Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/302

Shiloh, the Sixteenth was placed in it and served as a part of the Brigade from that time. After the march to Corinth the regiment was for two months in camp near that place suffering severely from sickness. For several months it served in the region about Corinth, Bolivar, Tennessee, and Somerville. At the Battle of Iuka the regiment did excellent service. General Rosecrans in his official report says:

“The Sixteenth Iowa, amid the roar of battle, the rush of wounded artillery horses, the charges of a Rebel brigade, a storm of grape, canister and musketry, stood like a rock holding the center, while the glorious Fifth Iowa, under the brave Matthies, sustained by Boomer with the noble Twenty-sixty Missouri, bore the thrice repeated charges and cross-fires of the Rebel left and center, with a valor and determination seldom equaled and never excelled by veteran soldiers.”

When Colonel Chambers was wounded and captured the command of the regiment devolved on the gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Sanders. Adjutant Lawrence, a brave young officer, was killed, while Captain Palmer, Lieutenants Lucas, Alcorn and Williams were severely wounded. This was the second battle for the Sixteenth, and it won high honors, losing, however sixty-five men. In the Battle of Corinth, two weeks later, the Sixteenth was hotly engaged, and its commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Sanders, was severely wounded in the first day’s fight. General Crocker says in his report:

“Lieutenant-Colonel A. H. Sanders rode along the line of his regiment amid a storm of bullets, encouraging his brave boys, who had so lately suffered at Iuka, to remember their duty, and although severely wounded remained with his regiment until it marched off the field.”

In the next day’s battle Major Purcell, who was in command, was wounded, and Captain Williams was taken prisoner. After the battle the Sixteenth was one of the regiments that pursued the retreating enemy. For several months the regiment was employed in Mississippi