The Presidential campaign of 1860 was the most remarkable and exciting of all in the history of Iowa. The fact that civil war might be inaugurated and was threatened, in case Mr. Lincoln was elected, was well understood and duly considered. The people of Iowa indulged in no feeling of hatred or ill-will toward the people of any State or section of the Union. There was, however, on the part of the majority, a cool determination to consider and decide upon our national relations to this institution of slavery, uninfluenced by any threat of violence or civil war. The popular vote of Iowa gave Mr. Lincoln 70,409; Stephen A. Douglas, 55,011; Breckenridge, 1,048.

     The General Assembly of the State of Iowa, as early as 1851, had by joint resolution declared that the State of Iowa was “bound to maintain the union of these States by all the means in her power.” The same year the State furnished a block of marble for the Washington monument at the national capital, and by order of the General Assembly there was inscribed upon its enduring surface the following: “Iowa: Her affections, like the rivers of her borders, flow to an inseparable Union.” The time was now approaching in her history when these declarations of attachment and fidelity to the nation were to be put to a practical test.

     The declaration of Mr. Buchanan’s last annual message, that the nation possessed no constitutional power to coerce a seceding State, was received by a great majority of our citizens with humiliation and distrust. Anxiously they awaited the expiring hours of his administration, and looked to the incoming President as to an expected deliverer that should rescue the nation from the hands of traitors, and the control of those whose non-resistance invited her destruction. The firing upon the national flag at Sumter aroused a burning indignation throughout the loyal States of the republic, and nowhere was it more intense than in Iowa; and when the proclamation of the President was published, April 15, 1861, calling for 75,000 citizen soldiers to “maintain the honor, the integrity, and the existence of our national Union, and the perpetuity of popular government,” the good people of Iowa were more than willing to respond to the call. Party lines gave way, and for a while, at least, party spirit was hushed, and the cause of our common country was supreme in the affections of the people. Peculiarly fortunate were the citizens of Iowa at this crisis, in having a truly representative man, Samuel J. Kirkwood, as executive of the State.

     Within thirty days after the date of the President’s call for troops, the first Iowa regiment was mustered into the service of the United States, a second regiment was in camp ready for the service, and the General Assembly of the State was convened in special session, and had by joint resolution solemnly pledged every resource of men and money to the national cause.

     The Constitution of Iowa limited the State debt to $250,000, except debts contracted to “repel invasion, suppress insurrection, or defend the State in war.” The General Assembly authorized a loan of $800,000 for a war and defense fund, to be expended in organizing, arming, equipping and subsisting the militia of the State to meet the present and future requisitions of the President. Those in power looked to the spirit rather than to the letter of the Constitution, and acted upon the theory that to preserve the nation was to preserve the State, and that to prevent invasion was the most effectual means of repelling it. A few, however, in both branches of the General Assembly were more careful of the letter of the Constitution. Three votes in the Senate and seventeen in the House were cast against the loan bill. These bonds were at 7 per cent interest. Only $300,000 were ever issued, and they were purchased and held chiefly by our own citizens. At this crisis James W. Grimes and James Harlan were in the United States Senate, and General Samuel R. Curtis and General Vandever in the House of Representatives. During the first year of the war, Iowa furnished sixteen regiments of infantry, six of cavalry and three batteries, -- in all, 22,000 soldiers. Iowa had no refuse population to enlist as “food for powder.” Her cities contained none of the element found about the purlieus of vice in the great centers of population. Her contribution to the armies of the republic was a genuine offering of manhood and patriotism. From her fields, her workshops, her counting-houses, her offices, and the halls of her schools and colleges, she contributed the best muscle, sinew and brain of an industrious, enterprising and educated people. The first regiment of Iowa soldiers fought the battle of Wilson’s Creek after their term of enlistment had expired, and after they were entitled to a discharge. They were citizen soldiers, each of whom had a personal interest in the struggle. It was to them no question of enlistment, of bounty or of pay. When the gallant General Lyon placed himself at their head, and told them that the honor of Iowa and of the nation was in their hands, he addressed men who knew what the appeal meant, and to whom such an appeal was never made in vain.

