History Center hosts Civil War enthusiast

NORTH ENGLISH — A Dubuque native shared his obsession of the Civil War with an audience at the English Valleys History Center Sunday.

Frank McCaw, a former social studies teacher and current president of the Civil War Roundtable of Cedar Valley, gave details about Civil War generals with Iowa ties during the final program of the year for The History Center.

“Your organization has an excellent reputation throughout the state,” McCaw told History Center officials.

McCaw became interested in the Civil War when he was only 11 years old, he said, after his grandmother gave him the book “Two Flags Flying.”

“That got me real interested in the Civil War.”

McCaw’s knowledge of the conflict comes from years of research. “I’ve read a lot of books,” he said.

McCaw usually has a stack of books on the coffee table by the couch and by his bed. Everything he reads is about the Civil War.

“The internet has been a huge help,” McCaw said. Many documents have been digitized and can be viewed online. Previously people had to travel around the country to read documents from different locations.

Sixty-six Civil War generals came from Iowa, though none were natives of the new state, said McCaw. Seven graduated from West Point and two others attended. Several had Mexican War experience and two died in battle.

Many served in the Iowa government before and after the war.

McCaw gave the histories of several of the notable men.

Marcellus Crocker

General Marcellus Crocker is one of the generals who attended West Point but didn’t graduate.

“He’s kind of one of my favorite characters,” said McCaw.

Crocker left West Point after two years and ended up in Des Moines, practicing law.

Crocker was captain of the 2nd Iowa Infantry at the start of the Civil War. He was promoted to colonel of the 13th Iowa Infantry and fought in the Battle of Shiloh.

He commanded the Iowa Brigade at the Second Battle of Corinth in October 1862 and was promoted to general in November.

Crocker suffered from consumption, said McCaw, and became sick while preparing for the Atlanta campaign. He tried to resign but was sent to New Mexico Territory for his health and later tried to return to service in the east before again became ill.

Crocker died at Willard’s Hotel in Washington, D.C. He’s buried at Woodland Cemetery in Des Moines.

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William Belknap

William Belknap came to Iowa in 1851, said McCaw. He worked as a lawyer in Keokuk and served one term in the Iowa House of Representatives.

A veteran of the Iowa Home Guard, Belknap was part of the group that repelled an attack by rebels from Athens, Missouri, who shelled the Iowa from across the Des Moines River.

Belknap was commissioned as a major in the 15th Iowa Infantry, said McCaw, and took part in numerous engagements, including Shiloh, where he was wounded, Hornet’s Nest and Corinth.

Belknap was promoted to brigadier general in 1864 and participated in the March to the Sea under William Tecumseh Sherman.

After the war, Belknap was appointed Iowa's Collector of Internal Revenue, and in 1869, he became Secretary of War for the Grant administration.

Belknap was also tainted by scandal, said McCaw. He was directly involved in the sale of arms and munitions to France when it was illegal to sell arms to foreign countries at war.

In 1876, Belknap was threatened with impeachment and instead resigned.

Belknap died in Washington, D.C. and is buried in Arlington, said McCaw.

The Rice brothers

Samuel Rice came to Iowa in 1850. Settling in Oskaloosa, he became the Mahaska County attorney and eventually the Iowa Attorney General. He was a colonel in the 33rd Iowa Volunteer Infantry which was mustered into U.S. Army service in 1862 in Mahaska County.

Samuel became a Brigadier General in 1863 and was mortally wounded at Jenkins' Ferry, Arkansas. He died in Oskaloosa in 1864 and is buried in Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa.

Samuel’s brother, Elliott Rice, arrived in Oskaloosa in 1865 to practice law with his brother.

When war broke out, Elliott joined the 7th Iowa Infantry as a corporal and within a few months was promoted to major, McCaw said.

Elliott received his first of seven war wounds at the Battle of Belmont.

Promoted to general in 1864, Elliott participated in 13 major battles, said McCaw. He participated in the Battle of Atlanta and took the 15th Corps on the March to the Sea.

After the war, Elliott practiced law in Washington, D.C. before returning to Sioux City where he died and is buried.

James Tuttle

Gen. James Tuttle moved to Farmington, Iowa in 1846. He served as both sheriff of Van Buren County and County Treasurer, said McCaw.

Tuttle was assigned to the 2nd Iowa Infantry which saw action at the Battle of Shiloh and The Hornet’s Nest.

Tuttle was made general in 1862.

In 1864, while in Natchez, Mississippi, Tuttle ordered a Catholic bishop to have prayers for President Lincoln, said McCaw. But Lincoln gave the bishop religious freedom, allowing him not to pray for the president as Tuttle commanded.

After the war, Tuttle settled in Des Moines where he ran Tuttle Brothers, a pork operation. He was a candidate for the U.S. Congress in 1866 but was beaten by former general Grenville Dodge.

Tuttle served in the Iowa House of Representatives for a term and was the state commander of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Tuttle died in Arizona. He’s buried in Woodland Cemetery in Des Moines.

John Corse

John Corse was only seven years old when his family came to Iowa and settled in Burlington. His father served as mayor of the town for several years.

Corse spent two years at West Point before leaving to study law.

Corse returned to Iowa and served as the state’s lieutenant governor.

Corse joined the 6th Iowa Infantry as a major in 1861. He served as staff officer for Maj. Gen. John Pope during the Battle of Island Number 10. He was promoted to brigadier general in August 1863.

Corse is known for the Battle of Allatoona in October 1864 when, with 2,100 men, he fought 7,000 troops under Gen. Samuel G. French.

He’s said to have lost “a third of his men and a third of his ear,” said McCaw.

Following the Civil War, Corse returned to Iowa and built railroads and bridges. He later moved to Massachusetts where he served as postmaster in Boston, said McCaw.

Corse died at 58 and is buried in Burlington.