Captain Charles Wright Wills: September 22, 1863

Camp at Messenger's Ferry, Big Black River, Miss.,

September 22, 1863.

I wrote you a few lines from Vicksburg on the 18th inst. to notify you that I had escaped the perils of navigation (sandbar and guerillas) and of my safe arrival. I had a delightful trip down the river. A splendid boat, gentlemanly officers, not too many passengers, and beautiful weather. Major General Tuttle and wife and Mrs. General Grant were of our number. I think Mrs. Grant a model lady. She has seen not over thirty years, medium size, healthy blonde complexion, brown hair, blue eyes (cross-eyed) and has a pretty hand. She dresses very plainly, and busied herself knitting during nearly the whole trip. Believe her worthy of the general. Vicksburg is a miserable hole and was never anything better. A number of houses have been burned by our artillery firing, but altogether the town has suffered less than any secesh village I have seen at the hands of our forces. But very few buildings escaped being marked by our shot or shell, but such damage is easily repaired in most cases. No business whatever doing in the town, except issuing orders by generals, obeying them by soldiers and the chawing of commissary stores without price by the ragged citizen population. I was of the impression that I saw some rough country in Tishomingo County, Miss., and in the mountains in north Alabama, but after a day’s ride in the vicinity of Vicksburg and to our present camp, I find I was mistaken. They call it level here when the surface presents no greater angles than 45 degrees. I found only one officer to a company present here, and the colonel is also on leave. There is a great deal of sickness but the health of the regiment now is improving. We have lost a large number by disease since I left the regiment. Anyone who saw us in Peoria would open wide his eyes at the length of our line now, and think we'd surely passed a dozen battles. The greater part of the material this regiment is made of should never have been sent into the field. The consolation is that these folks would all have to die sometime, and they ought to be glad to get rid of their sickly lives, and get credit as patriots for the sacrifice. We are now in the 2d Brigade 4th Division 15th Army Corps, having been transferred from the 16th Army Corps. We are camped on the bluffs of Black river, which we picket. Our camp is the finest one I ever was in. There are two large magnolias, three white beeches, and a half dozen holly trees around my tent. I think the magnolia the finest looking tree I ever saw. Many of the trees are ornamented with Spanish moss, which, hanging from the branches in long and graceful rolls, adds very much to the beauty of the forest. Another little item I cannot help mentioning is the “chigger,” a little red insect much smaller than a pin-head, that buries itself in the skin and stings worse than a mosquito bite. Squirrels skip around in the trees in camp, and coons, owls, etc., make music for us nights. Capt. Gus Smith when on picket several nights, saw a bear (so he swears) and shot at it several times. The enemy's cavalry are maneuvering around on the other side of the river, constantly making it unsafe for our boys to straggle much over there. Sabbath evening we, our brigade, moved out across the river about four miles to meet a party of Rebels, but as usual they were not there. We ate our supper while waiting for them and returned by moonlight, 8 o'oclock p. m. We've had a brigade review and a short brigade drill, and I've eaten a very hearty supper since finishing the last period. I feel perfectly well once more. Much better than I did any day while North. Did I tell you that I had the ague for a week or so before I started South? My continued ill health more than anything else is what started me off for the regiment so suddenly. The general wanted me to stay until after the fair, but I wouldn't have done it for a horse. Altogether, I feel very happy over getting back to my company. The boys profess being very glad to have me with them again, and I assure you that such compliments do me good. I didn't know that I could take as much interest in any strange humans as I feel in these men of my company. While I was in Central Illinois I wished many times that this war was over, and that I could settle in one of the many good points I saw for trade. I know that I could do well selling goods in any of a half dozen towns that I visited there, and even in Decatur. But I know I could not be satisfied out of the army while this war lasts. I am glad to be out of staff duty for several reasons. One of the most important is that it costs all my pay to keep me. I did not make a cent while with the general, and have only two months' pay due me now. It has been very cold here. Night before last I had six blankets over me, last night five and will use four to-night. ’Twas quite warm this p. m., but the nights are very cold. We will have hot weather yet. There is a great deal of ague here.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 187-9

