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

By Guy E. Logan

HISTORICAL SKETCH

SIXTH REGIMENT IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY

The ten companies of which this regiment was composed were ordered to rendezvous at

Burlington, Iowa, where they were mustered into the service of the United States on the 17th and

18th days of July, 1861, by Lieut. Alexander Chambers, United States Army.

The subjoined roster contains the names of its first Field and Staff and Company Officers and

shows the subsequent changes which occurred. The regiment remained but a short time in

rendezvous, and, like those which had preceded it, was destined to learn the theory as well as the

practice of war, in the field. On the 6th of August, 1861, Colonel McDowell received orders to

proceed to Keokuk, where he received arms for six companies of his regiment, and at once

marched across the border into the State of Missouri, to assist the Fifth Iowa Infantry in

preventing a threatened invasion of Iowa by rebel troops. This prompt movement caused the

rebels to retreat in haste, and the object of the expedition was accomplished without loss. The

regiment returned to .Keokuk, and on the 9th of August proceeded by boat to St. Louis.

It was stationed for a time at Jefferson Barracks, then at the United States Arsenal and, later, at

Lafayette Park and Benton Barracks. On the 19th of September, 1861, the regiment left Benton

Barracks, and was transported by rail to Jefferson City, and from that place started upon an

active campaign in the State of Missouri, in which it learned its first severe lesson in marching,

and the endurance of hardships.

Under the limitation of space prescribed for the historical sketches of the different Iowa

organizations, the compiler cannot go into the details of the service rendered by the regiment

during these first months of its career, and can give only the outlines of its heroic record during

its long period of service covering over four years, and ending with the close of the great War of

the Rebellion. The subjoined roster, showing the personal record of each officer and enlisted

man, together with the summary of casualties, furnishes the best evidence of the loyalty and

devotion with which they served their country in her hour of greatest need. Suffice it to say that,

during the remainder of 1861, and the winter of 1862, the regiment passed through an experience

in the State of Missouri which may be well called the hard training school which fitted it for the

great work which lay before it. During this period it marched long distances over rough roads,

the men were overloaded with heavy knapsacks, which contained many things then considered

indispensable for their comfort, but which were afterwards discarded as useless. The camp

equipage was cumbersome, and the transportation for a single regiment exceeded that which was

later found sufficient for a brigade of four regiments. The men had not learned how to properly

take care of themselves, and the result was the breaking down of many of them from disease.

Many died, and many more were permanently disabled and discharged and their places filled by

new recruits who had to pass through the same experience. This seasoning process .was indeed

severe, but the men who survived it were prepared to go through the seemingly incredible

hardships which they afterwards encountered.

During this first campaign they had seen but little fighting, as no large bodies of the enemy were

encountered, but they had a foretaste of nearly all the hardships to which they were subsequently

subjected in the ordinary routine of camp life and marching. The supreme test of courage and

fortitude upon the battlefield and—for some of them—that severest experience of all,

confinement as prisoners of war, was yet to come. Yet, it must not be forgotten that the service

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rendered by the regiment in that summer, fall and winter in Missouri was very important in its

results. The presence of the Union forces not only saved that State from being dominated by the

rebels, but it also saved the State of Iowa from being invaded by them.

On the 7th day of March, 1862, the regiment was ordered to join the Army of the Tennessee, and

at once proceeded to St. Louis, where it embarked and was conveyed down the Mississippi to

Cairo, and thence up the Ohio and Tennessee rivers to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn. While en route it

was provided with new and improved arms and ammunition, and was thus better prepared to

meet the enemy in actual conflict. On the 16th day of March 1862, the regiment disembarked at

Pittsburg Landing, and was assigned to the First Brigade of the Fifth Division. The division was

commanded by Gen. W. T. Sherman, and Col. John A. McDowell of the Sixth Iowa was the

senior Colonel in command of the brigade. The position of the regiment was on the extreme right

of the army, while two of its companies were detached to defend the bridge crossing Owl Creek,

some distance in advance of the regiment. When the rebel attack began on Sunday morning,

April 6th, these two companies were in a greatly exposed position, and found much difficulty in

rejoining the regiment, which they finally succeeded in doing, under the leadership of Captain

Walden, in time to participate in the severest contest in which the regiment was engaged during

the battle. There were but few regiments, on either side, in any battle of the war, whose loss in

killed—in proportion to the number engaged—equaled that of the Sixth Iowa Infantry at Shiloh.

