Joseph Madison Moore was born in 1840 in Blount County, Tennessee. He came with his parents to Iowa from Tennessee in 1842.
1850 United States Federal Census (19 September 1850): Columbus City Township, Louisa County, Iowa (family 85) – Joseph M. Moore (10 Tennessee).
1860 United States Federal Census (21 June 1860): Columbus City Township, Louisa County, Iowa (page 49, dwelling 335) – Joseph M. Moore (20 Tennessee). He had attended school within the last year.
When Lincoln called for volunteers for the Civil War, Joseph M. Moore became the second son to respond. He enlisted on 23 September 1861 with Company "C" of the 11th Regiment of the Iowa Infantry Volunteers and was given the rank of Fourth Corporal.
Total rank and file in Company C, was 100 men organized from the county of Louisa. They were mustered into service on 03 October 1861 by Capt. Alexander Chambers, at Davenport, Iowa. The 11th Regiment of Iowa Infantry Volunteers was organized at Camp McClellan, located on a picturesque bluff overhanging the west bank of the Mississippi, two miles north of Davenport, on the first day of November 1861 - "a bright, beautiful day of the waning Indian summer". The 11th Iowa Regiment was made up of ten companies, and at the time of muster it consisted of 922 men under the command of Colonel Abraham M. Hare. It was the first Iowa regiment whose soldiers received their uniforms from the government before leaving the State and it was quite a sight to see over 900 men dressed in their full army blue.
On the 16th of November, the regiment left for St Louis aboard the stern wheel steamboat, JENNIE WHIPPLE. The weather was still mild and pleasant but before they landed in St. Louis a snowstorm set in. The 11th spent nearly three weeks in St. Louis at the Benton Barracks. On Sunday, 08 December 1861 Joseph M. Moore was promoted to Third Corporal. It was also the day the soldiers moved to Jefferson City. They spent the winter near there. Even though their housing and living conditions were good, many were taken sick by the numerous ailments around. Joseph M. Moore was promoted to Second Corporal on 01 January 1862.
On 10 March 1862, Company "C" left their quarters and boarded the side wheel steamboat, GREAT WESTERN, and moved down the Missouri, down the Mississippi, and up the Tennessee to Savannah where the troops disembarked and set up camp. During the trip, on 12 March 1862 Joseph M. Moore was again promoted, this time to First Corporal. A week later the company moved eight miles up the river to Pittsburg Landing.
On Sunday, April 6th, about 9:30 a.m., the Confederates attacked and what ensued became known as the Battle of Shiloh. The losses experienced by the 11th infantry regiment in this its first battle was very heavy. The Adjutant General's Report states, "more than two hundred, out of an aggregate of seven hundred and fifty, and of those more than thirty were killed outright on the field". Joseph was "wounded slightly in the leg" that day at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee during the Battle of Shiloh "while in the line of his duty". Overall the casualties at Shiloh were enormous, 1728 Confederates killed, 8012 wounded and 959 missing. Union forces reported 1754 killed, 8408 wounded and 2885 missing. A third of all the men in the regiment who would die in battle during the war were killed or mortally wounded on 6-7 April 1862.
Soon after the battle of Shiloh, the regiment was assigned to a brigade composed of the Eleventh, Thirteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Regiments of Iowa Infantry, under the command of Col. M. M. Crocker of the Thirteenth Iowa. From the date of the organization of this brigade, 27 April 1862, down to the close of the great War of the Rebellion, these four regiments served together, and, while it was commanded by different officers, it retained the name of "Crocker's Iowa Brigade."
After regrouping the 11th marched to Corinth where it formed part of the garrison and stayed for about three months. From there the regiment went to Bolivar, Tennessee, took part in the Mississippi Railroad campaign, spent some time in Memphis, and in February, 1863, did their part in digging the canal connecting the Mississippi with Lake Providence.
The 11th then joined the campaign for Vicksburg. They were a part of the force that captured Jackson, and later found a way to victory at Champion Hills when it was thought they were defeated. When the campaign for Vicksburg ended, the victorious army received a much-deserved break. The white tents of their camps could be seen for miles around Vicksburg. While many were given leave, the 11th regiment took part in "the Louisiana Expedition" under General Stevenson. They returned to Vicksburg, 03 September 1863 completely worn out. Hundreds of the men were sick, many died, and it took a long time for the survivors to regain their health and spirits. General Stevenson was relieved of his command for failing to destroy the enemy's cotton and for marching his command nearly to death without reason. The regiment now resumed the rest, which had been broken by the Louisiana Expedition.
It was from Vicksburg that Joseph wrote his uncle, Joseph Johnston:
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Vicksburg, Miss.
Nov. 19, 1863
Mr. Joseph Johnston:
Dear Uncle:
I seat myself this morning to write you a few lines for I see that if I don't write to you that I will not get any letters from you. I believe that you are about as lazy about writing as I am. You can't make an excuse and say that you have not time for I must think that it rains there some times, as for myself I will not try to make an excuse as for not writing for I have time to write very often but I have no news to write and it doesn't pay to write. My health is good at this time. I have been unwell this fall but am hearty again. The health of the Regt. is good at this time. There is but very little sickness in the Regt. The weather is cool and I think the troops will be healthy during the winter. We have had a great deal of duty to do this fall but now it is not so heavy. We don't have any fatigue to do but we have a good deal of picket duty to do yet. They have been working on the fortifications around Vicksburg for the last two months. They are about complete and they are the best that I have ever seen. I thought the works at Corinth was good and so they was too good for ------* to come in on but the works at Vicksburg excels any that I have ever seen. I think that it would not be healthy for the rebs to try to come in to Vicksburg. I have seen some of the citizens well punished. I have been on picket duty when the citizens would come ten or 15 miles to Vicksburg and they come to the picket line and there they could go no farther and if they would have some butter and eggs at 50 cents per dozen the pickets would buy them and butter at 25 cents per pound. They would then leave looking as if they wished us no good luck. I hear everything sells very high in Iowa. You may think that we don't have to pay for things here our sutlers sells everything very high. Butter at 40 cents, cheese 40 cts and everything equally as high apples from 5 to 10 cts each. That is pretty dear eating don't you think. There is a government store in town that sells things pretty reasonable but it is hard for them to keep a stock of goods on hand though they sell to soldiers only.
Uncle, I was down town last and heard ----* preach and I can say that that was the only sermon that I have heard this fall. That is the way soldiers have to live or at least it is the case with a good many. We have no chaplin and there is only one in the Brigade and he don't preach any. We had a chaplin for more than a year and he was with the Regt. a good part of the time and if I am not mistaken he preached to the Regt. four times. That was our second chaplin. The first one done better. Why do they commission such men? It is often the case the men that gets office ought to be in the ranks or at home at work. I see that Uncle Sam has called for three hundred thousand more men. Do you think Iowa will furnish her quota without draft? Our consolation there will not be any new officers to make for them. That will save the government of some cost. There was men went from our Regt. to recruit. James B. Dodds went from Company C. If they fill this Regt. up it will take a good many men. Do you think that the war will soon stop or will the rebs hold out till the last minute? Well I must come to a close. If you think this worth answering write when it comes to hand.
