Battle of Brown's Mill
Sgt. Logan Howell, 5th Iowa Cavalry
Howell, Logan (Veteran). Residence: Warrenton, MO. Nativity: MO. Enlisted Oct 21, 1861, age 24, 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. (Plilpot's Ferry), during the escape from the Battle of Brown's Mill. Sent to Andersonville, GA., and spent the remainder
of the war in Andersonville and other prisons.
From Turner?s Ferry, West of Atlanta
"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.
Sgt. Logan Howell courtesy of Tom Howell,
Howell Family History
Edward Jordan Lanham