While Colonel McDowell was in command of the brigade in which his regiment fought on the

first day of the battle, it was much of the time under his immediate observation, and at a most

critical period, early in the engagement, he relieved Lieutenant. Colonel Cummins from the

command of the regiment, because that officer had shown himself incapable of properly

directing its movements, and placed Capt. Daniel Iseminger in command. This gallant officer

was killed while nobly discharging his duty, and the command devolved upon Capt. John

Williams, who was severely wounded just before the regiment took its last position on Sunday

evening, when Captain Walden assumed command.

While the Sixth Iowa Infantry fought gallantly in many subsequent battles, it is the opinion of

the compiler of this sketch that it distinguished itself most greatly at Shiloh. He therefore feels

justified in quoting the entire official report of its first and greatest battle:

HEADQUARTERS SIXTH IOWA INFANTRY,

PITTSBURG LANDING, TENN., April 10, 1862.

COLONEL: Having assumed command of the regiment by your order, I have the honor to make

the following official report of the Sixth Iowa Infantry during the recent engagement On Sunday

morning, when the attack was made on General Grant's center, the regiment was immediately

brought into line of battle, and was then moved about fifty yards to the front, along the edge of

the woods. Company 1 was thrown out as skirmishers, and companies E and G were moved to

the left and front of our line to support a battery just placed there. We were in this position for

more than two hours, when we were ordered to fall back to the rear of our camp on the Purdy

road.

The battle at this time was raging fiercely in the center, and extending gradually to the right. The

line was slowly yielding to a vastly superior force, and it now became evident that we must

change our position, or be entirely cut off from the rest of the army. The regiment then marched

by the left flank about six hundred yards, crossed an open field about one hundred and fifty yards

wide, took a position in the edge of the woods, and formed a new line of battle, which was again

succeeded by another line, nearly perpendicular to the former, the right resting close to the Purdy

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road. It was here Lieutenants Halliday and Grimes were wounded and carried from the field, thus

preventing them from distinguishing themselves, as they undoubtedly would have done, had they

been spared to take part in the desperate and severe struggle that soon ensued. It was here that

companies D and K, on picket duty at Owl Creek, joined the regiment by a circuitous route, the

enemy having already got between them and the regiment. The regiment did not remain here

long, however, but moved by the left flank, in an easterly direction, about half a mile over a

broken and open field, and again entered the woods. A new line was formed, and the regiment

moved forward to meet the advancing foe.

The line of battle—at this time diagonal to the enemy's—was immediately changed to front

them, and it was here that the regiment withstood a shower of leaden hail and bullets, which was

now pouring in upon it with deadly effect. Notwithstanding a vastly superior force, and with no

support, the regiment gallantly maintained this position for more than two hours, and when it

became apparent that no succor was coming to it, and after the enemy had turned our right flank,

and began pouring a galling cross-fire upon it, the regiment was ordered to retire. It fell back in

good order, and was assigned to the support of batteries near the river. At this stage of the battle,

I was wounded and carried from the field. From authentic sources I learn, however, that the

regiment, under Captain Walden, remained at the batteries all night.

The next day the regiment was not formed as a regiment, but a detachment under Lieutenants

Minton and Allison was connected to an Illinois regiment, and the major portion, under Captain

Walden, voluntarily joined Colonel Garfield's command, and participated in the engagement

throughout the day, until the enemy fled in great confusion.

In regard to the bravery, coolness and intrepidity of both Officers and men, too much cannot be

said. Where all did so well to particularize would seem invidious; suffice it to say, the officers,

with one or two exceptions, are deserving of the highest praise. The men were at all times cool,

and as free from fear or confusion as if they were on dress parade. The list of casualties, which I

append below, fully attests the severity of the contest. The following is the number killed,

wounded and missing in the two days' engagement:

Killed ...64

Wounded ...........................................................................................................................100

Missing 47

Total ...211

Total number engaged less than 650.

I have the honor to be, yours respectfully,

JOHN WILLIAMS,

Captain Commanding Regiment.

Col. John A. McDowell,

Commanding First Brigade.

Prominent among the killed were Capt. Daniel Iseminger of Company B and Capt. Richard E.

White of Company K, Sergeants David J. Hayes of Company C and Lorenzo D. Prather of

Company G, and among the wounded, Capt. Fabrian Brydolf and Lieut. John H. Orman. The

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subjoined roster gives the names of all the killed and wounded, not only in this great battle, but

in all the subsequent battles in which this splendid regiment was engaged during its long service.

