Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-16
|O MARX BATTLE FIELD
Report Of the Iowa vicksburs
Commission Filed With the
Governor.
The Sum of $4,000 Needed
for Monuments and Tablets
at Vicksbure.
Percentage OF Iowa Troops in
the Famous Siege Was
Very Large.

the Famous Siege Was
Very Large.
Des Moines, Dec. 16.-A state appro-
priation of s150,000 is asked for by the
Vicksburg commission in its report to
Governor Shaw, which was filed Satur-
day by Col j. X. P. Thompson, of ROCK
Rapids, chairman of the commission.
The commission recommends that this
sum be expended for the erection of an
elaborate state monument, one monu-
ment for each regiment and battery en-
gagged in the campaign and siege OF
Vicksburg,. and for the erection of such
historical tablets, monuments and
commission to be named for that pur-
pose. The further recommendation is
made that the legislature authorize the
governor to appoint a commission to
consist Of five members to have charge
of the erection Of the memorial moau-
ment.
The report is lengthy typewriter
document and is replete with interesting
information concerning the part taken
by the troops of Iowa in the campaign
and siege Of Vicksburg. 1t takes up the
work Of the commission from its incep-
ton, and gives an account of its trip
to the scenes about Vicksburg in No
vtmber, 1900. A description is included
of the national military park that has
been set apart at vicksburg in COM
memoration of the siege. This park
contains 1892 acres, and when 1t is inn
proved as contemplated will have more
than twenty-five miles Of costly avenues
and drives.
The report makes strong showing
as to the reasons why Iowa should feel
the deepest interest in the erection OF
monuments appropriately to commem-
crate the campaigns about Vicksburg.
The fact that Iowa had more troops
In this campaign of Grants than any
other state and more than in any other
campaign or engagement Of the civil
war is emphasized.
The conspicuous part taken by the
troops from Iowa in the Vicksburg cam
paign and the famous SIEGE" says the
report, is known to most Of her citi-
zens, and needs but to be referred to to
compel the admiration of their brilliant
achievements. 1t forms radiant chap
ter In our history. Iowa had twenty
eight regiments OF infantry, two Of cav
airy and two batteries engaged in the
campaign and siege of Vicksburg. In
the sixteen divisions composing the
army OF the Tennessee. May IS to July A.
Iowa had troops in ten and in the forty
six brigades she had troops in fourteen .
The report thus summarizes the part
taken by Iowa in the civil war and in
the campaign and siege OF yicksburg:
The state OF Iowa responded prompt
~ to ever call for help during the civil
war. Her citizen soldiers contributed
their full share Of the burden and sacri-
Zee required to save the union. From a
population OF less than 100000 Iowa fur
n'shed more than $4,000 volunteers for
the three years service-nearly one-half
Of all the men in the state subject to
military duty. More than one-flfth OF
this great company Of patriots-16,3 04-
were in their graves before the surren-
Ger Of Appomattox. grateful posteri-
ty will not fail to cherish and honor
either the courage displayed or the sac
rifice made.
"Of the hundreds of battlefields
where Iowa blood was shed. congress
has designated three in the west for the
erection of memorial monuments. AT
Shiloh, eleven Iowa regiments and bat
terry organizations took part; at Chatta-
rooga, ten: at Vicksburg there were
twenty-eight infantry regiments, two of
cavalry and two batteries engaged in
the siege, and four infantry and one
cavalry in the expeditionary campaign
prior to the siege, a total of 1910 per
cent Of her infantry regiments, and 60
per cent Of the whole number furnished
by the state At Vicksburg alone there
was a siege, with extensive and formi-
dable lines of entertainments.
"Vicksburg. situated as 1t is upon a
lofty bluf OF the Mississippi, is on one
OF the greatest highways Of commerce.
The completion Of the isthmian canal
will place it on the greatest internation-
al thoroughfare of the country.
1.-THE yicksburg National Park, the
scene of one of the earliest and most de-
cisive victories of the civil war, is des-
tined, therefore, to be and remain one of
the most beautiful, prominent and east
" accessible commemorative parks In
the world. and was the conception of
Iowa men.
Iowa had larger percentage of her
troops at Vicksburg than any other
state and should be equally prominent
in the development and completion of
the park.
"Of the 1892 casualties in the union
forces during the operations against
Vicksburg, May I to July 4, 1863, Iowa
sustained loss Of 2.124, or 22.s per cent
Of the whole loss, and from its inception,
November, 1862, to the evacuation of
Jackson, July IL. 1863. 2.417, or almost rs
cent An Iowa regiment, the Twenty
first, was the first to march from the
Mississippi river below Grand Gulf; an
Iowa regiment, the Fourth Cavalry, was
the first to water its horses in the Yazoo
above Vicksburg. Iowa was at Vicks-
burg.
1--WE desire to call especial attention
to the severe and almost unprecedented
percentage of loss of some of her regi-
ments On page So "Fox's Regimental
LOSSES in the Civil War there is given
q table Of maximum percentage of cas-
ualties of sixty-four regiments, based
on the total of killed, wounded and mis-
sing, in which the First Minnesota
with 262 engaged, is credited with