Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/517

 finally reached Helena on the 15th of July. The Fourth Cavalry followed the fortunes of the army, which had seen more hard marching than fighting. From this time until April, 1863, the regiment remained in Helena employed in scouting and picket duty, having frequent skirmishes with the enemy in the vicinity and losing a number of men. On the 11th of October Major Ben Rector with a detachment of fifty men was attacked and routed. He was captured with fourteen men, while several more were killed and wounded. Lieutenant Parsons with fifty men came up a few minutes later driving the enemy from the field and capturing the lieutenant-colonel commanding.

Colonel Porter was a slack disciplinarian, while Lieutenant-Colonel Drummond was a born soldier and knew the value of strict discipline and rigid drill. Their ideas of military requirements were so radically different that frequent misunderstandings ensued. Drummond resigned and returned to his place in the regular army in June, 1862, while Colonel Porter left his command, returned home without leave, sent in his resignation in March, 1863; he was however dismissed from the service by order of the President. He was the only Iowa colonel thus dismissed during the war. He had previously served as major of the First Iowa Infantry, made a good officer, and had distinguished himself at the Battle of Wilson’s Creek. In July, Major E. F. Winslow was promoted to colonel of the regiment. In January, 1863, Major Ben Rector who had been exchanged and returned to the regiment, died at Helena and in February Captain Tullis died at the same place. On the 29th of April the regiment moved to join Grant’s army then engaged in the Vicksburg campaign and was assigned to Sherman’s Corps and at once placed in the advance. On the 16th of May it was employed in the rear guard on the march of Sherman’s Corps toward Vicksburg. During the entire siege the regiment was in action being in the saddle fifty-two days out of the