In this brief historical sketch, compiled from the official records, special mention can be given of

but few of those who were killed and wounded, but, in the roster before referred to, the record is

shown opposite each name, and it constitutes an extended roll of honor of those who died upon

the field of battle, or those who subsequently died from wounds received; of those who

recovered, or partially recovered, from the effects of their wounds; of those who died (a sad and

long list) in hospital, or were discharged therefrom, many of them so broken in health that they

continued to suffer to the end of their days; of those who died in prison, and of those who

endured that horrible experience and lived to return to their homes, many of them but physical

wrecks, and another long list of those who lie buried in National Cemeteries, or in unknown

graves throughout the South.

After the battle of Shiloh, the regiment participated in the operations incident to the advance

upon and siege of Corinth, ending in the evacuation of that stronghold by the enemy May 30,

1862. In the meantime the following changes had occurred among the Field Officers: Maj. John

M. Corse was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel to succeed Markoe Cummins who had been

dismissed from the service, and Capt. John Williams was promoted to Major. During June and

the greater part of July, 1862, the regiment was engaged in important reconnoitering expeditions

in Tennessee and Mississippi, and on July 24th reached Memphis, where it was stationed until

November 17th, when it started on the expedition of which Vicksburg was the objective point,

and participated in that campaign until General Grant was compelled to abandon the expedition

on account of the capture of his supplies at Holly Springs, Miss.

The regiment was stationed at Grand Junction, Tenn., during the greater part of the winter of

1862-63, but during that time was engaged in several expeditions of more or less importance, but

did not encounter the enemy in any considerable number. While it lost but few men in killed and

wounded in this period of its service, it suffered the usual privations of a winter's campaign, and

its ranks were being constantly thinned by sickness, the inevitable result of such a life of

exposure to the elements, for, when away from camp, either on the march or on picket guard, the

men had no protection against the cold and the storm, save that afforded by the army blanket. In

the meantime, a number of changes had taken place among the commissioned officers. Major

Williams had resigned in October; Capt. J. A. Miller had been promoted to Major. Colonel

McDowell resigned in March and Lieut. Col. John M. Corse became Colonel of the regiment,

and later—on March 14th—Major Miller was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and. Adjutant

Thos. J. Ennis to Major. There had also been numerous changes among the line and

noncommissioned officers, as shown in the subjoined roster. Early in June the regiment was

transferred to a new field of operations in the vicinity of Vicksburg. On June 14th the regiment

was attached to a division of the Ninth Army Corps, and was stationed at Haines Bluff on the

Yazoo river at the time of the surrender of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863. Immediately after the

surrender, it moved to Jackson, Miss., and participated in the siege operations there. Colonel

Corse in his official report of the conduct of his regiment, during the advance upon and siege of

Jackson, describes in detail the difficulties encountered throughout the entire march, during

which the enemy slowly retreated, but stubbornly contested every day with the advancing Union

army, from the 5th to the 12th of July, when they sullenly withdrew within the strong line of

works they had erected around the capital of the State, but leaving outposts to be encountered

and overcome, before the main line of works could be approached.

On the 14th, 15th and 16th of July, the regiment made a continued reconnaissance in front of the

enemy's works, which ended in a brilliant charge upon an outlying force of the enemy, and drove

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them from their advanced position. A brief extract from the official report of Colonel Corse will

show how gallantly the officers and men of the Sixth Iowa fought on these occasions:

My regiment had been deployed as skirmishers, to cover the front of the division, and I was

directed to connect the line on the left of the railroad with that on the right, and to take charge of

the skirmishers; that the several brigades would support me to push up the line of the Jackson

and Canton railroad, keeping the line at right angles with that road. In accordance with my

orders, I moved the line until the enemy made a stand on our left, when I massed companies D

and F, and charged them, driving them through the woods into their own works. They then set

fire to several buildings, to prevent our attacking their works. Having gained a good position on

the left, I halted until the right should come up, as we had separated in making the charge. I

found the right had been halted by order of Colonel Sanford, and connecting the two lines by

pickets, we lay in that position till morning, when we received orders to advance. Changing

direction to the left, the men moved under a very sharp fire, until I found it impossible to

dislodge the rebels in front of our center, without massing the skirmishers and charging again.

Companies K, F and B were put in line, and with a yell, and bayonets fixed, they drove the rebels

out of the ditch they had held, killing and wounding quite a number. The ground gained was

held, and after forty hours of most arduous labor the regiment was relieved by another line.

