Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/278

 the enemy. On the 17th the Battle of Tupelo was fought, in which the Twelfth did excellent service. It was stationed behind a barricade constructed along an old fence, where it was repeatedly assailed by the enemy’s columns; but for two hours it poured in a heavy fire, repelling the enemy’s charges. Late in the day it joined several other regiments in a charge on the Confederates, which drove them from the field.

On the next day the regiment was assigned a position on the Pontotoc road, protected by a breastwork of cotton bales, where it took an active part in the battle. Its loss during the three days was nine killed and fifty-five wounded. Lieutenant A. A. Burdick, a gallant young officer, was among the killed, and Captain C. L. Sumbardo was severely wounded. In August it was stationed at Holly Springs, where Lieutenant-Colonel Stibbs was placed in command. Companies A and F, under command of Captain Hunter, were stationed at a post near the mouth of the White River, where they built a stockade. The little garrison, consisting of less than fifty men, was, on the night of June 4th, attacked by nearly four hundred Confederates. A desperate fight ensued, in which the little band fought with unsurpassed heroism against overwhelming numbers. At one time a number of the enemy entered the stockade, but was met by Sergeant Isaac Cottle and Corporal George D. Hunter with revolvers, who attacked them with such fury that they fled. The two brave men were, however, fatally wounded in the heroic encounter which saved the post from capture. After losing fifty men, including their leader, the Confederates were defeated, and retired leaving their wounded on the field. Early in September the Twelfth, under General Mower, embarked on a steamer with the army for White River. Landing at Duval’s Bluff the army started in pursuit of General Price, who was retreating toward Cape Girardeau. For nineteen days the men marched through rain, mud, swamps and rivers on short rations. On the 6th of October the army