Nothing more.
Joseph M. Moore
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Joseph M. Moore re-enlisted and re-mustered as a veteran volunteer at Vicksburg, Mississippi, on 01 January 1864 and received $110.00 as a Bounty. He was promoted on 01 March 1864, to Sergeant and was also appointed vice clerk of his company. Early in March, the veteran organization was granted a furlough of 30 days, to begin after reaching the State of Iowa. They embarked at Vicksburg on the side wheel steamboat, CONTINENTAL, which conveyed them to Davenport, Iowa, from which place they departed for their respective homes.
"On the 22d of April, 1864, the veterans of the regiment again assembled at Davenport. Many recruits had joined them and, with its ranks thus greatly strengthened, the regiment at once proceeded upon its long journey to the front. At Cairo, Ill., transports were waiting to convey it to Clifton, Tenn., at which place it landed, and started on the long march across Tennessee and Alabama and on to the mountains of Georgia, where it joined the army under General Sherman (8th of June, at Ackworth, Georgia), then engaged in one of the most remarkable campaigns in the military history of the world.
The 11th was part of the Union forces that moved on Atlanta in July of 1864.
In his Memoirs, General William T. Sherman (Volume II, Chapter XVIII, ATLANTA CAMPAIGN - BATTLES ABOUT ATLANTA, JULY, 1864) describes the area the 11th would have been in this way: "The railroad and wagon-road from Decatur to Atlanta lie along the summit, from which the waters flow, by short, steep valleys, into the "Peach-Tree" and Chattahoochee, to the west, and by other valleys, of gentler declivity, toward the east (Ocmulgee). The ridges and level ground were mostly cleared, and had been cultivated as corn or cotton fields; but where the valleys were broken, they were left in a state of nature, wooded, and full of undergrowth."
As Union forces moved on Atlanta the fighting was constant. "The official records fully sustain the following statement of that gifted writer, L. D. Ingersol [wrote regarding the 11th]: "...it is hardly too much to say, that as characterizing the whole of it, every hour saw a skirmish, and every day a battle. Engaged in the bloodiest encounters that distinguished the campaign, and everywhere acquitted itself with honor, and sealed its devotion to the cause for which it fought with the lives and blood of many as gallant men as ever shouldered a musket or drew a sword". The losses suffered by the 11th regiment during the battles before Atlanta, on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd days of July were many."
Mifflin Jennings in his Civil War Diary for July 20th wrote: "this morning we started on the march about 8 o'clock moving slowly. About noon we passed through Decatur and came to the rebels soon after we passed through town. We drove them about 3 miles and came to their works. This evening we are out on picket".
Joseph M. Moore was wounded in the left side 21 July 1864, "while in the line of his duty" near Atlanta, Georgia and died two days later, 23 July 1864.
William Martin in his diary "Out and Forward" described what happened this way: "That night (July 20th) Company "C" was put on picket. Some twenty of us were put in the end of a lane, which ran right out towards the rebels. We worked all night to make a safe place for ourselves. The next morning the rebels were lined along the hill (Bald Hill) 100 rods in front of us. We fired and they returned the fire. I had run out of our pit; got some coffee, and ran back. Joseph Moore came to us from a pit above us where Captain Neal and J. B. Dodds were. When Moore started back, I yelled at him that it would become him to light out. He looked over his shoulder and said he understood his own business. Just then a rebel shot him, the ball went in at his hip just where his canteen hung; he fell; and the rebels cheered. Joe was gotten away and died the next day. He was a fine soldier."
William R. Jennings in his recollections called "My Story" (his diary) describes what happened this way: "The rebels were strengthening their works by felling trees. When daylight came we could see two men chopping at a tree, about 400 yards distant. Brother Mifflin and I shot several times at them but they continued chopping. Finally we doubled our cartridges and fired. When the smoke cleared, the tree was standing but the men were missing. That morning about sunrise, Sergeant Moor of our company was coming from another post to ours and when near our post was shot and mortally wounded. He died next day. When he fell, brother Mifflin and comrade Dodds of our company ran out and carried him into our post. A shower of rebel bullets came thru the rails of the post as they ran in."
On July 23rd Mifflin Jennings wrote: "This morning I was out front of the men after our captain was killed and the ground is covered with dead rebels. There is not much going on today. The rebels do not appear to want to try us again." Brother, William R. Jennings penned these comments: "Next morning I was on my way back to the regiment and stopped at our field hospital, where there were many dead and wounded. The army surgeons were busy caring for the wounded. They had arranged temporary tables, made of rough boards, on which the wounded were placed to amputate their limbs. At the end of those tables, I saw piles of legs and arms two to three feet high. On the 21st and 22nd of July: killed, 8 from our company, including two orderly sergeants, one lieutenant, and Captain Neal. Wounded and missing, 19." July 23rd would have been the day Joseph M. Moore died at the field hospital.
The Roll of Honor
4th Division, 17th Army Corps
Field Hospital before Atlanta, Georgia
Wounded of the 11th Iowa in actions of July 21st and 22d.
Sergeant Joseph M. Moore, left side, died July 24.
Source: Muscatine Weekly Journal (Muscatine, Iowa), Friday, 12 August 1864, page 2.
That afternoon and for the next two days, the Battle for Atlanta began. Crocker's Iowa Brigade lost heavily in the assault of Bald Hill before Atlanta, on 22 July 1864, and in Hardee's attack on their position later in the day, fully half were killed, wounded, or captured. Overall Union forces suffered 3,641 casualties including Major-General James Birdseye McPherson (the highest-ranking Union officer killed in the Civil War) and Captain Joseph Neal of Company C ("killed instantly by a grape shot"). General Hood's Confederate Army lost 8499 men.
2nd Lieutenant, Morris W. Clark, Joseph M. Moore's commanding officer, wrote on 15 September 1864 that Joseph "... of the State of Iowa, born in Blount County, Tennessee, aged 23 years; 5 feet 11 inches high; Dark complexion, Hazel eyes, Dark hair, and by occupation a Farmer, having joined the company on its original organization at Columbus City, Iowa, and enrolled in it at the muster into the service of the United States at Davenport, Iowa, on the third day of October 1861, reenlisted as a veteran volunteer at Vicksburg, Mississippi, on the first day of January 1864, to serve in the Regiment for the term of three years: and having served HONESTLY and FAITHFULLY with his company in the 11th Iowa Infantry, died July 23rd, 1864 of a wound received on the 21st of July, 1864, before Atlanta, Ga. while in the line of his duty".
Joseph Madison Moore was originally buried in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1866, his remains were reinterred in the new Marietta and Atlanta National Cemetery, now called the Marietta National Cemetery in Marietta, Georgia, Section F, Grave No. 4747. His Captain, Joseph Neal, killed 22 July 1864, is also buried there.
In his father's will of 15 May 1869
"To my Son, John S. Moore I give and bequeath a Silver Watch that belonged to my Son Joseph M. Moore who died while in the Service of the United States, the value not to be accounted for."
