1

Roster and Record of Iowa Troops In the Rebellion, Vol. 1

By Guy E. Logan

HISTORICAL SKETCH

THIRD REGIMENT IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY

The companies composing the Second and Third regiments of Iowa Infantry Volunteers were

organized and ready to respond to the first call of President Lincoln for troops, but as only one

regiment from Iowa could be accepted under that call these companies were compelled to wait

during the brief time that intervened before the second call was issued. The Second and Third

were then ordered into quarters by Governor Kirkwood, and his order was so promptly obeyed

that there was but little difference in the dates upon which these three regiments assembled at the

designated rendezvous, Keokuk, Iowa. There, on the 8th and 10th days of June, 1861, the ten

companies composing the Third regiment were mustered into the service of the United States by

Lieutenant Alexander Chambers of the regular army, for the term of three years. On June 27,

1861—only seventeen days after its last company was mustered—the regiment embarked on the

steamers, Gate City and Hamilton Belle, and was conveyed to Hannibal, Mo., there to await

further orders. The First and Second regiments had reached Hannibal only a few days before, and

were then engaged in taking possession of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad, and in preventing

the concentration of the bands of rebel troops then being raised in that part of Missouri. The

Third Regiment was at once assigned to the same duty. From Hannibal it was transported by rail

to Utica, Mo., on the line of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad, where it went into camp. Up to

this time the Governor had not appointed the field officers of the regiment, and it had been

commanded by its senior Captain, Richard G. Herron of Company A, a very capable and

efficient officer, and highly esteemed by the officers and men of the regiment. Shortly after

arriving at Utica, the field officers were appointed.

Nelson G. Williams, who had received military training at West Point, was commissioned

Colonel, Capt. John Scott of Company E, a veteran soldier of the Mexican War, was promoted to

Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain William M. Stone of Company B was promoted to Major. The

Lieutenant Colonel and Major had been mustered in as Captains at Keokuk, but the Colonel was

a stranger to the regiment. Upon assuming command, he proceeded to enforce strict discipline,

which, at that time, a majority of the officers and men could not appreciate the necessity for, as

they could, and did, later on. The result was a strong feeling of dislike for Colonel Williams.

Retaining that feeling of self-respect and manly independence which had characterized them as

citizens, and having all their lives been amenable only to the mild restraints of the civil laws, it

was not strange that the sudden transition from the comparatively mild discipline to which they

had thus far been accustomed, to the most rigid enforcement of the rules and regulations

governing the professional soldiers of the regular army, should seem harsh and even cruel. While

it soon became evident that the efficiency of the regiment had improved, the stern and autocratic

manner of the Colonel created a feeling of prejudice against him which his enforcement of

discipline would not alone have created, had his bearing towards his officers and men been less

arrogant.

The citizens of Missouri were divided into bitterly contending factions, many adhering to the

cause of the Union, and many assuming an attitude of open rebellion. These hostile factions were

constantly being organized into armed bodies. It was a most deplorable condition, and the duty

of protecting the loyal people of the State devolved upon the Union troops. In the State, thus rent

and torn by contending factions, the Third Iowa spent its first summer, autumn and winter. Its

2

operations extended over a wide territory. during the summer, the regiment maintained

headquarters, first at Utica, and later at Chillicothe, Brookfield and Macon City, but companies

were stationed at different points to guard the railroad and keep it in operation for the

transportation of troops and supplies. In the performance of this duty many skirmishes and minor

engagements took place. Several expeditions were planned and executed by portions of the

regiment, but during its entire campaign in Missouri there were no operations in which the entire

regiment was engaged at one time. The regiment suffered much from sickness, and, up to the

time when it first encountered the enemy in battle, its greatest loss had been by deaths from

disease, and the discharge of men who proved to be physically incapacitated to stand the

hardships and exposure incident to a soldier's life. The most important of the expeditions

undertaken during the summer were those against considerable bodies of the enemy, commanded

by the rebel Generals Thomas Harris and Martin Green, and encamped near the towns of Paris

and Kirksville. The first movement was against Kirksville with 500 of the Third Iowa under

command of Lieutenant Colonel Scott, and the second against Paris with the balance of the

regiment under Colonel Williams. Only partial success was accomplished by these expeditions.

The enemy, being mounted and familiar with the country, retired as the Union troops advanced,

and could not be drawn into a general engagement.

Some skirmish fighting took place, in which several were killed and wounded on both sides.

Prior to these two expeditions portions of the regiment had come into contact with the enemy at

Hager's Woods and Monroe, and later at Shelbina and Florida, Mo., in all of which only slight

losses were sustained. The compiler of this sketch, then a crude young soldier in, one of the

companies of the Third Iowa Infantry, was imbued with the same ardent desire which animated

his comrades, to meet the enemy in a general engagement. The desire was soon to be gratified.

