Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/362

 men. On the 17th of May, after several defeats, the Confederate army made a last stand on the banks of the Black River, and here was fought

THE BATTLE OF BLACK RIVER BRIDGE

At this point a high bluff rises abruptly from the water’s edge on the west side. On the east approach there is an open level bottom about a mile in width surrounded by a deep muddy bayou, from ten to twenty feet wide. Along the bayou earthworks had been thrown up mounted with artillery and long lines of breastworks manned by infantry. Half a mile in the rear was a line of earthworks, both extending from the river above the bridge to the river below. This was a strong position, skillfully fortified by able engineers.

McClernand advanced to the attack with Carr’s Division on the right and Osterhaus on the left; General Lawler commanding the brigade in which was the Twenty-third Iowa on the extreme right of line. Several hours were occupied in skirmishing when Lawler’s Brigade was moved under cover of the river bank, from which he ordered an assault of the enemy’s works. The troops charged across the level bottom land, through the bayou, under a terrible fire from the Confederate earthworks, which covered the ground with the slain; but closing up the gaps they pressed on over the breastworks and captured eighteen pieces of artillery and 1,500 prisoners. Those of the enemy who escaped set fire to the bridge across the river to check pursuit. In this brilliant charge three hundred seventy-three brave men fell, most of whom belonged to the Twenty-first and Twenty-third Iowa regiments. Colonel Kinsman while leading this command was shot by two balls which passed through his body and he fell from his horse dead. Many of his officers and men were slain or mortally wounded, carrying great grief to scores of Iowa homes.

After the battle the regiment was placed in charge of