TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
The Twenty-fifth Regiment was organized under the proclamation of President
Lincoln, bearing date July 2, 1862. The ten companies of which it was composed were
ordered into quarters by Governor Kirkwood, on dates ranging from August 2 to September
1, 1862. The place of rendezvous designated in the order of the Governor was Camp
McKean, near Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and there, on the 27th of September, 1862, the
companies and the field and staff officers of the regiment were mustered into the service of
the United States, by Captain George S. Pierce of the United States Army. At the
completion of the muster the regiment had an aggregate strength of 972 men, including the
field, staff and company officers. There were 23 early additional enlistments, which brought
the total number of the regiment to 995, at or about the time it left the State for the filed of
active military operations. The commander of the regiment, Colonel George A. Stone, had
won honor and distinction in his previous service as First Lieutenant of Company F, First
Iowa Infantry and, later, as Major of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry. Under the instruction of this
very capable and energetic officer, the regiment improved to the utmost a fair knowledge of
the drill and discipline so essential to effective service in the field.
Early in November the regiment proceeded to St. Louis, and thence down the
Mississippi River to Helena, Ark., where it went into camp. During the stay at Helena,
detachments from the regiment accompanied reconnoitering expeditions to White river and
elsewhere, but the record does not show that theses expeditions encountered any
considerable force of the enemy. The regiment assigned to the Second Brigade of the First
Division fifteenth Army Corps, the brigade commanded by General Hovey, and the division
by General Steele. On the 22d of December, 1862, the regiment embarked on transports and
moved down the Mississippi with the forces under command of General Sherman, and
participated in that notable but unsuccessful movement against Vicksburg by way of
Chickasaw Bayou, in which it lost one man killed, seven wounded and two captured or
missing. Returning from this expedition, the regiment, with its brigade and division,
comprising part of the Fifteenth Amy Corps, under command of Major General Sherman,
with the Thirteenth Army Corps, commanded by Major General McClernand, moved down
the Mississippi River to Akansas Post. On January 11, 1863, the Twenty-fifth Iowa
participated in the battle which resulted in the capture of that rebel stronghold. The conduct
of his regiment in the battle is described in the official report of Colonel Stone as follows:
HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-FIFTH IOWA INFANTRY,
CAMP AT ARKANSAS POST, ARK., Jan. 12, 1863.
GENERAL: I herewith hand you the report of the part taken by my regiment in the action
yesterday. I was ordered by our brigade commander, General Hovey, to form the regiment
in the rear of the Seventy-sixth Ohio, Colonel Woods, the leading regiment, and sustain him
in a bayonet charge on the enemy's fortifications. My command, to that effect, was
promptly obeyed, and the two regiments, with yells creditable to Indians, started over an ope
space of ground for some 500 years, exposed to the grape and canister of a rebel battery, of 6
poinder Parrott guns, and the rifles of five Texas Infantry regiments. The clear space was
passed over with some loss and we then had some 200 yards more to make, 100 of which
was through abatis and ditches. The Seventy-sixth Ohio had cleared everything but the last
100 yards of open ground that separated it from the breastworks, we following 20 yards in
their rear' when the fire was so terrific, and the men so much exhausted, that the first line
was compelled to halt, and we then for the first capped our rifles and responded to the
enemy's fire, constantly advancing till the last line of defense for us was reached; and, after
three hours fighting, the rebel flag was struck and the white one displayed, indicating that
the enemy had surrendered. Some 5,000 prisoners, with several batteries, siege guns, and
ordnace stores, small arms, est., are a part of the fruits of this truly great victory. My
regiment was complimented by the Texas Colonel in front of us, who remarked he was
almost sure they must be Iowa troops. The casualties are as follows. Adjustant S. Kirkwood
Clark was wounded severely by a gunshot wound through the left leg, just below the knee. I
do but justice when I notice the Adjutant in this report, for his cool and gallant conduct as
well in this fight as the one in the vicinity of Vicksburg. He has received and has well
earned the praise of the entire regiment. I also must notice Privates Hiram Payne of
Company B, and Ben F. Weaver of Company C, who, on account of the Color Sergeant
being sick, volunteered for the duty of carrying the colors, and right nobly did they perform
it. We were the second regiment in the rebel fortifications.
Very respectfully, General.
GEO. A. STONE, Colonel Commanding.
ADJUTANT GENERAL N. B BAKER, Davenport, Iowa.
Adjutant Clark died from the effect of his wound, and was succeeded by First
Lieutenant Samuel W. Snow, of Company E. The regiment returned to the vicinity of
Vicksburg, and went into camp near Young's Point for the remainder of the winter. During
its first campaign, the Twenty-fifth Iowa gad suffered much from sickness, having much the
same experience as all new regiments in that respect; but the records show that the fatalities
from disease were not as great as in most of the other Iowa regiments which were encamped
in the same unhealthy locality. Colonel Stone was noted for the car with which he looked
after the health of his men, and provided everything available for their comfort, while
exercising strict discipline and requiring them to observe such sanitary regulations as were
possible under the conditions in which they were placed during that gloomy winter of 1863.
In the meantime, General Grant was making active preparations for the beginning of another
aggressive campaign, to commence as soon as the necessary number of troops could be
concentrated under his command.
