The National tribune., 1911-04-27
BATTLE OF IUkA.
A Hon Fight Where Much Tcroism
aud Tenaciiy OF Purpose We're Ey-

|. Editor National Tribune: The 26th
Mo. was mustered in at McDowells
College. st. Louis. Dec. 81, 1861, for
three years. In February, 1862, the
26th Mo embarked on Il steamer and
landed at Birds Point, joining Gen.
Popes expedition. against New Ma
drid. We. were at the battle OF Tip
tonville on April l and April -. Col.
Bonner led the 26th in these move
ments. The cul"rS of the regiment,
in the hands OF II. Hoops, of Co. III
" ere the first, To be planted Oh tho
fort after TIE capture of Island No
10. This movement resulted in the
capture of 5000 Confederates at Tip.
ionville, Tenn. and the 18th bore
conspicuous part in the success of the
day. The Goth was with Gen. Pope
on the march down the Mississippi,
AMI took part in tie engagement at
Harrisburg and the Siege of Coriuth.
On Sept. -, at luka, the Third
Division, Fifteenth Corps, With the
25th Mo. in advance, had been driv-
ing the Guemy's cavalry pickets. We
came up with Prices command about
II p. II. formed into two battle lines
each four ranks deep. Cos. y and Is,
thrown. out as skirmishers, soon un-
covered the lines oS well as Prices
artillery. which Immediately began 10
belch forth delusc of grape and can
lister. Tho right wing of the Goth,
under Col. Holman. was ordered up on
the run and the whole fire was direct
cd upoa it, when it was ordered to
tho rear. The brigade was ordered
into position and the left wing OF the
2Stil Mo. and the 5th Iowa were rush
cd up To support tho 1tth Ohio Bat
terry. Tic rrheiS, determined 10 force
our line. threw themselves into the
withering arc HAT met them with the
courage oil demons. AS they came
within close range That single battery
opened on them with grape ana can
lister
The guns were worked with un-
usual rapidity ana precision of aim.
A- each cischorge great gaps were
made in their Gense ranks, but the
hostile ,ine never faltered until in
reach of the lnuSkctry, when they re-
coiled and again chargcd-once,
twice, three timcsi
At length the 18th Ind, brave boys, |
pressed by three times their number,
their commander cut down, fell back
in disorder.
This left the dcath-dcaling 1ith
Ohio Battery exposed, and with cX-
ultant and demoniacal yclls the enemy !
sprang upon it, They received her
fire without flinching, swept over and
captured il, out not until every OF
ficer and nearly every man was killed |
or wounded. and not horse left but |
was dead or wounded. At the juno |
turc a squad of five, members of Co.
II OF the e6th Mo-, found themselves |
all alone behind the battery. The |
writer, being one of them, asked his
Corporal where the company was. !
lie put his mouth 10 the car of the
writer and shouted, Il don't know"
What should we do?' was the next |
and last question asked while Gaping |
my gun. He replied, Die hcrc!" In |
an instant was shot through both |
thighs. the Corporal and one other |
were breathing their last, and two
got away by good running.
Our forces rallied, charged and |
sent the rebels to cover. Maddened
by their losses, they rallied. Then
the rebels turned, and yelling like |
demons. fell upon the Union force
and again got possession of the bat
terry; but the fire they received was
move nor use the battery. Around 1
these guns the battle ragged with aw-
full fury. Every flank movement they
attempted was promptly checked. and
they were compelled to fight it out in
front or retreat, and from p. IN.
until dark the 26tlI Mo-, 9TH Iowa,
1th Mo-, held that single road. /
During, inc 'UlSnt tlc iebeiS SNaC'
uated the place, leaving many wound
ed and all their dead, who were bur-
led the next day by the Union burial
party. / was found near the battery
and protested against being buried
just then.
Col. Boomer, while leading the left
wing of the 26th Mo, was wounded
by a rife ball, and carried off the
field: Capt. r. c. Crowell, B. c. Dean
(three times), Lieut.. Denni. and
Lieut.. Maupin were wounded. Lieut..
crow had seven holes in his blouse.
r'apt. Wheeler and Serg'ts Roam,
Bliss and other officers were hurt.
Gen. Hamilton, in his report of the
battle of Iuks, says: The fearful list
Of killed and wounded in the few reg
ments engaged shows with what
heroisnl. and desperation this fight
Was won."-J. Fl. Allen, Co. II, 18th
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