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THE 26TH MISSOURI INFANTRY
-IN THE-
WAR FOR THE UNION

In preparing these "Recollections" covering a portion of the service of the 26th Missouri Volunteer Infantry during the Rebellion, it was not Col. Dean’s intention to attempt to write a history of the regiment, (or anything similar to it,) as he has been compelled to trust to his memory, and such documents as he has in his possession, entirely for details, but rather to recall to his comrades, incidents of the service they had together, and for this reason, too, personal reference as far as possible, is avoided.

In 1861, Col. Dean was living at Union, Franklin county, Missouri, and had raised a company of seventy men (F) for the 26th Missouri Infantry, and was commissioned as Captain. This work was completed about December 20, 1861, and the recruits were encamped at Sullivan, on the railroad for a time, and then proceeded to Pacific, MO., where they were joined by four companies recruited by Col. George B. Boomer, in Gasconade, Osage and Maries counties.

The command then proceeded to St. Louis, and at McDowell’s College on December 31st, 1861, was mustered into the United States’ service for three years. Special Orders, No. 14, signed by Chester Harding, Jr., Adjutant General,

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directed that the company and parts of companies of Missouri Volunteers, mustered into the service for three years, under the command respectively of L. D. Maynard and First Lieutenants R. C. Crowell, H. L Elsworth and John F. F. Koops, stationed at Medora; the three companies mustered into the same service, under the respective commands of John H. Holman, John Welker and D. W. C. Brown, together with the unassigned recruits raised for Holman’s Batalion of Sharpshooters, and the three companies raised for the 26th Missouri Volunteers, and mustered into the same service, under the respective commands of Captains Wiseman, Dean and Rucker, making an aggregate of eight hundred and twenty company officers and enlisted men, were consolidated into the 26th Regiment of Missouri Volunteers.
Captain John H. Holman was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel and A. W. Maupin, Major, who declined to accept, and L. E. Kaniuszeski received the appointment.

As soon as the muster rolls were completed, George B. Boomer was appointed Colonel.

In February, 1862, the 26th Missouri embarked on a steamer whose destination was said to be Fort Donalson, but the surrender of that stronghold turned our course, and the command landed at Bird’s Point, and joined General John Pope’s expedition against New Madrid, and was present at the battle of Tiptonville, on April 9, 1862, and Farmington, April 22, 1862. Col. Boomer led the 26th in these movements. The colors of the regiment, carried by Sergeant H. Koops, were the first to be planted on the fort after the capture of Island No. 10. This movement resulted in the taking of 6,000 prisoners at Tiptonville, Tenn., and

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the regiment bore a conspicuous part in the success of the day. The 26th was also with Gen. Pope’s command when it marched down the Mississippi and took part in the engagement at Hamburg and the siege of Corinth.

THE BATTLE OF IUKA

At the battle of Iuka, September 19, 1862, the 3d Division, 15th Army Corps, which included the 26th Mo., had been driving the enemy’s cavalry pickets and came up with Price’s command about four o’clock in the afternoon. Each colonel had orders to hold his ground at all hazards. It was a square stand up fight, and at times the rebel onslaught was terrific.

Companies A and B of the 26th Missouri were thrown out as skirmishers, and the report was sent to General Hamilton that the rebels were in full force in two lines of battle

Colonel Boomer, of the 26th, was impatient to meet the enemy and asked permission to send the regiment in advance to meet the Confederates.

The right wing of the regiment under Lieut.-Colonel Holman was ordered to press forward, and had gone but a short distance when Price’s artillery opened a terrific fire upon it, when it was ordered to fall back to the rear. The right wing of the 26th was not further engaged during the battle.

The brigade was ordered into position, and the left wing of the 26th Missouri and the 5dth Iowa Infantry were rushed up to support the 11th Ohio Battery. The rebels determined to force our line and moved into the desolating fire that met them with unfaltering courage. As they came within close range, that single battery, the 11th Ohio, opened on them

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with grape and canister. The guns were worked with great rapidity, and at each discharge gaps opened in the dense ranks, but they closed up again and the hostile line swept steadily forward. At length the 48th Indiana pressed by three times its number – its gallant commander cut down – fell back in disorder. This left the 11th Ohio death-dealing battery exposed, and with an exultant shout the enemy sprung upon it. The Confederates received the battery’s canister and grape without flinching, and swept over it and captured it; but not till every officer, and nearly every gunner was killed or wounded, and not a horse left standing.

