THE EIGHTH AT SHILOH The Eighth Iowa infantry was mustered into the service September 23, 1861.  It was soon sent to the front and took part in several engagements during its first year of service.  From the report of Colonel Geddes of the part of the regiment in the batle of Shiloh the following is taken: "About 8 o'clock on the morning of the 6th, I ordered the regiment under arms, and formed line of battle in front.  At this time the firing on our advance line had become general and it appeared to me evident that we were being attacked in force by the rebel general.  After remaining under arms for about half an hour, during which time I had ordered the baggage belonging to the regiment to be loaded on the wagons, and an extra supply of ammunition to be issued to the men, I was ordered by Colonel Sweeney, Fifty-second Illinois brigade commander, to proceed to the front. "On arriving at our advance line, I was ordered by Colonel Sweeney to take my position on the left of the brigade to which I was attached, for the purpose of protecting a battery immediately in front.  Here the regiment remained about one hour, exposed to a severe fire from artillery of shell and grape, killing and wounding several of my men.  About 11 o'clock I was ordered by Colonel Sweeney, through his aid, Lieutenant McCullough, of the Eighth Iowa, to leave my position and take ground on my left and front. "This change of position brought my regiment on the extreme right of General Pretiss' division, and left of General Smith's, the latter being the division to which my regiment belonged.  I was thus entirely detached from my brigade, nor did I receive any order from my brigade or division commander during the remainder of that day.  On arriving at the point I was ordered to defend, I found my regiment in line of battle with my center resting on a road leading from Corinth to Pittsburg Landing, and at right angles to my line.  Here I immediately engaged a battalion of the enemy, and after a severe conflict of nearly an hour's duration, in which I lost many of my men, the enemy was driven back with heavy loss.  At this time Captain Hogin, Company F, was shot dead, and Captain Palmer, Company H, severely wounded.  In this desperate struggle my regiment lost 100 men in killed and wounded. "The conspicuous gallantry and coolness of my company commanders, Captains Cleveland, Stubbs and Benson on the left, Captains McCormic and Bell in the center, Captains Kelsey, Geddes and Lieutenant Muhs on the right, by reserving the fire of their respective companies until the proper time for its delivery with effect, and the determined courage of my men, saved the battery from capture, and I had the satisfaction of sending the guns in safety to the rear.  In this attack I was wounded in the leg and Major Andrews severely in the head, and I do here take pleasure in acknowledging the courage and coolness displayed by my field officers,  Lieutenant Colonel J. C. Ferguson and Major J. Andrews, and the able assistance rendered by them on that occasion. Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L