Chapter D: Moore,

Col. Com’d’g 21st Mo. Inft. Vols.

MAJ. ED. MOORE’S REPORT.

HEADQUARTERS 21ST MO. INFANTRY VOLS. }
OCTOBER 18, 1862. }

LIEUT. R. REES,
Adjt. 21st Mo. Infantry Vols.

SIR:--I have the honor to report the part taken by the 21st Mo.
Vol. Infantry Regiment in the Battle of Corinth, Miss., on Friday
and Saturday, the 3d and 4th of October, 1862. After Col. Moore,
commanding the regiment, was carried off the field, I assumed the
command. The men were going back from their original position. With
the assistance of the line officers I succeeded in rallying the men,
who went boldly forward to the front and drove the enemy from the
position that we occupied at the commencement of the engagement. As
soon as the position was gained fighting became desperate, our lines
being distant from those of the enemy less than fifty paces. The
command held this ground until the force upon our right, consisting
of artillery and infantry, had given away and was in full retreat.
About this time the enemy was flanking us on our left and dense
columns of infantry pressed us on our front. I ordered the regiment
to retire. In doing so some of our men got scattered. We succeeded
again in rallying the men, and formed on the flanks of a line being
formed by Brig. Gen. McArthur, to construct a temporary breastwork
of logs, and did so; but before completing the same we were ordered
to a position on the extreme left in the vicinity of the seminary.
We were engaged with the enemy while in this position. About 2:30 P.
M., I was ordered to proceed to Battery C and report to Brig. Gen.
McArthur. Having three companies of skirmishers in the rear, under
his direction we scoured the woods but found no enemy excepting a
few stragglers. We then took the south bridge road in the direction
of Mr. Alexander’s, the rebel cavalry fleeing before our advance. We
succeeded in capturing a great number of prisoners, from one of whom
I learned the rebel hospitals were in the vicinity. It was now dark.
I pushed forward and took possession of all property and persons. A
great many prisoners were taken that night and early next morning
trying to escape through the lines. The total number captured,
including the wounded, amounted to nearly 900 officers and men. We
also captured 460 muskets, 400 cartridge boxes and a quantity of
belts, etc. Under the instructions of Brig. Gen. McArthur I remained
at the hospitals with the command until Sunday about noon, when Col.
Moore took command of the regiment. Our loss during the engagement
is one killed, seventeen wounded and six prisoners. I mention with
satisfaction the behavior of the line officers. They used every
exertion to keep their men together and remained with them during the
engagement, thereby setting a good example to the men to do their
duty. During the action a great many of our guns were useless; after
firing fifteen or twenty rounds of ammunition it was impossible to
load them.

I have the honor to be,

Your obedient servant, EDWIN MOORE,
Maj. 21st Mo. Infantry Vols.

At the close of the Corinth engagement the whole number of the regiment did not exceed 400 men. Over 600 during the period the command had been in active service had been lost either in battle, sickness or captured by the enemy. While at Chewalla a detail had been sent home to muster recruits and a few days after the Corinth fight the whole regiment, or what was left of it, was furloughed for thirty days. The men returned home, where they found recruiting offices had been opened by the detail of men sent from Chewalla, at Memphis and Edina. North Missouri was still bubbling over with patriotism for the Stars and Stripes. The tattered and worn condition of the 400 survivors of the 21st, with their battle torn flag, gave a new impetus to the war spirit. Volunteers sprung up from every side and in an incredibly short while the regiment was recruited to double its number. Canton was the rallying point for the men and from that place on the 10th of December, 1862, tents were folded, good-byes to loved ones said, and the gallant old 21st once more started for the bloody theatre of war. The objective point was Holly Springs, Miss., where the old 6th Division of the Army of West Tennessee was encamped.

At St. Louis the regiment boarded the steamer known in history as the Di Vernon, and got as far as Columbus, Ky., on December the 20th, where the command was stopped. Instead of proceeding to Holly Springs, the regiment was ordered by Gen. Asboth, commander of the Columbus Post, to Union City, Tenn., twenty miles from Columbus, to do outpost duty guarding Gen. Grant’s line of communication between Columbus and Corinth, which had been interrupted by raids of Confederate cavalry under Gen. Forrest.

Here barracks of logs and stockades were built and the men camped for the winter, doing guard duty and everything else incident to a military camp, facing a vigilant enemy. In this time Gen. Grant had gotten as far as Milliken’s Bend, on his way to Vicksburg, and on the first of March, 1863, the regiment pulled up stakes to join him. But again the fortunes of war decreed otherwise. Gen. Forrest, of the Confederacy, had made another raid in the rear of Gen. Grant, and at Columbus the regiment was switched off to Clinton, Ky., where for two months it was engaged again in the same kind of service as at Union City. On May 11th orders again came to move on towards Vicksburg. At Columbus the regiment boarded the steamer J. J. Rowe and started south to join the old 6th Division operating under Gen. Grant. On May 15th Memphis was reached and orders were found waiting us to report to Gen. Hurlburt, Post Commander there. Here the regiment was kept at garrison duty until about January 25th, 1864. While in garrison at Memphis the 21st was attached to the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, of the 16th Army Corps, commanded by Gen. A. J. Smith. The 1st Brigade was composed of, besides the 21st, the 89th Indiana, 119th Illinois, 58th Illinois, and the 9th Indiana Battery, commanded by Col. David Moore. On January the 28th the command boarded a steamer en route for Vicksburg. On the way down the river, opposite Islands Nos. 70 and 71, the vessel was fired on from the shore by Confederates under Gen. Marmaduke, and three men were killed and four wounded. With no other incident the regiment reached Vicksburg on the 1st of February.

On the next day, with the army under Gen. Sherman, the march to Meridian, Miss., began. They met and skirmished with the enemy at Champion Hills, on February 5th, Brandon on February 12th, and Meridian on February 14th.

From Meridian, Miss., the regiment was sent back to Vicksburg, returning by the way of Canton, reaching there on March 4th, where most of the regiment re-enlisted for three years more, or till the war was ended. At Meridian and on the trip back our army destroyed some forty miles of railroad and inflicted other damages on the enemy.

