Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 6.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[354] in force below, rushed with me to give them battle again, and when I learned of their flank movement toward Houston, countermarched, making some sixty-four miles through mud and rain in twenty-four hours, to defend your camp, and all this in perfect order and discipline, without a murmur or complaint.

Nor may I pass without mention, the cool and determined courage of the weak force left to defend. When my courier came in to warn of the approach of the enemy, with an order to hold to the last extremity, officers and men, invalids and convalescents, stood ready without panic or alarm to defend to the last.

Soldiers! your endurance and your valor are beyond praise; your accomplishment worthy of the highest commendation. Beyond the hope of reenforcement, you have held your position; fought the enemy, saved Lebanon and Rolla, with your post, from burning and sack.

I give you my admiration of your heroism, and my thanks and gratitude that my name can be associated with this brigade as the proudest memory of my future life.

General: I have the honor to report to you the part taken by a detachment of the Twenty-first Iowa infantry volunteers, under my command, in the battle of Wood's Fork and Hartsville, on the eleventh instant.

Perhaps these two engagements should occupy two reports, but as they occurred so near together, I have thought proper, with your permission, to combine both battles in one report.

In obedience to your order, I left Houston, with other forces under Col. Merrill, on Friday, the ninth instant, at about noon, to march to Springfield, with the object of reenforcing that place. The first night we encamped for a short time at Beaver Creek. At twelve o'clock at night we moved on, and when within a few miles of Hartsville, we were drawn up in line of battle, as information had been received that the rebel Col. Porter had occupied the place the evening before, and might be there yet. We remained in line of battle until daylight, when it was ascertained that Porter had evacuated the town the night previous. We then moved on to Hartsville, when we halted until the afternoon, getting a little sleep for the men, and a bite to eat. At three o'clock P. M., we again moved on toward Springfield, Colonel Porter being in advance of us, and reached Wood's Fork at dark, when we camped for the night, in line of battle.

At three o'clock next morning, in accordance with orders from headquarters, I was ready to march. A few moments afterward, firing was heard from the pickets, and word came in that a heavy force was in front of us. I immediately got my command in line of battle, and ordered the companies to send their blankets and overcoats to the wagons. I then sent out companies A and B, under Captains Johnson and Cook respectively, as skirmishers. In this position we remained until nearly daylight, when I was ordered to move my command half a mile in advance. I went down on the double-quick, and formed on the left of the road. The fight here lasted until nine o'clock, when the enemy withdrew.

Soon afterward, with the remainder of the force, I commenced a movement toward Hartsville, guarding the train as we advanced. When within two miles of the town, I was ordered to form my men, and bring them forward on the double-quick. I did so, and arrived on the edge of the town simultaneously with the Ninety-ninth Illinois and the artillery. I drew my detachment up in line of battle on the brow of the hill, on the left of the Springfield road, where the artillery was stationed, my left reaching nearly to the Lebanon road. It was now nearly eleven o'clock (Sunday morning) when we got into line. My position was a very favorable one, being on the edge of the hill descending into the town, and sheltered by underbrush and small trees. The enemy's artillery opened on us immediately. I caused all my men to lie down during the engagement, except a few skirmishers, and to do their firing in this position, except when firing volleys or repelling the charges of the enemy. In a few moments, they charged on us in large force, and we repelled them, with great loss on their part. Several times, with short intervals, they repeated the charge, with reenforcements of fresh troops, and every time they were driven back in disorder. Failing in these charges, they formed a line in the opposite side of the town, so near to us that we could distinctly hear the commands of their officers, and opened on us a brisk fire of musketry, their artillery at the same time pouring into us a heavy fire; we returning the fire with most terrible effect. In a short time, a large body of mounted men poured into the town, and made a charge with terrible yells, upon our artillery at my right. When they approached to within a few rods, simultaneously with the Ninety-ninth Illinois, we poured into their ranks a full volley, causing them to reel and fall back in confusion and disorder. We continued our fire with so much heat as to empty many saddles, and create such a panic in their ranks, that they could not be rallied until they got over the opposite hill, nearly half a mile distant.

Their sharp-shooters filled the court-house, and other dwelling-houses in town, who became very annoying to my command. I sent a request to Colonel Merrill to have the artillery turned upon the town; but not being able to find him, I ordered Lieut. Waldschmidt, commanding the artillery, to shell the town, and drive the rebels from their hiding-places. He immediately commenced firing on them with briskness, and after a few rounds, he retired from his position, as I supposed to cool his g<*>s, or repair some slight accidents, but he did not return, and as I afterward learned, he received orders to retreat by the Lebanon road.

The firing now ceased on my right and left, and as I supposed some “strategic” movement