A Show of Force

"Our turn now came. We had been spectators of the discomfiture which befell our comrades on the left, and perhaps a feeling akin to revenge sprung up in our breasts as we witnessed their decimated ranks fall back broken and apperently disheartened. Forming in line of battle, Lieut. Col. Leake gave the order, and, and the regiment moved foward at a charging step." Caiptain Chester Barney 20th Iowa Infantry United States of America.

With drive and determination the Iowans crupted onto the battlefield once again. Initially ordered to remain in reserve near Crawfords Hill, the 20th Iowa Infantry took matters into their own hands. Determined to get into the fight, the Iowans, and their brigade commander, Colonel William Dye, somehow persuaded half of Murphey's battery to follow them into the field and form the extreme right flank of the Federal Force in the valley.

The Confederates descended the ridge to the Hugh Rogers house and opened fire on the Iowans from behind any cover they could find. The decision to bring the artillery along immediatly paid off. Moving to within 200 yards of the homestead, the three guns opened fire with canister bullets, "before stopping and firing a few volleys from the foot of the hill. Pleased with their show of force, they retired back to the artillery guns. Dye greatly enjoyed the spectacle and smoked hos old pipe alongside of the battery, as if nothing exciting was going on."

After General Blunt's dramatic arrival, the iowans were eager to continue fighting. Once again, they took matters into their own hands. As, "there appeared at the time nothing else to do," Dye sent word to General Blunt that the 20th Iowa "would move in conjunction with his forces." Blunt accepted the offer and the Iowans deployed on his left flank before participating in another assault.