Returning to Vicksburg the veterans re-enlisting were granted a thirty days’ furlough. There was a happy home-coming for these scarred warriors of the 21st, who had, by their gallant services, well earned their holiday. But there was quite a number of the 21st, about two hundred and fifty, who failed to enlist as veterans under the holiday offer. These were assigned to Gen. Banks’ army and took part in what is known to history as the Red River Campaign.

THE RED RIVER CAMPAIGN.

Seventy Days of Almost Uninterrupted Fighting, When the Singing
of the Bullets was the Only Music Heard from Morning till
Night.--General Banks Criticised.--How General Smith’s Division
Became Known as Smith’s Guerrillas.--Fighting A. J. Smith.--General
Banks Anxious to Get Back to New Orleans.

A GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF THE CAMPAIGN TOLD BY T. W. HOLMAN.

About the 5th of March, the regiment having returned to Vicksburg from the Meridian Campaign, the veterans were sent home on a thirty days’ furlough. Those of the regiment who did not re-enlist, about one hundred, and about one hundred and forty recruits, were assigned to the 24th Missouri for duty. The 24th Missouri belonged to Col. Shaw’s brigade and was designated the 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 16th Corps, and was composed of the following named regiments: The 14th, 27th and 32d Iowa, and 24th Missouri, with the detachment of the 21st Missouri. The 21st Missouri men were consolidated and made three companies, about eighty men to the company. There being no commissioned officers with us, Lieuts. Denny, Yarbrough and Shadel, officers of the 24th, were assigned to command the three companies of the 21st.

Gen. Banks having called on Gen. Sherman for ten thousand men to assist him in the Red River Campaign, the 1st Division, 17th Corps, Gen. Joe Mower commanding, and the 3d Division, 16th Corps, Col. R. C. Moore, of the 117th Illinois, commanding, under Gen. A. J. Smith, were assigned to this duty, and ordered to report to Gen. Banks. The expedition left Vicksburg about the 8th of March, reached the mouth of Red river on the 12th, and was there met by Admiral Porter with a gun boat fleet. Under convoy of the same the expedition started up Red river, reaching Simm’s Landing, on the Atchafalaya river, about 5 p. m. Col. Shaw was ordered to disembark his brigade and picket the road towards Fort De Russy. March 13th Col. Shaw was ordered to move out on the Fort De Russy road. He advanced with his brigade along Bayou Rapides about four miles to Yellow Bayou. Here he found some earth works and a regiment of Confederate troops, with two pieces of artillery. On our approach they at once fell back towards Fort De Russy. We then returned to the landing. During our absence the balance of our troops disembarked and went into camp.

On the 14th we had orders to move with two days’ rations and forty rounds of ammunition, and 7 a. m. found us on the road with Col. Shaw’s brigade in the advance, the 24th and 21st Missouri in front. It was about eighteen miles across the bend of Red river, where rumor reported heavy earthworks and forts, and some six thousand Confederate troops under command of Gen. Walker. The roads were good and our column moved rapidly, reaching Fort De Russy about 3 p. m. Col. Shaw’s brigade went into line some four hundred yards from the upland fort, with the 3d Indiana battery in the center. We met a warm reception from fourteen guns in the upland fort and from heavy guns in the water battery. We advanced sharpshooters and our Indiana battery of four guns and commenced pounding away on the upland fort. By 5 p. m. our sharpshooters had the guns in the forts silenced, or at least made it such hazardous work to load and fire that the guns were only served occasionally. This was the signal for the assault. About 6 p. m. Gen. Mower ordered Col. Shaw to charge. His brigade fixed bayonets and with a yell made a dash for the enemy’s works. The ground over which we had to pass was open, the timber having been used in the construction of the forts and bomb proofs. In our charge we were supported by the balance of our division. While charging we received a fringe of musket fire from the thin line of men inside the fort. In three minutes we were at the ditches and the garrison, seeing that further resistance was useless, ran up a white flag. The 24th and 21st Missouri were the first regiments to plant their flags on the fort, and in recognition of that fact and as a reward, we were detailed the guard of honor and remained in the fort during the night, with our regimental colors flying on the ramparts.

The fruits of the victory were: in the upland fort, fourteen guns; in the water battery, three guns, two of them 120 pounders, and one rifle 42, a large amount of ammunition and quartermaster’s stores, with three hundred and fifty prisoners. Commodore Porter, who was on his way up the river with his gun boat fleet, did not get up in time to participate in the capture. About ten miles below the forts the enemy had driven piling and anchored a large raft of timber across the channel of the river, preventing his arrival.

During the night our transports arrived, and at 10 a. m. on the 15th we hauled down our colors, marched out of the fort and embarked with the balance of the troops, and again, under convoy of the gun boats, moved up the river to Alexandria, arriving there about 4 p. m. on the 16th. The enemy fell back, burning some of his quartermaster’s stores and forage. We disembarked and went into camp east and south of town, to await the coming of Maj. Gen. Banks with the 13th and 19th Army Corps.

Alexandria was a small town of some eight hundred inhabitants, situated at the foot of the rapids of the river. The country around Alexandria was very rich and the inhabitants very disloyal and bitter. We now had to wait until about March 25th for the coming of Gen. Banks to form a junction with Gen. Smith at this place. Gen. Banks’ troops were leisurely marching across the country from the south, and upon his arrival with the 13th and 19th corps, our combined forces of all arms consisted of about 35,000 men. Gen. Banks’ men having been doing garrison duty at New Orleans, were well clothed, and with their new uniforms and paper collars made a very fine appearance compared with the men of the 16th Corps, who had been fighting and marching for the past three months and were ragged and dirty, which condition no doubt had much to do with influencing Gen. Banks to remark when he saw us, “Why! I asked Gen. Sherman to send me 10,000 soldiers and he has sent me a band of ragamuffins and guerrillas.” This is where, and how it came to pass that we received the name which stuck to us until the close of the war. Intended in derision by Gen. Banks, no doubt, it soon became a pseudonym by which one of the best divisions in the western army was ever afterwards known, “Smith’s Guerrillas.”

