Civil War Links
Wapello County, Iowa

       Company D, 17th Iowa Infantry:

  Flower, (or Fleer) John. Age 25. Residence Ottumwa, nativity Germany. Enlisted March 14, 1862. Mustered March 26, 1862. Mustered out June 3, 1865, Davenport, Iowa.
  Fleer, Jasper. Age 18. Residence Ottumwa, nativity Germany. Enlisted Dec. 12, 1863. Mustered Dec. 12, 1863. Taken prisoner Oct. 13, 1864, Tilton, Ga. Mustered out May 26, 1865, Davenport, Iowa.

“During the first part of the month of October 1864, the regiment was encamped at Tilton, Ga., on the A. and W. R. Railroad. 

At that point nothing of interest occurred until the 13th inst. [13th instant, ie: Oct. 13th], when a corps of Rebel infantry, commanded by Lieutenant General Stewart, made their appearance around the command.  The defense consisted of a Block House capable of holding 70 men; the remainder of the men, numbering 210, were placed outside in the trenches. 

An insolent demand for surrender, accompanied by a threat to massacre the entire garrison, if not acceded to, was made by the Rebel General, to which Colonel Archer made the brief and pointed reply:  ‘If you want me and my men, come and take us.’ 

Eleven guns were placed in position by the enemy (12 and 32 pounders) and opened on the Block House.  After holding the place seven hours, it was surrendered to the enemy, and everything destroyed by them.  Lieutenant Colonel Archer and Adjutant Woolsey were paroled.  Several officers and men have since escaped.  The regiment became veteran seven months ago and have just received the order to go home.  Forty-four men are left to accept of the furlough.”
  
“The regiment and company records having been captured and destroyed by the enemy at Tilton, Ga., on the 13th of October, 1864, it is therefore impossible to give the names of the absentees. 
  
Source:
"Roster and Records of Iowa Troops in the Rebellion, Vols. 1-6."
Civil War and Iowa: Greyhounds and Hawkeyes. CD-ROM. Creston, IA: O. J. Fargo, 2000.