ENGAGEMENT BEFORE ALTANTA On the 21st of July, 1864, an engagement was had before Atlanta.  The following is the account of the affair given by Major Walker: "At 8:00 o'clock a. m. the regiment was in position in front of the brigade with the Fifteenth Iowa infantry on its left, and supported by the Sixteenth Iowa infantry; its front was protected by temporary works thrown up on the night of the 20th. "At about 8:00 o'clock, a. m. I received orders from Colonel John Shane, commanding brigade, to advance at once on the double-quick to the front, to assist Brigadier-General Force, commanding a brigade in the Third Division, Seventeenth army corps, who was fighting for the possession of a high hill in his front and to the left of his regiment.  The men seized their arms and sprang promptly over the works, advancing in good order to the crest of a hill less than 100 yards from the enemy's works, in the face of a heavy fire.  Here I was ordered to halt and held the position, exposed to a very destructive fire of musketry, grape and canister, until the enemy having withdrawn to their works, and General Force having gained possession of the hill.  I was ordered to retire to the position I originally occupied, which was done steadily and without confusion. "Although the men had no previous notice of the advance there was no disorder; being made, too, over an open field with no protection.  I regret to say that though the engagement lasted by thirty minutes the loss in officers and men was severe; seventeen enlisted men killed and four officers and seventy-seven enlisted men wounded.  The regiment also participated on actions before Atlanta, July 27th and 28th." 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