3rd Sergeant Charles Wright Wills: October 18, 1861

Bird's Point, October 18, 1861

We yesterday drew our overcoats, and splendid ones they are. The cloth is light blue and they reach nearly to our feet. They have capes on them that come over a fellow's head nicely nights. The weather is about like you have I expect, but I know we will be very comfortable with the clothing we have in any weather. I wouldn't have the war end before next spring for anything, for I want to try a winter out doors. Every one of the Canton boys is in excellent health and all very well satisfied. The boys are receiving letters almost every day that read “we have heard that so and so is sick,” and this morning John Wallace got one that said that Sam Nutt and three others were shot while on guard. You may know that such reports are always lies unless you see it with the names in the papers long before a letter would reach you from here. John Wallace is just one of the best boys in the camp. It would do you good to see how contentedly the boys all take things. There is more life and fun in our tent every night than we ever had at home. Sam and Fred Norcott make more noise and sport in an evening than all Canton can furnish in a week. We love and respect all our officers but one, and he is the best officer we have, but a little too much regular army about him. Our captain is what the girls would call a “dear old fellow,” though he does have his own way every time. It seems to be the right way always so we think the world of him. They are just burying some poor fellow. We have had several deaths in the regiment lately. They do not play the prettiest dead marches here. I have been detached from the company for a week acting as sheriff of a court martial. Colonel Marsh, Colonel Logan, Colonel Tuttle of the Iowa 2d, and a couple of captains form the court. I have four men a day to guard the prisoners and two orderlies to send errands for me, so I play big injun strongly. The prisoner murdered a comrade while we were down at Norfolk. Smote him on the head with a club. He is from Company B of our regiment. That company, besides this case, had a man shot dead the other day by one of their own company. An accident. This morning they had a man stabbed, and day before yesterday they confined one of their men for trying to kill two others. For all this they are really a good company of men. We had a review Tuesday this week of 6 regiments, 2 batteries and 400 or 500 cavalry. Very fine. I suppose you saw an account of the Pekin company of our regiment killing four or five Rebels that made an attack on them while they were guarding a bridge. Ten of them stood their ground against a large party, and held the ground too. We buried two secesh and they carried off four. We lost none. The best fight yet was ten miles below here the other day between 26 of our men and 160 Rebels. You've seen it in the papers. Sam Nutt and John Wallace stood guard two nights before at the place where the first fight was. Oh heavens, I hope I can date my next from somewhere else.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 37-8

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Tuesday, October 13, 1863

Election passes off pleasantly. the regt vote for Stone 292, for Tuttle 46. Unwell most of day

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 499

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Monday, February 1, 1864

The weather is nice and warm today, as it has been for several weeks. A part of General Tuttle's Division arrived in camp from some point up the river. The Crocker Brigade (Third Brigade of the Fourth Division of the Seventeenth Corps) received orders to prepare to go with the expedition, taking twenty days' rations of hard-tack, salt, coffee and sugar. We are to start in the morning at daylight. Meridian is one hundred and sixty miles east of Vicksburg.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 165

Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood to Brigadier-General Schuyler Hamilton, March 20, 1862

Executive Office, Iowa., March 20, 1862.

Schuyler Hamilton, Brig. Gen. U. S. A., St. Louis, Mo.:

Sir:—Your letter of the 7th inst., in reply to mine returning you certain papers concerning the 2d Regt. Iowa Vol. Infy., is before me.

I regret to perceive, as I think I do, by the tone of your letter, that you have taken offense at my action. I certainly did not intend to offend you, nor do I think my action properly understood can afford just ground for offense. You doubtless did what you deemed your duty in issuing the order sent by you and returned by me. I certainly did what I deemed my duty in returning it. I think you erred in issuing the order; you think I erred in returning it. I do not take offense that you differ with me, nor do I think that you should take offense that I differ with you, or think that my action is intended by me “as a rebuke” to you. This is a great mistake, unless you insist that an expression of difference of opinion is a rebuke.

You say that but for certain reasons you would publish, side by side, your “orders” and my letter. I have no objection to such publication at any time you may think advisable, either for your justification or my condemnation.

