No. 84.
Report of Col. Alexander
Chambers, Sixteenth Iowa Infantry (of the Second Brigade).
HDQRS. SIXTEENTH IOWA
VOLS., THIRD BRIGADE,
SIXTH DIVISION, ARMY OF WEST TENNESSEE,
Near Pittsburg
Landing, April 24, 1862.
SIR: I have the honor to report that on Sunday morning,
April 6, while my regiment was preparing to join General Prentiss’ division, as
was previously ordered, an aide of General Grant ordered my regiment in line on
the right of the Fifteenth Iowa Volunteers, to act as a reserve and prevent
stragglers from reaching the river. The line had been formed but a short time
when I was ordered to march it, following the Fifteenth Iowa, to General
McClernand’s division, whose right was giving way. At this time large numbers
of men in squads were returning. Cavalry, infantry, and several batteries of
artillery were met on the road without being disabled or having lost their
horses or expended their ammunition. From 9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., the time
occupied in reaching the battle-field, we met more men returning, of all arms,
than belonged to the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Regiments, but I must say, for the
credit of the State of Iowa, not one of her quota did I meet.
On crossing an open field, beyond which was the position of
the rebels, two of my command were wounded. My regiment was formed on the right
of this field in rear of a fence. An aide ordered the regiment to be formed across
this open field, which was raked by heavy fire of musketry and a part of a
battery of artillery. I marched the men there and ordered them to lie down,
when the greater part of the enemy's fire passed harmlessly over us. I had,
however, several wounded here. From this position the regiment was ordered
forward to the edge of timber, within close range of the enemy, as many of my
men were wounded at the same time by both ball and buck-shot. The right of the
regiment was of very little service, as they were not in a position, from the
lay of the ground, to fire with much effect; but the left of the regiment
became hotly engaged with the enemy, and did great execution.
For nearly or quite an hour the regiment held its ground
against a much larger force of the enemy, supported by artillery, when they
were compelled to give way to their destructive fire and advance or be
captured. Word came down the line that a retreat had been ordered, but no such
order came through me. At this our whole line gave way and became mixed up with
other regiments. My regiment was rallied by Lieut. Col. A. H. Sanders to the
number of about 300 and was posted in rear of a battery during the remainder of
that day and night, during which time those who had become mixed with other
regiments returned and reformed with those under the lieutenant-colonel, I
having been wounded and struck by a spent ball in the hip-joint, which was very
painful, and rendered me quite lame.
The next day the regiment held the same position in rear of
this battery during the fight. I am thus particular in giving an exact account
of the part taken in Sunday's and Monday's fight, as some correspondents have
been trying to throw the disgrace of their own regiments’ actions on a new
regiment that had never gone through the motions of loading a gun even, but
notwithstanding this behaved with as much gallantry as any regiment on the
field, as its list of killed and wounded will show, for the time they were
engaged.
With a few exceptions all the officers and men behaved with
judgment and gallantry. The field officers were particularly cool under a
destructive fire and rendered great assistance. The horses of all the field and
staff officers were killed or wounded, evidently showing an intention on the
part of the enemy to pick off the most prominent officers. Captains Ruehl and
Zettler, both gallant men, were killed or mortally wounded, and First Lieut. F.
N. Doyle, a brave and efficient officer, was also killed.
The loss during Sunday's fight was 2 officers and 16
non-commissioned officers and privates killed, and 9 officers and 94
non-commissioned officers and privates wounded, and 15 non-commissioned
officers and privates missing.*
I inclose a list of the killed, wounded, and missing,
I am, sir, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
ALEX. CHAMBERS,
Colonel Sixteenth
Iowa Volunteers.
The ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL,
General McClernand's Division, Army of West Tennessee.
__________
*But see revised
statement, p. 104
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
X (Serial No. 10), Part I, pages 286-7
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