Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/259

 The Ninth next marched with General Steele in his expedition to Greenville, Mississippi, and after its return in April, joined in Grant’s campaign against Vicksburg. It was sent with Sherman in the movement against Jackson which resulted in its capture. The regiment returned to the army before Vicksburg on the 18th of May, and took part in the assault of the next day, in which it lost a number of men. In the general assault of the 22d, the Ninth made a gallant fight under the lead of Captain Washburn, who was three times wounded in the charge and died from his injuries at his home on the 16th of June. Among the killed in this charge were Captain F. M. Kelsey and Lieutenant Jones, Tyrell and Wilbur. Lieutenants Little and Sutherland were among the wounded. Sergeant J. M. Elson, the color bearer, while gallantly scaling the earthworks, was shot through both thighs and, as he fell, the flag was seized by Lieutenant Granger and brought off the field. During the siege the regiment lost one hundred and twenty-one men, killed and wounded. Immediately after the surrender, the Ninth was sent with Sherman against General Johnston’s army, and participated in the siege and capture of Jackson. Colonel Williamson, of the Fourth Iowa, now took command of the brigade in which were the Ninth and other Iowa regiments, marching to Chattanooga to participate in the brilliant campaign under Grant.

On the 23d of November, after a march of three hundred miles, their tents were pitched at the foot of Lookout Mountain. Twenty four hours later the Ninth was charging up the steep and rugged mountain side and fighting the great battle up above the clouds. It joined in the pursuit of Hood’s beaten and flying army, fought at Ringgold, and on the 27th was again moving against the enemy. Its losses in these engagements were three killed and sixteen wounded. Winter quarters were at Woodville, Alabama, where early in January, 1864, about three hundred of its members reënlisted as veterans. A month’s furlough enabled them to