at Monroe two days, gathering cattle and provisions, and finding immense stores of cotton which were neither taken nor destroyed. Here General Stevenson decided to turn back. The only results of this terrible march, intense suffering and sacrifice of life, was the collection of a large drove of cattle and the capture of one hundred and sixty sick Confederates in hospitals. The next expedition in which the Eleventh was engaged was that which was known as the Meridian raid, which occupied a month. Nearly all of the members of the regiment now reënlisted as veterans and were granted furloughs. They received a most enthusiastic welcome form their Iowa friends and neighbors and many recruits joined them on their return to the service. The Iowa Brigade joined Sherman at Ackworth on the 8th of June, 1864, after the invading army had marched flanked and fought its way there from Ringgold, near the north line of Alabama. A few days later the Confederate army was encountered, strongly posted on the ridges of Kenesaw Mountain. For nearly a month Sherman’s progress was here blocked and the time was occupied in skirmishes with the enemy. Our army was posted within range of Confederate sharpshooters and many fell victims to their deadly aim.* The Eleventh was not in the assault of the 27th, but lost several men killed and wounded in front of Kenesaw. As Johnston retreated, Sherman’s army followed toward the Chattahoochee River, where the Confederate army was found again strongly posted. Here the Union army was held in check for a week. There was frequent fighting along the line in which the Eleventh was at times engaged, always bravely doing its duty. Before Atlanta the regiment was often under fire, and in the great battle of the 22d of July was in the thickest of the fight. Lieutenant-Colonel Abercrombie, in his report of the action of the 22d, says:
* Lieutenant Alfred Carey was mortally wounded on the 15th of June, and died July 25th.