March 26th we broke camp and marched up the river. It was now generally known that Shrevesport was our objective point--a strongly fortified position. March 29th we reached and camped at a point on Red River known as the Burr Patch. We here again embarked on transports and under convoy of gunboats moved up the river to a landing called Grand Ecore. At this point we disembarked and lay in camp till the 7th of April, when we moved out in the rear of Gen. Banks’ army, which had passed this point some two days. It seemed that we had made such an unfavorable impression on Gen. Banks that he wished us as much out of sight as possible and hence kept us about a day’s march in the rear.

Battle of Sabine Cross Roads.

The 13th Corps encountered in force at Sabine Cross Roads, on the 8th of April, Generals Kirby Smith and Taylor, commanding the enemy, who were apprised of the fact that Gen. Banks’ troops were scattered along the road for twenty miles. Upon this knowledge they determined to give battle outside the defenses at Shrevesport, and chose this point, about forty-five miles southeast. The result of the battle was a complete defeat and route of Gen. Banks’ army in detail. The night of the 8th of April closed in with the 13th and 19th Corps in full retreat, falling back on Pleasant Hill. The 16th Corps, under Gen. A. J. Smith, had marched hard all day the 8th, reaching Pleasant Hill at dark, and went into camp in close column by regiments. We had heard Gen. Banks’ artillery all the afternoon of the 8th, and knew he was being driven back. This meant that the men whom Gen. Banks had called guerrillas would be in demand on the morrow.

Battle of Pleasant Hill.

On the morning of the 9th of April Gen. Smith’s guerrillas had no revielle. About 3 a. m. our company officers came around nudging the sleeping men in the sides, in commands given in whispers ordered them to fall in line, and we were held in readiness to move. At daylight Col. Shaw’s brigade moved out on the Mansfield road about one mile, relieving our cavalry, who were already skirmishing. We were posted in a strong position along the east side of a cotton field, facing west, with a section of the 25th N. Y. Battery. We lay in this position all the forenoon with nothing to relieve the monotony except an occasional shell from our artillery feeling for the enemy in the woods beyond and frequent shots from the enemy’s sharpshooters. About 2 p. m. the enemy opened on our line with artillery. Our two pieces of artillery at once limbered up and went to the rear under whip. The enemy, thinking this was a continuation of the rout of the day before, charged our lines with a regiment of Texas cavalry. They, little dreaming that in the timber on the other side of the field lay a line of grim veterans who had seen service at Fort Donelson, Corinth, the Hornet’s Nest at Shiloh, and in the trenches around Vicksburg, made a magnificent charge to defeat and death. The enemy’s infantry then charged and our small brigade was soon fighting in front and flank. We held our position until the enemy had nearly cut us off from our main line, when we were compelled to fall back. We took a position two hundred and fifty yards from our first stand, which we held for over an hour and a half. Here occurred the most desperate fighting of the day, being almost a face to face combat. Overwhelming numbers at last forced us back to our reserve line, after losing quite a number taken prisoners. About sundown the final crash came when the enemy dashed against our massed line of artillery and infantry held in reserve. Night closed in with Smith’s guerrillas victorious and the enemy in full retreat towards Mansfield. The heaviest loss in the battle fell on Shaw’s brigade, being estimated at two thirds of the whole loss sustained in the engagement, amounting to some five hundred men killed, wounded and taken prisoners. The enemy’s loss was estimated at one thousand killed and wounded, eight hundred prisoners and eleven pieces of artillery.

While Smith’s guerrillas were fighting the battle of Pleasant Hill, Gen. Banks, with the 13th and 19th Corps, were improving the time in retreating. After caring for our wounded by placing them in hospitals and detailing surgeons and nurses from our ranks to care for them, about noon of the 10th we commenced to fall back towards Grand Ecore, following Gen. Banks’ army, which had preceded us, a shameful retreat and one that would never have been made had Gen. A. J. Smith been commander-in-chief. But Gen. Banks was whipped and thoroughly incompetent to command, and seemed to only have one idea--that was to get back to New Orleans as quickly as possible. His men under him seemed to share fully his demoralized condition. The 16th Corps were saucy and full of fight and had the utmost confidence in Gen. Smith, a feeling that was mutual between the commander and the men under him. We arrived at Grand Ecore on the 12th, and learning that our transports and gunboats were cooped up at Blair’s Landing, some twenty miles up the river, with some of the transports aground and a confederate battery below them, Gen. A. J. Smith at once crossed the river and hurried to their relief with the 16th Corps. After driving away the battery below and seeing the fleet safely on their way down the river, we returned to Grand Ecore and on the 22d of April took up our line of retreat for Alexandria. During this time Generals Kirby Smith and Taylor, commanding the Confederate forces, had not been idle, but were moving troops down the river to harass our retreat as much as possible. On the 23d we had a lively skirmish with them at Coulterville. Again at Monett Bluff April 23d. Here we found the enemy posted in a strong position on the bluff on the east side of the river. The 16th Corps was guarding the rear; the 13th and 19th Corps failing to drive the enemy, we were ordered up from the rear, forming on the right of the 19th Corps, fixed bayonets and charged. The enemy fell back and gave us for the time undisputed possession of the right of way. It was here that Gen. A. J. Smith informed Gen. Banks, in language more forceful than eloquent, that he would do the fighting at either end of the line of retreat, front or rear, but would not do both. We resumed our march on the 24th, the 16th Corps guarding the rear, without much trouble from the Johnnies, but when they pushed us too closely we would form a line of battle and they would very prudently keep at a safe distance. In this manner we continued to retreat to Alexandria, reaching there about April 30th.

The fleet had already arrived, but the water on the falls was so low it began to look like we would have to lose our gunboats or stay there and guard them. In the meantime, to complicate the situation, Gen. Dick Taylor, commanding the Confederate forces, came up with about 18,000 men. On the 2d of May the 16th Corps was busily engaged at Henderson’s Hill skirmishing with their advance lines. The situation was now a gloomy one indeed, but at this critical moment Col. Bailey, of the 28th Wisconsin, suggested that the water on the falls could be raised by building wing dams, and as chief engineer he was detailed to superintend this work, and the 13th and 19th Corps placed at his disposal to do the work, while Gen. Smith, of the 16th, was drawn up in line of battle, south and east of town, watching the enemy; skirmishing with them May 3d at Jones’ Plantation, May 4th at Bayou LaMore, May 6th and 7th at Bayou Boeuf. Gen. Taylor then drew off, moving down the river some twenty miles, planting his batteries on the river bank and sinking two of our light gunboats and capturing our mail boat and mail.

