TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
The ten companies which were to constitute the Twenty-ninth Regiment of
Iowa Infantry had all been organized a considerable length of time prior to their
assignment to the regiment. The records in the office of the Adjutant General of
Iowa show that Thomas H. Benton, Jr. was commissioned Colonel, August 10,
1862, and that he was mustered into the service of the United States on the same
date. The presumption is that he was authorized by the Governor to select from the
companies then organized those which were to constitute the regiment of which he
was to have command. The place of rendezvous was Council Bluffs, and the camp
was given the name of "Dodge," as a compliment to General G. M. Dodge, whose
home was in that city, and who had entered the service as Colonel of the Fourth
Iowa Infantry. The records show that the first company (which afterwards became
Company D of the Twenty-ninth) was ordered into quarters by Governor
Kirkwood, August 15, 1862, and that the dates upon which the other companies
received orders to go into quarters ranged from September 1 to November 13,
1862. The organization of the regiment was completed and the ten companies
were mustered into the service of the United States on December 1, 1862, by
Lieutenant Horace Brown, of the Regular Army. The aggregate strength of the ten
companies and the field and staff, at muster in, was 964. There were early
additional enlistments, however, of 41 men, thus bringing the total number to
1,005, at the time the regiment left the State. Those officers of the field and staff
who had served in other Iowa regiments were Lieutenant Colonel R. F. Patterson,
formerly Adjutant of the Fifth Iowa Infantry; Adjutant Joseph Lyman, Corporal
Company E, Fourth Iowa Cavalry; Surgeon W. S. Grimes, formerly Assistant
Surgeon, Fourth Iowa Infantry, and Assistant Surgeon W. L. Nicholas, formerly of
the thirty-second Iowa Infantry.
It was understood that the regiment would be ordered to join the army under
command of General W. T. Sherman, and participate to the movement against
Vicksburg, in December, 1862. That was rendered impossible, however, by the
closing of navigation of the Missouri River about the time the regiment was
mustered into the service. Between the 5th and 9th of December the regiment
marched to St. Joseph, Mo., and, upon its arrival there, Colonel Benton reported by
telegraph to Major General S. R. Curtis, Commander of the Department of the
Missouri, at St. Louis, for orders. A few days later orders were received for the
regiment to proceed to St. Louis by rail; on December 20th it arrived in that city
and, for the next few days, was engaged in the duty of guarding prisoners. On
December 25th the regiment was ordered to embark on transport and proceed to
Columbus, Ky., which place was at that time threatened with attack. Upon arriving
at Columbus it was assigned to the command of Brigadier General Tuttle,
(formerly Colonel of the Second Iowa Infantry,) and taking position with the other
troops composing the garrison, awaited the attack. Learning that reinforcements
had arrived, the commander of the rebel forces wisely concluded that it was best to
defer attacking the place. On January 8, 1863, the regiment was relieved from duty
at Columbus and ordered to again embark and proceed to Helena, Ark, Upon its
arrival at Helena the regiment did not disembark, but was ordered to proceed at
once—in conjunction with other troops, under the command of General Gorman—
on an expedition up the White River. In the historical sketch of the Twenty-eighth
Iowa Infantry the compiler has described the frightful exposure to which the troops
engaged upon this expedition were subjected, and the meager results
accomplished. The Twenty-ninth Iowa endured the same hardships and suffered
the same disastrous consequences of sickness and death, which was the inevitable
result of such an experience. Upon its return to Helena, the regiment had over four
hundred men on the sick list. An examination of the list of casualties shows that of
this number many died and many were discharged on account of having become
disabled for further service. As the direst consequence of the sickness resulting
from exposure on the White River expedition, Adjutant Lyman places the loss of
the regiment at not less than two hundred men. It was the most gloomy and
disheartening period in the history of the Twenty-ninth Iowa. Its officers and men
had anticipated, and were prepared to endure, suffering and privation, and, where
commensurate results were achieved, were not disposed to complain. They had,
however, seen the lives of many of their comrades sacrificed upon an ill-directed
expedition, which resulted in but little advantage to the cause for which they had
enlisted, and it was but natural that a feeling of despondency should prevail under
such conditions. The regiment had been on board the crowded transport for
eighteen days, when it landed at Helena and disembarked, on the 26th of January,
1863.
