Re: Alonso F. Owen - 38th Iowa Infantry

From: Dave Wildman
Date: 30 May 1999
Time: 19:31:49
Remote Name: cache1.sntc01.pacbell.net

Comments

Owen, Alonzo F. Age 41 Residence Elgin nativity New York. Enlisted August 15, 1862, Company H, 38th regiment. Died of desease August 28, 1862, Carrolton, La.

This unfortunate regiment saw little action before or after your ancestor's death. Below is a description of two of the 3 or 4 combat casualties suffered by this regiment. Nearly 500 men your ancestor included died of desease during the summer of 1863.

Once across the river the wagons and other camp equipment had to be unloaded again. This duty fell to Company H, taking them the entire night. The next morning, the 15th of June, the regiment marched four miles to their place in the siege line. Warrenton was in ruins, a fort had been built by Union troops, and a hospital. A few of the sick were left there in the care of Lieut. Armstrong.

The following day the first man is wounded while working on the trenches, he is from Comany D. He would die of his wound, the first combat death of the regiment. During the next four days the men began entrenching and preparing a battery along their section of the line. On June 19th a detail of several men were sent to work on a hill near the battery. The rebels, seeing them, fired two or three shells. One shell struck the hill above the regiment and exploded. A man in Company K was struck on the left side wounding him in the arm and taking off his left leg at the knee, another man in Company D was also wounded. On the 24th a general bombardment was ordered the Thirty-eigth's battery was firing nearly all day. It was reported that the Captain of Company D, (E. Kirkup) ran away when the rebels commenced shelling their position. This placement of General Herron's troops cut off the last possible chance of communication between Pemberton and Johnston, as it enabled Lauman to close up on McClernand's left while Herron intrenched from Lauman to the water's edge. At this point the water recedes a few hundred yards from the high land. Through this opening no doubt the Confederate commanders had been able to get messengers under cover of night.

Last changed: January 12, 2002

( Subscribe to the monthly Iowa Genealogy Newsletter )

( Subscribe to the monthly Iowa Counties Newsletter ) ( Subscribe to the monthly Iowa Civil War Newsletter )

( submissions are accepted for all news letters )

(Send this page to a Friend) ( Roster Photo's )

If you have any additional information that you would like to add to this page or other pages and share with visitors of on this web site, please contact