The National tribune., 1886-10-07
JUSTICE TO THE 1st IOWA.
1t Did Not Run at the Battle of Wilson's Greek.

To THE EDITOR: Capt. Joseph Cracklin, in
giving an account OF the battle of Wilson's
Creek, tells many facts but he also tells some
fancies. He says:
A portion Of the Third Brigade. consisting Of the
lst Mo- lst Kan. and Ist Iowa was ordered 10 the
front, supported by Totten's Battery, These three
regiments received the fr-i shock Of hattie and
gallantly stood their ground under n most CALLING
fire.
Thanks, Captain; you are right, so far. But
now listen, all ye living Of the 1st Iowa, to
what the Captain says next:
The left of the line occupied By the 1st Iowa,
forced back, and finally broke in disorder. and
did not rally again during the battle.
Now, Mr.. Editor, / am called cool-headed
old fellow" but when / read this j was hot.
The lst Iowa was one of the regiments that
stood the first shock of that battle, and IL was
there when the last shock came. We were
hard by TOtten's battery when he turned his
guns on the rebels as they were driving the
Regulars through the cornfield, and how we
did cheer when his shells made havoc with
them, scattering them in the widest confusion.
We were there, too. when the enemy came up
the hill in great force" and we helped send
them back much faster than they came. We
were there still, right in front of that rebel
battery that came up out of the ravine and
threw canister right into our faces, and we
remained there fighting those rebels with
savage delight" till those two guns of Tot
tens came up IN our rear and the officer In
charge of them told us (of Co. X, 1st Iowa. to
lie down that he might fire over US into the
rebel battery. We got down and lay very flat.
too, with our heads to the enemy and heels to
our own guns.
Our gunners began business, the rebels the
while throwing canister in among us by the
peck, knocking dirt and gravel into our faces.
In fact, business was very lively for a short
time there, and it is only the truth to say that
we were glad when our cannon drove the ene-
my away. But the fight still went on, and the
lst Iowa had not yet broke and run" No,
no, my dear Capt. Cracklin, we were there
when Lyons gray horse was shot, and we met
the General going to the rear to remount. Your
humble servant saw him hit on the ankle by a
ball, but he passed on limping badly, and as he
went through our line some of US heard him
say, =" Rout them, boys, rout them!" After
and fighting. In fact, after six hours of des-
perate fighting the lst Iowa was there yet, and
retired only when We had orders so to do
Now, after % years, we are told for the first
time that the 1st Iowa left the field in disorder
early in the battle and did not again rally"
That statement is an untruth, pure and sim
pie. 1t may not be out of place to say that
Wilson's Creek, Aug. 10, 1861, was my first bat
tie, and Fort Blakely, Mobile, Ala, April 8.
1865, was my last. Between these dates and
places / saw much, and learned something OF
soldiers and war but in all those four years i
never saw men that stood up TO their work
under severe punishment any better than did
the men IN the 1st Iowa at the battle Of Will
sons Creek. G. MCCLELLAND Corporal, Co.
X, lst Iowa, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.