Boomer's Brigade: Assault, May 22, 1863.

About 3 p.m. on May 22, 1863, Boomer's brigade moved from its first position on the left of Stevenson's brigade of Logan's division, reported to Gen. Carr about 4 p.m., and was ordered to assault the Confederate curtain between the lunette on the Baldwin's Ferry Road and the railroad redoubt. Formed in two lines with intervals of about 50 yards behind the crest of a ridge about 400 yards in front of the Confederate curtain, the brigade was arranged with the 5th Iowa on the right in front and the 26th Missouri in its rear, and the 93d Illinois on the left in front with the 10th Iowa in its rear. After advancing at common time, passing the first ridge, and halting near the crest of the second to correct alignment for the final assault, the 5th Iowa was moved by the left flank to the rear and partly to the left of the 93d Illinois and 10th Iowa. Immediately afterward, brigade commander Col. George B. Boomer of the 26th Missouri was instantly killed by a musket ball, and the final assault was not made. Col. Holden Putnam of the 93d Illinois assumed command, and under orders from Gen. Carr the brigade remained in position until after dark, then retired to the place where it had first formed for the afternoon assault, returning the next day to its position on the investment line of the 17th Corps. Casualties in the second position were 55 in the 93d Illinois, 18 in the 5th Iowa, 12 in the 10th Iowa, and 10 in the 26th Missouri, including Boomer killed, for an aggregate of 95, with 11 killed and 84 wounded.

Vicksburg, Mississippi · United States