     At the fall election of 1861, party spirit had revived; and the contest for the control of the State administration was warm and earnest. Dissensions arose in both parties but the election resulted in a majority of 16,600 votes for Kirkwood, who was thus retained as Governor of Iowa. In 1863 the Republicans elected their candidate for Governor, William M. Stone, by a majority of 29,000.

     Meanwhile, the General Assembly had passed a law authorizing the “soldiers’ vote,” that is, citizens of the State in the volunteer military service of the United States, whether within or without the limits of the State, were authorized to open a poll on the day of the election, and to make return of their votes to the proper civil authorities. In the Presidential contest of 1864 the popular vote at home was as follows: Lincoln, 72,122; McClellan, 47,703. The soldier vote returned was: Lincoln, 16,844; McClellan, 1,883.

     The General Assembly did all in its power to encourage enlistment and to protect the soldiers in the field and their families at home. Statutes were enacted suspending all suits against soldiers in the service, and all writs of execution or attachment against their property; and county boards of supervisors were authorized to vote bounties for enlistments, and pecuniary aid to the families of those in the service. The spirits of our people rose and fell, according to the success of the Union armies. One day the bells rung out with joy for the surrender of Vicksburg, and again the air seemed full of heaviness because of our defeats on the Peninsula; but through all these dark and trying days, the faith of the great majority never wavered.

     The Emancipation Proclamation of the President was to them an inspiration of a new hope.

     In the Adjutant’s department at Des Moines are preserved the shot-riddled colors and standards of Iowa’s regiments. Upon them, by special authority, were inscribed from time to time during the war the names of the battle-fields upon which these regiments gained distinction. These names constitute the geographical nomenclature of two-thirds of the territory lately in rebellion. From the Des Moines River to the Gulf, from the Mississippi to the Atlantic, in the Mountains of West Virginia and in the valley of the Shenandoah, the Iowa soldier made his presence known and felt, and maintained the honor of the State, and the cause of the nation. They were with Lyon at Wilson’s Creek; with Tuttle at Donelson. They fought with Sigel and with Curtis at Pea Ridge; with Crocker at Champion Hills; with Reid at Shiloh. They were with Grant at the surrender of Vicksburg. They fought above the clouds with Hooker at Lookout Mountain. They were with Sherman in his march to the sea, and were ready for battle when Johnston surrendered. They were with Sheridan in the valley of the Shenandoah, and were in the veteran ranks of the nations’ deliverers that stacked their arms in the national capital at the close of the war.

     The State furnished to the armies of the republic, during the war, over 70,000 men, and 20,000 of these perished in battle or from diseases contracted in the service.

     We append here a brief notice of each regiment:

     The First Regiment was organized under the President’s first call for three-months volunteers, with John Francis Bates, of Dubuque, as Colonel. It comprised various independent military companies that had been organized before the war, who tendered their services even before the breaking out of hostilities. They were mustered in May 14, and first saw service under General Lyon in Missouri.

     Second Infantry; Samuel R. Curtis, of Keokuk, Colonel. This was the first three-years regiment, and made a most distinguished record throughout the South, going with Sherman to the sea, returning through the Carolinas, etc. After the battle at Fort Donelson, the unenthusiastic General Halleck pronounced this regiment “the bravest of the brave.”

     Third Infantry; Nelson G. Williams, of Dubuque County, Colonel. Veteranized in 1864, but before the new officers received their commissions the regiment fought itself out of existence at the battle of Atlanta!

     Fourth Infantry; G. M. Dodge, of Council Bluffs, Colonel. Engaged in the principal battles of the South.

     Fifth Infantry; William H. Worthington, of Keokuk, Colonel. 180 veteranized in 1864 and were transferred to the Fifth Cavalry.

     Sixth Infantry; John A. McDowell, of Keokuk, Colonel. Engaged faithfully in many of the prominent battles.

     Seventh Infantry; J. G. Lauman, of Burlington, Colonel. It lost 227 at the single battle of Belmont.

     Eighth Infantry; Frederick Steele, of the regular army, Colonel. Most of this command suffered in rebel prisons for eight months. Was on duty in Alabama nearly a year after the collapse of the Rebellion.

     Ninth Infantry; William Vendever, of Dubuque, Colonel. Was in almost every Southern State, traveling altogether 10,000 miles; marched more than 4,000 miles!

