|
CIVIL WAR
Cape Girardeau County Missouri Genealogy Trails REGIMENTAL HISTORY MAP OF FORTS IN CAPE GIRARDEAU FORT D GEN. PRENTISS AT CAPE GIRARDEAU, Sept 5, 1861 CAPE GIRARDEAU EAGLE (ARMY NEWSPAPER), May 24, 1862 CAPE GIRARDEAU AND PILOT KNOB SAFE, April 25, 1863 A BATTLE AT CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO, April 27, 1863 THE NEWS IN BRIEF, April 29, 1863  Regimental History Thirty-second Infantry IOWA (3 years) Contributed by Michelle Kennedy Byrd Thirty-second Infantry. Cols., John Scott, Gustavus A. Eberhart, Lieut.- Cols., Edward H. Mix, Gustavus A. Eberhart, Jonathan Hutchinson, Majs., Gustavus A. Eberhart, Jonathan Hutchinson, John R. Jones. This regiment was mustered into the service at Dubuque, Oct. 6, 1862 and was sent to St. Louis. On Dec. 17 Cos. C and I started on an expedition west of New Madrid, during which they captured from the enemy 5 commissioned officers, 3 enlisted men, 35 horses and 50 head of cattle. Col. Scott, with 20 men, examined the various points on the river between New Madrid and Cape Girardeau, where trade or smuggling was practicable. On his return he brought a scouting party, 50 strong, from Cape Girardeau to Lane's landing, from which place it returned to Cape Girardeau through the interior, making a successful reconnaissance. Co. C was attached to the 4th MO cavalry as mounted infantry and engaged in arduous duties. Co. E was placed on duty at Fort Quinby, near Columbus, Ky., and H and K were sent to Island No. 10. The duties at this place were largely in protecting the contraband colony and in guarding public stores though there were expeditions to either shore and some fighting. In one of these affairs, Oct. 22, 1863, Private John D. Baker of Co H was killed by guerrillas. A detachment of six companies of the 32nd, B. C, E, H. I and K, participated with the 2nd brigade, 3rd division, 16th army corps, in the famous and successful Meridian raid of Gen. Sherman, in which the railroads were torn up and destroyed. On Feb. 28, 1864, near Canton, Miss., a forage train of _2 teams, guarded by 25 men of Co. C, was attacked by 300 mounted Confederates. A gallant resistance was made, the fight lasting over half an hour. Private Edward Flood was killed. The Confederates admitted a loss of 25 killed and wounded. The train escaped with a loss of eight teams captured -- due to a panic among the teamsters. A detachment of the 32nd, Cos. A, D, F and G. was attached to a cavalry division under Gen. Davidson and remained with it until ordered to Vicksburg in Jan. 1864, to rejoin the regiment. Gen. Davidson expressed his appreciation of the courage and fidelity of the detachment in a special order. On March 4 the regiment was reunited, and on the 10th it entered on the Red River expedition. In Gen. Smith's division and Col. Shaw's brigade, it bore a gallant part in the marches and the battles of the campaign. At the storming of Fort De Russy the brigade played a brilliant role. In the battle of Pleasant Hill, Smith's division was ordered to the front, and Shaw's brigade, in the advance, did the hardest fighting of the day. It seems almost incredible that the 32nd, cut off from its brigade and entirely surrounded, with nearly one-half of its numbers killed or wounded, not only held its own, but near dark fought its way through, joined the advanced troops, and in less than 30 minutes was ready to meet the enemy again. At the battle of Bayou de Glaize during the retreat the 32nd was actively engaged, its casualties being 5 wounded. At Lake Chicot, in a sharp engagement of only a few minutes, the regiment lost 4 killed and 4 wounded. The 32nd also participated in the Tupelo campaign, and was in the battle of Nashville with Col. Gilbert's brigade, Smith's division. In the final charge on the afternoon of Dec. 16, the regiment captured a battery of 5 guns with 50 prisoners, losing 1 man killed and 25 wounded. The regiment was present at the siege and capture of Spanish Fort, and after the storming of Fort Blakely and the fall of Mobile it remained in Alabama until sent to Clinton, IA, where it was mustered out on Aug. 24, 1865. During its term of service the regiment lost, in killed or died from wounds, 95; died from disease, 206; wounded, 142; discharged, 173. Source: The Union Army, vol. 4 MAP OF FORTS IN CAPE GIRARDEAU  Source: Larry J. Summary, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Map of City Forts, 4 Apr 2008. FORT D, CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO
Fort D is the surviving
fortification built by Union troops here during the Civil War. Fort A
sat just north of downtown Cape Girardeau on a high hill. A
grist-grinding windmill was included in the fort. Fort B was located
where Academic Hall now stands at Southeast Missouri State University.
Fort C was built at the end of Bloomfield Road east of Pacific St.
Smaller earthworks included Battery A at the corner of Henderson and
New Madrid Streets, Battery B on Whitener Street just east of Sunset
Avenue and rifle pits along Perry Avenue and on the hill where
Southeast Missouri Hospital now stands.Fort D was garrisoned by Union troops from Illinois, Missouri,
and other Midwestern states throughout the Civil War. The fort was
never engaged in real combat; The Battle of Cape Girardeau, April 26,
1863, was fought west of the city.
