Civil War Regiments From Iowa, 1861-1865

"Civil War Regiments from Iowa, 1861-1865," provides the histories of the Hawkeye State's 45 infantry regiments, 8 cavalry regiments, and 4 light artillery batteries as well as the military events in the state during the war. Iowa regiments conducted themselves well in the field and many earned good and honorable names for themselves. The 2nd and 7th Iowa Infantry lost 54 and 74 men killed and mortally wounded in the capture of Fort Donelson. The 3rd Iowa suffered 40 killed and mortally wounded at Shiloh and the 13th Infantry 41. At Iuka, Mississippi, the fifth lost 62 killed and at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, the 9th lost 74. The 2nd Iowa Cavalry participated in Grierson's Raid through Mississippi, and the 1st Iowa Cavalry performed brilliantly at the Battle of Elkin's Ferry, Arkansas. Iowa sent 75,000 men to fight for the Union, losing 3,500 in combat and another 9,400 to disease and other causes. William F. Fox counts 10 Iowa regiments among his 300 fighting regiments. Fox says the "Iowa Brigades made brilliant records in the field, and secured for their state a full share of laurels of the war." The 22nd, 24th, and 28th regiments were the only Iowa regiments to see service in Virginia, and that was only for a brief period. Numerous Iowans achieved the rank of Brigadier or Major General, including Samuel R. Curtis, James M. Tuttle, Francis J. Herron, Grenville M. Dodge, and Benjamin H. Grierson.