     Tenth Infantry; Nicholas Persczel, of Davenport, Colonel. Fought mainly in Mississippi; losing half its number at the battle of Champion Hills alone!

     Eleventh Infantry; A. M. Hare, of Muscatine, Colonel. Served mainly in the interior of the South, doing as valiant service as any other regiment.

     Twelfth Infantry; J. J. Wood, of Maquoketa, Colonel. In rebel prisons eight months. Veteranized January 4, 1864, a larger proportion of the men re-enlisting than from any other Iowa regiment. Served for several months after the close of the war.

     Thirteenth Infantry; M. M. Crocker, of Des Moines, Colonel. Fought in the Southern interior and made the famous round with Sherman to the sea, being the first to enter Columbia, South Carolina, where secession had its rise.

     Fourteenth Infantry; William T. Shaw, of Anamosa, Colonel. Nearly all captured at Shiloh, but were released after a few months. Engaged in some of the severest contests.

     Fifteenth Infantry; Hugh T. Reid, of Keokuk, Colonel. Served three and a half years in the heart of the Rebellion.

     Sixteenth Infantry; Alex. Chambers, of the regular army, Colonel. Bravely served throughout the South.

     Seventeenth Infantry; John W. Rankin, of Keokuk, Colonel. Served in the interior of the South.

     Eighteenth Infantry; John Edwards, of Chariton, Colonel. Much of its time was spent in garrison duty.

     Nineteenth Infantry; Benjamin Crabb, of Washington, Colonel. Served mainly in Mississippi. Were prisoners of war about ten months.

     Twentieth Infantry, comprising five companies each from Scott and Linn counties, who vied with each other in patriotism; William M. Dye, of Marion, Colonel. Engaged mainly of the Gulf coast.

     Twenty-first Infantry; ex-Governor Samuel Merrill, Colonel. Distinguished in valiant service throughout the South. See Twenty-third Regiment.

     Twenty-second Infantry; William M. Stone, of Knoxville, since Governor of the State, was Colonel. Did excellent service, all the way from Mississippi to old Virginia.

     Twenty-third Infantry; William Dewey, of Fremont County, Colonel. Its services were mainly in Mississippi. At Black River but a few minutes were required in carrying the rebel works, but those few minutes were fought with fearful loss to the troops. The Twenty-first also participated in this daring assault, and immediately after the victory was gained General Lawler passed down the line and joyfully seized ever man by the hand, so great was his emotion.

     Twenty-fourth Infantry; the “Iowa Temperance Regiment,” was raised by Eber C. Byam, of Linn County. Engaged mainly in the Lower Mississippi Valley.

     Twenty-fifth Infantry; George A. Stone, of Mt. Pleasant, Colonel. “To the Sea.”

     Twenty-sixth Infantry; Milo Smith, of Clinton, Colonel. Took part in many great battles.

     Twenty-seventh Infantry; James I. Gilbert, of Lansing, Colonel. On duty all the way from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.

     Twenty-eighth Infantry; William E. Miller, of Iowa City, Colonel. Service, in the region of the Lower Mississippi.

     Twenty-ninth Infantry; Thomas H. Benton, Jr., of Council Bluffs, Colonel. Stationed in Arkansas.

     Thirtieth Infantry; Charles B. Abbott, of Louisa County, Colonel. In the thickest of the war, coming home loaded with honors.

     Thirty-first Infantry; William Smyth, of Marion, Colonel. Returned from its many hard-fought battles in the interior of the South with only 370 men out of 1,000 enlisted.

     Thirty-second Infantry; John Scott, of Nevada, Colonel. Engaged in a number of battles.

     Thirty-third Infantry; Samuel A. Rice, a popular politician of Central Iowa, Colonel. Served from Arkansas to Alabama.

     Thirty-fourth Infantry; George W. Clark, of Indianola, Colonel. Traveled 15,000 miles in its service.

     Thirty-fifth Infantry; S. G. Hill, of Muscatine, Colonel. Served bravely in a dozen battles, and traveled 10,000 miles.

     Thirty-sixth Infantry; Charles W. Kittredge, of Ottumwa, Colonel. Suffered a great deal from sickness — small-pox, measles, malaria, etc.

