell anything about. I sometimes think
1 can tell and sometimes 1 am sure I don't know why it is they cling
so closely together. The question was asked an Irishman one time,
or he rather asked the question himself: "'What is it that makes this
light'.-"' And he says, "I can't tell. 1 know it is what you call electricity,
1 know I bat, and I know that it makes thunder and lightning and all
that, but may the divil fhly away with me if 1 can find out what
28 IOWA HORNETS1 NEST BRIGADE.
makes this hair-pin burn in the bottle." You see these old men coin-
ing together. You see them meeting together as we are meeting this
fall, everywhere, all over beautiful Iowa, grand old Iowa, the beauti-
ful,'and everywhere amid the smiles of women, the sweetness of song,
and the fragrance of (lowers these old men get together and have a
grand and glorious time, and tell their old stories, and light their old
battles over a^ain, and when the time for departure comes, with
heart beating to heart, and hands slow to unclasp he says, good-bye,
John, don't stay long— and so it is. We are meeting year by year, and
this old Hornets' Nest Brigade— there is something that makes our
hearts cling together. While my comrade was reading tonight his
article upon the battle of Shiloh, how the mind wanders back. The
old men go awav back and live over the time now in shadowy past.
How I remembeV it and how I remember of getting down into that
old sunken road, and I wa'n't the only one that did it. It seemed a
little bit as though we were entirely too large, so to speak, as though
we could not get flat enough upon that road. I remember of having
a great big man beside of me and seeing who could get the nearest
into the ground I remarked to the fellow, you are a great big, strong,
muscular man and I am a little bit of a fellow, and lying down upon
your right and the balls are coming in that direction, they could pass
directly over my body and take you about in the. middle. I am not the
slightest protection to you in the world, not the slightest in the
world, and If you want to do the fair thing by me, Pets, now what is
the reason you can't be real clever and pick up just about a half
bushel of this sand in your mouth and make a battery of yourself
and get over on the other side? Well, Pete suggested to me that
that was not a good time to swap horses when we were crossing the
stream. Now there are a great many incidents connected with our
army life that are amusing. There are a great many others that
touch us with tears. There are times that come over me, and I have
no doubt with most of my old comrades— perhaps 1 am a little bit
more imaginative than some others, 1 don't know, but 1 know that
there are times that I could go and sit down by myself, or take a walk
away oft* into the woodland and sit down among the »reen leaves and
upon the grass, and reflect, go back over these old dates and call up
incidents and talk to myself— but I confess that I always like to hear a
nice man talk [laughter]— and talk to myself, I don't know as I ought
to say this— I can talk myself to tears or I laugh like a boy. And
now this some accounts to you why these old comrades get together
and talk. It is astonishing to me sometimes what an amount of stuff
we can think up when we commence to talk. I know a little circum-
stance that came to my mind to day when 1 was real cross too,
and it was a blessed thing, perhaps, for it started me to laugh-
ing a little. I got to thinking of one of the most ridiculous
things that happened in St. Louis while we were there.
The story came through the newspaper one morning that
there was a man found dead in the river— drowned. Well all at once
the question came up: Was that any of our men? Now we must begin
to look that matter up, but in looking down, we found that the name
was Herman Schroeder, must be a German certainly, and I looked
over the list of my men and satislied myself it wasn't any of my men.
But there happened to be a Herman Schroeder in one of the regi-
ments, and when Herman found that he was dead, that he had been
drowned, he thought he would go up and see about it. So he gets up
ami goes to the morgue and goes to the gentleman that was in charge
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE 25)
and he says: "I see that Herman Schroedcr is dead; 1 want to see
him; that is me." So they brought him in and there lay the dead man
and he stood back, he didn't want to £0 close because it alarmed him.
He says: "Mister, I'd like to have you look a little bit at that man;
them breeches ;s brown, that is mine; there is a bluecoat, that is this,
now, Mister, I'd like to have you look at that man's eyes, please."
He looked at his eyes. "What is the color of his eyes?" "They are
blue." "Thank the Lord, they are blue; if they had been black, it
would have been me." Now he had wrought himself up into that state
of feeling that he thought he was dead, and now, ladies and gentle-
men, if you would look at one of these old gentlemen that are stand-
ing beside me and behind me, who have grown gray, it would hardly
occur to you that those men were at one time in the war. absolute-
ly so brave, 1 may say, willing no take the responsibility, 1 may
say, that awful responsibility that rests upon a single suspender
button while he was climbing the fence with a rooster under each
arm. (Loud applause.) There were a great many little things that
served to amuse us. It oft times astonished me at the ingenuity
of our men. They were just like other people, and you take the
restraint that is thrown upon a young man when he is in the ser-
vice, the result is it is a very little while until the younger men
tire and weary of that restraint ami they want to get out from
under it a little bit; he wants to feel that he is a man. They were
the men coming from the schools and universities, our colleges
and business houses and the young man from the farm, who had
to control the business of this country in the future. And they
would tire of the restraint yet after all they were willing to own
a respectable discipline, and during the time they were under the
orders of the officers they were true and faithful, but there were times
if you gave him the opportunity, he would perforin some wonder-
ful feats. 1 remember of one of my boys who had a long, affidavit
face — he would have made an excellent circuit rider in the old
time days of Indiana when 1 used to be there and shake with the
ague- that was a singular face upon that boy, but he seemed so
kind of considerate when lie would come to me, and 1 felt now, I
would like to give hun every opportunity to enjoy himself: and he
used to want to go out into the country and not forage, no, no! but
go to the houses of the farmers and get something that was differ-
ent from the army rations and once in awhile I used to observe,
someway, that the hind part of my tent lifted up ami a nice plate
of butter or something slipped in— and I couldn't tell for the life
of me where it came from. Well, I let this boy go out and he got
acquainted with a rebel family, very nice people, and he used to go
from time to time— -he was rather of a literary turn of mind, and
he got acquainted with their girls — and go sky-larking atound; but
it so happened, the story came to me— he didn't tell me himself
that one night he went back to this same house where he had been
going for several days, and he had taken the lay of the land din-
ing the time and knew just how to get into the smokehouse; and
sometime in the night the landlord heard a noise outside and he
went out and discovered that the noise was in the smokehouse; he
slipped back into the house, quietly lit his lantern, pushed the
door of the smokehouse open and held up his light full in the face
of this good friend of his, that had been sharing his hospitality
from day to day, and there he stood with a ham in each hand. "Now
look here, young man, you have come to my house from time to
30 IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
time, I have tried to give you the hospitality of my house, we have
tried to be just as pleasant to you as possible, you have sat down
to my table and shared what we had and I looked upon you as my
friend, notwithstanding- you were in the army, notwithstanding
you were fighting against us, and now I find you with a ham in
each hand, absolutely coming and stealing from me in t he dead
hours of the night. Why don't you talk to me':"' "Well, 1 aint got
nothing to say, that is about the amount of it." (Laughter)
Another one of those fellows just comes to my mind. Now he
used to want to go out and forage, and I says to him. now you want
to be very careful, very considerate toward these people; there is
nothing brave at all in trampling upon people because you have
the- power to do so. Voy will go home, and you will be a manly
man wherever you go — so he promised faithfully he would, but
after he had been going in and out for some considerable length
of time, one of my men came to me and said: "That fellow has been
fooling you -he has been pulling the wool over your eyes." "Well,
I wouldn't doubt it. he seems to be a pretty clever fellow. Well,
what is he doing?" "Well, he is going out and bringing in whiskey."
He was then out at that time and so 1 thought L would watch the
fellow and when I saw him coming into the line, says I, "Halt, stop
right there. I am satisfied that you have been playing oil on me;
word comes to me that you are going out of here and bringing in
whiskey and selling it to these boys here. Now 1 want to know if
that is so':"' He had a coffee pot and he had gone out after milk
and he just simply raised up the end of the coffee pot and poured
out a little stream of milk. Says I, "that will do" but I learned
afterwards that the fellow had taken a little bit of dough and tilled
up the spout. (Laughter.)
Now, my comrades, I have talked to you enough. 1 propose now
to give way to some of these gentlemen here. I want to say, it is
a blessed thing for me to meet with the old boys; it is a pleasant
thing for me to look into their faces, to fight these bat-
tles over again, and as I say, it will be but a few years I will be
permitted to talk to you. There is something in this that reminds
me of our homes, our early homes, our early boyhood homes, and
if there is anything on earth that comes into the heart of an old
man, it is when he goes back to his old home and lingers around
the hearth-stone. The old fashioned wheel was there and mother
was spinning, and the tired boy lies down upon the naked puncheon
floor and sleeps the sleep of the just while mother runs out the
number of cuts that was the day's work. It is a pleasant thing: it
does us good; it makes us better men; it tones up the virtues and
tones down the vices, and steadily, steadily guides our wayward feet,
so to speak, into that path that 1 hope leads to a pure! shrine
than that simply that leads us to the shrine of-manhood. Now,
comrades, 1 want to hear something from these old friends that
are behind me here. I was delighted with the remarks of my
friends here. But a thought comes to me now. Perhaps a great
many men cannot comprehend and grasp the terror, the absolute
terror of a battle. I cannot describe it to yon, 1 cannot do that,
no. Tlie roar of artillery, the strains of triumphant music, the
shouts of joy that comes to you from the victorious army- you
can't realize it; I shall never be able to comprehend and grasp it.
I just remember that terrible road in Shiloh. I had a man who
was wounded at Ft. Donelson but had so far recovered that he
IOWA HORNETS' NF.ST BRIGADE; ^Sl
thought he would b2 able to participate in the tight. Now at
this time that the roar of the artillery was so terrific, I saw that
man was suffering and suffering terribly. In this old sunken road
was a little gully where the water was washed out until it was
sufficiently deep to hold a man below the surface. 1 took that
man and placed him below the surface of the ground, until his
body was completely below it. with the hope that the sound of
this artillery would not injure him so much, but yet it was abso-
lutely so terrific and so great that the blood just leaped from his
ears. Now you can comprehend it in a measure, somewhat.
Now, comrades, have a blessed good time tonight, and tomor-
row, and go away from here resolved that you will meet together
for a thousand years to come (Continued applause.)
«
After a solo, "My Soldier Hoy,'' by Miss Le Ora Townsend, Cap-
tain J. B. Morrison followed with a paper entitled "Shiloh." The
Captain had recently visited the battlefield and his description ol
the present surroundings was very interesting:
Shiloii.
In the early spring of 18(12, at a time when many of the leading
men and women of today were babes in arms, there was an older
growth of Iowa boys who were in arms for three years, or during the
war.
The great Civil war was in full blast -the army of the Potomac
was making its regular weekly forward movement, interspersed with
disasters and defeats, and the people of the north were wearing long
faces. The slaughter at Belmont had passed; Ft. Henry had been
captured on the Tennessee river; Ft. Donelson's fortified hills on the
Cumberland river had been climbed, and northern confidence lifted
up with the capture of that stronghold and 15, 000 prisoners nf war.
Columbus, Kentucky, had been evacuated and Nashville. Tennessee,
given up by the rebel army.
The news from the southwest was not cheering to Jell' Davis and
his cabinet at Richmond. Too much territory was being lost the
invaders were getting too far south. By both threats and entreaties
the rebel generals and their soldiers were called upon to defend
their liresides and drive the invaders from southern soil.
An army was massed at Corinth, Mississippi, composed ol" the
best troops and commanded by the most able generals of the south.
For two months everything was being done to get ready for the most
desperate fighting. It was the flower of the rebel forces in the south-
west, and contained forty thousand fighting men.
While this was going on Gen. Grant was sending up the Tennes-
see river steamboats loaded with soldiers. They were debarked at
Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., a point twenty-six miles northeast from
Corinth, Mississippi. Some of these troops had seen service at Bel-
mont, Ft. Henry and Ft. Donelson, but many were fresh from the
farms and workshops of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, had never been
under fire and scarcely knew the manual of arms. They marched up
the hill at Pittsburg Landing and went into camp wherever they
pleased; some selecting a grove, others a hillside, and others a camp
nearer a creek, so that this army of 33,000 men were scattered hap-
hazard over several miles, and as it happened, the rawest troops were
on the front lim*. Gen. Grant, the commander, was at Savannah,
32 IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE
seven iniles below on the opposite side of the river. The division of
Gen. Lew Wallace, which was not in the 11 {•■lit the lirst day, (for
some reason which is in dispute) was at Crumps Landing.
On Sunday morning, April lith, at !5 o'clock, the rebel army from
Corinth, forty thousand strong, suddenly and in full force attacked
this camp. They found the men asleep in their tents or in some
cases wore just -preparing their morning meal. This sudden onset
so demoralized our front that inside of three hours fully soon of our
men were "out of the light" leaving the remaining _.~>.00i) to contest
the further advance of the rebels. Gen. Beauregard cheered on the
already victorious army and told them he would water his horse that
night in the Tennessee river or in hell.
The Iowa brigade', commanded by Gen. Tuttle- whose battle
scarred veterans are assembled here tonight— were camped near the
river. At 8 o'clock. A. M..they were ordered to the front with eighty
rounds of ammunition. Heavy firing had Ween heard all the morning,
but was not understood, as no battle was expected. On the way to
the front, panic stricken soldiers were met rushing to the rear, who
said the whole earth was swarming with rebels and it was certain
death to go to the front. We soon struck the enemy -he wasn't hard
to llnd and as we hastily formed a line of battle along an old road,
we could see the closed columns of the enemy with Hags Hying and
bayonets glistening in the morning sun. Their artillery unlim-
bered for action and they poured shot and shell into our lines, while
their infantry charged us, and the roar of battle was like the letting
loose of millions of demons.
Ten o'clock came and it seemed a day had gone by; noon came,
we didn't think about dinner- one o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock,
four o'clock', each hour seeming longer than the one before, and still
our line was held— not an inch of ground was yielded.
This was the Hornets' Nest. The reports of the rebel officers
who said they couldn't dislodge that line, have made the spot famous.
It has been in song and story and painted on canvas, and takes its
place in American history as an example of hull dog tenacity never
surpassed on this continent.
Shortly alter 4.30 the Union lines on our right and left gave way
and orders came for us to fall back. When, to our consternation, we
found the rebels in heavy force on both our Hanks, yelling like de-
mons and rapidly closing" their two columns together behind us— all
the time pouring a hailstorm of lead into our ranks. Orders then
came to save ourselves as best we could. We run the gauntlet and
part of us got out— the rest were killed, wounded or captured. When
we reached a position and again formed our lines, the sun was down.
At this time Gen. Grant came along on foot and talked to us and
urged us to stand linn and hold our line. He wasn't drunk then and
didn't look like he had been.