About the middle of September Lieut. Col. John Scott in command of 500 of the Third Iowa left

camp and proceeded west to Cameron, Mo. Upon his arrival there, he was ordered to act in

conjunction with Colonel Smith, who, with his regiment—the Sixteenth Illinois Infantry—was to

meet Colonel Scott at or near Liberty, Mo., and intercept a force of the enemy reported to be

marching towards Blue Mills Landing, on the Missouri river, with the purpose of crossing the

river at that point and joining the rebel army under General Price. In his official report

Lieutenant Colonel Scott details at length the movements of his command from the time he

received his orders to the end of the battle of Blue Mills. Colonel Smith was moving from St.

Joseph towards Blue Mills, and, at the time Scott left Cameron, had reached a point on his line of

march which placed the two commands at about equal distances from Liberty, where they were

ordered to intercept the enemy. Smith had sent a courier with a message to Scott urging him to

move as rapidly as possible, and to keep in communication with him. The following extract from

Scott's report will explain his movements prior to the battle:

I left Cameron at 3 P. M. on the 15th inst., and through a heavy rain and bad roads made but

seven miles during that afternoon. By a very active march on the 16th, I reached Centerville, ten

miles north of Liberty, by sunset, when the firing of cannon was distinctly heard in the direction

of Platte City, which was surmised to be from Colonel Smith's Sixteenth Illinois command. I had

sent a messenger to Colonel Smith from Hainsville, and another from Centerville, apprising him

of my movements, but got no response. On the 17th at 2 A. M. I started from Centerville for

Liberty, and at daylight the advanced guards fell in with the enemas pickets. * * *

Lieutenant Colonel Scott continued to advance, the pickets of the enemy retiring before him.

They were closely followed and driven to the town of Liberty, which was reached at 7 a. m. The

troops were halted on the hill north of and overlooking the town. Scouts were now sent forward

3

to examine the position of the enemy. The only information obtained was that the enemy had

passed through the town on the afternoon of the 16th, to the number of about 4,000, taking the

road to Blue Mills Landing, and were reported as having four pieces of artillery. Lieutenant

Colonel Scott at once sent a courier to Colonel Smith advising him of the situation, and urging

him to hasten his command. In the meantime firing was heard in the direction of the landing.

This was presumed to be a conflict between the Union troops under General Sturgis and the

enemy, disputing the passage over the river; but the firing was being done by the enemy, solely

for the purpose of misleading the advancing Union troops, and leading them into making the

attack before reinforcements reached them. The ruse on the part of the enemy had the desired

result. Lieutenant Colonel Scott felt that it was his duty to at once advance, but before starting he

dispatched another courier to Colonel Smith, advising that officer of his intention to attack the

enemy, and urging him to hasten his troops forward in order that he might arrive in time to

participate in the impending battle. The following extract from Lieutenant Colonel Scott's report

describes the fighting which ensued:

At 12 M. I moved the command, consisting of 500 of the Third Iowa, a squad of German

artillerists, and about seventy Home Guards, in the direction of Blue Mills Landing. On the

route, learned that a body of our scouts had fallen in with the enemy's pickets, and lost four

killed and one wounded. About two miles from Liberty, the advance guard drove in the enemy's

pickets. Skirmishers closely examined the dense growth through which our route lay, and at 3

P.M. discovered the enemy in force, concealed on both sides of the road, and occupying the dry

bed of a slough, his left resting on the river, and the right extending beyond our observation. He

opened a heavy fire which drove back our skirmishers, and made simultaneous attacks upon our

front and right. These were well sustained, and he retired with heavy loss to his position. In the

attack upon our front the artillery suffered so severely that the only piece a brass 6-pounder—

was left without sufficient force to man it, and I was only able to have it discharged twice during

the action. Some of the gunners abandoned the piece, carrying off the matches and primer, and

could not be rallied. The enemy kept up a heavy fire from his position. Our artillery useless, and

many of the officers and men already disabled, it was deemed advisable to fall back, which was

done slowly, returning the enemy's fire, and completely checking pursuit. The 6-pounder was

brought off by hand, through the gallantry of Captain Trumbull, Lieutenants Crosley and Knight,

and various officers and men of the Third Iowa, after it had been entirely abandoned by the

artillerists. The ammunition wagon, becoming fastened between a tree and a log at the road side

in such a manner that it could not be released without serious loss, was abandoned. The

engagement lasted one hour, and was sustained by my command with an intrepidity that merits

my warmest approbation. I have to regret the loss of a number of brave officers and men, who

fell gallantly fighting at their posts. I refer to the enclosed list of killed and wounded as a part of

this report The heaviest loss was sustained by Company I, Third Iowa Volunteers, which lost

four killed and twenty wounded, being one-fourth of our total loss. Major Stone, Captains

Warren, Willett and O'Neil, and Lieutenants Hobbs, Anderson, Tullis and Knight were severely

wounded. Lieutenant Knight was wounded three times, but refused to retire from the field, and

remained with his man until the close of the engagement. Among the great number who deserve

ray thanks for their gallantry, I might mention Sergeant James F. Lakin of Company F. who bore

the colors, and carried them into the thickest of the fight, with all the coolness of a veteran.

