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william l. henderson, company c Letter: July 21, 1864 This letter by William L. Henderson, first sergeant of Company C, written at La Grange, Tennessee, is transcribed from the original in the William L. Henderson folder in the Civil War Documents Collection (Box BG.C4998, vol. 7) at the State Historical Society of Iowa in Des Moines. My Dear Wife — We have just returned to this place today after one of the hardest campaigns we were ever in. We left here on the 5th of the month and we have been marching and fighting every day since, except one day we rested at Pontotoc. The heat has been more intense nearly all the time. But I have had better health since we left than I had for some time before. We have met and whipped the redoubtable [General Nathan Bedford ] Forrest and all his crew near Tupelo, Mississippi, on the 13, 14 and 15 of this month. On the 13th he attacked our supply train while we were marching from Pontotoc to Tupelo and was repulsed. One of our Regt. was killed and several wounded this day and in the morning of the 14th Forrest made an attack on us with whole force. Our Brigade being on the front of our line of battle. We had scarcely taken up our position when the Rebel line came in sight stretched along in our front for a mile in length. The gay and flaunty banners of the Confederacy unfurled de- fiantly in the breeze and the sun’s rays reflecting from the trappings of the desperadoes, who claim to have never known defeat. Our line was formed in the shape of a crescent or half moon, the convex point towards the Rebel line and the 12th Iowa was that point and consequently first became engaged. It was a beautiful sight to see those desperate but devoted men advancing on us so proudly and confidently. But in an instant all was changed for when they were within 300 yards of us we rose up and received them with a terrible volley and their front line melted away. But they still pressed on and were again and again repulsed with great loss, our whole Brigade was now engaged and for three hours the battle raged with great fury and when the cartridges were nearly exhausted we { 230 } fixed bayonets and rushed on the enemy driving them from the field in complete demoralization and defeat. 1500 Rebels were killed and wounded in less than three hours. Our Regiment lost 63 men, 9 killed and 54 wounded. Our company had three wounded and none killed. The wounded were Sergeant Clark very severe, Sergeant Stewart [sic, James Stuart] severe and Private McCall. On the 15th the Rebels made another attack on us at the same place, but we charged on them without firing a gun and I never saw men run so in my life, for as soon as we started the Rebels broke their ranks and fled in every direction for they received a lesson the day before they will never forget. As we were nearly out of rations we left on our return to La Grange and on the evening of the 15th, the 3rd Division of our forces had a short fight at Old Four Creek in which the 27th Iowans engaged. But James [Henderson] came out all right although his Regiment suffered considerable . How much I don’t know as I have not seen him since his Regiment was engaged. But I learned by Waver Clough that he was unhurt and well. When we arrived this morning I received the mail that had accumulated in our absence and four of the letters were from you. One of which had gone to Davenport and contained information which I asked for. I think I have received all your letters now although some of them have been long on the way. You had a very melancholy time at Clermont on the fourth. I am sorry for the bereaved parents. Your last letter I received today was dated July 5th but I think there must be some of later date for me at Memphis. We expect to go there tonight when I will write to you again. I have not seen or heard from Edwin [no further identification] or Davie [David B. Henderson] since I left. I am truly glad you and the children are having such good health and it is very gratifying...

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