4th Iowa Infantry History - Page 6

One of the worst afflictions the men suffered at this time was scurvy, a disease that comes from a lack of vegetable food. Many poor fellows lost their fingers and toes from this terrible disease. Hard bread, coffee and bacon was the daily food. They were so far away from the base of supplies that nothing but the substantials could reach them until at last some noble hearted man hearing how they were suffering from scurvy purchased with his own means in the Chicago market, a whole train load of potatoes, onions and cabbage and forwarded them to the troops. One soldier wrote, "I shall never forget the relief and enjoyment that brought to us."

In passing through all these trials and privations of camp life, it was a noticeable fact that there was very little complaining. To illustrate, the magnificent temper of the American soldier, I will give an instance to show how quickly they will turn a discomfort into a joke. One night, the 29th of March, 1863, the regiment was wrapped in slumber when a terrible storm struck the Fourth’s camp and hurled the tents into the air and poured in upon the men’s unprotected heads a shower of cold rain. Some witty fellow started up a loud lamentation how he had left a good home, etc. and this started the fun, turning the distresses into hilarity and good feeling--in the midst of the confusion. The Sergeant Major of the regiment stepped up to one soldier and remarked, "That scene is wonderful. The American soldier is the only soldier in the world that will laugh at his own calamity."

On the second day of April, General Steel's division of which the Fourth Iowa Infantry was a part, embarked on the Fany Ogden and took a course up the river, arriving at Greenville, Miss. on the 5th day, where they disembarked and made a raid out into the country. At this point, the rebel cavalry came in frequently and fired at the boats, and the information had come to General Grant that large quantities of corn and provisions were being drawn from this locality to Vicksburg to support the rebel army. On the night of the 5th, the regiment camped 18 miles from Grennville on Deer Creek, in a cane break. Next day they followed the banks of Deer Creek all day long. A soldier of the Fourth recalls:

"Both shores were lined with stately trees, the branches bending to the water, the stream was deep and sluggish. The bright rays of a southern sun were bringing to life the green leaves. Birds of rich plumage sung their spring songs, and the fields were beginning to ear their cost of green and the broad fields in each passing plantation were being tilled and worked by the slaves of the master. As we followed the winding road so broad and beautiful and level all day long, I looked with envy on the many comfortable homes and then as I cast my eyes to the other bank of Deer Creek and saw the vast multitude of negroes who had escaped from their masters and were trying to get to us."

On May 1st the regiment marched from Millekens Bend, in the direction of Grand Gulf. Some of the fleet ran the batteries of Vicksburg the previous night which several men reported hearing. Then on May 2nd, large bodies of troops were seen moving. At this time Grant's army was reported to be 50,000 strong, and there was a flurry of great activity and excitement. By May 3rd the troops were marching all day through swamps and over corduroy bridges. On May 9th and 10th the Fourth Iowa marched and counter marched; and the men reported seeing thousands and thousands of Federal troops; the road was strewn with broken wagons, muskets and knapsacks of the retiring foe. "Dead horses, cattle and hogs thrown into all the creeks, wells and springs to destroy the water. Very warm and dusty and suffered terribly for water on one-quarter rations." By May 11th the army received news of the capture of Fredericksburg with 12,000 prisoners by Hooker. May 12th heavy cannonading was to be heard in the front. Some men told of how "a New York regiment came in with their ears cut off by the rebels while foraging." May 13th saw the men marching at sun up with no breakfast. They also made a raid on a fine mansion, and found General Sherman in the house. They were then ordered to the support of McPherson at Battle of Raymond. The enemy numbered about 5,000, but were quickly routed and driven in direction of Jackson. A Fourth Iowa man found a brother on the field wounded. By May 14th heavy rains poured down, hungry and tired the army swooped down 20,000 strong on Jackson, drove out Johnston's army of 12,000. Grant rode at the head of the 4th Iowa as it entered the city. During May 15th and 16th the regiment pillaged an destroyed the city, railroad, and rebel stores. The regiment then marched at noon of last day on hearing the cannons roar at Champion Hills 20 miles away. The Fourth reached the field at midnight after Grant had overwhelmed an defeated Pemberton's army of 25,000 taking 2,000 prisoners and 20 pieces of artillery. Grant’s losses were about 2,500. Another hard day occured on May 17th. The Fourth marched at sun up to Black River and crossed over on pontoons. The enemy was driven from their works at Black Bayou Ridge at the point of the bayonet, leaving 11 pieces of artillery and 3,000 prisoners in Grant’s hands. May 18th the army again marched at sun up, the Fourth regiment in advance, and the whole army enveloping Vicksburg, Herman's corps occupying the right flank. The Fourth drove the enemy into their works; they made a stubborn resistance; and many said "in the evening our hearts were gladdened by a sight of the Mississippi River north of Vicksburg." The regiment then proceeded to plant the battery that broke the enemy’s line extending from Vicksburg to Haines Bluffs. Darkness settled over, and the regiment laid on their arms that night. May 19th saw the regiment advance at sun up to find the enemy had fallen back inside their works at Vicksburg, leaving open the communications with the Yazoo River on the north. Brisk fighting occured all the day, and the 4th and 26th Iowa were drawn on to a masked battery and driven back with a severe loss. Early on May 20th the fleet opened fire from the front and the 4th was involved in hard fighting all day with nothing gained. On May 21st the Fourth saw more fighting all day; with heavy losses on both sides. The regiment received supplies from the Yazoo River, the first in 21 days; sent 6,000 prisoners north. On May 22nd Grant’s army charged the enemies all along the line, but they were repulsed with a loss of 5,000 men.

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