The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-06-05
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What ON Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
The "a Iowa Infantry at Fort DOnelson.
, Enc Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE;


To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
I'm renl, 70 the article on Fort DoDelson,
published In your issue of May j, by Captain
I. d. McGillicu6dy, of the both Illinois in
fanfrv permit me TO say that our regiment
arrived direct from 81. Louis by boat on the
morning of Feby IA, 1862, and about noon was
assigned to Lauman's brigade, Smiths division,
on the extreme left, then known as the attn
brigade, ID division, composed OF the "a, 1th
and 14th Iowa infantry aud 18th Indiana in
iantry. The Sd brigade Of this division, and
on the right of the 4th brigade, was composed
of the 9TH and 50th Illinois, sd Indiana and
18th Missouri. Captain McO-, OF the 10Th In
nois, IN his article says, on our arrival We ad-
ranced in line Of battle approaching our line
from the rear, and poured volley into our
rear rank" As matter OF fact, we did not, as
@ regiment, fire shot on the lSth, nor on the
18th until after we had entered the rebel works,
which We did without firing shot; but the
rebels got in their work quickly, for of the lS7
killed and wounded ia our regiment, the alter
noon OF the 18TH at least 100 OF them fell inside
of five minutes as we adVaRced up the hillside
through the fallen timber in front Of the rebel
works and the most Of these from the left
wing Of the regiment, which led the charge,
under command of Colonel Iuttle. supported q
few rods in the rear by the right wing. Our
5Oth Illinois friend admits that our wing Of
the % Iowa was the first TO enter the works;
colOrs and guard did go with the LEFT or ad-
vance wing and went in with it; but, out of
sergeant and i've corp0f4ls Corporal Page
lcompany 81 was killed, Corporal Weaver
company ii mortslly wounded, Corporal
ChHrcher company Il carries an empty coat
sleeve, Corporal Robinson company E. was
severely wounded in the face and Color Serg't
Doolittle lcompaHy @ received three severe
wounds All these fell outside the works.
Corporal - company I alone remained
unscathea and to hinl fell the honor Of carry
ing the fast stars and stripes that entered the
works Of DOnelson, aud this can be SO clearly
proven that it is foolish for any ere to deny it.
See Series ], vol. 7, page 22S, War Of the Re
belliOn, Official Rec8rls Of the Union and Con-
federate Armies" Colonel Weeds Of the 18th
Iowa infantry, says his regiment was 70 the
right of where the % Iowa charged, and that
the 51th Illinois was on his right; that the
18th and 5ath were ordered TO make felnt
and draw the ensrny's FIRE, while Laumans
brigade on the left, advanced and got posses
sion Of tie eneny's works and hoisted the
American flag thereon"
Pages 81 and 22s, same authority, say:
"ColOnel Neatch 25th Indiana. was ordered to
follow and support the 52d Indiana and ID
Iowa infantry, one of his companies having
been ordered forward on the rigkt when the
rde-pits were being attacked by the % Iowa.
The resi- Of the 18th moved 10 the left near
some old houses. and from there advanced in
line Of battle up the hill On the run and enter
ed the enemy's works ar the point where they
had been taken by the d Iowa The loss of the
25th Indiana on the 10th WAS forty wounded;
7th Iowa infantry. 2 kilisd and thirty-seven
wounded: 18th Iowa infantry. one killed and
seven wounded ID Iowa infantry, thirty-three
killed and l64 wounded; 18th Iowa infantry,
one killed and tweRty wounded; 5Oth
Illinois infantry, twelve wounded: SD Indiana
infantry, four killed and forty eight wounded /;
7th Illinois infantry, three killed and nineteen
wounded The casualties of the last three
Regiments covered four days, while the first
mentioned were for the 18th only. See list of
casualties, page los, of records mentioned
above On the morning Of the 10th, alter the
surrender, by special dIrectioR Of Gen. Smith
the ID Iowa was placed al the head Of the col
umn that Inarcked in TO take possession and
were the first to show the stars and stripes TO
the gunboafs on the river from the walls OF
Fort DOnelsOn proper, though some Of the regi-
ments IN the rear made an effort 10 get the
start OF Us with their eeiors. On page 635 viii
be found the following:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT cF MISSOURI.
II. LoUIs, February Is 1852.
N II. EzEEE, De- Moines. Iowa:
Tie ii loNa infantry proved themselves thu
braves d The brave. They had the ksner OF head
irs Inc column y Inch entered Fori Donesson.
tslgnedl h W. HILLDcK.
MAjsr-General.
Neither General Lauraan nsr Smith made
reports Of their commands at Fort Donelson
and both are dead; but ! doubt not General
Grant as web a. many Of the oEsceTs and mel
Of the regiments mentioned, viii Substantive
the records quoted above and what have my
self written Y P. TwoMBLY,
Capt, Co. & "a Iowa Inf Vet. Yols
KEcsAUoUA, Ia