1850 United States Federal Census (19 September 1850): Columbus City Township, Louisa County, Iowa (family 85) – Joseph M. Moore (10 Tennessee).
1860 United States Federal Census (21 June 1860): Columbus City Township, Louisa County, Iowa (page 49, dwelling 335) – Joseph M. Moore (20 Tennessee). He had attended school within the last year.
When Lincoln called for volunteers for the Civil War, Joseph M. Moore became the second son to respond. He enlisted on 23 September 1861 with Company "C" of the 11th Regiment of the Iowa Infantry Volunteers and was given the rank of Fourth Corporal.
Total rank and file in Company C, was 100 men organized from the county of Louisa. They were mustered into service on 03 October 1861 by Capt. Alexander Chambers, at Davenport, Iowa. The 11th Regiment of Iowa Infantry Volunteers was organized at Camp McClellan, located on a picturesque bluff overhanging the west bank of the Mississippi, two miles north of Davenport, on the first day of November 1861 - "a bright, beautiful day of the waning Indian summer". The 11th Iowa Regiment was made up of ten companies, and at the time of muster it consisted of 922 men under the command of Colonel Abraham M. Hare. It was the first Iowa regiment whose soldiers received their uniforms from the government before leaving the State and it was quite a sight to see over 900 men dressed in their full army blue.
On the 16th of November, the regiment left for St Louis aboard the stern wheel steamboat, JENNIE WHIPPLE. The weather was still mild and pleasant but before they landed in St. Louis a snowstorm set in. The 11th spent nearly three weeks in St. Louis at the Benton Barracks. On Sunday, 08 December 1861 Joseph M. Moore was promoted to Third Corporal. It was also the day the soldiers moved to Jefferson City. They spent the winter near there. Even though their housing and living conditions were good, many were taken sick by the numerous ailments around. Joseph M. Moore was promoted to Second Corporal on 01 January 1862.
On 10 March 1862, Company "C" left their quarters and boarded the side wheel steamboat, GREAT WESTERN, and moved down the Missouri, down the Mississippi, and up the Tennessee to Savannah where the troops disembarked and set up camp. During the trip, on 12 March 1862 Joseph M. Moore was again promoted, this time to First Corporal. A week later the company moved eight miles up the river to Pittsburg Landing.
On Sunday, April 6th, about 9:30 a.m., the Confederates attacked and what ensued became known as the Battle of Shiloh. The losses experienced by the 11th infantry regiment in this its first battle was very heavy. The Adjutant General's Report states, "more than two hundred, out of an aggregate of seven hundred and fifty, and of those more than thirty were killed outright on the field". Joseph was "wounded slightly in the leg" that day at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee during the Battle of Shiloh "while in the line of his duty". Overall the casualties at Shiloh were enormous, 1728 Confederates killed, 8012 wounded and 959 missing. Union forces reported 1754 killed, 8408 wounded and 2885 missing. A third of all the men in the regiment who would die in battle during the war were killed or mortally wounded on 6-7 April 1862.
Soon after the battle of Shiloh, the regiment was assigned to a brigade composed of the Eleventh, Thirteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Regiments of Iowa Infantry, under the command of Col. M. M. Crocker of the Thirteenth Iowa. From the date of the organization of this brigade, 27 April 1862, down to the close of the great War of the Rebellion, these four regiments served together, and, while it was commanded by different officers, it retained the name of "Crocker's Iowa Brigade."
After regrouping the 11th marched to Corinth where it formed part of the garrison and stayed for about three months. From there the regiment went to Bolivar, Tennessee, took part in the Mississippi Railroad campaign, spent some time in Memphis, and in February, 1863, did their part in digging the canal connecting the Mississippi with Lake Providence.
The 11th then joined the campaign for Vicksburg. They were a part of the force that captured Jackson, and later found a way to victory at Champion Hills when it was thought they were defeated. When the campaign for Vicksburg ended, the victorious army received a much-deserved break. The white tents of their camps could be seen for miles around Vicksburg. While many were given leave, the 11th regiment took part in "the Louisiana Expedition" under General Stevenson. They returned to Vicksburg, 03 September 1863 completely worn out. Hundreds of the men were sick, many died, and it took a long time for the survivors to regain their health and spirits. General Stevenson was relieved of his command for failing to destroy the enemy's cotton and for marching his command nearly to death without reason. The regiment now resumed the rest, which had been broken by the Louisiana Expedition.
It was from Vicksburg that Joseph wrote his uncle, Joseph Johnston:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vicksburg, Miss.
Nov. 19, 1863
Mr. Joseph Johnston:
Dear Uncle:
I seat myself this morning to write you a few lines for I see that if I don't write to you that I will not get any letters from you. I believe that you are about as lazy about writing as I am. You can't make an excuse and say that you have not time for I must think that it rains there some times, as for myself I will not try to make an excuse as for not writing for I have time to write very often but I have no news to write and it doesn't pay to write. My health is good at this time. I have been unwell this fall but am hearty again. The health of the Regt. is good at this time. There is but very little sickness in the Regt. The weather is cool and I think the troops will be healthy during the winter. We have had a great deal of duty to do this fall but now it is not so heavy. We don't have any fatigue to do but we have a good deal of picket duty to do yet. They have been working on the fortifications around Vicksburg for the last two months. They are about complete and they are the best that I have ever seen. I thought the works at Corinth was good and so they was too good for ------* to come in on but the works at Vicksburg excels any that I have ever seen. I think that it would not be healthy for the rebs to try to come in to Vicksburg. I have seen some of the citizens well punished. I have been on picket duty when the citizens would come ten or 15 miles to Vicksburg and they come to the picket line and there they could go no farther and if they would have some butter and eggs at 50 cents per dozen the pickets would buy them and butter at 25 cents per pound. They would then leave looking as if they wished us no good luck. I hear everything sells very high in Iowa. You may think that we don't have to pay for things here our sutlers sells everything very high. Butter at 40 cents, cheese 40 cts and everything equally as high apples from 5 to 10 cts each. That is pretty dear eating don't you think. There is a government store in town that sells things pretty reasonable but it is hard for them to keep a stock of goods on hand though they sell to soldiers only.
Uncle, I was down town last and heard ----* preach and I can say that that was the only sermon that I have heard this fall. That is the way soldiers have to live or at least it is the case with a good many. We have no chaplin and there is only one in the Brigade and he don't preach any. We had a chaplin for more than a year and he was with the Regt. a good part of the time and if I am not mistaken he preached to the Regt. four times. That was our second chaplin. The first one done better. Why do they commission such men? It is often the case the men that gets office ought to be in the ranks or at home at work. I see that Uncle Sam has called for three hundred thousand more men. Do you think Iowa will furnish her quota without draft? Our consolation there will not be any new officers to make for them. That will save the government of some cost. There was men went from our Regt. to recruit. James B. Dodds went from Company C. If they fill this Regt. up it will take a good many men. Do you think that the war will soon stop or will the rebs hold out till the last minute? Well I must come to a close. If you think this worth answering write when it comes to hand.
