Memorials › Samuel M. Hancock

Samuel M. Hancock

24 Feb 1827 – 4 Apr 1863

Birth	24 Feb 1827
Death	4 Apr 1863
Cemetery	Memphis National Cemetery Memphis , Shelby County , Tennessee , USA
Added by	THOMAS STOEBER on 01 Jul 2022
FaG	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/241170422

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+++ 4 Apr 1863 Post Hospital, Helena, Phillips, Arkansas, USA source: Return of Alterations in Co F 9th Reg Iowa Infantry, Samuel M Hancock 34, Taylorville, Fayette Co IA enlisted 5 Sep 1861, mustered 14 Sep 1861. Died 4 Apr 1863. Died in hospital at Helena Ark of small Pox) Roster and Record of Iowa Troops In the Rebellion, Vol. 2 By Guy E. Logan HISTORICAL SKETCH NINTH REGIMENT IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY The ten companies of the Ninth Regiment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry were ordered by the Governor to rendezvous at Dubuque, as part of the quota of the State under the proclamation of the President dated July 23, 1861, and were mustered into the service of the United States on dates ranging from September 2d to September 24, 1861, by Capt. E C. Washington, United States Army. The last company was mustered September 24, 1861, and, two days later, the regiment, with an aggregate strength of 977 officers and enlisted men, was embarked on steamboats at Dubuque and transported to St. Louis, and, upon its arrival there, marched to Benton Barracks, where it received it's first supply of arms, clothing and camp equipage. Here it remained until October 11th, receiving such instruction in military drill as could be given in so short a period of time. It was then ordered to proceed to Franklin, Mo., at which Place regimental headquarters were maintained, while companies were detached to different points for the purpose of guarding the railroad from Franklin toward Rolla, Mo. During the three months in which the regiment remained upon this duty, it suffered greatly from exposure to the inclement winter weather. January 21, 1862 the regiment was conveyed by rail to Rolla, Mo., and from there begins its first Real campaign against the enemy. Marching to Lebanon, Mo., and joining the Army of the Southwest. Upon the approach of the Union forces, the rebel General Price evacuated Springfield, which he had occupied during the winter, and began his retreat towards the Ozark Mountains. Then began that remarkable march of General Curtis' army in pursuit of the enemy. The regiment started from Springfield on the 14th of February and, in less than one month, had marched over difficult roads, and much of the time through storms of alternating rain and snow, a distance of two hundred and fifty miles. Arriving at Cross Hollows, Ark., a detachment of three hundred of the regiment was sent upon an expedition to Huntsville ("forty miles) with the purpose of surprising and capturing a detachment of the enemy stationed there as a guard for commissary stores; but, upon reaching Huntsville, they found the place abandoned, and learned that the rebel army under General Van Dorn was marching to the attack of General Curtis' army, which had fallen back from Cross Hollows and taken up a new position at Pea Ridge. Realizing the danger of being cut off and captured by a superior force, the detachment of the Ninth Iowa at once started to rejoin the command and, after a continuous march of sixteen hours, covering a distance of forty-two miles, it reached the regiment at 8 P. M., March 6th. With only a few hours of rest these men went into the memorable Battle of Pea Ridge at 10 A. M., March 7, 1862. The enemy opened the engagement by a fierce attack upon the Union lines, and the Ninth Iowa was in the thickest of the fight. The first attack of the enemy was repulsed, and the Union line advanced, but was in turn compelled to retire under a terrific fire of musketry, grape and canister. Thus, the battle raged during the entire day, with alternating temporary advantages for both Union and rebel forces. There were occasional intervals, during which the men on both sides availed themselves of the opportunity to replenish their ammunition and to attend to the removal of their wounded to the rear. The fighting was most persistent and desperate, and in no battle of the war was the valor of the American soldier more splendidly exhibited. While this was the first time the Ninth Iowa Infantry had met the enemy in battle, its officers and men exhibited the steadiness and bravery of veterans. Had this been the only service rendered by the regiment, it would have been entitled to the lasting gratitude of every patriotic citizen of the Union, which it was there defending against those in armed rebellion against it. At night the survivors lay upon their arms, ready to renew the conflict at the dawn of day. At daylight the Union artillery again opened upon the enemy, and the fire was promptly returned. In this official report Colonel Vandever says, "At this point, finding ourselves exposed to a raking fire from one of the enemy's batteries on our right, we changed direction to the east. About this time, the First Division coming into position on our left, we joined in the general advance upon the enemy, the whole cavalry force participating, and the artillery co-operating. The enemy here broke into disorder, and the fortune of the day was decided in our favor." The entire rebel army was soon in full retreat, and the battle of Pea Ridge ended in a brilliant victory for the Union army. At the close of his official report