I shall not discuss further the matter in issue between us. Each of us is doubtless satisfied of the correctness of his position, and others must decide between us in the future. The flag that our 2d regiment could not carry open through the streets of St. Louis they did carry proudly through the storm of battle at Fort Donelson, and planted it first of all others on the intrenchments of that stronghold of treason. It now hangs on the chair of the speaker of the house of representatives, and will soon be deposited among the most sacred treasures of our state in our State Historical Society. I am content that what I have done in connection with it shall be so written that all who see may read the record. The “miscreants” of whom your order speaks either died in upholding it on that bloody day or helped to carry it over the entrenchments. They may not have entertained as high a regard for the property of a traitor and rebel, as was required by the orders of their superiors, and if punishment had fallen on them alone, I perhaps should not have complained, but when others, as guiltless as either of us, were punished because they either would not or could not point out those of their comrades who had violated orders or failed to obey them, the case is, in my judgment, very different.

I should not have troubled you with this long letter had it not been that I was satisfied from the tone of your letter that you had taken offense at my action. Permit me to again assure you that no offense was intended. I believed then, and from conversation with Col. Tuttle since, am fully convinced you did what you believed to be your duty, and that the performance of that duty was painful to you. I then believed and now believe none the less that you erred, and so said to you frankly. But I cannot admit that in this there is any cause for offense.

Very respectfully, your Obdt. Svt.,

Samuel J. Kirkwood

SOURCE: State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa Historical Record, Volumes 1-3, Volume 2, No. 3, July 1886, p. 324-6

Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood to Senator James W. Grimes, March 24, 1862

How about our Brigadiers? You know I long ago recommended Crocker, Dodge and Perczel and I yet think them among our best colonels as you will find when they are tried. Dodge has been tried at Pea Ridge and has turned out just as I expected. I think him one of the very best military men in the State. Has Lauman been appointed? He acted manfully at Belmont and deserves it. Tuttles charge at Donelson is one of the most brilliant of this or any other war. I have been on the ground he charged over, and I believe that none but Iowa troops could have done it. Vandever did nobly at Pea Ridge, so far as I have learned, and all our colonels and all our men will do the same as they get the chance.

Can't we get some more Brigadiers? What is the situation about Washington generally? Don't things look more hopeful? Take time to write me a long letter showing just how things stand. I thank you for your speech on the navy and the gallant Foote. He is a man all over.

SOURCE: Henry Warren Lathrop, The Life and Times of Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa's War Governor, p. 214

Nathaniel B. Baker to Rush Clark, February 19, 1862

STATE OF Iowa, ADJUTANT GENERAL’s Office

February 19th, 1862.

HON. Rush CLARK,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

SIR: I have just received the following despatch from Chicago:

CHICAGO, Feb. 19th, 1862.

To ADJUTANT GENERAL BAKER:

The Second Iowa acquitted themselves with great bravery at Fort Donelson — led the best and most successful charge —have suffered terribly. Besides the Second, there were the Seventh, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth and Fourteenth Iowa Infantry in the fight. The friends of Cols. Tuttle, Lauman, Perczel, Hare, Wood and Shaw, will rejoice that the glory of the fight and the victory belongs, and is attached to their names, and to the brave officers and soldiers under them. Another glorious page has been recorded in the history of Iowa by her gallant troops in the field.

With great respect, I have the honor to rejoice in the glory of Iowa, and the triumph of Union men.

N. B. BAKER.

Adjutant General of Iowa.

SOURCES: Henry Warren Lathrop, The Life and Times of Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa's War Governor, p. 207; Iowa House of Representatives, Journal of the House of the Ninth General Assembly of the State of Iowa, p. 342

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Sunday, November 8, 1863

No work today, only picket duty, and all is very quiet here. General Tuttle's division left Vicksburg this morning for Memphis.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 151

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, November 7, 1863

I was on fatigue duty again today. Two brigades of General Logan's Division went out to the Black river post to relieve General Tuttle's Division, which came in and is to take boat for points up the Mississippi river.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 151

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, October 14, 1863

General Tuttle's division left early this morning on their expedition, carrying eight days' rations. General Logan's Division is also in the command, and there is a total of about ten thousand men — infantry, artillery and cavalry. Our brigade moved into the tents of the Third Brigade of Tuttle's Division, the Eleventh Iowa occupying those of the Fifth Minnesota.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 147

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, October 13, 1863

This is election day for the soldiers of Iowa, they having been given the right to vote while in the army. No one is permitted to electioneer for his favorite candidate and those who persisted in doing so were arrested and put in the guardhouse. General Tuttle, the commander of a division, is from Iowa and is the candidate for governor of the State on the Democratic ticket, against Colonel Stone, formerly of the Twenty-second Iowa Regiment, who is the Republican candidate for governor.¹