Nothing more.
Joseph M. Moore
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joseph M. Moore re-enlisted and re-mustered as a veteran volunteer at Vicksburg, Mississippi, on 01 January 1864 and received $110.00 as a Bounty. He was promoted on 01 March 1864, to Sergeant and was also appointed vice clerk of his company. Early in March, the veteran organization was granted a furlough of 30 days, to begin after reaching the State of Iowa. They embarked at Vicksburg on the side wheel steamboat, CONTINENTAL, which conveyed them to Davenport, Iowa, from which place they departed for their respective homes.
"On the 22d of April, 1864, the veterans of the regiment again assembled at Davenport. Many recruits had joined them and, with its ranks thus greatly strengthened, the regiment at once proceeded upon its long journey to the front. At Cairo, Ill., transports were waiting to convey it to Clifton, Tenn., at which place it landed, and started on the long march across Tennessee and Alabama and on to the mountains of Georgia, where it joined the army under General Sherman (8th of June, at Ackworth, Georgia), then engaged in one of the most remarkable campaigns in the military history of the world.
The 11th was part of the Union forces that moved on Atlanta in July of 1864.
In his Memoirs, General William T. Sherman (Volume II, Chapter XVIII, ATLANTA CAMPAIGN - BATTLES ABOUT ATLANTA, JULY, 1864) describes the area the 11th would have been in this way: "The railroad and wagon-road from Decatur to Atlanta lie along the summit, from which the waters flow, by short, steep valleys, into the "Peach-Tree" and Chattahoochee, to the west, and by other valleys, of gentler declivity, toward the east (Ocmulgee). The ridges and level ground were mostly cleared, and had been cultivated as corn or cotton fields; but where the valleys were broken, they were left in a state of nature, wooded, and full of undergrowth."
As Union forces moved on Atlanta the fighting was constant. "The official records fully sustain the following statement of that gifted writer, L. D. Ingersol [wrote regarding the 11th]: "...it is hardly too much to say, that as characterizing the whole of it, every hour saw a skirmish, and every day a battle. Engaged in the bloodiest encounters that distinguished the campaign, and everywhere acquitted itself with honor, and sealed its devotion to the cause for which it fought with the lives and blood of many as gallant men as ever shouldered a musket or drew a sword". The losses suffered by the 11th regiment during the battles before Atlanta, on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd days of July were many."
Mifflin Jennings in his Civil War Diary for July 20th wrote: "this morning we started on the march about 8 o'clock moving slowly. About noon we passed through Decatur and came to the rebels soon after we passed through town. We drove them about 3 miles and came to their works. This evening we are out on picket".
Joseph M. Moore was wounded in the left side 21 July 1864, "while in the line of his duty" near Atlanta, Georgia and died two days later, 23 July 1864.
William Martin in his diary "Out and Forward" described what happened this way: "That night (July 20th) Company "C" was put on picket. Some twenty of us were put in the end of a lane, which ran right out towards the rebels. We worked all night to make a safe place for ourselves. The next morning the rebels were lined along the hill (Bald Hill) 100 rods in front of us. We fired and they returned the fire. I had run out of our pit; got some coffee, and ran back. Joseph Moore came to us from a pit above us where Captain Neal and J. B. Dodds were. When Moore started back, I yelled at him that it would become him to light out. He looked over his shoulder and said he understood his own business. Just then a rebel shot him, the ball went in at his hip just where his canteen hung; he fell; and the rebels cheered. Joe was gotten away and died the next day. He was a fine soldier."
William R. Jennings in his recollections called "My Story" (his diary) describes what happened this way: "The rebels were strengthening their works by felling trees. When daylight came we could see two men chopping at a tree, about 400 yards distant. Brother Mifflin and I shot several times at them but they continued chopping. Finally we doubled our cartridges and fired. When the smoke cleared, the tree was standing but the men were missing. That morning about sunrise, Sergeant Moor of our company was coming from another post to ours and when near our post was shot and mortally wounded. He died next day. When he fell, brother Mifflin and comrade Dodds of our company ran out and carried him into our post. A shower of rebel bullets came thru the rails of the post as they ran in."
On July 23rd Mifflin Jennings wrote: "This morning I was out front of the men after our captain was killed and the ground is covered with dead rebels. There is not much going on today. The rebels do not appear to want to try us again." Brother, William R. Jennings penned these comments: "Next morning I was on my way back to the regiment and stopped at our field hospital, where there were many dead and wounded. The army surgeons were busy caring for the wounded. They had arranged temporary tables, made of rough boards, on which the wounded were placed to amputate their limbs. At the end of those tables, I saw piles of legs and arms two to three feet high. On the 21st and 22nd of July: killed, 8 from our company, including two orderly sergeants, one lieutenant, and Captain Neal. Wounded and missing, 19." July 23rd would have been the day Joseph M. Moore died at the field hospital.
The Roll of Honor
4th Division, 17th Army Corps
Field Hospital before Atlanta, Georgia
Wounded of the 11th Iowa in actions of July 21st and 22d.
Sergeant Joseph M. Moore, left side, died July 24.
Source: Muscatine Weekly Journal (Muscatine, Iowa), Friday, 12 August 1864, page 2.
That afternoon and for the next two days, the Battle for Atlanta began. Crocker's Iowa Brigade lost heavily in the assault of Bald Hill before Atlanta, on 22 July 1864, and in Hardee's attack on their position later in the day, fully half were killed, wounded, or captured. Overall Union forces suffered 3,641 casualties including Major-General James Birdseye McPherson (the highest-ranking Union officer killed in the Civil War) and Captain Joseph Neal of Company C ("killed instantly by a grape shot"). General Hood's Confederate Army lost 8499 men.
2nd Lieutenant, Morris W. Clark, Joseph M. Moore's commanding officer, wrote on 15 September 1864 that Joseph "... of the State of Iowa, born in Blount County, Tennessee, aged 23 years; 5 feet 11 inches high; Dark complexion, Hazel eyes, Dark hair, and by occupation a Farmer, having joined the company on its original organization at Columbus City, Iowa, and enrolled in it at the muster into the service of the United States at Davenport, Iowa, on the third day of October 1861, reenlisted as a veteran volunteer at Vicksburg, Mississippi, on the first day of January 1864, to serve in the Regiment for the term of three years: and having served HONESTLY and FAITHFULLY with his company in the 11th Iowa Infantry, died July 23rd, 1864 of a wound received on the 21st of July, 1864, before Atlanta, Ga. while in the line of his duty".
Joseph Madison Moore was originally buried in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1866, his remains were reinterred in the new Marietta and Atlanta National Cemetery, now called the Marietta National Cemetery in Marietta, Georgia, Section F, Grave No. 4747. His Captain, Joseph Neal, killed 22 July 1864, is also buried there.
In his father's will of 15 May 1869
"To my Son, John S. Moore I give and bequeath a Silver Watch that belonged to my Son Joseph M. Moore who died while in the Service of the United States, the value not to be accounted for."
