1863 November 5: “Gen. Crocker … is fast becoming unpopular with both officers & men”

The original letter is in the Edwin D. Levings Papers (River Falls Mss BO), in the University Archives and Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Natchez Miss.  Nov 5th, 1863

My Dear Parents,

                                 Your letters of the 14th and 19th ult. [October] are at hand; the latter came yesterday.  You have had to pay double letter postage again on my letters, it seems; and I doubt not you think I am a careless fellow.  I will not excuse myself on the ground of ignorance of the postal regulations; I was short of stamp at the time & thought I would see how much a stamp would bear — now I know.  Hereafter, expect to catch a weasel asleep, if I again impose on you extra postage.  We also received yesterday the Tribune and two Homoeopathic tracts.  I have read one of them & was much interested.  I was also delighted with your letter, the weight of evidence &c.¹  I think, should I ever return from the war, I will take some pains to examine the system.  To reject facts because they do not harmonize with reason, is perfectly absurd.  There are many wonderful phenomena in nature which reason, is perfectly absurd.  There are many wonderful phenomena in Nature which reason can not explain; and for the simple fact that such is not its her province.  Reason is a very good guide in investigation, but not always reliable, and for obvious reasons.  Reason had a distinct and limited sphere of action, & never works out of that sphere.  The trouble is men push her out of it & try to exact from her impossibilities; and because they fail to obtain a solution of their questions, they say “these things are not reasonable”; therefore, untrue.  The “hidden causes” in nature are not given to man us to know; at least, we have no evidence to the contrary.  We see & deal with their “effects” only; and it appears reasonable, so to speak, that for all practical purposes, the Creator of all things, deems them sufficient.  What progress would we make, if we cast aside facts because unaccountable?  The subject to me is full of interest.  I think some day I will read your letter to the Capt.  I don’t care what he may say.  I can tell him the “world moves, nevertheless” if he dos’nt [sic: doesn’t].

Well, the election is over; and the Copperheads have been dealt another deadly blow I trust.  No election returns from the state yet, but no uneasiness as to the result.  The 12th polled 522 votes, & 510 majority for Lewis.  Dixon last spring received 628 majority.  The falling off is due to death & sick leaves.  Co A. cast 62 votes for the state officers, none for “Coppers.”  On the County ticket Elwell [Joseph S. Elwell] did not run well.  [paragraph break added]

I am sorry to say Gen. Crocker [M. M. Crocker], Div. Commander, is fast becoming unpopular with both officers & men of the entire Div.  It is believed he is violating both the spirit & letter of instructions from the War Dep’t.  Complaints are numerous & frequent.  I believe him a regular Schofield man [John M. Schofield].²  The secesh are favored & curried & the consequence is we are ridden right over by them.  This is a fact.  I never shall forget this treatment of us when over in La.  He let us have all the sheep of an old rebel, (a large flock, of them, mind you,) & put guards over the only well of water around, & not a drop could we get of it, — had to use muddy water to cook our mutton.  But this is nothing to other meanness of which is alleged guilty.  Something, it is hoped, will be done for his removal.  Lauman [Jacob G. Lauman] is popular with the Div., with notwithstanding the Jackson affair,³ — never heard a word of condemnation of him since that time.  [paragraph break added]

You will be glad to hear we are out of our miserable tents & in nice, new barracks which we have built.  We [have] plenty of room & are fixed up better than ever before.  The weather is very rainy to-day.  The paymaster will visit us in a few days.  That box of clothing &c has not come yet, — will probably be here shortly.  Shall get overcoats & send them home in spring.  Homer is asleep, but well.  No war news afloat of importance.  I forgot to say fifer Walker⁴ of our company & for some time local reporter of the “Natchez Courier” is just ordered to his Co. by Crocker, for the reason he is too strong an abolitionist.  But I must stop.  Write soon.  Yours affectionately Edwin

1.  Today we abbreviate et cetera as “etc.”
2.  Ed is accusing Crocker of being sympathetic to the Confederates.
3.  Lauman was relieved of duty by General William T. Sherman shortly after the capture of Jackson, Mississippi. General Ord accused him of failing to properly execute orders and that his wanton disregard of the orders led to heavy casualties. He returned home for the rest of the war without being given a subsequent command.
4.  Henry J. Walker, from Delona, was a musician in Company A of the 12th Wisconsin Infantry. He will be promoted to Chaplain in 1864.

