return to their homes. At Dubuque a royal reception greeted them and the citizens gave them an ovation that testified their appreciation of the many gallant deeds of the regiment. At their various homes the veteran soldiers received the warmest welcome that loyal people could bestow. Many recruits were added to the regiment, and in March, under command of Major George Granger, the successor to Major Carpenter (who had died of consumption), it returned to Woodville. On the 1st of May, Colonel Carskaddon, who had been absent on account of illness, joined the regiment and it took up the line of march from Chattanooga to join in Sherman’s Atlanta campaign. For four months it participated in the hard marches, skirmishes, sieges and battles of that expedition. It took part in the battles of Resaca, Dallas, New Hope, Big Shanty, Keneshaw, Chattahoochee River, Decatur, Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy. The losses in these engagements were fourteen killed and seventy-six wounded and missing. In the battle before Atlanta, on the 22d of July, the left wing of the army was furiously assailed by Hood. General McPherson was killed and for a time the situation was serious. De Grass’ Battery of twenty-four pound Parrott guns had been captured, the left wing forced back and its center broken. Colonel Williamson in command of the Second Brigade, consisting of the Fourth, Ninth and Twenty-fifth Iowa, was ordered to charge on and recapture the lost battery. There was a deep ravine in front and through it the brigade moved with firm tread, climbed the steep banks and charge with great impetuosity straight upon the battery. So fierce was the assault on the flank that the enemy had scarcely time to fire before overwhelmed by the Fourth and Ninth Iowa, the guns were recaptured and turned on the foe. This gallant charge was under the eye of the commanding general and was one of the most brilliant episodes of that great battle. In the fight of the 28th, Colonel Carskaddon was wounded. After the fall of Atlanta the Ninth marched with the army
