of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 125-128
IOWA RALLIES TO THE COLORS. "Whether in the promptitude of her responses to the calls made on her by the general government, in the courage and constancy of her soldiery in the field," said Colonel A. P. Wood, of Dubuque, upon one occasion, "or in the wisdom and efficiency with which her civil administration was conducted during the trying period covered by the war of the rebellion, Iowa proved herself the peer of any loyal state. The proclamation of her governor, Samuel J. Kirkwood, responsive to that of the president calling for volunteers to compose her first regiment, was issued on the fourth day after the fall of Sumter. At the end of only a single week men enough were reported to be in quarters (mostly in the vicinity of their own homes) to fill the regiment. These, however, were hardly more than a tithe of the number who had been offered by company commanders for acceptance under the president's call. So urgent were these offers that the governor requested on the 24th of April permission to organize an additional regiment. While awaiting the answer to this request he conditionally accepted a sufficient number of companies to compose two additional regiments. In a short time he was notified that both of these would be accepted. Soon after the completion of the second and third regiments, which was near the close of May, the adjutant general of the state reported that upward of one hundred and seventy companies had been tendered to the governor to serve against the enemies of the Union.
"Much difficulty and considerable delay occurred in fitting these regiments for the field. For the First Infantry a complete outfit--not uniform--of clothing was extemporized, principally by the volunteered labor of loyal women in the different towns, from material of various colors and qualities obtained within the limits of the state. The same was done in part for the Second Infantry. Meantime, an extra session of the general assembly had been called by the governor to convene on May 15th. With but little delay that body authorized a loan of $800,000 to meet the extraordinary expenses incurred and to be incurred by the executive department in consequence of the new emergency. A wealthy merchant of the state--ex-Governor Merrill, then a resident of McGregor--immediately took from the governor a contract to supply a complete outfit of clothing for the three regiments organized, agreeing to receive, should the governor so elect, his pay therefor in state bonds at par. This contract he executed to the letter, and a portion of the clothing which was manufactured in Boston to his order was delivered at Keokuk, the place at which the troops had rendezvoused, in exactly one month from the day on which the contract had been entered into. The remainder arrived only a few days later. This clothing was delivered to the regiments but was subsequently condemned by the government for the reason that its color was gray, and blue had been adopted as the color to be worn by national troops.
IOWA'S BORDERS THREATENED. "The state, while engaged in efforts to discharge her duty in connection with the common emergency, was compelled to make separate and large provision for the security of her own borders. On the south she was threatened with invasion by the secessionists of Missouri, while on the west and northwest there was danger of incursions by bands of hostile Indians now freed from the usual restraint imposed by garrisons of regular troops at the frontier posts. For border defense the governor was authorized to raise two regiments of infantry, a squadron--not less than five companies--of cavalry, and a battalion--not less than three companies--of artillery. Only mounted troops were enlisted, however, for this service; but in times of special danger, or when calls were made by the Unionists of northern Missouri against their disloyal enemies, large numbers of militia on foot turned out (often) and remained in the field until the necessity for their services had passed.
"The first order for the Iowa volunteers to move to the field was received June 13th. It was issued by General Lyon, then commanding the United States forces in Missouri. The First and Second Infantry immediately embarked in steamboats and moved to Hannibal. Some two weeks later the Third Infantry Was ordered to the same point. These three, together with many others of the earlier organized Iowa regiments, rendered their first field service in Missouri. The First Infantry formed a part of the little army with which General Lyon moved on Springfield and fought the bloody battle of Wilson's Creek. It received unqualified praise for its gallant bearing on the field. In the fol1owing month (September) the Third Iowa with very slight support fought with honor the sanguinary engagement of Blue Mills Landing; and in November the Seventh Iowa, as a part of a force commanded by General Grant, greatly distinguished itself in the battle of Belmont, where it poured out its blood like water, losing more than half of the men it took into action. The initial operations in which the battles referred to took place, were followed by the more important movements led by General Curtis of this state and other commanders, which resulted in defeating the armies defending the chief strategic lines held by the Confederates in Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and Arkansas, and compelling their withdrawal from much of the territory previously controlled by them in those states. In these and many other movements down to the grand culminating campaign by which Vicksburg was captured and the Confederacy permanently severed on the line of the Mississippi river, Iowa troops took a part in steadily increasing numbers. In the investment and siege of Vicksburg the state was represented by thirty regiments and two batteries, in addition to which eight regiments and one battery were employed on the outposts of the besieging army. The brilliancy of their exploits on the many fields where they served won for them the highest meed of praise both in military and civil circles. Multiplied were the terms in which expression was given to this sentiment but these words of one of the journals of a neighboring state-- 'The Iowa troops have been heroes among heroes'--embodies the spirit of all.
IOWA TROOPS REENLISTED. "In the veteran reenlistments that distinguished the closing months of 1863 above all other periods of reenlistments for the national armies, the Iowa three years' men who were relatively more numerous than those of any other state, were prompt to set the example of volunteering for another of equal length, thereby adding many thousands to the great army of those who gave this renewed and practical assurance that the cause of the Union should not be left without defenders. In all the important movements of 1864 and 1865 by which the Confederacy was penetrated in every quarter and its military power finally overthrown, the Iowa troops took part. Their drumbeat was heard on the banks of every great river of the south, from the Potomac to the Rio Grande, and everywhere they rendered the same faithful and devoted service, maintaining on all occasions their wonted reputation for valor in the field and endurance on the March.
"Two Iowa three-year cavalry regiments were employed during their whole term of service in the operations that were in progress from 1863 to 1866 against the hostile Indians of the western plains. A portion of these men were among the last of the volunteer troops mustered out of service. The state also supplied a considerable number of men to the navy who took part in the most of the naval operations prosecuted against the Confederate power on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and the rivers of the west.
"The people of Iowa were early and constant workers in the sanitary field, and by their liberal gifts and personal efforts for the benefit of the soldiery placed their state in the front rank of those who became distingished for their exhibitions of patriotic benevolence during the period covered by the war. Agents appointed by the governor were stationed at points convenient for rendering assistance to the sick and needy soldiers of the state, while others were employed in visiting from time to time hospitals, camps and armies in the field, and doing whatever the circumstances rendered possible for the health and comfort of such of the Iowa soldiery as might be found there.
"At the beginning of the war the population of Iowa included about 150,000 men, presumably liable to military service. The state raised for general service thirty-nine regiments of infantry, nine regiments of cavalry and four companies of artillery, composed of three years' men, one regiment of infantry composed of one hundred days' men. The original enlistments in these various organizations, including 1,727 men raised by draft, numbered a little more than 69,000. The reenlistments, including upward of 7,000 veterans, numbered very nearly 8,000. The enlistments in the regular army and navy, and organizations of other states will, if added, raise the total to upward of 80,000. The number of men who under special enlistments and as militia took part at different times in the operations on the exposed borders of the state was probably as many as 5,000.
IOWA PAID NO BOUNTY. "Iowa paid no bounty on account of the men she placed in the field. In some instances toward the close of the war, bounty to a comparatively small amount was paid by cities and towns. On only one occasion, that of the call of July 18, 1864, was a draft made in Iowa. This did not occur on account of her proper liability, as established by previous ruling of the war department to supply men under that call, but grew out of the great necessity that there existed for raising men. The government insisted on temporarily setting aside in part the former rule of settlements and enforcing a draft in all cases where subdistricts in any of the states should be found deficient in their supply of men. In no instance was Iowa, as a whole, found to be indebted to the general government for men on a settlement of her quota account."
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