Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/210

 to fall back to Grand Junction, and defeated his plan of coöperation with Sherman in the attack upon Vicksburg. Grant’s retreat had liberated the Confederate army, which had been gathered at Grenada to oppose his advance, and unknown to Sherman, it had hastened to the defense of Vicksburg. This city occupied a range of high bluffs bounded on the north by swamps and bayous almost impassable. Protected by abatis covering rifle pits, with the bluffs as strongly fortified as skill and slave labor combined could make them, the place was absolutely impregnable from assault, when defended by a large army. The mighty task which Sherman attempted was simply impossible; but somewhere in the long line he hoped to find a weak place where the army could force its way. The men were in excellent spirits and anxious to be led against the stronghold. Porter’s gunboats were ready to render all possible assistance. The troops were landed along the Yazoo River on the 26th of December. By the morning of the 29th the entire army was in position to move upon the works. The Rebel batteries opened fire on our lines and the battle began. All night our soldiers had heard the heavily loaded trains rolling into Vicksburg, bringing reënforcements from Pemberton’s army. Thayer, who commanded the brigade in which was the Fourth Iowa, charge upon the enemy and carried the first line, drove the Rebels from the second and halted under a terrible fire, waiting for support, scores of brave men and officers falling at every discharge. The couriers, sent for reënforcements, were shot down. Thayer rode along the line, in anguish over the slaughter of his men and warmly commended their bravery. But no help came, and, at last, he gave the order to fall back. Slowly the regiment retired in order, as the terrible fire thinned its ranks. Ingersoll says:

“There were many Iowa regiments and batteries which behaved with that high degree of credit which the troops of the State everywhere maintained throughout the war, but no regiment from any State behaved with