Suddenly a column of rebel cavalry galloped into position in front
of us and halted. Their line extended as far as we could see to the
right and to ibv left. We expected a charge and formed our lines
four deep with fixed bayonets -the front line kneeling. We hoped
they wouldn't charge and they didn't. Darkness was coming on as
they wheeled and rode away. Without dinner or supper we lay down,
each man holding his gun. The constant tiring of our heavy guns
from the batteries near the river and on the gunboats, the shells
shrieking over our heads, the arrival and deploying of Buell's
army, which was going on all night, and. the thoughts of our missing
comrades, banished sleep from our eyes. We could hear the mournful
IOWA HORNETS' NKHT BRIGADE. .'{.'>
cry of the wounded who were on the lie Id before; us. and the dismal
thoughts of what 1 he morrow might bring [or us made the night most
terrible. When morning came, Bnell's arm} took the lead ami we
followed in reserve. The rebels fell back constantly and it was a
'■picnic" compared with the day before,
I have heard a theory that the taking of prisoners by rebels,
Sunday afternoon, so diverted the attention ol their men that an
hour or more of precious time was lost, so that night came on before
their victory was complete. I be^ leave to advance another theory:
(ion. Johnson, commander of the rebel army, was mortally wounded
while mounted on his horse and leading a charge near the "liorneth'
Nest." I want to picture toyou tonight one ot "the boys from Iowa"
firing -the allot which brought the leader down. The consternation at
his lo.-s and the dcia\ incident to a change ol commanders consumed
that precio-un hour. Had Johnson li veil and earned out the plan.-! he
so well begun, his victorious army would have destroyed the already
shattered army of (.'rant, and reached the Tennessee river in time to
prevent the crossing ol BueU's command. Had this great disaster
befallen Grant, his chances tor the presidency would have been slim,
indeed, and the train of events might have taken a very different
co4.ir.se. So I .-ay. that one shot, tired, in all probability, by an"
Iowa soldier, may have saved thousands of lives a.nd millions of
money The victorious army of Johnson could have cleaned
out liuell and marched north through Tennessee and Ken-
tucky, whose citizens would have Hocked to their victorious
standards until he might have marched on Cincinnati with
an ami} ol an hundred thousand men and easily captured it which
course ot event-, would have easily prolonged the war live years,
No man can boast of a greater admiration ot" Gen. (Jraut than I,
but up to that date one element was lacking, lie hadn't learned to
dig ditches. Had he fortified his army at Shiloh the rebels would
never have attacked him. The men were lying there for several
weeks in idleness and the work of erecting a line of heavy trenches
would have done them good. The failure to do this cost the country
dear, and nearly changed the fate of the war. ft taught Grant a les-
son he never forgot. From that day on he never moved his army ten
feet to the front without intrenching it. Shiloh was the most des-
perate ami bloody Wattle which, up to that time, had been fought on
American soil. This is the statement of history. Of the T.'l.Ouo men
engaged on both sides, fully 20,001) were killed, wounded or captured.
The valor of the. American volunteer soldier was fully established and
we heard no more of the boast that one rebel could lick live Yankees.
The question of whose soil was going to be invaded was settled at
Shiloh. from that day on, the war in the southwest was waged on the
enemy's soil, so that Shiloh is considered by man}' as one of the most
decisive battles of the war.
I visited this battlefield last April and went over the ground with
men who fought on both side-. We found the exact spot where the
Hornets' Nest brigade held their line We found the old sunken road
and I located a large oak tree whose top had been shot off by a shell
at the left of the 7th Iowa. After thirty-three years, bullets and
shells can be found quite plentifully, and it was amusing to see the
visitors picking bullet- out i'\ the fence rails and wood piles, these
having b. en made from trees which stood at the time of the battle.
The old i amps have a young growth of timber on them, so they don't
look nat iral. We mixed with the people who were present in thous-
34 IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
ands at the reunion. Some were cordial; some were not very enthu-
siastic about our presence, but they nearly all had relies of the battle-
to sell to the northern visitors. The Government has bought some
two thousand acres of land where the "battle w;is fought and is eon-
verting it into a National Parle. A National Cemetery, on a beauti-
ful eminence overlooking the river, contains tin- remains oJ many
thousands of the heroes who fell at Shiloh. many being arranged in
groups by regiments; but the list of those marked ••unknown" was
fearfully large.
Sergeant Knight, late of Company "E" 7th Iowa, whose home was
at Keokuk, is in charge. The rebel dead still lie where we buried
them, Lii the open woods, in long trenches side by side. 1 met a man
with a spade and we stopped and talked it over. He was a rebel and
had been locating the position of his regiment and had found the
skeletons of three men partially uncovered. He thought they were
his comrades and had given them a new burial.
Nearly one-fourth of* Grant's army at Shiloh was from Iowa.
Iowa boys were in the thickest and hottest of the light. The Hornets'
Nest Brigade was from Iowa. The men who stood shoulder to
shoulder in those stirring times will soon be gone: their ranks are
already thin — more are on the other side than remain here. While
we live, let us ask Iowa to do something to mark the spot where our
comrades shed their blood for the common good of all. Other states
have their monuments at Gettysburg and Chicamatiga, showing the
spots on which their soldiers did deeds of valor. Let us resolve
tonight, as citizens of Iowa, that we will see to it that our legislature
appropriates a liberal sum to erect enduring shafts of marble or
granite on the spot where new lustre was added to the name of Iowa
by her gallant sons.
There followed one of the linest features of the evening called,
"Shiloh's Field by Night," composed by Judge D. Ryan and rendered
by Miss Cora Mel Patten. It was well written and Miss Patten
showed great elocutionary power in the delivery. The production
was based on a true pathetic incident that occurred on that memora-
ble night. The singing of some male voices of parts of ".Jesus Lover
of My Soul" added force and realism to it.
Silicon's Field By Night A [Picture. "The Hymn Op The Hor-
nets' Nest Brigade."
All day long the battle had raged. Night spread her broad wings
over the field. Darkness ended the day's battle. The two armies,
about equal in number-, had covered the held "thick with other clay."
No field in modern history can tell such a tale of carnage. No battle
of the war of the Rebellion bought victory at such fearful cost.
It was Faster Day, A. D. 18(52. The Arm\ of the Tennessee on the
western shore of the river, between swollen. Hanking streams, hud
pitched their tents. The rains ana clouds of yesterday had disap-
peared. 1 lea ven's blue dome, pure and bright, bent above them; the
sun shone out in splendor. Above the heads of that great army,
birds sang their sweetest music amid the branches of the teeming
forest. Trees were putting on Spring's vestments of green. Buds
and blossoms, everywhere bursting into new life, lit emblems of the
Resurrection Morn, laded the air with delicate, sweet perfumes.
•'But hu^h! Hark! A deep sound strikes like a rising knell!1'-
IOWA UdKNKTS1 NKST HWUiADK.
:s:>
Well out, and at the front 'tis heard tepeated again and yet again.
Who could guess that a great battle lias begun! No, 'tits but artillery
practice. Hark! ''The heavy sound breaks in once more." This
time, amid their deep intonations, is heard the rattle oi musketry,
Nearer and nearer upon the air is borne the "long roll" of the rattl-
ing' drums and the bugle call " L'o arms'."
••And there was hurrying to and fro." The approaching sound of
conflict told but too plainly .that the surging tide of the lirst lierce
onset was sweeping before it the Union arms. Stubbornly they held
their ground, fiercely lighting, they contested every foot of ground,
falling back. Now. under arms, the whole army "to the rescue"
hastened to the trout. Then, "swiftly forming in the ranks of war,"
the tide of battle was arrested. Here, front to trout, every availa-
ble man oi the two armies grappled in the struggle. All day
througn the battle raged, surging backward and forward, now losing
ground, now regaining; struggling, writhing and bleeding, hilt to hilt,
like two giants contending in deadly combat.
From the "morning gun " till the "evening gun" how changed!
Heaven's blue dome Is shut out by the smoke of battle, hanging black
and low like a pall. The sun. no longer "pure and bright," has, like
the held it shown upon, taken o\i a redder hue. wrapped in its sable
and battle-smoked mantle. It sinks out of sight, as if refusing long-
er to witness the work of human slaughter. The songs of the birds
have given [dace to the whistle of bullets and the screech of shells.
Blossoms and flowers have taken on a deeper dye. The sturdy oaks
are torn and shattered as when a tornado in its course leaves the
forest rent and st rewn.
Night separated the combatants. The armies, exhausted and
bleeding", withdrew to bivouac on the' Ligory beds" ti<ji <rt-Ju>, iRyvi^Oytf
sun would light them again to battle. ~j-«_>C> f tf \j
Between the lines, mingled one with another, lav thousands oi
killed or wounded, here one in blue, there one in gray.
Night drew on. Oh. that long and dreary night! Oh, that night
of horrors! from the gaping and bleeding wounds oi thousands, the
unstaunched life-blood was ebbing in blackest darkness. With none
near but those disabled or cold in death, the wounded lay all night on
that horrid held.
The noise of battle had given place to the confused sounds of
bivouacing armies, seeking position for a night's repose, doubtless
the morrowV Hue of battle.
The night was well spent ere the armies slept. Hushed was the
roar of battle and, in its stead, cries of the wounded were heard,
broken only by the loud roar from the gunboats, whose shrieking sin Ms
at short but regular intervals all night long were hurled upon that
held. The aim of the guns was directed, as well as might be, at the
lines of the bivouacing enemy: but, with seemingly fateful certain-
ty, they fell .111101114 the helpless wounded on the Held.
Hut hark! what is that new sound that breaks in on the ear? Is
it the sounds of awakening gnus, or do reinforcements signal to us —
Or to tiwm'f Ah! see the red lightning "painting wrath on the sky,"
and hear the loud thunder resound! It is as if Heaven's batteries
replied to earth's feeble ordnance. Quick Hashes scarce divide the
loud peals of thunder. The storm, lull of wrath, bursts with sudden
fury, making blacker still, but for the lightning, the blackness of
that black nijHit.
;!<; iowa hornets' nest brigade.
When the night was well advanced, before the storm came on,
out beyond and in front of the position held during the day by '"The
Hornets' Nest Brigade," and where the carnage was the thickest on
that Held, a voice was heard singing. Striking contrast! Strange
place! Sweet voice! Dear soul! Hark!
"Jesus lover of my so.ul,
Let me to Uiy bosom tly!"
With this strain the voice ceaseil. as if the last expiring breath
were expended in a dying effort. What to him now was yesterday's
battle! What of to-morrow's dread conflict to come!
•■ lie has slept his last sleep, he has fought his last battle.
No sound can awake him to glory again.
Short was the interval before the same inspiration, that lilted
the singer above the held of battle to other realms, was caught up
and this time two voices were heard:
••Jesus lover of my soul.
Let me to thy bosom fly !
WliileThe nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high:"
With the bursting of the storm, and while the tempest still was
high, the song ceased. At length the storm spent its fury and was
gone; but the wounded soldiers, now drenched with the ram that had
cooled their fevered flesh, were still there. With the disappearing
storm again arose from that Held of the dead and the dying the
sweet melody — this time sung by a chorus of voices:
" J^sus, lover of my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly!
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high.
Hide me, Oh I ray Savior, hide,
Till the storm of life is past,
Safe into the haven guide,
Oh, receive my soul at last!
" Other refuge have I none
Hangs my helpless soul on thee.
Leave, Oh, leave me not alone.
Still support and comfort me!
All mv trust on thee is stayed.
All my help from thee I bring,
Cover my defenseless head
With the shadow of thy wing!"
The soldiers of the North and the soldiers of the South— their
voices blended! There went up from that battle-lield the sure
promise of a glorious Union -one religion, one kindred, one country,
one (lag!
When morning cam •. some of those voices were hushed. \n the
darkness of night the icy linger of death had touched the parched
lips, and tongues that had sung so sweetly the night before were for-
ever still! The refuge of which they had sung had been attained!
Others were rescued by comrades who in yesterday's battle had
fiercely, savagely fought, but who now, with touch as tender and gen-
tle as that of a loving mother, bound up the wounds and ministered
to the wants of comrades. Possibly some who sung there that night
are here to join hands and voices with us now. This hymn is, and of
light ought to be, "The Hymn of the Hornets' Nest Brigade.''
After a solo, "Tender and True," sung by Mrs. Ella Eberhart,
came a well written and interesting paper by Capt. E. B. Soper,
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE. '.u
12th la. that was especially interesting to those v\ ho belonged to what
was called the Union Brigade, comprising members ot the sever-
al Regiments who were not taken prisoners at Sliiloh, and were
formed into one Regiment. This also being the lirst public re-
cognition of the Brigade by an address given at any of our re-
unions:
The Union Brigade.
The 12th Iowa was camped near the- river bank, below the
landing, on a high blulf, over-looking the river. When the Regi-
ment went out to the light on 'Sunday morning, there1 were left in
camp only the convalescents, who were unable to don their ac-
coutrements and march out to the light: and all who went out
with the Regiment were either killed, wounded or taken prisoners.
That news ot the fate Of their comrades only reached those in camp
the second day of the battle and when the rebels were driven oh the
field, si [ii ads of each company who were able to walk, under the lead-
ership of i\'.(.. Price, ol Company 1). who had by a ruse escaped
alter capture by the enemy, sought the bodies of their comrades
and bunk-mates among the Killed on the batt lelield. and wounded
comrades among the multitude brought to the lauding by the ambu-
lance corps. Such search was continued until the bodies of all those,
who from the reports ol the wounded, we're known to have been
killed, were found, and given a soldier's burial on a point of the bluff
over-looking the river, with headboards to their graves, upon which
was inscribed their name, company, regiment ami cause ol death.
After the dead were buried and the wounded, who were found on
the baitlelield or who escaped from the enemy during their removal
from the baitlelield toward Corinth, had been cared for and sent
away on hospital boats, those remaining made the be-d ot their situ-
ation and surroundings, and lived at ease and in comfort in the camp
until the 27th of April, l<si>2, when there came from division head-
quarters a general order creating an aggregation designated as the
Union Brigade, composed of the remnants of the captured regi-
ments, namely: the 8th, 12th and lit 1 > Iowa and nSth Illinois, organiz-
ing them into companies and designating their commanders. As the
12th had more men taken prisoners at Sliiloh than any other regi-
ment, it had much fewer men than any of the other regiments: con-
sequently, the 12th was formed into one company and the others into
three companies-each: the I2lh [owa constituted company U. of the
Union Brigade, as it organized. K.ich of the ten companies constitu-
ting the brigade was officered by a commissioned otlieer acting as
captain, aim commissioned or non-commissioned officers acting as
lieu tenants: no Held officers in any of the lour regiments were present
for duty, ami Captain Ileal) of the ."*.Sth Illinois was designated as
acting colonel. ('apt. Fowler of the 12th Iowa was acting lieu -
tenant colonel, and Captain Kittle of the fjSth Illinois was acting
major.
The organization was perfected, ( not, however, without ••kick-
ing"), and the unnecessary baggage, tents and camp equippage turned
over to the Quartermaster department, and on the 29th day of April,
lSti2. the Union Brigade for the lirst time, fell into line, accordingly
as it had been constituted by the order, and. with the balance of the
1st Division, broke camp, and moved forward over the battlefield,
past Sliiloh church, toward Corinth, forming the advance line of the
Federal army.
38 IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
The appearance of the battlefield, with its acres upon acres of
dense under-growth absolutely mowed by minie balls, and trees and
saplings girdled, and large trees trimmed of their limbs by cannon
halls, showing" where the tremendous lighting- had taken [dace, was
observed and commented upon.
The advance on Corinth was constantly contested. Every ad-
vance was made in line of battle, preceded by a strong line of skir-
mishers. When the popping" on the skirmish line got hot, lines were
dressed up at favorable positions and a strong line ol rille pits speed-
ily constructed, every other man holding two guns and his lile mate
industriously using the shovel or ax, relieving each cither every
minute or two. The roar of musketry on the skirmish line did much
tew aril hastening the work. Soldiers who had shewn every evidence
ol being" constitutionally tired were frequently seen working with
the utmost energy and vigor.
The advance line was constructed under circumstances above
described on the evening'of the 29th of April, IStrJ, On the JlOth, the
whole arm}r was mustered for pay, except the I'liion Brigade, whose
rolls were not yet made out; as each of the ten companies in each of
the four regijnents included in the organization had to be mustered
separately, and as many of the companies had no ollicers or non-com-
missioned officers competent to do the work', there was considerable
delay. The writer describes aiaking out the rolls ol his own and two
other companies of the 1-th Iowa, with a cracker box for a table, a
pocket ink stand and a borrowed pen. under the shade of a tall oak
tree, in the open air. As all the men belonging to the company had
to be carried on the rolls, whether present or absent, and I he "dead,
the sick, the mounded and the missing accounted for, and three copies
of each roll made, the task .vas not a light one. but was linalls' ac-
complished and the regiment mustered for pay.
for thirty days, the advance on Corinth continued: some days out-
lines being thrown forward a mile or two. and some times remaining
two or three days in one place, but always well fortified. I'Veijuent.ly
we stood or sat all day under arms, and customarily slept with our
belts and cartridge boxes on, our gains by our side and not infrequent-
ly in tlie trenches.
