camped in a beautiful grove on dry and healthy ground, where for three weeks the men regained spirits and vigor. Early in September General Herron was sent with his command up the river to disperse parties of the enemy who were attempting to blockade the Mississippi near the mouth of Red River. The army first landed at Morganza and made a fortified camp, sending out scouting parties in various directions. Constant skirmishes were taking place between small forces of the two armies.
On the 12th of September Lieutenant-Colonel Leake of the Twentieth, was sent seven miles to Stirling Farm in command of a large part of the Nineteenth Iowa, the Twenty-sixth Indiana and two pieces of artillery. His command had frequent skirmishes with the enemy. On the 29th a large force suddenly came upon his command, making a fierce attack in front, flank and rear. This attack was met with a sharp fire. But soon rallying in vastly superior numbers the enemy surrounded the small Union force and opened a deadly fire at close quarters. Seeing no hope of escape, to avoid the useless sacrifice of the lives of his brave soldiers, Colonel Leake at last surrendered. Ten members of the Nineteenth were killed and twenty-four wounded in the fight.* The prisoners were taken to Texas, and it was nearly a year before they were exchanged. The remainder of the regiment was now in command of Captain William Allen. About two-thirds of the members had fortunately been absent owing to sickness, and the captured numbered but two hundred thirty-one, two of whom were mortally wounded. The enemy lost fifty killed and many wounded. The next service of the Nineteenth was under General Banks in an expedition into Texas. At Brownsville it formed a part of the garrison under command of Colonel Dye, where it remained until July, 1864. Returning to New Orleans on the 7th of August one hundred eighty of those captured at
* Among the killed were Lieutenants Silas Kent and J. W. Roberts, while Captain Andrew Taylor and Lieutenants L. M. Woods and Thomas A. Robb were wounded.