Joseph Madison Moore was born in 1840 in Blount County, Tennessee. He came with his parents to Iowa from Tennessee in 1842.
1850 United States Federal Census (19 September 1850): Columbus City Township, Louisa County, Iowa (family 85) – Joseph M. Moore (10 Tennessee).
1860 United States Federal Census (21 June 1860): Columbus City Township, Louisa County, Iowa (page 49, dwelling 335) – Joseph M. Moore (20 Tennessee). He had attended school within the last year.
When Lincoln called for volunteers for the Civil War, Joseph M. Moore became the second son to respond. He enlisted on 23 September 1861 with Company "C" of the 11th Regiment of the Iowa Infantry Volunteers and was given the rank of Fourth Corporal.
Total rank and file in Company C, was 100 men organized from the county of Louisa. They were mustered into service on 03 October 1861 by Capt. Alexander Chambers, at Davenport, Iowa. The 11th Regiment of Iowa Infantry Volunteers was organized at Camp McClellan, located on a picturesque bluff overhanging the west bank of the Mississippi, two miles north of Davenport, on the first day of November 1861 - "a bright, beautiful day of the waning Indian summer". The 11th Iowa Regiment was made up of ten companies, and at the time of muster it consisted of 922 men under the command of Colonel Abraham M. Hare. It was the first Iowa regiment whose soldiers received their uniforms from the government before leaving the State and it was quite a sight to see over 900 men dressed in their full army blue.
On the 16th of November, the regiment left for St Louis aboard the stern wheel steamboat, JENNIE WHIPPLE. The weather was still mild and pleasant but before they landed in St. Louis a snowstorm set in. The 11th spent nearly three weeks in St. Louis at the Benton Barracks. On Sunday, 08 December 1861 Joseph M. Moore was promoted to Third Corporal. It was also the day the soldiers moved to Jefferson City. They spent the winter near there. Even though their housing and living conditions were good, many were taken sick by the numerous ailments around. Joseph M. Moore was promoted to Second Corporal on 01 January 1862.
On 10 March 1862, Company "C" left their quarters and boarded the side wheel steamboat, GREAT WESTERN, and moved down the Missouri, down the Mississippi, and up the Tennessee to Savannah where the troops disembarked and set up camp. During the trip, on 12 March 1862 Joseph M. Moore was again promoted, this time to First Corporal. A week later the company moved eight miles up the river to Pittsburg Landing.
On Sunday, April 6th, about 9:30 a.m., the Confederates attacked and what ensued became known as the Battle of Shiloh. The losses experienced by the 11th infantry regiment in this its first battle was very heavy. The Adjutant General's Report states, "more than two hundred, out of an aggregate of seven hundred and fifty, and of those more than thirty were killed outright on the field". Joseph was "wounded slightly in the leg" that day at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee during the Battle of Shiloh "while in the line of his duty". Overall the casualties at Shiloh were enormous, 1728 Confederates killed, 8012 wounded and 959 missing. Union forces reported 1754 killed, 8408 wounded and 2885 missing. A third of all the men in the regiment who would die in battle during the war were killed or mortally wounded on 6-7 April 1862.
Soon after the battle of Shiloh, the regiment was assigned to a brigade composed of the Eleventh, Thirteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Regiments of Iowa Infantry, under the command of Col. M. M. Crocker of the Thirteenth Iowa. From the date of the organization of this brigade, 27 April 1862, down to the close of the great War of the Rebellion, these four regiments served together, and, while it was commanded by different officers, it retained the name of "Crocker's Iowa Brigade."
After regrouping the 11th marched to Corinth where it formed part of the garrison and stayed for about three months. From there the regiment went to Bolivar, Tennessee, took part in the Mississippi Railroad campaign, spent some time in Memphis, and in February, 1863, did their part in digging the canal connecting the Mississippi with Lake Providence.
The 11th then joined the campaign for Vicksburg. They were a part of the force that captured Jackson, and later found a way to victory at Champion Hills when it was thought they were defeated. When the campaign for Vicksburg ended, the victorious army received a much-deserved break. The white tents of their camps could be seen for miles around Vicksburg. While many were given leave, the 11th regiment took part in "the Louisiana Expedition" under General Stevenson. They returned to Vicksburg, 03 September 1863 completely worn out. Hundreds of the men were sick, many died, and it took a long time for the survivors to regain their health and spirits. General Stevenson was relieved of his command for failing to destroy the enemy's cotton and for marching his command nearly to death without reason. The regiment now resumed the rest, which had been broken by the Louisiana Expedition.
It was from Vicksburg that Joseph wrote his uncle, Joseph Johnston:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vicksburg, Miss.
Nov. 19, 1863
Mr. Joseph Johnston:
Dear Uncle:
I seat myself this morning to write you a few lines for I see that if I don't write to you that I will not get any letters from you. I believe that you are about as lazy about writing as I am. You can't make an excuse and say that you have not time for I must think that it rains there some times, as for myself I will not try to make an excuse as for not writing for I have time to write very often but I have no news to write and it doesn't pay to write. My health is good at this time. I have been unwell this fall but am hearty again. The health of the Regt. is good at this time. There is but very little sickness in the Regt. The weather is cool and I think the troops will be healthy during the winter. We have had a great deal of duty to do this fall but now it is not so heavy. We don't have any fatigue to do but we have a good deal of picket duty to do yet. They have been working on the fortifications around Vicksburg for the last two months. They are about complete and they are the best that I have ever seen. I thought the works at Corinth was good and so they was too good for ------* to come in on but the works at Vicksburg excels any that I have ever seen. I think that it would not be healthy for the rebs to try to come in to Vicksburg. I have seen some of the citizens well punished. I have been on picket duty when the citizens would come ten or 15 miles to Vicksburg and they come to the picket line and there they could go no farther and if they would have some butter and eggs at 50 cents per dozen the pickets would buy them and butter at 25 cents per pound. They would then leave looking as if they wished us no good luck. I hear everything sells very high in Iowa. You may think that we don't have to pay for things here our sutlers sells everything very high. Butter at 40 cents, cheese 40 cts and everything equally as high apples from 5 to 10 cts each. That is pretty dear eating don't you think. There is a government store in town that sells things pretty reasonable but it is hard for them to keep a stock of goods on hand though they sell to soldiers only.
Uncle, I was down town last and heard ----* preach and I can say that that was the only sermon that I have heard this fall. That is the way soldiers have to live or at least it is the case with a good many. We have no chaplin and there is only one in the Brigade and he don't preach any. We had a chaplin for more than a year and he was with the Regt. a good part of the time and if I am not mistaken he preached to the Regt. four times. That was our second chaplin. The first one done better. Why do they commission such men? It is often the case the men that gets office ought to be in the ranks or at home at work. I see that Uncle Sam has called for three hundred thousand more men. Do you think Iowa will furnish her quota without draft? Our consolation there will not be any new officers to make for them. That will save the government of some cost. There was men went from our Regt. to recruit. James B. Dodds went from Company C. If they fill this Regt. up it will take a good many men. Do you think that the war will soon stop or will the rebs hold out till the last minute? Well I must come to a close. If you think this worth answering write when it comes to hand.