On the 29th of May. 18(i2, our lines were within half a mile of the
rebel trenches around t'orinth. During that night, unusual noises
were heard by the pickets, followed near morning by a series of ex-
plosions. At daylight, our pickets advanced and the rebel lines were
found deserted. A pursuit followed: the retreating Confederates
passed south down the Mobile & Ohio Bailr'oad; the Union brigade
followed, passing through Danville ami Kien/.i to Uooueville, Missis-
sippi, but returned to camp about three miles south of Corinth, on
the Mobile & Ohio road where the entire Brigade remained until
about the 15th of August. L802, when the Union Brigade was sent to
Danville. Mississippi, the first station south of Corinth and about ten
miles distant, f he two months spent at camp Montgomer\ were des-
titute of exciting inchh nt; no drill or other tint} from eight a. in. to
six p. m., but as it was our first summer south, the heat was very op-
pressive, and the days were spent in the shade of tin- large oak trees
which abounded in the camp: each individual amusing" himself ac-
cording to his taste and inclinations. Every few days, squads of
convalescents arrived from Northern hospitals and by' the time we
left camp Montgomery, all those wounded at Shiloh, who were ever
after (it for duty, as well as those who had been left at St. Louis, sick
or had been sent away from Pittsburg Landing, returned to the com-
IOWA HORNETS NKST BRIGADE.
;\\\
in and, swelling the number of the 12th Iowa present for duty, to
about one hundred and titty men. One of the other regiments whose
n limbers had been diminishing was consolidated into two companies,
and the 12th re-organized into two companies and thereafter consti-
tuted during the remainder of the life of that organization, com-
panies K and K, oi the Union Brigade.
Winn iuWugust, lstii:. the forces ol: Price and Van Born began to
concentrate in Mississippi, the Union forces were posted at conveni-
ent points to meet and watch their movements; the Union Brigade
was sent to Danville, where under command of Lieut, i 'ol. Coulter, ot
the 12th Iowa, it remained until the 1st of October. The principal
employment of the command while at Danville was foraging and
doing guard duty, the daily detail for which was one hundred and
twenty-live men. fresh meats, vegetables and fruits were abundant,
and inai'v of the boys here saw for tin1 hist time growing peanuts and
persimmons. While the men came on guard ever} three or tour el ays,
yet the weather was line, living good, and it is doubtful whether in
our whole armv experience a more enjoyable six weeks were passed
than those spent at I >anvi lie.
About the time of, and subsequent to the battle of luka. occas-
ional shots were exchanged between the pickets and the rebel cav-
ali \ , but no at tack upon its was made, although ol course we remained
ia a constant state ot readiness.
On the 2nd day of October, orders came to break camp and
abandon the post, and on the same evening we withdrew towards
Corinth, across the Tuscumbia river, where we halted for the night,
and the next morning, after destroying the bridge over the stream,
resumed our march, reaching Corinth in the afternoon, after a very
hard and fatiguing march over dusty roads, without water, upon one
of the hottest days of the season, and were ordered out on the
Chewalla road to take our places with our brigade. We formed a part
of the first Brigade, commanded by (ieneral tlackleman, of Indiana,
the Second Division commanded by (Jen. •). K. Davies, Army ot the
Tennessee.
About a mile out from Corinth we met the Division retiring before
the enemy, and re-fonniny the line of battle near the white house,
we took our place on the extreme left of our Brigade, a little to the
north and west of the town, between the two railroads that crossed
each ol lua- at that point, and throwing ourselves on the ground, we
rested, awaiting the enemy's attack. After shelling the woods in
which our position was located, as long as they thought desirable, the
enemy advanced in two unbroken and continuous lines of battle, ex-
tending to the right and Left of us as far as we could see and Hanking
our extreme left. We poured volley after ,'olley into the advancing
lines with seemingly little effect, as they continued to advance, with
the characteristic rebel yell: the onset was so heavy that the line
broke and fell back about as last a* their legs would carry them,
through the woods, into the abutt is and thence at nighl fall, within the
fort i locations, when.' the survivor* of the command gathered. The
men remained lighting behind trees and stumps, the rebel forces
which made a reconnoisance received so warm a reception they did
not advance. There was some desultory lighting, but no serious at-
tack" was made that evening. That night hardtack and raw onions
were distributed with raw bacon, and a hearty meal made, after
which, stretched upon the earth beside the loaded rilles. with cart-
ridge boxes for a pillow, the clear sky for a covering, a dreamless
sleep restored the exhausted soldiers, During the night, dispositions
4) IOWA HOKNETS' NEST IJK1UAUE.
were made for the coming battle and positions a signed the several
commands; About tour o'clock the Union Brigade was aroused ami
marched to its new position further tevthe right, and near \\ here the
road from Pittsburg Landing entered the town. IKrc the Union
Brigade lav in line of battle, awaiting the approach of the enemy.
Finally, about nine or ten o'clock, the heavy guns from 1'ort
Robinett opened lire; we then knew that the enenn were advancing
In the assault. Soon the forts and their surroundings we re en \ eloped
in white smoke, and in our front the lines of gray appeared advancing
from the woods; with breathless expectation, we watched then i si owh
approach; to the right and to the left of lis. as we were in an angle of
the line and near to the town, bring began, when the rebels sprang
forward to the charge with the rebel yell, and l he w hole Union limit
became a line of tire; stiil the enemy pressed forward, until within a
few yards of our front, when our line gave wav: the color bearer fell:
another seized and held aloft the standard of the Union Brigade, only
to fall: Orderly Sergt. John I >. Cole. Company I!, acting Sergt. Major,
Union Brigade, seized tin- Hag and planted it in front of the now
rallying lines, only to fall, shot through the lungs, when private
Isaac G. Clark, of Company I), rescued and waved aloft the Hag,
which he proudly carried forward a.s the line advamvd and moved for-
ward in pursuit,of the now retiring foe. This repulse ended the ha I tic,
and in the afternoon our forces moved in pursuit of the enemy. In
the two days' light, the Union Brigade was badL punished. Of not
more than four hundred men engaged, eight were killed on the Held.
eighty-six wounded, of whom a number died, and eighteen were
reported missing, many of whom were killed or died of wounds in
rebel hands. The two Companies composed of the 12th Iowa bad
engaged in the battle at Corinth less than one hundred and lift) men.
but sustained a loss of three killed, four mortally wounded and four
commissioned officers and-iO enlisted men wounded, ten of whom so
severely as to have been discharged on account of such wounds;
among them 1st Lieut. David U. Henderson, afterwards Colonel Kith
Iowa and Lieut. A. L. Palmer.
While the troops were absent in pursuit of the retreating forces
of Price and Van Lorn, the baggage and convalescents were ordered
into camp on the old site at camp Montgomery, and the Union Bri-
gade occupied its old grounds. Two days a ftcr, in attack was made
on the camp by a veiy considerable force of rebel cavalry, but as a
large number of the Union Brigade had not joined in the pursuit of
Price, they were ready to light, and did so. The enemy found it
much better protected than they had supposed, and beat a hasty
retreat, leaving several men and horses shot down. That evening
orders were received to remove the cintip within the fortifications,
which was done, and when the pursuit of Price and Van Dnrn was
abandoned, the Second Division returned to Corinth as its g;irrison,
where the Union Brigade remained during the remainder ol a- exis-
tence, doing picket duty and working on the entrenchments, a new
and less extensive line ol works having been laid out after the battle,
which, however, included the principal forts. As our comrades who
had been taken prisoners at Shiloh were paroled in October, we were
anxious to get north, and finally after long and impatient waiting,
an order came on the 17th of December, isti'.', dissolving the Union
Brigade and ordering its return home to join the exchanged pris-
oners and re-organize their old regiments, andon fhc'IMth of Decem-
ber, with light hearts and thoughts of a merry Christinas at Inane,
t'ue l^th fowa. under command of Lieut. Col. Coulter. gail\ marched
IOWA HORN JOTS' NJOST UR1UADK
41
to the depot and hoarded tin: cars for the north. Arriving' at .lark-
son, Tennessee, about eleven a. .\i.. we found consternation and com-
motion. Forrest was on a raid. North of Jackson the telegraph
lines were cut and an attack was hourly expected. We were ordered
to disembark and assist in the defense oi the post. That night tin-
track was torn up and bridges burned almost to as far north as Col-
umbus, Kentucky. The disappointment was keen, but there was no
help for it, and we climbed down and loaded our guns-, and were
assigned an exposed position on the picket line. No attack came.
Alter waiting impatiently for three days, we were allowed to go
north as guard for the engineer corps and construction train, to
rebuild the bridges and track which the rebel's had destroyed. For
two weeks and over we moved along with the bridge gang, from
stream to stream, across the swamps, counting the miles, even the
ties, as so much nearer home: sleeping behind anything that broke
the chilly wind, sheltered only by our blankets and overcoats. The
country through which we passed was composed mostly of swamp,
with plenty of cane brake.-, and thinly populated. We lived oil the
country. Sometimes foraging was good: sometimes not so good: we
ate what we could liud and hoped tor better with the next move.
Our living varied from the milk and honey variety of some neighbor-
hoods to roast "razor backs" in others: but taken all in all, with the
adventure and the marc hi tig, the bridge building and the picket duty
and interviews with the tnftives, we did not have Mich a bad time.
In fact, if we had not been so anxious to get home by New Years, we
would rather have enjoyed the trip. Finally, however, the last
burned bridge was reached, the river hastily crossed on false work, and
the boys swung out with rapid stride-., up the railroad track towards
Columbus and toward home. That night we slept in the deserted
buildings at Union City, and the next day. January I. l.Sd.'i, marched
into Columbus, and that night took a steamer for Cairo, arriving on
the Oth, and the next north bound train on the Illinois Central bore
us Davenport ward, where we arrived the 7th of January: received
from Adjt. Baker a twenty day furlough and transportation to oui
several home-.
After a song by the Ladies Quartette, Capl. Dan Matson. of the
Fourteenth, then gave us "War Reminiscences," that called to the
minds of many of the comrades several incidents that occurred during
their sojourn in Dixie:
I feel more insubordinate, tonight, toward my Brigade Comman-
der than 1 ever felt before, lie taught me silence in the ranks when
on duty, and here in gross violation ol this positive training of Army
Regulations, lie bids me talk to this audience: and this is not all. I
charge him with further violation of Regulations, in that he orders
me into action, placing me under a severe cross lire, without furnl h
ing me ammunition; and, too. the treasured haversack with its three
days rations ; and the old canteen: arc missing, l.'iniriuid! di h its< less!
under Jim! and tin old '-chief in (In rear! Boys, it aint like it used^to be:
you know he once told us that he never put us in tough places with-
out being himself in Uu hud. and we threw it back at him. (Jldfndu,
tin hi n /■ in n! aid iiulii ijajt /""/,• us mil.
Dr. Staples of the Fourteenth tells a story, on Col. Shaw tlmt may
be new to some of you. Our lirst Chaplain had a wry neck and held
his head to one side. [lis horse also had a wry neck and held his head
over the opposite way. They cut quite a ligure on parade occasions
12
IOWA IIOKNKTS" N1CST HTJK'iAUK
One day at Benton Barracks, the Llegiment wad lormed for battalion
drill, while the Colonel not altogether calmly, awaited tin- appear-
ance of his orderly with "old Pete" liis horse his mood was
very much like that of L'hil Sheridan, at Five Forks, when
Warren and the 5th corps didn't come to time. Somebody was in
danger of getting relieved. The < chaplain who was standing near by,
holding his old still necked horse, thinking to help his Commander
out of the dilemma, led old "crooked neck" np to the Colonel and
nieeklj' said: '"Col., you can take my horse." There was a pause as it
Nature stood trembJing for the answer: the i-xjilosiuu which followed
would be hard to describe; it was none of your ricochet shots; it took
the old Doinuie and old twist neck right amidships, Sullice it to say,
the horse had to be closely blanketed for inan\ weeks until his hair
grew out again, and when Domnie arose 10 his feet, it was noticeable
that his head was a couple of degrees more out of line. The Col-
ouel was famous for looking out for his boys: he took good
care to get us all that was coining to us, and sometimes we
got things that were not exactly our due according to exist-
ing Regulations. In the early part of March, isiiii. while
encamped at Metal handing on the Tennessee river after the Don-
elson light awaiting transportation to Pittsburg, he concluded one
day it was time the men had some fresh beef. So riding up to Bri-
gade [Ieadquarters^Col. Laumau, he addressed him: "1/uuman, my
men need some fresh beet": "Well," says Laumau, "I haven't got
any; it can't be had!-' Shaw replied, "1 can get it." "Well get it."
said Laumau a little testily. Shaw wheeled his horse and rode back
to camp and reining up before the quartermaster's tent; 'I anil," he
called to that oilieial, "get on your hor.se and come with me."
Mounting in obedience to the order, the two took the road leading
from the river into the country, About two miles out the\ came
upon a man plowing with a yoke ol oxen. Stopping him. the Colonel
enquired, "Old man. what do you want for those cattle?'' "Don't
want to sell 'em sah! Have to make my crop with them." "That is
not the question," says Shaw, "What will you take dor them'.-'"
"Can't sell 'em sah," was the reply. "Well," says Shaw, "if you are
a Union man you will be glad to give them up for the use of the men
lighting in the Union cause; if you are a rebel they ought to be tak-
en from you. Unhitch Yin." Seeing no way out ol the trade, the
old Tennesseean unhooked the oxen and t he Col. and quartermaster
drove them oil'. Arriving at camp -a detail was quickly made, soon
eight quarters of beef were hanging up to the adjacent trees. O ne quar-
ter was issued to each of the sevt n Companies and the eighth was cut
up for headquarters, held and stall', etc. Callant old Major Broat-
beek of the l_lth. sat on his horse silently watching the procession
his mouth watering for a slice of the juicy meat. Unable to stand it
longer, he rode up to Cot. Shaw . lifting his cap he said, "Col. Slia vv,
you is the best Col. to your men vat ish." "Sergt., cut 1 lie Major a
stealc and hand it to him." * )n securing it the Major bowed his
t hanks and rode away. Then Shaw directed the Sergt. to cut off a
steak and send it to Brigade Headquarters with the compliments of
t 'oh Shaw. Thus the Fourteenth obtained their lirst supper of beef at
the expense of the Confederates: but it wasn't the last. Some
months later, when we with the comrades of the 1st Brigade were
hoarding at the Hotel Davis in the old cotton shed at Cahaba, Ala-
bama, our generous host one morning rolled into the pen several
ban els of corned beef. We knocked in the heads, when horrors! if a
ten inch shell had dropped in there sizzling it couldn't have caused a
IOWA HORNETS' NICST liRIGADE.
4:1
bigger scatterment. The aroma that arose from those barrels
ranked Gen. Lialleek- whom we all swore by those days ami was
stronger than Sampson that beef was tougher when we tried to
cook it than the yoke that was on the cattle that Col. Shaw ami
Buell bought of the old Tennesseean, up at Metal Landing.
At the lirst charge of Cibbons Brigade on our lines at Shilon,
( kmirade .) . V . Guthrie of Co. K. 1 It h Iowa, captured the Hag ol one
of the rebel Uegiiuents. tie only got the colors; a rebel sergeant
got away with the stall'. Methinks 1 can see brave Guthrie's beam-
ing" countenance yet, as a minute or two later he lield it up to oui
view, saving, "See here, boys, I've got their Hag!" lie. folded it up
and placed It across his breast, buttoning bis jacket over it. In tins
way it was carried until bis capture at the close of the day, when lie
destro} ed it.