On the 2d of April the Twenty-fifth Iowa, with its brigade and division, started
upon the expedition- conducted by General Steele-- to Greenville, Miss., and further into
the interior of the State. While the object of the expedition was mainly to distract the
attention of the enemy from the principal movement of the campaign, it accomplished more
than that, by the capture of considerable quantities of supplies which were intended for the
use of the rebel army. The division remained in camp near Greenville, from which place
detachments were sent into the surrounding country, gathering supplies, until April 24th,
when, the purpose of the expedition having been accomplished, it returned to Milliken's
Bend. From that place, Colonel Stone, marched to Richmond, La., where he remained in
camp for a few days, and then marched to Hard Times Landing, where his troops crossed the
river on transports to Grand Gulf, arriving there too late, however, to overtake the main
portion of the army, which had moved on towards Jackson. Colonel Stone was ordered to
proceed with his regiment as escort to a supply train, loaded with rations and ammunition for
the army. Upon arriving with the train at Clinton, the regiment rejoined its brigade and
division, then marching from Jackson towards Vicksburg. The march was continued. On
the 18th of May the regiment joined with the other troops in the investment of Vicksburg, the
siege of that rebel stronghold having already begun. In the operations which ensued, the
regiment performed its full share of duty. It participated in the arduous and dangerous work
of advancing the lines, digging and occupying the trenches, driving the enemy from one
advanced position to another, until the troops of the Union army were intrenched in a line
close to the frowning forts of the enemy and the main line of heavy works which connected
them. The regiment was engaged in the assault upon the enemy's works on the 22d of May,
as will be been from the following extracts from the official reports of its brigade and
regimental commanders. In the report of Colonel Charles R. Woods, commanding Second
Brigade, First Division, the following reference is made to the Twenty-fifth Iowa:
Owing to the difficulty of moving my brigade, so as to prevent the enemy from seeing
our movements, several hours were consumed in reaching our position, and, having reached
th rear of the position where the charge was to be made, t was necessary to pass over several
pieces of open ground within close range of the enemy's rifle-pits, part of the road being
swept by artillery. Fifty or sixty men and officers were killed and wounded in gaining our
position. The Twenty-fifth Iowa, Colonel Stone commanding, being in the advance,
suffered severely, but as soon as it gained the ravine one wing was thrown forward as
skirmishers, and succeeded in a great measure in keeping down the fire of the enemy. The
Twenty-fifth Iowa, while deployed as skirmishers, did good execution and lost severely.
The officers and men, during all the skirmishes in which they have been engaged, have done
their duty well and faithfully, and deserve the highest praise.
Colonel Stone in his official report, says, in part:
A General attack was ordered by our entire line. Our division, occupying the extreme
right of our army, was ordered to gain the heights to our left, near the center of our line, and
to assist in carrying the fort opposite, In making this movement, I had the advance with my
regiment, and kept it until the heights above mentioned were gained. We failed to carry the
fort, and at night the entire division was withdrawn to the position each regiment had
occupied in the morning. Officers and men of my regiment behaved well, and I shall not
particularize by mentioning any, save private Isaac Mickey of Company F, who, when I
called for some one to volunteer to carry an order for me past a line exposed to the enemy's
entire line of sharpshooters, responded at once to the call, carried my message, and returned
promptly when the order was executed.
Captain James D Spearman, of Company H, was among the severely wounded
and was subsequently discharged on account of the disability thus incurred. The number of
casualties in the regiment, in the assault on the 22d of May, were as follows: Killed, enlisted
men, 5; wounded, 1 officer and 26 enlisted men; captured or missing, 5 enlisted men. Total
37. The total casualties sustained by the regiment during the entire siege of Vicksburg
numbered 65 in killed, wounded and missing. In addition to this number, many were
prostrated by sickness, the result of the great hardships, toil and exposure to which they were
subjected in that protracted siege.
On the day following the surrender of Vicksburg, the regiment, with its brigade and
division, joined the army under command of General Sherman, Which promptly marched in
pursuit of the rebel army under command of General J. E. Johnston, and, in the short but
vigorous campaign which ensued, performed its full share of duty. During the brief siege of
Jackson it lost 2 men killed, and 2 wounded. Returning from Jackson, the regiment went
into camp on Black River, near the scene of the battle of that name, where it enjoyed a
season of well-earned rest. It had now been in the service but little more than ten months,
had lost 134 men killed and wounded in battle, and a much greater number by disease and
discharge for disability. If its record had ended with the campaign just closed, it would have
taken its place in history as well deserving the gratitude of the people of the State and Nation
for the gallant service it had rendered. But it had yet a long and arduous period of service to
perform, as will appear in the history of its subsequent operations, ending only with the close
of the war.
In the latter part of September, 1863, the Twenty-fifth Iowa, with its brigade and
division, moved from its encampment to Vicksburg, and there embarked for Memphis.
