and Tennessee, and early in January, 1863, Captain Heavener died of smallpox. Soon after, the regiment marched to Memphis, where it joined by Colonel Chambers, who had recovered from his wound. It joined Grant’s army in the Vicksburg campaign and bore an honorable part in the brilliant marches, battles and final great victory. When General Crocker took command of the Seventh Division, Colonel Chambers succeeded to the command of the Iowa Brigade. The first medal of honor for the Seventeenth Corps in this campaign, was awarded to Lieutenant Samuel Duffin,* of Company K, Sixteenth Iowa. The regiment was in the Monroe expedition in August and September, and was with Sherman in the raid to Meridian in February, 1864. The members of the regiment reënlisted during the winter, and the veterans visited their homes before joining Sherman on his march through Georgia. The Sixteenth was often under fire in the marches and skirmishes as the campaign progressed and in the severe engagement in which the Sixteenth lost about fifty men, among whom were Lieutenant G. H. Holcomb killed, and Captain Hugh Shilling wounded. In the battle on the next day the Sixteenth, after a heroic fight, was surrounded and captured. The regiment was posted on the left of the Eleventh Iowa, in front of the Thirteenth Iowa. The ground occupied by the Iowa Brigade was covered with underbrush, but no timber. Just before noon General Smith had directed Colonel Sanders to have his regiment ready to fall back at a minutes notice, but adding, “you must hold your works to the last, as the safety of the division may depend on the delay occasioned the enemy at this point.” This was the last order given Colonel Sanders that day. Soon heavy firing on the skirmish line indicated the
* This brave young officer from Davenport, was mortally wounded at the Battle of Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864, and died at Rome, Georgia.
