About the 15th Iowa Infantry

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Extract from the History of the Fifteenth Regiment, Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry, Loren S Tyler, 1887

Page 56-57

B COMPANY.

Wilson T. Smith commenced recruiting a Company on the 26th day of August, 1861, at Des Moines, Polk county, which was ordered into quarters by Samuel J. Kirkwood, Governor of the State, on September 5th, 1861, and mustered into the service of the United States by Captain Chas. C. Smith, 13th United States Infantry mustering officer, at Keokuk, on November 9, 1861, under proclamation of the President of the United States, bearing date July 23, 1861.  The company was enrolled in the City of Des Moines, designated B Company.  Wilson T. Smith was commissioned Captain, Adolphus G. Studer First Lieutenant, and Christian E. Lanstrum Second Lieutenant.

The most remarkable capture during the Regiment's service was that made by Private Reuben Meek, of B Company, during the battle of Atlanta, July 22d, 1864.  He, with a few men pressed by him into service, captured and brought in seventy-one rebels, and turned them over to the Division Provost Marshal.

W. LUMPKIN,

Historian B Company.

On his tour around the world, General Grant stopped at Singapore, India, with Captain A. G. Studer, United States Consul.  The General and wife were "awfully glad to find a real live American girl," (especially an Iowa one), in that far away place, and they became so fond of the Captain's daughter, who is his house-keeper, and can entertain a French or a Russian Count, talk to them in their own language, get dinner, or see to her father's old clothes, which is a daughter worth having, and still she is quite young, that they took her with them on their trip to Siam, which came near being their last trip.  Their steamer had to anchor in a storm at the entrance to Bankok.  After a long and vexatious delay, the King's yacht came down to their rescue, but could not come very near, and so the whole party had to be transported from one vessel to the other.  The sea was running high, and it was with extreme difficulty that Gen. Grant, wife and Miss Studer were saved.

T.

Extract from the roster of Company B, Page 129

Points at which the Regiment was stationed during Samuels service, Page 511

Extract of Casualties - Company B, Page 538

Common Men - Memoirs

SAMUEL MARDIS,

 

Age, twenty-nine; residence, Agency Prairie, Lee Township, Polk County, Iowa; native of Illinois; enlisted January 20, 1862, and died of mumps, in steamboat hospital, June 1, 1862, at Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., and was buried on the hill at the Landing. He participated in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, April 6th and 7th, 1862. He was a kind husband and father - greatly attached to his family. He left a wife and six children. "A faithful soldier and good man," says Captain Studer, "anxious to perform his duties thoroughly. When he enlisted he left behind him a wife and several small children, wholly depending on him for support. He was a high-minded soldier, knew no fear, was kind and courteous and very pleasant among all. At Shiloh he fought most bravely, remaining with his company throughout that battle."

 

Lieutenant Wilkins's testimony is the same as that of Captain Studer.

 

Source: American Patriotism or, Memoirs of "Common Men" by Leonard Brown, Des Moines, Iowa 1869, page 218

Report By The Attorney General Of Iowa Concerning The Fifteenth Regiment Iowa Veteran Volunteers, Source: Roster and Record of Iowa Troops In the Rebellion, Vol. 2, By Guy E Logan