Such was the heroism of the regiment that General Halleck had sought to degrade for a slight offense. He now atoned by telegraphing to Adjutant-General Baker: “The Second Iowa Infantry proved themselves the bravest of the brave; they had the honor of leading the column which entered Fort Donelson.” The Second went into the battle with six hundred men, of which forty-one were killed and one hundred and fifty-seven wounded. The regiment remained at Fort Donelson about a month and went from there up the Tennessee River, arriving at Pittsburg Landing on the 19th of March. In the great battle at that place on the 6th and 7th of April, Colonel Tuttle commanded a brigade composed of his regiment and the Seventh, Twelfth and Fourteenth Iowa, and Lieutenant-Colonel Baker was in command of the Second. The brigade was in the hottest of the battle for many hours the first day and lost heavily. The Second made a gallant charge the next day and lost in the battle seventy-eight men. After the Battle of Shiloh, Tuttle was promoted to Brigadier-General; James Baker to colonel of the Second; N. W. Mills, lieutenant-colonel; J. B. Weaver, major, and G. L. Godfrey, adjutant of the regiment. The Second was in Halleck’s slow advance on Corinth, and took part in the battle at that place on the 3d and 4th of October. Colonel Baker fell, mortally wounded, on the 3d, and Lieutenant-Colonel Mills, who succeeded to the command in the next day’s battle, was severely wounded on the 4th and died on the 12th. The regiment suffered heavy loss in these battles, amounting to nearly one-third of the officers and men engaged. Major James B. Weaver was promoted to colonel of the regiment to succeed Mills, Captain H. R. Cowles became lieutenant-colonel, and
* “Iowa and The Rebellion,” L. D. Ingersoll.
