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joseph b. dorr, company i Journal of My Imprisonment in the Rebellion Joseph B. Dorr, quartermaster of the 12th Iowa, was universally viewed as one of the heroes of the Hornet’s Nest and as such became an advocate for the men. Upon release Dorr was asked to file a pair of official reports of his captivity, and he also prepared a shortened version of his diary for the Missouri Republican on June 18, 1862. A similar excerpt appears in David W. Reed’s Campaigns and Battles of the Twelfth Regiment. For these activities and his acts of bravery, Dorr was mustered out of the 12th to become colonel of the 8th Iowa Cavalry in May 1863. As a member of the cavalry, he was subsequently wounded on March 6, 1864, at the Battle at Waverly, Tennessee, and wounded again and taken prisoner July 29, 1864, at Lovejoy’s Station, Georgia. Ironically, Dorr, who had lobbied for improved conditions in the prisons, died of disease May 28, 1865 — after the official end of the war — in Macon, Georgia. In tribute to his son, Dorr’s father (under the imprint C. B. Dorr Press) privately printed the complete journal as a small book in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1877. That complete version appears here. Sunday, April 6, 1862. — This book is too small for anything like a detailed account of my capture by rebels at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., the above date. Nor is there room for an account of the engagement which resulted so disastrously to the Twelfth and Fourteenth Ia. Infantries, as well as parts of other regiments, amounting in all to two thousand officers and privates made prisoners on this day. The battlefield is called Shiloh by the rebels from the fact that the battle took place between a church of that name and Pittsburg — the first named being head quarters of the rebel army. For the reasons above stated, I shall confine this volume to the most important transactions or occurrences of the day. On this, the day of battle, the Twelfth Regiment marched from their camp about 8 a.m., (485 privates, 26 commanding officers), from [sic, { 92 } form] line of battle, about half a mile beyond the camp of the Third Iowa — distant about one and a half miles from the river. About 10 a.m., advanced line some twenty rods, and a few minutes after were attacked by artillery, and within twenty minutes thereafter by infantry, which last was repelled gallantly by the Twelfth, the left wing making a charge upon the enemy and driving them precipitately from the field. I rode my mouse-colored horse ‘‘Don,’’ but soon after getting on the ground, changed with Col. Woods, whose horse became unmanageable. He nearly ran away with me twice, having in my hand a carbine. After our first line was formed I obtained permission from Col. Woods to ride up to where one of our batteries was planted upon our left at a distance of a quarter of a mile. I found the enemy pouring in shot and shell terrifically, our infantry lying flat upon their faces, and officers sheltering themselves as best they could. It was my first battle, and for the first time shot and shell fell thick around me and filled the air with their awful music above my head. Unexpected to myself I felt no excitement and my horse behaved well. Before the attack by infantry, I had ridden out some forty or fifty rods in advance of the left of the Twelfth and right of the Fourteenth Iowa, and discovered a strong column advancing upon us. Riding back I met Col. Shaw of the Fourteenth, and told him what I had seen and that he would be attacked in a few minutes — also Col. Woods. Both advanced their lines a little so as to be better prepared for the attack. By the time this change was effected, the fire opened at a little distance to our left, rapidly approaching until one-half of the Twelfth was engaged . At the word that portion of the Twelfth charged the foe and completely routed them. They retreated diagonally across an open field in the front of our right wing which opened upon them with effect. All of this time and during the entire day, with little intermission our right was under a heavy fire of shot, shell and cannister, which occasionally killed and...

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