Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/396

 Iowa County; Company K, Jasper County. It was organized in the autumn of 1862 with the following officers: Colonel William E. Miller, Lieutenant-Colonel John Connell, Major H. B. Lynch, Adjutant J. E. Pritchard. It went into camp at Iowa City, where several weeks were spent drilling. On the 10th of October the regiment was mustered into the United States service, numbering nine hundred fifty-six men. The regiment reached Helena, Arkansas, on the 20th of November, three hundred men under Major Lynch being sent to join General Hovey’s command in Mississippi, then marching to reënforce General Grant’s army operating against Vicksburg. The detachment was absent nearly two weeks, marching most of the time, losing one man killed by guerillas. The men at Helena suffered greatly from sickness. The smallpox broke out in the army and many died before it was subdued.

On the 11th of January, 1863, the regiment was sent with General Gorman’s expedition up the White River by steamer to Duvall’s Bluff. Heavy storms of rain, wind and snow drenched the men’s clothing, then froze, causing great suffering. The expedition accomplished nothing; many soldiers died from the effects of exposure and hardships encountered. Rude winter quarters were now built in which the men endured a gloomy existence with almost every form of discomfort imaginable. Fevers seized them, hospitals were crowded with the sick and dying, every day muffled drums were beating funeral marches. The troops were unpaid, their clothing was in rags, their shoes worn out, misery, homesickness and despair prevailed through out the desolate camp. In February the well men of the regiment were sent with General Washburn’s command to remove the obstructions from Yazoo Pass, where they worked in the water for a week clearing the channel for the passage of steamers. Soon after the return to camp Colonel Miller resigned and was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel Connell. On the 11th of