Howell Family Military-Logan Howell

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Saturday, December 02, 2006

Sergeant Logan Howell Fifth Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, Regiment with a Distinguished History

Howell, Logan (Veteran) Age 24. Residence: Warrenton, MO. Nativity: MO. Enlisted Oct 21, 1861 as Sixth Corporal. Mustered Nov. 13, 1861. Promoted Fifth Corporal, Mar. 18, 1862. Fourth Corporal, June 8, 1862. Third Corporal, June 16, 1862. Second Corporal, June 23, 1862. First Corporal, Dec. 1, 1862. Fourth Sergeant, Dec. 1, 1862. Second Sergeant, Jan. 1, 1863. Re-enlisted and re-mustered Jan. 14, 1864. Taken prisoner July 31, 1864, Chattahoochee River, GA. Transferred to Company D, Fifth Veteran Cavalry Consolidated, Aug. 8, 1864.

The following is provided courtesy of Logan Howell's great, granddaughter, Grace Hampel, of Missouri.

I avail myself of this opportunity of writing you a few lines and I sincerely hope these few lines will find you and all the family as they leave me enjoying good health. Polly, I have nothing strange to tell you. I received a letter from you and Allen the other day. I was glad to hear from you and to hear that you was well. Polly, I thought you had forgot me it is the first time that I have heard from you in a long time. I got in off a scout yesterday evening and have to start in the morning again. We are to going up the river and it boat. We was up the river last week sixty miles and scouted the country over. We had a big time. The last scout we was on we took 20 prisoners. We marched till midnight. We had heard were some guerillas has camped. We was after them. There was a union man in the country close where these fellows was camped and he sent word for us to come to his house and get our supper and feed our horses and then he would go with us and show where they was. The commander at Paducah heard of their guerillas and he sent out a hundred and five men. We had only forty men. Them was union men from Paducah dressed in citizens clothes. We did not know they was out. We rode up to this Union mans house just at midnight. He was expecting the Secesh to come & hang him. They had threatened him. I was one of the advance guard. There was four of us. We both rode up to the house at the same time. It was in to long the Sergeant said by god we are right with the Secesh. The broke to run. We took after them to take them prisoners. Me and one more man run them in to there camp. I never had a prettier horse race in my life but there horses out ran ours. They hollered fall in to line. I though I had as well stop. I run back and told the Captain that they fell in to line of battle. Then we all fell in line of battle ready for them. They was so bad scarred that they run back to Paducah there was only twenty stood. Our Sergeant went out close to them and we found out the mistake.

They was bad plagued to think that 105 men would of run from forty. The Commander at Paducah sent word to our colonel that it was no use for him to send out men for him to run back. We had the joke on them Polly. I expect you have heard of the fight that we had at Clarksville. We had a big time to when we took that place. Our regiment has’t fight about twice a week with them.

Polly you shake of getting some letters. If you was to see some letters that I have got you would be ashamed of yours. It would do you good to read them. I wish you could see a girl that I am a setting up to. I tell you she is good looking. She says that she will come home with me but I don’t think she will.

Tell Allen I want him to come an see me this fall if he can. Jim Jones and Jack Yater is a coming this fall. Tell Moses and Elisa to come along to. I would be glad to see them. Tell Samuel Thomas to be a good boy. I want to see him very bad Polly. I have got a very nice present to send you. If I could but be there is no chance. Tell Sarah and Mary Smith I would be glad to hear from them. Tell Sarah that she had as well write to me as Tom Tucker all the time. Polly give my best love to father and mother. Tell father I want him to write to me how to direct my letter to Uncle Jim Howell. Tell me where he lives. If I get near where he lives I want to go and see him. Give my love to Abram & Nancy. Tell Nancy that wrote to here last week. Frank and Jim has forgot me. I wrote to them last. Give my love to all inquiring friends. I must bring my letter to a close for I have to go and feed my horses. Polly wright soon and give me all the news. No more only I remain your affectionate brother until death.

Andersonville Prisoner Profile

Code No:	62631
Grave No:	NOT BURIED AT ANDERSONVILLE
Last Name:	HOWELL
First Name:	D.
Rank:	SERGEANT
Company:	D
Regiment:	5
State:	IA
Branch of Service:
Date of Death:
Cause of Death:
Remarks:	SQUAD 4, MESS 5; EXCHANGED APRIL 15, 1865
Reference*:
Place Captured:
Date Captured:
Alternate Names:
Status:	SURVIVED ANDERSONVILLE
More Information Available:	NO

Actions Of The Fifth Iowa Cavalry Occurring Immediately Proceeding Logan's Letter To Polly

