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Numbers 29.
Report of Brigadier General Jeremiah C. Sullivan, U. S. Army, commanding Second Brigade.
HDQRS. SECOND Brigadier , THIRD DIV., ARMY OF
THE MISS.,
Iuka, Miss., September 20, 1862.
I have the honor to submit this report
of the part the Second Brigade took in the battle of Iuka:
On the evening of the 18th I received orders
to move the next morning at 5 o'clock on Tuscumbia road toward Iuka, to join in an attack
on Major-General Price, who was encamped with the rebel army at that place. Leaving camp
punctually at the time appointed we arrived within 1 1\2 miles to Iuka by 4 p. m., our
advance brigade having been skirmishing with the enemy's pickets for over 6 miles. Halting
at this point he First Brigade was formed in line of battle by General Hamilton, who was
in advance, while the Second Brigade was halted on the road until a reconnaissance could
be made of the ground to the left and a position obtained for the battery. Before a
position could be selected the rebels opened a terrific fire along the entire front of our
line, having approached us entirely unperceived, owing to the dense underbrush and broken
character of the ground, and at the same time attempting to turn our position by an attack
on both flanks.
I ordered Colonel
Holmes, of the Tenth Missouri, to take position guarding our right flank, while
Colonel Perczel, of the Tenth Iowa, with a section of the Twelfth Wisconsin Battery, was
ordered to hold a road leading to our left and rear. (Their reports are herewith
inclosed.) The position occupied by Colonel Holmes was so important and so effectually
checked the enemy's advance on our right that their artillery fire was directed especially
to that point. Although the enemy's fire enfiladed his line, the movements of his
regiments in taking position were performed with as much precision as if on the drill
ground. His officers and men are entitled to praise. Colonel Perczel with his command held
the position assigned them and drove back a brigade of the rebels which was advancing to
take possession of the road. He gallantly held his position and by his determined stand
led the enemy to believe we were in strong force at that point and to desist from their
attack.
Before the disposition of the regiments above
mentioned could be made the rebels, by bringing a vastly superior force against the left
wing of the First Brigade, had driven in the regiments, flanking Sands' battery and
occupied a position commanding the battery, and were moving down the road with the
intention of attacking the First Brigade in the rear. Forming a portion of the Eightieth
Ohio and Seventeenth Iowa, which had been halted in the road, two volleys, rapidly
delivered, checked the enemy's advance and drove them back to the brow of the hill. By
this time portions of the Twenty-sixth Missouri Volunteers, Forty-eighth Indiana
Volunteers, and Sixteenth Iowa Volunteers, whose colonels had all been seriously wounded,
with a few of the Fourth Minnesota Volunteers, joined my command and fought bravely though
the remainder of the action.
General Hamilton at this time desired
me to save Sands' battery, which was entirely disabled, every officer and cannoneer being
either killed or wounded and all the horses killed. At the order to advance the men gave
three cheers, and with a rush drove the enemy back out of the enemy back out of the
battery down the hill and were yet advancing, when a murderous fire was opened on my flank
by a regiment of sharpshooters, which lay concealed on my left in the woods. Ordering my
men to fall back I reformed my line, which had become somewhat disorder. The rebels,
taking heart at our supposed retreat, advanced with loud cheers, but were soon undeceived
by a volley, followed by an order to charge, which again drove them below the brow of the
hill. Receiving re-enforcements the rebels again advanced, but were held in check, when
the Thirty-ninth Ohio, through a mistake, and without orders, fired a volley into the rear
of my line, killing and wounding more than my whole loss prior to that time. By this time
it was so dark that friends could not be distinguished from foes. The enemy improved this
occasion to remove the guns from their position, but were not able to take them entirely
off, and were compelled to leave the caissons in their original position. At 8 o'clock the
firing ceased and the field of battle was ours. The position in which the battery was
planted and which was so hotly contested was held by our troops.
Lieutenant-Colonel Bartilson, of the
Eightieth Ohio, together with his Adjutant, Joseph E. Philpott, were wounded early in the
fight, when Major Lanning took command. The Seventeenth Iowa Regiment was without a field
officer, and Captain Archer, the senior captain, soon fell, severely wounded, when Captain
Young assumed command and did his duty nobly.
Our troops labored under a great
disadvantage, from want of knowledge of the ground, by being compelled to fight in the
dense underbrush and in a position chosen by the enemy. The enemy attacked my position in
vastly superior force, a fresh brigade of the rebels having been sent to relieve the
troops first repulsed.
Lieutenant Immell, of the Twelfth Wisconsin
Battery, is especially mentioned by Colonel Perczel, and I desire to recommend him to the
favorable notice of the general commanding. I am also indebted to Captain T. H. Harris, assistant adjutant-general;
Lieutenant Jacobson, acting assistant commissary of subsistence, and Lieutenants Delahoyde
and Buchanan, of my staff, for efficient service rendered on the field. They displayed a
coolness under fire worthy of older soldiers. Lieutenant White, of the Forty-eighth
Indiana and the assistant adjutant-general White, of the Forty-eighth Indiana and the
assistant adjutant-general of Colonel Mower's brigade, who joined me, rendered valuable
assistance.
The victory gained is sufficient evidence of
the bravery of the men. The number of the dead and wounded is sufficient evidence of their
devotion to our glorious cause. They are justly entitled to the highest praise, for a
battle against such superior numbers and on such ground has not been fought in this war.
I inclose reports received from commanding
officers of regiments, together with a list* of the killed, wounded, and missing of my
brigade. The regiments of my brigade engaged were: Tenth Iowa, Colonel Perczel;
Seventeenth Iowa, Captain Archer; Eightieth Ohio, Colonel bartilson, and one section of
the Twelfth Wisconsin Battery, commanded by Lieutenant Immell.
I have the honor, captain, to be, yours,
respectfully,
JER. C. SULLIVAN,
Brigadier-General.
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