Edwin Levings letter of November 5, 1863, from the Edwin D. Levings Papers (River Falls Mss BO) in the University Archives & Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls

1863 July 15: “I must tell you of a sad & awful misfortune that happened to our Division”

Edwin Levings, with Company A of the 12th Wisconsin Infantry in Mississippi, describes in this letter the heaviest fight of the Jackson Expedition.  It took place on July 11, 1863—Edwin says the 12th—during an unsuccessful Union attack.  Union General Jacob G. Lauman ordered a brigade under Isaac C. Pugh, colonel of the 41st Illinois Infantry, to attack the Confederate works.  They were repulsed with “terrible slaughter.”  Lauman, as Edwin notes, was relieved of command for failure.  Instead of risking entrapment in Jackson by the Union troops, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston chose to evacuate the Mississippi state capital and withdrew on July 16.  William T. Sherman’s forces occupied Jackson the following day, which effectively ended the last threat to Vicksburg.  Owing to the scarcity of rations and water that Edwin describes here, the Confederates were not pursued and the Division will return to Vicksburg.

The original letter is in the Edwin D. Levings Papers (River Falls Mss BO), in the University Archives and Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Camp near Jackson, Miss.
July 15th, 1863.

Dear Parents ; —

                              Our last letter to you was dated the 5th, in which I told you we had marching orders towards Jackson.  Ere this reaches you, you will become impatient to hear from us, but this is our first opportunity, and I will do the best I can in the limited time I have.  I will first say that 4th Division is camped a few miles south of Jackson, where the rebels are in great force, and on the western side of Pearl River, near the Cen. Miss. R. R.  Joe Johnson [sic] has decided to make a desperate stand here and has strongly intrenched his army which is said [to] number 75,000.  Certain it is he is in strong force and we are at work besieging it the place.  The place is not completely invested, by any means, but that will soon be done, when McPherson’s Corps & Banks troops, which are said to be on the way here, arrive.  [James B. McPherson and Nathaniel P. Banks]  Burnside’s men are on the left, Sherman in the center & Ord on the right, the 4th Division being the extreme right & 1½ miles from Pearl River.  [Ambrose E. Burnside, and Lauman’s superior Edward O. C. Ord]

The first day out, the 5th, we marched to Baker’s Creek, 10 miles & 1 1/2 miles from the Black river bridge.  Next day lay still.  The 7th camped got to Champion Hills in the afternoon & then went on, but were caught in a heavy thunder stormed & were thouroughly [sic] drenched, — stood in the road 3 hours in the night, teams could not stir — made fires & dried ourselves at last & by 9 A. M. reached Head Quarters of Division & lay still till night, then went on 7 or 8 miles & camped.  The 9th reached Clinton & camped for the night.  The 10th came up so within 2 miles of the rebels.  Since then we have been swinging round to the right.  [paragraph break added]

But I must tell you of a sad & awful misfortune that happened to our Division on the 12th.  Gen. Lauman was ordered to take a position in front.  The 28th, 41st & 53rd Ills. regiments were selected, one Regt. from a Brigade, for the work.  Col. Pugh commanded.  They were supported by the 5th Ohio Battery.  The Inf’y advanced to the crest of a low hill & formed in line.  In front was a large corn field extending up a ravine.  Some of the corn was cut down close to the ground.  Col. Pugh did not like the looks of things and the lay of the land & sent word back to Lauman to come & look at it.  He did so, & gave the order “forward.”  On the poor fellows went, but no sooner had they got into the open space then the rebels opened on them with grape & cannister [sic] from the masked batteries (12 guns) & with musketry, — an enfilading fire,—6 guns on each side, & musketry in front.  The men fell fast, but knowing no such word as retreat, they charged up to within 50 yards of the rebels but there was no support for then they were already flanked & would soon be prisoners unless they pull back. but  Not more than half of the man came out, the other half were killed, wounded & missing.  The loss must have been 3 or 400.  The hospitals are full of wounded.  The color bearer of the 28th was killed.  The color was siezed [sic] by a soldier who & the bearer boldly advanced ahead of the Regt. when he too was killed.  The State color was left on the field.  The rebels were Breckinridge’ Division.  They would not allow our men to carry of[f] what wounded were left & bury the dead, & men day before yesterday were still lying there sending up their piteous cries for help, for our men to take them away.  Since then the rebels undertook to take one of our [_]tters & were paid off in their own coin, & in a way that will learn them a lesson.  Lauman is relieved of his command, but some think he will be restored.  Hovey’s Division¹ is next to us & it is possible our Division may merge into His, the 12th, as that is quite small.  [paragraph break added]

