A letter from Col. Reid, received last night, says that he was ordered, immediately on landing, to march to Prentiss’ Division. In marching there they met many disorganized troops, and found much confusion on the field. Soon. Col. Reid received an order from Gen. Grant to join Sherman’s Division. He marched there, and found only one regiment (an Ohio regiment) fighting bravely. The Fifteenth stood by them and fought until they were overwhelmed by superior numbers and compelled to fall back. Col. Reid’s horse was shot, and he was struck in the neck and paralyzed. He fell and was taken up and was being carried off the ground, but in a few minutes he revived, and again mounting a horse held command as long as there were any men left to fight. Lieut. Col. Dewey and Major Belknap both had their horses shot and Belknap was slightly wounded in the shoulder.
The regiment stood their ground along side the Ohio Regiment, exposed to a galling fire for an hour and a quarter, and 17 of the officers were either killed or wounded. Col. Reid speaks highly of his men, who stood up without flinching, though many of them had never before loaded a musket. This is very a different story from the one which the Secesh have been gloating over with diabolical malice. On Monday morning only 430 answered to their names.
Col. Reid’s wound was painful, but he expected to be in the saddle again in a week. Of course the report that he and Lt. Col. Dewey, and Major Belknap were on the way home was a mistake. It does not appear that Lt. Col. Dewey was injured.
Letters received last night state that Major Belknap covered himself with glory, by his gallantry and determined perseverance in rallying his own men and men of another regiment, in moments of confusion, and bringing them into line of battle and fighting like veterans. Three cheers for the Major.
– Published in The Gate City, Keokuk, Iowa, Thursday, April 17, 1862
The regiment stood their ground along side the Ohio Regiment, exposed to a galling fire for an hour and a quarter, and 17 of the officers were either killed or wounded. Col. Reid speaks highly of his men, who stood up without flinching, though many of them had never before loaded a musket. This is very a different story from the one which the Secesh have been gloating over with diabolical malice. On Monday morning only 430 answered to their names.
Col. Reid’s wound was painful, but he expected to be in the saddle again in a week. Of course the report that he and Lt. Col. Dewey, and Major Belknap were on the way home was a mistake. It does not appear that Lt. Col. Dewey was injured.
Letters received last night state that Major Belknap covered himself with glory, by his gallantry and determined perseverance in rallying his own men and men of another regiment, in moments of confusion, and bringing them into line of battle and fighting like veterans. Three cheers for the Major.
– Published in The Gate City, Keokuk, Iowa, Thursday, April 17, 1862
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