About the 12th of May, the dam proving a success, the fleet passed below the falls. On the 14th we resumed our line of march for the mouth of Red River, Gen. Taylor falling back in front of us. On the 16th we found him drawn up in line of battle on the Marksville Prairie. After three hours’ fighting he fell back and took a position on Bayou De Glaze. On the 17th, after a sharp skirmish with him, he drew off to one side and let us pass. We then moved on down, the 13th and 19th Corps going into camp at Simmsport, on the Atchafalaya river, while the 16th Corps took up a position some three miles in the rear, on the east bank of Yellow Bayou.

Battle of Yellow Bayou.

May the 18th, 1864, the long roll called us to arms about 12 m. Shaw’s Brigade with Battery E, 2d Mo. Artillery, crossed the Yellow Bayou and double-quicked about a half mile to the front and immediately became engaged with the enemy’s advance. As fast as the several regiments of the 16th and 17th Corps reached the field they formed on our left. All the afternoon the tide of battle ebbed and flowed along the south bank of Bayou Rapides. Night closed in with Gen. Taylor falling back and Gen. Smith’s men in possession of the battle-field. Our loss was about five hundred killed and wounded. The enemy’s must have been much greater as they made several determined assaults on our lines. We captured about three hundred and fifty prisoners and from them we learned that Gen. Taylor had about fifteen thousand men engaged, about twice the number under Gen. Smith. About dark on the evening of the 18th, the 13th Corps arrived on the field and took position in front of Smith’s tired and bleeding troops.

May the 19th, early in the morning, the 13th Corps marched back to Simm’s Landing, leaving Gen. Smith with the 16th and 17th Corps, at the front. Gen. Taylor showing no disposition to resume hostilities and learning that the 13th and 19th Corps were safely across the pontoons on the Atchafalaya river, about 1 p. m. we took up our pontoon bridge across Yellow Bayou and the 16th Corps followed and crossed to the east bank of the Atchafalaya and camped, just sixty-five days from the time we first camped on the west bank on our way to Fort De Russy. On the 20th of May we reached the mouth of Red River. We here met our transports and the portion of the 21st Mo. that went home on veteran furlough, and embarked for Vicksburg. The 13th Corps went south to New Orleans.

Comments on the Seventy Days’ Campaign.

The Red River Campaign was at last, after seventy days, at an end. It was a failure and as barren of results so far as having any visible effects in hastening the close of the war, as it would have been if made to the North Pole. History records it as one of the severest campaigns of the war. The men suffered more from hardships and privations than any other portion of the army. Especially was this true of the 16th Corps, which, on account of the incompetency of Gen. Banks and his apparent dislike of the Corps, was always placed in the most exposed positions, either in the advanced front or in the rear. It was also unprovided with clothing and shoes and at the close of the campaign presented a most abject appearance. Indeed Gen. Banks might in truth have called the men, from their appearance, “Smith’s Guerrillas.”

SUMMARY.

The following is the list of the battles and skirmishes engaged in during the seventy days’ fighting by the detachment from the 21st Missouri.

Fort De Russey, La. March 14th, 1864
Pleasant Hill, “ April 9th, “
Coulterville, “ “ 22d, “
Cane River, “ “ 23d, “
Henderson’s Hill, “ May 2d, “
Jones’ Plantation, “ “ 3d, “
Bayou La More, “ “ 4th, “
Bayou Boeuf, “ “ 6th-7th, “
Marksville, “ “ 16th, “
Bayou De Glaize, “ “ 17th, “
Yellow Bayou, “ “ 18th, “

Gen. Banks’ losses in the 13th and 19th Army Corps were about three thousand men, killed, wounded and prisoners, twenty-two pieces of artillery and one hundred and forty-five wagons loaded with commissary stores and camp equipments. The losses of the parts of the 16th and 17th Army Corps present, commanded by Gen. A. J. Smith, were about one thousand from all causes. In the several battles and skirmishes we were engaged in we captured from the enemy two thousand prisoners and thirty pieces of artillery. These captures were made in battles fought by Gen. Smith’s command, in which Gen. Banks’ men had no part. Col. Shaw’s Brigade sustained the greatest loss of any on the expedition and it was equal to about one-half that sustained by the whole command under Gen. Smith.

The detachment of the 21st Missouri lost about fifty men, killed, wounded and prisoners, including one officer of the 24th Missouri, assigned. That we did our whole duty, I need only call attention to the fact that after the battle of Pleasant Hill, La., Maj. Robt. Fyan, commanding the 24th and detachment of the 21st Missouri, personally thanked the members of the 21st for gallantry during the action. The loss of the 24th and 21st combined during the campaign was three officers killed, namely: Capt. Robinson, Lieuts. Shadel and Stone, and one Color Sergeant killed and one wounded, Wm. O’Connor of the 21st, making a total loss of about one hundred men killed, wounded and missing.

Parting Between the 21st and 24th.

We reached Vicksburg about the 21st of June and there took leave of the 24th Missouri, and returned to our own regiment, which had returned from its veteran furlough north. While we were with the 24th Missouri we became very much attached to the officers and men. The officers were courteous and the men true comrades.

In writing the foregoing account of the part taken by our brigade and regiment I have had nothing to aid me except my memory of the events narrated, in all of which I was an active participant. And in conclusion I now ask the charitable consideration of comrades and the general reader for any imperfections it may contain.

T. W. HOLMAN,
Co. D, 21st Missouri Infantry.

Resumption of the History of the 21st.

