DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | George C. Burmeister diary, 1864

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1864-03-21 Page 7

rebel was instantly bayonetted.  The work was ended, the prisoners, cannon, horses and baggage were secured, a bridge which the rebels had injured was repaired and we moved on.  Several hundred of our men were mounted on confederate chargers, in poor condition however.  I do not desire to detract from the noble 33d Mo. which stood gallantly by us. But must honestly assert that nine tenths of all the work done tonight was done by the 35th Iowa.  General Mower, who was in command and foremost in the action expressed himself highly satisfied with the bearing of our regiment and said: “it is well done, 35th Iowa”.  We marched over the bayou to our camp, a distance of about five miles, through mud and rain.  We reached the confederate camp a little before midnight and we camp a little after two o’clock that next morning, where we made large fires spread our blankets and sank to rest, well satisfied with the laurels we won in this the first action in which our regiment obtained an opportunity to distinguish itself.  And very few engagements have resulted more gloriously, with no loss of the attacking party, as this did, we had no man wounded save the above mentioned corporal; the rebels lost eight or nine killed, and several wounded.  We hold about three hundred prisoners including twenty commissioned officers, the highest in rank among them is a Lt. Col the colonel escaped.  The command we have taken is 2d La. Cavalry and Co. A. of the first Texas Light Artillery, the best confederate soldiers I ever saw, they are spirited have considerably

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rebel was instantly bayonetted. The work was ended, the prisoners, cannon, horses and baggage were secured, a bridge which the rebels had injured was repaired and we moved on. Several hundred of our men were mounted on confederate chargers, in poor condition however. I do not desire to detract from the noble 33d Mo. which stood gallantly by us. But must honestly assert that nine tenths of all the work done tonight was done by the 35th Iowa. General Mower, who was in command and foremost in the action expressed himself highly satisfied with the bearing of our regiment and said: “it is well done, 35th Iowa”. We marched over the bayou to our camp, a distance of about five miles, through mud and rain. We reached the confederate camp a little before midnight and we camp a little after two o’clock that next morning, where we made large fires spread our blankets and sank to rest, well satisfied with the laurels we won in this the first action in which our regiment obtained an opportunity to distinguish itself. And very few engagements have resulted more gloriously, with no loss of the attacking party, as this did, we had no man wounded save the above mentioned corporal; the rebels lost eight or nine killed, and several wounded. We hold about three hundred prisoners including twenty commissioned officers, the highest in rank among them is a Lt. Col the colonel escaped. The command we have taken is 2d La. Cavalry and Co. A. of the first Texas Light Artillery, the best confederate soldiers I ever saw, they are spirited have considerably