Water is scarce.  We rely on that brought from citizens at the farm houses.  The country is the finest I have seen since we left Kansas, very undulating.  The rations issued to us now are hard-bread, coffee, sugar & salt.  Men are sent out into the country daily after freshmeat [sic], green corn, molasses, any thing they can get, — milk, fruit, honey, so we live well.  We must live off the country till the R. R. is built up to here, or Clinton, before we get any thing else.  Our Cavalry have gone across Pearl River to-day to cut the R. R. that runs out east of Jackson . Yesterday Col. Bryant [George E. Bryant] with 5 companies of his Regt. & the 32nd Ill., 53rd Ind. were engaged in tearing up the Miss. Cen. R. R.  Our company were on picket in the rear.  But 32 men of Co. A came out here—we left the rest sick back at Vicksburg, but I must stop for to-day.  We are without tents & shelter ourselves with any thing we can get are perfectly well.  [paragraph break added]

We got a  letter from you day before yesterday of the 28th ult.  Glad to hear from you again.  You speak of a proposal  you are about to make to the Ill. cousins that one or two of them to come & live with you.  It would please us much.

Yours affectionately,

Edwin Levings
Co A. 12th R. W. V.
3rd B.  4th Div
Via Cairo & Vicksburg

P.S.  We have just received a letter from Almond.  He says crops are in the main tolerable, & that Aunt Mary talks of coming West, that Chales tells her it would be better than stay there—she has rec’ed $115.00 bounty & back pay &c. — Homer says he will write in a few days,

Yours &c.
E D Levings

1.  Hovey’s Division was the 12th Division in the XIII Corps. Alvin Peterson Hovey (1821-1891) was an Indiana lawyer, justice on the Indiana Supreme Court, and U.S. Attorney for Indiana before the Civil War. When the War started he was commissioned as colonel of the 1st Indiana Legion Regiment, a state militia force. He then became colonel of the 24th Indiana Infantry, which he led at the Battle of Shiloh (April 6-7, 1862), the Siege/First Battle of Corinth (April 29-May 30, 1862),  and the Battle of Champion Hill (May 16, 1863). General Grant praised praised Hovey as key to the success of the Siege of Vicksburg. After the War, Hovey is elected to the U.S. House of Representatives (1887-1889) and as the 21st governor of Indiana (1889-1891).

Edwin Levings letter of July 15, 1863, from the Edwin D. Levings Papers (River Falls Mss BO) in the University Archives & Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls

1863 January 12: “Holly Springs will be known hereafter only in History.—It is in ruins”

The original letter is in the Edwin D. Levings Papers (River Falls Mss BO), in the University Archives and Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Moscow, Tennessee, Monday
Jan. 12th, 1863

Dear Parents;

                          We rec’d yours of the 22nd ult on the 9th inst at Holly Springs and were right glad to hear from you once more.  You say you have had no letters from us except one dated the 3rd ult.  We have written you since that time 4 or 5, but it is probably some of them were destroyed when the rebels cut off our communications; and, possibly, some of yours.  [paragraph break added]

You will be glad to know we are back in Tennessee.  We left Lumpkins Mills in the afternoon of the 8th in a rain storm and camped at Holly Springs that night.  Lay still next day till morning and the day following, till morning, when we went on to the Coldwater, 5 miles distant.  The roads were perfectly awful – wagons stuck fast in the mud and some were upset, and we soldiers had as much as we could do to pick our way, — sometimes finding ourselves knee deep in mud, or down into holes or gullies.  Staid [sic] one night at Coldwater,—left there yesterday morning at daylight and took the Moscow road, which was in good condition, and at here last at dark, traveling 16 miles.  Our Div. only came, the other troops going on to Lagrange [sic]. Today our Regt. is on picket & R. R. guard.  I and the other boys of our mess are guarding the R. R. 2½ miles west of town and I am writing to you now—I say town, but there is no town, only a few old shells and depot buildings.  It is 39 miles by R. R. to Memphis.  Some of the troops that were here are now marching to that place, and our Div. commanded by Lauman,¹ expects to follow ere long.  We shall get full rations now, —have had but half gov. rations for 3 weeks—here come the cars loaded with supplies, so I guess we shall not want for them longer, and, by the way, I’ll say the boys have just killed a nice porker.

