Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/223

every cartridge exhausted, it fell back slowly and sullenly, making every step a battle ground and every charge a victory.”

Colonel Matthies commends his officers and men without exception, and speaks in the highest terms of Lieutenant-Colonel Sampson, Adjutant Patterson and Lieutenant Marshall. The loss of the regiment at Iuka was more than two hundred and twenty in killed and wounded. Among the officers killed were Lieutenants Shawl, Holcomb and Smith. Of other Iowa regiments in the battle, the Tenth and Sixteenth were particularly distinguished for bravery and valuable services. The Seventeenth, under Colonel Rankin, was thrown into confusion for a time, and was unjustly censured by the commanding General; Colonel Matthies was promoted to Brigadier-General soon after the battle. On the 1st of October, the Fifth marched to Corinth and, during the battle of the 3d, was posted on the road to Pittsburg Landing, some distance from the scene of conflict. The next day, however, it fought bravely, repulsing a charge on the Eleventh Ohio Battery. The charge was made on the right of the battery, and in repelling it, the Fifth marched on the double-quick to the threatened point, fired four volleys into the advancing enemy, driving them back in great confusion. It joined in the pursuit of the defeated Confederate army some distance, returning to camp at Corinth, on the 11th, greatly fatigued. From this time until March, 1863, the regiment was on duty in Mississippi and Tennessee, but engaged in no battles. On the 2d of March, it joined Grant in the campaign against Vicksburg. It was in the battle before Jackson, on the 14th of May, suffering small loss. At the severe battle at Champion’s Hill, on the 16th, the Fifth was in thickest of the fight. The Third Brigade, to which it belonged, held the left of Crocker’s Division. When General Hovey’s right was driven in, the Third Brigade hurried to its aid and a fierce conflict ensued. For an hour and a half the unequal contest was maintained