During the months of March and April, 1863, the Twenty-ninth Iowa was
actively engaged in that memorable expedition through the tortuous windings at
the Yazoo Pass, and the Cold Water and Tallahatchie Rivers, to Fort Pemberton. It
embarked at Helena on the steamer "Emma No. 2," but, on reaching the Cold
Water River, the vessel was found to be so badly injured as to render it necessary
to abandon her, and the regiment was transferred to the "Key West," on which
vessel it made the voyage to the fort and back to Helena. From the date of its
return, until near the middle of August, the camp and headquarters of the regiment
remained at Helena, and it performed the ordinary duties of the camp and garrison,
except, when participating in short expeditions to observe the movements of the
rebel forces. Which were operating in that vicinity.
The Twenty-ninth Iowa had its first experience in actual conflict with the
enemy at the battle of Helena, on July 4, 1863. It was one of the regiments,
composing the brigade commanded by Colonel Samuel A. Rice, of the Thirty-third
Iowa, and constituted as follows: The Twenty-ninth, Thirty-third and Thirty-sixth
Iowa Infantry, the Third Iowa Battery and the Thirty-third Missouri Infantry. The
town of Helena was strongly fortified. Its defenses consisted of a line of four forts,
erected upon a high ridge just west of the town. Inside this line of works, and
nearer the town, stood the formidable redoubt of Fort Curtis. The position was
naturally a strong one, as the ridges occupied by the fort were high and broken by
deep ravines. The roads leading into the town over these ridges were blockaded
With fallen trees, for the purpose of retarding the approach of the enemy. The
gunboat "Tyler," stationed in the channel of the river in front of the town, was also
an important factor in its defense. The only element of weakness consisted in the
insufficient strength of the troops. The garrison numbered but little more than
4,000 effective men, while the rebel force which assaulted the works numbered
nearly 10,000, under the chief command of Lieutenant General Holmes, aided by
some of the ablest subordinate commanders of the rebel army. Major General B.
M. Prentiss, one of the heroic division commanders at Shiloh, was in command of
the post of Helena, and Brigadier General Salomon commanded the division of
troops that defended the works. Colonel Benton was in command of the Twenty-
ninth Iowa. His official report of the conduct of his regiment in the battle of
Helena is here quoted, as follows:
HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-NINTH IOWA
INFANTRY,
HELENA, ARK., July 6, 1863.
COLONEL: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken
in the engagement of the 4th instant by my regiment. My men were drawn up in
line of battle at daylight, and, at half past four o'clock A. M., in pursuance of
orders from Col. Samuel A. Rice, commanding Second Brigade, we marched
across the bottom at double quick, to a position on the Sterling road. Upon
reaching the point designated, I found that the enemy occupied the crest of the hills
with their skirmishers, north of Battery A, commanding my position. I
immediately seat forward two companies of skirmishers to dislodge and drive them
back, but, finding them too strongly posted. I continued to reinforce the line until
eight companies were deployed. In the meantime, the enemy had placed a battery
of two guns in position, with which they opened a brisk fire and moved rapidly
upon us, cheering and exulting as they advanced, being partially shielded from
view by a fog which covered the hills at that moment. Our back, resolutely
contesting every inch of ground as they retired. Our skirmishes advanced steadily
and cautiously, and, having gained the crest of the hill previously occupied by the
enemy, compelled him to abandon his guns, which, after several in-effectual
attempts, he subsequently recovered, and withdrew, leaving one caisson on the
field. My men were under a severe fire for more than five hours, and it affords me
the greatest pleasure to speak of both officers and men in terms of the highest
commendation for their coolness and bravery during the entire action. I saw no
flinching or wavering during the day. It is proper to add that several of my
officers, and quite a number of my men, who were excused from duty in
consequence of physical disability left their quarters and joined their respective
companies when the signal gun was fired. Any invidious distinctions among
members of my command would not be admissible in this report, but I would not
do justice to an accomplished officer, should I fall to acknowledge the efficient
services of Lieutenant Colonel R. F. Patterson, during the action, and the special
obligations I am under for the thorough instructions previously given by him, to
both officers and men, in the responsible duties and obligations of the soldier, the
importance of which instruction was so forcibly illuystrated on the 4th instant. My
regiment was promptly supported by the thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry, commanded by
Colonel Kittredge, and was relieved by him a short time before the enemy left the
field. The enemy's force in front of our line, from the most reliable information
within my reach, was on brigade of five regiments of infantry, and one battery, and
two regiments of cavalry in reserve, under command of Colonel McCrea. I regret
to have to report that during the engagement the loss in my regiment was 7 killed
and 24 wounded, some of them mortally—two of whom have died since—and
many of them severely. Among the number are some of my best and bravest men.