The earthwork walls are the original Fort D, as constructed in 1861 and restored in 1936. A palisade wall, probably made of upright logs, constituted the rear wall and was pierced by a gate. The gap in the south wall may have been a “sally” port, allowing soldiers access to the rifle pits below the parapet. The fort was armed with three 32-pounder cannons and two 24-pounder cannons; all mounted on movable siege carriages. A 32-pounder cannon was a smoothbore cannon that could fire a 32-pound solid round shot over one mile. The cannon plus carriage probably weight more than four tons. The fort was saved from development in the early 1900’s. The earthworks were repaired by the Works Progress Administration during the 1930’s. The stone blockhouse was also built by the WPA in 1936 and has been used for many purposes since. Source: Wikipedia GENERAL PRENTISS AT CAPE GIRARDEAU He Tenders His Resignation More Bank Robbing by the Rebels Cairo, Sept.
2--Gen. Prentiss and staff arrived at Cape Girardeau on Sunday
afternoon. His army encamped at Jackson, ten miles west.
No Secession camps were found between Ironton and Jackson.
Gen. Grant supercedes Gen. Prentiss, who has tendered his resignation. Jeff. Thompson yesterday took $100,000 from the Bank of Charleston, Mo. --Source: Crisis newspaper, Sept. 5, 1861. CAPE GIRARDEAU EAGLE We
have received the first number of an army paper bearing the above title
and edited by Rich L. Gove and H. F. Potter, two Wisconsin boys
belonging to our cavalry regiments, now stationed at Cape Girardeau,
Mo. From the Eagle we make the following extracts:
SERIOUSLY INJURED--Lieut. Shipman of Squadron "G," lst Wisconsin cavalry, met with a serious accident soon after his arrival at this post. While riding along the street by the side of a man mounted on a large black stallion, a notoriously vicious horse, the stallion suddenly turned, and kicking with tremendous force, struck the Lieutenant just below the knee, breaking and mashing the bones terribly. He has excellent care and medical treatment at the St. Charles Hotel in this city, and as soon as well enough will be taken home to Madison, Wisconsin. MILITARY--1st Wis. Cavalry have done a good business since arriving at this post. They have been out on several important expeditions, taking quite a number of prisoners and a considerable amount of contraband and conficated property. The skirmish warfare peculiar to this seciton is just sufficiently exciting to make it interesting. There will evidently be sufficient employment for the troops at this post for some time to come; but "the boys" are always "up to time," and there need be no fears that anything which needs attention, will be passed by without notice. FIRST WIS. CAVALRY--This regiment had a safe transit with but slight exception from St. Louis to this place. One man was seriously injured while leaving the barracks at the former place; but was alive when last hear from. Another good man, member of Co. K, fell overboard on the way down the river and was drowned. His name was Henry LeFever, a resident of Jefferson County, near Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. The health of the men seems to have improved materially since coming here. Living in tents seems to agree with them better than barracks. While at Benton Barracks the loss of regiment by death was nine men, a number greater than need have been provided the barracks had been as healthy as tents. The present site of the camp is healthy and pleasant. HORRIBLE DEATH--James Crowfoot, a member of Squadron "M," 1st Wis. Cavalry was killed on Thursday last, 8th inst., in a horrible manner. He was detailed on duty at Fort "A." He had with him his horse, a wild animal, and feeling somewhat exhausted after his forenoon's work, went outside to take a nap, and let his horse graze at the same time. So he tied one end of the lariat, attached to his horse to his arm and laid down--a foolish procedure which has cost more than one man his life. The horse becoming frightened at something, ran away, dragging the poor soldier after him. When stopped the body of Crowfoot was greatly mangled and life had become entirely extinct. Thus another good man has become the victim of carelessness. Will not our soldiers profit by such examples. James Crowfoot was born in England; but lived, we believe, for some time previous to enlisting, near Hartford, Wis. --Source: Weekly Wisconsin Patriot, May 24, 1862. CAPE GIRARDEAU AND PILOT KNOB SAFE St.
Louis, Mo., April 24.--Dispatches received at headquarters announce the
arrival of Gen. McNell's command at Cape Girardeau yesterday.
That place is now entirely safe from attack, being well fortified
and fully garrisoned. Pilot Knob is also regarded as secure, and
such disposition of our forces has been made as will speedily result in
driving the rebels out of the State. Major McConnell has been
exchanged, and is understood to have revealed all he knows of the
strength of the enemy. The rebels have occupied Frederick
(Fredricktown), twenty-two miles East of Pilot Knob.
--Source: Portland (OR) Daily Advetiser, April 25, 1863.
A BATTLE AT CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. Albany (NY) Evening Journal, April 27, 1863 8,000 Rebels under Gen. Price make the Attack. The Rebel Forces Repulsed They Retreat with Severe Loss. St.
Louis, April 26. Despatches from Gen. McNeil at Cape Girardeau,
dated 7 o'clock Saturday evening, announce that the Rebels, about 8,000
strong, under Marmaduke and Burbridge, were eight miles distant,
approaching on two roads.
This morning a flag of truce brought a demand for surrender in half an hour, signed by the order of Maj. Gen. Price, to which a defiant reply was returned. At 11 A. M. the Rebels attacked in force. After three hours' hard fighting they were handsomely repulsed. It was supposed, however, that they would change their position and attack from another point. Reinforcements reached McNeil to-day. He has two gunboats ready for any emergency, and expresses the utmost confidence in his ability to whip the enemy and pursue them in case of retreat. No apprehension need be felt for the safety of Cape Girardeau. No mention is made of the loss on either side. A strong force of artillery and cavalry occupied Frederickstown last night. Nearly all the Rebel prisoners captured here have been removed to Alton, Ill., and all the gun shops in the city placed under guard. A later despatch from Gen. McNeil says: "We have repulsed the enemy with severe loss. He is now retreating, but will be taken care of. Our loss is less than twenty killed and wounded." |