Seven days after General Lee surrendered his army, a Union cavalry force led by General J. H. Wilson moved on Columbus, Georgia. The intent was to secure the city’s naval yards, weapons factories and supply depots.

On the afternoon of April 16, 1865, the 3rd Iowa cavalry dismounted and moved to capture the enemy entrenchments protecting the bridge over the Chattahoochee river. The regiment entered the works and continued down the entrenchments capturing the defenders. Sgt. Birdsall captured a fleeing rebel and the garrison flag he was protecting.