The enemy's loss it is not possible to state definitely, as he succeeded in removing
many of them from the field. We buried 14 of his dead, found the graves of 17
more buried by himself, and brought one of his wounded from the field.
I have the honor to be, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
THOMAS H. BENTON, JR.
Colonel Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry.
TO SAMUEL A. RICE, Colonel Commanding Second Brigade.
Thirteenth Division, Thirteenth Army Corps.
The report of the Brigade Commander, Colonel S. A. Rice, describes in
detail the positions occupied by and the movements of each of the regiments and
the battery, belonging to his brigade. He refers to the conduct of the Twenty-ninth
Iowa, in conjunction with others, as follows:
The officers and soldiers of the Twenty-ninth Iowa acted with the utmost
coolness and bravery, and steadily gained ground from the first onset. The Thirty-
sixth Iowa behaved in a manner worthy of all commendation. They were promptly
moved to the relief of the Twenty-ninth Iowa, and drove, by their well directed
fire, the enemy before them, occupying the crests of the hills. The enemy could
repeatedly be heard trying to rally their columns for the purpose of charging on our
line, and were only prevented by the continuous fire of our line, assisted by a
heavy and well directed cross fire from our artillery and the rifle pits. If some bore
more conspicuous parts than others, it was because the position of their own
commands placed them in a more important position. I take especial pleasure in
referring to Colonel Benton, of the Twenty-ninth Iowa, Colonel Kittredge, of the
thirty-sixth Iowa, Lieutenant Colonel Heath, commanding Thirty-third Missouri,
Lieutenant Colonel Mackey, commanding Thirty-third Iowa, Lieutenant Colonel
Patterson, Twenty-ninth Iowa, Majors Gibson, Van Beck and Shoemaker, who, for
their coolness, efficiency and daring, are worthy of especial mention. They were at
all times at the post of danger cheering their men. Lieutenant Lacey, my Acting
Assistant Adjutant General, acted as my Aide during the engagement, and rode to
whatever part of the field required his presence, and afforded no assistance of the
most valuable character, and I take especial pleasure in referring to him.
Colonel Rice reports the loss of his brigade as follows: Killed, 45; wounded,
96; missing, 30. There were none missing in the Twenty-ninth Iowa, and its loss in
killed and wounded averaged about the same as that of the other three regiments of
the brigade. It will thus be seen that the regiment bore a most honorable part in the
battle of Helena, and contributed its full share of the gallant fighting which saved
that important post from falling into the hands of the enemy. The enemy had
greatly the advantage in numbers, and mad a most stubborn and desperate fight for
the possession of the place, but the relatively small force of its brave defenders had
the advantage of fighting behind strong defensive works, from which they were
able to inflict very heavy loss upon the enemy, and finally compel him to abandon
his attempt to capture the post.