_______________

¹ Stone was elected, even without the soldier vote, by a large majority. Mr. Downing has the distinction of having cast his first vote while in the service. — Ed.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 147

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Monday, October 12, 1863

We remained here in bivouac all day, and shall probably continue at this place several days. Our brigade was sent here to relieve the Third Brigade of General Tuttle's expedition toward Jackson, Mississippi. It turned very warm today. It is raining this evening, and we have no tents in which to stay.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 147

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Sunday, July 5, 1863

We came in this morning at 10 o'clock from an all night picket along the Big Black river. We were relieved by General Tuttle's Brigade. Our brigade then fell back a mile and went into bivouac in heavy timber. The rebels all left last night, it is thought, for Jackson, Mississippi, with the forces of Sherman and Ord in pursuit of them. Sherman passed us, crossing the Big Black at Messenger's ford, while Ord's army crossed the river over the railroad bridge. There is great rejoicing in camp over the fall of Vicksburg and the boys are singing songs and celebrating.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 127

The remains of Adjutant Tuttle . . .

. . . of the 2d Iowa Regiment, who died in St. Louis, of fever, arrived here yesterday on the Packet and will be taken on to-day to Keosauqua by Col. Tuttle and his brother, who were here yesterday to received the dead body. – Keokuk Gate City, 15th.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 20, 1862, p. 2

Major General William T. Sherman to Ellen Ewing Sherman, May 2, 1863

MILLIKEN'S BEND, May 2, 1863.

As I wrote you on Wednesday, I went up Yazoo with two ironclad boats, four or five mosquitoes, or small stern wheel gun-boats, and ten transports carrying a part of Blair’s division for the purpose of making a simulated attack on Haines' Bluff to divert attention from Grant's movements on Grand Gulf. The first night we spent at our old battle ground of Chickasaw Bayou, and next morning moved up in sight of the batteries on Drumgould's Hill. We battered away all morning and the enemy gave us back as much as we sent. The leading gun-boat got fifty-three shots in her, but her men being in iron casemates were not hurt. A wooden boat had a shot through the engine room. I was in the Black Hawk which was a wooden boat with two thirty pound rifles on the bow. We kept up a brisk cannonade for about five hours and then hauled out of range. I then disembarked the men in full view and made all the usual demonstrations of attack and remained so till night when the men were recalled. Next morning we made renewed examination, and I had just given orders for a new cannonade when a messenger came up from Grant saying they had had hard work at Grand Gulf and were compelled to run below, but that he would land at Bayou Pierre and turn back on Vicksburg, ordering me to come with two of my divisions to Perkins' plantation about forty miles down the river. I sent down orders for Tuttle's and Steele's divisions to march at once and yesterday afternoon we renewed the cannonade and kept it up till night when he ran down to our camp and moved up to Milliken's Bend. Steele's and Tuttle's divisions have gone out and I start to-morrow to overtake and pass them. I have nothing positive from below. Blair's division remains here. . . .

SOURCES: M. A. DeWolfe Howe, Editor, Home Letters of General Sherman, p. 258-9.  A full copy of this letter can be found in the William T Sherman Family papers (SHR), University of Notre Dame Archives (UNDA), Notre Dame, IN 46556, Folder CSHR 2/04.

The Headquarters Monuments at Shiloh National Military Park

Major General Ulysses S. Grant, Commanding the Army of the Tennessee

• Headquarters at Savannah, Tennessee
• Headquarters on the Night of April 1862

•  Major General John A. McClernand, 1st Division

• Colonel Abraham Hare, 1st Brigade
• Colonel Julius Raith, 3rd Brigade
• Colonel Leonard F. Ross, 3rd Brigade

• Brigadier General William H. L. Wallace, 2nd Division
• Colonel James M. Tuttle, 1st Brigade
• Brigadier General John McArthur, 2nd Brigade
• Colonel Thomas W. Sweeny, 3rd Brigade

• Brigadier General Stephen A. Hurlbut, 4th Division
• Colonel James C. Veatch, 2nd Brigade

• Brigadier General William T. Sherman, 5th Division
• Colonel John A. McDowell, 1st Brigade
• Colonel David Stuart, 2nd Brigade

• Brigadier General Benjamin M. Prentiss, 6th Division
• Colonel Everett Peabody, 1st Brigade

Second Division, Army of the Tennessee Marker: W.H.L. Wallace Headquarters, Pittsburg Landing Road, Shiloh National Military Park

U. S.

SECOND DIVISION, ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE

BRIG. GEN. WM. H. L. WALLACE, (MORTALLY W’D.)

