Greenville expedition, about a month later returning to Milliken’s Bend. It joined the corps near Jackson and participated in the capture of that city and the destruction of the railroad in the vicinity. Soon after it joined the army engaged in the siege of Vicksburg. In the assaults of the 19th and 22d of May the Thirtieth bore an active and prominent part. Colonel Abbott led his regiment in the desperate attack of May 22d on the enemy’s works, making a most heroic effort to pierce the strongly intrenched lines. He was slain with many of his brave men, a superb officer of undaunted courage highly esteemed by his command and associates. All through the investment the regiment rendered valuable service and after the surrender took part in the Jackson campaign, returning to Black River where it went into camp. Late in September the Thirtieth, now under Colonel Torrence, was sent to Corinth and later to Iuka to assist in repairing the damaged lines of railroad. While at the latter place Colonel Torrence sent home to Iowa the tattered remnants of the regimental flags which had been carried in all of the marches and battles in which the Thirtieth had participated.
On the 18th of October it started with the army for Cherokee, Alabama, where on the 21st it met the enemy in battle. The morning was dark and gloomy, with a dense fog, when General Osterhaus moved against the enemy. The mist was so heavy that it was very difficult to distinguish friend from foe. The Third Brigade led the advance and soon met a large force of Confederates under Lee and Roddy. A steady fire of musketry was opened on both sides lasting for an hour, when the enemy was driven back with heavy loss. The Union army lost about one hundred men, among whom was the gallant Colonel Torrence, who was killed in the thickest of the fight, his body falling into the hands of the Confederates. Soon after his regiment made a fierce charge, driving the enemy in confusion and recovering the body of their colonel. He