General Osterhaus had succeeded General Steele as commander of the division. Upon
arriving at Memphis, the troops disembarked and at once took up the line of march to
Corinth, thence to Iuka and Cherokee Station. At the latter place the enemy was
encountered. The following extract from the official report of Colonel Stone will show with
what vigor the enemy's skirmishers were attacked, and how persistently the march was
continued to Chattanooga, to reinforce the troops which were so soon to become engaged in
the tremendous conflicts around that place:
On Sunday evening, October 25th, at Cherokee, our division received marching orders
for 4 A. M. next day, and accordingly the division moved at the hour indicated, in the
direction of Tuscumbia, in light marching order and in fine fighting condition. The First
Brigade, Brigadier General C. R. Woods commanding, had the advance, and ours, the
Second Brigade, Colonel James A. Williamson commanding the rear. General Osterhaus
orders were very imperative and strict concerning the tactical arrangement of battalions, as
the enemy, but some three miles in front of us, was composed entirely of cavalry, and was
fully our equal in numerical strength. About two miles from camp, we met the enemy's
skirmishers, and here formed our line of battle, the First Brigade on the right, and the Second
on the left, with one of the other divisions of our Corps as reserve. My position was on the
extreme left, and, in accordance with orders. I formed a square to repel cavalry, first,
however, having covered my front properly with skirmishers. Our skirmishers pushed the
enemy so vigorously, and our lines followed so promptly, that after a short resistance the
enemy fell back to another position some four miles to the rear, and made another stand.
The same disposition was again made by our division, the same sharp, short fighting with
the sam result, the hasty retreat of the enemy. We continued this skirmishing during the
entire day, and renewed it on the 27th, literally fighting them from Cherokee to Tuscumbia.
We entered the town at 3 P. M., on the 27th. Sergeant Nehemiah M. Redding, of Company
D, was killed while skirmishing on the 26th. I have no other casualties to mention. Officers
and men behaved handsomely.
The troops continued to press forward by forced marches, and at midnight, on
November 23d, had reached a point near the foot of Lookout Mountain. The division under
General Osterhaus was temporarily attached to the forces under the command of General
Hooker. The Twenty-fifth Iowa was assigned to a position in support of a battery of New
York artillery. Colonel Stone's official reports of the part taken by his regiment in the
battles which followed in rapid succession, are here given in full:
BRIDGEPORT, ALA., Dec. 19, 1863.
GENERAL: I have the honor to report as follows, of the battle of Lookout Mountain,
on the 24th on November, 1863. Our division camped on the 23d of November opposite
Lookout Mountain, and near General Hooker's headquarters. At 9 P. M. I received orders to
be in fighting trim at daylight next morning, and accordingly, at 5 A. M. of the 24th, I was in
line of battle, and received orders to support the first Iowa battery during the day. It was
intended that our division should act as reserves, while some of Hooker's division should
storm the mountain, but this was partially changed, probably on account of one column
being ordered further to the right than was first intended, and our division soon took an
active part. At 9:30 A. M. I had orders to go to the front, just under a point of rocks on
Lookout Mountain, to support the guns of Battery I, First New York Artillery, then in
position, and two of which guns were protected by being hastily casemated. This position I
retained during the day, and, on account of the admirable place for defense, and the inability
of the enemy to sufficiently depress his guns. I found at dark I had not lost a man. Nothing
could exceed the grandeur of this battle, from the point at which we viewed it. Every gun
from Raccoon Mountain batteries to those of Mosscasin Point was in plain view, and our
lines of infantry so close that acquaintances were easily recognized. At 12 M. the grand
atttack began, and soon the battle smoke hung over and enveloped the mountain like a
funeral pall, and the whole battle, like a panorama, passed around and before us. At dark, in
accordance with orders from General Osterhaus, I reported, with my regiment, for special
duty, to Major General Butterfield, General Hooker's Chief of Staff, and was ordered by him
to a position on the extreme right of the army, to prevent an anticipated attempt of the enemy
to turn our flank at that point. I occupied the point indicated, and made a personal
reconnaissance of the ground in front of me. The enemy threatened some during the night,
but made no attack, and, at daylight next day, in obedience to orders, I reported back, with
my command to the division.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEORGE A. STONE,
Colonel Commanding Twenty-fifth Iowa.
ADJUTANT GENERAL N. B. BAKER, Davenport, Iowa.
BRIDGEPORT, ALA., Dec. 19, 1863.
GENERAL: I respectfully report as follows of the part taken by this regiment in the
battle of Mission Ridge on the 25th day of November, 1863. On the morning of the 25th we
arrived at the front of Mission Ridge at 2 P. M. We had just formed in line of battle for an
attack, when the enemy's artillery became so annoying that we commenced to gain distance
to the right for a more vulnerable point of attack. A messenger having now arrived with the
intelligence that two regiments of rebel cavalry had passed down the mountain for the
purpose of turning our left flank, General Osterhaus ordered me to take a position up the
valley in the direction of the rebel cavalry, with my own regiment and the Twenty-sixth
Iowa. The skirmishing soon became very brisk on the right, with intimations of a general
attack on our left. A division of the Fourth Corps now relieved men, and I at once reported
back to my division, but had no sooner arrived at my former position than General Osterhaus
informed me that the enemy was endeavoring to gain the mountain ass between Chattanooga
Valley and Roseville, and that I must gain it first and hold it at all hazards. I proceeded as
ordered and held that pass till dark, securing one 2ix-pound gun, one loaded ammunition
wagon, and 27 prisoners, (including three Lieutenants,) and a quantity of corn meal and
bacon. I am happy to say I have no casualties to report.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEORGE A. STONE,
Colonel Commanding Twenty-fifth Iowa.
ADJUTANT GENERAL N. B. BAKER, Davenport, Iowa.
BRIDGEPORT, ALA., Dec 19, 1863.
