From the 2d Iowa Cavalry

CAMP ON HAMBURG AND CORINTH ROAD,

Friday, May 9, 1862.

FRIEND SANDERS. – Of yesterday’s skirmish, and loss, I wrote you last night and to-night as a faithful chronicler, I am compelled to add further to the record, which though of noble deeds, will carry anguish to loving hearts.  About noon, orders came to be ready to move at the firing of a signal gun.  The signal soon came, and in ten minutes the regiment was in column, and on its way to the front.  I may mention that most of our force which had advanced yesterday, had retired back to camp. Vacating the ground they had occupied.  Yesterday our regiment was a mile and a half beyond Farmington; to-day two miles this side of town.  They met. Gen. Paine’s Division and three batteries, retreating.  Passing this column on coming to an opening a mile wide, on the opposite side of which the rebels had three batteries, they formed into line, Lt. Col. Hatch, commanding, with Majors Hepburn, Coon and Lave, commanding respectively the 1st, 2d and 3d batteries [sic].  The rebels had the range, and their batteries were well manned and playing rapidly on our lines.  Gen. Paine rode and ordered the regiment to “charge” those batteries.  The batteries were three-fourths of a mile distant, and formed a line a half a mile in length – sweeping with the murderous fire the whole space.

The charge sounded and officers and soldiers swept forward and through the leaden tempest!  Shot and shell hurtled through the air, or plowed up the ground beneath.  The woods flanking the open space were occupied by rebel sharpshooters, and they too poured forth their murderous fire on the rushing line.  Through such a fire of iron ball is seldom faced in a charge and horses and men went down by sections, yet onward at full speed charged the 2d Cavalry through canister and grape, to within one hundred yards of the guns, when they were found to be supported by dense lines of infantry.  When knowing we were unsupported, the rally was sounded, and we retired, but had the satisfaction of seeing the batteries limber up and cease firing.

The regiment was absent from camp less than three hours.  The charge was of short durations, but from the annexed list, which is reliable, Iowa may see whether her glory has been dimmed by the 2d Cavalry – whether another laurel has not been added to her brow – another bright page added to their immortal list – a record made that when Iowa is tried, she is never found wanting.

1ST BATTALION. – Commissary Sergt. W. W. Miller, by a spent ball in leg, slightly.

Co. K. – Killed, none.  Wounded, Corpl. Elias W. Shephard, in the head; Derwin Downer, flesh wound in leg; R. M. Downer, in leg by a piece of shell; Fred Lehart, in head; G. R. Bradley, in leg by a piece of shell; Abraham Leffler, in head and chest.

Co. L. – Killed, none.  Wounded, Corpl. M. B. Hubbard, in head; G. W. Kelso, in the thigh.  Missing, James Raymond.

Co. E. – Wounded, Lewis Kephart, in hand; Bugler, Wm. Dunderdale, in head; Corpl. W. Aldrich in head slightly; Sergt. J. W. Jennings, in hand.

Co. M. – Wounded. Nathan Smith, in the foot, amputated below knee; Sylvester L. Hazen, in shoulder, slightly; J. S. Breedan, in Leg; John Parker, wounded and missing.

3D BATTALION. – Co. I and D, all safe.

Co. F. – Wounded, Labon J. Parks, in breast, severely; Wm. Bulley, in thigh and rectum, severely; Sergt. James Fought, in thigh, slightly; Sergt. Daniel Okeson, missing.

Co. B. – Killed, John Burgh, (missing yesterday and supposed killed.)  Wounded, J. S. Brush, in right shoulder severely; W. M. Freeman, in breast by shell; Corp. Porter J. Webb, in leg; slightly; Corp. Walker, Missing; Cloud H. Brock, in arm, severely; Daniel Craft, in side, slightly.

2D BATTALION. – Co. A. Killed, Sergt. Frederick L. Ayer.  Wounded, J. B. Gaddis, in arm and side, slightly; B. F. Wagoner, in shoulder slightly; Otis Legg, in side, slightly.

Co. H. – Killed, Lt. Benjamin F. Owen.  Wounded, Corp. Haskins, in leg, slightly; A. V. Reeves, in thigh, slightly; A. N. Detwiler, in breast, slightly.

Co. G. – Wounded, Capt. Wm. Lundy, in the head, slightly; Sergt. L. H. Waterman, in hip, dangerously; Corp. J. T. Haight, arm and side; Anderson Heinly, severely, through from side to side.

Co. C. – Wounded, Capt. Henry Egbert, in thigh, by a piece of shell; James Armstrong, through both hips and bladder, (poor fellow, as I now write, just midnight, I hear his constant groans; brave man, I fear he must die;) Wm. Gordon, right heel – Amputation below knee; James Taylor, through the shoulder severely.

Total – 2 killed, 39 wounded, one wounded and missing, and three missing.

Captain Lundy, Lieuts. Schnitger, C. C. Horton, Co. A, and Chas. More, Co. K, had their horses shot under them.  Ninety-seven horses were killed and disabled, and nearly as many more wounded.  A shell divided Lt. Col. Hatch’s heavy brass stirrup, another passed so close to captain Kendrick’s head, as to deafen one side, and numerous sabres, scabbards and revolvers show the scars of cannon shot, shell and bullets.  The surgeons had all the wounds dressed before night, and the sufferers, with the exception of one or two, are quite and doing well.

It seems to be the opinion among officers, outside the regiment, that the charge, though a desperate resort, was splendidly executed, and that it saved Gen. Paine’s Division.

The weather is fine and work ahead.  And now for my blankets; I bid you adieu.

DIFF.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, May 17, 1862, p. 2