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Call for Volunteers - Civil War Units

Of this call of volunteers only 1 regiment was required to fill the quota for Iowa. It was issued in Iowa City April 17. S B McCall was the 1st in the county to engage in recruiting a company for the US service and was ordered at Keokuk May 21, 1861 where it mustered into service June 8, 1861 Company E 3rd Iowa Infantry. W P Berry assisted by W J Wheeler, S G Moffatt and William D Templin recruited the 2nd regiment. It was ordered into service August 12, 1861 mustering in at Iowa City the following September. Company D 10th Iowa Infantry. 3rd regiment raised was recruited by C W Wilson and I J Mitchell. Mr Mitchell was in poor health and was thought to not enter the service, but elected him draft commissioner of this district. Mr Wilson became captain of this company and was ordered into service October 19, 1861, was mustered into service at Davenport January 1862. Company D 16th Iowa Infantry.

The favorite company was recruited by Dr DeTarr, R J Shannon, and W L Defore during the summer of 1862. When the company was ordered into service August 11, 1862 a large concourse for people from all parts of the county assembled at Boonesboro. Company was mustered into service October 1862, Company D 32nd Iowa Infantry. The resources for men to serve where exhausted and a draft was ordered in all townships of the county. All quotas were met in all townships but Cass and Pilot Mound. It was necessary to drat men in order to fill the contingent. As far as known there was 1 draft and only in these 2 townships.

THE CALL OF THE REGIMENTS

32nd Infantry

It was made up from nearly every part of the state, emphatically a Hawkeye Regiment. It was rendezvoused at Keokuk and was mustered into US Service June 10, 1861. When it embarked on board the train, for the field July 1, it was magnificently occupied with burnished old Springfield rifles of 1848. Not a cartridge, not a ration of food, not a round of ammunition, not even a field officer about the rank of captain. This was but a prelude to what proved the saddest history of all regiments which Iowa sent to the war. It moved to Northern Missouri, and its 1st night in the field was near Utica, supperless and tired they threw themselves on the damp ground, without establishing a picket post, trusting alone in providence. Near midnight of the 3rd they were first introduced to the “Gray-backs”. Its first engagement was at Hagar’s Woods where under the command of Col. Smith of the 16th Illinois, they met the enemy. The force consisted of about 450 men, supported by a six powder swivel gun manned by Sergeant Fishbeem, moving out from Monroe on the line of the railroad they came on enemy scouts who at once opened fire on them. Mr. Fishbeem hurried his artillery to the front, and quickly sent the enemy flying in all directions, when Col. Smith under cover of night retired. The next movement was from Macon City to Kirksville to rout the enemy who under Green were in camp on the Salt River which was successfully accomplished under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Scott.

At Blue Mills Landing September 17, 1861 the regiemphatically a Hawkeye Regimentment fought its first hard fight, which though unsuccessful was unequaled for bravery and promptness to action in the whole history of the war in Missouri. It remained in Northern Missouri until October 18, 1861 when it went to Quincy, Illinois whence after a few weeks it moved to St Louis thence out along the northern Missouri railroad where it remained until March 1862 when it sailed for Savannah on the Tennessee River. March 17 it disembarked at Pittsburg Landing with the 4th division under General Hurlbert. It was assigned to the 1st Brigade commanded by Col Williams. In April following regiment took part in the ever memorable battle of Shiloh, making for itself an imperishable record. The divisions of Hurlbert and Smith were in camp in front of the landing. Prentiss McClernad and Sherman with their divisions, held the front, from right to left. While the 3rd were eating breakfast on the morning of the 16th they were startled by firing at the front which soon followed by the call to arms, leaving their breakfast unfinished the 3rd was quickly in line and marching to the front under command of its major and colonel being in command for a brigade and it’s Lieutenant Colonel sick and absent. It moved at quick step to the front at the right of its brigade but the left of the entire army. To its right were the 1st and 2nd brigades and Wallace’s division in which were the 27th, 12th, and 14th Iowa regiments. This position the 3rd held until 4 o’clock in the afternoon until the troops on their right and left had been utterly routed. The 18th, 12th and 14th Iowa were captured. It was at this position the enemy hurled its forces for 5 hours in unsuccessful attempt to bread it, but which was finally accomplished by flank movements. It has always been a marvel how the 3rd got through the circling line of the enemy. Of the 450 officers and men of the regiment, engaged in this battle more than two hundred were killed and wounded. The correct historian attributes to stubborn valor of Iowa troops, the saving of Grant’s army from capture at Shiloh. During the siege of Corinth the 3rd was present but took no active part, after the fall of Corinth the regiment went with Sherman to Memphis and led the van into the city July 21. September 6 the regiment moved back towards Memphis and October 5 took part in the battle of the Hatchie with two killed and 60 wounded. Little of importance transpired with the regiment for several months. May 18, 1864 it left Memphis for Vicksburg and its days of rest were ended.

