of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 131-133
FIRST IOWA REGIMENT. Long before the issuance of the proclamations of President Lincoln and Governor Kirkwood, the organized militia companies of Iowa had tendered their services to the governor in anticipation of the impending war, the official correspondence showing that the first of these companies offered its services early in the month of January, 1861, the others follOwing rapidly during that month. It will thus be seen that all was in readiness for the prompt response which was made to the governor's proclamation.
The ten companies which were to become the first regiment from Iowa were ordered into quarters by the governor, April 24, 1861, and reached the designated rendezvous at Keokuk on different dates from May 1 to May 8, 1861. Here they were mustered into the service of the United States May 14, 1861.
The facts thus shown from the official records prove that the regiment was in rendezvous twelve days before the date indicated in the second telegram from the secretary of war, and that it was mustered into the service six days prior to that date. The state of Iowa is thus entitled to the credit of having filled its quota in advance of the dates stipulated in the proclamation of the president, under date of April 15, 1861. May 23d the regiment received arms and accoutrements and on May 28th the tents and equipages having arrived, went into its first camp. Previous to that date it had quartered in buildings. The short time that intervened before the regiment Was engaged in active service was utilized to the utmost. The field, staff and line officers, with a few notable exceptions, were taking their first lessons in the art of war and in the study of the rules and regulations for the government of the United States army, of which the regiment was not a part, and found little time for rest and recreation. Company and battalion drills were in progress many hours each day and far into the night the officers were engaged in the study of the movements of the manual of arms and the rules of discipline so necessary to be learned and taught to the men under their command. How well these lessons were learned in so short a time was demonstrated in the brief but severe campaign in which the regiment was soon called to participate under the leadership of that gallant officer, Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon, of the regular army.
JOIN LYON'S ARMY. The regiment left Keokuk on the 13th of June, 1861, and was transported by boat down the Mississippi to Hannibal, Missouri, thence by rail to Macon City and Renic, thence marched across country to Boonville, a distance of fifty-eight miles in less than two and a half days--an extraordinary march for these men fresh from their Iowa homes and not inured to the hardships of a soldier's life. The regiment joined General Lyon's little army at Boonville, Missouri, on the 21st of June. Here it remained until July 13, and on that day took up the line of march with the other troops composing General Lyon's command, from this date until the close of its term of service.
GENERAL LYON IS KILLED ON THE BATTLEFIELD. The day the gallant Lyon gave up his life on the battlefield of Springfield, August 10, 1861, practically ended the active military history of the First Iowa Infantry. A few days later the regiment proceeded to St. Louis, where it was mustered out of service on the 21st of August, 1861. The subjoined summary of casualties shows a loss of over seventeen per cent of its total number at muster in, and is convincing evidence of its arduous service in the field, which lasted less than two months. The loss of the regiment at Wilson's Creek was thirteen killed, one hundred and forty-one wounded and four missing, constituting by far its greatest loss during the campaign.
In order that a correct understanding of the discrepancy between the loss at Wilson's Creek and the subjoined casualty summary during the campaign may be had, it should be here stated that while this regiment was on the skirmish line on the right of General Lyon's command at Dug Spring, August 2, 1861, and again at McCulloch's Store, August 3, 1861, rendering important service on both occasions, its position was such that before it could be brought into action the enemy was in full retreat and in those affairs no casualties are reported. During the campaign, therefore, according to the official records, the regiment lost twelve men in addition to a loss at Wilson's Creek, making a total as shown in the summary of one hundred and seventy.
It can justly be claimed for this regiment that, considering the short length of its service, its record compares most favorably with that of the other regiments which were subsequently organized in Iowa and mustered into service for three years, or during the war. The history of the service of each soldier of this regiment reveals the fact that a very large number of the officers and enlisted men of the regiment who were mustered out of the service August 21, 1861, reenlisted as fast as opportunity offered in the Iowa regiments which were subsequently organized and that many of them received commissions. Some of these officers attained high rank before the close of the war and all reflected honor upon their state by their heroism in the numerous battles in which they were engaged.
PRIVATE SHELBY NORMAN IMMORTALIZED. Shelby Norman, a fair haired boy of seventeen, after whom the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, No. 231, was named, was one of the first to enlist in Iowa. He was a private in Company A, First Iowa Infantry. As the regiment approached the battlefield of Wilson's Creek, young Norman fell, pierced through the brain. Those near him heard the dull quick thud, a sure sign that the bullet had reached its victim.
Recognizing the fact that young Norman was the first Iowa soldier in the First Iowa Regiment to give his life for his country, it was determined by the commission having in charge the Iowa Soldiers' Monument at the state capitol, to place a bronze statue of this heroic soldier on the monument to represent the infantry arm of the service.
There stand the form and features of this typical young soldier of Iowa and there it will stand for ages to come, an inspiration to the patriotism of this state.
The summary of casualties in the regiment is as follows: Total enrollment, nine hundred and fifty-nine; killed, thirteen; wounded, one hundred and forty-one; died of disease, seven; died of wounds, five; missing in action, four.
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