At Vicksburg the detachment of the 21st taking part in the Red River campaign joined their comrades who had returned at the expiration of their thirty days’ furlough. On June 4th the regiment left Vicksburg on a steamer, en route up the river for Memphis. The Confederates, however, had erected batteries on the west bank of the river, preventing the transports from proceeding. A landing was made at a point called Columbia, on June 5th, and on the following day the regiment was marched around Lake Providence and had an engagement with the enemy at Lake Chicot. The Confederates were completely routed and the blockade of the river removed. On the 7th the command re-embarked on the transports and arrived at Memphis on the 10th without any further incident.

On June the 12th the regiment was ordered to the relief of Gen. Sturgis, who had been defeated a few days previous at Gun Town. The retreating Federals were met at Colliersville, and under the escort of the 21st made the trip into Memphis without being molested by the enemy.

On June 25th the regiment, along with the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, to which it belonged, moved out of the city and encamped at Moscow, on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, and on the 26th held Division review. On June 27th the regiment was moved to La Grange, Tenn., where it was encamped until July 8th. At this time it was marched to Pontotoc, Miss., going by way of Ripley, and traversing a distance of over one hundred miles, and on the route the regiment was continuously fighting and skirmishing with the cavalry of the enemy under Gen. Forrest. On July 13th another move was made, to Tupelo, Miss., a distance of twenty miles, where an engagement with the enemy, known to history as the battle of Tupelo, took place. The 21st took a conspicuous part in this engagement, as will be seen by reading the report of Col. Edwin Moore, here published:

COL. MOORE’S REPORT.

HEADQUARTERS 21ST MO. INF. VOLS. }
MEMPHIS, TENN., JULY 18TH, 1864. }

LIEUT. SAM’L D. SAWYER,
A. A. GEN’L., 1ST BRIGADE.

LIEUTENANT:--I have the honor to report the part taken by the 21st
Mo. Infantry Volunteers at the battle of Tupelo on the 14th day of
July, 1864. About 6 o’clock a. m. we were formed in line of battle
with the brigade, the 119th Illinois Infantry Volunteers being on
our left and the 58th Illinois Infantry on our right. About 7:30 a.
m. the enemy opened on us with artillery, which continued until 9
o’clock a. m., when they advanced their infantry in line of battle,
driving in our skirmishers precipitately. They came within twenty
paces of our line when I gave the order to fire and immediately
after to advance. The fire was well directed and took the enemy by
surprise, who fled in great disorder, with the regiment in pursuit,
and for fifteen or twenty minutes a continuous and deadly fire was
poured in upon them; its effect was visible on the field. There being
no enemy in sight after advancing four hundred and fifty yards, we
returned to our former position and were not again attacked during
the day, although frequently subjected to a heavy artillery fire. The
officers and men of the command behaved with the utmost gallantry,
obeying every order with that promptness which secures success. Our
loss was one man killed and fifteen wounded.

EDWIN MOORE,
Lieut.-Col. 21st Mo. Inf. Vols., Com.

On the day following the Tupelo fight the command was ordered back to Memphis. On the same day, while encamped for dinner, we were attacked by the Confederates who were, however, repulsed after a lively skirmish, and the men resumed their meal. This time they were allowed to eat in peace and to finally reach Memphis without any further brushes with the enemy. On August 5th the regiment was sent on another excursion in pursuit of the Confederate General Forrest, who was reported to be rendezvousing in the vicinity of Memphis. On the Talahatchie river they first encountered the enemy, when a lively skirmish took place. This was on August 9th. The next brush with the Confederates occurred on the 12th, and again at Hurricane Creek on the 13th. Oxford, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles from Memphis, was reached August 22d. Here, after meeting and repulsing the enemy, startling news was received from Memphis, by courier, to the effect that Forrest had captured and was in possession of the city. There was an immediate call to arms and in double quick time the command was hurried on the journey back to recapture the city. They arrived, however, to find that the Confederate leader had been in the city but had taken his departure.

On September 5th, 1864, the regiment embarked on the steamer W. R. Wallace for Cairo, Ill. They were confined on board transports at Cairo when orders were received to proceed to St. Louis to assist in repelling the invasion of Missouri by the Confederates under Gen. Price. On arriving at St. Louis the regiment was moved down the Iron Mountain R. R., to De Sota, to intercept Gen. Price, who was reported at or near Pilot Knob. Gen. Price failed to show up at that point but was reported moving in the direction of Jefferson City. On learning this fact the command was hastily put on cars and returned to Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis. Then commenced the long, weary march after Price, through Central Missouri, going by way of Franklin, Jefferson City, Sedalia, Lexington and Independence. The command came up with the rear guard of the enemy at Little Blue, about three miles west of Independence, on October 23d. Here, after skirmishing, they were routed. Gen. Price being harassed by Federal troops, both front and rear, commenced retreating out of the State, the infantry following him south to Harrisonville, where the chase was abandoned by the infantry, the cavalry following him on into Arkansas. The infantry returned towards St. Louis, marching by way of Pleasant Hill, Lexington and Glasgow, where they crossed over to the north side of the Missouri river; resuming the march from the river, by way of Fayette, Columbia, Warrenton, High Hill and St. Charles, where the command crossed back to the south side of the Missouri river, marching to and arriving in St. Louis on the 23d of November. On this pursuit after Gen. Price the division, with which was the 21st Missouri, made a forced march of fifty-six miles, which was the longest continued march known in military history.

On the trip back to St. Louis the command was being continually annoyed by Quantrell’s and Anderson’s guerrillas, and lost several men killed by these outlaws.