     Thirty-seventh Infantry, the “Gray-Beard Regiment,” being composed of men over forty-five years of age, and was the only one of its kind in the war. Garrison and post duty.

     Thirty-eighth Infantry; D. H. Hughes, of Decorah, Colonel. Most unfortunate of all in respect of sickness, 300 dying during the first two years.

     Thirty-ninth Infantry; H. J. B. Cummings, of Winterset, Colonel. One of the most distinguished regiments in the field.

     Fortieth Infantry; John A. Garrett, of Newton, Colonel.

     Forty-first Infantry was not completed, and the three companies raised for it were attached to the Seventh Cavalry.

     There were no regiments numbered Forty-second or Forty-third.

     Forty-fourth Infantry for 100 days; Stephen H. Henderson, Colonel. Garrison duty in Tennessee.

     Forty-fifth Infantry, for 100 days; A. H. Bereman, of Mt. Pleasant, Colonel. Garrison duty in Tennessee.

     Forty-seventh Infantry, for 100 days; James P. Sanford, of Oskaloosa, Colonel. Stationed at the sickly place of Helena, Arkansas.

     Forty-eighth Infantry (battalion), for 100 days; O. H. P. Scott, of Farmington, Lieutenant-Colonel. Guarded prisoners on Rock Island.

     First Cavalry; Fitz Henry Warren of Burlington, Colonel. Served for three years, mainly along the Lower Mississippi.

     Second Cavalry; W. L. Elliott, a Caption in the Third Cavalry of the regular army, Colonel. Fought faithfully in many important battles in Tennessee and Mississippi.

     Third Cavalry; Cyrus Bussey, of Broomfield, Colonel. Distinguished in war.

     Fourth Cavalry; A. B. Porter, of Mt. Pleasant, Colonel. Participated with zeal and judgment in the hottest of battles in Tennessee and Mississippi.

     Fifth Cavalry, only in part an Iowa regiment; William W. Lowe, of the regular army, Colonel. Distinguished in the hotly contested battles of Tennessee and vicinity.

     Sixth Cavalry; D. S. Wilson, of Dubuque, Colonel. Served against the Indians.

     Seventh Cavalry; S. W. Summers, of Ottumwa, Colonel. Served against the Indians.

     Eighth Cavalry; Joseph B. Dorr, of Dubuque, Colonel. Served faithfully in guarding Sherman’s communications, etc.

     Ninth Cavalry; M. M. Trumbull, of Cedar Falls, Colonel. Scouting, guard and garrison duties in Arkansas.

     First Battery of Light Artillery; C. H. Fletcher, of Burlington, Captain. Served in Arkansas and Tennessee.

     Second Battery; Nelson I. Spoor, of Council Bluffs, Captain. Engaged at Farmington, Corinth and other places.

     Third Battery; M. M. Hayden, of Dubuque, Captain. Engaged at Pea Ridge, and in other important battles.

     Fourth Battery; on duty most of the time in Louisiana.

     Iowa Regiment of Colored Troops; John G. Hudson, of Missouri, Colonel. Garrison duty at St. Louis and elsewhere.

     Northern Border Brigade; protected the southern border of the State.

     The following promotions were made by the United States Government from Iowa regiments: To the rank of Major-General — Samuel R. Curtis, Frederick Steele, Frank J. Herron and Grenville M. Dodge; to that of Brigadier-General — Jacob G. Lauman, James M. Tuttle, W. L. Elliott, Fitz Henry Warren, Charles L. Matthies, William Vandever, M. M. Crocker, Hugh T. Reid, Samuel A. Rice, John M. Corse, Cyrus Bussey, Edward Hatch, Elliott W. Rice, William W. Belknap, John Edwards, James A. Williamson, James I. Gilbert and Thomas J. McKean; Corse, Hatch, Belknap, Elliott and Vandever were brevetted Major-Generals; brevetted Brigadier-Generals — William T. Clark, Edward F. Winslow, S. G. Hill, Thomas H. Benton, S. S. Glasgow, Clark R. Weaver, Francis M. Drake, George A. Stone, Datus E. Coon, George W. Clark, Herman H. Heath, J. M. Hedrick and W. W. Lowe.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~