Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 11.
Frank Moore, Ed.

We had slight skirmishing just before entering Montevallo (March thirtieth), one man, Fourth Iowa cavalry, being slightly wounded.

March thirty-first. My brigade moved in rear of the division; when a few miles south of Montevallo it passed to the front, and the Tenth Missouri cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel F. W. Benteen commanding, being dismounted, the enemy, an Alabama brigade, were at once pushed out of position. Two men of the Tenth were wounded while this regiment mounted, the Third Iowa, Colonel John W. Noble commanding, took the advance, and one company charged the enemy on the road at a time when his column was in retreat. A portion of the enemy being separated from their main force Captain Johnson, with two companies, was sent to the right, and charging captured quite a number. Several of the enemy were killed and wounded. This officer acted with vigor and gallantry. The enemy were driven in great confusion to Randolph, leaving many animals and a number of men along the road, and seventy-five prisoners in our hands. Colonel Noble led his regiment, which behaved admirably, and his adjutant lost his horse in the first charge.

Meantime a body of the enemy attacked my column in rear and on the right, but this force was speedily driven off by Lieutenant-Colonel Peters with a portion of the Fourth Iowa cavalry.

The enemy were very roughly handled today, and scattered by the impetuosity of our men. I have no doubt that the manner in which this day's work was done tended much to render our subsequent victories the easier achieved.

At an early hour on this day, Lieutenant-Colonel Benteen, with his regiment, destroyed the “Bibb iron works,” about six miles south of Montevallo, in the presence of a superior force of the enemy, sent there to protect them.

Moved April first in rear of the division, and when at Maplesville station, heard firing in front; receiving soon after orders to push forward rapidly, two regiments, Third Iowa leading, were hastened to the battle-ground of “Ebenezer Church,” arriving just as the engagement was being decided.

Captain Arnheim's company “I” was thrown out on the left of the road, and directed to charge a line of the enemy formed on the bank of the creek, four hundred yards from the head of my column. This company, having to throw down a fence under a severe fire, had one officer, Lt. John J. Veatch, and several men, wounded, losing also about fifteen horses. Captain Arnheim and his company behaved in a gallant manner, as did also Captain A. Clark, Fourth Iowa cavalry, A. A. Q. M., who voluntarily aided in conducting this movement.

The column moving forward, the enemy quickly retired, and the Third Iowa cavalry was sent in pursuit, following the enemy to Plantersville, five miles.

Captain John Brown, “L” Company, charged his men over a deep stream, capturing more of the enemy (a color company) than his command numbered. This officer had been sent with his company to Maplesville early in the day, and, meeting a body of the enemy, charged it, capturing several and scattering the others.

Sergeant John Wall, guidon-bearer, “K” Company, after being wounded in the hand, retained the saddle, carried his colors, and, in subsequent engagement, captured a rebel officer.

We arrived near Selma April second, at two P. M., dismounting in battalion lines until five o'clock. At that time, in obedience to orders from the Brevet Major-General commanding division, I dismounted my command, and, leaving every eighth man to hold horses, formed the Third Iowa on the right and the Tenth Missouri on the left of the Plantersville road in line, about half a mile from the rebel works, and fronting them. Seven companies, Fourth Iowa, were preparing to move to the left of the Tenth Missouri, when the Second division, on my right, attacked in force, and soon gained possession of the fortifications in its front.

Observing this attack, the dismounted regiments were immediately advanced, and when the Second division obtained possession of the outer works, the Fourth Iowa cavalry, which had not yet left their horses, came forward at a gallop in column of fours, and at once pushed into the city, companies going in various directions to complete the discomfiture of the enemy. About this time the Third Iowa and Tenth Missouri were directed to remount, but the road being blocked by subsequent movements this was not fully accomplished until a late hour.

The advance guard of the division, fourth company, Fourth Iowa, under Major W. W. Wood, had been dismounted in front of the enemy's works on the Plantersville road since one o'clock P. M., and when Brigadier-General Long had charged the enemy on the right this force pushed forward into the works in their front, capturing an entire regiment and five pieces of artillery. The mounted companies secured four guns, three stands of colors, and about one thousand prisoners; several hundred of the enemy were killed and wounded, or drowned in attempting to escape. Captain E. R. Jones, Company I, and chief bugler D. J. Tabor, were killed; both belonged to Fourth Iowa cavalry.

April third. By direction of Brevet Major-General Wilson, I assumed command of the city, while my brigade, Colonel Noble commanding, made a march to the rear, through Summerfield, to Johnson's Ferry, returning on the sixth instant.

With the army this brigade moved from Selma, April tenth, arriving at Montgomery on the twelfth, near which city we remained until the fourteenth. Major Crukendoll, with six companies Third Iowa cavalry, was here detailed