Nothing more.
Joseph M. Moore
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joseph M. Moore re-enlisted and re-mustered as a veteran volunteer at Vicksburg, Mississippi, on 01 January 1864 and received $110.00 as a Bounty. He was promoted on 01 March 1864, to Sergeant and was also appointed vice clerk of his company. Early in March, the veteran organization was granted a furlough of 30 days, to begin after reaching the State of Iowa. They embarked at Vicksburg on the side wheel steamboat, CONTINENTAL, which conveyed them to Davenport, Iowa, from which place they departed for their respective homes.
"On the 22d of April, 1864, the veterans of the regiment again assembled at Davenport. Many recruits had joined them and, with its ranks thus greatly strengthened, the regiment at once proceeded upon its long journey to the front. At Cairo, Ill., transports were waiting to convey it to Clifton, Tenn., at which place it landed, and started on the long march across Tennessee and Alabama and on to the mountains of Georgia, where it joined the army under General Sherman (8th of June, at Ackworth, Georgia), then engaged in one of the most remarkable campaigns in the military history of the world.
The 11th was part of the Union forces that moved on Atlanta in July of 1864.
In his Memoirs, General William T. Sherman (Volume II, Chapter XVIII, ATLANTA CAMPAIGN - BATTLES ABOUT ATLANTA, JULY, 1864) describes the area the 11th would have been in this way: "The railroad and wagon-road from Decatur to Atlanta lie along the summit, from which the waters flow, by short, steep valleys, into the "Peach-Tree" and Chattahoochee, to the west, and by other valleys, of gentler declivity, toward the east (Ocmulgee). The ridges and level ground were mostly cleared, and had been cultivated as corn or cotton fields; but where the valleys were broken, they were left in a state of nature, wooded, and full of undergrowth."
As Union forces moved on Atlanta the fighting was constant. "The official records fully sustain the following statement of that gifted writer, L. D. Ingersol [wrote regarding the 11th]: "...it is hardly too much to say, that as characterizing the whole of it, every hour saw a skirmish, and every day a battle. Engaged in the bloodiest encounters that distinguished the campaign, and everywhere acquitted itself with honor, and sealed its devotion to the cause for which it fought with the lives and blood of many as gallant men as ever shouldered a musket or drew a sword". The losses suffered by the 11th regiment during the battles before Atlanta, on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd days of July were many."
Mifflin Jennings in his Civil War Diary for July 20th wrote: "this morning we started on the march about 8 o'clock moving slowly. About noon we passed through Decatur and came to the rebels soon after we passed through town. We drove them about 3 miles and came to their works. This evening we are out on picket".
Joseph M. Moore was wounded in the left side 21 July 1864, "while in the line of his duty" near Atlanta, Georgia and died two days later, 23 July 1864.
William Martin in his diary "Out and Forward" described what happened this way: "That night (July 20th) Company "C" was put on picket. Some twenty of us were put in the end of a lane, which ran right out towards the rebels. We worked all night to make a safe place for ourselves. The next morning the rebels were lined along the hill (Bald Hill) 100 rods in front of us. We fired and they returned the fire. I had run out of our pit; got some coffee, and ran back. Joseph Moore came to us from a pit above us where Captain Neal and J. B. Dodds were. When Moore started back, I yelled at him that it would become him to light out. He looked over his shoulder and said he understood his own business. Just then a rebel shot him, the ball went in at his hip just where his canteen hung; he fell; and the rebels cheered. Joe was gotten away and died the next day. He was a fine soldier."
William R. Jennings in his recollections called "My Story" (his diary) describes what happened this way: "The rebels were strengthening their works by felling trees. When daylight came we could see two men chopping at a tree, about 400 yards distant. Brother Mifflin and I shot several times at them but they continued chopping. Finally we doubled our cartridges and fired. When the smoke cleared, the tree was standing but the men were missing. That morning about sunrise, Sergeant Moor of our company was coming from another post to ours and when near our post was shot and mortally wounded. He died next day. When he fell, brother Mifflin and comrade Dodds of our company ran out and carried him into our post. A shower of rebel bullets came thru the rails of the post as they ran in."
On July 23rd Mifflin Jennings wrote: "This morning I was out front of the men after our captain was killed and the ground is covered with dead rebels. There is not much going on today. The rebels do not appear to want to try us again." Brother, William R. Jennings penned these comments: "Next morning I was on my way back to the regiment and stopped at our field hospital, where there were many dead and wounded. The army surgeons were busy caring for the wounded. They had arranged temporary tables, made of rough boards, on which the wounded were placed to amputate their limbs. At the end of those tables, I saw piles of legs and arms two to three feet high. On the 21st and 22nd of July: killed, 8 from our company, including two orderly sergeants, one lieutenant, and Captain Neal. Wounded and missing, 19." July 23rd would have been the day Joseph M. Moore died at the field hospital.
The Roll of Honor
4th Division, 17th Army Corps
Field Hospital before Atlanta, Georgia
Wounded of the 11th Iowa in actions of July 21st and 22d.
Sergeant Joseph M. Moore, left side, died July 24.
Source: Muscatine Weekly Journal (Muscatine, Iowa), Friday, 12 August 1864, page 2.
That afternoon and for the next two days, the Battle for Atlanta began. Crocker's Iowa Brigade lost heavily in the assault of Bald Hill before Atlanta, on 22 July 1864, and in Hardee's attack on their position later in the day, fully half were killed, wounded, or captured. Overall Union forces suffered 3,641 casualties including Major-General James Birdseye McPherson (the highest-ranking Union officer killed in the Civil War) and Captain Joseph Neal of Company C ("killed instantly by a grape shot"). General Hood's Confederate Army lost 8499 men.
2nd Lieutenant, Morris W. Clark, Joseph M. Moore's commanding officer, wrote on 15 September 1864 that Joseph "... of the State of Iowa, born in Blount County, Tennessee, aged 23 years; 5 feet 11 inches high; Dark complexion, Hazel eyes, Dark hair, and by occupation a Farmer, having joined the company on its original organization at Columbus City, Iowa, and enrolled in it at the muster into the service of the United States at Davenport, Iowa, on the third day of October 1861, reenlisted as a veteran volunteer at Vicksburg, Mississippi, on the first day of January 1864, to serve in the Regiment for the term of three years: and having served HONESTLY and FAITHFULLY with his company in the 11th Iowa Infantry, died July 23rd, 1864 of a wound received on the 21st of July, 1864, before Atlanta, Ga. while in the line of his duty".
Joseph Madison Moore was originally buried in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1866, his remains were reinterred in the new Marietta and Atlanta National Cemetery, now called the Marietta National Cemetery in Marietta, Georgia, Section F, Grave No. 4747. His Captain, Joseph Neal, killed 22 July 1864, is also buried there.
In his father's will of 15 May 1869
"To my Son, John S. Moore I give and bequeath a Silver Watch that belonged to my Son Joseph M. Moore who died while in the Service of the United States, the value not to be accounted for."
