No. 30.
Report of Col. James L. Geddes,
Eighth Iowa Infantry.
VINTON, BENTON
COUNTY, IOWA,
November 13, 1862.
SIR: In compliance with your request I have the honor to
submit for your information a report of the part taken by the Eighth Iowa
Infantry at the battle of Shiloh, fought on April 6:
About 8 o’clock on the morning of the 6th I ordered the
regiment under arms and formed line of battle in front of my encampment,
awaiting orders to proceed to the front. At this time the firing on our
advanced line had become general, and it appeared to me evident that we were
being attacked in force by the rebel general. After remaining under arms about
half an hour, during which time I had ordered the baggage belonging to the
regiment to be loaded on the wagons and an extra supply of ammunition to be
issued to the men, I was ordered by Colonel Sweeny, Fifty-second Illinois,
brigade commander, to proceed to the front. On arriving at our advanced line I
was ordered by Colonel Sweeny to take my position on the left of the brigade to
which I was attached, for the purpose of protecting a battery immediately in
front. Here the regiment remained about one hour exposed to a severe fire from
artillery of shell and grape, killing and wounding several of my men.
About 11 a.m. I was ordered by Colonel Sweeny, through his
aide, Lieutenant McCullough, Eighth Iowa, to leave my position and take ground
to my left and front. This change of position brought my regiment on the extreme
right of General Prentiss’ division and left of General Smith's, the latter
being the division to which my regiment belonged. I was thus entirely detached
from my brigade, nor did I receive any order from my brigade or division
commander during the remainder of that day. On arriving at the point I was
ordered to defend I formed my regiment in line of battle, with my center
resting on a road leading from Corinth to Pittsburg Landing and at right angles
with my line. Here I immediately engaged a battalion of the enemy, and after a
severe conflict of nearly an hour’s duration, in which I lost many of my men,
the enemy were driven back with heavy loss. At this time Captain Hogin, Company
F, was shot dead, and Captain Palmer, Company H, severely wounded.
About 1 p.m. General Prentiss placed a battery in position
immediately in front of my regiment, with instructions to defend it to the
last. The precision of its fire, which was directed by the general in person,
made great havoc in the advancing columns of the enemy. It therefore became an
object of great importance to them to gain possession of the battery. To this
end they concentrated and hurled column after column on my position, charging
most gallantly to the very muzzles of the guns. Here a struggle commenced for
the retention and possession of the battery of a terrific character, their
concentrated and well-directed fire decimating my ranks in a fearful manner. In
this desperate struggle my regiment lost 100 men in killed and wounded.
The conspicuous gallantry and coolness of my company
commanders (Captains Cleaveland, Stubbs, and Benson on the left; Captains
McCormack and Bell in the center, and Captains Kelsey and Geddes and Lieutenant
Muhs on the right, by reserving the fire of their respective companies until
the proper time for its delivery with effect and the determined courage of my
men) saved the battery from capture, and I had the satisfaction of sending the
guns in safety to the rear.
In this attack I was wounded in the leg, Major Andrews
severely in the head, and do here take pleasure in acknowledging the courage
and coolness displayed by my field officers — Lieut. Col. J. C. Ferguson and
Maj. J. Andrews — and the able assistance rendered by them on that occasion.
About 3 p.m. all direct communication with the river ceased,
and it became evident to me that the enemy were driving the right and left
flanks of our army and were rapidly closing behind us. At this time I could
have retreated, and most probably would have saved my command from being
captured had I been ordered back at this time; but I received no such order,
and I considered it my duty to hold the position I was assigned to defend at
all hazards.
General Prentiss’ division having been thrown back from the
original line, I changed front by my left flank, conforming to his movements
and at right angles with my former base, which was immediately occupied and
retained for some time by the Fourteenth Iowa, Colonel Shaw. In this position I
ordered my regiment to charge a battalion of the enemy (I think the Fourth
Mississippi), which was done in good order, completely routing the enemy. We
were now attacked on three sides by the rebel force, which was closing fast
around us. The shells from our own gunboats in their transit severing the limbs
of trees hurled them on my ranks.
It now became absolutely necessary, to prevent annihilation,
to leave a position which my regiment had held for nearly ten consecutive hours
of severe fighting, successfully resisting and driving back the enemy in every
attempt to take the position I was ordered to hold and defend. With a loss of
near 200 in killed and wounded I ordered my regiment to retire. On retiring
about 300 yards I found a division of the rebels under General Polk thrown
completely across my line of retreat. I perceived that further resistance was
useless, as we were now completely surrounded. Myself and the major portion of
my command were captured at 6 p.m. of that day, and I claim the honor for my
regiment of being the last to leave the advanced line of our army on the
battle-field of Shiloh on Sunday, April 6.
I cannot conclude this report without bearing testimony to
the gentlemanly conduct and dignified bearing of my officers and men during
their captivity. Our captors had felt the effects and well knew the courage of
my regiment in the field, but had yet to learn they could conduct themselves as
well under other and very trying circumstances.
Not having received any reliable information as to the true
amount of casualties at the battle and during our imprisonment, I shall forward
an official list as soon as practicable of killed and wounded and of such as
died in Southern prisons through privation and neglect.
I am, sir, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. L. GEDDES,
Colonel Eighth Iowa Infantry.
His Excellency SAMUEL
J. KIRKWOOD, Governor of Iowa.
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 165-7
