Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/331

 thinned the ranks on either side until darkness put an end to the desperate conflict. Now despairing of victory General Hindman, under cover of night, began his stealthy retreat. Muffling the sound of his artillery and wagons by wrapping the tires with blankets, he silently moved his defeated army in the direction of Van Buren, and when morning dawned the main portion of his army was many miles from the battle-field in rapid retreat. The Confederates’ loss in this bloody battle was reported by General Blunt to be over 2,000, while that of the Union army in killed and wounded and missing was 1,143, more than nine hundred being in General Herron’s command. When the greatly superior strength of the Confederate army is considered, this victory must be regarded as one of the most remarkable of the war. *

The Nineteenth Iowa remained in the vicinity of the battle-field until the close of the year. For several months the regiment was employed in southwestern Missouri, marching to various places threatened by the enemy, guarding trains and property. In May it was for a time at Salem, attached to the command of General Thomas Ewing. Early in June it was sent to reënforce General Grant’s army before Vicksburg. Here it remained, participating in the various duties devolving upon the army of investment, until the surrender of that stronghold. On the 4th of July the regiment was a part of the conquering army that marched triumphantly into the captured city of Vicksburg. A week later it was sent with General Herron on an expedition to Yazoo City, participating in the hard marches of that midsummer campaign, returning to Vicksburg on the 21st of July. The regiment was next sent with the army that moved by transports down the river to Port Hudson, where it suffered greatly from sickness, of which many died. In August the command continued down the river to Carrollton, near New Orleans, and

* The Nineteenth Regiment lost forty-five killed and one hundred and fifty-five wounded in this battle. Among the killed were Lieutenants L. M. Smith and Thomas Johnston.