Benjamin F. Gue

“ Soon after the surrender General Herron’s Division was sent to reënforce the army of the Gulf, then under the command of General N. P. Banks. The change from the command of the great General who never lost a battle to that of one who brought only disasters to armies he led, was most unwelcome to the Twentieth, taking it from the stirring scene of brilliant victories to a region of monotonous marches and weary garrison duty. At Post Hudson the regiment suffered greatly from sickness and many brave soldiers died during the three weeks’ stay. ”

“ On the 12th of September Lieutenant-Colonel Leake of the Twentieth, was sent seven miles to Stirling Farm in command of a large part of the Nineteenth Iowa, the Twenty-sixth Indiana and two pieces of artillery. His command had frequent skirmishes with the enemy. On the 29th a large force suddenly came upon his command, making a fierce attack in front, flank and rear. This attack was met with a sharp fire. But soon rallying in vastly superior numbers the enemy surrounded the small Union force and opened a deadly fire at close quarters. ”

“ The Confederates’ loss in this bloody battle was reported by General Blunt to be over 2,000, while that of the Union army in killed and wounded and missing was 1,143, more than nine hundred being in General Herron’s command. When the greatly superior strength of the Confederate army is considered, this victory must be regarded as one of the most remarkable of the war. [2] The Nineteenth Iowa remained in the vicinity of the battle-field until the close of the year. ”