"On the 26th of August, [1862], the rebel Colonel Woodward, with 600 men, made an attack on Fort Donelson at 9 P.M., at which time the enemy had been repulsed and had fallen back up the river. On the morning of the 27th, at daylight, Colonel Lowe started in pursuit. After marching about six miles, the enemy's pickets were discovered near the mines of the Cumberland Iron Works. Companies B and D were deployed as skirmishers, and were soon engaged with the enemy. A deep and muddy creek stopped the advance of Company D, but Company B, under command of the gallant and intrepid Lieutenant Milton S. Summers, found a bridge, over which he crossed, under the fire of the enemy, and pushed forward. The enemy then opened fire with their artillery. Lieutenant Summers immediately gave the order to charge, and, although the gun was supported by three companies of infantry, well protected on the right by the steep bank of the river, and on the left by a strong fence and heavy timber, it was captured, and the infantry supporting it broke and fled. Flushed with this success Lieutenant Summers and his men
dashed forward and came headlong upon the main body of the enemy, 400 strong, posted in the cellars of the burned houses, and among the ruins of the Iron Works. Colonel Lowe had advanced with the remainder of his force and engaged the enemy, but, having only 130 men, he found it impossible to dislodge him, and did not succeed in removing the gun which had been captured on account of the horses attached to it having been killed or disabled. The caisson and ammunition were destroyed and the gun was dismounted and abandoned. Colonel Lowe then retreated to Fort Donelson. The regiment lost in this engagement five killed and nine wounded. First Lieutenant Milton S. Summers led the charge, and getting in advance of his men, was surrounded by the enemy. He fought gallantly, killing one of his assailants and wounding another severely with his saber. After he had been wounded in the thigh by a bayonet and had received seven balls in his body, he drew his revolver and emptied it among his foes. He refused to surrender, and was only taken prisoner after he was mortally wounded. He died the next day. Lieutenant Hays says of him: "A more gallant officer never drew sword for his country." Second Lieutenant E.G. McNeely was also severely wounded and captured. On the 5th of September, Colonel Lowe again left Fort Donelson with the Fifth Iowa Cavalry, Thirteenth Wisconsin Infantry, Eleventh Illinois Infantry, and a battery of artillery, in pursuit of the rebel forces under Colonel Woodward. The command crossed the Cumberland River and made a vigorous march for three days, but the enemy rapidly retreated and would not risk a general engagement. Beyond the capture of a considerable amount of rebel stores at the town of Clarksville, no important results were gained by the expedition."

--- From Historical Sketch, Fifth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers During the War of Rebellion Volume IV, 1910

The Capture Of Logan Howell

Note: The following events transpired during what would come to be known as the Siege of Atlanta and Sherman's March To The Sea. Howell was captured by Confederate forces July 31, 1864, and spent the remainder of the war in Andersonville prison.---Kirby Ross

". . . July 22d [1864] at daybreak the march was resumed, and at noon the command reached our pickets at Sweet Water Bridge, and arrived at Marietta at sunset and went into camp, the men and horses nearly worn out with the almost continuous march of thirteen days and nights, during which time the command marched 380 miles, entirely in the enemy's territory, destroyed 35 miles of railroad, five large depots filled with cotton and supplies for the rebel army, one shot and shell manufactory, one locomotive and train of cars, and captured many valuable horses and mules, inflicting a loss on the enemy estimated at twenty millions of dollars. All this was accomplished with a loss to us of one Captain and four privates killed and eight privates wounded. All the above loss was in the Fifth Iowa Cavalry, except one man of the Eighth Indiana Cavalry, wounded; which shows the prominent part the Fifth Iowa Cavalry bore in what may well be termed the most successful raid of the war.

"Among the killed was Captain William Curl, of Company D, and among the severely wounded was Captain J.C. Wilcox, of Company H. The entire loss of the two brigades, in killed, wounded, and missing did not exceed thirty men. It will thus be seen that the Fifth Iowa Cavalry sustained nearly one-half the casualties of the entire command, and took the most conspicuous part of any regiment engaged in the expedition.

"The next expedition in which the regiment participated began with the accomplishment of the most brilliant results, and ended most disastrously. On July 23d, the Fifth Iowa Cavalry, with the other troops composing the command of Colonel Harrison, marched to the relief of General Stoneman, whose force had been picketing the Chattahoochee River from Sweet Water to Nick-a-Jack Creek. The command marched all night, arriving at the river at noon the next day. The enemy was posted on the opposite side of the river. The Fifth Iowa Cavalry was ordered to report to General McCook. The regiment marched up the river six miles, crossed on a pontoon bridge, and reported at General McCook's headquarters, when it was ordered to proceed to Vining's Station and draw three days' rations, and then rejoin the command. The rations were drawn, the regiment joined the command of General McCook and, at noon of July 26th, started with that command on the memorable raid to the rear of Atlanta. The object of the raid was the destruction of the enemy's communications on the Atlanta and Macon Railroad, the objective point being Lovejoy's Station. All the afternoon and the following night the march was continued down the Chattahoochee River, and, at sunrise on July 28th, the command had reached a point opposite Campbellton, where a force of the enemy was posted. The troops marched on down the river to a point five miles below Campbellton, where a pontoon bridge was laid across the river, upon which the troops crossed and pushed rapidly forward, reaching Palmetto Station, on the Atlanta and West Point Railroad, about dark. Here about 600 of the enemy were stationed, who, after a slight skirmish were driven off, and the depot fired, the telegraph wire torn down, and the railroad track torn up for a short distance. After completing the work of destruction the troops moved on, the Fifth Iowa Cavalry acting as rear guard, and the march continuing until a train of 500 wagons, containing the extra baggage of the rebel army at Atlanta, was overtaken and captured, together with the 250 officers and men who were guarding it, and 2,000 fine mules and horses, the troops pushed forward to Lovejoy's station, the objective point of the expedition, and, upon arriving there, destroyed a portion of the track of the Atlanta and Macon Railroad, and burned the depot.