GENERAL: I respectfully make the following report of the part taken by my
regiment in the battle of Ringgold, or Taylor's Ridge, Ga., on the 27th of November last,
with the list of casualties of that day. Our division had the advance that morning, and we
had not anticipated the stubborn resistance the enemy would make there, or at least were not
wholly prepared for it; or perhaps, better still, both. We approached the hill or mountain by
a right flank, perpendicularly to the face of the mountain, and, in order to get into line of
battle, had to front and change front forward on first company. Regiments therefore got into
line of battle alternately, and evolution that more or less endangered each regiment to loss,
without leaving it any means for defense or protection. My position being on the extreme
left I came into line last, and, when formed, found myself in open ground and in easy range
of the enemy above us, protected by abatis and breastworks. The fire here was very
annoying, but the men responded so promptly to my command "Forward, double quick,"
that we cleared the open field and gained the base of the hill, with the loss of but three men.
The duty assigned me was this: to gain the crest as best I could and turn the enemy's left
flank. The hill up which I had to go was very steep, a valley to my right and left running
perpendicularly to the base of the mountain, and above a line right, left and oblique. I
discovered by their battle flags, that two regiments confronted me, and, considering the odds
about proper for an Iowa regiment, ordered an advance. The enemy had his skirmishers
admirably posted and in strong force. The hillside was stubbornly contested, but we pressed
steadily forward, and, in an hour from the time we started, had advanced to within seventy-
five yards of the crest of the hill and driven the enemy completely off of it to his
fortification.
I now occupied a splendid position, and preparatory for a final charge, had ordered a
halt for the men to obtain a few moments' rest. Three regiments of the Twelfth Corps now
came over the ground I had won by fighting, one passing on my right, one through the
Thirtieth Iowa, still further to my right, and the remaining one through my line. I attempted
to stop this silly maneuver of advancing, where men could barely climb, by a flank, and
ordered and entreated the officers to go to my left and advance in line of battle, properly,
with their skirmishers well forward. I pointed to them the fire they must meet, from three
points, so soon as they passed my line, and reminded them that their men would be shot
down like sheep, as marching thus, by a flank, they could not possibly return the fire. All to
no purpose, however. An officer of a Pennsylvania regiment said they would show western
troops how to storm a hill, and that they were acting under orders, etc. They passed above
me, and at once the fire of the enemy ceased, and at a glance I discovered the reason. He
saw this column coming up by a flank, and commenced at once to make a fresh column on it
flank. Again I went to the officer, pointed out his situation, showed him where the rebels
were massing; but he would listen to nothing, and went forward. A moment of agonizing
suspense to me, and the fire opened on them from the three places designated. I never heard
a more terrific and incessant fire of musketry. The men stood manfully for a minute—till
the next volley was being poured into them—and then, like a flock of frightened sheep, and
with exclamations: "We are flanked—they are coming—they are coming," came rushing
down upon us, carrying everything before them, like an avalanche, and as far as we could
see they were still running shamefully to the rear. I am credibly informed they organized
again more than a mile from the scene of this disaster. My men were thrown into temporary
confusion, but I at once re-formed in range of the enemy's fire, and, taking the hill at a new
point, threatening to flank him in return, again commenced to climb the hill. Our entire
brigade was now ordered forward, and this time we gained the hill, and, as regiment after
regiment of the Iowa Brigade gained the plateau above us, the rebels, now threatened at
every point, fled in confusion and the battle of Ringgold was over.
I lost 29 wounded, none killed, none missing. …Of 21 officers in the fight, one-third
of them were struck. The day following the battle orders were issued reorganizing our
division. We are now in the Third Brigade, First Division, fifteenth Army Corps, Lieutenant
Colonel Palmer commanding the regiment, and I commanding the brigade.
Very respectfully, General, your obedient servant,
GEORGE A. STONE,
Colonel Twenty-fifth Iowa Volunteers.
ADJUTANT GENERAL, N. B. Baker, Davenport, Iowa.
It is always the duty of a commanding officer to take advantage of every opportunity
that offers to protect his men from the fire of the enemy in battle. To do this he must
carefully study the position of the enemy and, in advancing to the attack, avail himself of the
conformation of the ground over which he has to pass, and, if possible, strike the enemy in
flank; in short, to execute the movements he is ordered to make with military skill and good
judgment, and, while strictly obeying the orders he has received, accomplish the desired
results with the smallest possible loss. In the dreadful game of war much depends upon the
skill and ability with which the commanding officer handles his troops. While heavy losses
cannot always be avoided, it is always a credit to the commanding officer to achieve a
victory over the enemy with the loss to his own command reduced to the minimum. Thus, in
the series of battles around Chattanooga, in which the Twenty-fifth Iowa participated—
Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge and Ringgold—Colonel Stone's official reports clearly
show that he obeyed implicitly every order which he received, and that his regiment
accomplished all that was required of it with comparatively small casualties. Colonel Stone
and the officers of his regiment had freely exposed themselves to the fire of the enemy, and,
as shown in the battle of Ringgold, had suffered more severely, in proportion to their
number, than the men under their command. This certainly was greatly to their credit. Both
officers and men had fully sustained the high reputation they had previously won for the
regiment. It will be noted that, immediately after the battle of Ringgold, Colonel Stone was
honored by being placed in command of the brigade to which his regiment was attached, and
that Lieutenant Colonel Palmer succeeded him as regimental commander.
