Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-04

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airy to Have Been Such---Some n o tn.
\ bic Commanders.
The Second Iowa Cavalry has helped
make history, and its record as a fight
ling organization brought honor to it,
tseif and to the state. 1t developed as
many eminent soldiers as any regiment
i'm the service, and lis roster contained
several names now familiar from one
lend OF the. continent to the other
When the regiment was mustered
into the service at Davenport on Aug,
%, ISL the Iowa boys then at the front
had already been heard from, and al
though the cavalry at that time had
noe demonstrated its usefulness and
mad not gained the respect of the infan-
try, the boys of the Second resolved to
add 10 the laurels already won by the
Iowa troops then in the field. Under the
/ discipline of their first colonel, Wash
| ington l.. Elliott, who was a graduate
Iof West Point and had been in the reg
tular service for fifteen years, the boys
| of the Second received their first in
lstruction in the science of war. Well
loiilcered from the start, and we'll or
Iganized, the regiment had confidence in
Itself. The lieutenant colonel was Ed
ward Hatch. who later won his stars,
land w. 7. Hepburn, now congressman
from the Eighth Iowa district but then
4 I practicing attorney of this city, was
lInaior of the first battalion.
| The Second, during its long and hard
Isenice. had over. 1900 names on its rolls
LAT various times, this representing a
number adequate 10 muster three en-
tire regiments. This is accounted for
because the ranks We're recruited as dis
ease and death in the field of action de-
lnleted the companies. The Second left
Davenport for Benton barracks. St
Louis, in December. 1851 with over 1000
linen. Ii WIS At this latter place that
! the hardships and dangers of soldier
Fife We're FUZZY realized rs in sixty days
Imore than sixty members died from
disease, and 50 prevalent was the ILL
ness in camp that some companies
tcould not muster over ten men on dress
parade
In February 1852, the regiment did its
FIRST caapaig ning, going on hunt for
Col. jeff thompson rebel command.
No fighting but considerable rougf
travelling On empty stomachs was ex-
perleneed on the campaign leading up
70 Tho couture If Island No. TO- In
Apri. lSe2 the regiment was brigaded
with the Second Michigan Cavalry, in
Which Cen Russell Alger was a cap
ttail aiid fermed part of Halleck's
army Then investing Gorinth. The regi-
lment Mas soon destined To make one of
lthe nest daring charges Of the var
ions that tried the nerve OF every mem
fber ana made veterans az all 1t was
3tp charge q rebel battery which threat
8ened 10 annhiiate Cen Paiue's divis-
ion. supported as the battery Was by
l5.0oo infauttynen. Paine ordered the
regiment to take the battery. The
ieharge was made oyer deep ditch and
with grape ard canister flying every
Where half the regiment was rendered
ihers du combat But the charge was
lsuaeessful III that It gave Cen. Prime
time 10 get his division across a bridge
On which tie rebel guns had been
TRAINED When Col Elliott learned
wtere the regiment had been sent he
agas mad and said some uncomplifnAn-
itaiv THINGS o Gen Prime, who as an
Ipnd to go rs far as II did, because il
iwas made up Of raw recruits. To this.
ECqi Elliott replied
~ want you 10 know that have
Taught that regiment To 20 70 heil ii or
tdered there but diut fetch them here
ITO be ordered there
Soor followed the lannon's attack on
Tbs brigade BY Col. chalmer, with 1000
rebels. ut Bonneville, but Col. Phil
Sheridan who then commanded the bri-
ipade composed Of the Second Iowa and
K Second Michigan. wasn't q bit scared.
1T was here that Sheridan. then untried,
Non il brigadier's straps before he had
been commissioned acolohel and it was
here that the Second Iowa and Second
I Michigan men 500 all told defeated A.
l1e0 rebel cavatryn7en after an all-days
fight: ii was here that Gen. Rassell AL
ger, late secretary of war. led the for
ilorn hDpe"-a charge as forlorn as that
1 at Balaklava- and as captain Of a
Michigan company took a handful Of
men, including Companies r and + of
1.-THE Second Iowa, to the rear and at
Tackled Chalmers 1000 men while Sher-
lidan, with the balance, attacked in
front. routing tho enemy completely
and making him believe that Sheridan
had baen reinforced Niger was left on
the field for dead. but regained con
Seriousness and after the rebels had dis
appsared was found by a searching
party For his part in this historical
leneagement he was made a major
There followed much hard fighting
land campaigning, including the battle
lof Iuka the defense Of Corinth, the
promotion Of Hatch to be colonel and
of Mai. Hepburn 70 be lieutenant
lcolonel. the defeat Of a whole Alabama
regiment by Company NJ the capture of
la company on patrol duty by Company
"A under Capt G. G. Horton, who later
was commander Of the regiment and is
now commandant Of the Iowa Soldiers
\ Homo; and many minor raids aud bat
tiles, up TO the re-enlistment of the regi-
ment as veteran organization on
March !, 1854. At this re-enlistment
Inc regiment was allowed TO elect It's
own officers. both field and company
Maj. DatuS-+,. Com was chosen colonel.
Capt. George O. Greaves lieutenant
colonel, Capt. Charles C. Horton first
major, capt. Charles E Moore second
major and capt E. r. Stiles third ma
ioi. Capt. stiles was not commissioned.
however Gustavus Schmitzer receiving
mis- appointment.
| After rest and the regiment was re-
lcruited it joined Smiths expedition
against Gen. Forrest at Tupelo, Miss,
and had the pleasure of assisting in
the administering of that raiders de-
feat. In August of 1864 the regiment
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