Holly Springs will be known here after [sic] only in History.—It is in ruins.  The rebels burned the extensive depot buildings and foundry, all the public buildings & those containing supplies & our troops destroyed all the splendid mansions and together we made a “clean sweep.”  One night there was a provost guard of 4 Regts, but a fire would break out every few minutes.  Our own Regt. had a hand in, also we enjoyed the conflagration and consider we had a perfect right so to do.  We found almost every thing in the buildings and we laid in a supply.  O you should have witnessed what a rush the boys made for the tobacco, in particular.  I did not feel disposed to get any of that, but I wish you had the spirits, oils & varnishes I saw in a cellar.  It was common to see half cooked vituals [sic] in the houses, pianos, and other furniture, left.  I think this is the way to serve these big places.

The country where our army has been is perfectly desolate.  I do not see what this campaign has amounted to except carrying off the cotton & the niggers & making the country a wilderness.  Some blame Grant and  others approve.  I approve, but I expected more.  The next move , it is thought, will be on Vicksburgh [sic].  Well Rosecrans [William S. Rosecrans] has used up Bragg [Braxton Bragg] and is doing well.  I wish we had some other man than Grant [Ulysses S. Grant], but he may be all right, as it is.  It is said he did just what  has been done, purposely, —went as far as intended, but if that is the way, the right way, so whi_ I should much rather fight.  I have and read the paper of the 8th inst. and learned what is going on.  There is some talk of Hurlburt’s [sic: Stephen A. Hurlbut] assuming command of the 4th Div. but I am not I am not aware there is any certainty about it.  [paragraph break added]

Where is Homer Loomis² & where is Ellsworth Burnett,² & where is Uncle Edwin?

Jan. 15^th.  I will now try to finish this.  We carried a lot of fresh beef into camp yesterday.  We had not eaten our dinner when marching orders came & we were soon on our way to Lafayette, 9 miles on the Memphis road.  On arriving there we received orders to countermarch.  It was near dark & we camped one mile back.  It rained very hard that night & all day yesterday & this morning there is 3 inches of snow.  I never saw such roads as I saw yesterday.  In many places the mud was knee deep & very slippery in other places.  The water ran like a torrent through the gullies & hollows, & wagons were frequently upset & broken and mules were up to their backs nearly in water.  Our own wagon was tipped over into the water & twice it had to be unloaded.  It rained hard all the time.  It was the worst day I was ever out.  Every thing was soaked with water.  You know now what we were doing—drying our clothes.  I do not know what we went down there for.  Some say Logan’s Div. [John A. Logan] was at that place & received marching orders to Memphis & started & came back again, consequently we went to take their place till further orders.  Logan coming back, we had to go back too.  There were as many troops at Memphis as could be shipped in ten days & they did not want us there just yet.  Another story is somebody felled a free on the telegraph wire & broke it & danger was apprehended.  Another is that the telegraphic operator was drunk.  We were all day getting back.  It will use up a good many I fear.  I have no fears for ourselves.  If as our name seems to indicate, we have any French blood in us, & as I am inclined to think, we have & as our name indicates, then we are all right for I know we can stand as much as any body most.  I don’t mean to brag; nor am I, but there are many who will break down under such usage.  We are 1 mile west of Moscow now, & I guess they won’t cat haul us about any more for sometime at least.  I hope so.  The officers did not like the march any more than the privates, I noticed—all got __wed alike.

Night before last we received two letters, one from our Ill. cousins, & yours of the 22nd having been received as I told you.  There is no news except that Rosecrans has whipped out Bragg again.  How is the winter.  How many cows do you milk & have you plenty of fodder for them.  I think we shall have to go to Vickburgh [sic], if so, we shall get all we shall want of fight.  We can’t do much here that is certain.  It is still snowing very hard & it is very disagreeable.  I guess I’ll stop.  Excuse this miserably written & miserably composed letter for I am in a hurry & am cold & must get warm.  So good by for to day.  Write us soon.

Edwin Levings
Co A, 12 R. W. V.
3^rd Brig. 4^th Div
via Cairo

1.  Jacob Gartner Lauman (1813-1867) was a businessman in Burlington, Iowa, before the Civil War.  He helped raise several companies and was commissioned as the colonel of the 7th Iowa Infantry. He was severely wounded at the Battle of Belmont (November 7, 1861). He was then appointed to lead the 4th Brigade of the 2nd Division at the attack on Fort Donelson. General Grant promoted him to brigadier general in March 1862 and he subsequently lead a brigade in General Hurlbut’s division. In 1863 Lauman led the 4th Division of the 17th Corps during the Vicksburg campaign, but was relieved of duty by General William T. Sherman shortly after the capture of Jackson, Mississippi. He returned home for the rest of the war without being given a subsequent command.
2.  Homer Loomis (from Hustisford) was in Company I of the 7th Wisconsin Infantry and had been taken prisoner on August 8, 1862. Ellsworth Burnett (from River Falls) was in Company A of the new 30th Wisconsin Infantry, still in training in Madison at this time.

