Twenty-fourth was in camp near New Orleans until in March, when it joined General Banks’ army and was in his disastrous Red River expedition. The army, accompanied by an immense baggage train, was strung out in a long straggling line of many miles, as it made its way along the various roads through a dense pine forest. On the 8th of April at Sabine Cross Roads, near Mansfield, the advance cavalry came upon the Confederate army drawn up in order of battle across our line of march. The cavalry was soon routed and fled back upon the infantry in great confusion. One at a time the divisions of the Thirteenth Corps were sent into action and fought bravely to check the advancing foe, but each in turn was defeated. The Nineteenth Corps made a strong fight to recover the fortunes of the day but was overwhelmed by superior numbers, and the whole army was soon in retreat closely followed by the victorious Confederates, who were sending death and destruction into the disordered, fleeing mass of men and horses. But one-half of the Twenty-fourth Iowa was engaged in this battle, as five companies were in the rear guarding the trains. The part of the regiment engaged and the division to which it belonged fought bravely for an hour, but was finally compelled to retreat with heavy loss. Captain W. C. Dimmitt was mortally wounded and fell into the hands of the enemy, where he died. Dr. Witherwax, surgeon of the regiment, with his assistant, Dr. Lyons, were made prisoners while caring for the wounded. During the retreat the Twenty-fourth was frequently engaged in skirmishes with the enemy, in one of which Captain B. G. Paul was killed. At Alexandria Lieutenant-Colonel Wilds joined the regiment after some week’s absence in the recruiting service. Colonel Byam had resigned soon after the Battle of Champion’s Hill.
On the 22d of July the regiment began its long voyage by river, gulf and ocean to Alexandria, Virginia, arriving on the 30th. It was soon sent to join General Sheridan’s army in the Shenandoah Valley, and participated in the
