The National tribune., 1901-04-11
FIGHTINGTHEM OVER.
What the Veterans Have to Say
About Their Campaigns.
LAYS FERRY.
Incidents of the Two Days Fighting-Cap-
turing the Rebel Flag.


EDIToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Much has
been written sincehthe civil war relative
to the battle of Lays Ferry, Ga. on the
too was ut that two days fight, being at
the time member of Co. II, 9TH Iowa,
and 1t has been stated, and l think per-
haps truly, the Tth Iowa was the first
regiment to cross the pontoons, on that
long g-to-beremembered day.
Especially do l recall the first days
fighting. when the 7th Iowa lay fiat on
the ground, in open space, suppoi ting our
battery, shelling the enemy's guns on the
other side of the river. One company of
my regiment, | think Co. G, had been de-
tailed to lay the pontoons across the river,
and on their return to the regiment, com
ing directly in rear of our battery and
very near it. u rebel shell exploded in their
ranks, cutting off both legs of one COM
radc, one leg in two of another, cutting
through the abdomen of another, while
another had about half of his head carried
away by the same shell. How many were
wounded or killed by that rebel shell am
unable TO state, and as we placed in the
ambulance the comrade having both legs
shot away, and the comrade with one leg
gone by his side, and as | got into the
ambulance myself to take them back to
the field hospital, the comrade having both
legs gone, seemed to be bleeding to death.
He took me by the hand, and cried, Tel
my mother; tell my mother"
Who he was l did not know, neither
did | know his name. and it is doubtful
if his dear mother ever heard from him
again. For, as we took him out of the
ambulance the doctor said:
Lay him on the ground. We can do
nothing for him."
The other comrade we placed on the
operating table, and returned to our COM
mand with horses on the run. same as we
went to the field hospital with our mained
comrades.
The second day we crossed the pontOons
with our regiment, and no doubt other
regiments followed. We sent out skirm-
ishers. Soon the rebels could be seen
forming up at the border of timber, PER-
haps half mile away. In a moment on
they came, seemingly to either capture ns
or drive us into the river. They failed,
and for this our battery, as well as our
infantry deserve much praise.
As the rebels fell back and out Of sight
the Major of the 9TH Iowa requested me
to mount his horse and go up to the brick
house at the margin Of the. timbers, and
secure something for his horse to eat.
Riding up to the brick house, L ted the
horse and entered the house, in hurry,
of course. for as guerrillas thereabouts
had once captured me and promised to
hang me, did not care to fall into their
hands again.
/ stripped oounterpane off a bed nice-
ly spread up, ito put my shell-corn in,
which I had discovered in another room.
1 scraped in all the corn L could carry and
mounting my horse returned to my regi-
ment and to the Major, who seemed much
pleased with the corn, an6 said he wanted
my counterpane also.1 To this l demurred,
which demurrer was sustained, and j yet
have the counterpaHe. doubtless made By
the hands Of some slave.
During the time i was at the brick
house l noticed several cannon-balls had
passed entirely through it. from our guns.
/ also noticed woman lying dead in the
yard as | left the premises, whom L sup
posed to be the lady of the house. 1t was
stated at the time by some of our battery
men that, as the rebs began to form Their
lines for the charge near the brick house,
n woman could he seen near the house
waving a handkerchief. l know not
whether the woman was shot or otherwise
killed.
l also remember as if but yesterday the
cheering of our soldiers when a comrade
q rebel flag away from the enemy, and
with it returned to the Union lines in
safety.
Belmont was the first battle the 7th
Iowa participated in. There we could
only muster 40 men for duty, as aga nst
1907, when we. left the State. Coming
out of the battle of Belmont our regiment
had 81 dead; 127 wounded; 80 taken
prisoners, and 10 missing. Here
musket-ball pierced the writer's thigh, re,
suIting in amputation 80 years afterwards.
Lew CARKISs, Co. B, 9TH Iowa, Hast
ings, Neb.