After the battle of Ringgold the regiment, with its brigade and divisio, returned to
Chattanooga, and, a few days later, marched to Bridgeport, Ala., where it remained until
December 23d, on which date the division was ordered to proceed to Woodville, on the
Memphis and Charleston Railroad, at which place it went into winter quarters. Colonel
Stone's Brigade was engaged in two expeditions during the winter. The first of these
expeditions ended at the town of Lebanon, Ala., at which place and vicinity there were a
considerable number of citizens who had remained true to the cause of the Union, many of
whom came to Colonel Stone's camp, where they were organized into companies and
furnished with arms and ammunition. They subsequently became part of a Union regiment
and rendered good service to their country. Upon his return to Woodville Colonel Stone was
ordered to proceed to Cleveland, East Tenn., at which place his command constituted a
garrison for the post until early in March, 1864, when the brigade rejoined the division at
Woodville, where it remained until the beginning of the great Atlanta Campaign, in which it
was to take a most conspicious part.
To give a detailed description of the operations of the Twenty-fifth Iowa during the
remainder of its term of service would far exceed the limitation of space to which the
compiler of this condensed historical sketch is subjected. He can, therefore, only give the
outlines of the splendid service during the Altanta campaign, its subsequent march to the sea
and from Savannah, through the Carolinas to Washington. The regiment had—prior to the
commencement of the campaign—been again placed in a brigade composed exclusively of
Iowa troops, as follows: The Fourth, Ninth, Twenty-fifth and thirty-first regiments of Iowa
Infantry. These four regiments remained together until the close of the war and became
known throughout the army as the "Iowa Brigade of the fifteenth Corps." Colonel J. A.
Williamson of the fourth Iowa, by virtue of his seniority in rank, became the commander of
the brigade, and Colonel Stone resumed command of the Twenty-fifth Iowa. Colonel
Williamson had entered the service with his regiment early in 1861, and had succeeded to
the command of the regiment when Colonel Dodge was promoted to the rank of Brigadier
General. The brigade, therefore, came under the command of an officer with a distinguished
record. He had long been in command of brigade and had well earned the promotion to the
full rank of Brigadier General. The record of the Twenty-fifth Iowa is practically identified
with that of the Fourth, Ninth and Thirty-fifth during the campaigns which ensued to the
close of the war. On the 1st of May 1864, the brigade and division marched from Woodville
to join the army at the front. It first met the enemy in fierce conflict at Resaca, Ga. The
operations of the brigade in that battle are fully described in the official report of Colonel
Williamson, from which the following extract is made:
About 10 o'clock on the 13th instant the brigade was ordered into line of battle
immediately on the left of the First Brigade, where it remained for two or three hours, when
I received orders to move my brigade forward, which I did, taking the direction and keeping
the alignment of the First Brigade until I arrived near the fortified hill from which the enemy
kept up a heavy fire of artillery and musketry. At This point I halted, keeping my right
aligned with the First Brigade, and advancing my left wing so as to bring them under cover,
where I remained until the enemy fell back, when I advanced, with the First Brigade on my
right, and took possession the hill immediately in front of the enemy's fortifications, where I
remained, skirmishing until a late hour at night. On the morning of the 14th, commenced
skirmishing at daylight, and kept it up all day, suffering considerable loss. Late in the
afternoon of the 14th, I was ordered by General Osterhaus to send one regiment to support a
battery which was engaging the enemy's fortifications. In obedience to this order, I sent the
Twenty-fifth Iowa, Colonel Stone. A little later in the evening I was ordered to send a
A regiment to support the First Brigade, which was assaulting the enemy's line on my right,
and, in obedience thereto, sent the Twenty-fifth Iowa, and moved the Fourth Iowa into
position to support the battery. I remained in line of battle during the night of the 14th,
skirmishing until a late hour, and again resumed the skirmishing at daylight on the 15th, and
continued it through the day and until late at night. At daylight on the 16th, I received an
order from General Osterhaus to advance into the town of Resaca, the enemy having
evacuated it during the night. I have only to say in conclusion, that there was neither
straggling nor cowardice in my command. All were anxious to do their duty.
Colonel Williamson reports the casualties in his brigade at Resaca as follows: Killed
6: wounded, 27; total 43. Colonel Stone reports the casualties in the Twenty-fifth Iowa;
Killed, 3; wounded, 15; total 18. It will thus be seen that the regiment sustained a loss of
one-half the number killed, and nearly one-half the number wounded, in the four regiments
of its brigade at the battle of Resaca.
In his next official report, dated at "Camp, near Lovejoy's Station, September 5,
1864," Colonel Williamson describes the movements and operations of his brigade at
length, covering the entire period of the campaign, including its movements prior to the
battle of Resaca, in which however, it did not come into conflict with the enemy. From this
report the compiler will endeavor to give a condensed account of the part taken by the
Twenty-fifth Iowa in this campaign--one of the most important and vigorously conducted
campaigns of the entire war. A Summary of the report shows that, on May 16th, the Twenty-
fifth Iowa was on duty as provost guard in the village of Resaca. Between the dates May
17th and 20th, the regiment marched with its brigade from Resaca to Kingston, Ga.
Remaining in camp at Kingston for three days, it continued the march to Dallas, and arrived
in front of that place on the 26th of May. In the skirmishes and heavier fighting, which
ensued and lasted until the 31st if May, the Twenty-fifth Iowa bore a conspicuous part, and
again demonstrated fully the bravery and efficiency of its officers and men. During the night
of May 29th, Williamson's brigade had built a complete line of defensive works. On the 29th,
it occupied and continued to strengthen the works, all the time under the fire of the enemy.
