Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/290

 those sent to Fort Randall. Many recruits were secured to fill the depleted ranks. Captain J. H. Newbold was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in place of Lucas, resigned, and Captain E. A. Warner was appointed major to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Kirkwood. On the 10th of April, 1863, Company C joined the regiment which was soon after sent to Columbus, Kentucky, were for a long time it remained, performing garrison duty and drilling recruits. In January, 1864, it was sent to Vicksburg and assigned to the Second Brigade of the Third Division of the Sixteenth Army Corps. Colonel Shaw had command of the brigade and Lieutenant-Colonel Shaw had command of the brigade and Lieutenant-Colonel Newbold commanded the regiment. It was with General Sherman in his Meridian expedition and soon after was sent to join General Banks in his disastrous Red River campaign. In March General Smith marched a portion of the army against Fort De Russey on the Red River, Shaw’s Brigade being a part of his force.

CAPTURE OF FORT DE RUSSEY

Admiral Porter with a formidable fleet started up the Red River to clear it of obstructions, while Smith’s army marched overland on the 13th of March. Colonel Shaw’s Brigade was in the lead. At Bayou de Glaize the bridge had been burned and six hundred of the enemy on the west bank disrupted his passage. He opened on them with artillery and soon dislodged them, then rebuilding the bridge, crossed the river in pursuit. Shaw moved on to within eight hundred yards of the fort and, posting his artillery, sent his skirmishers forward to annoy the enemy’s gunners. The whole army had now come up and the batteries opened upon the fort. The enemy replied with shell and shrapnel, and it soon became evident that the fort could not soon be taken without a general assault. The columns were formed, and at the word of command moved forward with loud shouts. The fort was a formidable work, with bastions and