General Curtis especially. commended Colonel Vandever and the gallant troop of his brigade, and says, "To do justice to all, I would spread before you the most of the rolls of this army, for I can bear testimony to the almost universal good conduct of officers and men, who shared with me the long march. The many conflicts by the way, and the final struggle with the combined forces of Price, McCulloch, McIntosh and Pike, under Major General Van Dorn, at the battle of Pea Ridge." At the close of his official report Colonel Vandever says: Of the bravery of Lieutenant Colonel Herron, in immediate command of the Ninth Iowa Infantry, too much cannot be said. He was foremost in leading his men, and, with coolness and bravery never excelled, rallied them to repeated attacks of the enemy. Unfortunately, near the close of the day on the 7th, he was disabled by a painful wound, his horse was killed under him, and he was captured by the enemy. Captain Towner and Lieutenant Neff, of Company F were conspicuous for their bravery. Both of these officers were severely wounded when the command devolved upon Lieutenant Tisdale, who gallantly led the company through the remainder of the battle. Many instances of special gallantry occurred among non-commissioned officers and men, during the trying events of the battle, which I cannot here enumerate. Where all did their duty so nobly and well, distinction would be invidious. I can only say that I feel deeply indebted to every officer and man of my command for the heroic manner in which they have acquitted themselves. The loss of the regiment was very heavy. Of the 560 who went into the battle, 4 commissioned officers and 34 enlisted men were killed, 5 commissioned officers and 171 enlisted men wounded, and 1 commissioned officer and 3 enlisted men captured, making a total loss of nearly forty per cent of the aggregate number engaged and covering six hundred miles and ending at Helena, July 17, 1862. Its next experience was a long, devious and trying march with the Army of the Southwest, through Missouri and Arkansas. During this march the weather was very warm and dry, and the troops suffered greatly from the heat, dust and thirst, and, on the latter part of the march, from insufficient rations. For five weeks of this time the army was cut off from all communication but fortunately no considerable body of the enemy was encountered and it at last arrived safely at Helena. Here the regiment went into camp, and for the ensuing five months enjoyed comparative immunity from the hardships and dangers of a soldier's life. It was, however, rendering valuable service in holding an important post, and the time was not spent in idleness. The officers and men utilized the time to the best advantage, in perfecting themselves in military drill and discipline, and, when they again entered upon the duties of active campaigning, they were splendidly equipped for the hard and continuous service which they were called upon to perform during the remainder of their term of service. December 18, 1862, the regiment was again called into active service, this time on the lower Mississippi, and was assigned to General Thayer's Brigade of General Steele's Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps. It participated in the battle of Chickasaw Bayou, December 28th- 29th, where it maintained its good record for bravery under the fire of the enemy. Lieutenant Colonel Abernethy, describing the part taken by his regiment in this battle, says, "The regiment though under fire the greater part of the 28th and 29th, was only engaged about half an hour on the latter day. While the hardest fighting was in progress, we were being transferred from a point above Chickasaw Bayou to where the main army was massed, reaching there only to go into position as others were falling back. We were soon withdrawn beyond the reach of the rebel batteries lining the hills in our front, and next day embarked. The regiment next went into camp on the Yazoo River above Vicksburg, where it remained until the close of the year 1862. The official returns show that, during the year, the regiment had gained by additional enlistments 54, and by appointment 2; total gain 56. In the same time it had lost in killed in battle 43, died from wounds 41, and from disease 37; total number of deaths 121; 178 were discharged for disability, and 8 had deserted, making a total loss for the year of 307. Its losses up to the 31st day of December, 1861, had been 24, and its gain by additional enlistment 42. It will thus be seen that, in the one year and three months that the regiment had then served, it had lost 331 officers and men, and had gained 98 by additional enlistment. Its losses thus far had aggregated nearly one-third of those originally mustered and gained by additional enlistment, while it had just entered upon the second year of its three years' term of service. Early in January, 1863, the regiment was engaged in the movement against Arkansas Post,and on January 11th, when the attack upon the fort was made, it was in the reserve line, waiting for the order to move forward to the assault; but before the order was given, the enemy raised the stronghold without loss to itself. January 24th found the regiment again in camp at Young's Point, near Vicksburg. Lieutenant Colonel Abernethy, in his history of the Ninth Iowa Infantry thus graphically describes the experience of the regiment for the remainder of the Winter of 1863: The history of the regiment for these two months of February and March is