Our forces rallied, and sent the rebels back to cover. Maddened by their loss the rebels rallied, and with yells precipitated themselves upon the Union force and recovered the battery, but they were met with such an overwhelming fire that they were unable to take the battery away. Around these guns the battle raged with awful fury. Every flank movement of the enemy was promptly stopped, and they were compelled to fight it out in front, and from five o’clock till dark, the 5th Iowa, and 11th and 26th Missouri held that single road. During the night, the Confederates evacuated the place, leaving many of their wounded behind them, and their dead were interred by the Union burial parties.

Colonel Boomer, while leading the left wing of the 26th Missouri, was wounded by a rifle ball, in the left lung, and carried off the field. The other officers wounded in this engagement were Captain R. C. Crowell, Captain B. D. Dean, (in three places,) Lieutenant Denny and Lieutenant Maupin. Lieutenant Crowe had seven bullet holes in his blouse. First Sergeant Alonzo Bliss and Second Sergeant

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William Roan were killed by Captain Dean’s side – Sergeant Roan’s blood was scattered over Captain Dean. First lieutenant W. L. Wheeler was also wounded at Iuka, by a ball passing through his canteen and bruising him. The water saturated his clothing and caused him to believe that he was bleeding to death.

History gives the 26th Missouri merited distinction. Its left wing charged and recharged the rebels on that day, and once recaptured the 11th Ohio Battery.

In summing up the part taken by the 26th Mo., at Iuka, it is noted that but four companies were engaged. F, E, H, and C, numbering 162 men. Enlisted men killed, 21; officers wounded, 5; enlisted men wounded, 70; missing, 1 – Total, 97.

The following is an extract from Col. Boomer’s official report which he wrote while in the hospital at Iuka:

"It gives me great pleasure to mention the names of several officers engaged with me on the left wing who behaved with distinguished gallantry and energy: Cap. B. D. Dean and Second Lieut. J. W. Maupin, of Company F; Capt. Robert C. Crowell, First Lieut. R. B. Denny, and Second Lieut. J. T. Crowe, of Company E; First Lieut. Schirmer, commanding Company K, and First Lieut. J. M. Dennis, of Company C. I was not present with the skirmishers in action, but understand that all exhibited great coolness and energy."

Gen. C. S. Hamilton, commanding the Third Division, in his report of the battle of Iuka, says that "the fearful list of killed and wounded in the few regiments actively engaged shows with what heroism and desperation this tight was won.

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I say boldly that a force of not more than 2,800 men met and conquered a rebel force of 11,000 on a field chosen by Price and a position naturally very strong and with its every advantage inuring to the enemy. A list of casualties is herewith submitted. It is known that 263 wounded, numbering over 400, fell into our hands. The number of able-bodied prisoners who fell into our hands is large. I report, with the greatest satisfaction, but 26 missing from my command. Over 800 stand of arms were gathered on the battlefield, mostly of improved patterns, showing that the rebels are not wanting in this essential means of making war. The dead of my division number 135, the wounded 527, and the missing 26. Of my staff and escort, officers, wounded, 4; private, killed, 1. Total, 693."

The revised government report of the casualties in the Union forces at Iuka, makes the total, 790; and increase over the figures named above by General Hamilton.

Lieutenant Colonel John H. Holman of the 26th Missouri, in his report to Col. John B. Sanborn, commanding 1st Brigade, 3rd Division at the battle of Iuka, pays the following tribute to the officers and men of his command:

"Permit me further to report that the officers and men under my command, with scarcely an exception, during the whole engagement conducted themselves with rare coolness and true soldierly bearing; but Captains John Welker, T. M. Rice, and William M. Robinson, and Lieut. F. G. Schoenen, acting adjutant, and Lieut. C. F. Brown, regimental quartermaster, with many others, are deserving a special notice. Their conduct was truly brave, gallant, and noble. If space would permit too much could not be said of their signal

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acts of daring, their coolness and skill in discharging the duties respectively assigned them on the field. The country may truly be proud of such men, for under their leadership continued success will mark the progress of our gallant army. Of those officers above named it will be doing no injustice to any for me to say that Captains Welker, Rice, and Robinson, and Lieut. C. F. Brown, regimental quartermaster, and Lieutenant Schoenen, have won for themselves distinguished merits – efficient in camp, brave and patriotic on the field. I can cheerfully recommend them for promotion in the army."

Capt. Dean’s wounds were such as to cause his removal to the rear, and thence to the hospital at Corinth. After a short time he was sent to the St. Louis hospital, and when his wounds permitted, visited his home at Union, Mo. In about one month Capt. Dean returned to Corinth and took command of his company.

After the battle of Corinth, October 3rd and 4th, 1862, the regiment went to Germantown, Tennessee, and remained a short time, ultimately camping near Memphis.