A "wounded rebel belonging to Lee's army lay a little distance
from the roadside on the line of the Coniederate retreat Ironi
Petersburg to Appomattox. Lie was terribly hurt and called most
piteously for help. Along the road trudged a Van'kee private be-
longing to the fnm corps- that immortal body of men who, under the
inspiration of its commander, the Knightly Griilin, kept up with
Sheridan's cavaln all through that remarkable pursuit, thereby ren-
dering the glorious consummation possible the Vankee boy heating
the plaintive appeal, went over to where the dying man lay. Stoop-
ing down, he said, "What cay 1 do lot you Johnnie?" "< >h, can't you
give me a drink 01 water?" Unslinging his canteen, he placed it to
the parched lips of the sufferer-, who drank to his satisfaction.
"What else can I do for • you, Johnnie?"' "I'm dying, ^lllt
the injured man, "Won't you pray for me?" This was a stun-
ner. The tender hearted fellow would do anything to alleviate the
sufferings of his enemy. He would have willingly carried him m his
arms if it had been any use. but prui/ In cut lid 11' I. In his distress lie
looked to the road for help. Seeing a squad of our soldiers passing,
he called to them; and some three or four left theil ranks and went
to him. When they reached his side. he. said to t In in, "Hoys, In re s a
coaled. He is djdng. I've given him water, and now he asks me to pray.
1 can't. Won't one of you fellows pray ?" One of the number was
equal to the task, fie said. "Boys, let us pray," and t hey all
knelt down, while a tew words were offered to the Throne on
High in behalf of their dying foeman. Frauds, inilltiitkKlhv Becom-
ing Angel would catch Hie words of that prayer and iCiiti (lt< '" "< ''lS
book.
After Mrs. T. M. Rodgers had sung that beautiful solo. "Veteran-
Song, "Cen'l. I1. M. Drake was then introduced and received a most
hearty welcome. He spoke brie Uy as follows, on the subject "Iowa
at 1 'eace and in War":
I hardly know how to addres? a amp lire like this. It looks like
I ought to say "ladies and gentlemen," but ladies were not soldier,
during the war, but they stood behind the soldiers and sometimes 1
think°they stood in front of the soldiers. At an\ rate, I don't think
the rebellion would have ever been put down if it hadn't been ba-
the assistance of the ladies.
! see that the toast from which 1 am to speak is " Iowa at Peace
and in War. ' I would have a great deal to say were I to fully reply
to that toast., but it is late. I am going to say but a few words The
44
IOWA IIOKNKTS NKST IJIUUADK.
lirst is to say, that I regard low.i, proud Iowa as tin- greatest state in
the Union, and that I ;ir, glad to know that I have grown up with it.
I was on its soil before it was the state- of Iowa. It was Michigan
territory when I came here, ami thru it was Wisconsin territory, and
now.it is Iowa, and has been Lor half a century, During" the war no
state responded more readily and more in proportion to its popula-
tion than the state of Iowa. We had much to accomplish. My lirst
service, in 18(51, the lirst time that 1 was assigned to a command (lur-
ing the' war I see present today, unexpectedly. General Crentiss -
assigned me to command St. Joe, in 18151. 1 was not at the Hornets'
Nest, but here is Col. Shaw that was. and my friend, Col, Moore, from
the '"hairy nation" Davis county. The Colonel and I lived in the
"hairv nation." 'That is a part of Iowa, in itself. That was before
the war. From 184(5 until Sumpter was lired upon, I'ol. Moore and
myself were humble citizens of the " hairy nation" ami we have nev-
er been ashamed of it are you. Colonel, ashamed of that nation'.'
A ml so w e have grown up.
I believe that since the war the state ot Iowa lias doubled its
population. We have Less illiteracy in the state of Iowa, and it is so
pronounced and understood in the United States, ami of cour.se we
put the United States against the world I have a right to.
Now I am not going to enter into any details in regard to the
war. It is sullieteut to say that we had over four years of war. I
know that because I served over four years myself. We had a bloody
war. We were at Vrar because we were forced to war. and for the
purpose of settling" the question of the great Declaration of Inde-
pendence in regard to freedom. It bad been said it had been
expressed that tins was a land ot freedom, and yet it was nut true,
and it had been decreed by God Almighty himself that slavery could
not be wiped out except at the price of blood, and blood was shed, and
today alter more than four years of blood \ war, lighting our own ties]]
and blood, lighting our own citizens ol our common country, we have
a land of liberty ami freedom. The only land under God's heavens
that can be said is a land of liberty and freedom. It was a des-
perate engagement, a desperate conflict, bin under God Almighty it
was a g"rand conllii t, ami while the nation was in tears and in
mourning, when the sunlight came out and shown upon this grand
land of liberty and freedom, we all rejoiced: even amid tears we
rejoiced, and touay we rejoice for this great country, this land
of liberty and of freedom.
I think 1 shall say no more: I thank- you for your kind atten-
tion. (Applause'.)
At the close of Gen. Drake's speech and when it was suppos-
ed the meeting was closed, Gen. Prentiss hastily arose, came
forward and a.-ked the audience to wait a moment, fie then re-
lated the following i uc id e nt of Gen. Drake's early boy hood:
Let us not go yet. Time makes might) changes. It was in
1848: 1 was fortunate enough in those days to Lie a packer of pork,
down at the mouth of tne [>l-^ Moines river, in Missouri made- con-
siderable money at it and a couple ot men stole a span of horses.
I and another person started to catch them. It was late in the
fall. We wended our way up the Des Moines valley, rapidly as war
thought, trailing the team. Finally, one cold damp evening- it
was just commencing to rain and hail together. We had got wet
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE. 4,")
riding. We noticed a very kind hearted looking man standing in
front uf a cabin down near t'entcrville. Iowa Hiding up to the
gate, there stood a youth \\ it li rag'ged iiihhci uool-s on who it ap-
peared had been looking after .some stock. I asked the question
could we iind sheltei lure tonight? "Wo never turn strangers (jut
such a night as this," was t lie response. We entered the cabin -
first, our eilort was to look after our horses. The boy with the
boots on, a young lad, s.ivs, "(; aitleinen, walk in. I will put the
horses up." Thej wire pul awa_\ and in came Uie young man. In
the night there was a terrible snow storm. There in the log cabin
the snow came in between "the cracks: we couldn't sleep while it
was snowing, [finally, someone came lightl\ into the room with a
heavy comfort, spread it over the pair that was lying in the bed;
1 was one, my friend the other; and tucking the comfort around our
feet, wont out gently. It was the mother ol that Im> v with the rubber
boots on. that took care ol General Prentiss' horse that
night, and little did he expect that man was to become Governor
ol low a.
The remarks of Gen. Prentiss caused great applause and gave
a most joyous ending to the camp lire.
IOWA HiiKN'l'XS' NEST l?KHi>DE.
P -
roora mme.
Thursday, August 22nd.
Reveille ami morning gun.
Forenoon devoted to business meeting of Brigade and of Regiments;
and social.
I )inner from 12 m. till 2 P. M.
2:."'0 i». m. Assemble at Brigade headquarters,
.MUSH'.
:> i'. M. — Address by Maj. Cen'l I !. M. Prentiss
MUSIC.
4 p. M. — Form line and march to School House for exercises there
under the management ol Jasper County Normal. Order of March:
1. Knights Templar Band. U. fraud Army.
2. Brig. Band Brum Corps. 7. Women's Relief Corps.
.'!. Co. L 2nd Ke.n. I. X. G, S. Ladies of the Cirand Army.
I. Kiii/men in Uniform. !). Hornets" Nest Brigade.
r>. Normal School.
Exercises at the School House Grounds:
MUSIC.
Welcome to Brigade for Jasper Co. Normal Prof. D. M. Kelly
MUSIC.
, , l L. Kinkead, Nth Iowa
Response j ,, M_ Trrrili) 12th !owa
MUSIC.
y y y
CAMP FIRE.
Thursday livening, August 22ml, 7:45 P. M.
Assemble at Brigade headquarters and march to Opera Uouse.
Prayer ' Be v. t '. O. Hurrah
MUSIC.
"Johnson's Surrender to Sherman," Col. G. L. Cod J rev. 2nd Iowa,
Des .Moines.
MUSIC.
"The Long Roll," Prof. A. N. furrier, 8th Iowa. Bean ol faculty,
State University, Iowa City.
Recitation Miss Belle Lambert
MUSIC.
•■\Ve took Touch of Elbows.". .Win. T. McMakin, Nth Iowa. Middleton
.MUSIC.
IOWA lltUCXKT.S NKST hi;k;al>k
THURSDAY'S PROCEEDINGS.
v <& v
I iJlTSIN I0SS MKKTINli. |
Newton, Iowa, Auinist illlnd, l<S!)r>. Tli v l$ri»";iile ussenibkld at the
Opera House at It) .1 m. for the transact Lou of Ini.-ane.sM. The I'uvm-
tlen.1 , Col. rfhaw, in the (.'hair. The Secretary nre.ienleil the folio win j»
re])ort :
Ni'.wi'uN, Iowa. A 11 LiU.-^L ;l\, lfijif).
'I'n tin- comrades of the Iowa lie, nut-.' Nest Hrigade. 1 submit the following
report:
Sept '.'. I S00. to cash troni dues
::. ■■ ■■ order No. 1
l(l-:i ill' is:
N.iiU
JO.
Jul v n. iH'io ■■ ii
A Hi',, i.
Hy balance duo, order s.
o.OO
ID
s.;iu
■id.?,'.
. :J>0 no
. . *).:>_!_
V.\ I'hN'lO'l I'KKs
Sept . -', IS'.io I > \ balance ilui; secretary
•■ " l Holt Kililion
I'rini 1 iii; Hadges
Kent for lm.ll"
■■ Sinking Hooks. Turk Moore
I :.\|nvss charges cm music hooks
lieceipt '|*|-i .isuri'V \' IV Twombly
'■ K\|.l":> , I. II |' ItUpltlolS...
Kxpense ol Secretary
$17. (HI
■! HO
i.-'.>
H.ol)
.. 5.00
II)
us. oil
.;i;>
s no
July 11. isn.'i. " IH'W I'oslal.s and l'i -inliug. :2(>.75
Aug. 7. " Hostage ami stamps 1.55
■•' 1:1 " Hill ol lialdauf (Hadges) •.':(. si
II. " " Printing Hadges :J.50
■• -.M. " '■ Kxpeuse and Services ol Secretary l:i.00
ifciOl.41
Oiii- Constitution calls tor a Kcimioii every llirei' years the last one was held
at Di's Moines Sept -' i'kdo. ami this one should have been hold in isii.'i but 1 In-
World's Pair coming that •.-••. ir and the hard liim . lollou ing the executive com-
mittee decided, iinaiiiinoiislv, n would be be I lei to post pom; lie- reunion ,
At a meeting 'ol' the executive committee h Id in Dcs Moines. June Is IHDii tin
invit it ion was extended bv the citizens ol Nfewlon, through Col. I,'\ .111 to bold our
reunion lias l.ill at thai pbn \ Tin; com in it tee accept eil the invitation and set the
dale fur August l\ .nn\ il. ISU5.
The follow im; i -oiurades were dec U'.i a c-.ommittee on arrangements with l>
Ky an as chairman :
l> h'vaii.
V I'. Twomld v. :-'iul Low a .
i; I'. Clarksun l:>th Iowa.
Joe. Mcdarrah. 1 Uh Iowa.
Robert Hums, 7th Lowa
At our former reunions 1 had sent 011 1 printed notices to the secretaries of the
different regiments for distribution hut 1 decided this lime to send the notices
myself. 1 wrote the secretaries of the different regiments for the list of their
members, to which they promptly responded.
IS
IOWA HOIiNKTS NliST lilUUADE.
July UUi i had 18i)0eards printed giving notice ol our reunion, All. bin about
150 ol Which were s.'llt lo 111;' comrades ol inr ili I'fi'lVMl iVgi HU'llL-S liclwcell 80
and 100 cards were seni to in.' newspapers i.irougiiiml Cue stale i.'oiiir.ule ISaer,
S vv. of inc Hli Iowa., Living in the same plai ■■• i do kindly on .ented in scud out
the notices for his regiment for whieu i tender Him thanks I tliiiiK t>3* July -0
the cards were all soul. Allow me to suggest to mie and ail. ii you would always
U'ive the regiment and company Lo which you belong u would aid the secretary
very nun Ii ; mail \ nl I he com t ades neglected lo do this
Another tniug always respond lo any notices sent you by your secr<.'lary,
promptly Out ol Liu-' large uumbci '..I the notices sent, less than -00
responded: only aboul 2 > cards were returned uncalled lor. So I think
the greater number must have reached the conn .ides Lo w honi they wei e senl. 1
tliiiiK all oJ in • secretaries will indorse me in this suggestion, tli-at in order lopei.
tect the roll of any regiment tne comrades siiouhl reply promptly, Ki\'"K name,
town, county, state and company, and unless this is clone no one can succeed in
making a satisfactory roll lnr himself or others.
i desire to thank the ohicers ol the Brigade lor the kind assistance rendered
me in tne performance ol my duties: to the secretaries ..1 Liie regiments of the
brigade for tueir willingness id aid me ami their promptness in reply iirg Lo .ill my
communications. Col. Uyan l Ii*.- chairman ol me Committee on Arrangements
the secretary ol anv ori ui ation is alwaj's ijrouglil in close contact \\ ith the one
having charge ol any spe- i.il reunions, and 1 can testify lo the Colonel's push and
energy in his endeavors to make Luis reunion a success. I can assure ymi he is a
slayer from a. way hack, no light duty for him oi those arouinl linn when there is
anything to do. ami I thank him lor ins unifoi m kindness ami help t'o me
Thanks are dm- the following ladies for their kindness, in preparing the
badges:
Airs. Me Mullen. M is. Uaer whose husbands are mem hers .,1 the Uh Iowa, Mrs.
Moreland, whose husband lormerly belonged to the Tin Iowa: .Mrs i:dd\ and Mrs.
Turner, the oilier halves belonging to the 8lh Iowa, and the Misses Carrie Noble.
Matiic Wagoner ami Allies Turner.
In closing 1 desire to thank the comrades present for theii [irornpl response to
the notices oi the reunion .'.cut also to i hose who are not present but ai e unavoid-
ably detained. K. I,. TUKN10K,
♦ Sect. Iowa Hornets' Nest llngade.
Tin- report was adopted. The treasurer, V. I'. T'wumbly, being
absent his report was read by the secretary as follows:
Dl.s MulNK.S. [lAV.t. August 15lll Ihi
V. 1'. Twombly. treasurer in account with Iowa Hornets' Nest Brigade.
Hit C
*15.?5
Sept 2. 1800. Balance on hand this dale
'■ • Received from Secretary, K. I. Turner,
Aug, 15, 1805 .Received interest on balance to dale...
.. if).:io
■flMJ.iU
$ 8,50
;;i).'.'.)
r..uo
. in
8.30
20.1)0
Sept. ,5, 1800, Paid voucher No. 1. W. L. Davis
■■ 2. K. L. Turner, expense
i), ■• •■ 3, • ■• " for Crank Moore
'.). " ■' ■■ '• A. ■■ - ■■ express
Jan. 27. 1801. " " 5." " " expense
July 18.1805, " •• •■ ii, "• " " postals and printing
Aug. 12, ■■ ■' v " ?. ' '• " expense
■■ 21, ■' Balance on hand this date 10.85
id ;jo. 05
Kespectfully submit Led,
V. P. TWOMBLY. Tieas.
The report was adopted.
Col. Shaw and ii. C Lvonnon, of the executive committee,
having examined the books and vouchers of the secretary and treas-
urer, made the following report:
We the undersigned, members ol your ICxecutive Coinmiltee, beg leave tore
port, tnat we have examined the books and papers ol your secretary and
lie (.surer, we find everything correct, and all moneys accounted lor by the proper
vouchers, Wm. T. Shaw.
