On March 19, 1862, the 2nd Iowa arrived at Pittsburg Landing. There the 2nd Iowa experienced pleasant weather and light drill duty until Sunday, April 6, when General Grant ordered the brigade to the front. Colonel Tuttle's brigade (1st Brigade) would be placed on the left of General William H. L. Wallace's division. The 1st Brigade took position on an old road, which extended from the Corinth road to south of East Corinth road. The 2nd Iowa Infantry repelled several enemy attacks on that day, resulting in great losses for the Confederate army. The fighting was so severe in this area that the place became known as “The Hornets’ Nest.” The brigade stood strong in this position for six hours until the Confederate army assembled artillery and blasted the location. During this fighting General Wallace was killed in action, and Colonel Tuttle, having been notified by Captain Noah W. Mills that the flank to the right was exposed although in the immediate vicinity the situation appeared normal, ordered the 2nd Iowa and the 7th Iowa infantries to retreat, narrowly avoiding capture. Had Captain Mills hesitated, the 2nd and 7th Iowa infantries would most likely have been captured with the rest of the division. The 2nd Iowa made it to the safety of the Federal gunboats at Pittsburg Landing, while General Don Carlos Buell's army provided reinforcements and re-established a line of defense before nightfall. The following morning the battle resumed, the 2nd Iowa being used as reserves until 1:00 p.m., when Brigadier General William Nelson ordered a charge against the Confederates who were holding a camp of an Ohio regiment. The 2nd Iowa successfully drove the enemy from the position. By 4:00 p.m. that day, the Federal forces had regained all they had lost on the previous day. The enemy, being weak from two days of battle without reinforcements, began to retreat towards Corinth, Mississippi.