Part 8

July 15. We still hold the hill in front of the rebels. Skirmishing was still going on. Our wagon train commenced moving out, the cavalry in advance, the 3d division next, and the 1st division to bring up the rear, with some cavalry as support. The rebels were seen advancing in force when the second brigade was ordered to support the 2d Iowa battery, which was sending its compliments in shell into the rebel ranks, who were advancing. Here the 11th Missouri lost four men wounded, who were all struck by the same shell, a captain and three of his men, none of them dangerously wounded. Captain Clealand was struck twice, but will soon be able to take command of his company again. Here we remained as support for a short time, when our position was changed and we were ordered to form our lines on the 3d brigade. When we arrived opposite the 3d brigade they raised a yell and over the barricades they went, firing as they advanced. The rebels fled as fast as possible to their horses, which they left in their rear. Our forces watched them for about a mile, and we could see their wagon train getting out of the way in great haste. The 2d Iowa was accelerating their movements by sending a few shell amongst them. A charge was made by some Iowa cavalry, but they found the rebels too strong for them and they had to fall back with slight loss, when the order came for us to fall in and follow the train, as it had all got started on its way back to La Grange. In this morning's engagement the rebel loss was over a hundred. While we were watching the rear they made a demonstration on the train, but were driven off after some severe fighting. They suffering severely in every instance. An Indiana battery was used to some purpose. We marched this day only about seven miles, and here the 3d division waited until the rear came up, was in camp early this evening, and the rebels were following the rear closely. A trap was set, and into it they easily ran. The 21st Missouri regiment was laying in ambush, and the rebels marched right along, not dreaming that they were rushing on death and destruction. The cavalry were holding them in check but were longing for the infantry to come to their assistance. Soon the first brigade was heavily engaged. The 114th Illinois charged upon them as they were drawn up in line along a cornfield, capturing one piece of artillery and thirty prisoners.--They fled, pursued by our cavalry, leaving five hundred killed and wounded in our hands. They did not molest us again that night, as they got enough of trying to capture wagon trains. They found to their cost, Sturgis was not in command. Where danger was, you would find Mower or Smith. They were always on the alert to prevent surprise, and it was owing to their vigilance that we escaped so well. We returned to La Grange the 21st, having nothing to impede our progress from Tupelo after the last fight. We marched through a very hilly country, up one hill and down another. All day long we toiled on under the scorching sun. A great many died from the effects of the sun, being extremely warm. But the road was shaded with trees that grew along the path, and the men did not suffer so much on the way back. There was plenty of good water on this route, but provisions had become scarce and our allowance was third rations of hard-tack with no coffee and very little meat, and that was fresh beef without salt. Some lived on green apples until we arrived at a small town called Salem, where we received full rations of hard-tack, half rations coffee without sugar, and fourth of meat. Then we fared a little better. From here we went to Davis' Mills, and there encamped for the night. This was only five miles from our place of starting. All the train was correlled before night. Next morning marched to La Grange to the cars for Memphis, where we arrived at our old camp. A train ran off the track the day we started, owing to some imperfection in the road. A few of the passengers were injured. This caused delay in getting to Memphis, but we got back at last with most of our wagon train. Marched two hundred miles, whipped Forrest in every engagement, took one hundred and fifty prisoners with one piece of artillery, killing and wounding two thousand five hundred of the enemy by their own account. Our loss in all will not amount to four hundred and fifty. The rebels in Mississippi received a lesson that will not be forgotten by them soon. There was severe fighting for three days, but in every instance they got the worst of it.

_Finish of the Red River Expedition--Battle of Muddy Bayou, June 6, 1864._

When the yell was raised two regiments started on the double-quick to take the batteries at the point of the bayonet, but on reaching the bayou could not get across. The brigade suffered severely in this charge. Four men in the 33d Missouri were struck down by one shot, and the loss in two regiments, 33d Mo. and 35th Iowa, was 80 men. One of their guns was masked. Our artillery did not render us any assistance. Eight guns were playing on us as we advanced, until we got close enough to them to use our guns, and they were forced to leave under a heavy fire. Their loss was not known. Five more of the 11th Mo., non-veterans, were wounded; two of them had to have a leg each amputated; one has since died, a corporal in company B, named Columbus Roe. This makes fifteen killed and wounded in this expedition of the 11th Missouri non-veterans. Our men crossed over and the cavalry pursued the retreating rebels hauling their guns from the field by hand, as our lines were so close to them they could not use horses until they got out of range. A battery was crossed over, and our men shelled them as long as they were in sight.

The houses along the road were filled with their wounded, and their loss must have been as heavy as ours. Marmaduke was said to have been in command. We camped at town called Lakeville one night and returned to the boats, which were awaiting us, taking our wounded with us. Got on board of the transport Freestone, and arrived at Memphis, where the 11th Missouri veterans were said to be. Remained two days with 33d Missouri.

Wm. L. Barnum was elected Colonel of the veterans, being raised from a captain to lieutenant colonel, and on Websters death took command of the 11th Missouri regiment, and on the regiment re-enlisting was elected Colonel. George Weber resigned on account of disability, and went home with the veterans.

Our loss in three years, of officers, was Captain Moore, who died at Cape Girardeau; Captain Singleton, killed at Iuka; Captain Hollister, killed at Corinth, Oct. 4, '62; Andrew J. Weber, June 29, '63, and Adjutant Bookings, May 22, in front of Vicksburg, killed by a rebel sharp-shooter.

As my time was drawing to a close, it being the 5th day of August, did not take part in the next expedition under A. J. Smith; and when the veterans left Memphis on another expedition, the non-veterans went to St. Louis, having been mustered out at Memphis, and receiving our discharges, pay and bounty, each one went his own way.

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Transcriber's Notes

Minor punctuation and printer errors repaired.

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_