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Following is my Greet-Great Gandfather's account of the Battle of Fort Donelson. He served with the 2nd Iowa Infanty. At the time of the battle his unit was considered unbloodied as it had only been doing guard previously in MO (a few very small skirmishes with locals). Interestingly in his diary he mentions his unit had rebelled months before because of poor weapons. They had stacked their arms and refused to pick them up again. Rebellion was only ended after they were promised new weapons as soon as they became avail. His diary never mentions wether they got them
According to "Rifles of the US Army" they had the Mississippi Rifle in Nov/Dec. 1862.
Later his unit fought at Shiloh (unit famous also for this blood bath), but Sebra missed it as he was in the Hospital with Pneumonia. The 2nd Iowa loses were 97 dead, wounded, and missing.
Then the unit, and Sebra, fought at Corinth, Miss in Sept. 1862. Another famous blood bath! Accounts widely state that his unit was forced to scavenge among the dead for ammo!
He survived the war ending it as a 1st Sgt.
For you Southeners (I live in Richmond, VA); Fort Donelson was really the beginning of the legend that was Gen. Nathan B. Forrest (my favorite officer from the Civil War).
According to "Rifles of the US Army" they had the Mississippi Rifle in Nov/Dec. 1862.
Later his unit fought at Shiloh (unit famous also for this blood bath), but Sebra missed it as he was in the Hospital with Pneumonia. The 2nd Iowa loses were 97 dead, wounded, and missing.
Then the unit, and Sebra, fought at Corinth, Miss in Sept. 1862. Another famous blood bath! Accounts widely state that his unit was forced to scavenge among the dead for ammo!
He survived the war ending it as a 1st Sgt.
For you Southeners (I live in Richmond, VA); Fort Donelson was really the beginning of the legend that was Gen. Nathan B. Forrest (my favorite officer from the Civil War).