Benjamin F. Gue

“ The enemy under cover of the woods could approach within twenty yards of our works without discovery. The Confederates would frequently occupy one side of the works and our men the other. Many individual acts of heroism here occurred. Men were bayoneted across the works and officers with swords fought hand-to-hand with men with bayonets. Colonel Belknap, of the Fifteenth Iowa, took prisoner Colonel Lampley of the Forty-fifth Alabama, by pulling him over the works by his coat collar, being several times fired at by men at his side. The colors of his regiment were captured at the same time. ”

“ Here the Fifteenth made a good stand for a new regiment until the order came to retreat, when it fell back in confusion. A portion of the men were rallied and took part in the battle later in the day and on Monday. Colonel Reid had been severely wounded, and Major Belknap, Adjutant Pomutz and many of the company officers behaved with great coolness and courage in this their first battle. The loss of the regiment was one hundred eighty-eight in killed, wounded and missing. Captain Hedrick was severely wounded and captured while leading his company in a charge. ”

“ Among the killed were: Captain John Ruehl and Lieutenant F. N. Doyle, while Colonel Chambers, Captains A. Palmer, E. S. Frazier, E. M. Newcomb and M. Zettler, and Lieutenants J. H. Lucas, G. H. Holcomb, Peter Miller and Henry Meyer were among the wounded. ”