The regiment remained at Helena until the 11th of August, 1863, on which
date it took up the lione of march, with the army commanded y General Steele,
towards Little Rock. The weather was excessively hot and dry. The army halted
one week at Clarendon, at which point to Devall's Bluff, at the crossing of the
Memphis and Little Rock Railroad, where a hospital and depot of supplies was
established. At this time the Twenty-ninth Iowa was attached to a division
commanded by General Samuel A. Rice; the brigade being under command of
Colonel Benton. The march was continued towards Brownsville, across Grand
Prairie, the men suffering greatly from the heat and lack of water. Many were
prostrated with sun-stroke and there was not a sufficiency of room in the
ambulances for one-half the humber who were unable to march. Under shuch
conditions, it became a necessity to fill the ambulances to their capacity, send them
ahead of the marching column as far as it was deemed safe to go, leave them by the
road-side and return for others. Thus, for the greater part of two days prior to
reaching Brownsville, the sick were subjected to most intense suffering, in addition
to the ailments with which they had been sticken. During the halt of a few days at
Brownsville, General Rice's division made a rapid march to Bayou Metoe, to
cover the movement of General Davidson's Cavalry, and to ascertain the exact
location of the main body of the enemy. It was discovered that the rebel army,
under command of General Price, occupied a strong position four miles from the
city of Little Rock, his right being protected by the Arkansas River, and his left by
an impassable cypress swamp/ General Steele determined to flank the position of
the rebel army, and succeeded in doing so by marching his command to a point
eight miles below Little Rock, where a pontoon bridge was thrown across the river,
upon which the cavalry division crossed to the south side on the morning of
September 10th, and moved rapidly towards the enemy. In the meantime the
infantry continued its march up the north side of the river and assisted the left wing
in its attack upon the enemy. The rebel army soon began to retreat, but continued
to resist the advance of the cavalry, with considerble obstinacy. The retreat was
accelerated by the steady advance of the infantry on the north side, and at dark, the
cavalry division had entered the city and captured the arsenal, with a large amount
of public property, which had been left unharmed by the rebels in their hasty
retreat. The Twenty-ninth Iowa had borne its full share of hardships upon the
march and in all the movements which led up to the capture of Little Rock, but had
fortunately escaped without loss either in battle or on the skirmish line. The army
went into camp around the city. The Twenty-ninth Iowa was engaged in the
ordinary routine of camp life during the remainder of the summer. In November,
1863, the regiment took part in an expedition commanded by General Rice, the
object of which was the interception of a force of rebels under General
Marmaduke, then retreating from Pine Bluff, where he had been repulsed with
heavy loss. General Rice's command marched rapidly as far as Rockport, on the
Washita River, but did not succeed in overtaking the rebel force. This ended the
active campaigning of the regiment for the year 1863.
The Twenty-ninth Iowa remained at Little Rock during the winter of 1863-4,
and until the army under General Steele moved to the southwest, on the morning of
March 23, 1864. The object of this expedition was to co-operate with the army
under General Banks, in his Red River campaign. The most important events in
which the Twenty-ninth Iowa participated during this expedition are described in
the official report of Colonel Benton as follows:
HEADQUARTER TWENTY-NINTH IOWA
INFANTRY.
LITTLE ROCK, ARK.,
May 7, 1864.
LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report that on the morning of the 2d of
April, 1864, I was assigned to the position of rear guard to our supply train, with
one section of Captain Veogler's Battery. I disposed my force in the following
order; one company immediately in the rear of the train, as an advance guard; then
Captain Veogler's Battery, followed by the main body of my comman, and two
companies as a rear guard, with a Sergeant and eight men one hundred paces in
their rear. While the train was passing through a narrow, muddy defile, made by a
small stream, about one mile beyond Terre Noir Bayou, a battalion of Shelby's
Cavalry mad a sudden dash upon my rear, but was held in check by my rear guard
and the left wing of my regiment. So soon as my advance had crossed the ravine
and formed in line, I ordered the battery into position and open fire upon the
enemy, which was responded to by two pieces of artillery with spirit and accuracy.
The enemy soon fell back and made demonstrations of a flank movement to my
left. I immediately withdrew my forces to Terre Noir Bayou, when they again
renewed the attack. I again opened fire with the battery and a few rounds of
musketry, which sufficiently discomfited the enemy to enable me to fall back,
under cover of the fire of our skirmishers, to the top of a hill two miles distant. At
this point I deployed my force on either side of the road, and secured a good
position for the battery, when the enemy again came up in force, and mad a
desperate charge upon our left wing, but was promptly repulsed, upon which he
fell back, crossed the road, and attacked our right with no better success. The
engagement at this point lasted about one hour and a half, pending which Brigadier
General S. A. Rice, with the Fiftieth Indiana, whose conduct on the occasion was
highly commendable, arrived and assumed command. My command was ordered
into line twice afterward, but was not engaged. My loss during the day was 27
killed, wounded and missing, including among the wounded three commissioned
officers.
