1st Iowa Infantry Regiment

the African-American unit 1st Iowa Infantry Regiment (African Descent) 1st Iowa Infantry Regiment May 14, 1861, to August 20/23, 1861 United States Union Army Infantry 959 William H. Merritt American Civil War Trans-Mississippi Theater Battle of Dug Springs Battle of Wilson's Creek The 1st Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment's soldiers had enlisted for a period of three months after President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteer soldiers in April 1861 after the outbreak of the war. The regiment was officially mustered in on May 14, and John F. Bates was elected as the regiment's commander. Starting out its service at Keokuk, Iowa, the regiment was transferred to Missouri in June, where it joined the forces of Nathaniel Lyon at Boonville. In July, the regiment marched with Lyon from Boonville to Springfield, and it participated in a skirmish at Forsyth on July 22. On August 2, two companies of the regiment were present at the Battle of Dug Springs, and the entire regiment was engaged at the Battle of Wilson's Creek on August 10, when Lyon launched a surprise attack against the combined camps of the Missouri State Guard and a Confederate States Army force. At Wilson's Creek, the 1st Iowa fought on a prominence known as Bloody Hill, first on Lyon's left flank and then moving to another position to support the 1st Kansas Infantry Regiment. After Lyon was killed, his army, including the 1st Iowa, withdrew to Rolla. Mustered out at St. Louis on August 20 or 23, the men of the regiment returned to Iowa, where many reenlisted in other units. Service Formation The American Civil War began on April 12, 1861, with the Battle of Fort Sumter, in which troops of the Confederate States of America fired on a United States Army installation in Charleston Harbor. The Confederacy was a collection of slaveholding states that had seceded from the United States following the election of abolitionist Abraham Lincoln as president. The fort's garrison surrendered the next day, and on April 15 Lincoln called for troops to suppress the Confederacy.McPherson 1998 14 As part of Lincoln's call, which asked for 75,000 volunteer soldiers, the state of Iowa was asked to furnish a single regiment. In the patriotic fervor of the early days of the war, more men volunteered than Iowa's single regiment could contain. Ten companies were chosen to compose the infantry regiment, each with a minimum of 78 men; two companies each were taken from Des Moines County, Muscatine County, and Dubuque County, with single companies from Johnson County, Linn County, Henry County, and Scott County.Ingersoll 1867 19 The basis for these companies were pre-existing local militia units.Piston Hatcher 2000 4749 A number of the soldiers were immigrants, with three companies being predominantly German and another Irish.Piston Hatcher 2000 49 Most of the men enlisted out of a desire to put down a rebellion against the United States government, and not out of abolitionist sentiment.Piston Hatcher 2000 51 While the companies had been admitted to federal service by local officials upon their formation, regimental organization officially occurred on May 11, after the men had gathered at Keokuk, Iowa.Ingersoll 1867 1920 That same day, the regiment held an election for officers. John F. Bates was elected colonel, William H. Merritt as lieutenant colonel, and Asbury B. Porter as major.Piston Hatcher 2000 5455 The regiment mustered in three days later, to serve for a term of three months,Dyer 1908 1164 although the regiment believed that their term of service had an earlier beginning date than what the federal government considered it to be.Brooksher 2000 109 The total number of men enrolled in the regiment was 959.Roster and Record 1908 9 The First Iowa remained in Keokuk into June, although the regiment trained as individual companies instead of as an entire regiment until late May.Piston Hatcher 2000 53 Uniforms for the regiment were homemade and were not consistent throughout the unit: the shirts worn by the men varied in type and were a mixture of black, white, grey, and various shades of blue and blue-grey, while the pants could be pink, black, grey, or blue-grey.Piston Hatcher 2000 5253 Joining Lyon The regiment was ordered to head to Missouri and join the forces of Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon on June 13.Ingersoll 1867 21 Lyon was leading a multi-pronged offensive in Missouri, with his men clearing the pro-Confederate Missouri State Guard out of the Missouri River Valley, while other forces moved into southern Missouri to discourage Confederate involvement from Arkansas and to block the retreat of the forces Lyon had driven south.Brooksher 2000 8183 At the time they left Keokuk, the men were armed with antiquated flintlocks that had been converted to use the percussion cap system.Piston Hatcher 2000 57 The next day, the regiment arrived at Hannibal, Missouri, where it guarded the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad from pro-Confederate bushwhackers.Parrish 2001 2526 Continuing on to Macon CityThe daily Gate City, June 29, 1861, p.2 on June 15, some of the men briefly took over a pro-Confederate newspaper. On June 16, the 1st Iowa traveled to Renick by train, and then began a march to Boonville, where the men joined Lyon's main force on June 20Piston Hatcher 2000 57 or June 21.Ingersoll 1867 22Dyer 1908 1164 During the march to Boonville, the regiment encountered several fugitive slaves: six were returned to their masters, and another one was driven from the camp.Piston Hatcher 2000 5758 Lyon's advance from Boonville to join forces with the southern prong of his offensive was delayed by logistical issues. During the time at Boonville, the Iowans interacted in camp with some of Lyon's United States Regulars, taking a dislike to the stricter discipline of the Regular Army units.Brooksher 2000 103104 In one incident, violence almost broke out between the Iowans and some of the Regulars over objections to a Regular soldiers being bound and gagged as a punishment. The regiment drilled heavily while at Boonville, but the unit's status as volunteer troops led to Lyon, a Regular, disliking the unit, which returned the feelings.Brooksher 2000 109 Early on the morning on July 3, Lyon's command advanced out of Boonville.Brooksher 2000 113 One day on the march, the Iowans were placed at the rear of the column, and intentionally marched quickly, forcing the Regulars ahead of them to speed up and causing many of the Regulars to wear out and straggle behind.Brooksher 2000 115 On another day, the Iowans were in the front of the column, and would march quicker than the Regulars, causing Lyon to have to order them to stop whenever the gap between them and the Regulars would grow too great. During the marches, the men of the 1st Iowa sang "The Happy Land of Canaan",Brooksher 2000 118 a 217-verse ditty that was particularly popular with the unit.Piston Hatcher 2000 51 On July 7, Lyon's men reached Clinton, where his force was supplemented by men commanded by Major Samuel Sturgis. Lyon's reinforced command made difficult crossings of the Grand River at Clinton and then the Osage River at Osceola.Brooksher 2000 94, 128129 On July 9, Lyon learned of the Battle of Carthage,Piston Hatcher 2000 104 in which Colonel Franz Sigel's federal forces had been defeated by the Missouri State Guard, a state militia unit.Kennedy 1998 20 Lyon reached Springfield on July 13, with his command following in bits and pieces over the next several days.Piston Hatcher 2000 105 Aware of a Missouri State Guard camp at Forsyth, Lyon ordered a strike against it. Captain Thomas W. Sweeny led a 1,200 man force towards Forsyth, beginning on July 20. The command included 550 men,Brooksher 2000 134Eicher Eicher 2001 519 in six companies, from the 1st Iowa, led by Merritt.Piston Hatcher 2000 126 Reaching Forsyth on July 22, the command drove off a small opposing force in a minor skirmish and then looted the town.Brooksher 2000 135138 During the skirmish, the Iowans supported an artillery unit.Piston Hatcher 2000 129 Sweeny's men returned to Springfield on July 25.Brooksher 2000 138 Wilson's Creek and mustering out thumb|An 1861 depiction of Lyon leading the 1st Iowa at Wilson's Creek, shortly before his death.Leslie's 1861 244, 252 Meanwhile, components of the Missouri State Guard under Major General Sterling Price had combined forces with a Confederate army led by Brigadier General Benjamin McCulloch.Parrish 2001 29Brooksher 2000 149150, 239 This combined force began an advance towards Springfield on July 31.Brooksher 2000 151 Lyon, unaware