COL. JAMES M. TUTTLE, 2D IOWA

1ST BRIGADE	COL. JAMES M. TUTTLE, 2D IOWA
2ND BRIGADE	BRIG. GEN. JOHN McARTHUR, (W’D.)
	COL. THOMAS MORTON, 81ST OHIO.
3RD BRIGADE	COL. THOMAS M. SWEENY, 52D ILLINOIS, (W’D.)
	COL. SILAS D. BALDWIN, 57TH ILLINOIS.
BATTERY ‘A’ 1ST ILL. LT. ARTY., LIEUT. PETER P. WOOD.
BATTERY ‘D’ 1ST MO. LT. ARTY., CAPT. HENRY RICHARDSON.
BATTERY ‘H’ 1ST MO. LT. ARTY., CAPT. FRED. WELKER.
BATTERY ‘K’ 1ST MO. LT. ARTY., CAPT. GEORGE H. STONE.
COMPANIES ‘A’ AND ‘B’ 2D ILLINOIS CAVALRY.
COMPANIES ‘C’ 2D AND ‘I’ 4TH U. S. CAVALRY.

This Division, commanded by Brig. Gen. C. F. Smith, arrived upon this field March 19, 1862 and encamped along, and to the right of the road from Pittsburg Landing to Snake Creek Bridge.

April 2, 1862 Brig. Gen. Wm. H. L. Wallace was assigned to the command of the Division.

On Sunday, April 6, 1862, the 1st and 3d brigades were engaged at the “Hornets’ Nest”; two regiments of the 2d Brigade, under Gen. McArthur, were engaged east of the Peach Orchard; the other three regiments were detached to different parts of the field.  At about 5 P. M. Gen. Wallace was mortally wounded and four of his regiments were surrounded and captured.

On Monday the Division, under the command of Col. Tuttle, was in reserve, supporting the 5th Division of the Army of the Ohio, until about noon.  It then formed in the front line between the divisions of McCook and Crittenden, and was engaged in the Review Field.  The Division had present for duty, of all arms, officers and men, 8408.  Its loss was 270 killed; 1173 wounded; 1306 missing; total 2749.

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Monday, July 28, 1862

We struck our tents and at sunup started on our march for Bolivar, Tennessee. Our guide took us on the wrong road and we countermarched about ten miles, thus not being far from our starting point. The guide was tied and taken back to Corinth.¹  It is very warm and the roads are dusty. Our road being on high ground, we found water very scarce, and what little we got was of poor quality. General Tuttle is in command of our division, the Sixth.

_________

¹ I never learned what became of him. — A. G. D.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 60

Official Reports of the Battle of Shiloh: No. 21. Col. William T. Shaw, 14th Iowa Infantry

No. 21.

Report of Col. William T. Shaw, Fourteenth Iowa Infantry.

ANAMOSA, IOWA, October 26, 1862.

SIR: As by the terms of my parole I am precluded from making as yet any official report of the part borne by my regiment, the Fourteenth Iowa, in the battle of Shiloh, on the 6th of April last, and as I feel it due alike to the regiment and to myself, after so long an imprisonment, that their conduct shall be fully reported, I take the liberty of laying before you, unofficially, the following statement:

You will remember that the regiment then formed a part of the brigade of Gen. W. H. L. Wallace, included in the division of Gen. Charles F. Smith. On that day, however, in consequence of General Smith’s illness, General Wallace commanded the division, and Colonel Tuttle, of the Second Iowa, our brigade, which consisted of the Second, Seventh, Twelfth, and Fourteenth Iowa Regiments. Our division occupied the center of the line, having that of General Prentiss on its left, with General Hurlbut beyond him, while the divisions of Generals Sherman and McClernand were on its right. Our brigade occupied the left of the division, and was arranged in the order given above, from the right, so that the Fourteenth occupied the extreme left of the division, next to General Prentiss’ command.