During the engagement at Elkin's Ford, on the Little Missouri, on the 4th of
April, my command was ordered forward by General Rice across the Bayou, and
drawn up in line of battle in the rear of four companies of the Thirty-sixth Iowa
Infantry, under command of Lieutenant Colonel F. M. Drake. My left wing was
subsequently ordered back across the Bayou, under Colonel C. W. Kittredge, and
my right wing under my immediate command was ordered to fall back to the bank
of the Bayou, in the rear of Colonel Drake's command. No part of my command
was engaged with the enemy, and my only casualty was one man wounded. On the
afternoon of the 10th of April, 1864, when we engaged the enemy at Prairie d'Ane,
my regiment was ordered into position in double column, immediately in the rear
of the Thirty-third Iowa Infantry as a reserve. We advanced in the order, with the
enemy retreating before us, until nightfall, when we formed line of battle, and
bivouacked till morning. On the afternoon of the 11th we were ordered to reform in
double column, and advance a mile, as a reserve to the Thirty-third Iowa Infantry
and Fiftieth Indiana Infantry. At eight o'clock P. M., we were ordered back to the
position occupied the night previous, where we again formed in line of battle and
bivouacked for the night. At six o'clock on the morning of the 12th, Rice's brigade
was drawn up in close column by division, on the fourth division of the respective
battalions left in front, and my command assigned the advance. After marching in
this order over a mile, my regiment was deployed in line of battle, forming the
extreme left of the brigade. In this order we advanced upon the enemy a mile,
during which time I had two men severely wounded, being the only casualties
subsequent to the action at Elkin's Ford. I was then ordered to resume my
position, in double column, and subsequently by the right flank, as a reserve to the
Thirty-third Iowa Infantry, and maintained this order until we passed the enemy's
fortifications on the Washington and Camden Road, when we were ordered to
resume the line of march to Camden. On the 15th I was ordered to furnish one
company for the advance line of skirmishers, and to take my position, immediately
in the rear of Captain Stranger's battery. When the enemy opened fire upon us at
Liberty, I drew up my command in line of battle on the left of the battery, and
threw forward a company of sharp-shooters to disable, if possible, the enemy's
gunners and horses. During the engagement at this point, I had one man killed and
three wounded. After the enemy re-treated, we resumed the regular line of march,
and met with no further casualties during the day.
On the morning of the 20th of April, 1864, at 6 o'clock, I was ordered to
proceed across the third field beyond the Saline River, on the road from Princeton
to Jenkins' Ferry, and form a line of battle in the timber. After occupying this
position a few minutes, in obedience to further orders, I fell back, and drew my
command up in line of battle in the timber, forty paces this side of the field, on the
ground occupied the night previous as the headquarters of General Salomon, my
right resting on the road, and my line constituting the extreme right of our main
line of battle. I threw forward my two flank companies as skirmishers, near the
edge of the field, and one company between the road and the bayou on the right.
Soon after Colonel Engleman's brigade passed to our rear, the advance skirmishers
of the enemy, mounted and partly dressed in our uniform, made their appearance,
driving a flock of sheep before them. My first impression was that it was a small
detail of our cavalry, driving in the sheep for our own use, but a shot or two from
their advance soon identified them, and they were instantly engaged by our
skirmishers. The main body of their forces advanced steadily until within full view,
when our skirmishers withdrew, and the engagement became general. After a
spirited action of an hour, the fire of the enemy opened a brisk fire from the timber
and underbrush, which concealed them from view. I immediately threw one
company across the bayou, and several small detachments from other commands
soon joined. This foiled the enemy in his attempt to flank us on the right, when he
again concentrated his forces in front, and renewed the attack with increased vigor,
but utterly failed to derange any part of our line. My command was relieved by the
Ninth Wisconsin Infantry, when I fell back to rest my men and get a supply of
ammunition. The Ninth Wisconsin was subsequently relieved by the Second
Kansas Colored Infantry, who moved up in good order and held the line gallantly
for half an hour. At this moment the enemy moved a section of artillery down the
road, and got it into position within one hundred paces of our right and opened a
galling fire of grape and canister upon us. I was ordered by General Rice to
advance and charge the battery. My men moved forward promptly with a shout,
and when we reached the line occupied by the Second Kansas, the two regiments
were blended into one, and rushed forward like an impetuous torrent, and in two
minutes passed the batter, driving the enemy in confusion before us. The Second
Kansas now withdrew and took the guns to the rear. My own command moved
forward about sixty paces beyond, but my supply of ammunition being nearly
exhausted, and my command in advance of the regular line of battle, I fell back
slowly to my original position, and was again relieved by the Ninth Wisconsin.
