Roster and Records Index
Page 1195
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF THE
ONE HUNDRED DAY ORGAIZATIONS
(Forty-fourth. Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh Regiments of Iowa Volunteer Infantry,
and the Forty-eighth Iowa Infantry Battalion.)
The history of the Forty-first Iowa Infantry Battalion ended the series of Iowa organizations
whose original terms of service included a period of three years. The organization of the Fortysecond
and Forty-third Regiments of Infantry was begun, but was subsequently abandoned. In
his report or the year 1863, Adjutant General Baker says: "The Forty-second and Forty-third
Infantry will in all probability not be filled up. The attempt to raise a regiment or battalion of
sharpshooters and another battery of artillery will probably also fail at this time, but the men
enlisted will undoubtedly fill up other organizations." In his report for the year 1864, he says: "In
my last report I suggested that the Forty-second and Forty-third Infantry would not be filled. A
large portion of the men raised for these regiments were subsequently transferred to the Sixth
and Seventh Cavalry."
At the beginning of the Year 1864, it became evident that the States engaged in rebellion
were determined to resist to the last extremity. Notwithstanding the defeats to which they had
been subjected, they had established new lines of defense, had largely increased the strength of
their armies, and had made every possible preparation for prolonged resistance. President
Lincoln had approved the plans of General Grant for the prompt inauguration of decisive
measures, by bringing to bear all the resources of the Government, and prosecuting the war in
such a vigorous manner as would result in total defeat of the rebellion at all points, and bring
about a lasting peace. The sacrifice of many thousands of lives was involved in the tremendous
struggle. The Governors of the loyal states were called to Washington and. in consultation with
the President and Secretary of War, agreed to supply the number of troops necessary to take the
places of the killed and wounded, in the great battles that must be fought before the de sired
result could be accomplished. There were a large number of well trained Union soldiers then
engaged in the performance of garrison duty at various important military posts. Some of these
posts were located in the Northern States where many thousands of rebel prisoners were
confined, but the greater number were located in the Southern States, where depots of supplies
for the Union armies had been established. Troops were also stationed along the lines of railroad
over which soldiers of all arms of the service, together with rations and all the necessary
munitions oft war, were constantly passing to the front. It was a matter of the greatest importance
that these lines of railroad should be securely guarded.
1 Reports of Adjutant General of Iowa, 1863, Vol. 1, page XIV, and 1884, page iv.
Page 1196
In order to relieve the troops thus engaged and to utilize their Services in actual warfare
against the enemy the Governors of several of the loyal States were called upon to raise one
hundred thousand soldiers to Serve for one hundred days. As the result of a conference held at
the War Department in Washington in the latter part of April 1864 the following proposition was
submitted to the President:
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., APRIL 21, 1864.
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES:
First: The Governors of Ohio Indiana Illinois Iowa and Wisconsin; offer to the President Infantry
troops for the approaching campaign as follows:
| Ohio | 30000 |
| Indiana | 20000 |
| Illinois | 20000 |
| Iowa | 10000 |
| Wisconsin | 5000 |
Second: The term of service to be one hundred days reckoning from the date of muster into
the service of the United States unless sooner discharged.
Third: The troops to be mustered Into the service of the United States by regiments when the
regiments are filled up according to regulations to the minimum strength. The regiments to be
organized according to the regulations of the War Department. The whole number to be
furnished within twenty days from date of notice of the acceptance of this proposition
Fourth: The troops to be enlisted, armed, equipped, subsisted, transported and paid as other
United States Infantry Volunteers and to serve in fortifications or wherever their services may be
required within or without their respective States.
Fifth: No bounty to be paid the troops nor the service charged or credited on any draft.
Sixth: The draft for three years service to go on In any State or District where the quota is not
filled up; but if any officer or soldier in this special service should be drafted he shall be credited
for the service rendered.
JOHN BROUGH, Governor of Ohio.
O. P. MORTON, Governor of Indiana.
RICHARD YATES, Governor of Illinois.
W. M. STONE, Governor of Iowa.
The foregoing proposition of the Governors is accepted and the Secretary of War is directed
to carry it Into execution.
April 23, 1864. 2
2 Report of Adjutant General of Iowa 1865 Vol. 2 page 911.
A. LINCOLN.
Upon the acceptance of the proposition by the President Governor Stone (then in
Washington) issued the following address to the people of Iowa:
WASHINGTON D. C. April 25 1864.
The President has agreed to accept from the Northwestern States the services of one hundred
thousand volunteers for a period of one hundred days from the time of their mustering into
service for the purpose of enabling the veteran troops to be rushed forward and achieve decisive
results over the enemy in the approaching campaign. With this augmentation of the army, it is
confidently believed that the rebellion can be substantially crushed during the present season. I
have promised the President ten regiments of this new force and earnestly call upon the patriotic
people of Iowa to aid me by their active co-operation In redeeming this promise. We can thus
render most essential service In serving our glorious Union and rescue our land from the horrors
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of protracted war. The period of service will be short
Page
and I trust glorious; in bringing with It the
restoration of peace. Those who have heretofore been unable to participate In the stirring scenes
of this war may now do so honorably and with but little inconvenience to themselves. Fresh
laurels are to be won. and additional honor achieved for our State. Let us go to work in earnest in
every county. Not a moment should be lost. Companies at their organization may choose their
own officers and great care will be observed In the selection of field officers for the same. The
pay and allowances will be the same as for other troops. Companies must report to the Adjutant
General at Davenport as fast as they are filled. The entire number must be raised within twenty
days It possible. Let not brave young Iowa now jeopardize her fame by falling behind her sister
States of the North-West.