On the morning of the 16th, Major General Parke directed me to assume command of the

skirmishers, and push them so as to feel strongly the enemy's line at every point in our

immediate front. I assumed command of the line formed by the Sixth Iowa, supported by

Sanford's brigade. At the designated signal, the line pressed forward, capturing some prisoners,

killing quite a number, clearing the forest, railroad, fences and cornfields in their front, and

driving the enemy into their works. Arriving about one hundred yards from their main works, a

battery of siege guns enfilading our line, and a battery of howitzers in our immediate front,

commenced a heavy fire. The latter, I saw, was supported by three regiments of infantry. After

becoming convinced that the works at this point were too strong to be captured by direct assault,

and that I had all the information the General desired from this reconnaissance, I ordered the men

to fall back to the woods, which they did in good order. Here they remained until the next

morning when the line entered the place.

Colonel Corse makes special mention in this report of the conduct of Major Miller and Adjutant

Ennis, Captains Minton and Bashore and Lieutenant Holmes, and adds: "No officer of my

command but in some way has rendered himself worthy of honorable mention, in some of the

affairs, during our advance upon Jackson."

The loss of the regiment during these operations was 70 officers and men, killed and wounded.

The following congratulatory order was issued by the Division Commander:

HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION 16TH A. C.

IN FRONT OF JACKSON, MISS., July 16, 1863.

Colonel Corse, Commanding Sixth Iowa Infantry:

The valor of your noble regiment has been conspicuous, even amidst the universal good conduct

that has marked the operations of all the troops of the First Division, during our advance upon

Jackson, and since our arrival here.

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I can not too highly commend the gallantry you have displayed in two successful charges you

have made. The true heart swells with emotions of pride in contemplating the heroism of those

who, in their country's cause, charge forward under the iron hail of half a dozen rebel batteries,

and, exposed to a murderous fire of musketry, from behind strong intrenchments, capture

prisoners under their very guns.

Such has been the glorious conduct of the Sixth Iowa this morning, and those who shared your

dangers, and emulate your valor, will join me in tendering to you, and the brave men under your

command, my warmest thanks and most hearty congratulations.

Most truly yours,

WM. SOOY SMITH

Brig. Gen. Comd'g 1st Div, 16th Army Corps.

Soon after the close of this campaign, the regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade, Fourth

Division, Fifteenth Army Corps. The gallant Colonel Corse was promoted to Brigadier General

August 11, 1863. In the memorable campaign which began with the march of Sherman to

Chattanooga, the Sixth Iowa bore its full share, and in the battle of Missionary Ridge again

fought heroically, as the long list of its killed and wounded so eloquently attests. Up that steep

and strongly intrenched hill they climbed, under the command of their former Colonel, now

Brigadier General, Corse, and led by Lieutenant Colonel Miller. The enemy stubbornly resisted

every foot of the way, but slowly and steadily these gallant sons of Iowa continued to climb

upward in the face of the death-dealing missiles of their brave and stubborn foe, until at last the

crest was gained, and the battle won. The gallant General Corse was severely wounded. Among

the killed of the Sixth Iowa was Capt. Robert Allison, and among its wounded were Maj. T. J.

Ennis, Captains Calvin Vinton, Leander C. Allison and George R. Nunn.

The next conspicuous service of the regiment, which again put to the severest test its fortitude

and endurance, was that December march, under the indomitable Sherman, to the relief of

Burnside's starving troops at Knoxville so graphically described by General Sherman in the

following brief extract from his report:

Seven days before, we had left our camps on the other side of the Tennessee River, with but two

days' rations, stripped for the fight, with but a single blanket or coat to the man, from myself to

the private. We had no provisions, save what we gathered from the roadside; but we knew that

12,000 of our comrades were beleaguered in Knoxville, eighty-four miles distant, and must have

relief within three days. This was enough; it had to be done.

And it was done. The roads were obstructed, and the advance of the Union troops delayed as

much as possible, but the enemy finally yielded to the inevitable, and the siege was abandoned

before Sherman's advance reached Knoxville.

The Sixth Iowa now had a season of rest at Scottsboro, Ala. during the winter of 1864. It was

there that a large number of its men re-enlisted under the provisions of the order creating Veteran

Volunteer organizations, and the regiment was afterwards known as the Sixth Iowa Veteran

Infantry. The veterans received a furlough for thirty days, and on the 27th of April re-assembled

at Davenport, Iowa, and proceeded to Chattanooga, Tenn., and, upon its arrival there, the reunited

regiment entered upon the great campaign which ended in the fall of Atlanta and the

march to the sea. During this campaign the regiment was again a part of the Second Brigade,

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Fourth Division, Fifteenth Army Corps. It was actively engaged in all the movements of its

brigade, and division. It fought at Dallas, Big Shanty, Atlanta, and had numerous other

encounters with the enemy, in the trenches and on the skirmish line, in all of which it displayed

the same heroic courage that