Soon after dark on the 29th, the brigade was ordered to leave the works and take a position
on the main road, to cover the rear of the corps which was then moving out. As soon as the
movement began, the enemy mad a vigorous attack, when the Ninth and Twenty-fifth Iowa
were ordered back to the original position, where they remained until daylight, holding the
enemy in check, when they were joined by the other two regiments of the brigade, which
remained in the works during the 30th and 31st of May, successfully defending them, and
delaying the advance of the enemy. At daylight, on June 1st, the brigade was ordered out of
the works to another. Line one mile in the rear, which had been constructed to cover the
withdrawal of the corps. When the corps had passed the works, the brigade moved out and
acted as rear guard on the march to New Hope Church, the enemy following closely, as far
back as Dallas.
The enemy fell back on the night of June 4th, and the brigade continued the march to
Ackworth, where it arrived on June 6th, and remained in camp until the 10th, when it again
moved forward toward Kenesaw Mountain, and, on June 11th, had reached a position in front
of that stronghold of the enemy. During the contest for the possession of Kenewsaw
Mountain, which lasted for twenty-one days, the endurance and bravery of the officers and
men of Williamson's Iowa Brigade was put to the severest test, and the Twenty-fifth fully
maintained the record it had made at Vicksburg, while engaged in much the same character
of service it had rendered in that great siege. The frowning height of Kenesaw proved
equally as impregnable to direct assault as had the works around Vicksburg. On June 27th a
general assault upon the enemy's strong line of works along the face of the mountain was
ordered, in which the Twenty-fifth Iowa, with the brigade, participated and suffered
considerable loss. The assault was unsuccessful, and the brigade returned to its line of
works, from which it kept up an incessant fire upon the enemy's line until the night of July
2d, when the enemy evacuated his line of defenses on Kenesaw Mountain, and began his
retreat in the direction of Atlanta. The enemy fell back slowly, stubbornly resisting the
advance of the Union Army, and there were frequent skirmishes, in which the Twenty-fifth
Iowa and the other regiments of its brigade participated.
On July 20th the brigade marched near to Atlanta and built a line of earthworks. On
July 21st it again advanced and built another line of works, but had only just completed and
occupied the new line when it was ordered—on the morning of July 22d—to move about
three-fourths of a mile to the west and occupy a line of works which the rebels had
abandoned on the night of the 21st. Then followed the hard-fought battle of Jul 22d, 1864, in
front of Atlanta, the rebels attacking the Union lines in heavy force. In that battle the
Twenty-fifth Iowa shared the honors won by its brigade, and suffered its proportion of the
loss of 5 killed, 2 missing and 29 wounded. From the 22d to the 29th of July the regiment
was actively engaged in the siege operations with the brigade. On July 28th the rebels made
another attack in heavy force, ending in their repulse. The heaviest part of this day's
fighting was to the right of the position occupied by Williamson's brigade and,
consequently, it took only a minor part in the engagement. On July 39th, the brigade moved
to the extreme right of the army and occupied that position until August 6th, when it moved
one mile to the front and built a new line of works, in which it remained—expecting an
assault from the enemy every day—until August 13th, on which date it participated in an
attack, made by its brigade and division, on the enemy's skirmish line, making a complete
success, and capturing nearly the entire force of the enemy in the rifle pits.
Active demonstrations were continued almost daily against the rebel works until
August 18th, and there were some casualties nearly every day in each of the regiments of the
brigade. On August 19th the line was again advanced, the Twenty-fifth and Thirty-first Iowa
taking the advance and digging new intrenchments. The advanced line was occupied until
August 26th, when Colonel Williamson was ordered to move his brigade further to the right
of the army, for the purpose of reaching and destroying the railroad on that side of Atlanta.
The brigade started at dark on the 26th marched all night and until 10 A. M. of the 27th;
rested until the morning of the 28th, when the march was resumed and the Montgomery
Railroad reached at 11 A.M. The brigade took position on each side of the road, and, while
the Fourth and Twenty-fifth Iowa were engaged in building a line of defensive works to
guard against a sudden attack of the enemy's cavalry, the Ninth and Thirty-first Iowa were
engaged in destroying the railroad. After completing the work, the brigade marched on
August 30th to a point one mile north of Jonesborough, where, on August 21st, it again came
into conflict with the enemy and, after a severe fight, repulsed the attack, the enemy retiring
with heavy loss. On the 2d of September the brigade, with the entire division, was sent in
pursuit of the retreating forces off the enemy and, upon coming up with rebel rear guard, a
sharp engagement ensued. On the 2d, 4th and 5th of September the regiment was almost
constantly on the skirmish line. On the night of the 5th, the division was ordered to return to
Jonesborough and go into camp. Atlanta had fallen, and the victory was complete. The total
casualties in the brigade during the campaign were 281, and, of this number, the Twenty-
fifth Iowa lost 8 enlisted men killed, 4 officers and 49 enlisted men wounded and 4 enlisted
men captured. Total loss in the regiment, 65. It may be regarded as a singular coincidence
that the regiment should have had precisely the same number of casualties in the Vicksburg
campaign. At the close of his report Colonel Williamson says:
So closes the record of this memorable campaign. I could not make it more brief and
do justice to the regiments of the brigade. The vast amount of labor done by this command,
in addition to the marching and fighting, and the cheerfulness and zeal with which it has
been performed, is sufficient to encourage the best hope for the success of our army. The
troops have neither hesitated nor murmured at any privation or labor. To the officers and
men I owe a debt of gratitude for their prompt and willing obedience to orders.
