Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/274

ments, and no troops on the field fought with more stern determination. As the commands of Sherman and Prentiss were gradually driven from their positions they fell back to the line held by Hurlbut and Wallace. Here a terrific conflict ensued. In overwhelming numbers the Confederates charge again and again upon our lines and were met with continuous fire of musketry and artillery that has seldom been surpassed. So stubborn was the resistance that General A. S. Johnston, commander of the Confederate army, finding column after column driven back with shattered ranks, at last led another charge in person and in it fell mortally wounded. This part of the field has been appropriately named the “Hornet’s Nest,” to designate the spot where, for hours, the hottest fight of that bloody conflict raged. General Wallace was mortally wounded; Prentiss and most of his command were surrounded and captured after five hours of heroic fighting. Woods says in his report:

“After receiving orders to fall back, seeing ourselves surrounded, we nevertheless opened fire on that portion of the enemy who blocked our passage to the landing, who after briskly returning our fire for a short time, fell back. A heavy fire from the enemy on our left was going on at the same time. Seeing the enemy in front falling back, we attempted a rapid movement to cut our way through; but the enemy on our left advanced rapidly, coming in behind us, pouring into our ranks a most destructive fire. The enemy in front now faced about, and opened on us at short range, the enemy in our rear still closing in on us rapidly. I received two wounds, disabling me from further duty. The command now devolved on Captain Edgington, acting as field officer. The enemy had, however, so closely surrounded us that their balls which missed our men took effect in their ranks beyond us. To have held out longer would have been to suffer annihilation. The regiment was therefore compelled to surrender. The officers and men stood bravely up to their work, and never did men behave better.”

The killed and wounded numbered more than numbered more than one hundred and fifty and over four hundred were captured, eighty of whom died in southern prisons. Colonel Woods was recaptured in the next day’s battle. The