Jacob Collins

COLLINS, MABE

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 5/1/2015 at 16:30:35

Jacob Collins married Emily Mabe in Virginia according to Russell Lee Johnson, Warriors Into Workers (Fordham University Press, 2003), page 106.

Jacob enlisted on August 22, 1862 in Company I, 21st Iowa Infantry as a musician (fifer). He was mustered out on July 15, 1865 at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This according to the Roster & Record of Iowa Soldiers (State Printer 1910).
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Military records for Jacob Collins were received yesterday from the National Archives.

At enlistment on August 22, 1862, he was described as being 5' 8 ½" tall, with blue eyes, sandy hair, and a light complexion. He was marked "present" on the last day of every bi-monthly Company Muster Roll although he was granted a furlough on July 11, 1863 and rejoined his Company on August 22, 1863. While he had enlisted as a Fifer, his characterization was changed from Fifer to Private on October 16, 1863. During his service he participated in the May 1, 1863 Battle of Port Gibson, Mississippi; was present at the May 16, 1863 Battle of Champion Hill, Mississippi, when his regiment was held in reserve; he participated in the May 17, 1863 assault at the Big Black River bridge in Mississippi. Subsequently he participated in the regiment's unsuccessful attempt to capture Confederate General John Bell Hood in December 1864 and he participated in the regiment's final campaign that resulted in the occupation of Mobile, Alabama. The regiment's first postwar reunion was held in Dubuque on September 16 and 17, 1872, and Jacob was in attendance.
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When soldiers applied for postwar pensions claiming they were suffering from a disability incurred during the service, they often called on comrades to sign supportive affidavits. Jacob supported the claim of Jacob Moser who had been a comrade in Company I. While doing so, he answered questions on a form sent to him by the federal Pension Office, signed his name, and returned the form. On an attached note to the Commissioner of Pensions, Jacob said, "you must excuse me this is not my hand writing for the reason I can not write only my name and that I learned in the war when off duty. This is my Daughter she wrote what I told her."

Information provided by:
Carl Ingwalson