Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/215

 of February, 1864, the men were mustered in as veterans, and were granted furloughs. They reached Des Moines on the 9th of March, while the Legislature was in session, which adjourned to give the veterans a royal reception. The ladies of the city joined with the General Assembly in tendering to the gallant soldiers a banquet, where all honors were accorded to the boys in blue, who had won fame on so many battle-fields. By the first of May, the regiment had again joined the army of General Sherman, which was sweeping onward toward the sea, overcoming all opposition. In the long marches, skirmish lines, and battle-fields, Williamson’s Brigade, composed of the Fourth, Ninth, Twenty-fifth, Thirtieth and Thirty-first regiments, bore a prominent part. In the battle of July 22d, before Atlanta, this brigade made a gallant charge, recapturing De Grass’ famous battery of twenty-four-pound Parrott guns, which had been taken.

A correspondent of the New York Tribune says of Williamson’s Iowa Brigade, in the battle of the 22d: “It was one of the bravest, truest, most tenacious fighting brigades that has marched to the rescue of our Nation’s liberties.” The Fourth had fought bravely at Resaca, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain and at Jonesboro, until losses had reduced its numbers below two hundred. Major Nichols was severely wounded, Captain Anderson was wounded at Jonesboro; Lieutenants Baker and Cramer were killed at Ringgold. Several changes were made in officers; Major Nichols was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and Captain A. R. Anderson was promoted to major.

In the pursuit of Hood’s army which began October 5th, the Fourth Iowa took part. It remained with Sherman in his march through the Carolinas and fought at Bentonsport, the last battle of that famous campaign. Early in January, 1865, Williamson received his well-earned and long-delayed commission as Brigadier-General. The Fourth Regiment marched from Raleigh to Washington and participated in the final grand review, and