1850 United States Federal Census (19 September 1850): Columbus City Township, Louisa County, Iowa (family 85) – Joseph M. Moore (10 Tennessee).
1860 United States Federal Census (21 June 1860): Columbus City Township, Louisa County, Iowa (page 49, dwelling 335) – Joseph M. Moore (20 Tennessee). He had attended school within the last year.
When Lincoln called for volunteers for the Civil War, Joseph M. Moore became the second son to respond. He enlisted on 23 September 1861 with Company "C" of the 11th Regiment of the Iowa Infantry Volunteers and was given the rank of Fourth Corporal.
Total rank and file in Company C, was 100 men organized from the county of Louisa. They were mustered into service on 03 October 1861 by Capt. Alexander Chambers, at Davenport, Iowa. The 11th Regiment of Iowa Infantry Volunteers was organized at Camp McClellan, located on a picturesque bluff overhanging the west bank of the Mississippi, two miles north of Davenport, on the first day of November 1861 - "a bright, beautiful day of the waning Indian summer". The 11th Iowa Regiment was made up of ten companies, and at the time of muster it consisted of 922 men under the command of Colonel Abraham M. Hare. It was the first Iowa regiment whose soldiers received their uniforms from the government before leaving the State and it was quite a sight to see over 900 men dressed in their full army blue.
On the 16th of November, the regiment left for St Louis aboard the stern wheel steamboat, JENNIE WHIPPLE. The weather was still mild and pleasant but before they landed in St. Louis a snowstorm set in. The 11th spent nearly three weeks in St. Louis at the Benton Barracks. On Sunday, 08 December 1861 Joseph M. Moore was promoted to Third Corporal. It was also the day the soldiers moved to Jefferson City. They spent the winter near there. Even though their housing and living conditions were good, many were taken sick by the numerous ailments around. Joseph M. Moore was promoted to Second Corporal on 01 January 1862.
On 10 March 1862, Company "C" left their quarters and boarded the side wheel steamboat, GREAT WESTERN, and moved down the Missouri, down the Mississippi, and up the Tennessee to Savannah where the troops disembarked and set up camp. During the trip, on 12 March 1862 Joseph M. Moore was again promoted, this time to First Corporal. A week later the company moved eight miles up the river to Pittsburg Landing.
On Sunday, April 6th, about 9:30 a.m., the Confederates attacked and what ensued became known as the Battle of Shiloh. The losses experienced by the 11th infantry regiment in this its first battle was very heavy. The Adjutant General's Report states, "more than two hundred, out of an aggregate of seven hundred and fifty, and of those more than thirty were killed outright on the field". Joseph was "wounded slightly in the leg" that day at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee during the Battle of Shiloh "while in the line of his duty". Overall the casualties at Shiloh were enormous, 1728 Confederates killed, 8012 wounded and 959 missing. Union forces reported 1754 killed, 8408 wounded and 2885 missing. A third of all the men in the regiment who would die in battle during the war were killed or mortally wounded on 6-7 April 1862.
Soon after the battle of Shiloh, the regiment was assigned to a brigade composed of the Eleventh, Thirteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Regiments of Iowa Infantry, under the command of Col. M. M. Crocker of the Thirteenth Iowa. From the date of the organization of this brigade, 27 April 1862, down to the close of the great War of the Rebellion, these four regiments served together, and, while it was commanded by different officers, it retained the name of "Crocker's Iowa Brigade."
After regrouping the 11th marched to Corinth where it formed part of the garrison and stayed for about three months. From there the regiment went to Bolivar, Tennessee, took part in the Mississippi Railroad campaign, spent some time in Memphis, and in February, 1863, did their part in digging the canal connecting the Mississippi with Lake Providence.
The 11th then joined the campaign for Vicksburg. They were a part of the force that captured Jackson, and later found a way to victory at Champion Hills when it was thought they were defeated. When the campaign for Vicksburg ended, the victorious army received a much-deserved break. The white tents of their camps could be seen for miles around Vicksburg. While many were given leave, the 11th regiment took part in "the Louisiana Expedition" under General Stevenson. They returned to Vicksburg, 03 September 1863 completely worn out. Hundreds of the men were sick, many died, and it took a long time for the survivors to regain their health and spirits. General Stevenson was relieved of his command for failing to destroy the enemy's cotton and for marching his command nearly to death without reason. The regiment now resumed the rest, which had been broken by the Louisiana Expedition.
It was from Vicksburg that Joseph wrote his uncle, Joseph Johnston:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vicksburg, Miss.
Nov. 19, 1863
Mr. Joseph Johnston:
Dear Uncle:
I seat myself this morning to write you a few lines for I see that if I don't write to you that I will not get any letters from you. I believe that you are about as lazy about writing as I am. You can't make an excuse and say that you have not time for I must think that it rains there some times, as for myself I will not try to make an excuse as for not writing for I have time to write very often but I have no news to write and it doesn't pay to write. My health is good at this time. I have been unwell this fall but am hearty again. The health of the Regt. is good at this time. There is but very little sickness in the Regt. The weather is cool and I think the troops will be healthy during the winter. We have had a great deal of duty to do this fall but now it is not so heavy. We don't have any fatigue to do but we have a good deal of picket duty to do yet. They have been working on the fortifications around Vicksburg for the last two months. They are about complete and they are the best that I have ever seen. I thought the works at Corinth was good and so they was too good for ------* to come in on but the works at Vicksburg excels any that I have ever seen. I think that it would not be healthy for the rebs to try to come in to Vicksburg. I have seen some of the citizens well punished. I have been on picket duty when the citizens would come ten or 15 miles to Vicksburg and they come to the picket line and there they could go no farther and if they would have some butter and eggs at 50 cents per dozen the pickets would buy them and butter at 25 cents per pound. They would then leave looking as if they wished us no good luck. I hear everything sells very high in Iowa. You may think that we don't have to pay for things here our sutlers sells everything very high. Butter at 40 cents, cheese 40 cts and everything equally as high apples from 5 to 10 cts each. That is pretty dear eating don't you think. There is a government store in town that sells things pretty reasonable but it is hard for them to keep a stock of goods on hand though they sell to soldiers only.
Uncle, I was down town last and heard ----* preach and I can say that that was the only sermon that I have heard this fall. That is the way soldiers have to live or at least it is the case with a good many. We have no chaplin and there is only one in the Brigade and he don't preach any. We had a chaplin for more than a year and he was with the Regt. a good part of the time and if I am not mistaken he preached to the Regt. four times. That was our second chaplin. The first one done better. Why do they commission such men? It is often the case the men that gets office ought to be in the ranks or at home at work. I see that Uncle Sam has called for three hundred thousand more men. Do you think Iowa will furnish her quota without draft? Our consolation there will not be any new officers to make for them. That will save the government of some cost. There was men went from our Regt. to recruit. James B. Dodds went from Company C. If they fill this Regt. up it will take a good many men. Do you think that the war will soon stop or will the rebs hold out till the last minute? Well I must come to a close. If you think this worth answering write when it comes to hand.
