Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/339

 on all sides by overwhelming numbers his small force made a heroic attempt to cut its way out, but the odds were too great and after fifty men had fallen in the struggle Colonel Leake was compelled to surrender. Colonel Dye being in command of a brigade, that of the regiment now devolved upon Major Thompson. Early in November the regiment was stationed on the island of Brazos Santiago in Texas, and remained among the islands of this vicinity and on the mainland for a long time, afterward doing garrison duty on Mustang Island seven months, making trips along the bay and coast of the mainland in the spirit of adventure. A detachment of the regiment under Captain Barney captured the “Lizzie Bacon,” a blockade running vessel, and took her to Mustang Island in May. Major Thompson resigned on the 18th of May, leaving Captain M. L. Thompson, of Company C, in command of the regiment. On the 24th of June, 1864, the regiment was relieved from its long exile and steamed to Brazos Santiago, and from there marched to Brownsville, where it remained until the 29th of July. In August it was sent to Fort Gaines, Alabama, and later participated in the siege and bombardment of Fort Morgan without loss. Early in September it was carried by transport to New Orleans and up the river to Morganza, the old camp near which its commander was captured by the enemy nearly a year before. Her Lieutenant-Colonel Leake again joined his regiment, having been exchanged after a long imprisonment in Texas. The regiment was employed at various points along the river and in Arkansas until the 8th of January, 1865, when it was moved to Pensacola, Florida. It was actively engaged in the Mobile campaign, doing excellent service in the brilliant achievements of the Union army. The Twentieth took part in the investment and assault of Blakely and was in the column that stormed and captured the works in the face of a terrific fire of artillery and musketry on the 9th of April. On the 14th the regiment was moved into Mobile, where