A portion of the First Brigade, composed of the three Iowa regiments, were dismounted for the purpose of storming these forts.
The Second Brigade was retained, mounted. At 9 o"clock, P. M., a move was made. The Iowa men cleared the enemy"s works on their third a.s.sault, when the Second Brigade charged, mounted, over the bridge into the city.
In this, the enemy lost over three hundred killed and wounded, one thousand and five hundred prisoners, twenty-four guns, eight battle flags and a vast amount of munitions of war. We remained here over the next day, and the next morning set fire to all the buildings containing army stores, and taking up our march for Macon, Ga., amid the bursting of sh.e.l.l and the explosion of amunition, causing the roofs and timbers to ascend heavenward, and the ma.s.s of bricks and mortar to fall inward. Caused by the vacuam from the explosion from within. The atmospheric pressure pushed them inward.
Columbus, Ga., may be set down as the last battle of the war for the preservation of the Union.
We continued our march towards Macon and when within twelve miles of that place, we were met by Gen. Howel Cobb, bearing a flag of truce, requesting us to go into camp where we were; that Lee had surrendered, Richmond was captured, and that Sherman and Johnson had agreed upon an armistice of ninety days. But Gen. Wilson refused to recognize it, and told Gen. Cobb that he would march on to Macon, and that he, Cobb, could fight or surrender.
We reached Macon, April 21st, 1865, when Cobb surrendered the city and his forces without a struggle.
Here we received a telegram from Gen. Grant, to cease hostility. That Lee had surrendered, Richmond had fallen, Johnson was surrounded, with Sherman in his rear and Sheridan in front, and would have to surrender or be captured.
We remained at Macon a few days, when we received orders to send out scouts in every direction to apprehend Jeff. Davis who was trying to make his way into Texas, whereupon our brigade, under Gen. Alexander, moved north to Atlanta, Ga. From this point we sent out a scouting party under Lt. Yoman, of the 1st O. V. C., and all disguised in the rebel uniform.
This party got in company with Davis" escort, at Greenville, South Carolina, and while riding together on the road, the rebels suspecting all was not right, drew their revolvers and opened fire on our scouts. None of the 7th were injured except John Gates, of Co. E, he being shot through the head, below the eye, from which he recovered.
In the meantime, Jeff. Davis was captured by the detachment of the First Wisconsin and the Second Michigan and brought to Atlanta, Ga. The 7th O.
V. C. took charge of him and guarded him to Augusta, Ga. From here we marched to Chattanooga, Tenn., from thence to Nashville, and went into camp at Edgefield, where our horses and equipments were duly turned over, and the last company of the regiment was mustered out July the 4th, and paid to the 7th, 1865, when we returned home by the way of Louisville, Ky., to Cincinnati.
In writing this history, I have endeavored to do exact justice to all, so far as I knew, and if there is any errors in this narrative, it is that of omission, having had to write exclusively from memory, and in all probability there are omissions.
While we would not deprive any regiment of her laurals, we believe the 7th O. V. C., for the services rendered and the number of times she was under fire, stands second to no regiment from Maine to California.
THE END.