J. C. K KNNON.
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
49
The Brigade then proceeded to the election of ollicers:
Colonels VV. T. Shaw and \V. [Jell were nominated for president.
Col. Shaw receiving a majority of the votes, was declared elected as
president. On motion made and seconded, the election of Col. Shaw
was made unanimous.
It was moved and seconded that the present vice-presidents
id the brigade he elected to lill the same positions another term;
motion carried and the following were declared elected as vice-presi-
dents of the Brigade:
2nd Iowa, G. L.GODFREY, Des Moines, Iowa.
7th Iowa, S. M'Mahon, Ottumwa, Iowa.
8th Iowa, J. i J. KENNON, Van Horn, Iowa.
12th Iowa. LI. I'. CLARKSON, Des Moines, Iowa.
I Hh Iowa, s. M. Chapman, L'lattsmouth, Neb.
On motion made and seconded, Li, L Turner and V. 1'. Twom-
BL.Y were re-elected to lill the positions of secretary and treasurer.
Voted that the Committee on Resolutions consist of one from
each regiment, and that each regiment make its own selection.
The secretary was by vote authorized to select an assistant
secretary.
COL. GODFREY- -chairman of Committee on Badges stated that
he had a badge in the shape d*f a hornet, made of metal, and to be
used as a pin, which he showed to the comrades. After some discus-
sion, it was voted to continue the Committee, and instructed them to
have some metal buttons made with a hornets" nest stamped on
them, similar in size to those worn by the different orders in the lapel
of the coat.
Voted to reconsider the vote .is to badge.
Voted to have the badge made of metal representing a hornets'
nest and to be used as a pin instead of a button. Comrade Akers. of
the 7th Iowa, was by vote added to the Committee on Badges. The
following comprise the Badge Committee:
G. L. Godfrey, 2nd Iowa.
J. W. Akkiis, 7th Iowa.
Dk Witt Stearns, 8th Iowa.
K. 1'. CLARKSON, 12th Iowa.
JOE McGaRRAH, 1 1th Iowa.
Voted to send greetings to the :$Uth Lowa, now holding ;■ reunion
at Brighton, lowa.
Tin' several regiments then presented those selected as Commit-
tee on Resolutions:
( ;ol. Moore, 2nd lowa.
.1. VV. A.KERS, 7th lowa.
W. li. BELL, Sth Iowa.
T. IV EDfxINCxTON, 12th lowa.
50 IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
Samuel Chapman, Mth [owa.
Moved and seconded that the proceedings of the reunion be pub-
lished in pamphlet form. .Motion canned.
Col. Shaw was by vote added to the Committee on Publication
of Pamphlet.
There being' no other business, the meeting adjourned.
H. L. TUKNEK, Secretary.
Afternoon Exercises.
The Briu-ude assembled at headquarters at 2:;in p. in., and headed
by the drum corps, marched to the opera house, where Col. Ryan pre-
sided during the exercises. As it was ascertained that not one half
of the crowd could get into the opera house, Gen. Prentiss kindly con-
sented to speak both there and in the court yard. II is speech in the
opera house was a grand effort. It was a plea lor more patriotism
and the (ire, logic, devotion to the Hag, and the intense appeal to
everyone to be more loyal toour blood-bought country stirred the
pulse and moved the hearts of the people in a wondrous way. "True
Americanism" is the way he termed true patriotism. The climax id'
the afternoon was reached when he stepped to one side of the stage,
took in his hands a beautiful silk Hag, carried it to the center of the
stage and called upon the vast audience to take the pledge of loyalty
with him. It was a picture, indeed, to see the martial figure of that
white haired war veteran standing with his hands lovingly upholding
"Old Clory." After the audience had risen at his request, he
solemnly repeated the vow of allegiance, and then, led by him, the
men joined in three cheers that made the rafters ring, while the
ladies wildly waved their handkerchief.-).
Gen. i>. M. Prentiss.
Mr. President, Ladies and (i<inll<:meii, ami Comrades of tke Hornets'
Nest Brigade:
To me, reunions have ceased to be a pleasure. It is true, in obedi-
ence to the request and call of friends I attend them, but memory
comes 11 tit ranniK led when 1 am at a reunion and a sad feeling arises.
Not Irom what we have done as soldiers, more from present condition
of affairs in our own country. By way of explanation let me say, I
am lure attending the reunion of the loua Brigade of the Hornets'
N> st. 1 have but little to say of Slriloh thong'h I claim to know much
of it; 1 believe 1 was there. I have a recollection of being there, at
least, ami I have this to say. You have been re-unioning with a bri-
gade that represents a position, a brigade that saved the army of the
Tennessee on the Bth ot April, 1862. (Applause) Those words have
1()\VA r-IOTCNRTS' NKST UHLflADlO.
51
never been uttered by me in public before. I know whereof 1 .speak
and at my age, knowingthat I am soon to pass away, knowing what i
do of the conditions at that day, and of the trials, and gallant
services of men noon that occasion, 1 ran truthfully say, this regi-
ment was located in what, was called the Hornets' Nest o I the battle-
field oi Shiloh that saved the Army of the Tennessee. I had waited
for others to say that for us. But you must bear in mind the defend-
ers of that position stood. A\\d were captured, taken to tie- South and
put into prison, no one to write for them whilst there. The nation
being engaged in a terrible war: oilier battles were fought Those
at home make the report. We that were there in the South could not
he heard. Every regiment had its say upon that occasion and that i.s
what has caused so much discussion concerning Shiloh . i was pleased,
yesterday, listening to the paper read by Judge Kyan. While it is
true, perhaps we, some of us, might differ with him as to the propriety
of discussing questions that, have been discussed for thirty years.
You ask me the question today in the presence of the Brigade of
Iowa, known as t lie Hornets' Nest Brigade: "General Prentiss, was
it a surprise at Shih)hv' My answer would be: No general on the
Union side for one moment entertained the idea that the battle was
to be fought upon the ground where it was fought. I occupied the
extreme front that morning and at f>:ll the battle commenced. It
commenced a mile upward anil a little in front of any encampment
on that battlefield, and he that intimates that any of our soldiers
were found asleep in their camps and drawn from their tents to enter
that battle, lie is a slanderer of the soldiers that, fought, that you
young people might enjoy the liberty you do today.
Ladies and gentlemen, 1 have often been amused in visiting
places, picking up pamphlets, pictorial pamphlets, in which was a
picture of General I'rentiss being drawn from his tent at head-
quarters on the field of Shiloh, by two long haired fellows and taken
to the South. Today there cannot be found a publication throughout
the entire southern states that has one sentence or utterance of dit- .
credit towards the man that held the Hornets' Nest of Shiloh.
I visited them on the tith of April last. I talked perhaps to eight or
nine thousand of people. The Confederate soldiers were there. I was
speaking of Shiloh and was very particular as to my utterances upon
that occasion. 1 talked just as radical as I used to talk to you people
of Iowa in the years past. When I was through, every thing that 1
said there was endorsed by north and south. They knew that we
were telling the truth, and when you hear Union nun caking excep-
tion to men that defended the Hornets' Nest on the field of Shiloh,
put it down that they were not in that Hornets' Nest at the last hour
and a half of that day. 1 know whereof 1 speak.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am not to speak of Shiloh. 1 want to
appeal to the young people of this country. 1 want to say to you that
if 1 could have my way. the action and conduct of every old soldier
would be such that you could follow his example. 1 am told, Mr.
Chairman, you have a Normal school here, or an assembly of normal
students. I would that every one of them were seated in my presence
today. To you teachers of the country, let me make an appeal. In
behalf of posterity, the hour has come, the day is, when we must turn
oyer a new leaf in this land id' ours. I do not enjoy the army stories
at reunion^. I do not enjoy the talk that causes us to smile and
laugh at army scenes. It is too serious a matter. Those of my age
that look back know the troubles through which we have passed.
IOWA IIOKNETS' NKST UKHi ADIv
We can say to you younger people something of the cost of this
nation.
I don't know how many there are on the pension list, but 1 am not
on it for the war of the rebellion. I kept oil of it for this reason: 1
am not yet willing, as a general officer, to receive a pension as loiiff
as there is a private soldier that is deprived of his pension. (Ap-
plause.) No application of mine is on file at the Department ol
Washington. 1 have been asked, too, to allow the Congressmen, in this
wonderful state of Iowa, to let them introduce a bill to grant me a
magnificent pension. No, ladies and gentlemen, 1 could not accept it
as long as the private soldier is deprived of his pension. Patriotism
is what is needed in this country. You people of the normal school,
you younger ladies of the country, take for example the defense of
this nation by the old soldiers, ami particularly those that defended
it at the Hornets' Nest of Shiloh. A gentleman intimated to me this
morning that some one was intimating to him, that we who held there
so long were taking too much credit to ourselves. Great heavens!
Why didn't you look after our reputations whilst we were down south
suffering, and yournp here living off the fat of the land? Patriotism
of the right kind is needed in this country. What is that? An edu-
cated patriotism. That is what, it is. No man in this country lias a
right, under the laws of our land, to be a brute in feeling. No man
has the privilege und^r the guise of liberty in this country to make a
home unhappy. Too many unhappy wives and children in this coun-
try today. Educate to a higher plane. What will do it? 1 will tell
you. Look at that flag, every one of you: plant it in every school
room of America. Keep it there. Explain to the rising generation
what it means. Not only the emblem of liberty, but the emblem of a
nation's pride. It was that Hag that you men suffered in upholding.
Teach it to the children of this country that the soldier that raised
his hands and eyes to Almighty God, took the oath of allegiance be-
neath that Hag, swore to defend it, protect it and serve his country
beneath its folds; let the children understand that that obligation
meant something more than mere battle. It meant to lead the ar-
mies on, to educate the public of this land. Normal students, listen.
In twenty years from today it will be impossible, unless we educate
differently, to make the young man of the country and the young la-
dy of the country understand that this great nation of ours, this
proud and mighty country of ours, ever endorsed that deadly institu-
tion of slavery as it existed at one time. It will he impossible to
make them believe that t he American people ever placed upon the
auction block the mother, stripping the infant from the breast, and
selling that mother as a chattel. Educate. We are making great
progress; think of it, you normal students. In 184!) it took some of
your fathers and friends [our months to cross the mighty plain, seek-
ing a few dollars in the hills of California. Today you can start at
Boston Monday morning Friday afternoon you take supper in the
beautiful city of .San Eraneisco, California. What did it? You
boys that took the oath of allegiance beneath that flag. You boys that
carried it successfully and won the victory and sustained the
union of states. Since that day, all over this mighty country, you
can tr.iv 1 by steam, by rail. Think of it. What caused it? Sus-
taining the union of States. Yes, says some. Now don't be alarm-
ed. 1 have got too much sense to switch oil on to a side track here'.
Someone says, oh, it costs so much money. We have got to have
more. Go to work and earn more, everyone of you in this country.
That i- what is wanted. (Applause.) I never heard of two soldiers
IOWA HORNETS' NKST UKLOADiii
;,;(
complaining of this government. Why, God bless you normal stu-
dents, we have got the best government on the face of the earth.
Surpassing all nations in everything that pertains to greatness.
We have the greater men; we have the better soil: we have the
greatest extent of country, more lines of railroad, more: telegraph
communication, more telephones, longer and better and hand-
somer rivers than any nation on earth, and decidedly better look-
ing ladies than any on the face of God Almighty's earth. What
is it made them happy:1 Not money. Not money. I don't know.
my dear brother, but what there is tod much money in the country.
1 can get along with a nickle. I have oiilj ten cents today that I
can call my own. Poverty. I have suffered the stings of "poverty
m this nation that I claim to have done some little to defend, and
yet there is not wealth enough in the nation to make me repudiate
one single dollar of national indebtedness. Patriotism is what is
needed in this country and none better, gentlemen of the Iowa
Hornets' Nest Brigade, none better to "keep it in the state of Iowa
than you. Kvery true soldier understand.-, that. Great God, what
a country we have, but, oh, sometimes how it is managed. (Ap-
plause) 1 could run this country I think I could run it if I had
the privilege. 1 once thought 1 had got the privilege but they
sent me to prison and I couldn't get out in time. (Applause.)
Yesterday a gentleman handed me this program. 1 noticed
that Capt. McCormick was not to be here and your president ask-
ed me if 1 would respond tor him. His subject way "After Shiloh,
prison." Gapt. McCormick was to respond. L consented to respond
but afterwards we made a -change. 1 wanted to go home. Had 1
responded to that 1 would have" had to tell you army stories.
1 was thinking of it, but when rellecting, gentlemen, something
else must he said and done at reunions besides' telling army stories,
besides misrepresenting certain scenes, J thought I had better not
embark in that direction and thus I stayed over a day to talk to
you soldiers today.
Gentlemen of this Hornets' Nest Brigade of Iowa, I like every
one of you. I doubly respect and like those that were captured
with me there at Shiloh. J know what you passed through in those
prisons; 1 know what your fare was; I know how your Colonel suf-
fered; I know what they lived on; the kind of "soup they had. f
know full well that I sold a nice gold watch to get Confederate
scrip to keep an Iowa soldier alive, and that colonel was the
colonel of the 8th Iowa— J. L. Geddes. God bless him. He suffered:
scores suffered. Ferguson died in prison. Oh, the sights that we
behold when we reflect. Today for the first time ['learned that
you had a Tennesseean in the 8th Iowa, thiee of them. One was
captured and shot, by the name of Roland. The other is a nice
gentleman living in Tennessee today. I was telling him thai we
met from three to four hundred of chose poor east Ten nesseeans hi
a starving condition. We divided our rations with them, i am
telling this that you young people may know what these people
passed through. You Officers remember there when we tore up the
floor and we received our first rations, we divided it with the hungry
Tennesseeans by dropping it tn rough the hole in the floor, flow they
grabbed for that provision. The)' were American citizens. They
had been misled, some of them of the south, as they acknowledge
today and I hateanddespi.se those who misled them. Let me tell
you, it is the arrant demagogue of our countr}' who causes all the
04 IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
trouble. There were not to exceed 150 men that were responsible
ior that great rebellion. They were Led astray. Appeals were
made to them. .Oh, how pleasant, then, they receive this informa-
tion today. Tell it to them. The}' will listen and realize the truth
as it is told, and they prolit by it, too. 1 may say this. Down there
upon that bloody held of Shiloh, in that county, from the day of
the battle up to the present time, it has been a loyal county to
the union of the United States of America, and is today. 1 would
that every county in the state was in the same condition. Hut
how can we ^.et them there? Educate. That is what it is. Go with
me down into my state. Ryan, 1 told a soldier today 1 lived in
Missouri. Says he, the devil you do. Says he, what are you living
there for? Why, people of Iowa, let me tell you. We have a graiul
population in the state of Missouri. We have one of the grandest
States of the union, made so by the war: that is what made it. We
got rid of that pecular institution whose darkness seemed to pre-
vail in certain districts of the state, even to this late day. thirty
years after it has been swept from American soil. We suiter from
it yet but we are rid of the institution by law and we are coming to
the front. Mark what i tell you. Seventy-six years of age but
there are listening to me today a hundred people that will live to see-
the state of Missouri the second state of the Union in population,
wealth and grandeur. It is coming. We have a grand country.
Why, people of Iowa, we are' decent people down there. We go to
church down in Missouri. We have abundance of ministers. We
don't pay them quite enough, and you normal students, let me tell
you, don't come to Missouri expecting to teach school. Why God
bless you, we are grinding out school teachers there, a hundred to
where there ds one can get employment. Abundance of them. We
are educating in that wonderful state. When 1 went to the
slate of Missouri I couldn't have taken that beautiful banner in
my hand and talked plainly without being insulted. Today I can
go into any township of the state of Missouri; 1 can defend that
flag, 1 can sa}r what 1 please in its defense: 1 can portray the horrors
of the old institution; I can persuade those people how they were
misled in the rebellion. They listen and as I raise the Hag and ask
them to renew allegiance to it, not a soul will refuse, not one. Why,
what lias become of them. I will tell you what has become of them.
