Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/270

 wounded, doubtless by an Iowa soldier. Lieutenant J. F. Compton was among the wounded. The regiment was in the march to Corinth, where it remained a part of the garrison for about three months, and was afterward in the fight at Bolivar under Crocker. In October, at Corinth, it participated in the battle of the 3d and 4th, meeting with slight loss. In January, 1863, the regiment was at Memphis and in February, with the Iowa Brigade, was at Lake Providence helping to dig the canal. It was with Grant’s army through the Vicksburg campaign, but not engaged in the severe battles. At the close of this campaign leave of absence was granted to many officers and men. About this time General J. D. Stevenson started on an expedition west of Vicksburg into a region of Louisiana that had not yet been invaded by a Union army. His command consisted of about 4,500 men and among them was the Eleventh Iowa, then under Major Charles Foster. The troops were transported by steamer to Goodrich’s Landing, and about the middle of August marched into the interior, subsisting on the products of the country through which they passed. Their route was nearly due west through a region low and marshy, covered with a dense growth of timber, almost impenetrable underbrush and rank tangle of vegetation which excluded the breeze. The August sun beat down so fiercely that men dropped by scores and hundreds along the line of march. Slimy, oozing bayous crossed their way and had to be bridged; pontoons and corduroy had to be laid in the stifling heat. The only water for use of the army in many places was stagnant, warm and steeped in filth and decaying vegetation. The men were harassed day and night by concealed and retreating enemies. The wagons and ambulances were loaded with sick and exhausted men. The enemy led them on day after day among swamps and bayous, retiring across the Washita River, destroying the pontoons and retreating into a wild region toward Shreveport. The army stopped