Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/499

 Boonville, he was attacked by General Chalmers with 5,000 men. After skirmishing for some time Sheridan fell back toward his camp situated on the margin of a swamp, where he could not be easily flanked. Here he held the enemy at bay for some time. Finding there was danger of being surrounded Sheridan had recourse to that rare strategy for which he afterwards became so distinguished. He sent a detachment of the Second Iowa, numbering about one hundred men, to the rear of the enemy by a detour of several miles with orders at a certain time to make a vigorous attack while he at the same time was to attack in front. The detachment gained the rear without being discovered and emptying their carbines on the enemy charged with drawn sabers. The Confederates, taken by surprise and supposing they were assailed by a strong force, were thrown into confusion. Before they had time to recover, Sheridan charged them in front with such fury that they fled in utter rout leaving many dead and wounded in our hands. They retreated twenty miles throwing away arms, knapsacks, coats and every impediment to their flight. This brilliant affair made Sheridan a Brigadier-General. He had be his superior strategy, defeated nearly 5,000 men with a force of eight hundred. Colonel Hatch with the Iowa cavalry in this affair coöperated in the most skilful manner, aiding greatly in winning the brilliant victory. The loss of his regiment was twenty-two killed and wounded.

While in camp near Rienzi the command was attacked by a Confederate force under General Faulkner. After a lively fight the enemy was driven off and pursued many miles with heavy loss. In this affair the Second Iowa lost ten men. During the fall campaign the regiment participated in the battles of Iuka and Corinth and in Grant’s campaign in Central Mississippi. On the day of the Battle of Iuka the cavalry had a sharp skirmish with Faulkner’s troopers at Payton’s Mills, routing them with considerable loss, many prisoners falling into our hands. The Second