Those that don't like the Hag, they don't go to meeting. That is. to
my kind of meeting. So help me God, ladies, if 1 was a minister of
the gospel, no sermon would ever be preached by me unless the stars
and stripes were in my pulpit. (Loud applause)
Now, friends, it is patriotism we want in this county-, it is not
republicans. It is not democrats It is not that other set. (Laugh-
ter) It is not them we want. You people of Iowa found that out.
Hut 1 will tell you what we want. We want christian people (rue to
the Hag, true to the country, true to the union school.-, of the coun-
try, true to the churches, true to humanity, true to their families.
Confound the lazy, trilling cuss that will marry a decent woman and
have a family and fail to support them well, he ought to join the
other (Laughter.)
Ladies and gentlemen, now, you see, I claim to be a patriot, and I
claim for the Iowa brigade that every mother's son of them is a true
patriot, and if any of them dodge, just put them beneath the Hag and
administer the oath anew again. Thus let me appeal to the young.
Take the advice of an old man, Tti years of age, talkingto you here to-
day and appealing for his country. 1 know the danger that threatens
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
this land today. It is a dangerous element that comes to this country,
not knowing what liberty means in this land. That is what it is. tie
that is a true American likes every American institution in this conn-
try and he likes to protect them, too. Now don't take that in a polit-
ical sense, but it will apply awfully well it yon did. (Applause)
Why, young man, L am a true American. I like everything that is
made in America. All you fellows like bicycles, don't you? If yon
don't you are different from us Missouri lads: and, ladies, let me say to
you, 1 have made up my mind, the lirst extra 10, 20 or lib dollars 1 get,
to buy a second-hand bicycle and commence riding. (Laughter) 1
want to encourage American institutions. 1 want to keep the money
at home and make a market for every American that is willing to
toil for a dollar, and confound the fellow that wants somebody to give
him a dollar.
Ladies and gentlemen, patriotism is what we need. Is a man a
patriot that will go to Ohio, to New England, and borrow a thousand
dollars, come home, mortgage his home to pay it, when he fails to
pay the interest and principal, goes to damning them for loaning him
a thousand dollars? What do you think of such a fellow? Ladies,
never marry one of the young men of that kind. Let them alone.
Those fellows will wojfk out their own salvation after they have
starved a year or two. True Americanism is what we want; true pa-
triotism is what we need in this country, bet us sustain every insti-
tution that defends right and justice. As I am to talk in the square,
let me appeal to you old soldiers, if you don't like the laws of this
country, obey them anyhow. (Cries, •"That is right!") Obey every
law. Don't violate the laws of our country. Don't violate the laws
of Cod. Do right. Administer justice everywhere. If you have got
an old justice of the peace that hasn't sense enough to administer
the laws of this country, or a constable or a sheriff, and I know you
haven't here in Jasper county, but if you have, the sooner you get
them out of possession the better for the rising generation.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to have met you here this af-
ternoon. 1 know it is warm. 1 have an esteemed comrade here. I am
not going to let Ryan introduce him. lie has been a general in the
army, lie was in the eastern army. 1 le is a better looking gentleman,
if possible, than the one now talking to you: and that is an acknowl-
edgment that 1 don't often make. But I have known my friend so
long, lie is a good natured gentleman. I believe he will endorse ev-
ery utterance I have made, with the exception of the little rough
language that I have put in here and there, but I will seek forgive-
ness for that. Von know 1 am a pretty good Methodist and they,
when they get a little oil' of their base and get a little excited, some-
times say things that had better not be said. If I have said it today,
and it wounds the feeling of anyone here or. sounds harsh, forgive me.
1 have a right to talk plain.. Let me ask again of you young people
of the country, get von a Hag, look at it. and see if it doesn't come up
- 1 don't know that I can quote the stanza a little boy of mine com-
posed and said, that is pretty good, get that oil' over in Iowa. 1 got
it oil' in one or two places of the state, too. It is this:
"Take the Hag.; put it in your pulpit; put it i" the school house, and learn your
children to exclaim, as 1 do mine:
Now, great emblem of the brave.
With purpose lixed we stand:
Keady to liatlle, ready to save
The pride and honor of this land
Wave o'er the country from on high,
Wave o'er the halt and lame.
Wave on! We will battle till we die
To save that honor -fame.''
r.ti
IOWA HORNETS1 NEST LUUOADK
God bless the Hay of our country! Don't you ssa.y so. too:" Now,
with me, as one oi the defenders oi the Hay, 1 have one request to
make. L want every one in this audience, in the presence oJ (Uncial
B. M. Prentiss, that loves that Hay, 1 want him lo hurrah. Old and
young, arise to your feet. Now with me, renewing our allegiance to
the Hag ox our country, give three cheers to the Hay ;i> L cheer.
Wait ami you ladies yet your handkerchiefs in your hands you
needn't cheer, but just wave your handkerchiefs as the men cheer.
Boys and gentlemen, all together three cheers for the Hay of our na-
tion anil its laws! (Hip, hip, hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!)
Now, ladies and gentlemen, having that pledge from von. 1 can
go to Missouri a happy man.
Col. Ryan then introduced Gen. Osborn, ot Chicago, in the follow-
ing words:
"1 now have the extreme pleasure of introducing one oi my old
friends from Illinois, General Osborn, "*v ho was appointed by General
Grant minister to Buenos Ayres; the handsome and accomplished
gentleman who was minister there for sixteen years in succession.
General Osborn, my friends. Gome forward, m^ General. 1 have
talked him to steep nearly. 'Ladies and gentlemen, General Osborn,
of Chicago.''
General < >sborn.
Ladies and Gentlemen :
Since coming here 1, too, have- caught the spirit, and I would
gladly talk to you, but Judge Ryan wont let me. So 1 hid you good-
al ternooii.
Judge Rvan.
''Laditb and Gentlemen :
" That is a Next uu the program is music."
After music, the meeting adjourned to the court yard, where
General Prentiss spoke to an immense crowd.
After that, preparations were begun for the parade, and in a
short time it u as formed, and an imposing procession it made. The
order was as follows:
Marshals- M. A. McCord and O. C. .Meredith.
K. T. Hand, led by Drum Major on horseback.
Co. L, T. N. G.
Newton hire- Department.
Normal Institute Students, three hundred strong, headed
by Miss Walsh in a carriage.
( i.irretl Post, G. A. R.
\V. R. C.
L. of G. A. R.
Martial Band of nine pieces.
Hornets' Nest Brigade.
The line of march was taken just as advertised and terminated
at the east side of the school house, where seats had been built to
IOWA ILOKNKTS N KST LHtlLiADtf
accommodate the crowd. The exercises were under the direction oi
Normal school. A fter a spirit eel duet given by two Little daughters
of S. K. Laird. Prof. I). M. Kelly extended the following welcome to
the Brigade in behalf of the Normal. The address was permeated
with a spirit of the truest patriotism and noblesl manhood:
LudU'Ji and (U nlh Yiien:
As a young man 1 feel most highly honored hy the invitation ex-
tended to me to appeal' on this occasion as a representative oi that
loyui brigade of Jasper county teachers, voicing as best 1 may the
respect, veneration and lo\e they bear for that immortal brigade ot
•frizzled veterans who honor us and the cause we represent by the
very fact of their presence.
We can say to you nothing that is new. We can add no new hon-
ors to these .soldiers living' or to their comrades dead. We can sur-
round with no new glory a subject that is already glorified in every
loyal heart that throbs and heats beneath the .Stars anil Stripes.
We can oiler you, our honored guests, only tin tribute ol praise and
gratitude that is due from our generation to your generation. We
can oiler you only the tribute of praise that is due from the protect-
ed to the protectors livyig and the protectors dead.
What we have gleaned from the pages of history, you men who
honor us with your presence, gleaned from the pages ol hitler exper-
ience. What we have heard of the ravages and the spirit of war,
you saw and with your own eyes. You were the actors in that great
and awful tragedy of civil strife. We are but the camp followers
reaping the rewards of your exertions.
1 a iii afraid that we sometimes forget what courage, devotion
and patriotism were displayed by our soldiers in the late war. Some
of them returned and they are with us yet. Some returned but their
stay was only brief. Some died upon the held of battle and ashes
mingle with ashes in the long and ghastly trench. Some died' in
prison, cruel, cruel death! and their forms are now mouldering in the
bosom of their mother Karth. Some died from pestilence
and exposure and are now resting peacefully in graves unknown and
uncared for.
It must be hard to die, even at home in the arms of father or
mother, but what must it be to die far from home and mother, without
a friend to lift the sinking head; without a hand to -wipe the death
dew from the failing eyes: torn by bullets and sabers: crushed by Hy-
ing splinters and the trampling hoof. Homeless, friendless, name-
less, dying. No one to see. no eve to pity, but the eye ot the (Ireat
God of battles.
Oh, it is hard to die! The green fields, the singing birds, the
happy homes are hard to yield for that narrow house and the
crawling worm. The bright flowers nod their heads to us and bid
us stay. The blue sky spreads wide her arms and entreats us not to
die. There is something in the heart of every sane man that tells
him he must live. "Self preservation is the first law of human na-
ture,''yet these soldiers did not falter in the time of danger. Tin-
father kissed his baby and then was ready for the sacrifice. The son
received his mother's blessing and went out to battle for his country.
for his home, for liberty and for us. and are we truly grateful? Do
we realize the good they gave us? Would yon cross the ocean into
England, ITance, Germany the Stars and Stripes are at once yoiir
passport and safeguard, [uthc fastnesses of the Himalayas or in
58
IOWA HORNETS' NKST BRIGADE
the jungles of the Amazon, wrapped in the flag of the United States,
you are safe in time of danger. At home or abroad, in peace or in
war, that (lag is ever your faithful guardian and friend.
It has been steeped in loyal blood; it has been powder stained and
bullet torn; it has been furled in honorable defeat and reared aloft
in many a hard won victory; it lias waved over the heights ol Look-
out Mountain and sunk beneath the dark waters of the Mississippi;
but thank God no stain now mars its striped Held, no jewel is missing
from its starry crown. On Shi'oh's battle ground, an emblem of jus-
tice, it lay folded close in the heart of every loyal son of Iowa, tied
round with the tenderest cords of his affection and sealed with a vow-
never to surrender it up until that heart wascold-and stilfin death.
Upon every school-house in the state of Iowa, that banner
should float, float, an emblem of patriotism, of liberty and of unsul-
lied honor.
In the great ledger of Justice from IStiO to 1805, liberty is credit-
ed by names and deeds that years of infamy will not over balance.
Turn to that page, 'tis open to all heading these lists of credits
will be found the name of Lincoln; following close after comes
the name of your beloved commander Grant. Memories cluster
round those names, "Memories of the days that tried the souls
of men." Here is a cluster of names blotted and tear stained and
we know that Shiloh's dead are entered here: iiimn this crimson
page the heroes of Gettysburg; upon that the slain on the fatal
held by Fredericksburg. Oh, my soldier friends, praise is all that
I can give you. 1 never heard the whistle of an enemy's bullet,
you heard many. I never ministered to the wantsoi a friend, cut
down in defense of the old Hag. You ministered to the- wants of a
brother, you moistened his lips from your old canteen and you buri-
ed him far from home and friends, all because, he loved that old Hag.
I never saw a comrade starving, rotting, dying iii a prison pen be-
cause he refused to take the oath of allegiance to a state in rebel-
lion. You did. You tried it yourselves, many of you to the extreme
limit of endurance, your bowed forms and shrunken limbs ^t i 1 1 testify
thereto. I never even did battle for my country or mv home. You
diil both, upon the hillside, hi the valley and by the stream. Your
bunk mate lies buried by the l'1 iher of Waters, your comrades in the
swamps of Alabama and th : cotton fields of Georgia. Where e're
they rest 'tis hallowed gron id. watered by t heir blood and a nation's
tears. Teachers, never bef :e have we been so honored. We
have now before us the grandest object lesson of patriotism that
our time shall ever know. Let the lesson sink deep into your
hearts and establish there a renewed determination to teach well
the great lesson of lowfor America audf'or American institutions.
Here In the shadow of this sanctuary, the grandest in America,
made possible by the patriotism and devotion of these men and such
as these; here in the shadow of the free school, the birth-plaee_ of
American liberty: here in the shadow of this school house, from which
floats, thanks to' these men and such as these, that beautiful emblem
of red, white and blue: here in the presence of these teachers, whose
sentiments I am called on to express, in their names and in the
names of the school children of Iowa, I place my hand upon the walls
of this building, the free school of America, and proclaim honor to
you as friends, love to you as soldiers, and veneration to you a? patri-
otic defenders of liberty and union!
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE. 59
Prof. Kelly's address of welcome wai responded to by L. Kinkead,
8th Iowa, and R. M. Terrill, of the 12th Iowa. We regret that we
cannot present them as both were good, but all our efforts to get
their manuscripts have failed. They will be court martialed at our
next reunion, for disobedience of orders.
The Brigade at the close of the exercises marched to headquart-
ers and disbanded.
tJO
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIOADE.
Camp F i re.
V V V
The Brigade assembled at head quarters at T:.'i() p. m. ami escort-
ed by the drum corps, marched to the opera house Col. Ryan presided
at the ( lamp fire.
The exercises were opened I » \ an earnest prayer by Rev. llarrah,
followed Ijy a solo, "Tenting on the Old Camp (Ground," Ijy Pred
Elough. The lir.st speaker introduced was ( 'ol. Codfrey. of the lid Iowa.
"Johnson's Surrender to Sherman.'' The main points are only given in
the papeV at tin.- request of the Col,:
" Johnson's Surrender to Sherman" by Col. G. L. Godfrey."
Ladies and (U ull< mt n. ami Cuvtnulix:
I appear before von to night under rather embarrassing circum-
stances, not so much so now. not so embarrassing since 1 have been
here ami met your people ami received the cordi ■! hospital-
ity that 1 have, as I was when 1 started from home. A
little embarrassing because Mr. Ryan presided here tonight.
There may lie difficulty between Ryan and me. he being the chairman
he has got the advantage of me, hut 1 want to say to tin- members of
the Hornets' Nest Brigade, that you will never appreciate, you will nev-
er fully know ami cannot appreciate because you do not know the
work that this chairman has done to forward the interest of getting
up this reunion. Now if he has written you half as many letters, as
he has me in regard to it, he must have employed ali the typewriters
in Newton, and 1 do not know but that is the case. Why it got so in
the morning mail, if the children in bringing in the mail didn't see a
letter with Dave Ryan's name in the upper corner of it, they would
say, " What do you suppose is the matter with Mr. Ryan? Is he sick?"
That is the fact. He was in great distress about getting somebody
to talk- for the 2d Iowa. 1 proposed this man, and thai in, in. and
other men, and he couldn't get lixed, and finally I told him I had a
paper that I had prepared to read before another military organiza-
tion, that would take from ten to fifteen minutes, and that as a
last resort 1 could briny that paper down. Well, now the cordial
reply I got to that was, "Well, Colonel, bringdown the paper and il
we can't do any bettei we will let you read it." Well, that was pretty
good. 1 felt pretty good over thai. That was only equalled, though,
by the earnest solicitation 1 had from another member from Newton
about my coming here, and that is a member also that I have seen
working in the interests of this organization since 1 have been
here — 1 refer to Col. Manning. Now Mr. Llyan came up to
l)es Moines and came before tin- committee and asked tin-
LOWA HORNETS' N KST HWUIADK.
