The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-08-28
IOWA FIRST REGIMENT.
X EP ORTS OF OFFICERS.
LIST or KILLED AND WOUNDED.

LIST or KILLED AND WOUNDED
OFFICIAL REPORT OF COL MERRITT OF THE FRS
IOWA REGIMENT.
~. M. ScHorrELD, Acting Adjutant Gen'l.
Dear Sir: have the honor to submit tn
following report of the part taken by th
Iowa troops in the late hotly contested bat
tie of "Wilson's Creek r0
At 6 o'clock p. m. of the 9th inst, the Is
Regiment Iowa Volunteers under command
of Lieut.. Col VIM. fl Merritt, Col. j. F
Bates being sick, united with the forces Al
Springfield under command of Ger. Lyon
and commenced the march to Wilson's creek
twelve miles distant. Arriving within three
miles of the enemy's camp, and in close
proximity oftheir pickets, the order was Civ
en- to halt. The troops lay on their arms
until o'clock, a. m. our advanced skirmish
ers engaged the enemy's pickcts and drove
them IN. The First Missouri and First Kan
sas Volunteers. and battalion of regular in.
fnntry under command of Capt. Plumber
with Totten's Battery, very soon engaged a
considerable number of the rebel forces.
Dubois battery took position short
distance east Of where the enemy were being
engaged, and the Iowa troops we're drawn up
in line of battle on its left. A brisk fire was
commenced and kept u, for 80 minutes
The enemy responded promptly with bat
terry in the ravine, hut their shot passed from
10 to 100 feet over our heads. Detailed
Company D, First 1t. Keller commanding,
and Company E, First 1t. Abercrombie COM
manding, to act as skirmishers in advance
Of my line. Ordered to advance over the
hill, engage the enemy and relieve the First
Regiment of Kansas volunteers. Tn advanc-
ing to engage the enemy, met the First Kan
sas retreating in confusion. They broke
through our line on the right, separating
companies A and F from the balance of the
command. While in this confused state
received murderous fire from the enemv's
infantry. Gave the command to fall hack
and reform the line. The din of firearms
and the loud talking Of the retreating troops
drowned my voice, so that the command
could not he head on the left. Led the com.
panies A and F over the hill, halted them
and ordered them to about face and fire on
squad ofthe enemy's cavalry. advancing to
charge on a section of Tntten's battery. The
fire was executed with promptness and ef-
feet, and after receiving the discharge from
the battery, the enemy retired in double
quick time. leaving a number of dead and
wounded on the field Ordered companies
A and B to hold their position until further
orders. and then returned to companies I,
G. Fl, K. G. and ,. who had been left facing
the enemv's line Found our troops advan.
ring under a Calling fire from the enemy's S
infantry. After rcpulsing the enemy they
fell back in good order Ordered Mai A. B,
Porter to proceed to the rear and take com
mand of four companies A, F. D and f,
there stationed. Held our position In front
for five hours, alternately advancing and re-
firing as the approach and repulse Of the en-,
emy made it necessary to do. In every
charge the enemy made we repulsed them
and drove them into the ravine below. About
12 o'clock, m, the order was given to retire
from the field, which was done IN good or
der. As we retired over the hill, we passed
a section Of Totten's battery. occupying a
commanding point t. the right, supported
on the right by companies A. F. D ard F. Of
iowa troops. under command Of Mai Porter
and on the left by company Of REGULAR in
fantry under command Of Capt. I.athrop -
This command sustained our retreat with
great coolness and determination, under :
most terrific discharge from the enemy's in
| fantry. After the wounded were gathered
ur, our column formed in order of marcf
and the enemy repulsed, the battery and in
fantry retired in good order. Thus closed
one of the most hotly contested engagement.
known to the country. commencing twent,
minutes after 5 o'clock. a. m. and conclu
ding twenty minutes after 10. m. in which
the enemy brought to the field IA, 900 wei
armed and well disciplined troops. and TO-,
600 irregular troops, and our own amounted
to about 5000 troops in the early part OF tn,
engagement, and considerably less than 4, 90,
troops for the concluding hours Of it.
It is with great pleasure that acknowl
edge valuable aid and assistance from Mai
A. ?. Porter, Adiutant Geo. W waldron
who was wounded in the leg, and Sergean
Major Charles Compton and to express m,
unbounded admiration of the heroic conduc
displayed by both officers and men. N
troops, regular or volunteer, ever sustaine
their country's flag with more determine
valor and fortitude; and they have crowne
themselves with imperishable honor. an
must occupy conspicuous place in the his
tory oftheir country.
A list of the killed. missing and wounde
viii be found attached to this report. togetf
or with such notices Of individual prowess q
were observed Or the field.
Before concluding this report, must bes
testimony to the gallant and meritoriou
conduct Of Captain A. L. Mason, Of comp,
G, who fell in a charge, at the head of h
company. Very respectfully,
Yonr ohedient servant.
WILLIAM II. MERRITT,