No. 49.
Report of Capt. Matthew M.
Trumbull, Third Iowa Infantry.
HEADQUARTERS THIRD IOWA
INFANTRY,
April 17, 1862.
SIR: I have the honor to report the part taken by the Third
Iowa Infantry in the action of the 6th and 7th instant.
The Third Iowa occupied the extreme right of the Fourth
Division, being the first regiment of Col. and Actg. Brig. Gen. N. G. Williams’
brigade, and was posted during a greater portion of Sunday at the fence near
the cotton field. The enemy repeatedly threw large bodies of infantry against
us, but never with success. He was repulsed every time, and with great
slaughter. The regiment was also subjected to a storm of grape, canister, and
shell, which lasted several hours. The Third Iowa maintained its ground until
evening and did not then give way until the troops on their right and left had
been broken and we were entirely outflanked and almost surrounded. The regiment
was then compelled in a great measure to cut its way out.
Of the firmness, coolness, and courage of the men under a
heavy fire it will be unnecessary for me to speak, as they were almost
constantly during the battle under the immediate eye of the general commanding
the division.
The regiment went into battle on the second day under the
command of First Lieut. G. W. Crosley, of Company E, and, as I am well assured,
nobly maintained the honor of the flag.
Should I designate meritorious officers I should have to
name nearly every officer in the regiment. I think, however, none will feel
envious if I specially mention Lieutenant Crosley.
I desire to call the attention of the general commanding the
division to the gallantry and good conduct of Sergt. James Lakin, of Company F,
who carried the colors on the first day, and of Corp. Anderson Edwards, of Company
I, who carried the colors on the second day, of the battle.
Our loss is heavy. I herewith inclose a list of our killed,
wounded, and missing.*
I have the honor to remain, sir, very respectfully, your
obedient servant,
M. M. TRUMBULL,
Captain, Third Iowa Infantry, Commanding
Regiment.
Brig. Gen. STEPHEN A.
HURLBUT, U.S. A.,
Commanding Fourth Division, Army of the Tennessee.
_______________
* Embodied in the
revised statement, p. 103
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 219