With the exception of an occasional shot, the firing now ceased for about half an
hour on the extreme right, when the enemy again rallied and charged our right
flank with renewed energy. I immediately threw my command forward on the
right of the Ninth Wisconsin, and engaged him a third time. After a brief but
severe contest, in which our loss was unusually heavy, he again retired and left us
in undisputed possession of the ground in the immediate vicinity of the road.
At this juncture, Lieutenant Cock of General Salomon's staff, notified me
that General Rice was wounded and that Colonel Salomon, of the Ninth
Wisconsin, had been assigned to the command of the brigade. After resting my
men and replenishing my supply of ammunition, I was ordered by Colonel
Salomon to move by the left flank, and support our forces in the center, which at
this time were severely pressed by the last desperate charge of the enemy. His fire,
however, soon began to slacken, and in half an hour entirely ceased, when he
withdrew from the field. Our forces were then gradually withdrawn and ordered to
resume the line of march toward the ferry. My loss in this engagement was ninety-
one killed, wounded and missing, including among the wounded three
commissioned officers. In addition to the above m Assistant Surgeon, W. L.
Nicholson, and sixteen men were left with the wounded beyond the river and fell
into the hands of the enemy, making our aggregate loss in killed, wounded and
missing, 108. I am under special obligations to Major Shoemaker and Adjutant
Lyman of my command (Lieutenant Colonel Patterson being absent on sick leave)
for their prompt and efficient co-operation in the several actions named in this
report. Their vigilance and gallantry at the battle of Jenkins' Ferry, stimulating
officers and men by their presence and example in the most exposed positions, was
highly meritorious. My line officers performed their respective duties with
unflinching fidelity, encouraging their men and keeping them in line in the thickest
of the fight and under the heaviest fire of the enemy. The fortitude and endurance
of the men, with a very limited number of dishonorable exceptions, was
unsurpassed in the history of civilized warfare.
Very respectfully, your
obedient servant,
THOMAS H. BENTON, JR.
Colonel
Commanding Twenty-ninth Iowa
Infantry.
JOSEPH LYMAN, Adjutant
Twenty-ninth Iowa
Infantry.
To JOHN F. LACEY, Acting Assistant Adjutant General.
First Brigade, Third Division, Seventh Army Corps.
An analysis of the list of casualties sustained by the Twenty-ninth Iowa at
the battle of Jenkins' Ferry shows that 15 were killed, 50 wounded who did not fall
into the hands of the enemy, and of the 43 reported as missing, 29 were known to
be wounded, thus leaving but 14 of the missing who were not reported as having
been wounded, and showing that, of the aggregate loss of 108,--as shown in the
official report of Colonel Benton,--94 were killed and wounded on the field. Thus
far in its history, the casualties of the regiment, resulting from conflict, with the
enemy in battle, aggretaed 173, a less number, however, than it had lost in its first
campaign from sickness alone, As will be seen from its previous and subsequent
history, the battle of Jenkins' Ferry was by far the most severe of any in which it
became engaged.
