Headquarters, 4th Division, 16th Army Corps, }
In the Field, Near Jackson, Miss., July 12th, 1863. }Fellow Soldiers:—Having been relieved from the command of the 4th Division by Major General Ord, the command is turned over to Brigadier General Hovey.
To say that I part with my old comrades with sorrow and regret, is simply giving expression to my heartfelt feelings.
I shall ever remember the toils and hardships we have endured together, and the glory which the Old Fourth has won on hard fought fields, and the glory which clusters around their name like a halo—with pride and satisfaction.
And now, in parting with you, I ask a last request, that in consideration of your past fame, you do nothing in word or deed to mar it, but that you give to your present or future commander that prompt obedience to orders which has always characterized the division, and which has given to it the proud position which it now enjoys.
Officers and soldiers, I bid you now an affectionate farewell.
J. G. Lauman,
Brigadier General.
[4] General Lauman entered the service as Colonel of the 7th Iowa Infantry. He commanded his regiment in the battle of Belmont, where it suffered most, and distinguished itself above all others. Its conduct won special mention in General Grant's official report. In this action Colonel Lauman was severely wounded. At Fort Donelson he commanded the brigade of Smith's division, consisting of the 2d, 7th, 12th Iowa, and the 25th Indiana regiments, which performed the most gallant and successful achievement of that engagement, the carrying by storm of the enemy's works on our left—which compelled his surrender the following morning. At Shiloh he commanded the 3d Brigade of the 4th Division. Since then he has been with us most of the time in this narrative. His personal courage was of the first order; and his humanity and kindness towards his men were conspicuous upon all occasions. Those who complain of such a general do not deserve to be under so good a one.
Transcriber's Note:
Obvious typographical errors were corrected, but valid or consistently used archaic spellings were retained (for example: "height(s)" was used for high altitudes, while "highten(ed)" was used for increases in intensity).
Hyphenation variations were standardized, but "reform" (as in change or correct) and "re-form" (as in re-position) were retained.
In a few cases, the wording of chapter headings varied between the Contents list and the actual chapter headings. The differences were retained.
Variant spellings of "Yockono," "Yockona," "Yacoma," and "Yacomo" were standardized to "Yockona."