It shared in the capture of that stronghold and then set out with Sherman against Johnson who had planted himself at Jackson where an unsuccessful attempt was made to dislodge him July 12. The regiment returned to Vicksburg, thence sailed to Natchez and joined Sherman in his march to Meridian.

Soon after its term expired, when it reenlisted as “Vets” came north on a furlough in the spring of 1864. It returned to the front and joined Sherman in his march to the sea, and at Atlanta July 22 was put in the front and lost heavily. It’s color sergeant was killed and the colors captured. Some of the regiment who had been taken prisoners at Atlanta saw their colors borne through the streets by a squad of cavalry. They rushed upon them recaptured the colors and tore it to shreds. The regiment became decimated to 318 men July 8, consolidated with the 2nd and the 12th was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky. It literally fought itself out of existence.

10TH INFANTRY

This regiment was organized at Camp Fremont, Iowa City in August 1861. Mustered into service September 6, 1861, embarked September 24th from St Louis arriving the 27th were it was armed, clothed and equipped. October 1st it moved to Cape Girardeau to aid in protecting that point from the menaced attack of Pillow and Hardee. November 12th it moved to Bird’s Point where it did scouting, general and picket duty until March 4, 1862 when it moved to New Madrid. While at Bird’s Point the loss from exposure and measles was 96. It took active part in the capture of New Madrid on March 13th and 14th which with a brilliant movement on Tiptonville April resulted in capturing the force of Island # 10 of about six thousand prisoners. April 10th it moved with the army of the Mississippi to Pittsburg Landing, disembarking at Hamburg April 21st where it served Pope’s command during the siege of Corinth on the left of the army. After the surrender of Corinth it pursued the enemy to Booneville when it returned and remained in camp at Corinth and Jacinto until September 18th when it was ordered to engage General Price then supposed to be near Iuka which was a disastrous blunder for the regiment and brigade. The pursuit of the enemy on the 20th, the bloody battle of Corinth October 3rd and 4th and the pursuit of the rebels to and beyond the Hatchie from the next charter in their history.