Our line of battle was formed about half past 8 o’clock a.m., about 500 yards from the enemy's artillery, which at once opened a severe fire upon us. The ground was rolling and wooded, but free from underbrush, interspersed here and there with cleared fields and cut up by several roads.

In a short time the enemy's infantry made their appearance, advancing in line of battle. I at once perceived that the line of our brigade was not parallel with theirs, but inclined to it at an angle of about 45 degrees, the left in advance, thus exposing my left flank to the enemy some distance in advance of General Prentiss’ line, upon which it should have rested, and about 200 yards from his extreme right. After consulting with Colonel Woods, of the Twelfth, who was next to me on the right, I threw back my regiment and the left wing of the Twelfth, so as to bring our part of the line parallel to the advancing enemy and in line with General Prentiss’ division, but still failing to connect with it by an interval of about 200 yards. This also improved our position, which had previously been directly upon a ridge, exposed to the enemy's artillery, and gave us that ridge as a partial shelter. The enemy advanced steadily in two lines, about 200 yards apart. I ordered my men to lie down and hold their fire until they were within thirty paces. The effect of this was, that when the order to fire was given, and the Twelfth and Fourteenth opened directly in their faces, the enemy's first line was completely destroyed. Our fire was only returned by a few, nearly all who were not killed or wounded by it fleeing in every direction. I then immediately advanced my regiment, in which I was gallantly joined by the left wing of the Twelfth. Passing almost without opposition over the ground which had been occupied by the first lines, we attacked and drove back their second for some distance, until I was forced to recall my men for fear of my left flank being turned, no part of General Prentiss’ division having advanced with us. In this movement we took a number of prisoners, including 1 captain, whom I sent to the rear. Returning, the Fourteenth took up its old position in the line of battle, and Colonel Geddes, of the Eighth Iowa, now formed his regiment on our left, in line with us and General Prentiss’ division, filling up the gap which had previously existed there. That division, however, with the one beyond it, materially changed its position in the course of the forenoon, its left falling back repeatedly, until the line of these two divisions had swung around almost at right angles to us. I now perceived a large force of the enemy approaching from the left and front, and immediately reported the fact to Colonel Tuttle, who, at my request, sent me a couple of brass 6-pounders, which were near by. These I got into position just  in time to receive the enemy. They advanced with the most desperate bravery, the brunt of their attack falling upon the Eighth Iowa, by whom it was most gallantly borne. I have good authority for saying that the firm resistance of the center at that time was the chief means of saving our whole army from destruction. The fighting continued with great severity for about an hour, during which we repelled what General Beauregard in his official report counts as three of the five distinct charges made by the rebels that day upon our center, and at the end of that time the enemy facing us fell back fully repulsed. Colonel Geddes now withdrew a short distance to take care of his wound, and at his request, as his position was more important and exposed than my own, I moved to the left and occupied it, thus leaving an interval on my right between us and the Twelfth. When Colonel Geddes reformed it was on the right of General Prentiss, with whom Colonel Geddes fought during the rest of the day.

General Prentiss’ line had now swung around so far as to be almost parallel with ours, and back to back with us, about 150 yards in our rear, at our end of the two lines. In this position he was again engaged by a large body of the enemy, who had advanced from the left, having driven in General Hurlbut’s division. At about a quarter to 5 p.m. I received an order from Colonel Tuttle to about-face and proceed to engage the same body of the enemy. In order not to interfere with General Prentiss’ lines I marched by an oblique, passing close to the Eighteenth Wisconsin in his line, and here for the third time that day the Fourteenth engaged with the enemy. After less than half an hour we repulsed them and made a short advance, which revealed to me the facts of our position. The enemy’s center had advanced over the ground defended by us before our change of front and were now attacking us in the rear. Both wings of their forces had advanced so far as to form a junction between us and Pittsburg Landing, their right, which we were now facing, meeting at an angle with their left, which had driven in McClernand's and Sherman's divisions on our right, and into this angle we were about being pressed by this new attack on our rear. General Prentiss having already surrendered with a part of his command, the Fourteenth was left in advance of all that remained, but completely inclosed, receiving the enemy's fire from three directions. The regiment still kept its ranks unbroken and held its position facing the enemy, but the men were almost completely exhausted with a whole day of brave and steady fighting and many of them had spent their whole stock of ammunition. It was therefore useless to think of prolonging a resistance which could only have wasted their lives to no purpose, and at about a quarter to six p.m. I surrendered them and myself prisoners of war. I have only to add that I feel under the deepest obligations to both officers and men of my regiment for their admirable conduct through the day. This was so complete and free from exception, that it would be impossible to mention individuals without doing injustice to the rest. Their steadiness and courage, the accuracy of their fire, and precision of all their movements entitle them to the highest credit, and their general demeanor, both upon the battle-field and in the trying scenes through which we passed as prisoners of war, will always be remembered by me with pride and gratification.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