Early in May the regiment returned, with the army of General Steele, to
Little Rock, where it remained for the greater part of the following year. From the
latter part of July to the latter part of August, 1864, it was stationed at Lewisburg,
on the Arkansas River, 50 miles above Little Rock, returning to the latter place
about the 1st of September. During this period o fits service it seems to have been
engaged in the ordinary routine of camp and garrison duty, as there is no record of
its having come into contact with the enemy. There were a couple of changes in its
brigade and division assignments, but no event of importance occurred to break the
monotony of its experience until about the 1st of February, 1865, when it was
assigned to an organization known as the "Detached Brigade of the Seventh Army
Coprs," under the command of Brigadier General E. A. Carr, with orders to
proceed to New orleans, After a tedious voyage the regiment reached New
Orleans,--one wing under command of Colonel Benton, on February 14th, and the
other, under Adjutant Lyman, two days later,--going into quarters at Algiers, on the
opposite side of the river from the city. On February 20th it was conveyed by rail
to Lakeport, on Lake Pontchartrain, and then by steamer to Mobile Point, Ala. The
vessel ran aground in Grant's Pass, and the troops were transferred to another
steamer. The regiment disembarked on the 23d without tents or baggage, and went
into bivouac at Navy Cove, three miles in rear of Fort Morgan. The preparations
for the Mobile campaign now began. On March 17th, the army commenced its
toilsome and difficult march. On March 25th it had arrived in the vicinity of
Mobile, and at once began the investment of Spanish Fort. The Twenty-ninth Iowa
performed its full share of duty on the march, and in the siege and capture of
Spanish Fort, which was occupied by the Union troops on April 9th, when it
immediately marched to the assistance of General Steele, who was then engaged in
the siege of Fort Blakely, five miles above Spanish Fort. The regiment arrived just
in time to witness the assault and capture of Fort Blakely, on the evening of
Sunday, April 9, 1865.
On April 12, the regiment entered the city of Mobile, and the next day
marched with its brigade and division towards Mount Vernon Arsenal, forty miles
above Mobile, on the Tombigbee River. During this march the Twenty-ninth Iowa
had its last skirmish with the enemy. It had lost 22 men during the Mobile
campaign, making its aggregate loss in battle 195. The regiment constituted the
garrison at the Arsenal from the 22d of April to the 12th of May, 1865, returning to
Mobile on the latter date. About the 1st of June, the regiment sailed on transports
for Texas, and arrived at Brazos Santiago on the 9th, where it remained until the
latter part of July, when, by order of Major General Sheridan, then in command of
the Military Department of the Gulf, it was ordered to proceed to New Orleans,
there to be mustered out. On the 10th day of August, 1865, the Twenty-ninth Iowa
was mustered out of the service of the United States, at New Orleans, La. It was
then conveyed by steamer to Davenport, Iowa, where it arrived on the 19th, and on
the 25th of August, 1865, the regiment was formally disbanded and its officers and
men took their departure for their respective homes. At the time of its
disbandment, the Twenty-ninth Iowa had upon its rolls the named of 765 officers
and enlisted men, but of this number only 415 were originally attached to the
regiment. The remainder were recruits, who had been assigned to the Nineteenth,
Twentieth and Twenty-third Regiments of Iowa Infantry, and transferred to the
Twenty-ninth when those regiments were mustered out of the service. It will thus
be seen that the Twenty-ninth Iowa had but 415 of its original members left when
it was mustered out of the service. At the close of his history of the regiment,
Adjutant Lyman says: "It was unfortunate in being kept so lone in the Department
of the Arkansas, away from the more brilliant fields of action. It was one of the
best disciplined regiments in the army, never shrank from any duty required of it,
and only needed the opportunity to make a record equal to that of any Iowa
regiment. Hence, t Helena, Terre Noir, Elkin's Ford, Prairie d'Ane, Camden,
Jenkins' Ferry, Mobile, and on every other occasion where it has been called upon
to meet the enemy, it responded with a degree of alacrity, soldierly skill and
courage, unsurpassed by the troops of any of the armies that have borne a part in
the great struggle for the Union." The impartial student of the military history of
Iowa will fully acknowledge the justice and truth of the foregoing statement, and
accord to the Twenty-ninth Regiment of Iowa Infantry its rightful place among the
splendid regiments of the State. Its survivors may well be proud of its untarnished
record.
SUMMARY OF CASUALTIES.
Total Enrollment 1,485
Killed 23
Wounded 107
Died of wounds 18
Died of disease 249
Discharged for wounds, disease and other causes 157
Buried in National Cemeteries 140
Captured 65
Transferred 28
HOME