M
committee to bring the organization here this time. I le says, "The
people ill Newton will entertain the rioruets' Nest Brigade, free.'"
oli. says 1, "That won't do; what authority have you got for saying
that?' lie say s. "I have got the authority of the mayor and every-
Ik>I\ in Newton.'' " What will yon do with us? Von liaven't got a
hotel large enough.'' "Well, we will parcel you out anion;; the peo-
ple." Well the committee decided to come here. A few weeks alter
that, Col. Manning came to Des Moines -it was during the state con-
vention he came into a room hi the Savery lions,' where I was
sitting. Now you know the Colonel has got one of the nio.-t beaming
laces in the world; he is a handsome man also, but lie has got a
pocket in that face where he keeps his stock all stored and disguised,
and he can open that pocket and spread it all over his face better
than a 113 other man thai I ever saw. lie came in and he had his face
disguised, when lie saw me sitting there. Sa\s I. "Cood morning."
"(ioo.i morning." " When did you come up?'' ".lust got in." said he;
"We had a meeting down to Newton this morning.'' "A meeting?''
" Yes." "Well, what about?" "Oh. about your confounded Brigade."
" Well, what of it?" I£e savs, "It falls to my lot to have to entertain
you while down there.'' Well that was encoui aging, but I told him if
J could st tnd it t wo days, I the ight he could. Well, I have been here
and I have been to his house two days and he is stiil alive and so am I.
thanks to his good wife, And I feel as though 1 wanted the
largest hearted man !itj to offer smn.: resolutions ot thanks.
I bdi"/e there is a c uuinlttee appointel, though. Well, 1
hope the committee ifrill cover all these thing- in their thanks,
and then" is one thing further that I hope they will not forget
that struck me. and that is this. The recitation we had last
night, on "rfhiloh Battlefield at Night." I had never heard it before.
I hope there did not any of you see me sitting back here in the corner
wiping my eyes at the recitation of that. II you did, I hope you will
not call me a baby. But it was grand. Now the mayoi told in his
opening .speech, "Boys, if you see anything that you want, take it.
If yon can't reach it. ask any ol the citizens of Newton to hand it
down to you." Now 1 want to ask some of the citizens of Newton
to hand down that beautiful young lady that recited that piece to
ns last night that w<; may shake hands with her and thank' her for
the entertainment that she gave us. [Applause.]
But now to this paper. 1 am not going to read it all.
The Col. then read a paper on t be surrender of Johnson to Gen.
Sherman. The paper sustained Gen. Sherman in his first agreement
with .John-ou. which agreement was disapproved by [.'resident
Johnson, (President Lincoln having been killed > few days previous to
Johnson's surrender.) That Sherman had consulted with Lincoln
just a few davs before, at City Point, the paper took the grounds
that Sherman was carrying uut the policy of President Lincoln and
sustained this view by liberal quotations from the conversation •» be"
tween Lincoln, Grant and Admiral Porter, had at City Point, just a
few days previous to the surrender, and in closing the paper censured
severely the newspapers which published the unfriendly criticisms
against Sherman, and also Secretary of War Stanton and Gen. llal-
leck for tbei." ill conduct toward Gen. Sherman, asbrave and patriotic
a commander as ever led an army.
62 IOWA HORNETS' nest brigade.
Prof. A. N. Currier gave us the following excellent paper, which
gave evidence of much thought in its preparation;
"The Long Roll."
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am really afraid that some of these younger people will remem-
ber the old soldier who fought a little a good many years ago, and
ever since that time have talked about it when they got a chance,
but you have made a very grave mistake if you make so severe a
judgment against us. This is only one of our spells, but as the
Hornets' Nest Brigade have only one of these spells, once in three
years, I think you may put up with it, but still 1 am afraid that after
these speeches are over, you may think a new definition of speeches
which I have heard will be very appropriate, ft is a definition that
is not found in Webster or the Standard dictionary, or the Encyclo-
pedia or the Century, but is taken from the bicycle. Somebody has
slid, that a great many speeches are pneumatic tires. I will say to
you that my "tire" shall be very short, because 1 heard what Col.
Ryan said, and having risked my life a few times thirty years ago 1
do not propose to endanger it tonight. When this speech was assigned
me — for I did not choose it myself — I only accepted it because, as
a soldier, 1 had learned that when Col. Bell gave the command I must
obey. It would seem a grievous sin against the proprieties to make
the beating of the Long Roll the prelude to a speech, in war times,
certainly, it was never a call to words, but a cry to arms, to arms!
that put the blood astir in our veins and sent it tingling to our
finger tips. After these thirty years of peace, it calls up anew and
most vividly many a stirring scene and hard fought struggle, but at
this moment, most of all, the bloody field of Shiloh— to most of us the
first experience of a real battlefield. The Long Roll on that memora-
ble morning came to us as an utter surprise. There had, indeed, been
some stray shots on the picket line during the night, and we heard the
firing at the front that took place when the outmost regiments were
surprised while yet asleep in their camps. But there was no thought
of a general engagement in which we should share. The routine of
Sunday morning went on quite undisturbed. Divine services were an-
nounced for 11 o'clock and inspection was going on on the color line
of the 8th when the order came from Brigade headquarters, directing
the beating of the Long Roll and preparations for an immediate
march to the battlefield. There was a quiver in Adjt. Sam Rankin's
voice as he reported the order and Cooney's nervous lingers for a
moment forgot their cunning but it was only for a moment and then
the Roll was beaten in dead earnest that said, "to arms, to arms!"
with more emphasis than any words could i\o. They thrilled us like
an electric shock and it seemed as if their echo reached regiment
after regiment and brigade after brigade as the call sounded again
and again and the excitement and bustle surge, 1 through all that
great camp, which up to that moment had seemed more like a great
picnic than a theatre of war. Everybody was greatly excited, but if
there was fear in their heart there was none in the faces or the
actions of our men. Those who had been ill and off duty, claimed to
be well again, and those on special duty asked to be released from
their details. One thing alone weighed upon our spirits, Col. Ceddes
was under arrest and we might be compelled to go into battle without
him We all felt that it would be a great misfortune to be deprived
of his experience, his skill and his bravery at such a crisis. But,
however, he is released from arrest and amid the shouts of the men
IOWA HOUNETS' NEST UltlGADE.
03
leads us to the Held. L shall not attempt to describe the events of
that bloody Held. Marke.d as it was by serious disaster, it was still
more marked by the high courage and stubborn resistance against
superior force. Those of us who fell into the hands of the enemy on
Sunday evening had not then, and have not now, any apology to idler
for that misfortune. We could not be driven from our post h\ the
repeated and violent attacks of the enemy. We indicted losses out
of all proportion to those we suffered. Those who did not die in their
tracks were overwhelmed and captured with their faces to the foe. It
was otii' misfortune and not our fault that we did not share in the
dearly bought victory of Monday. Serious as were the Union losses
from the lack of foresight and preparation on the part of Grant and
Sherman, as well as from the courage and skill of the etieinv. Shiloh
was ,i victory of great consequence to our cause' Grant's pluck and
capacity in action were displayed in a greater battle than heretofore,
but more than all else, the metal of the western armies was tested
in a supreme effort and found to be of the ii nest and best. The bluster
and swagger in rebel quarters stopped short, there was no more talk
of one rebel being as good as three Yankees, and both arm 'e> realized,
as never before, the seriousness and magnitude of the conflict.
Comrades, it is hard to believe that a third of a century lies be-
tween us and thosi/ events, so fresh in our memory ami thoughts, and
yet it is not hard to realize it when we look into each others faces and
behold the traces ot the years in features and forms. Then we were
boys, or young men, full of life and energy, now our hair is gray, or
white, and our step is lesS elastic— men ca'l us old. but [ assert that
we are yet young and vigorous and lit. for service, whenever and
wherever the drum beat of duty summons us to arms. The count r\ is
indeed saved and safe from rebels, and is Union in a truer and fuller
sense than ever before, but our term of service is not over, if we are
the true men we claim to be. What was worth saving at such a cost
of blood and treasure, must be kept as a sacred trust and handed over
to the generations to come, without spot or blemish. Not on the far
off Held- of the south, but in our ver\ midst, must the battle be fought
against the violators of the sanctity of the law through chicane, or
corruptions, or open violence, against the enemies of our public
schools, the enemies of a pure and free ballot, against the foes of the
perfect freedom of labor and of flu- equality of all American citizens
in rights and privileges without regard to color, ancestry or religious
creed.
Comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic, we have shown how
a million citizens, attached to their homes and devoted to the pursuits
of peace, could be transformed, for love of country, into valiant
soldiers. We have shown how a mighty army, (lushed with victory,
could gladly lay down its arms and resume the duties and occupations
of civil life. Let us continue to show how gray haired veterans ever
true to Old Glory- our free and stainless Hag, can do conspicuous
service to the land we fought to save, with no furlough and no dis-
charge until the final muster out.
Miss Belle Lambert gave an excellent rendering of'"Money Musk''
of which the audience showed their appreciation by their loud ap-
plause.
Then came singing, after which 11. G. Curtis, of the 8th Iowa,
was drafted to fill the place of uue of the speakers who was absent
(5-1
IOWA HOKNKTS1 NEST BRIGADE.
and who was to have talked .-(.bout "The man that carried a gun,"
and responded in a brief and telling manner as follows:
( 'umradey.
1 came here to listen, not to talk. I am not on the program but
1 am one of thus." hoys that carried a gun. I am one of the fellows
that helped put down. th's rebellion, and 1 belonged to a regiment
that helped to do it. and to a Brigade thai helped to do it. Now
you sav, how was this done anyhow? The boys loved their country;
the girls loved the boys: a combination that was invincible. (Loud
applause.)
Wm. T. McMakin, of the Uth Iowa, as the hist speaker, had the
subject, "We took touch of elbows." As he stated, the paper was eon-
lined principally to the Uth Iowa, but it was no doubt a like cxperi-
ance of many of the other comrades.
Mr. Chainwin, Ladicxand (h <Ule»i")i., and Contrails:
Comrades: I want to take you back, let your minds revert hack
some thirty years a<ro. D.i you recollect when you were recruits?
1 am a raw recruit tonight and vet 1 feel that 1 can stand as a soldier
' f [ can do nothing else, if I cannot say a word tonight 1 can point
to that old Ma- that "contains the history of all of us. I feel, com-
rades, tonight, that it is good to be here. I feel that we have in
these associations and these reunions, that we again take the •'touch
of elbow." We feel the grasp of the hand:'we light over our battles
a<> Liu: we renew our age: we live longer for enjoying these things I
know many of our comrades and t would refer you to our old com-
mander of the 14th Iowa— look at the difference as he appears up-
on the stage, as he appeared before von and addressed you He is
old in years vet how supple he is: young in heart as any of us
What I shall say tonight will be principally in relation to the
Uth Iowa, as my history is in that as a private, and 1 feel that tie
existing as von all feel, and comrades, while there is a tie existing
running between all of this great army, yet there is a tie of regi-
ment, vet there is an inner tie of company. I would draw the at-
tention of the comrades to a question that has never been brought
up as 1 see, that tin- Uth Iowa was the largest regiment that went
from the state of Iowa, not in number of members but in companies.
We had first, three: we had again, seven, then three more, making
in all thirteen companies that were organized and in the Uth Iowa,
not at one time, however. And I would again call the attention of
the Uth Iowa that our extent of service was as great as any regi-
ment that ever went from the state of {o.v;i. Now the first active
campaign that I experienced was at Ft. Henry. Von recollect that
we were booked for that place but we got in a lit tie too late to
capture the Fort. It was taken. We landed upon the hank near
Ft. ll.mrv. You recollect we lay there over the Sabbath day. Well
on Sabbath morning while we were some of us writing and some of
us doing various work, down through that camp charged a beef
animal. " Well, we wanted fresh meal We grasped our gun, I with
the rest, nol knowing who was with me. and after that animal we
started. Down we went and [ fired at it. and a man at my right
hand fired: at that I looked around to see who it was and it was
our chaplain. Well, I thought I was in good company if 1 had the
chaolain, but the worst of that thing, comrades, was, they sent word
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE. * ()5.
right back home that MeMakin and the chaplain were out stealing
cattle. Now that wasn't so; we wasn't stealing; there was no steal-
ing in thi* army, it was either eapturingor confiscating. You re-
member, comrades, when we were taken prisoners at Shiloh. 1 pass
over that; there has been enough said on that today and 1 cannot
do any better, no. not half as well as those who have spoken before
me. But you remember when we were captured and taken to
Memphis, that v\e were quartered in that old commission house on
the banks of the Mississippi. You recollect how crowded our quar-
ters were at that time; we hadn't room to lie down, part oi us had
to stand up. Alter we had been there two or three days the com-
missioned officers came to the door and said it there was any com-
munication that we wished to send back to our friends in the north
that he would see that it was carried with a Hag of truce which
they expected in a tew days, in tact they looked for the capture of
Memphis. It' we would write an open letter, he would see that it
was taken.
So my comrades wrote a letter to tin- Burlington Hawkeye, giv-
ing the names of that company and our condition there. That we
were all well, none of us wounded, and that we were having enough to
eat for the present. We wanted to alleviate the fears of those
friends that were north, that had heard nothing, as many of the com-
rades can testify here tonight. We knew the anxiety there was at
home, and how much anxietfy there was in those days to hear from
those boys. We gave the letter into the hands of the officer. He
went out with it. On the night following 1 yvasstanding at the door of
the entrance that went out into the hall and one of'the private guards
that stood there- you know, comrades, that those guards were princi-
pally Union men at heart —told me that night privately, says he,
that letter will never go. If you will write a letter, 1 am going to
leave this place if the Union troops don't capture it in a few days, I
will see that your letter goes to your lines. 1 took from my pocket a
leaf, 1 had an envelope, and 1 wrote a letter to my wife in Des Moines
county, and gave it to him and addressed it. That was the only let-
ter, tlie only word, with the exception of one that 1 heard came to a
member of the 8th Iowa, from the same person or mailed at the same
place. 1 don't know whether that is true, perhaps I may get a re-
sponse to it, but that letter was mailed in another envelope, in Illi-
nois, and came safely to my wife, the first and only word that came
from our boys.
Now. comrades, 1 must say a word of tribute to our old command-
er. We have had many commanders of troops in this state, many
colonels, but, comrades of the Fourteenth, where is the man, where is
the officer that went from Iowa that you would exchange for our old
colonel, William T. Shaw, of Auamosa'^
'Phis was followed by a solo, "The Vacant Chair,'' beautifully ren-
dered by Mr. 11 M. Vaughan.
The Committee on Resolutions then presented the following re-
port, which was adopted:
Itexolced, That it is the sense of the Hornets' Nest Brigade that
the legislature of Iowa should, at its coining session, appropriate a
sufficient sum of money for the erection of a monument befitting the
wealth and dignity of our state, on the battlefield of Shiloh. to com-
lili IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
memorate the valor of the Iowa soldiers on thai liloo,]\ field.
lusulcid, That a committee consisting" of one from each regiment
ot this brigade, be appointed, whose duty it shall be, in conjunction
with other Iowa regiments, to impress upon the next general assem-
bly the duty of making an appropriation oJ L'rom tfTa.OUO to $100,1)00
for the purpose of carrying into execution the object herein set
forth,
liisulnd. That this association returns its sincere thanks to the
patriotic citizens of Newton ami vicinity for the »Teat interest they
have taken in the success of this meeting", as well as in the comfort
and happiness of everyone in attendance; for the tree use of this op-
era house and other rooms, and for the music and literary fen lures
ol the several programs. We have been made to feel at home by a
most cordial welcome, and by every kindness and courtesy that a gen-
erous people could extend, for all of which the town of Newton will
always be gratefully remembered and esteemed by this association.
S. A. MOOKK, I
.1. W. AM.hs.
\V. 1 !. i.kli.. | ( 'oimnit tee.