On the 8th of September the regiment went into fortified camp at East Point, where it
remained until the 4th of October, when it joined in the rapid pursuit of the rebel General
Hood's army. The pursuit was continued by forced marches until October 16th, when the
regiment went into camp on the bank of Little River, Ala., in sight of Lookout Mountain.
October 29th, the regiment participated in a skirmish with the rebel General Wheeler's
Cavalry. On October 26th, the countermarch began and, on the 12th of November, the
regiment was again in camp near Atlanta. With only a brief rest, after its long and toilsome
march, it joined the army of General Sherman in his famous march to the sea. During this
memorable march the Twenty-fifth Iowa performed its full share of duty and, on December
21, 1864, closed the triumphal march at Savannah, where it went into camp and enjoyed a
brief period of rest. Colonel Williamson was at this time promoted to the command of a
division, and Colonel Stone again succeeded to the command of the brigade, which he
continued to command until the close of the next campaign, and the end of the war.
Lieutenant Colonel Palmer again succeeded to the command of the regiment, which he also
retained until the close of the war. The operations of his brigade, in that last great march
through the Carolinas and on to Washington, are fully described in the official report of
Colonel Stone, and, for the purpose of showing the part taken by the Twenty-fifth Iowa, in
that closing campaign, the following extracts are taken from the report.
In accordance with orders, I respectfully report a summary of the part taken by this
command in the campaign just ended. The campaign commenced on the 10th day of
January, and ended, with my command, on the 26th day of March, 1865, making the duration
two months and sixteen days. On the 10th of January last I had orders to march from our
camp near Savannah, Ga., to Fort Thunderbolt. On the 12th of January, I took shipping at
Fort Thunderbolt for Beaufort, S. C., with all the regiments of my command, save one, (the
Twenty-fifth Iowa.) which was left behind to assist in fetching up the transportation of the
division. This regiment reported to me at camp near Beaufort, S. C., on the 14th day of
January, 1865. On the 27th day of January we broke up camp and resumed the march.
During the campaign this brigade has had four engagements with the enemy; first at Little
Congaree Creek, near Columbia, S. C., on the 15th day of February, 1865. The Second
Brigade had the advance that day, and commenced skirmishing with the enemy within two
miles of the camp we had left that morning. They drove the enemy without further
assistance until near Little Congaree Creek, when, from the nature of the ground, the enemy
was enabled to make a stubborn resistance. Here my brigade was ordered up, and went into
position on the left of the Second Brigade.
After describing the gallant part taken by the Fourth and Ninth Iowa in the
engagement, (the other regiments of the brigade having in the meantime been held in
reserve,) the report makes reference to the part taken by the Twenty-fifth Iowa, as follows:
The whole division now crossed and formed a line of battle on a plateau about a mile
from the creek. I again went into position on the left. Some rebel cavalry skirmishers
threatening my front, I moved on them with four companies of the Twenty-fifth Iowa, and
we soon drove them back to their main line….My next engagement with the enemy was at
the city of Columbia, captured by my command on the 17th day of February, and official
account of which, with the casualties, and the number of prisoners, was made to you, under
date of the 19th of February.
The report referred to gives a graphic description of the capture of the city, in which
each of the regiments of Colonel Stone's brigade bore a gallant part. After describing the
preliminary movements which led up to the attack, Colonel Stone says:
Everything being now in readiness, the signal was given, and the assault made by all
the regiments at the same time. The result proved no mistake either in planning or the
execution. Before the enemy was hardly aware of it we were right into the skirmish pits and
scattering them in every direction. The Thirtieth Iowa here captured 23 prisoners. I
accompanied this regiment in the charge, and can by personal observation testify to the
gallant manner in which they made it. In front of the Island are a number of small bayous
running parallel to the river about 20 feet wide and waist deep; few stopped to find logs on
which to cross, but plunged in holding guns and cartridge boxes above the water. The
enemy seeing his skirmish line destroyed, and the eagerness with which our success was
being followed up, became confused and soon broke, leaving our way open to the
city….When within a mile of the city, a carriage was discovered approaching, flying a flag
of truce. It proved to contain Mr. Goodwin, Mayor of Columbia, and the city aldermen, who
came to offer terms of capitulation. After some words had passed, the unconditionally
surrendered to me the city of Columbia…..proceeding to the Stone House with Captain Pratt,
I planted the first United States flag on that building. To Iowa alone is credit to be given for
capturing the capital of the State that has been disloyal since the days of John C. Calhoun,
and the contemplated Capital of the Confederacy, as none but Iowa troops were engaged.
I did not meet the enemy again in any force till the 20th instant, on our march that day
from our camp near Cox's bridge on the Neuse River toward Bentonville. The Second
Brigade, Colonel Catterson, had the advance that day, and skirmished freely with the enemy,
driving him easily until we had arrived within about three miles of Bentonville. The enemy
here became stubborn, and threatened an attack on the Second Brigade. I was ordered up
and went into position on Colonel Catterson's left. We now advanced our line of battle of
two brigades about half a mile, and put up works. About 3 o'clock P. M., I was directed by
Brevet Major General Woods, commanding the division, and also by Major General Logan,
commanding the corps, to take three regiments, and, if possible, clear the road in our front,
and open communication with the Fourteenth Corps, now fighting apparently about a mile
from us on our left front. I placed the Twenty-fifth Iowa, Lieutenant Colonel Palmer
commanding, (which regiment I had ordered out about an hour before as skirmishers,) to
take the advance, and directed the Thirtieth Iowa, Lieutenant colonel Roberts commanding,
and the Thirty-first Iowa, Lieutenant Colonel Jenkins commanding, to follow as a reserve.