The Third Iowa lost in this battle 96 killed and wounded, out of less than 600 engaged, while

the loss of the enemy was reported at 160 out of 4,400 engaged. The enemy fought on the

defensive, and had all the advantage in position. Colonel Smith with the Sixteenth Illinois met

4

Lieutenant Colonel Scott's command about three miles from Blue Mills Landing, but his troops

were in such an exhausted condition that it was deemed best not to renew the attack. The enemy

only followed in pursuit a short distance, and during the night retreated across the river. The

compiler of this sketch has a vivid personal recollection of this first battle of the Third Iowa.

That it ended in defeat does not detract from the bravery of the officers and men of the regiment.

Considering the great disparity in numbers, it was greatly to the credit of its commander, and the

best possible evidence of the coolness and courage of his men, that it was able to extricate itself

from its perilous position, and to retire from the field in good order. To have longer continued

the fight in the face of such a greatly superior force, would have resulted in such greater loss that

the surrender of the small command might have become a necessity. The surviving officers and

men came out of this fight with unimpaired confidence in their gallant commander and in their

own ability to successfully contend with the enemy under anything like equal conditions. They

had here fought against at least seven times their own number, and had inflicted such heavy

damage to the enemy as to discourage them from continuing the pursuit and taking the chances

of another engagement, when the Third Iowa would have met the re-enforcement's coming to its

assistance. The next day the dead were buried with military honors, the wounded who were able

to bear the journey were conveyed under escort to Cameron, while the most severely wounded

were left at Liberty to be later conveyed by steamboat to the government hospital at Fort

Leavenworth.

A few days after the battle this detachment of the Third Iowa joined the command of General

Sturgis at Kansas City, where Union troops were being rapidly concentrated to resist a threatened

attack upon that place by the rebel forces under General Price. Union troops continued to arrive

until it became evident to the rebel general that he would soon be acting on the defensive, and,

after securing all the recruits that could be induced to join him, he withdrew his army to

Springfield, there to await reinforcements from the South. The Third Iowa was again reunited,

and, on account of the large number of men upon the sick list, it was deemed best to give it a

change of location and an opportunity to rest and recruit. It was therefore ordered to Quincy, Ill.,

where it went into camp in a beautiful location just north of the city, and enjoyed a season of

much needed rest. The citizens of Quincy extended a cordial welcome to the regiment, the best

of discipline was maintained, the health of the men rapidly improved, and at the end of three

weeks they were again in such good condition for active service as to fully justify the wisdom of

the order granting this short respite from active duty in the field. November 9, 1861, the regiment

was transported to St. Louis, and went into quarters at Benton Barracks a huge camp of

instruction, where troops of all arms were being concentrated and prepared for the great

campaign which was soon to begin. The barracks were soon overcrowded by the constant influx

of troops, and much sickness resulted. The order to again take the field was joyfully received by

the regiment, although the duty to which it was assigned involved a winter campaign in northern

Missouri. The regiment was selected for this service on account of its past experience in dealing

with Missouri rebels. It was important that the line of the North Missouri Railroad should be

protected against the frequent raids of rebel bands, who tore up portions of the track, cut down

telegraph poles and otherwise seriously interfered with the operation of the road. The companies

of the regiment were distributed at stations along the line of the road, and were constantly

engaged in protecting the working parties whose regular labor of keeping the track in condition

for the passage of trains was greatly augmented by the repairs necessitated by the depredations of

the enemy. The rebels infested the country in well-mounted bands, and the road could not have

been operated at all, except for the presence of Union troops.

Fort Donelson fell. Iowa troops had won renown in the reduction of that rebel stronghold,

while the Third Iowa was still engaged in guarding the North Missouri Railroad. It was not the

5

hardships to which they were exposed in this wintry weather of which the men and officers of

the regiment complained, but the lack of opportunity to win honor for themselves and their State

on Southern battlefields. During this campaign Lieutenant Colonel Scott was serving as a

member of a military commission in St. Louis, and Maj. W. M. Stone was in command of the

regiment until Colonel Williams—who had been under arrest for several months—returned and

took command. He had been tried by Court Martial, upon the charge, preferred against him by

certain officers of his regiment, of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. The court

had acquitted him of this charge. While the feeling of prejudice was still strong against the

Colonel, his officers and men had come to appreciate the necessity for strict discipline, and were

disposed to treat their commanding officer with greater respect. The Colonel had, in the

meantime, come to a better understanding of his men, and held them in higher regard on account

of the important service they had rendered while he was separated from them. Had such

consideration been shown earlier, it would have saved the Colonel much humiliation, and the

officers and men of his regiment much annoyance and ill feeling.