that Price and McCulloch had joined forces, began an advance from Springfield on August 1, hoping to defeat in detail the Confederates and Missouri State Guardsmen.Brooksher 2000 147148, 152 On August 2, a portion of Lyon's command routed some Missouri State Guard cavalry in the Battle of Dug Springs.Brooksher 2000 152157 Two companies of the 1st Iowa were present at Dug Springs,Piston Hatcher 2000 139140 being aligned on the right of the command.Ingersoll 1867 24 Having learned that McCulloch and Price had combined, Lyon ordered a withdrawal to Springfield on August 4.Brooksher 2000 159160 left|thumb|235x235px|1904 illustration of Sergeant Jim Grant carrying company C's flag at Wilson's Creek.The Republican, April 14, 1904, p.7 On August 6, the regiment believed that its term of enlistment had expired, believing that its term of service began when it was placed into service by Iowa authorities. The regiment held a vote that resulted in a decision to remain in the service, as a battle was about to occur. Instead, the units term of service was actually calculated from the date of its mustering in to federal service,Piston Hatcher 2000 171Ware 1907 295296 with the true expiration of enlistment being August 14.Brooksher 2000 159160 McCulloch and Price camped their forces along Wilson's Creek,Brooksher 2000 165166 and after much urging from Price, McCulloch decided on August 9 to attack Lyon in Springfield the next day.Brooksher 2000 167168 Lyon, in turn, had decided to attack as well, despite being outnumbered.Parrish 2001 29 For the upcoming battle, the Iowans were placed in Lyon's 4th Brigade, which was commanded by Colonel George Dietzler. The 4th Brigade, along with the 1st and 3rd Brigades, advanced with Lyon, while the 2nd Brigade moved with Sigel to strike the enemy position in the rear. Merritt led the regiment into battle, as Bates was left sick in Springfield.Brooksher 2000 176177, 238 As the federals moved out on the evening of August 9, the Iowans sang loudly on the march,Piston Hatcher 2000 186187 which made Lyon worried that the men would not fight well due to levity.Brooksher 2000 177 Lyon's attack surprised the Confederate camp on the morning of August 10, bringing on the Battle of Wilson's Creek.Parrish 2001 29 The federal soldiers encountered Missouri State Guard cavalry, and one man from the 1st Iowa was killed during the encounter. While the 1st Missouri Infantry Regiment, the 1st Kansas Infantry Regiment, and some artillery fought the cavalry, the 1st Iowa and the rest of Lyon's wing moved onto a prominence known as Bloody Hill.Piston Hatcher 2000 198200 Lyon's men encountered another enemy cavalry unit, and unaware of the Confederate and Missouri State Guard positions, Lyon formed up a position on Bloody Hill, with the Iowans on the left flank.Piston Hatcher 2000 204205 While Lyon held Bloody Hill, Sigel was defeated by a Confederate and Missouri State Guard attack. The Iowans played an indirect role in the fighting on Sigel's front: some of the Iowans were wearing gray uniforms, and when Sigel's men were faced by gray-clad Confederates of the 3rd Louisiana Infantry Regiment, they thought they were facing the Iowans and did not fire at first.Piston Hatcher 2000 254255 On Bloody Hill, Lyon's men repulsed an attack, but during a second enemy charge, the 1st Iowa, less two companies fighting as skirmishers on the left, was transferred from the left to a position supporting the 1st Kansas.Bearss 1975 109 After moving to the new position, the Iowans and 1st Missouri became somewhat disorganized, with two companies of the Iowans become commingled with the Missourians. Merritt ordered the regiment to withdraw, which both cut off the two companies with the Missourians from the rest of the regiment and opened a gap in Lyon's line. Merritt rode over to the isolated companies and maneuvered them over to the rest of the regiment, while Lyon ordered Sweeny to lead the 1st Iowa forward during Merritt's temporary absence. Lyon then began to lead the 2nd Kansas Infantry Regiment forward from a reserve role, but was shot dead.Piston Hatcher 2000 262265, 268 Sturgis took command after the death of Lyon,Piston Hatcher 2000 269 while the defeat of Sigel allowed Price and McCulloch to concentrate a larger force against Lyon than before.Piston Hatcher 2000 275276 