The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-05-04
TIE BRAVE 22d IOWA
A Brief History of one of Iowa's
Brayest Regiments During the
War of the Rebellion.

At the request of several of our old
soldier friends we reprint the follow
ing address made at the reunion of the
I'D Iowa, a few years ago by Capt. w.
H. Needham, editor of the Sigourney
News, who was one OF the handful of
I'D Iowa men, one of whom was j. X.
Wilantt, who lives in Decatur township,
out OF whole army, who succeeded in
scalding and entering the enemy's
breastworks on that fatal May %, 1862
a feat to which General Grant paid
special tribute in his reports to the
war department:
CHARGE ON vICKSBURG.
Mr.. PRESIDENT, COMRADES, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN:
The "Charge on Vicksburg" May 22nd,
1868, being assigned to me, l feel it a
responsible place, and the length of the
program admonishes me must, in JUS
tice to others on the program, be brief.
am not public speaker, so will be
compelled to read what I have to say,
hoping you will bear with me patiently.
The assault on that stronghold was
ordered for ten o'clock on the morning
of May 22nd, 1868. In order that it
might be simultaneous all along the
line the corps commanders set their
watches by General Grants, and the
division brigade, and regimental COM
manders set their time pieces to corres-
pond.
On the evening of May 21st, we took
an advanced position under cover of
darkness. There was general advance
all along the line. The 22nd Iowa
under the hill on which Fort Beaure-
gard was located. Other Iowa regi-
ments were scattered along the line
with their respective commands.
Among the number was the 21st, 24th
and 2Sth Iowa. Before we started to
take an advanced position in front of
the enemies works on the evening of
the 21st, we had strict orders to ar
range our equipments so they would
not make any noise. The commands
were all given in a low voice, and each
man was instructed to follow his file
leader. When we were in position
under cover of the hill, we were per-
mitted to lay down on our arms and rest
as best we could during the night, but
given strict orders to be ready for duty
at moments notice. Nothing more
unusual happened in our immediate
front during the night. Strict orders
were also given not to make any fires,
SO the "Johnnies' could discover our
position.
The troops were up early on the
morning of the 22nd, but we were not
called into line to answer to roll call -
neither did the flies play or the drums
beat. "Mum' was the word. 1t was
indeed solemn, serious time, and
every one felt it. 1t was depicted on
the countenances of every one, that
great trouble was ahead of us, that
many who were then in the enjoyment
of health would be killed or wounded
ere another setting sun, and no one
knew who they would be. We had met
the enemy-the flower of the Confeder-
ate army at Port Gibson, Champion
Hills, Raymond, Black River Bridge
and other places, and knew the metal
they were made of.
Early in the morning every available
cannon was brought to bear on the
enemies works for hours before the
hour set for the assault by the infantry,
hundreds of field cannon, as we'll as the
large seige guns on land and water
belched forth in thunderous tones and
threw their deadly missiles into the
enemies ranks.
The defenses around Vicksburg, as is
generally known, were constructed
with the most scientific skill, and that
with the natural advantages for protec-
tion, made it formidable line of de-
tense. AS one writer says, "The ridges
were natural parapets and the ravines
natural ditches.' Add to that the
flower of the Confederate army with
their glittering bayonets, a plentiful
supply of cannon and one of the ablest
of generals, Lieut.. Gen. S. d. Lee, to
direct the defensive movements, it is no
wonder we run up against an obstruc-
tion on that memorable May day.
A few moments before ten o'clock we
quietly formed in line, fixed bayonets,
and at the sound of the bugle and com
mand of our officers, we rushed forward
toward the enemies works without
firing gun. The enemy, as soon as we
got in sight, poured CALLING volley
into our ranks from the infantry and
the cannon belched forth grape and
canister, which moved our men down
like grass before the sickle, but we
wavered not, and it was not long until
some of our soldiers were at the fort
We jumped the ditch surrounding the
fort, and by sticking our bayonets in
the ground we were enabled to climb
up the side of the fort. In trying to
get into the fort great many of our
men were shot down or bayoneted.
After we reached the fort the confeder-
ates stood up on the inside and when
our men would climb up they were
either shot at or bayoneted or cut down
with swords or anything they could use
in order to keep us back. 1t was in
deed hand to hand fight. They were
determined, if possible, to get in. l re-
member when got into the fort among
the fire we had tough tussle. After
firing my gun at one of the confederate
soldiers, other confederate soldiers
were after me and / lodged behind a
brass cannon to protect myself. Others
had like experience. The fight in the
fort lasted but short time, but it was
fierce and bloody, and many brave men
on both sides lost their lives. After
firing our guns, which we did not do
until we got in the fort, we used our
bayonets, as we did not have time to re-
load. 1t was everyone for himself, for a
moment The sGonfnd oro foc xr,or<, n . 10