"I can knock the chimney off."

On August 20, 1885, Orderly Sergeant John W. Bannan of Company A, 4th Iowa wrote to the editor of the National Tribune from his home on the plains of Chetopa, Kansas. His hopes lay in dispelling some of the rumors and confusion concerning the Fifteenth Corps' role in the controversial capture of Columbia, South Carolina and argued that while other comrades had nothing but fading memories as ammunition in debate, he had meticulously maintained a diary during the campaign which he uses to relate his experiences here in substantial detail.

 

COLUMBIA, S.C.

A Member of the 4^th Iowa Consults His Diary.

To The Editor: I have always taken great interest in the historical communications of old comrades, whether they wore the pumpkin rinds, the chevron, or simply stood a high private in the rear rank. All tell more or less truth, and all make more or less mistakes; – caused, no doubt, by relying entirely, or at least to a great extent, on memory. Old comrades, memory of 20 years back is very treacherous. I would not write now if I relied on my memory, as I have set out to write, about Columbia, S.C.,; but I, fortunately for myself if not others, kept a journal of my more than four years' army life. On the 15^th of February, 1865 we camped within 10 miles of Columbia, and on the 16^th marched before the men had breakfast. It had rained all night, but we had a good meal prepared and nearly cooked in the morning – chicken stewed with sweet potatoes and fried fresh pork and corn cakes, also coffee. But when the drum sounded the “fall in” I rolled up my wet dog tent, took some chicken and pork in my haversack, coffee in my cup, and called Co. A to “fall in.” If there had been nothing unusual we would have finished breakfast, but already the Second Brigade, First Division, Fifteenth Corps, was skirmishing with the Johnnies, and as the Third Brigade came next in line of march, and the 4^th Iowa in advance of the brigade, we could not delay a moment for breakfast. The Second Brigade drove the enemy back about four miles to Congeree Creek, where, just across the bridge, a strong fort was built and tow fieldpieces mounted. The Second Brigade could not drive them from this strong position. After a couple of hours' skirmishing and artillery firing, the Third Brigade moved to the left, and each man in the 4^th Iowa took a rail on his shoulder, carried them about 40 rods, and bridged a small stream. After going about half a mile we formed in line of battle, and the other four regiments of the Third Brigade – the 9^th, 25^th, 30^th and 31^st Iowa – formed line about 50 yards in rear of us. The 4^th Iowa deployed and advanced as skirmishers, the other regiments of the brigade following in supporting distance. We passed around one small swamp, but soon came to another, which proved to be about 300 yards wide and passing our flanks, and from knee to waist-deep. Through this swamp we went, and as we came out on the other side the enemy retired in front; made a right half-wheel and moved toward the fort, drove the skirmishers of the enemy across the creek, and were soon on the south bank of the creek within 75 yards of the enemy's works. An hour and a half was consumed in effecting the crossing of the creek. As soon as we gained a foothold the enemy retired, and we were in the fort before he was out of musket range.

Gen. Billy Sherman was in with us soon, and remarked that we looked as if we had been bathing, and by his appearance we thought a bath would not hurt him, as he was covered with mud. We moved forward about a mile, and camped, or stacked arms as if in camp. The rest of the brigade joined us here, and we camped for the night.

On the 16^th of February the Second Division of the Fifteenth Corps moved forward and drove the rebels across the Congeree River, below Columbia, where they had a battery on the east bank of the river.

About noon the First Division, Fifteenth Corps, moved forward and formed in line of battle in front of Columbia, with nothing but the river intervening. De Grasse's battery of Parrotts took position about 20 steps in front of us and shelled the town. I was amused to see the gunners knock the chimneys off the buildings. While watching, several officers assembled in a group, Sherman among them, and a request was made to throw a few shots at the arsenal, over a mile away on the left front. De Grasse handed his fieldglass to a Sergeant, asked him to observe the building designated as the arsenal. The Sergeant said: “I can knock the chimney off.” There being several a chimney was designated, the Sergeant trained his pet, fired, and in due time the chimney flew.

About 4 p.m. we moved up the river about three miles, where the bridge was, but saw only the piers. However, a pontoon was already laid, and we crossed over the Saluda River and move don, as we thought to camp for the night; but the Third Brigade moved on with the pontoon train to the Broad River, and received orders to not light any fires, and be ready to cross the river as soon as ordered. We lay there, and, it being quite cold, was anything but comfortable. Towards midnight a picket was sent across and erected breastworks. The 31^st Iowa crossed as fast as the three pontoon boats could carry them, the 30^th Iowa, then the 9^th and then the 25^th. Day was now breaking and the 4^th Iowa followed and by 8 a.m. of the 17^th of February Col. Stone's Iowa Brigade was on the Columbia side of the Saluda and Broad River, which join just above Columbia and form the Congeree River. The 31^st Iowa, a part of the 30^th, and the picket began skirmishing as soon as light enough, and our lines were gradually moved forward as fast as boatload after boatload landed, and by the time the 4^th Iowa was across the enemy was driven away. The 30^th Iowa took 30 prisoners. We crossed in three pontoon boats, about 15 men in a boat. The brigade numbered about 2,000 men. We had just moved through the timber a distance of about a half mile, re-formed our line of battle, and halted about five minutes, when a carriage was discovered by the skirmishers approaching from the direction of the city with a white flag floating form tis top. The carriage contained the Mayor and two other citizens of Columbia, who surrendered the city to Col. G.A. Stone, of the 25^th Iowa, commanding brigade. The Colonel commanding entered the carriage and with the flag of the 31^st waving from the carriage top rode into the city the 31^st following, and the res tof the brigade in column of fours, the 7^th being in the rear of the line. Soon the 31^st flag was waving proudly from the new State House. The 13^th Iowa of the Seventeenth Corps claim the honor of being the firs tin the city. A few stragglers, perhaps, were in first, and they took a flag with them, which they lost, as they supposed by the fire, but since have had it sent to them.

– John W. Bannan, Orderly Sergeant, Co. A, 4^th Iowa, Chetopa, Kansas.

Source: The national tribune, 20 August 1885