The National tribune., 1886-07-22
NEW MADRID.
The @BIOOdIess 10th III. in the Fight.


To THE EDITOR: In your issue of May 6
i read an article from the pen of Comrade
Ramsey criticizing a communication written
by M. J. Clerihan, of Jacksonville, Ill, in ref
erence 20 the partthe 10th Ill took in the siege
of New Madrid and the capture Of Gen. McCalPs
command at Tiptonville, Tenn.
Now, do not wish TO be hard on Comrade
Ramsey, but think can convince the patrons
of your noble paper that he has attempted TO
write on a subject Of which he is entirely ignor-
ant. In the first place he has by his insinua-
tons and Misrepresentation attempted TO de-
prive this noble regiment Of the laurels which
ii SO brayely won for itself wherever duty called
ii. Although it may have been more fortunate
than some others in escaping some of the hard
fought battles, yet IL was no fault of theirs, for
they always did their duty and were willing
and ready for any emergency.
Now, i do not wish to detract any honor from
the ADD Ind, or any other regiment for think
they all did their duty. If one regiment was
more fortunate than another il was the for
tunes of war and not lack of bravery. In
giving a short sketch of this bloodless regi-
ment las it is called will try and state the
facts as they occurred. The 10th Ill. was mus
tered out of the three months service, and
mustered into the three years service the same
day, the Doth of July, 1861.
Early in January, 1862, it participated in
three weeks reconnaissance made by Gen.
Grant into Western Kentucky. On the move
ment of troops TO attack Forts Henry and
Donolson the 10th was sent to Bird Point, Mo.
While there, in one Of their scouting expcdi-
tons through the swamps, they gave the nOto-
rious JEFF Thompson the hardest race he had
yet had taking from him four cannon.
When Gen. Pope moved on New Madrid we
were posted at Oak Grove to guard his flank.
On the 10th of March, 1862, we Joined the main
army at New Madrid. i will here give an ex-
tract of Comrade Ramsey's letter. He says:
al happen TO know that there were several
others regiments in that line at the time of the
attack on the strong fortress, and when the at
tack was ordered we formed in line before day
light and advanced very close to the rebel
piclzets and halted for daylight. While we
were waitdg we heard the last of the rebels
leaving the strong fortress and crossing the
river" etc.
That was on tho morning of the l4th of
March, 1862. Prior TO this the 10th and 10th
Ill. had been lying in the trenches for 36 hours
supporting two batteries Of heavy artillery. An
extract from Gen. Popes official report think
will throw some light on the subject:
The 10Th and 10th I'll. were detailed as guards
10 the proposed trenches and TO aid n constructing
/ them. They marched from camp at sunset on the
I2th and drove in the pcEzets and grand guards of
] the enemy, as they were ordered at shoulder arms
and without returning shot; covered the front OF
the intrenching parties, and occupied the trenches
and rihe-pts during the whole day and night OF
the l5ll. under furious ana lnceSSdHt CannOnhulng
from 90 pieces Of heavy artillery. At tine earnest
request fthcir Colonels their regmental hagswere
kept flying their trenches, though they offered
4 a conspicuous mark 10 the enemy. The GOODNESS.
! courage aud cheerfuness Of these troops exposed
for two nights and day 10 the furious FIRE Of the
enemy at short range and to the severe storm
which ragged the whole night of the 18th, are be-
yond all praise and delighted and astonshed every
! officer who witnessed il. New Madrid evacuated at
night. occupied by At daylight. Remained there
until the 7th of April, when, completion OF canal
| around Island No 10, and running by of gunboAts
4 and transports, were embarked and crossed the
/ river under Gen. Paine. marched rapidly across
the lowands 10 foot Of Reel Foot Lake, capturing
/ scores Of the rebel fugitves from No. TO- Bagged
Gen. Mccall at night, two miles from Tiptonville,
with 800 men.
During the night the rebel General sent in a
flag of truce, offering TO surrender, and o'clock
! the next morning was set for that event; but
/ before the time arrived they sent i'm another
truce countermanding previous intentions, and
/ proposed TO stand fight. At that we were
promptly ordered TO fall in, which we did with
out delay and without any reserve in sight.
Gen. J. ID. Morgan, with the 10th and 10th,
/ with battery of Regular artillery, number
ing in all abount 1000 men, marched out 10 de-
mand the surrender Of Gen. Mccall and his
| command, or TO know the reason why. We
/ found them in line OF battle, apparently ready
for fight, but when we were marched up in
front o. them and the battery was wheeled into
position and all was ready for action, they were
ordered 10 surrender Our audacity had the
desired effect, for they surrendered without
hringa gun. They were marched back to camp
and placed under guard. At that time there
was not another regiment in sight Shortly
after that Gen. Pope landed from of one of the
gunboats. About his first inquiry was, where
is Colonel so-and- so?" He has not arrived yet -
The Colonel inquired for was a Colonel Of GER
tain Illinois regiment that was TO have come
next in order TO the 10th and 10th. While
he was talking the looked-for Colonel hove in
sight. Says Gen. Pope TO him when he came
up: 7" Where in hi have you been, Colonel .
j got on the wrong road and got lost he re.
piled. If you had heard the cursing that Colo,
mel got, you would have come 10 the conclu.
sion that Gen. Pope could swear as well as fight
On the arrival Of other troops, during the day
added $500 10 captures of the night. max.
ing in all about 5000 men. Returned TO New
Madrid, and on the 18th Of April embarked fol
the Sunny South. Lay at Fort Wright, on
transports until the 18th. Ordered 10 Hamburg
Tenn. Retaining our position on the extrem,
right Of Gen. Pope's corps darmee, with til,
Yates Sharpshocters led the advance on Cor
inth, and in the numerous skirmishes and re
connoissances took an active and creditable part
We also participated in the battles Of Farming
ton, Tuscumbia Creek, Nashville, Missionary
Ridge, Ringgold, Buzzard Roost, Dalton, Res
AGA, Allatoona Pass! Rome, .Kenesaw, Mountain
Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, and
, from there with Sherman to the sea. So you
, will sec that the bloodless 10th was always OF
hand and ready for duty.-S. d. MORGAN, Co
q, 10th Ill, Clarinda. Page Co. Iowa.