Gen. A. J. Smith, commanding the 16th Army Corps, having received orders to report to Gen. George H. Thomas at Nashville, Tenn., the 21st Missouri embarked on board the steamer Mars en route for Nashville, where they arrived on the 30th of November. Leaving the steamer, the 21st was moved out two miles southwest of the city and threw up breastworks to assist in repelling the attack of the Confederate General Hood, which was hourly expected. Hood appeared on December the 1st and began a regular siege of Nashville, which continued until the 15th of December, when Gen. Thomas moved out of his intrenchments, hurling the 16th Corps, which held the position on his right, against Hood’s left. The enemy was driven back, doubling his left flank back on his center, capturing a number of prisoners and several pieces of artillery. The night of the 15th closed in with Hood’s crushed and bleeding army driven back to a strongly fortified position in the Brentwood Hills, some three miles from the position he held in the morning. The battle was resumed early on the morning of the 16th, with varying results until 3 p. m., when Gen. Thomas, seeing the decisive moment had come, ordered a general assault, and Hood’s broken and reeling columns were sent whirling down the pikes in the direction of Columbia, Tenn. Thus ended the vain boast of President Davis, at Macon, made to the Tennessee troops after the capture of Atlanta by Sherman: “Tennesseeans, be of good cheer; you will soon see the green fields of Kentucky.” The remnant of the proud army that had dealt Gen. Sherman so many crushing blows was hurrying to make its escape across the Tennessee river--to escape complete annihilation.

On the morning of the 17th of December, 1864, the 16th Corps, under Gen. A. J. Smith, was ordered in pursuit of Gen. Hood’s fleeing army. The pursuing army followed to Clifton, by way of Pulaski, and arrived at Clifton on the 2d of January. Here they embarked on board transports en route for Eastport, Miss., where they arrived on the 7th of January, 1865, and went into camp, remaining in camp and performing usual routine duty until February 9th, when they embarked on transports for New Orleans, where they landed on February 21st. They remained in New Orleans in camp until March 22d, when they took steamer and were carried, by way of Lake Pontchartrain and the Gulf, to Dauphin Island, at the foot of Mobile Bay, where they camped, arriving on the 24th. A few days afterwards another move was made to Spanish Fort, near Mobile, _via_ Fish river and a land march. The Fort was invested and captured on April 8th. On the 3d of April the division, in which was the 21st regiment, began operations against Fort Blakely, taking part in the many skirmishes in the approach and siege of that important Confederate stronghold, and in its final capture on April 9th. In the charge on the fortifications on the 9th, the 21st had two color bearers killed and was the first regiment to plant its flag on the ramparts. In the charge the loss of the regiment was heavy, about equal to that of the whole brigade.

We had at Blakely the rumor of Lee’s surrender, during the afternoon of the charge and capture of the fort. The bugle sounded the charge at 6 o’clock p. m. and in seven and one-half minutes the fort surrendered. This was the last battle of the war. The Federal loss was two thousand killed and wounded. We captured thirty-two cannon and four thousand prisoners. Thus the 21st Missouri was engaged in the last battle of the war as well as in one of the first.

On April 13th the 21st Regiment marched with the 16th Corps to Montgomery, Alabama, arriving on the 27th and going into camp two miles northeast of the city. Here they remained in camp until June 1st, when they were taken, with the brigade, to Providence Landing, on the Alabama River, reaching there June 4th, and embarked on a steamer the same day for Mobile. On the arrival of the regiment at Mobile they went into camp in the suburbs. Here they remained, doing outpost and other guard duty until March, when they were ordered to Fort Morgan for duty, and on April 19th, 1866, were mustered out.

This was the last day of the organization known as the 21st Missouri Infantry Volunteers. After their long and arduous labors in defence of their country came the soldiers’ reward--an honorable discharge from the service and then the going home to family and loved ones. But there was many a long drawn sigh, for who among the survivors of this heroic band failed to recall some gallant comrade, who, full of pride and patriotic ambition, left the Missouri home never to return. On this battle field and that one their bodies lay buried; a soldier’s grave, unmarked and unidentified; a family of expectant loved ones, in fond old Missouri, waiting and watching in vain. But this was war, the cruel war now over.

Camp was broken on the 19th of April, 1866, and with their discharges the men took their departure for their Missouri homes.

SOME STATISTICAL FACTS.

In service from July 15th, 1861, to April 19th, 1866. For the whole period of service, total enrollment:

Field Officers 21
Line Officers 78
Privates and Non-Commissioned Officers, 1580
----
Grand total 1679
Losses during the war from all causes 834
----
Survivors on April 19th, 1866 845

The above figures are not claimed to be absolutely correct. There is a great lacking of data in the written records of the regiment and reports of officers, but they are compiled by those familiar with the history of the regiment, from its organization to its discharge, and after great pains and labor they give them, believing that they are at least very nearly true.

DATES OF CHANGES IN NUMBERS OF DIVISIONS.

December 30th, 1864, the designation of the 3d Division, 16th Army Corps, was changed to 2d Division, Detachment Army of the Tennessee, Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith commanding; Brigadier Gen. Kenner Garrard commanding the 2d Division.

February 22d, 1865, the designation of the Army of the Tennessee was changed to the 16th Army Corps, and the 2d Division, Brig. Gen. Garrard commanding, formerly the old 3d, 16th Army Corps, was thereafter known as the 2d of the reorganized 16th Corps.

During the war the 21st Missouri was attached to the following Divisions:

1st Brigade, 6th Division, Army of West Tennessee.
1st Brigade, 3d Division, 16th Army Corps.
1st Brigade, 2d Division, Detachment Army of the Tenn.
1st Brigade, 2d Division, 16th Army Corps.

COMPLETE ROSTER.

Col. D. Moore, Jan. 17, 1862; mustered out, expiration of term, Feb.
11, ’65.

Col. James D. Lyon, Aug. 17, 1865; resigned as Lieut. Col. Aug. 7,
1865.

Col. Joseph G. Best, Sept. 30, 1865.

Lieut. Col. H. M. Woodyard, Jan. 17, 1862; resigned Jan. 27, 1864.

Lieut. Col. Edwin Moore, March 30, 1864; mustered out, expiration of
term, Feb. 11, 1865.

Lieut. Col. James D. Lyon, April 20, 1865; promoted Colonel.

Lieut. Col. Joseph G. Best, Aug. 17, 1865; promoted Colonel.

Lieut. Col. Henry McGonigle, Sept. 30, 1865.

Maj. Barnabas B. King, Jan. 17, 1862; killed at Shiloh, Tenn., April
6, ’62.

Maj. Edwin Moore, May 27, 1862; promoted Lieut. Col. March 30, 1864.

Maj. George W. Fulton, Aug. 5, 1864; resigned Dec. 11, 1864.

