Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/313

 Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas, in April, 1863, it returned to the army General Grant was concentrating for the most brilliant campaign of the war. In that wonderful march into the heart of the enemy’s country, where by rapid movements he prevented the junction of the two Confederate armies of Pemberton and Johnston, the Seventeenth Iowa was in the fighting line. On the 12th of May it participated in the Battle of Raymond, where the enemy was defeated. Two days later it was in the front brigade of General Crocker’s Division, crowding the enemy into Jackson, where it fought bravely in that bloody battle, losing twenty-five per cent. of its men. On the 16th it reached the battle-field at Champion’s Hill, and took part in that desperate conflict where Pemberton made a determined stand to beat back Grant’s army. But nothing could withstand the fierce assault of Grant’s western regiments, and the Confederate army was again forced to retreat with heavy loss. The Seventeenth Iowa captured a battery, a stand of colors and nearly two hundred prisoners, and received the personal commendation of General Grant. The regiment remained on the battle-field several days to assist in burying the dead and caring for the wounded of both armies, and then joined the army which was now investing Vicksburg from the rear. Toward the last of May Colonel Hillis resigned, Lieutenant-Colonel Wever was promoted to the vacancy, Major Archer to lieutenant-colonel and Captain Walden to major.

During the siege of Vicksburg the Seventeenth Iowa was engaged in one fierce encounter with the enemy. A strong defensive work had been erected by the Confederates on the Jackson road named Fort Hill. This post had been