 WM. T. SHAW,

 Colonel Fourteenth Iowa Volunteers.

Hon. 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 152-4

Official Reports of the Battle of Shiloh: No. 10. Col. Marcellus M. Crocker, 13th Iowa Infantry

No. 10.

Report of Col. Marcellus M. Crocker, Thirteenth Iowa Infantry.

HDQRS. THIRTEENTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY VOLS.,

Camp near Pittsburg, Tenn., April 8, 1862.

SIR: I have the honor to report the part taken by the Thirteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry in the engagement with the enemy on the 6th and 7th instant.

Early in the morning of the 6th the alarm was given, and heavy firing in the distance indicated that our camp was attacked. The regiment was formed in front of its color line, its full force consisting of 717 men, rank and file. It was at once ordered to form on the left of the Second Brigade, and proceeded to that position at a double-quick, and was then formed in line of battle in a skirt of woods bordering on an open field to the left of a battery. Here it remained for some time inactive, while the enemy's guns were playing on our battery. In the mean time a large force of the enemy's infantry were filing around the open field in front of our line, protected by the woods and in the direction of our battery, opening a heavy fire of musketry on the infantry stationed on our right and charging upon the battery. The infantry and battery to the right having given way, and the enemy advancing at double-quick, we gave them one round of musketry and also gave way. At this time we – as, indeed, all our troops in the immediate vicinity of the battery – were thrown into great confusion, and retired in disorder. Having retired to the distance of 100 or 200 yards we succeeded in rallying and forming a good line, the Eighth and Eighteenth Illinois Volunteers on our left, and having fronted to the enemy, held our position there under a continual fire of cannon and musketry until after 12 o’clock, when we were ordered to retire and take up a new position. This we did in good order and without confusion. Here, having formed a new line, we maintained it under incessant fire until 4.30 o’clock p.m., the men conducting themselves with great gallantry and coolness, and doing great execution on the enemy, repulsing charge after charge, and driving them back with great loss.

At 4.30 o’clock p.m. we were again ordered to fall back. In obeying this order we became mixed up with a great number of regiments falling back in confusion, so that our line was broken and the regiment separated, rendering it very difficult to collect it; but finally, having succeeded in forming, and being separated from the brigade, we attached ourselves to the division commanded by Colonel Tuttle, of the Second Iowa Volunteers, and formed with his division in front of the encampment of the Fourteenth, Second, and Seventh Iowa Volunteers, where we sustained a heavy fire from the enemy's battery until dark, and there remained during the night on our arms. During the day we were under fire of the enemy for ten hours, and sustained a loss of 23 killed and 130 wounded.

On the morning of the 7th we were ordered to continue with Colonel Tuttle’s division and to follow up and support our forces that were attacking and driving back the enemy. We followed them up closely, moving to support the batteries until the enemy was routed, after which we were ordered to return to the encampment that we had left on Sunday morning, where we arrived at 8 o’clock p.m.

Our total loss in the action of the 6th and 7th is: Killed, 24; wounded, 139; missing, 9; total, 172.*  The men for the most part behaved with great gallantry, and the officers exhibited the greatest bravery and coolness; and I call especial attention to the gallant conduct of my field officers, Lieutenant-Colonel Price and Major Shane, who were both wounded in the action of the 6th, and acknowledge my great obligations to my adjutant, Lieutenant Wilson, who during the entire action exhibited the highest qualities of a soldier.

Respectfully, &c.,

M. M. CROCKER,

Colonel Thirteenth Iowa Infantry.

 C. CADLE, Jr., A. A. A. G., First Brigade, First Division.

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* But see revised statement, p. 100, and division return, p. 123.

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 131-2