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Numbers 34.
Report of Major Jabez Banbury, Fifth Iowa,
commanding Seventeenth Iowa Infantry.
HDQRS. SEVENTEENTH IOWA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS,
Camp at Hatchie Church, Miss., October 9, 1862.
GENERAL: As directed by order of General Hamilton, I took command of the Seventeenth Iowa
on the morning of the 3rd instant, after the regiment had been marched about one-half mile
north of Corinth by Captain Young. About 7 a. m. we were moved with the rest of the
brigade to the breastworks 2 miles north of town, and after changing position Company A,
at about 2 o'clock, under command of First Lieutenant Garrett, was thrown out about
three-fourths of a mile as skirmishers, and was soon engaged in a brisk skirmish of about
an hour, during which time it did good service, leaving quite a number of dead rebels on
the ground. Company B was also deployed as skirmishers in front of our regiment changed
position, and it did not get to the regiment until the next day, after the battle on
Saturday was over. This company, under command of Second Lieutenant Hull, of Company E,
deserves great credit for the brave and unflinching manner in which it held its perilous
situation until relieved.
About 4.30 o'clock this regiment was placed on the extreme right of the brigade and
ordered forward in line of battle, and after marching about half time a mile we were met
heavy fire from the enemy's batteries, which we found were not more than 100 yards in our
advance. We also found the enemy in large force, supporting their batteries, which were
three in number, and finding we were now some distance from the balance of the brigade and
entirely unsupported, the enemy also having commenced a flank movement to our right, we
fell back to the road and there joined the balance of the brigade, which was already in
position on the road-side and near where we were before forming our line. I was now
ordered by General Rosecrans to take position on the right of the Twelfth Wisconsin
Battery (perhaps the Sixth Wisconsin), and remained there until the brigade was ordered
into the city.
I was then ordered by Colonel Holmes, then commanding the brigade, to take position on the
right of the Sixth Wisconsin Battery, where I remained until 10.30 o'clock, when I was
ordered to take a position on the left of --- Battery, which up to that time, it appears,
had been entirely unsupported. I remained here until about 1.30 o'clock in the morning,
when, with the rest of the brigade, I moved the regiment, and after going out some
distance and returning was put in position about 200 yards in the rear of the Eightieth
Ohio Regiment. This position we kept until after daylight on October 4, when we were
ordered into column by General Rosecrans. When the firing from the enemy had become quite
brisk I deployed the battalions into line, and finding we were to kept bask as a reserve I ordered the men to lie down, which they did, and
here remained for about fifteen or twenty minutes under considerable fire from the enemy,
who were now fairly to be seen following our men, who were slowly giving back, over the
brow of the hill. It was while lying in this position that First Lieutenant Garrett,
Company A, First Lieutenants Morris, Company F, were wounded, and were compelled to retire
from the field. When the enemy had gained fearful odds by advancing so rapidly upon our
ground I was ordered by you to form on the left of a section of a battery which was then
on our left.
I remained in this position but a short time when I was ordered forward, just as the
troops on our right were falling back quite fast, and with the balance of our brigade I
marched the regiment forward to the brow of the hill, firing and driving the enemy before
us. After firing and driving the enemy for probably twenty minutes we were ordered to
charge, which we did, taking quite a number of prisoners and capturing a rebel flag from
(I understand from the prisoners) the Fortieth Mississippi Regiment. Corporal King, of
Company G, Was the first to lay hands on the rebel colors, and took the bearer prisoners
and brought him to the rear of our lines.
I cannot speak in too high terms of praise of both officers and men throughout the
regiment. Not a man in the entire regiment enviced the slightest inclination to shirk or
fall back, and all, without a single exception, stood up to the work nobly and with an
apparent determination to drive the rebels back at all hazards.
As the regiment was under your immediate observation during the entire engagement I do not
deem it necessary to mention any as deserving of more mention, but will leave for you to
say whether any are entitled to more praise than that already received by this report.
I am, general, your obedient servant,
J. BANBURY,
Major Fifth, Commanding Seventeenth Iowa Infantry.
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