Civil War Letters: Iowa 13th Iowa Regiment – John Armsted Writes an Amazing 16 Page Letter from Vicksburg, Miss. September 22nd, 1863 – Describes the Negro’s Role in the Battle of Milliken’s Bend – “The colored troops bursted out on the Rebel horde like a thunderbolt” …in less than 10 minutes had sold possession of the field. “AFTER THE FIGHT WAS OVER, OUR NEGRO SOLDIERS BAYONETTED THE WOUNDED REBS AND THEN (TO USE THE NEGROES STYLE OF SPEAKING) PLANTED THEM.” + Great Mention of Famous Iowa Nurse Annie Turner Wittenmyer