The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-01-09
FIRED ON FRIENDS.
Tight Place in Which the 18th Iowa Fou
Itself at Iuka.

ltseh AT
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: During the
month of June, 1862, the 18th Iowa was
encamped at Camp Clear Springs, about four
miles south of Cornth, Miss. Together with
the 10th Mo-, sOth Ohio, and a battery of
the LIST Mo-, we formed the Second Brigade
Seventh Division. Our commander was
Brig. Gen. Jerry Sullivan, who had but one
quality requisite for O commander-that was
personal bravery.
We broke camp Aug. Is and marched to
Jacinto, the County-seat of Tishomingo
County. We remained there, making scouts
in the direction of Mill Springs, huntsville,
and Iuka, until the 18th of September, when
we started for Iuka, Miss. Here large
force of Confederates, under Gen. Sterling
Price, were intrenched.
1t was Gen. Grants plan to move the two
divisions Of Rosecrans's command on their
eastward march. Ours under Hamilton
was to move on the Fulton and Eastport
road, and the division under Stanley on the
Jacinto road from Barrett's. Gen. Ord was
to move from huntsville, taking roads north
of the railroad, and attack from that side.
1t was intended that the two commands
should strike simultaneously, and it was
hoped that large portion of Prices army
might be captured.
On the same day that Rosecrans's COM
mand left Jacinto Ord's troops were pushed
forward, encountering and driving in the
enemy's pickets, capturing few prisoners,
and reached position within six miles OF
Iuka.
Grant had expected that Rosecrans would
be near enough by the night of the 18th to
make it safe for Ord to press forward on the
morning of the 10th and bring on an engage
ment.
Our command, after marching about Is
miles, went into camp, one of Rosecrans's
spies having reported that Van Dorm and
Breckenridge were still with Price, but that
the former would leave for Vicksburg and
the latter make his way into Kentucky.
So, while Ord was fighting on the north, we
were in camp Is miles south, and remained
there until late next morning. Ord, not
hearing from Rosecrans, fell back short
distance to await news. At II a.. IN. of the
10Th our troops were put in motion and
rapidly pushed forward, and went into the
fight "endways" about two hours before
dark. 10
The position occupied by the enemy was
south of the town of Iuka, and on an eleva-
tion skirt d on the south by heavy timber
and underbrush. My regiment moved to-
ward Iuka on a road leading north, until we
came to a log church; here wOod-road
turned to the right. ID
We were following Sands's 18th Ohio
battery. They were ordered IN this road to
! 90 into battery in an old field, on the north
side of which six-gun battery was already
in position. 5sHf
When our guns entered the opening grape
and canister swept the field and adjoining
woods. The men and horses were killed so
| fast that it was some time before the guns
could open fire, and after doing so, the
enemy's fire was heavy, and the infantry
support being insufficient, their guns were
soon disabled. The battery went into action
with its full complement OF men, about l4O.
Over half the number were killed or
wounded.
After the artillery ceased firing the enemy
turned their attention 10 our regiment
which was in the woods to the left. Grape
and canister came through our ranks like
hail, while the underbrush was 80 thick
that it hid the enemy from US, without our
being able to return their fire.
Just at our most critical moment the 9Th
Ohio Cav. rode through our ranks, cutting the
regiment in three paris and knocking down
scores of our men. One sufferer from this
charge was Capt David III. Craig, the gall
| idllt cOEUEDdUutI vi W. II, Whot VIZ
his feet, flashed his sword and swore by
the eternal " that the next cavalry that rode
through his command would get fred on
let them be friend or enemy. AS the I'd
Iowa Cav had ridden us down at Farming
ton it can be understood that the Captain
had had enough of that kind of work.
Soon after going into action the horse our
Colonel rode was shot. eplunged into the
timber and disabled him. The Lieutenant.
Colonel and Major were both absent. After
the cavalry went through us the three detach.
ments were commanded by Capts. John l.
Young Samson Nj. Archer, and David III.
Craig Archer was soon badly wounded
which left his men in bad shape.
Capts Young and Craig fell back to thu
north side Of an old graveyard, and there
made for time a successful stand. 1h'
other detachment rallied on them, but being
without support and sorely pressed, the mel
were ordered to get on the other side OF TIT
fence. After getting over, and before thu
lines could be formed, we were given wolfe,
by one or two Indiana regiments, who wer
in line on the other side of the graveyard
and who were given to understand that the.
were on the front line. This volley kille'
five and wounded II of our men; one o
the killed being Lieut.. o. Ii. Smith, of Go
, G., brave officer, and one who had Tough
in Mexico.
Believing after that fire that we were sur
rounded, it was with the utmost difficult.
. that the officers kept the men in ranks
Order was again restored, and we fell back
) taking position oil the left of the line. TIL
entire line was again moved forward, ant
2 that night the command rested on thei
arms on the same road we first went IN
+, That night the enemy abandoned their in
: trenchments Our loss in this action, killed
| and wounded, was A. | was wounded il
. the head with a canister shot, and was tn
second man in the regiment hit, our frs
man being wounded at Pennington IN from
of Cornth.
r Considering the stupidity, mismanage
| ment and confusion which characterized tn
greater part of this engagement, the regi
ment conducted itself we'll.
On the day following we started In Pur
. suit. returning 10 Jacinto on the evening @
the 21st, where we remained encamped unit
Oct g at which time we marched to Corintl
and on the Sd and ash of that month too
part in the action against Gems. Price ant
Van Dorm.
AT that time we captured the flag of III
40th Miss, aud took large number of pris
: oners. Our loss was % killed and wounded
7 Here commenced series of bayOnet charges
for which the 18th afterward became famous
H. NJ. KENDERDINE, Major, 18th lows
Topeka, Kan.
n n D. - xy.,