November 22nd it moved to Moscow, Tennessee where it joined Grant’s march down the Mobile and Ohio railroad December 22nd it marched with its division from Lumpkin’s Mill, Mississippi to Memphis as guard of the division train which completed the regiment. It went to White Station where it passed the winter guarding the railroad. March 4th it joined the Yazoo Pass expedition which was abandoned after an unsuccessful effort of several weeks to get in the rear of Vicksburg by a flank movement. It was a tedious and perilous expedition. It joined in the Vicksburg campaign commencing at Milliken’s Bend and terminating in the fall of Vicksburg. It was in reserve at the battle of Port Gibson, at the battle of Raymond May 15th, it was in the 2nd line, on the 14th fought at Jackson driving the enemy. On the 16th at Champion’s Hill the enemy was met in force, the 10th being on the left of the brigade exposed to heavy flank movement and murderous fire of the enemy. Out of 1,300 engaged of the brigade 500 were killed, the 10th lost, 34 killed and 124 wounded, which attests the obstinacy with which the brigade held its grounds and turned the tide of the battle. On the 19th of May the regiment took its position in the line, in front of Vicksburg where it remained until June 22 when it was moved to Black river where it remained till the fall of Vicksburg, when it was sent to Jackson, Mississippi in pursuit of Johnson’s return to Vicksburg July 19th. September 29th the division was ordered to Memphis to join Sherman’s march to Chattanooga leaving Memphis October 10th and arriving at Chattanooga November 19th after a march of 32 days. On the 25th the 10th was part of a heroic mission for who stormed Mission Ridge and earned a noble record. This and the battle at Champion’s Hill are regarded as the hardest battles fought by this regiment. December 4th the regiment moved to Larkinsville, Alabama, thence to Huntsville arriving January 9, 1864. February 1st the regiment reenlisted as veterans and remained at Huntsville making stories with Roddy’s cavalry until June 15th when it started north on a veteran furlough. In July it returned to the front arriving at Kingston, Georgia August 1st, while here it was transferred to the 2nd brigade. September 28th the now veterans were mustered out, the regiment was filled up and joined Sherman’s march to Savannah. January 19th the expedition on Columbia thence to Goldsboro entering the latter city August 22nd after severe fighting having marched 500 miles from Savannah in an inclement season of the year.

Many of the soldiers were nearly naked and without shoes, but all were contented and joyous, satisfied in the consciousness of duty done. The regiment traveled 8,187 miles, served in 10 states of the Confederacy and fought in 2 pitched battles, besides numerous skirmishes. Up to the battle of Mission Ridge not a man had been taken prisoner on a battle field. The regiment was mustered out as veterans at Little Rock, Arkansas August 15, 1865, having served months beyond their term of enlistment and for which they received high commendation form the department.

15TH INFANTRY

This in one of the noblest regiments of the state and to have been a member of it is honor for any soldier. It’s history is long and eventful, beyond the limits. It was organized February 1862 , mustered in March 14 and joined Grant’s army at Pittsburg Landing in April where it went through it’s “Bloody Baptism” losing in 2 days over ¼ of its number. Briefly to sum up its history:

I-Pittsburg Landing-Battle of Shiloh

II- Siege of Corinth-summer and fall of 1862, Bolivar, Iuka, Battle of Corinth October 3rd and 4th, pursuit of rebels to Ripley, return to Corinth October 13th.

III- Winter Campaign 1862, Grand Junction, Holly Springs, Oxford, Abbeville, Yockema Station, return to Lafayette, Memphis, front at Vicksburg, Milliken’s Bend, Providence Canal digging to connect with Mississippi with bayous Macon and Tenas.

IV- Vicksburg Campaign, Milliken’s Bend, Holmes Plantation, Grand Gulf, Harne’s Bluff, Warrenton, Mechanicsville Expedition, rear of Vicksburg, Black River Expedition, Messenger’s Ferry, Jackson, return to Vicksburg.

V- Fall and winter 1863, Expedition to Monroe, Louisiana in August, to Jackson in October, Redbone in December, Meridian in February, 1864 Veteran furlough in March/April, thence to Huntsville, Alabama.

VI- Summer Campaign of 1864, reconnaissance to Powder Springs, pursuit of Hood to Reseca, Gaylesville, Marietta, march to the Sea, Savannah, November/December 1864.

VIII- Winter Campaign through Carolina’s, Beaufort, Battles of Garden Corner and Poctaligo January 14th, Salkahatchie, February 3rd, Orangeburg February 12th, Columbus February 13th, Fayetteville March 11th, Bentonsville march 20th, on to Goldsboro. This was one of the most arduous campaigns in the history of the regiment. It marches by night through swamps for hours waist deep amongst dense forests and snags, will never be forgotten for its promptness and heroism it received special commendation of commanding officers.

