Second Iowa Cavalary in the Civil War 
Second Iowa Cavalary in the Civil War The directed account of a Civil War Veteran who served in the Second Iowa Cavalry during the War Between The States. His name was H. E . Jones, I enlisted in Co. ''I'' 2d Iowa Cavalry in August, 1861, for the period of three years or during the war. We left our rendezvous at Davenport, Iowa on the 7th of December for St. Louis, Mo., where we drew our arms consisting of Colt's revolving rifle (five shots), saber and revolver, previously drawn our horses and equipment at Davenport. We remained at St. Louis, until the 17th of February , or about two months, perfecting ourselves in the manual of arms, both mounted and dismounted. On that date we left St. Louis for Bird Point, MO, and from there to New Madrid. This point ours, Island No. 10 became untenable and was soon evacuated also. On the 12 Th. of April the Mississippi river being now open as far south as Fort Pillow, and Memphis, Tenn. We in common with the ''Army of the Mississippi'', moved down the river on transport for the purpose of the reduction of those two points. On the 17th of April we were ordered back and thence up the Tennessee river to Hamburg Landing, a few miles above Pittsburg Landing. Where had been fought of the Battle of Shiloh. We now formed a part of the Grand Army under General Halleck, which was investing Corinth, Mississippi. We wre still under General Pope who commanded Halleck's left wing.
On the evening of April 27, 1862, we were order to'' saddle up light'' at 4 o'clock the next morning . Up to this time we had seen a great deal of war. We met small squads of guerrillas, but never had a real brush with the ''Rebs''. So the order was received with great rejoicing throughout the regiment. When we started out the morning in high glee and saw other commands in line ready to move, every man of us felt that this meant business. We rode along through the mud, for it had been raining for several days, halting for few moments. Then moving slowly forward as though we were feeling for something that could not be clearly seen. About 10 o'clock we struck a camp of the enemy where we captured a few prisoners, burned tents and camp equipage, etc. About a half mile further on we rode through another camp that had been hastily deserted; this we also burned.We were now in high spirits; we seemed to have ridden through the Southern Confederacy. We wondered if the government had been waiting all this time for us to come and put down the rebellion.
had entered into active service in the field I had become possessed of six very nice plumes which I had arranged in artistic manner so that it looked like one immense plume. My memory fails me at this late day, as to how I obtained those plumes, but I probably bought them (?) But that hat was, in my opinion decidedly a ''dandy''. As emerged into the open field, perhaps a dozen of us, riding somewhat in disorder as I have said Major Love commanding the battalion, and Captain Bishop commanding ''I'' Company, reined in their horses and held a consultation as to whether it was prudent to advance any farther with the small number of men then present. From where we were the ground sloped down to Ridge. You stood so grandly with the Rock of Chickamauga, on that bloody field; you who climbed the rocky sides of lookout , and fought with Hooker above the clouds. You marched with Sherman to the sea; you who were with Mead and Hancock, and by sublime courage. Aye by your blood, rent a rift in the black Paul of overhanging clouds so that the nation. Yes the world caught a glimpse of the glory of the coming Lord.
At Gettysburg, wrought more than to save the Union.
More than to redeem the nation, more than to free the bondsmen, more than
to win immortal famed glory for American Soldier. You stood before the
world a grand example of courageous, self-sacrificing manhood, as heroes
who could forget self in common peril, and who did no refuse to die. If
need be, for their country and for humanity. And thus you answered that
vexed question, propounded inthe Garden of Eden, and which has come rolling
down the centuries. ''Am I my brother keeper, and the answer, save by and
through the influence of the man of Galilee, has generally been . Yes!
I am, you are, yours brother keeper. And this answer, ringing and reverberating
along the lines of our great industries is reaching the ears of the employers
of the labor everywhere. ''Yes! verily you are your brother's keeper,''
and you are responsible in a great measure before God and man for the welfare
and happiness of those in your employ, and you have no moral right to grind
their wage down a living rate, even though starving humanity will accept
of less
After the surrender at Appomatox you caught the sentiment and echoed the immortal words of our great commander. '' Let us have peace'', and resulting from this spirit, so nobly seconded by the gallant boys in gray. We have the grand spectacle lately presented at Louisville and upon the battle-fields of Chickamauga and Chattanooga. This mingling together in fraternal comradeship of the blue and gray can find no parallel in the history of the world. Now where could such long-term enemies meet upon such a cordial footing save in Glorious America, ''The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.''
Verily the influence and example of the Union soldier
has ever been for our country's good, for the uplifting and happiness of
humanity, and for recognition of the common brotherhood of man. And for
all this you have a Lochran and a Hook Smith.
From my boyhood I had been a sincere admirer of Louis Kossuth, the Hungarian exile. I remembered very distinctly the kind of hat he wore, with a long plume in it. It was copied to some extent in this country, and the ''Kossuth hat'' became very popular. It was similar to that in style that the government furnished its soldier. So when I drew my first hat from the government, with guilt crossed sabers in front, a guilt spread eagle on the right side, a plume trailing gracefully backward on the left side. I was proud of it, but one plume did not satisfy me, so by the time we
This story was taking from the Seventh Reunion Second
Iowa Cavalry book. Special Thanks to Brother John Brockway to donated pages
from Col. C.C. Horton's Reunion Books. Col. C. C. Horton was Brother John
Brockway's Grandfather, who served as Colonel in Second Iowa Cavalry during
War Between The States.