On the 3d of March, 1862, the welcome order was received for the regiment to proceed to St.

Louis. The scattered companies were concentrated at the regimental headquarters in Mexico,

Mo., transportation was provided, and the regiment was in St. Louis the next day, where it

immediately embarked on the steamer Iatan, and was soon on its way to the South. From Cairo,

Ill., it proceeded up the Ohio and Tennessee, and soon overtook the large fleet of transports

conveying General Grant's army. The boats were greatly crowded, and the impure water of the

river had a bad effect upon the health of the men. The result was a large increase of the sick list,

and when the regiment went ashore, at Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., on March 17, 1862, it had less

than 600 men able for duty.

The regiment was assigned to the First Brigade of the Fourth Division Army of the

Tennessee. The other regiments composing the brigade were the Twenty-Eighth, Thirty-second

and Forty-first Illinois Infantry. Brig. Gen. S. A. Hurlbut was in command of the division, Col.

N. G. Williams of the Third Iowa commanded the brigade, while Maj. W. M. Stone was in

command of the regiment, in the absence of Lieut. Col. John Scott, who had the misfortune—

with many other officers and men of the regiment—to be confined by severe sickness on board

the hospital boat "City of Memphis," which lay at Pittsburg Landing. It was very hard for these

brave men, many of whom had not sufficiently recovered, at the time the battle was fought, to

rejoin the regiment, to listen to the thunder of battle reverberating along the river, and to endure,

in addition to the pain that racked their bodies, the mental agony which came with the knowledge

that their comrades were bravely fighting, while they could not be permitted to join them.

On the morning of April 6, 1862, the great battle of Shiloh began. The Third Iowa, with the

other troops of its brigade and division, was promptly in line of battle, and moved rapidly to the

front, where the advanced line of the Union army was already engaged in fierce conflict with the

enemy. The division was soon engaged. After a short struggle on its first line of battle, it retired

some distance, to prevent being outflanked, and took up its second position, where it fought

stubbornly for over five hours and suffered heavy loss. The position at last becoming untenable,

it again retired, fighting from one position to another, and keeping well together. Early in the

engagement Colonel Williams had his horse shot under him, while gallantly performing his duty

as brigade commander. He was entirely disabled for further duty, and was borne from the field,

Col. I. C. Pugh of the Forty first Illinois succeeding him as commander of the brigade. Late in

the afternoon Major Stone had his horse shot under him, and he was stunned by the fall, just

when the enemy were charging and the regiment was compelled to fall back. The gallant Major

was thus cut off from his command and captured. Capt. M. M. Trumbull then took command of

the regiment which had become separated from its brigade. Upon reaching its own camp ground,

6

the regiment again faced the enemy, but found itself in the desperate situation of being nearly

surrounded. It again retired, fighting its way through its own camp, in which many of its men

were killed and wounded, among the wounded being the gallant Captain Trumbull. The

casualties among the officers had been so great that only seven Lieutenants now remained upon

duty, and First Lieut. George W. Crosley of Company E was the ranking officer in command of

the regiment, which continued to fight its way to the rear and, at about 5:30 in the evening,

formed on the right of Colonel Crocker's Thirteenth Iowa at the line of last resistance. After dark

the regiment rejoined its brigade, and, on the morning of April 7th, again went into action and

fought to the close of the battle that day. The next day the dead were collected from the field

where they had fallen, and were buried near the regimental camp, with the honors of war. The

sad duty performed, details from the regiment assisted in the burial of the enemy's dead, who

were found in great numbers, and nowhere did they lie thicker than at the points where the First

Brigade of the Fourth Division had fought. Capt. M. M. Trumbull, though still suffering from his

wound, resumed command of the regiment shortly after the battle, and wrote the official report,

including a list of the killed, wounded and missing. The summarized list shows the loss of the

regiment as follows:

"Killed, 23. Wounded, l34. missing (captured by the enemy), 30. Total, 187 out of 560

engaged. Of the captured, nearly all were wounded. Sixteen of the wounded, who were not

captured, died of their wounds in hospital, increasing the death list of the battle to 39. The total

loss was one-third of the number engaged."

Captain Trumbull describes the conduct of the regiment during the battle, in detail, and at the

close of his report says:

The regiment went into battle on the second day under the command of First Lieutenant G.

W. Crosley of Company E, and. as I am well assured. nobly maintained the honor of the flag.