W. M. STONE, Governor of Iowa.
A circular letter was also prepared by Adjutant General Baker and together with the
foregoing address of Governor Stone was widely distributed over the State. General Bakers letter
is here quoted as follows:
STATE OF IOWA. ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE
DAVENPORT, IOWA APRIL 27, 1864
The Governor of the State has authorized and directed that ten thousand men be raised for the
United States service for one hundred days. Recruiting commissions will be issued to any
responsible parties for this service. Applications must be made therefor in writing and where the
applicants are unknown to this Department the application must be endorsed by well known
citizens. Organized militia companies which desire to enter this service must make immediate
application to this office. Clothing and ten thousand Enfield rifles and accouterments are on the
way for these volunteers. While the State of Iowa is far ahead of all requisitions made upon her
for troops she is ready to make further sacrifices in the holy cause in which the Government is
engaged. She volunteers again in defense of the flag which has protected her citizens and her
rights. Let Iowans promptly meet this call. Let the old men be active In the good cause and let
the young men teach their seniors that they can equal them. Let the old and young men and
women wife and maiden vie with each other in their exertions to send troops to the field to
enable the veterans of Iowa and other States to mass their invincible cohorts on the columns of
the enemy.
N. B. BAKER Adjutant General of IOWA 4
It will be noted that General Baker makes the statement that the State of Iowa had not only
filled all the requisitions of the Government for her quota of troops but had sent into the field a
much larger number than had previously been called for under the proclamations of the
President. From her comparatively sparse population she had already contributed more than her
share of the troops for the defense of the Union. While Governor Stone and General Baker did
not put too high an estimate upon the patriotism of the people of the State it became evident that
the promise to furnish ten thousand additional troops within the brief limit of twenty days could
not be fully complied with. Although the. time was subsequently somewhat extended, it was not
until the great closing campaigns of the war Were fully under way that the last troops which
were raised in Iowa for the one hundred day service had been mustered into the service of the
United States and were on their way to the station to which they had been assigned. The addition
thus made to the Union armies accomplished the results which had been anticipated and hastened
the end of the war.
3 Report of Adjutant General of Iowa 1865, Vol. 2 page 918.
4 Report of Adjutant General of Iowa 1865, Vol. 2 pages 918 19
Page 1198
The compiler has found but scant material in the military archives of the State from which to
prepare the historical sketches of the operations of this group of four regiments and one battalion
of infantry which Went forth, under tine call of the Governor, for the one hundred days of
service, in 1864. Complete rosters of the live organizations are found in the published report of
Adjutant General Baker, for the year 1865, and the files are found to contain the regular monthly
returns, showing the number present for duty, the number sick in hospital, and the casualties that
had occurred. There is but one official report, however, giving an; account of conflict with the
enemy, and the casualties sustained therein. The regular returns show the number of deaths from
disease, from drownings, and other accidents. The service performed was mainly such as
pertained to the duties of troops at the posts formerly occupied by the soldiers who had been
relieved by these short term men, and who were sent to the front for active service against the
enemy. The records show only the one instance—heretofore referred to—in which the enemy
was encountered by any portion of these troops, and yet the service rendered by them, in
guarding prisoners, picketing the approaches to the posts they occupied, protecting public
property, guarding railroads, and receiving and forwarding supplies to the armies at the front,
was of very great value to the government. They were true and loyal soldiers, performed all the
duties required of them With fidelity, and many of them—before the one hundred days for which
they had enlisted had expired—re-enlisted, and were transferred to regiments then engaged in
active service, where some of them met death on the battlefield, others died from wounds or
disease, and those who survived lengthened out their service until the close of the war. Evidence
of the high appreciation of the services of these one hundred day regiments is exhibited in the
following Special Executive Order of the President:
WASHINGTON, OCTOBER 6, 186
TO THE GOVERNOR OF IOWA:
The following order has been made by the President, and the Adjutant General is preparing
certificates for the officers and soldiers of Your State, which will be forwarded to you for
distribution.
EDWIN M. STANTON, SECRETARY OF WAR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON CITY, October 1, 1864.
Special Executive Order; returning thanks to the volunteers for one hundred days, from the
States of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
The term of one hundred days for which the volunteers from the States of Indiana, Illinois,
Iowa and Wisconsin volunteered under the last call of their respective Governors, in the months
of May and June, to aid in the recent campaign of General Sherman, having expired, the
President directs an official acknowledgment of their patriotic services. It was their good fortune
to render effective service in the brilliant operations in the South-west, and to contribute to the
victories of the National arms over the rebel forces in Georgia, under the command of Johnston
and Hood. On all occasions and in every service to which they were assigned; their duty as
patriotic volunteers was performed with alacrity and courage for which they are entitled to and
are hereby rendered the National thanks through the Governors of their respective states.
The Secretary of War is directed to transmit a copy of this order to the Governors of Indiana,
Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, and to cause a certificate of their honor able services to be
delivered to the officers and soldiers of the States above mentioned, who recently served in the
military force of the United States as Volunteers for one hundred days.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN 5
5 Report of Adjutant General of Iowa, 1866, vol. 2, page 930.
Page 1199
In addition to the foregoing description of the general character of the service rendered by all
these organizations, the compiler avails himself of the limited amount of material at his
command to present a brief historical sketch of each of the regiments and of the one infantry
battalion. 6 These sketches complete the record of the one hundred day organizations from Iowa.
They were called into the service to meet an emergency, at the most critical period of the war,
and right nobly id they respond to the call.
6 See Historical Sketch preceding Roster of each one hundred day organization.
Page reformatted June 30, 2018 by Lynn McCleary
