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[356] night at Wood's Fork, eight miles away on the road to Marshfield, whither the enemy, under Colonel Porter, had gone.

They were reinforced by Marmaduke, who had been fighting at Springfield, and Gen. McDonald with four thousand mounted men was repulsed there. They encamped on the same creek only one half-mile away, and did not know of our approach until our bugle-call in the morning, which prepared them for an attack, or retreat. At five o'clock A. M., as twenty-five of the Third Missouri cavalry, under Captain Brodway, were advancing to get information as to certain signs of an enemy, they fell upon a body of the rebels, who fired a volley among them, killing Captain B., Corporal Boradilla and Thos. Urin. Then we heard another volley and a yell, but the cry was, “For God's sake stop; you are killing your own men,” which proved true, as the sixty prisoners taken reported the same facts.

At daylight the artillery was sent forward to draw them out, and commenced shelling the woods; a number were killed and wounded there. Scouts were sent out immediately to ascertain the facts, and reported them retreating in a southeast direction, and the Third Iowa cavalry made a dash and cut off their rear-guard and some of their baggage. Soon after orders were given to move to Hartsville. Immediately we rushed forward, as we were informed they intended to flank us at that place. They succeeded in reaching there one hour previous, and gained a good position near the town on the bluffs and also encircling the place on the east and south side toward Houston and Springfield, cutting off our teams and reinforcements from tile former place, proving the fact that if mounted we should succeed much better in this desert and mountainous country, fighting these guerrillas, who are all mounted on the best horses the country affords. They had one rifled twelve-pound and four other cannon, of four to six pounds, and as soon as our cannon and howitzer came into position we opened the ball at one o'clock, and the Twenty-first on the left with the Ninety-ninth on the right came rushing forward on a double-quick of two miles into line of battle, not a minute too soon to meet the foe who were forming at the foot of the hill to occupy it; but were soon convinced we had arrived, and they as rapidly retreated. In the mean time thousands of our foes were on the opposite bluffs, and their sharp-shooters occupied every house. But here another disadvantage occurred to themselves, as, when Porter's force was last here, they tore down a palisade fort which would have proved an almost impregnable position to any infantry force.

The pen will fail to give a tithe of the emotions of one who for the first time encounters a deadly foe. As tile din of battle commenced we thought of home, wife, mother, and children dear; then nerved to duty and fearless in the cause of right, our little band stood firm; and Iowa may be proud of the Twenty-first.

We remained on the field until dark, and for two hours and a half after the cavalry, artillery, and teams had retreated toward Lebanon; the Ninety-ninth being out of ammunition, had gone. Expecting every minute an enfilading fire, scouts were sent out to watch the enemy, but we soon found that they were retreating, but kept up camp-fires to deceive us. After dark, as your correspondent was ordered to ascertain the position of our artillery, and hearing that a wounded man back with the ambulance could tell, I went with Lieutenants Dale and Bates, Sergeant Walker, Corporal McFadden and others, who carried on their shoulders some of the wounded, and having ascertained returned to find the regiment. They had gone, and as it was now after dark, and we could only return to assist Surgeon Lucius Benham, who was in charge of the wounded.

The following is the list of killed and wounded:

Lieut.-Col. C. W. Dunlap, commanding regiment, wounded in hand and slightly in breast — horse killed.

Company C--Wm. Jones, Dubuque County, killed, shot through bowels; John M. Miller, Dubuque County, wounded in head, slightly; Richard Cook, Dubuque County, wounded with shell, slightly; Charles Dunham, Dubuque County, reported ported paroled; Lieut. Alexander, Dubuque County, (commanding company K,) reported seriously wounded with grape.

Company H--Ira Carlton, Delaware County, killed.

Company K--Harrison Hefner, Delaware County, killed, shot through bowels; Freeman Fear, Delaware County, wounded in thigh, serious; Ward White, Delaware County, wounded in breast, and arm broken; Adam Luchinger, Dubuque County, wounded in corner of right eye, slightly; Jacob B. Miller, Delaware County, wounded in arm, slightly; Erastus Smith, Delaware County, wounded in side, slightly; David Hiner, Delaware County, wounded in thigh, serious; James Jackson, Delaware County, wounded in wrist, slightly; George Simons, Delaware County, wounded in head, slightly; H. B. Stone, Delaware County, wounded, severely.

Company I--Jacob Hoops, Dubuque County, wounded in thigh, slightly; John Q. Angell, Dubuque County, wounded in hand, slightly.

Company E--Daniel Wolf, wounded in back, slightly.

Company B--Carl Pehsschl, Clayton County, killed, shot through breast.

Company D--Samuel W. Moore, Fayette County, wounded in arm, slightly.

Killed, four; wounded, sixteen; paroled, one--seventeen.

A number of the others were slightly wounded, but went with the regiment.

To Lieut.-Col. Dunlap, too much praise cannot be given. He acted with caution and promptness, scarce thinking of himself. He was continually exposed, and had his horse shot from under him, also wounded in the hand and side, and had his holsters shot off and sword-belt cut away ; but watching every movement of the enemy with a vigilant eye. He changed the position of the regiment to meet every emergency and


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