Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/470

 to rebuild the barracks and put the town in condition for defense. Her it remained undisturbed until June. On the 7th of that month it departed for Vicksburg, joining General Herron’s Division. On the 15th the command took a position on the left of the investing army and from that time until the surrender was engaged in the duties of the siege. The position of the regiment was on the borders of a cypress swamp, which proved to be a very unhealthy place, producing a great among of sickness, resulting in many deaths. On the 12th of July the regiment embarked with General Herron’s forces on the Yazoo City expedition was later sent to Port Hudson, where it was in camp about three weeks during which time almost the entire regiment was prostrated by sickness. At one time only eight officers and twenty men were fit for duty. The encampment was for a long time merely a hospital filled with the sick and dying. Among those who died were Colonel Hughes, Captain Henry A. Tinkham and Lieutenant George H. Stephens, all gallant officers whose untimely deaths were a great loss to the regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Hodnutt being absent on sick leave the command was assumed by Major Chadwick. The remnant of the regiment was moved from Port Huron about the middle of August and went into convalescent camp at Carrollton, Louisiana, remaining about two months, regaining health and strength. When General Banks began his Texas expedition the Thirty-eighth joined Herron’s command and one the 23d of October embarked for Brazos Santiago. From there the army marched to Brownsville and there remained on garrison duty until the latter part of July when the town was evacuated by the Union Army. The regiment returned by transport to New Orleans and was from there sent to the army operating against Mobile. Here the command remained, taking part in the siege, until some time after the surrender of Fort Morgan. The regiment then returned to New Orleans and Lieutenant-Colonel Hodnutt was ordered to Donaldsonville, Louisiana. On the 12th of