"The results of the expedition had thus far been eminently successful and the damage inflicted upon the enemy very great. The commanding General of the rebel cavalry now concentrated his forces rapidly for the purpose of intercepting and cutting off the retreat of the Union troops engaged in this daring raid, and the return march was replete with disaster to General McCook's command. After leaving Lovejoy's Station the troops marched rapidly, with the Fifth Iowa Cavalry in advance and the Eighth Iowa Cavalry as rear guard. The troops had marched but a few miles, however, when the rear guard was fiercely attacked, and the Eighth Iowa lost two officers and seven men killed, and fourteen men wounded in the fight which ensued. Part of the command turned back to assist the Eighth Iowa, and the enemy was repulsed. In the meantime, the Fifth Iowa, marching rapidly in advance, came to the bridge over Flint River, and found the enemy in the act of firing it. After a brisk encounter the enemy was driven off, and the regiment crossed the bridge, accompanied by the artillery---two Parrott guns, which were quickly placed in position to cover the bridge, the Fifth Iowa taking position in support of the guns. In a short time the rest of General McCook's command arrived, closely pursued by the enemy, but succeeded in crossing the bridge, which was then destroyed. The Fifth Iowa Cavalry again took the advance on the road leading to Fayetteville, but, after marching for two miles, was ordered back to the main command, which had not moved. Again the regiment was ordered to advance on the same road, and again ordered to return after going about the same distance. Three precious hours were lost by this vacillation and delay. Finally, at dark, General McCook sent four companies of the Fifth Iowa to the rear, with orders to remain and report the movements of the enemy. The balance of the regiment was placed in front, with Company H, commanded by Lieutenant Hays, in the advance, with orders to charge, if he encountered the enemy, and keep the road clear for the advance of the rest of the command. Soon after the march was resumed, the advance encountered a force of the enemy. A charge was promptly made and the rebels were repulsed and driven away, without scarcely interrupting the march of the main column. The march was continued during the night, but slow progress was made on account of the difficulty of keeping the prisoners and a large number of captured horses and mules well under guard. At 10 A.M., July 30th, the advance reached the town of Newnan, where a force of ,000 rebels had taken position. Major Beard, with five companies of the Fifth Iowa and two companies of the Eighth Indiana, charged into the town, but was unable to dislodge the enemy. General McCook then ordered the Fifth Iowa and Eighth Indiana to remain in line of battle and hold the enemy in check, while he moved the rest of the command, and the prisoners, around the town to the left. The movement occupied two hours, and compelled the command to march at least five miles out of a direct course, thereby enabling the enemy to concentrate a large force to resist the further advance of the column. About four miles from Newnan, this force was encountered. The two Parrott guns were placed in position and shelled the enemy vigorously. The enemy made three separate charges upon the guns, fighting desperately for their possession, but each charge was repulsed, and the guns continued their fire until the ammunition was exhausted. The guns were then spiked, the wheels cut down and, thus rendered useless, they were abandoned. General McCook found his command completely surrounded by a greatly superior force under the command of the rebel General Wheeler. The situation was most desperate. Orders were given to each regiment to charge and cut its way through the enemy's lines. After desperate fighting and heavy loss, all the regiments, except the Eighth Iowa, succeeded in cutting their way through the rebel forces. The Eighth Iowa, being ordered to cover the rear, was cut off by the enemy and nearly all captured. The regiments which succeeded in getting through the lines of the enemy did not all get together again, but reached the Chattahoochee River at different places. General McCook, with the Fifth Iowa, Eighth Indiana, and Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, arrived at Philpot Ferry about midnight, and commenced crossing the troops on the ferry boat. The Eighth Indiana had succeeded in getting across when the enemy appeared in force and attacked the remainder of the command. Finding themselves opposed to overwhelming numbers, most of the men abandoned their horses, and a considerable number of them escaped by swimming the river. The mounted men, under General McCook, continued to retreat, and reached Marietta five days later. The dismounted men took to the woods in small parties and many were captured, while some escaped and reached the Union lines at different points, after suffering great hardships from hunger and exposure. They were constantly pursued, and it was marvelous that any of them succeeded in avoiding capture. The loss of the Fifth Iowa Cavalry in this raid was heavy. First Lieutenant Andrew Guler, of Company E was killed; First Lieutenant William T. Hays, of Company H, was taken prisoner, and 119 enlisted men were killed, wounded and captured."

--- From Historical Sketch, Fifth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers During the War of Rebellion Volume IV, 1910

Howell, Logan, Sergeant, Company D, 5th Iowa Cavalry 21 Oct., 1861 to 5 June, 1865. (3 yr., 7 mo., 14 da.) Remarks: In Andersonville Prison 9 months and in other prisons for shorter duration.