Edwin Levings letter of January 12 and 15, 1863, from the Edwin D. Levings Papers (River Falls Mss BO) in the University Archives & Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls

1861 November 13: Battle of Belmont

News on another battle in Missouri, from the November 13, 1861, issue of The Hudson North Star.

T H E   N E W S.

A SEVERE BATTLE AT BELMONT,¹ BELOW CARIO [sic]².

CARIO [sic] Nov. 7.—The expedition left here last night under command of Genl’s. Grant [Ulysses S. Grant], and McClenard [sic]³ and landed at Belmont, three miles above Columbus at eight o clock this morning. The Federal troops numbering 3,500 engaged the rebels about 7,000 in number at 11 o’clock ;  battle lasted until sundown. The rebels were driven from their entrenchments across the river, with great loss their camp burned, stores with all their baggage, cannon, horses, mules and 100 prisoners taken. The Federals then retired, the rebels having received reinforcements fromColumbus. Both Generals had horses shot from under them. Colonel Dougherty⁴ of Illinois wounded and taken prisoner. Rebel loss not known. Federal loss believed to be 350.

CHICAGO, Nov. 7.—Special Cario [sic] dispatch to Tribune gives the following particulars of the fight at Belmont, yesterday. Our forces consisted of the following Illinois Regiments:—Twenty-second, Colonel Dougherty: Twenty-seventh, Col. Buford⁵; Thirtieth, Col. Logan⁶: Seventh Iowa regiment, Col. Laman[sic]⁷; Chicago artillery; Dollens [sic]⁸ and Delane’s cavalry. They left Cairo on steamers Alexander Scott, Chancellor, Memphis, Keystone State, accompanied by gun boats Lexington and Tyler.

After the landing they were formed in line of battle, General McClernard in command of the Cairo troops, and Colonel Dougherty in command of the Bird’s Point troops.

They there encountered the enemy seven thousand strong, and fought every inch of the way to the enemy’s camp, making sad havoc in the rebel ranks.

Colonel Beaufort [Buford?] was the first to plant the stars and strips in the enemy’s camp, Colonel Dougherty’s regiment captured the rebel battery of twelve pieces, two of which were bro’t away.

Colonel Logan’s men suffered greatly, as they were in front of the battery before it was taken.

After taking possession of the rebel camp it was discovered that the rebels were crossing over from Kentucky for the purpose of attacking us in the rear. Orders were given to return to the boats, when our men were attacked by reinforcements amounting to several thousand from Columbus.

The Battle Near Belmont, Missouri, November 7th, 1861. From "Atlas to Accompany the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies."9

Another severe engagement took place, in which our troops suffered severely.

The loss so far ascertained at a late hour last night, are the following: Thirteenth regiment 160 missing; major McClerkan wounded and taken prisoner: 21st regiment, 140 missing. Col. Beauford’s [sic] men returned too late to furnish any particulars.

Colonel Dougherty is reported as taken prisoner. Colonel Lawman [sic]¹⁰ is reported as dangerously wounded.

Taylor’s battery lost one of its guns.

We have taken two hundred and fifty prisoners; a number of who are wounded.

The rebels had three hundred in killed [sic]—The ground was completely strewn with dead bodies. Colonel Wright¹¹ of the 13thTennessee regiment was killed.

General Cheatham¹² commanded the rebels, Polk¹³ being at Columbus.

It is stated that General Johnston [Albert S. Johnston] was wounded.

The gunboats rendered effective service in covering our retreat, mowing down the rebels with grape, but killing some of our own in it.

A flag of truce left Cairo this morning for Columbus, with from forty to fifty wounded rebels.

THE BELMONT BATTLE A VICTORY.

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 9.—Gen. Grant telegraphs from Cairo to Headquarters that our victory at Belmont was complete. We captured 130 prisoners and all the rebel’s artillery, but were obliged to leave part of the guns behind for want of horses to haul them. Some of the prisoners report that a large force was preparing to start to reinforce Price [Sterling Price], but our attack will undoubtedly prevent it. Our loss was about 250 about one half killed and mortally wounded.