Maj. Charles W. Tracy, Jan. 25, 1865; revoked.

Maj. James D. Lyon, Sept. 29, 1864; transferred from 24th Mo.
Infantry; promoted Lieutenant Colonel.

Maj. Joseph G. Best, May 30, 1865; promoted Lieut. Col. Aug. 17, 1865.

Maj. Henry McGonigle, Aug. 17, 1865; promoted Lieut. Col. Sept. 30,
’65.

Maj. E. K. Blackburn, Sept. 30, 1865.

Adjt. Chas. C. Tobin, March 27, 1862; died in prison May 6, 1862.

Adjt. Jas. B. Comstock, July 9, 1863; promoted Capt. A. A. G. U. S.
Vols.

Adjt. Stephen Hall, Aug. 2, 1865.

Quarter Master D. W. Pressell, March 25, 1862.

Surgeon R. H. Wyman, Dec. 21, 1861; mustered out S. O. 241, April 23,
’62.

Surgeon R. H. Wyman, May 21, 1862; restored to service; resigned June
11, 1862.

Surgeon David Skillings, June 18, 1862; vacated S. O. 108, A. A. G.
Mo.

Surgeon J. H. Seaton, July 26, 1862; resigned June 2, 1863.

Surgeon Abel C. Roberts, July 9, 1863.

Ass’t Surg. J. H. Seaton, March 25, 1862; promoted Surgeon July 22,
1862.

Ass’t Surg. W. Knickerbocker, April 25, 1863.

Ass’t Surg. F. G. Stanley, June 12, 1863.

Chaplain John H. Cox, May 20, 1862; resigned April 23, 1864.

Co. A.

Capt Charles Yust, March 27, 1862.

1st Lieut. Henry Menn, March 27, 1862; resigned July 12, 1862.

1st Lieut. August Gloeser, July 22, 1862; resigned April 21, 1864.

1st Lieut. Thomas E. Amburn, Nov. 26, 1864.

2d Lieut. Edwin Turner, March 27, 1862; resigned May 1, 1862.

2d Lieut. Edward F. Nelson, May 27, 1862; resigned Oct. 27, 1864.

2d Lieut. G. F. Malthaner, Sept. 30, 1865.

Co. B.

Capt. Joseph Story, March 27, 1862; resigned July 12, 1862.

Capt. Josiah W. Davis, Jan. 5, 1862.

1st Lieut. L. D. Woodruff, March 27, 1862; resigned July 13, 1862.

1st Lieut. Richard Reese, Aug. 2, 1862.

2d Lieut. Edward Fox, March 27, 1862; died May 19, 1862.

2d Lieut. Jeremy Hall, Oct. 4, 1862; mustered out at expiration of
term of service, Dec. 5, 1864.

2d Lieut. Owen S. Hagle, Sept. 30, 1865.

Co. C.

Capt. Simon Pearce, March 27, 1862; mustered out March, 1865.

Capt. Benjamin S. Palmer, Sept 30, 1865.

1st Lieut. William Lester, March 27, 1862; resigned March 29, 1862.

1st Lieut. W. H. Simpson, May 20, 1862; resigned Aug. 31, 1862.

1st Lieut. T. H. Richardson, Jan. 5, 1862; died in hospital at
Memphis, Tenn., June 11, 1863.

1st Lieut. Frank M. Goff, Sept. 12, 1864; died of wounds April 10,
1865.

1st Lieut. Stephen Hall, July 6, 1865; promoted Adjutant Aug. 20,
1865.

1st Lieut. Benjamin S. Palmer, Aug. 2, 1865; promoted Captain.

1st Lieut. C. D. Dowell, Sept. 30, 1865.

2d Lieut. T. H. Richardson, March 27, 1862; promoted 1st Lieut. Dec.
29, ’62.

2d Lieut. James McFall, Jan. 5, 1863; resigned March 21, 1864.

2d Lieut. Frank M. Goff, Aug. 22, 1864; promoted 1st Lieut.

2d Lieut. Ezra Hambleton, Sept. 30, 1865.

Co. D.

Capt. N. W. Murrow, March 27, 1862; resigned July 12, 1862.

Capt. Henry McGonigle, Oct. 4, 1862; promoted Major Aug. 17, 1865.

Capt. Joshua Hagle, Sept. 30, 1865.

1st Lieut. Henry McGonigle, March 27, 1862; promoted Capt. July 13,
’62.

1st Lieut. Joshua Hagle, Feb. 11, 1863; promoted Captain.

1st Lieut. Charles L. Norton, Sept 30, 1865.

2d Lieut. Lewis J. Ainslie, March 27, 1862; resigned Oct. 22, 1862.

2d Lieut. Charles C. Murray, Feb. 27, 1863; resigned Aug. 29, 1865.

2d Lieut. Benjamin F. Jenkins, Oct. 18, 1865.

Co. E.

Capt. Geo W. Fulton, March 27, 1862; resigned Jan. 16, 1863.

Capt. E. B. Shafer, Sept. 12, 1864.

1st Lieut. T. M. McQuoid, March 27, 1862; resigned Dec. 17, 1862.

1st Lieut. James B. Comstock, Feb. 24, 1863; commissioned Adjutant.

1st Lieut. E. B. Shafer, April 23, 1864; promoted Captain.

1st Lieut. Nehemiah D. Starr, Sept. 12, 1864; resigned Aug. 2, 1865.

1st Lieut. Martin N. Sinnott, Sept. 30, 1865.

2d Lieut. W. J. Pulis, March 27, 1862; resigned April 22, 1862.

2d Lieut. James B. Comstock, Aug. 14, 1862; promoted 1st Lt. Jan. 1,
’63.

2d Lieut. E. B. Shafer, Feb. 24, 1863; promoted 1st Lieut. April 23,
1863.

2d Lieut. N. D. Starr, May 24, 1864: promoted 1st Lieut.

2d Lieut. Martin N. Sinnott, Sept. 12, 1864; promoted 1st Lieut.

2d Lieut. William H. Smith, Sept. 30, 1865.

Co. F.

Capt. Joseph T. Farris, March 27, 1862; resigned Jan. 16, 1863.

