Year: 1864

they had the French flag flying. The
prettiest contry lever saw in the South.
ern Confederacy lays between Simsport
and Red river near where we came to
it. The last town we came to was
Marksvillc; here the white flag was
floating in token of surrender. What
they intended to surrender was more
than I can tell for did not see any one
there but citizens.


This town is about three miles from
the river and fort, where the rebels
thought themselves safe from all harm.
When we came to the town the 9th
Iowa being in the advance were LET: be
hind to guard the town while the troops
passed through. That brought MS in
the advance. Companies l, D & G.,
were ordered in front Of the battery as
skirmlshers; bnt our company having
so many recruits not drilled were or
dered to act as reserve for the other
two. After marching about two miles
and half we saw the rebel pickets and
were ordered up on double quick; also
the whole brigade soon after. We
double quicked up within 800 yards OF
the fort and the two companies were
deployed. BY this time our regiment
and the battery was up; our company
took its place in the regiment and the
battery opened the FIRE. We were or
dered to support the battery. and the
32d to support the skirmishers.


A brisk cannonading was kept up BY
the Sd lndiana's 6 and II Founders,
and the rebels SO Founders for two
homs, neither doing any particular
damage. and then charge was ordered
by our brigade, which resulted in the
capture of the two forts in short order.
/ say two forts for there was one built
to protect tho river and another, the
one we stormed, about ! mile back to
protect that passage. Our batteries in
firing had both in range and when they
shot over the 1st they shot into the 2nd.
which owing to the incomple.eness OF
the forts caused them to evacuate the
river fort and seek shelter in the other.
If we bad let them alone for 3 or 4
months longer we would not have had
such an easy time taking it, o, even it
they had had troops there sufficient to
man the works It would not have been
an easy t,sk. But Gen. Walker had
left the fort the day before with the in,
ten.ion Of checking our advance with
his brigade Of ! or thousand men, and
! had also sent courier back to tell
them that he could hold us in check
days where he burned the bridge and
in that time they expected reinforce
ments from Alexandria, but he was not
aware that We were able to cross some
where else in short time. We wen,
so fast after that we beat him to the
fort, which was left with snail force.
When the charge was ordered owing to
the distance to be travelled, the gath
Mo. was the first to plant their flag on
the Notifications and the l4th 2nd.
The result Of the victory was 10 siege
guns and from TO hundred prisoners.
| have not learned the exact number.
The loss in the 18th Iowa was five
wounded, none killed. The only ca.
sualty in Co. G was corporal McLain
scratched on the finger very little.
Our Sharpshootcrs from our regiment,
kept them so close that they scarcely
dared show their heads above the
works.


What our entire loss was I 10 not
know but think it is not more than 25
wounded and killed. The next morn
ing after the fight our boats were all up
waiting for US, they having come round
the river, under protection OF the gun
boats. What was most remarkable in
the affair was that we marched SO miles,
had fight and gained the victory, be-
sides sleeping ! hours in - hours,
which was something of an item. The
fort was almost completed and was the
strongest for, have seen built by the
rebels. The one next the river was not
80 near completed. But when complete
would have been almost inlpenetrable,
for it was being double plated with Rail
road iron.


The next day we embarked again and
started up the river. expecting little
fight here, but We just arrived in time
to find that the rebels had left az usual;
where they have gone is more than |
can tell, We arrived here yesterday and
are in camp just below the town.
Alexandria is . very nice place, and