The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-06-18

The zl7th Isyga Infautry.
Mn. EpIron :-Allow me through
your paper, to address few words to
the friends Of the mobile boys" who,
during the celebrated Vicksburg'
campaign, were under my immedi-f
ate command. A consciousness of
having discharged his duty, and the
assurance that,he will bequeath to his
friends and poaterity "a good name,'
are the sole reasons the soldier has
for enduring the dangers, hardships
and privations, that civilian can
never know or understand.
The laurels earned and scorya by
the Iowa Seventeenth, are as rich as
those of any Regiment that ever bore
arms in the field; and the soldiers in
that Regiment from this County, have
contributed their full share to this
glorious result.
The vicksburg campaign embraces
a series of marches and counter
marches, skirmishes and battles, that
if equaled, are Lot surpassed by any
war; and of all the dangers encoun-
tered and hardships endured, the
Iowa Seventeenth has born her full
share. Ofths five hard battles that
were fought before the investment of
the Rebel stronghold, the Severn
teenth figured conspicuously in two
At Port Gibson and Raymond, the
Regiment was in the reserve: at
jackson and Champion Hill it was in
the advance. While the battle of
the Big Black was being fought the
Seventeenth with one other Rcgi.
ment of the Brigade, was left behind
to care for the wounded and bury the
dead. ~ .-
In the fight at Champion Hill the
Seventeenth was not engaged over
half an hour: the percent of its loss
was as great as that of any other Reg
iment on the field, Notwithstanding,
some Of the Regiments were engaged
for FIVE hours. This shows the way
| the Regiment fights. So IA
The names of the boys from this
vicinity who participated in the
charge at Jackson, and the charge
and fight and the fight and charge at
Champion Hill are as follows:
Co. D. nth Iowa Infantry-1st 1t.
John F. Skelton; Sergt. Nicholas
Lunkley; Corp. Harvey w. Milford |;
Hugh L. MCCAIN, George H. Lots
piech, William Turner.
In the charge at Jackson 1t. John
F. Skelton-a brave soldier and a
noble fellow-was severely woun ded
by a minnie ball, which entered his
right eye and passed out under his left
ear. He said as he was leaving the
field, Boys it has put my eye out
hasn't its tits pretty hard, pretty
hard; but it was all fair play I Sup
pose-never mind, they must shoot
better than that to kill, and will pay
them back for this.
In the fight at Champion Hill Corp.
Harvey w. Mulford was severely
wounded being Shot through both
thighs--and William Turner killed.
I caprot say more in praise of these
noble boys, than that they did their
duty. as soldiers. Corp. Milford did
more, He advanced ar least twenty
PAGES in front of:his compsay. giving
as a reason "that he wanted to get a
fair shot at therascals. N2SS
n PhlnPHH. Balliage5 Frances NJ.
Morrow and Phillip Hilleh were not
An ther fights, they being assigned to
'dhty@ Aat ksp them from the ranks. I
dnnot Observation-Disclosures. All the
boys of my company did nobly and
they-will receive theirreward.
,.lneos1 Z eo,1' sis Yonrs, trnly,,al o..
s'sa'''' p's sss,A.2.A.saSTUARKs
IS .s.a's.ias.4 s4ss Capt. Go. p. 18th Iowa.
: The Roarder Rtisends.