Capt. Alex. F. Tracy, Feb. 23, 1863; resigned Aug. 29, 1865.

Capt. Isaac C. Schram, Sept. 30, 1865.

1st Lieut. Alex. F. Tracy, March 27, 1862; promoted Captain Jan. 17,
’63.

1st Lieut. F. A. Whittemore, Feb. 23, 1863; mustered out expiration
term of service, Feb. 11, 1865.

1st Lieut. Richard D. Andrews, Sept. 30, 1865.

2d Lieut. F. A. Whittemore, March 27, 1862; promoted 1st Lt. Jan. 17,
’63.

2d Lieut. Peter H. Orr, Feb. 23, 1863; killed on picket duty Oct. 27,
1863.

2d Lieut. Isaac C. Schram, April 22, 1864; promoted Captain.

2d Lieut. David Danforth, Sept. 30, 1865.

Co. G.

Capt. T. H. Roseberry, March 27. 1862; resigned Aug. 31, 1862.

Capt. E. K. Blackburn, Jan. 5, 1863; promoted Major Sept. 30, 1865.

Capt. Daniel R. Allen, Sept. 30, 1865.

1st Lieut. E. K. Blackburn, March 27, 1862; promoted Capt. Dec. 29,
’62.

1st Lieut. Daniel R. Allen, Jan. 5, 1863; promoted Capt. Sept. 30,
1865.

1st Lieut. Robert H. Harris, Sept. 30, 1865.

2d Lieut. Daniel R. Allen, March 27, 1862; promoted 1st Lieut. Dec.
30, ’62.

2d Lieut. Robert H. Harris, Jan 5, 1863; promoted 1st Lieut. Sept.
30, ’65.

2d Lieut. Thomas H. Roseberry, Sept. 30, 1865.

Co. H.

Capt John H. Cox, March 27, 1862; commissioned Capt. April 22, 1862.

Capt. Charles W. Tracy, May 27, 1862.

Capt. James Smith, July 6, 1865.

1st Lieut. Peter Washburn, March 27, 1862; resigned Aug. 31, 1862.

1st Lieut. Logan Tomkins, Nov. 19, 1862; resigned Dec. 20, 1864.

1st Lieut. James Smith, Feb. 24, 1865; promoted Captain.

1st Lieut. G. K. Jones, July 6, 1865.

2d Lieut. W. P. Rickey, March 27, 1862; resigned April 22, 1862.

2d Lieut. James Smith, May 27, 1862; promoted 1st Lieut.

2d Lieut. G. K. Jones, Feb. 24, 1865; promoted 1st Lieut.

2d Lieut. Geo. Coffman, Sept. 30, 1865.

Co. I.

Capt. W. H. Harle, March 27, 1862; resigned July 11, 1862.

Capt. Joseph G. Best, July 22, 1862; promoted Major May 30, 1865.

Capt. Jeremiah Hamilton, July 6, 1865.

1st Lieut. Joseph Oliver, March 27, 1862; resigned June 12, 1862.

1st Lieut. Joseph G. Best, June 18, 1862; promoted Captain.

1st Lieut. Geo. W. Stein, Jan. 5, 1863; mustered out expiration of
term of service, Dec. 5, 1864.

1st Lieut. Jeremiah Hamilton, Dec. 17, 1864; promoted Captain.

1st Lieut. Henry Deems, July 6, 1865.

2d Lieut. Hudson Rice, March 27, 1862; resigned July 22, 1862.

2d Lieut. Geo. W. Stein, Aug. 2, 1862; promoted 1st Lieut.

2d Lieut. Cyrenus Russel, Jan. 5, 1863; mustered out at expiration of
term of service Feb. 3, 1865.

2d Lieut. William H. Smith, Sept. 30, 1865.

Co. K.

Capt. Frederic Leeser, March 27, 1862; resigned Jan. 7, 1863.

Capt. Louis Puster, March 28, 1863.

1st Lieut. A. D. Starkweather, March 27, 1862; resigned Oct. 27, 1864.

1st Lieut. W. A. Weaver, Dec. 16, 1864.

2d Lieut. Geo. M. Davis, March 27, 1862; discharged disability Dec.
11, ’63.

2d Lieut. Carlton T. Shamp, Sept, 30, 1865.

All officers not noted by death or otherwise discharged, or resigned from the service, served until the close of the war and were mustered out with the regiment on the 19th of April, 1866.

All officers whose commissions are dated March 27, 1862, ranked from July 15th, 1861; all others from date of commission.

THE REUNION

Of the 21st Missouri at Edina, Missouri.

It is near thirty years since we came here to recruit after the battles of Shiloh and Corinth.

POETRY INSPIRED BY THE OCCASION.

As we grasp old comrades by the hand,
The tears unbidden flow,
And memory swiftly calls us back
To some thirty years ago.

When with but one blanket to our back,
As we lay upon the snow,
And slowly munched our last hard tack
Near thirty years ago,

And talked of scenes of mortal strife
Through which we’ve had to go,
Thinking of home and the dear wife,
While time moved on so slow.

And as we pass the lone grave yards,
Where all in time must go,
We often think of lonely graves
Made some thirty years ago.

Think of the breast works we have charged,
Where the dead so thickly lay,
And how we tumbled them into the trench,
The blue as well as the gray.

We seem to hear the long roll beat,
That warns us of the foe,
Then hear them sound their own retreat,
And it’s all peace here below.

And when we’ve heard the last roll call,
Seen our last of earthly scenes,
With our old blue coat for a pall
We’ll lay down to pleasant dreams.

And with our flag still waving o’er us,
That blessed emblem of the free,
We’ll join in that immortal chorus
And help sound the jubilee.

_Composed by A. W. Harlan, of Co. F, 21st Mo.
Croton, Iowa, Sept. 24th, 1892._

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE:

Obvious typographical erros have been corrected.

Text in italics is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.

Archaic or alternate spelling which may have been in use at the time
of publication has been retained from the original.

Inconsistencies in the spelling of names have been retained from the
original, e.g. Whittemore vs. Whitmore, Ainslee vs. Ainslie, etc.