Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/397

 April the regiment began the campaign that resulted in the capture of Vicksburg. It was in a brigade with the Twenty-fourth Iowa, an Indiana and an Ohio regiment commanded by Colonel Slack. At the Battle of Port Gibson, for the first time under fire, it fought with the coolness and courage that had characterized all of the Iowa regiments. The loss was one killed and sixteen wounded. From this time until the 16th of May marching and skirmishing composed the daily movements of the army. At the Battle of Champion’s Hill the regiment won the commendation of its superior officers and in his report General Hovey says:

“Of the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-eighth Iowa, in what language shall I speak! Scarcely more than six months in the service and yet no troops ever showed more bravery or fought with great valor. Of them and their commanders the State of Iowa may well be proud.”

In this battle the Twenty-eighth had twenty-two men killed, sixty-five wounded and thirteen taken prisoners. Four companies came out of the fight without a commissioned officer. Captain B. F. Kirby and Lieutenant J. J. Legan were killed, Captain A. J. Staley was captured and Lieutenant John Buchanan was wounded. The regiment served through the siege of Vicksburg, having several killed and wounded. On the day of the surrender it was sent to join the army operating against Jackson with numbers now reduced by sickness, wounds and death to two hundred fifty men. Major Lynch had resigned on account of ill health and Captain John Meyer had been promoted to the vacancy. In August the regiment was transferred to the Department of the Gulf and went into camp at Carrollton, where it remained a month, the men meantime gaining in health and strength. In September the Twenty-eighth joined General Franklin’s army which made an expedition into southwestern Louisiana to Brashier City, Vermillionville and Opelousas. Upon retiring it was followed by the enemy and several slight engagements took place.