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[701]

He is one of the most cool and gallant officers in the service; has frequently unusual courage and judgment.

At Guntown, when the infantry had suddenly and in great confusion retreated (before his regiment, which he then commanded had mounted), the enemy came victoriously and impetuously down upon him; he formed his men and held the entire force back till his horses crossed the creek in the immediate rear of that disastrous battle field.

I consider this check as the sole cause of safety for five hundred horses and nearly as many men, while it enabled his regiment to aid in covering the hurried and disorderly retreat to Colliersville, Tennessee. Major Pierce acted on his own responsibility and judgment, his brigade commander being at the time at another part of the field.

At Big Blue, Missouri, October twenty-third, 1864, he led his regiment with great spirit, aiding in winning that important victory.

At the “Osage,” October twenty-fifth, 1864, his regiment came in sight of the enemy, Marmaduke's division, at the moment when our line had been checked and the forces of the enemy about to take the offensive. Had Major Pierce halted his regiment that victory, in my opinion, would have been a defeat, a rout. Without orders, and governed by his sense of the right, he led his regiment in one impetuous line upon the enemy's right, riding over men, horses, guns, and carriages, initiating the charge, which taken up along our whole line, broke the enemy in pieces. In this engagement Major Pierce rode in advance of his command and sabred nine rebels.

In a subsequent engagement on the same day his steady bravery and his coolness saved a part of our line and his regiment from breaking in confusion when a charge not properly supported had been repulsed.

He was severely wounded in the foot, and has not yet recovered.

I submit this recommendation for the action of the Brevet Major-General commanding, as I am satisfied such services should be put on record and recognized.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

E. F. Winslow, Brevet Brigadier-General Commanding.

headquarters First brigade, Fourth division C. C., M. D. M., Macon, Georgia, April 24, 1865.
Major James W. Latta, Assistant Adjutant-General, Fourth Division Cavalry Corps.
I have the honor to transmit herewith eleven stands of colors captured from the enemy during the late campaign in Alabama and Georgia, with the circumstances connected with the capture of each.

1. Sergeant H. L. Birdsell, “B” Company, Third Iowa cavalry:

Captured the bearer and a garrison flag while my company was assailing the line of works on the left of Summerville road, near Columbus, Georgia, April sixteenth, 1865.

2. Private Andrew W. Tibbets, Company “I,” Third Iowa cavalry, at Columbus, Georgia:

Captured the bearer, a sergeant, and flag of Austin's battery, inside the line of works, and to the right of the four-gun battery on the right of the enemy's line.

3. John H. Hays, private “F” Company, Fourth Iowa cavalry volunteers, at Columbus Georgia:

Captured the standard and bearer, who tore it from the staff and tried to escape. He fired two shots from his revolver, wounding one man of my regiment at my side.

4. Corporal Richard H. Morgan, “A” Company, Fourth Iowa. cavalry, at Columbus, Georgia:

I captured the standard and bearer in the first charge my company made inside the line of works, April sixteenth. The bearer contested with me for its possession.

5. Nicholas Fanning, private “B” Company, Fourth Iowa cavalry:

Captured at Selma, Alabama, in the city an elegant silk Confederate states flag, and two staff officers April 2, 1865. The standard bearer was reported killed.

6. Sergeant Holman F. Bates, “E” Company, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, at Columbus, Georgia, April sixteenth, 1865, took a rebel and standard in the street, three blocks from the bridge.

7. Private Charles A. Swan, “K” Company, Fourth Iowa cavalry, while following the retreating enemy through and out of Selma, Alabama, April 2, 1865, one flag and the bearer, who said it belonged to Eleventh Mississippi.

8. Private Richard H. Cosgriff, “L” Company, Fourth Iowa cavalry, at Columbus, Georgia, on the west end of the bridge:

Captured a standard and the bearer, having to knock him down with the butt of my gun before I could get possession of the flag,

April sixteenth, 1865.

9. John Kinney, private “L” Company, Fourth Iowa cavalry, captured at Columbus, Georgia, sixteenth April, a standard and bearer of Tenth Missouri battery: “I had a tussel with the fellow to get the flag.”

10. Edward J. Bebb, private “D” Company, Fourth Iowa cavalry, at Columbus, Georgia, April sixteenth, about one hundred yards from the bridge, and in the line of works took a flag, the rebels near it running away before our men, leaving the flag.

11. James P. Miller, private “D” Company, Fourth Iowa cavalry, captured at Selma, Alabama, April second, 1865, a sergeant and standard of Twelfth Mississippi cavalry. He was mounted and trying to get away.

Respectfully submitted,

E. F. Winslow, Brevet Brigadier-General Commanding.

Selma, Alabama, April 9, 1865.
Major — I have the honor to submit the following statement concerning the destruction of public property captured and found at this place:


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