IX- Closing Campaign- Northward to finish the job, Raleigh, review by General Grant April 23rd, Jones Station, surrender of Johnson, march to Petersburg, Richmond, Washington, Louisville, mustered out July 24, 1865, home again at Davenport July 29.

Out of 1,763 men who were members of the regiment during its organization, 1,051 were absent, killed, died, or crippled for life, proof of valor, patriotism and love for their country. It suffered more casualties then any other regiment sent from the state. It carried its battle flag 7,898 miles and it now hangs in the State Arsenal, torn in shreds by leaden hail, a cherished relic of heroic deeps.

16TH INFANTRY

Rendezvoused at Camp McClelland, Davenport, which place it left for the field March 20, 1862. Its 1st battle was at Shiloh, April 6th being stationed at the right of the 15th Iowa. At this battle the horsed and all the field and staff officers were killed, a show the enemy struck for prizes. Immediately after the battle of Shiloh, The Iowa brigade was organized which continued to the close of the war and won no little renown. The 16th was the junior regiment, but it was a plucky one. It has one chapter in history, distinct from that of the brigade. 13th of September it was detached and sent to reinforce Col Murphy of the 8th Wisconsin who was protection stores left at Iuka, on the 16th it joined Rosecranzo and was in the fierce engagements at Iuka on the 16th. This was the 2nd battle of the regiment and won the highest praise from General Rosecranz and they went back to their brigade the hero’s of the day. It lost its commanding officer at Iuka. Its next battle was at Corinth , October 4th where it again lost its commanding officer and suffered great disaster than any other regiment of the brigade. Succeeding history of the regiment is made up of the pursuit of the rebel army to the Hatchie and return to Corinth, the trip down the Mississippi to Young’s Point and the operations around Vicksburg, the march to Mechanicsville, up the Yazoo, the expedition to Jackson and the escape of Johnson, the raid to Monroe, Louisiana to Meridian, Mississippi, the long and tedious march from Clifton on the Tennessee to northwestern Georgia in the spring of 1864, and the memorable Atlanta campaign, all of which with the Iowa brigade the 16th helped to make. It is probable that in all of Sherman’s grand army of 98,997 men, none were more conspicuous for bravery and efficiency that the 16th on the memorable 22nd of July. Sherman had to swing his army across the Chattahoochee and around Atlanta by a grand right wheel. The Iowa brigade formed the left of 4th division, which was the left wing of the army. The 16th was at the extreme left of the line with the 15th and 11th at the left end of the front. They received orders to hold the position, as that would depend on the safety of the entire division. Scarcely had they received the order when the enemy came upon them like a whirlwind, with bayonets fixed and pieces at charge. The Iowa boys waited until they had got within a few rods, when they poured into them with musketry, until their guns became so hot they could not handle them and the cartridges would flash as they were dropped in place. The enemy fell to the earth. The 11th and 15th were overpowered and retreated, leaving the enemy between them and the 16th, and there was nothing left but to surrender, thus the 16th Iowa regiment was captured entire.

The privates were kept prisoners until September 1864 when they were exchanged. There officers were held until the following spring. At Atlanta the regiment was under fire from June 14th to July 22nd. November 15th it started for Savannah, arriving December 10th, where it took part in the siege of that city. January 6, 1865 it moved to Beaufort, South Carolina, arriving at Raleigh, April 16th where it joined the triumphal march to Washington, and the grand review May 24, 1865 where they went to Louisville, Kentucky and were mustered out July 19th.