This stronger attack was repulsed, as well.Brooksher 2000 222 After this, Sturgis decided to withdraw, with his men outnumbered, running out of ammunition, and not knowing what had happened to Sigel. During the retreat from the field, men from the 1st Iowa helped rescue a federal artillery caisson, and Private Nicholas Bouquet of the 1st Iowa received the Medal of Honor for his actions in this incident.Piston Hatcher 2000 83 The 1st Iowa had taken about 800 men into the battle, and had 12 men killed, 138 wounded, and 4 missing in action.Bearss 1975 162 Sturgis withdrew his force back to Rolla via Springfield.Brooksher 2000 225227 One member of the 1st Iowa estimated that the regiment had marched 620 miles km from the time they reached Renick to the arrival at Rolla.Piston Hatcher 2000 306307 At Rolla, the 1st Iowa received new gray uniforms, and then to St. Louis, where they were discharged. The historians William Garrett Piston and Richard W. Hatcher report that the discharge occurred on August 23,Piston Hatcher 2000 324 while Dyer's Compendium dates it on August 20.Dyer 1908 1164 After their discharge, the Iowans were transported by steamboats from St. Louis to Burlington, Iowa, from whence the men returned to their homes.Piston Hatcher 2000 324 According to Dyer, the 1st Iowa had 20 men killed in action or mortally wounded during its existence, with another eight dying of natural causes.Dyer 1908 1164 At least 600 veterans of the regiment reenlisted in other units, and two, Francis J. Herron and Charles L. Matthies became general officers during the war.Ingersoll 1867 32 See also List of Iowa Civil War Units Iowa in the American Civil War References Citations 30em Sources 40em Bearss Ed Ed Bearss The Battle of Wilson's Creek 1975 George Washington Carver Birthplace District Association 1327752289 Brooksher William Riley Bloody Hill: The Civil War Battle of Wilson's Creek 2000 1995 Potomac Books Lincoln, Nebraska 978-1-57488-205-6 August 31, 1861 Charge of the First Iowa Regiment at the Battle of Wilson's Creek https://archive.org/details/sim_leslies-weekly_1861-08-31_12_302/page/252/mode/2up Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper XII 302 CITEREFLeslie's1861 Dyer Frederick H. Frederick H. Dyer A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion Des Moines, Iowa Dyer Publishing Company 1908 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015026937642&view=1up&seq=1176 1028851810 Eicher John H. Eicher David J. Civil War High Commands 2001 Stanford University Press Stanford, California 978-0-8047-3641-1 Ingersoll Lurton Dunham Iowa and the Rebellion: A History of the Troops Furnished by the State of Iowa to the Volunteer Armies of the Union, Which Conquered the Great Southern Rebellion of 1861-5 J. B. Lippincott & Co. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1867 3rd https://archive.org/details/iowarebellionhis00inge/page/32/mode/2up 1229751271 Fort Sumter I, South Carolina McPherson James M. Kennedy Frances H. The Civil War Battlefield Guide 1998 Houghton Mifflin Boston/New York 2nd 978-0-395-74012-5 1–4 Parrish William E. A History of Missouri III: 1860 to 1875 2001 1973 University of Missouri Press Columbia, Missouri 0-8262-1376-6 Piston William Garrett Hatcher Richard W. Wilson's Creek: The Second Battle of the Civil War and the Men Who Fought It University of North Carolina Press Chapel Hill, North Carolina 2000 0-8078-2515-8 Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion Together with Historical Sketches of Volunteer Organizations 18611866 I Iowa General Assembly Des Moines, Iowa 1908 https://archive.org/details/aby1249.0001.001.umich.edu/page/n3/mode/2up CITEREFRoster_and_Record1908 1361148641 Ware E. F. The Lyon Campaign in Missouri: Being a History of the First Iowa Infantry and of the Causes Which Led Up to Its Organization, and How It Earned the Thanks of Congress, Which It Got. Together With a Birdseye View of the Conditions in Iowa Preceding the Great Civil War of 1861 Crane & Company Topeka, Kansas 1907 https://books.google.com/books?id=bI1Eq9KRNL0C 1524310 Category:Units and formations of the Union army from Iowa Category:1861 establishments in Iowa Category:Military units and formations established in 1861 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1861 Category:1861 disestablishments in Missouri