Nothing more.
Joseph M. Moore
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joseph M. Moore re-enlisted and re-mustered as a veteran volunteer at Vicksburg, Mississippi, on 01 January 1864 and received $110.00 as a Bounty. He was promoted on 01 March 1864, to Sergeant and was also appointed vice clerk of his company. Early in March, the veteran organization was granted a furlough of 30 days, to begin after reaching the State of Iowa. They embarked at Vicksburg on the side wheel steamboat, CONTINENTAL, which conveyed them to Davenport, Iowa, from which place they departed for their respective homes.
"On the 22d of April, 1864, the veterans of the regiment again assembled at Davenport. Many recruits had joined them and, with its ranks thus greatly strengthened, the regiment at once proceeded upon its long journey to the front. At Cairo, Ill., transports were waiting to convey it to Clifton, Tenn., at which place it landed, and started on the long march across Tennessee and Alabama and on to the mountains of Georgia, where it joined the army under General Sherman (8th of June, at Ackworth, Georgia), then engaged in one of the most remarkable campaigns in the military history of the world.
The 11th was part of the Union forces that moved on Atlanta in July of 1864.
In his Memoirs, General William T. Sherman (Volume II, Chapter XVIII, ATLANTA CAMPAIGN - BATTLES ABOUT ATLANTA, JULY, 1864) describes the area the 11th would have been in this way: "The railroad and wagon-road from Decatur to Atlanta lie along the summit, from which the waters flow, by short, steep valleys, into the "Peach-Tree" and Chattahoochee, to the west, and by other valleys, of gentler declivity, toward the east (Ocmulgee). The ridges and level ground were mostly cleared, and had been cultivated as corn or cotton fields; but where the valleys were broken, they were left in a state of nature, wooded, and full of undergrowth."
As Union forces moved on Atlanta the fighting was constant. "The official records fully sustain the following statement of that gifted writer, L. D. Ingersol [wrote regarding the 11th]: "...it is hardly too much to say, that as characterizing the whole of it, every hour saw a skirmish, and every day a battle. Engaged in the bloodiest encounters that distinguished the campaign, and everywhere acquitted itself with honor, and sealed its devotion to the cause for which it fought with the lives and blood of many as gallant men as ever shouldered a musket or drew a sword". The losses suffered by the 11th regiment during the battles before Atlanta, on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd days of July were many."
Mifflin Jennings in his Civil War Diary for July 20th wrote: "this morning we started on the march about 8 o'clock moving slowly. About noon we passed through Decatur and came to the rebels soon after we passed through town. We drove them about 3 miles and came to their works. This evening we are out on picket".
Joseph M. Moore was wounded in the left side 21 July 1864, "while in the line of his duty" near Atlanta, Georgia and died two days later, 23 July 1864.
William Martin in his diary "Out and Forward" described what happened this way: "That night (July 20th) Company "C" was put on picket. Some twenty of us were put in the end of a lane, which ran right out towards the rebels. We worked all night to make a safe place for ourselves. The next morning the rebels were lined along the hill (Bald Hill) 100 rods in front of us. We fired and they returned the fire. I had run out of our pit; got some coffee, and ran back. Joseph Moore came to us from a pit above us where Captain Neal and J. B. Dodds were. When Moore started back, I yelled at him that it would become him to light out. He looked over his shoulder and said he understood his own business. Just then a rebel shot him, the ball went in at his hip just where his canteen hung; he fell; and the rebels cheered. Joe was gotten away and died the next day. He was a fine soldier."
William R. Jennings in his recollections called "My Story" (his diary) describes what happened this way: "The rebels were strengthening their works by felling trees. When daylight came we could see two men chopping at a tree, about 400 yards distant. Brother Mifflin and I shot several times at them but they continued chopping. Finally we doubled our cartridges and fired. When the smoke cleared, the tree was standing but the men were missing. That morning about sunrise, Sergeant Moor of our company was coming from another post to ours and when near our post was shot and mortally wounded. He died next day. When he fell, brother Mifflin and comrade Dodds of our company ran out and carried him into our post. A shower of rebel bullets came thru the rails of the post as they ran in."
On July 23rd Mifflin Jennings wrote: "This morning I was out front of the men after our captain was killed and the ground is covered with dead rebels. There is not much going on today. The rebels do not appear to want to try us again." Brother, William R. Jennings penned these comments: "Next morning I was on my way back to the regiment and stopped at our field hospital, where there were many dead and wounded. The army surgeons were busy caring for the wounded. They had arranged temporary tables, made of rough boards, on which the wounded were placed to amputate their limbs. At the end of those tables, I saw piles of legs and arms two to three feet high. On the 21st and 22nd of July: killed, 8 from our company, including two orderly sergeants, one lieutenant, and Captain Neal. Wounded and missing, 19." July 23rd would have been the day Joseph M. Moore died at the field hospital.
The Roll of Honor
4th Division, 17th Army Corps
Field Hospital before Atlanta, Georgia
Wounded of the 11th Iowa in actions of July 21st and 22d.
Sergeant Joseph M. Moore, left side, died July 24.
Source: Muscatine Weekly Journal (Muscatine, Iowa), Friday, 12 August 1864, page 2.
That afternoon and for the next two days, the Battle for Atlanta began. Crocker's Iowa Brigade lost heavily in the assault of Bald Hill before Atlanta, on 22 July 1864, and in Hardee's attack on their position later in the day, fully half were killed, wounded, or captured. Overall Union forces suffered 3,641 casualties including Major-General James Birdseye McPherson (the highest-ranking Union officer killed in the Civil War) and Captain Joseph Neal of Company C ("killed instantly by a grape shot"). General Hood's Confederate Army lost 8499 men.
2nd Lieutenant, Morris W. Clark, Joseph M. Moore's commanding officer, wrote on 15 September 1864 that Joseph "... of the State of Iowa, born in Blount County, Tennessee, aged 23 years; 5 feet 11 inches high; Dark complexion, Hazel eyes, Dark hair, and by occupation a Farmer, having joined the company on its original organization at Columbus City, Iowa, and enrolled in it at the muster into the service of the United States at Davenport, Iowa, on the third day of October 1861, reenlisted as a veteran volunteer at Vicksburg, Mississippi, on the first day of January 1864, to serve in the Regiment for the term of three years: and having served HONESTLY and FAITHFULLY with his company in the 11th Iowa Infantry, died July 23rd, 1864 of a wound received on the 21st of July, 1864, before Atlanta, Ga. while in the line of his duty".
Joseph Madison Moore was originally buried in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1866, his remains were reinterred in the new Marietta and Atlanta National Cemetery, now called the Marietta National Cemetery in Marietta, Georgia, Section F, Grave No. 4747. His Captain, Joseph Neal, killed 22 July 1864, is also buried there.
In his father's will of 15 May 1869
"To my Son, John S. Moore I give and bequeath a Silver Watch that belonged to my Son Joseph M. Moore who died while in the Service of the United States, the value not to be accounted for."
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