Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1917-07-06
Renaissance Of An Aged Vick.burg
Lieutenant,
Lieutenant,

Renaissance Of An Aged Vicksburg
| Lieutenant.
The voyage of the 38th Regiment,
Iowa Infantry, Co. l which was
recruited in Howard County, being the
only full Company that went from this
County,
On October %, 1868, all who were
left from the siege of Vicksburgh, not
over 300 out of 900 as good men as ever
marched out of the State of Iowa,
were ordered to prepare for inspection
preparatory to joining the Banks expe-
dition to Texas. We marched on board
the good staunch side wheel Steamer
Empire City. We had a part of the
37th Illinois among whom was brother
of Peter Cartwright who preached to
US on the Sabbath. We had Tugboat
Union in tow on board of which was q
company of negroes. The Steamer
made her way through the shipping
and by a French man-of-war. As we
passed they saluted US by manning the
yards, in drums beat and the sailors
ran up the rigging on the trot. 1t was
fine. We passed down the Mississippi
River between Forts Jackson and St.
Phillips through the South West Pass
to the bar. Oor Vessel drew 16 feet
and as we crossed the bar she slowed
up so suddenly had to take step for
ward to maintain my balance owing to
her touching the bottom. The pilot
got:$l5O for putting her over. October
9th, came to anchor on the outside of
the bar and waited for the rest of the
fleet to arrive. The Steamer Mcclellan
came along with General Banks aboard
and was received with a Major Gener-
ais salute by the gun boats. On the
Goth we went to sea. The fleet con-
sisted of sixteen transports, three gun
boats and one tug. Our boat was q
fine sailor and kept her place in the
line on pounds of steam. We soon
after encountered heavy storm and
the tug we had in tow strained so hard
on her bow as to let in water and the
negroes had to be removed in the
middle of the night which was accom-
plished without losing negro. In the
morning, she went to the bottom.
While waiting to pick up some things
doundering in the water, we saw q
boat coming toward US; one man was
sitting on the seat and one lying in the
bottom, both so exhausted they could
hardly move and had to be helped on
board. They proved to be two rebel
soldiers who were trying to escape to-
New Orleans. They were caught in
the storm and blown out to sea and
would have persisted had they not met
with US. While at sea. we buried a
soldier. 1t was q solemn occasion.
The soldiers stood with uncovered and
bowed heads. This burial service was
read and the body was consigned to the
mighty deep. The waves rolled high.
A sailor on one of the gun boats had to
fix something at the end Of the jib.
When the gun boat was pointing her
nose down from the crest of q wave
his feet would be in the water, then
when she climbed to the top he would
be about 60 feet in the air.
The storm was very severe. The
Captain could not take the time so we
were out of our course and running
short of provisions. November 1st,
took the Steamer General Banks in
tow. She was out of coal and had on
board the 10Th Iowa.
On the End of November, arrived off
Brazos Santiago, Texas, landed on the.
3rd. We were glad to be on terra firma
again, after being ten days in making
a trip that on our return we made in
three days.
We found tn At the storm had handled
some of our vessels very roughly.
Some had to throw overheard horses,
mules and cannon to keep afioat. was
down in the hold of che of the vessels
when she was in port and could see
daylight through her bow at Brazos
Islands. We ran out OF war-r snd
suffered for it for the three days On.
the 9Th, moved forwald TOWARDS browns
vile and camped for the night on the
Rio Grsnde near the Battlefield of Palo
Alto. November 9th. arrived at
Brownsville. The advance under Gen.
Banks having taken possession without
opposition. Why was this expedition
sent to this part Of Texas? l think it
was to show Maxamillian and the
French Government that Uncle Sam
was taking notice. Two factions had a
fight for the possession! of Matamoras
which is just across the Rio Grsnde
from Brownsville. They fought all
night with cannon and small guns.
The cannon were mounted on wooden
wheels, drawn by oxen. They threw
some shot over the river near our head
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