No. 20.
Report of Col. Joseph J. Woods,
Twelfth Iowa Infantry.
MAQUOKETA, JACKSON COUNTY, IOWA,
April —, 1862.
On the morning of April 6, the rebels having attacked our
advanced lines at Shiloh, Tenn., the Twelfth Iowa Infantry was rapidly formed
and joined the other regiments — the Second, Seventh, and Fourteenth — of the
Iowa brigade, being the First Brigade, under Brigadier-General Tuttle, of the
Second Division, under General Wallace. The brigade was marched to near the
field beyond General Hurlbut’s headquarters and formed in line of battle, the
Second and Seventh on our right, the Fourteenth on our left. The Eighth Iowa,
of Prentiss’ division, was on the left of the Fourteenth, forming an angle to
the rear with our line. An open field lay in front of our right. Dense timber
covered our left. A small ravine was immediately behind us. In this position we
awaited the approach of the enemy. Soon he made a bold attack on us, but met
with a warm reception, and soon we repulsed him. Again and again repeatedly did
he attack us, trying vainly to drive us from our position. He failed to move us
one inch from our position. On the contrary, we repulsed every attack of the
enemy and drove him back in confusion.
Thus matters stood in our front until about 4 p.m., at which
time it became evident, by the firing on our left, that the enemy were getting
in our rear. An aide-de-camp rode up and directed me to face to the rear and
fall back, stating, in answer to my inquiry, that I would receive orders as to
the position I was to occupy. No such orders reached me, and I suppose could
not. The Second and Seventh Iowa had already gone to the rear, and on reaching
the high ground between our position and General Hurlbut’s headquarters we
discovered that we were already surrounded by the enemy, caused by no fault of
our own, but by the troops at a distance from us on our right and left giving way
before the enemy. Seeing ourselves surrounded, we nevertheless opened a brisk
fire on that portion of the enemy who blocked our passage to the Landing, who,
after briskly returning our fire for a short time, fell back. A brisk fire from
the enemy on our left (previous right) was going on at the same time. Seeing
the enemy in front falling back, we attempted by a rapid movement to cut our
way through, but the enemy on our left advanced rapidly, coming in behind us,
pouring into our ranks a most destructive fire. The enemy in front faced about
and opened on us at short range, the enemy in our rear still closing in on us
rapidly. I received two wounds, disabling me from further duty. The command
then devolved on Captain Edgington, acting as field officer. The enemy had,
however, already so closely surrounded us that their balls which missed our men
took effect in their ranks beyond us. To have held out longer would have been
to suffer complete annihilation. The regiment was therefore compelled to
surrender as prisoners of war.
Lieutenant-Colonel Coulter was much reduced by chronic
diarrhea and Major Brodtbeck was suffering from rheumatism. Being myself the
only field officer on duty, at my request Captain Edgington acted as a field
officer, the duties of which he performed in an able and efficient manner.
Quartermaster Dorr, though his position did not require him
to go into action, volunteered to do so, and throughout the day behaved in a
brave and gallant manner, daringly, if not recklessly, exposing his person to
the enemy. He made himself very useful in carrying messages and spying out the
positions and movements of the enemy and firing on them as occasion offered.
Energetic and efficient in his own department, he would fill a higher one with
credit to himself and honor to the service.
Adjutant Duncan proved himself on this, as on all occasions,
a faithful and efficient officer.
Captains Earle, Warner, Stibbs, Haddock, Van Duzee, and
Townsley performed well their part, as did all the lieutenants in the action,
in a prompt and willing manner.
The non-commissioned officers and men stood bravely up to
their work and never did men behave better.
In the death of Lieutenant Ferguson, of Company D, the
regiment lost one of its best-drilled officers and a gallant soldier. It also
lost a good man and a good officer in the death of Lieutenant Moir, of Company
A.
J. J. WOODS,
Colonel Twelfth Iowa Volunteers.
ACTING ASSISTANT
ADJUTANT-GENERAL,
First Brigade, Second Division.
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 151-2
