Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/319

 into our ranks. It was now the middle of the afternoon and the enemy was still pressing heavily upon our lines at several points, and it seemed that the lines would be pierced in spite of the utmost efforts of the defenders. Colonel Crabb now led a fierce assault on the enemy’s left center, driving it from position. General Brown rode forward encouraging the militia who were making a desperate fight against overwhelming numbers, when he was shot down and carried from the field. The command devolved upon Colonel Crabb and the battle continued with varying fortune. At one time a part of the Missouri militia gave way before superior numbers, and for a time it looked as though Springfield was lost. But soon rallying, it charged the enemy with great spirit, while at this critical time five companies of the Eighteenth Iowa, stationed at an outpost some distance from Springfield, reached the battle-field. Under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Cook they went into the fight with such effect as to drive the enemy’s center into the stockade. The garrison, which had for many hours been hard pressed and fighting desperately a greatly superior force, was now encouraged by this reënforcement, and, as night came on, the Confederate army retired to the east and the battle was ended. The Eighteenth regiment had something over five hundred men engaged in the battle and its loss was fifty-six. By the splendid courage and heroic resistance of this Iowa regiment and the Missouri militia, Springfield and its valuable army stores were saved from the enemy, who lost more than two hundred men in the engagement. Our loss was about the same. The Eighteenth remained at Springfield several months after the battle, and in April, Colonel Edwards joined it and assumed command of the post. In the fall it marched into Arkansas and on to Fort Smith, where Colonel Edwards was placed in command and the Eighteenth was again assigned to garrison duty. In the spring of 1864, Colonel Edwards was in command of a brigade composed of his own regiment, the First and Second Arkansas and