32ND INFANTRY

They were rendezvoused at Camp Franklin, Dubuque. Was organized August 1862 originally consisted of 925 men. Mustered in US service October and until March 1864 was stationed in detachments at Cape Girardeau, New Madrid, Fort Pillow, Columbus and other points along the Mississippi. In February 1864 a portion of the regiment joined General Sherman in his Meridian expedition and also that of General Banks in his successful failure up Red River. It was on this expedition, at Fort DeRussey March 14, 1864 the regiment first met the enemy in battle. Again at Pleasant Hill April 9 it distinguished itself by fighting 2 hours alone surrounded on all sides by the enemy and captured. The union forces finally rallied and beat back the enemy to their original line when they surprised the 32nd still occupying the position it had been ordered to hold. Completely engrossed was it with work in hand it was ignorant to the real situation until relieved from their position, the boys were surprised to know that they had for 2 hours been considered as captured and removed from the field. In this engagement more that 2/3rds of the regiment was put out of the battle, the loss of the 14th, 27th, and 32nd on that day was more than ½ that of the whole of Banks’ army and it true to these regiments saved the entire army from demoralization and capture, for they were the only troops who held their position. Imagine the surprise of these regiments on the morning of the 10th of April, when Banks began his retreat, these regiments were ordered into line to bring up the rear, the main body having been gone several hours, thus paying the Heroic Hawkeye boys, who had saved the army, lost more men that the whole army- the only troops who held their position-they were very peculiar compliment of covering the retreat. The Iowa boys having started in at Pleasant Hill at the front and the army having been driven around them so they came to the rear, they beat back the enemy which followed and harassed them until they reached Simsport. July 14th the 32nd had a brush with the enemy at Tupelo, and repulsed them again at Old Town Creek, July 15th it was attacked by the enemy who were repulsed July 22nd it arrived at LaGrange, Memphis July 24th they went to Holly Springs, Waterford, Abbeville, Oxford then back to Holly Springs, then to Memphis arriving August 30th. September and October it was constantly tramping over Missouri and October 25th it started from St Louis to Nashville, up to that date it had traveled 5, 594 miles of which 2, 332 were on foot. The number of men present for duty was 359. The regiment took part in the battles around New Orleans and was engaged in the siege and capture of Mobile. The regiment was mustered out at Clinton August 24, 1865. It should be noticed also that from November 30, 1862 the regiment was divided, one detachment going to New Madrid under Colonel Scott, the other to Cape Girardeau under Major Eberhart the latter comprising Company’s A, D, F, and ???, From thence to March 4th the history of these detachments was as distant as the 2 regiments Major Eberhart was sent to Arkansas and then August 12, 1863 on the White River Expedition. A side shute was made up Little Red, where 2 prize streamers were captured and a pontoon bridge destroyed serving Marmaduke’s army ½ being on either side. One of the prizes (the Kalkaska) was in charge of Company D, at West Point the enemy attempted to recapture the steamer, but were driven back. The next move was to Duval’s Bluff and Bayou Metarie where the boys entered the enemies works with a rush, drove them out across the bayou and burned their bridge. The next move to Brownsville, thence to Little Rock, December 19th. January 29, 1864 the detachment was ordered to Memphis arriving February 5th thence to Vicksburg, arriving February 9th, where March 4th they reunited to the other detachment, an event which was the occasion of a complimentary congratulatory order form Colonel Scott.

44TH INFANTRY

Regiment was organized under proclamation of the president April 21, 1864, calling for one hundred thousand men to serve for 100 days, in fortifications wherever their services might be required. This was for the purpose of relieving the Veteran Troops from such duty, that they might be sent forward for more effective services. Under proclamation of the governor, 4 days later the valiant people of the State responded promptly to fill the quota of 10 thousand demanded of them, although far ahead of all requisitions made by the government. Boone county although having furnished men in excess of her quota, responded promptly and was represented in the 44th. Although they were engaged in no battles they did effective service in closing up the war. The 44th was mustered in June 1864 and mustered out a Davenport September 15, 1864.

Source: Both The History of Marion County, Iowa 1881 and The History of Warren County, Iowa 1879.

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