T. li. Bdgin<;ton,
S. CHAPMAN, i
Col. Bell of the Sth Iowa then insisted that Col. Cyan, though
modest , should fa voi' us with a speech ami said, "It was made the duty
ofthesenior officers of the several regiments to name parties who
were to appear and take part in this camp lire. I am sorry to say
that one of those it was my dutj to name did not appear, and it is
the first time in all my recollection that ever he failed to obej my
command, and that is our chairman. I do not know whether it was
because of modesty because he is at home, but now 1 insist on it that
we hear from our worthy chairman. Col. Ryan."
Col. Ryan overcame his modesty and replied:
Lin/its (tint Gi ittlemt it:
It affords me very threat pleasure that I have an opportunity to
stand before you tonight for 1 have something special that I desire to
say. I want to say first, that I feel triad that we were permitted to
meet the comrades of the Hornets' Nest Brigade here in the city of
Newton. But there is something" else that I desire to say. Comrade
Burns and myself are the only two comrades that belong" to this
Brigade that reside in the city of Newton. When we came home and
reported' what we had done, and that the Brigade desired to spend
their next reunion with us, we '.vent first to the Cost, the (hand Army
Cost, No. 10, Grand Army of the Republic Immediately they aid
thus, "Whatever 3'ou desire, name it and you shall have it." We
were not modest in our request and we asked that there be various
committees appointed and there has not been a single person ap-
pointed upon any one of those committees but has responded most
heartily. Our town has been canvassed, notwithstanding the fact
that there were over 300 teachers attending normal school here. Now
we were not aware of that at the time the dale was fixed, and I con-
fess it was with a great deal of timidity when I learned that fact that
we sent out this committee a ml asked them what doors would open. 1
want to say, my fellow citizens, that I thank you from the very bot-
tom of my heart. It touched my feelings when the committee came
IOWA HORNKTS' NKST UltlOADE. 67
in anil said there: was uul a single door in all the town but swung open
upon it- hinges to receive my comrades ol Liu- Hurnets' Nest Brigade.
[Applause] There lias not been a single request that has hern made
hut what has been responded to. We went to our city fathers and
they said to us, "Gentlemen, name what you wish," The mayor
has expressed and it was no buncombe, it was no simple
words for sound only it stated to you the naked lads, that the
gates ol the city were thrown open.
There was nothing' thai we have demanded and I want to
say that it was an easy matter, it made it a matter so easy that it has
been a pleasure to assist in the organization of tins reu.nion that we
havejiad here. Now 1 want to say further that I made it my "business
to inquire of the comrades: I hadn't much else to do. The committees
took everythingelsc off of my hands at my request and at the re-
quest of comrade: Burns, ami have executed everything that we
requested, and so I say I had little to do but sit around and ask the
comrades how they were received and what sort a'i quarters they had
in general ways am! special ways, and evervime'of them have said
"Such magniliccnt treatment we have never received lie fore." That
made m\ heart dad too, fellow citizens h\>r them I want to stand
before you tonight and in the presence of the company that yet re-
main, to thank you for the generous entertainment that you have
extended to Lhem. And more let me -a \ . that it puts me under such
obligation that any time I ran hi of service to you under like or sim-
ilar circumstances, tin doors and my home are open to von. I do
not desire to take your time in talking. Here at the end ol this
program I know that you don't desire to be entertained, but this
much I do want to say of l he uiagnilicent music that we have had.
All that I had to do was to make a single suggestion, and it is fair
that we say, that so many offers wen- made of hospitality, that
i hough we feared that we would nol be able to accommodate all that
came, there were a hundred and more places for other comrades
had they come. The next time when you come to Newton, do not come
with your brigade alone, come with your division, come in solid
phalanx, come one. come all, and the doors of Newton, the gates
of the city will be open a welcome will be extended to you. our
hand-- will be outstretched to you. Comrades, God bless you. [
know we will not all meet again, Cod bless you.
Much feeling was- expressed at the close of the camp fire.
In closing we feel it would he proper to make mention of some
of those who so materially aided in making our Reunion such a
grand success, and for the kindness and hospitality shown us: to
Col. I). Ryan who is entitled to great credit for his zeal and untir-
ing efforts, always in the thick of the fight; Mrs Rodgers and Miss
Townsend, who hail charge of the singing, and to all the singers
who so ably seconded their efforts: nor would we forget the Mttle ones
wheat the opening exercises sang' so beautifully; Col. .Manning, who
acted as quartermaster ami commisary, ail h>4 assistants, Mrs
S. S Patterson and Mrs. <>. C. Meredith- the Col. would make a good
Hornet,, we'll take him in; Rob't. Burns, he is already a Hornet and
is all O. 11.: .Mis.-. Beamen, the stenographer, who by her skill has en-
f>8
IOWA HORNETS' NEST HKKiADl
abled us to give you the extempore speeches; the G. A. K., we've
touched elbows; and finally to one and all of the citizens of Newton,
thanks foi your kindness and hospitality, ever remembered and nev-
er forgotten.
IOWA HORNETS' NKST BKIOADK
till
Hornets' J^est t^oster.
The following is a list of the members of the Brigade who were
present and registered:
2nd lu\VA INFANTRY.
Company 15.
Mennig, Geo., Sheldon, lo'wa lleilman, J. S., Bennett, Iowa
Dow, Albert, Newton, Iow,a Smallenburg, M., Buffalo, N. Y..
Worth, L. A., Southerland, Ja. [800 Eagle St.,]
Park, J. C, West Liberty Quinn, A. .1.. New Sharon, Iowa
Thompson, M. L., Eailham, Iowa
Company C.
Albright, ('lias. P., Primghar, la. McNeil, II. 0., Sioux City, Iowa
Rodgers, C. 1)., Davenport, Iowa
Company l>.
Becker, Phillip, Berkley. Iowa Painter, .1. C, Des Moines, Iowa.
Vount, H. .1., Norwalk, Iowa Godfrey, G. I.., Des Moines, Iowa
Yant, 1)., Spaulding, Iowa Husband, (J. Y., Shell Bock, Iowa
Christy, W . I)., Des .Moines. la. Marsh, E. L., Des Moines, iowa
Company E.
Sims, W. S., Des Moines, Iowa Moore, W. S., Des Moines, Iowa
Company V.
Bateman, J. Y., Soldiers Home. Marshalltown, Iowa
( 'o.MPANY G.
Thorp, P. J., Beacon, Iowa Moure, S. A., Bloomlield, Iowa
Company II.
Amerine, Moses, Muscatine, Iowa Varney, W. E., Wellman, Iowa
Corbin, S. I... West Liberty, Iowa
Company K.
Cook, David, Oskaloosa, Iowa Coyne, B., Richland, Kansas
Blake, Geo. W.. Chariton, Iowa
7th IOWA INFANTRY.
Maj. Samuel M'Mahon, Ottumwa, Iowa.
COMPANY A.
Foulk, J. 1)., Marshalltown, Iowa Morgan, Geo., Des Moines. Iowa
Company B.
Trotter, .). A., Shell Bock, Iowa.
( lOMPANY < !.
Snook, Isaiah, LaCelle, Iowa Martin, G. W., E. I )es Moines, Iowa
(iaston. .1. N., Boone Comity, la. Flo it, .1. W.. Alhia, Iowa
James, Barney, 1 Inion Mills, la. iloit, N., Ferry, Iowa
Grant, James, Oskaloosa, iowa Mendenhall, G. W., New Sharon, la.
Baer,'John K. Oskaloosa, Iowa Phillips, Aaron, Lacey, Iowa
McDonough, J. P., Kirkville, la. McDonough, L. C, Lacey, Iowa
10 IOWA HORNETS' NEST URIGADE.
Company 1).
Morrison, J. B., Ft. Madison, La. Francis, A. B., Oskaloosa, Iowa
Company I'1.
Bearden, F. S., Newbern, lowa Bartlett, II. S., Fremont, Iowa
( ( IMP ANY G.
Seaman, W. N., Des Moines, la. Fields, A. F., Colfax, Iowa
Laming', F. T., Marengo, Iowa Alters, J. W., Des Moines, Iowa
Kepner, 11. Marengo. Iowa Burns, Robt., Newton. Iowa
COMPANY PL
Logan, S. M.. Washington, la. Calhoun, S. S., Dobiin, Iowa
Lewis, .). 1L, Nira, Iowa , Glider, Geo., Well man, Iowa
Rickey, C. I)., Ottumwa, Iowa
Company I.
Swanson, Mike. Knoxville, Iowa Swalm, c. I'., Oskaloosa, Iowa
Company K.
Spence, Tim, Knoxville, Iowa Morris, \V\. Springliehl, Iowa
Iiorton, I.., Richland, Iowa Gregory, Joel, KLchland, Iowa
I tudolph, John, Keota, Iowa.
STI1 IOWA 1NFANTKY-.
Col. W. Bell, Washington, Iowa.
COMPANY A.
Smith, Spencer, Van Horn. Iowa Smith, I'. A., Scrauton, lowa
Company B.
Whitsel, J., Iowa City, Lowa
Company C.
Carris, S. 1)., Dublin, lowa Hall, R. N., Chicago, Blinois
Campbell, K. I''., Keota, lowa [,Y,ll.) Warren Ave.]
Prentiss, B. M., Bethany. Mo. Gri 111th, A. L., Dos Moines, lowa
Carl, -I. II., Muscatine, lowa Bill, VV. I.J., Washington, lowa
Carrier, A. N., lowa City, lowa Bosworth, 11. I'., (lay, lowa
Palmer, S. II., Dexter, lowa
Company D.
Harper, Alex, Vinton, lowa Birch, Rollin I)., Rockwell City, la.
Skea, .1. 1'., Cedar Rapids, lowa
Company H.
McMillan, John. Knoxville, lowa Jacob, Win., Knoxville, lowa
Neely, Joe, Flagler, lowa Ryan, D., Newton, lowa
Neely, Hen. Knoxville, lowa Newman. Dave, Newbern, lowa
Gaston, W.. Knoxville, lowa Kinkade, Len, Des Moines, lowa
Roebuck, Wm. F., Attica, lowa Banta, B. F., Knoxville, lowa
Ryan, Robert, Lincoln, Nebraska Clark, A. M.. Durham, lowa
Curtis, II. G., Atlantic, Iowa
LOW A HORNETS* NEST BRIGADE.
1
Company P.
LCennon. J. G, Nit. Auburn, Iowa Paton, A. A.. Atwood, Iowa
Allen, I). !•:., Keswick, Iowa Carey, A. A., Pes Moines. Iowa
Lamb, Daniel, Maxdn, Iowa Reynolds, W. P., Siyourney, Iowa
Perkins. (J. \\ ., Lacey, Iowa
( OMI'A.N'V G.
Bush, W. I'., Gilmore, City, Iowa Mentzer, J. B., Toddville, Iowa
I ledge. Jester, Montezuma, Iowa Lyons. A. M., Marengo. Iowa
Owen, G. W., Marengo. Iowa Pddy, \Vr. M.. Oxford, Iowa
Marshal], A.,' Carlisle, Iowa Pddy, L., Oskaloosa. Iowa
Company ii.
Wells, Charles, Knoxville, Iowa Dunlap, S. M., Des Moines, Iowa
Kills, P. M., Norwalk, Iowa Williams. C. T.. Toledo, Iowa
Sargent, W. \\r., Grinnell, Iowa McGlasson, W. T.. Almina, Kan.
Blizzard. .1. \\\. Kerry, Iowa MePall, C. W., Orillia, Iowa
Zane, I. II.. Oskaloosa, Iowa Kirkpatric, W. IT., Oskaloosa, la.
Collin, P., Oskaloosa, Iowa Winder, W. W., Oskaloosa, Iowa
Company l.
Turner, If. L., Oskaloosa. Iowa Simmons, Jesse. Attica. Iowa
K.ilioa. Michael, litissell. Iowa Turner, Asa. Oldlield, Iowa
Adeoek, I., Melrose, Iowa Loevel, Li. J.. Wood burn, Iowa
Searle, C. P., Oskaloosa, Iowa
Company k.
(oaves, K., Juha. Illinois I luinphre y, J . M.. Creenlield, Iowa
Sullivan. J. I.J., Wapello, Iowa Bartes, J. I).. Marsh, Iowa
Story, I. K.. ludianola. Iowa Moore, K.J. W., Cool, Iowa
12TII IOWA [NPANTKY
Company a.
Cobb, G. II., Kldora J unction, la. Sawin, G. S., Union, Iowa
Wilson, T. II., Robertson, Iowa Pdgi ng ton', ( 'apt . T. 15., Memphis,
Clarkson, Dick, Pes Moines. Iowa [Tennessee
Zieger. J. W .. Kldora. Iowa
( Company ( '.
Reed, I). W., Pittsburg-, Trim. Curtis. II. C, LeMars. Iowa
Company 1>.
Sower, P. B., Pmmetsburg, Iowa
Company P.
Perry, A. B., Puukerton, Iowa Large, P. A., Laporte City, Iowa
Creighton David. Geneva, Iowa SuiTus. O. \'.. Bristow, Iowa
( 'ompan v P.
Stribling, C. C.. Clifton, Tenn. Tirrill, Ii. N\, Manchester, Iowa
Dunham Aimer. Manchester, Iowa
14th IOWA INFANTRY.
Shaw, Col. W . T.. Anainosa. Iowa
Company A.
Harvey. W . Killduir, Iowa Ilawfbaur, II.. Buffalo, Iowa
IOWA HORNETS' NEST BRIGADE.
Company C.
Harmon, A. W., Sanborn, Iowa Davidson, T. L., Searsboro, Iowa
Company 1).
Bishop, J. V.. Springville, Iowa Pinley, J. li.. Morning Sun. Iowa
Baldwin, T. T., Keokuk, [owa
Company 13.
McGarah, J. D., Des Moines, la. Cortney, J. J., Plymouth, Neb.
lloriiu', .). VV., Swan, fowa Hudson, Win.. Vandalia, Iowa
Wegnoi", August.. Vandalia, la. Brown, r. VV., Runnels, Iowa
Johnson, It. II., Monroe, Iowa Wallace, (J., Vandalia
Murray, N., Vandalia. Iowa Webb, Geo., Baxter, Iowa
L'roner, Jacob, Pairmount, Iowa Horn,*.:. II., Sheridan, Iowa
Company P.
Gillott, ,)., Greenlield, Iowa Pddy, A., Ross, [owa
Hill, J., Kxira. [owa Wheatly, It.. Wilsonville, Iowa
Lengle, Jonathan, Oxford, la. Douglas, ,1. K.. Oxford, Iowa
Graham, Thus., Shueyville, Iowa Carter, J., Sac City, Iowa
Company G.
Clark, M.. Laporte. [owa Mapolson, J., Reinbeck, Iowa
Haver, W. C, Winona. .Minn
Company 11.
Birk, J., Anamosa, Iowa Hartman, 1'.. Anamosa, Iowa
Birk, A., Tipton, Iowa Chapman, ('.. Past Des Moines, la.
Drexler, J. C, Central City, Iowa
Company 1.
Savage, Joel, Middle River, la. Clark, W. P., Marshalltown, Iowa
Company K.
Dolbee, P. A., Bond. Kansas Dolbee, E. M., Bond, Kansas
Thompson, W. H., Medeapolis, la. Barton, M. V.. Russell, Iowa
Lewis, A. K., Arlington, Neb. Bowen, .las. A., Subte, .Missouri
Storks, W. 1)., Oakville, Iowa Watson, .1. 1)., Kossuth. Iowa
McMakin, W. T., Middletown, la. Campbell, VV. .1.. Plrick, Iowa
Chapman, Samuel, Plattsmouth, Neb.
NOTICE TO COMRADES.
We kindly ask all the comrades who receive this pam-
phlet to send 25 cents to help defray expense of publica-
tion. The money will be placed in the hands of the treas-
urer. This seems a small matter, but it you will do this,
the burden will fall on all, and the expense will be easily
met. Send to R. L. TURNER.
315, $d Ay. East, Oskaloosa, Iowa.
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