a tale of sorrow. The health of many of its members was already undermined by a six months' sojourn in the miasmatic regions of the Mississippi valley, and it seemed that but few could withstand the debilitating and enervating influence of this insalubrous climate. The SMALLPOX came now, for the first time, into our ranks. Scores of our number, hitherto stout and rugged, were prostrated past recovery, and now lie buried in shallow graves about the hospitals which once stood in that sickly region; while others only recovered completely, long afterwards, in the mountains of Tennessee and Georgia, or on the sandy plains of the Carolinas. The ordeal of these unpropitious months was the more grievous because it had all the evils of the battlefield, with none of its honors. Every true soldier will admit the force and truth of the above statement. The inspiration which comes to men in the midst of battle sustains them in the performance of deeds of valor, but when it comes to the struggle with disease and death, without the tender ministrations of relatives and friends, far from home and all its comforts, the men who endure and die, as well as those who endure and live, must be sustained by a fortitude and courage even greater than that which enables them to perform their whole duty when engaging the enemy in battle. German, David. Age 21. Residence Taylorville, nativity Iowa. Enlisted Sept. 5, 1861. Mustered Sept. 14, 1861. Killed in battle March 7, 1862, Pea Ridge, Ark. Hancock Adelbert J. Age 20. Residence Brush Creek, nativity Michigan. Enlisted Sept. 3, 1861. Mustered Sept. 14, 1861. Died April 23, 1862, Forsythe Mo. Hancock Samuel M. Age 34. Residence Brush Creek, nativity New York. Enlisted Sept. 5, 1861 as Second Corporal. Mustered Sept. 14, 1861. Died of smallpox April 4, 1863, Helena, Ark. Samuel M Hancock in the U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 View Name: Samuel M Hancock Gender: Male Unit: F. 9. Iowa Infantry Relation to Head: Soldier Spouse: Mary J Hancock Roll number: 197 Comments: Mary J. Smith, Gdn. Marriage of Samuel and Mary Jane Office of County Judge. I hereby certify that on the 7th day of January A.D. 1857 license to unite in Marriage Samuel M. Hancock and Mary Jane German was duly issued this court, and that said Samuel M. Hancock and Mary Jane German were married on the 8th day of January 1857 by Levi Eaton, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said county, duly authorized by law to solemnize marriage. And that the Certificate of said Levi Eaton of the marriage of said parties, was duly returned into court on the 4th day of Feb A.D. 1857. All of which fully appears from the Records of this Office. In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the County Court at my office in West Union this 29th day of June A.D. 1863. H. N. Hawkins, County Judge Helena in Phillips County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central) "Hell-in-Arkansas" Photographed By Sandra Hughes, January 17, 2012 1. "Hell-in-Arkansas" Marker Inscription. The nickname the 33rd Iowa Infantry gave Helena was hardly flattering. It came not from a hard fought battle but from miserable conditions in an overcrowded city made worse by the climate. Soldiers Battled Malaria, Typhoid and More Many Union regiments camped in a low area between Helena and the Mississippi River. No one knew that mosquitoes carried malaria and yellow fever. Leander Stillwell contracted malaria soon after he arrived in Helena. "I just lay there, in a hot tent, on the sand, - oh, so sick! But I fought off going to the hospital as long as possible... I had seen so many boys loaded into ambulances, and hauled off to such place, who never returned..." Medical Science was Primitive Most Civil War-era doctors believed that vapors-bad air-caused illness. Doctors did not know that drinking contaminated water led to typhoid, diarrhea and other illnesses. They ordered soldiers to drink water from the river instead of the free-flowing springs. Extreme heat, periodic flooding and overcrowding added to the men's misery. Thousands of soldiers died during the Union Photographed By Sandra Hughes, January 17, 2012 2. "Hell-in-Arkansas" Marker occupation of Helena. Most of those deaths could be prevented today. "I remained at the hospital eight days... and retain a distinct recollection of only a few things. But aside from men dying all around me, both day and night, nothing important happened." Leander Stillwell A Union army camp's graveyard, drawn during the Civil War by Edwin Forbes. Each soldier's grave is marked with a wooden headboard. After the Civil War, the Federal government removed the remains of Union soldiers buried in and around Helena and reinterred them in the National Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee. "There are about 30 thousand troops encamped in and around Helena, and I can say without exaggerating that there is buried forty men every day and sometimes more." Charles O. Musser, 29th Iowa. "Yes, truly, Helena is a city in a swamp... which the valorous Sixth help hold through trying times, in the face of poisonous dangers a hundred fold more damaging and terrifying than the fiercest battlefield." W.P. Belden, Surgeon, 6th Minnesota Background: The Camp of the 3rd Iowa Cavalry in Helena. Like many regimental camps, it was located between the levee and the Mississippi River because the flat land could accommodate hundreds of tents. Photo Courtesy Iowa State Historical Society.

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