GEN. BEAUREGARD GONE SOUTH.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8.—The Herald’s despatch says that Gen. Beauregard [P.G.T. Beauregard] has been relieved from the command on thePotomac. A letter just received from Richmond states that a strong effort has been made for some days by the people of South Carolina and Georgia to induce Jeff Davis [Jefferson Davis] to detail Beauregard to the command of the fortifications at Bull’s Bay or Port Royal, in the event that the fleet should attempt a landing at either of those points.

The letter states the general belief was that the fleet was destined for Beaufort, and a pretty large force had been despatched from the Potomac to defend that point.

GENERAL SCOTT GONE TO EUROPE.

The steamship Argo sailed for Europe at noon to day. Among the passengers are Lieut. General Scott [Winfield Scott], Col. H. L. Scott and wife,¹⁴ and Thurlow Weed.¹⁵ The General went on board at ten o’clock, and nobody but passengers were allowed to go on subsequently.

1.  Belmont, Missouri, is directly across the Mississippi River from Columbus, Kentucky.
2.  Cairo, Illinois, is situated at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers in southern Illinois.
3.  John Alexander McClernand (1812-1900) was a prominent Democratic politician in Illinois and a congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1859-1861, before the war.  Early in the war he served under General Grant in the Western Theater; he was second in command at the Battle of Belmont.
4.  Henry Dougherty, colonel of Dougherty’s Brigade, which consisted of the 7th Iowa and the 22nd Illinois.
5.  Napoleon Bonaparte Buford (1807-1883) was colonel of the 27th Illinois. He graduated from West Point, served four years in the artillery, was an assistant professor at West Point, and eventaully became president of the Rock Island and Peoria Railroad. Buford was a half-brother of John Buford of Gettysburg fame.
6.  John Alexander Logan (1826-1886), was colonel of the 31st Illinois. He had served in the Mexican War, and was a lawyer and politician before the Civil War.
7.  Jacob Gartner Lauman (1813-1867), was colonel of the 7th Iowa. He was a prominent businessman in Iowa before the Civil War. Lauman was severely wounded in his left thigh during the Battle of Belmont. His 7th Iowa was distinguished for gallant conduct during the fighting, and it suffered greater loss than any other regiment taking part in the battle.
8.  James Jackson Dollins (1832-1863), was captain of Dollin’s Company of cavalry. He had served as the County Clerk from 1857 to 1861. He will be killed at Vicksburg on May 22, 1863.
9. Atlas to Accompany the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies,  published under the direction of Redfield Proctor, Stephen B. Elkins, and Daniel S. Lamont, Secretaries of War, by George B. Davis, Leslie J. Perry, Joseph W. Kirkley, Board of Publication ; compiled by Calvin D. Cowles (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1891-1895). Available in Special Collections, UWRF University Archives & Area Research Center (E 464 .U6)
10. Jacob Gartner Lauman (1813-1867) was a businessman from Iowa before the war. He first saw action at the Battle of Belmont, serving under Major General Ulysses S. Grant. Lauman was severely wounded in his left thigh during the battle.  His 7th Iowa Infantry was distinguished for gallant conduct during the fighting, and it suffered greater loss than any other regiment taking part in this battle.
11. John V. Wright, colonel of the 13th Tennessee Infantry (Confederate).
12. Benjamin Franklin Cheatham (1820-1886) was a Tennessee aristocrat, California gold miner, and a Confederate general who served in many battles of the Western Theater. He was a brigade commander under Major General Leonidas Polk at the Battle of Belmont.
13.  Leonidas Polk (1806-1864) was a Tennessee planter and an Episcopal bishop in Louisiana before the war. He was a controversial Confederate general because he had no prior military experience and received his commission because he was friends with Confederate President Jefferson Davis. He fought as a corps commander in many of the major battles of the Western Theater, but the Battle of Belmont was his first combat. 
14. Possibly Henry Lee Scott (1814-1886), author of  Military Dictionary: Comprising Technical Definitions: Information on Raising and Keeping Troops; Actual Service, Including Makeshifts and Improved Materiel;/ and Law, Government, Regulation, and Administration Relating to Land Forces (New York, London: D. Van Nostrand, Trubner and Co., 1861). (Available digitally.)
15. Thurlow Weed (1797-1882) was a New York newspaper publisher, politician, and party boss. He was the principal political advisor to U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward.