No. 67.
Report of Capt. John Williams,
Sixth Iowa Infantry.
HEADQUARTERS SIXTH IOWA
INFANTRY,
Pittsburg Landing,
Tenn., April 10, 1862.
COLONEL. Having assumed command of the regiment by your
order, I have the honor to make the following official report of the Sixth Iowa
Infantry during the recent engagement:
On Sunday morning, when the attack was made on General
Grant's center, the regiment was immediately brought into line of battle, and
was then moved about 50 yards to the front along the edge of the woods. Company
I was thrown out as skirmishers, and Companies E and G were moved to the left
and front of our line to support a battery just placed there. We were in this
position for more than two hours, when we were ordered to fall back to the rear
of our camp on the Purdy road.
The battle at this time was raging fiercely in the center
and extending gradually to the right. The line was slowly yielding to a vastly
superior force, and it now became evident that we must change our position or
be entirely cut off from the rest of the army. The regiment then marched by the
left flank about 600 yards; crossed an open field about 150 yards wide; took a
position in the edge of the woods, and formed a new line of battle, which was
again succeeded by another line nearly perpendicular to the former, the right
resting close to the Purdy road.
It was here Lieutenants Halliday and Grimes were wounded and
carried from the field, thus preventing them from distinguishing themselves, as
they undoubtedly would have done had they been spared to take part in the
desperate and severe struggle that soon ensued. It was here that Companies D
and K, on picket duty at Owl Creek, joined the regiment by a circuitous route,
the enemy having already got between them and the regiment.
The regiment did not remain here long, however, but moved by
the left flank in an easterly direction about half a mile, over a broken and
open field, and again entered the woods. A new line was formed, and the
regiment moved forward to meet the advancing foe. The line of battle –at this
time diagonal to the enemy's – was immediately changed to front them, and it
was here that the regiment withstood a shower of leaden hail and bullets which
now was pouring in upon it with deadly effect. Notwithstanding a vastly
superior force and with no support, the regiment gallantly maintained this
position for more than two hours, and when it became apparent that no succor
was coming to it, and after the enemy had already turned our right flank and
began pouring a galling cross-fire upon it, the regiment was ordered to retire.
It fell back in good order and was assigned to the support of batteries near
the river. At this stage of the battle I was wounded and carried from the
field. From authentic sources I learn, however, that the regiment, under
Captain Walden, remained at the batteries all night.
The next day the regiment was not formed as a regiment, but
a detachment, under Lieutenants Minton and Allison, was connected to an
Illinois regiment, and the major portion, under Captain Walden, voluntarily
joined Colonel Garfield's command, and participated in the engagement
throughout the day until the enemy fled in great confusion.
In regard to the bravery, coolness, and intrepidity of both
officers and men too much cannot be said. Where all did so well to
particularize would seem invidious; suffice it to say the officers, with one or
two exceptions, are deserving the highest praise. The men were at all times
cool and as free from fear or confusion as if they were on dress-parade.
The list of casualties, which I append below, fully attests
the severity of the contest.
The following is the number of killed, wounded, and missing
in the two days’ engagement :*
Killed
|
64
|
Wounded
|
100
|
Missing
|
47
|
Total
|
211
|
Total number engaged less than 650.
I have the honor to
be, yours, respectfully,
JOHN WILLIAMS,
Captain, Commanding Regiment.
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 256-7
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