The Twenty0fifth Iowa was deployed as skirmishers, with their colors in the road I was
going to clear, and my first movement with the regiment was to change direction in the right.
This movement was made steadily until about three-fourths of the regiment had crossed the
road, when our proximity to the rebels on my left and in the road crossed very severe
skirmishing. Two regiments of the Second Division now came up on my left rear, (I think
the Sixth Missouri and Thirtieth Ohio,) one of them, the Sixth Missouri deployed as
skirmishers. I made arrangements with the officer commanding the last mentioned regiment
to join the Missouri should make a charge. The charge proved entirely successful, although
at a severe loss in the Twenty-fifth Iowa. We drove the enemy's skirmishers, composed of
Hoke's division from the Virginia army, back to their works across the swamp, and men of
the Twenty-fifth Iowa behaved handsomely and fought desperately. Lieutenant Colonel
Palmer, commanding the regiment, and Captain Allen, acting Major, (who lost his right leg
in the engagement,) deserve notice for exposing themselves freely, and for the gallant
manner in which they cheered their men forward. At night I retired to a new line, and my
place was occupied by other troops.
On the 21st instant, I had orders to erect a new line of works on the skirmish line, and
at 10 o'clock P. M. I moved three regiments to the front line, the Fourth Iowa on the right,
connecting on the left of the First Brigade, Brevet Brigadier General Woods commanding;
the Thirtieth Iowa in the center; and the Ninth Iowa on the left. The Twenty-fifth Iowa and
Thirty-first Iowa were in the rear, held in reserve. We put up a temporary line of works
under fire of the enemy, and at 2 o'clock I received orders to charge the enemy's skirmish
line, 150 yards in my front, in good skirmish pits. We captured the pits with but slight loss,
but the enemy evinced so much determination to regain them that the fighting became very
sharp. The enemy's main line of battle, behind good works, was by actual measurement but
100 yards from these skirmish pits, and he fired from the works by volley. At three different
times they followed up the fire by volley by an assault on my skirmishers. Their men
swarmed over the works and charged gallantly, but I had reinforced the line until I had
nearly a line of battle, and our incessant firing prevented him from charging as a perfect
organization, and every charge was repulsed. The order came to me so positively, from
Generals Howard and Logan, to hole the ground I had already gained, that I should have
done so, or ruined the brigade. At night I relieved the skirmishers' line with the Thirty-first
Iowa, Lieutenant Colonel Jenkins commanding. Colonel Jenkins managed the new line
admirably. It rained a good deal during the night, but his men worked faithfully, and he put
up quite a strong line of works so near the enemy that the conversation had to be carried on
in whispers. Captain Teale of the Fourth Iowa deserves special notice for his gallantry in
holding the most exposed and dangerous part of the line. I regret to announce this gallant
young officer was severely wounded in the leg. Lieutenant Colonel Nichols and Major
Anderson, of the Fourth Iowa, deserve mention for voluntarily going on the skirmish line
when there was some wavering manifested. Captain Bowman, of my staff, also exposed
himself freely and deserves notice. I mention these officers from personal observation, as
twice during the day I deemed it my duty to go on the skirmish line myself. The other
officers on the skirmish line, Captain Inman, Ninth Iowa, Lieutenant Shields, Fourth Iowa,
Lieutenant Sharp, Ninth Iowa, Lieutenant Reffley, Thirtieth Iowa, are all reported to me to
have behaved well and set a good example to their men. The loss in the skirmish line was
quite severe. I sent you an official list of casualties the same night, and of the prisoners
captured.
On the morning of the 22d, half an hour before day, I rode out to the advanced post,
and ordered a patrol forward to feel of the enemy; but it was discovered that he had left
during the night. I at once sent word to the General commanding division, and, with a
detachment of the Thirty-first Iowa, followed him. Everything indicated a precipitate
retreat; a few stragglers were picked up; some of their dead and wounded were found near
the roadside uncared for, and quite a number of small arms, haversacks and clothing were
found scattered in their deserted camp. Just at sunrise I ran onto their rear guard, composed
of cavalry, and my detachment being too small to fight it, I covered the road with a few men
to make an effect, and ordered some ten or fifteen men as skirmishers to annoy the enemy
until a regiment, the Thirty-first Iowa, which I had just ordered up, should arrive. Very soon
after this our entire division moved to Bentonville, where we remained during the day, and,
at sundown, we returned to the camp we had left in the morning. The graves of 17 rebel
officers in my front indicate that the enemy suffered severely in killed and wounded.
On our march to Goldsboro, in the 23d inst., I had the good fortune to have the post of
honor—rear guard for the "Army of the Tennessee." The rear of my command fell upon the
Twenty-fifth Iowa. On the 24th inst., I was ordered to remain at the pontoon bridge over the
Neuse River, near Goldsboro, to cover the crossing of our corps train, and, on the 26th inst., I
rejoined the division in camp near Goldsboro. During the campaign just closed, this brigade
has been in four engagements with the following loss: Killed 7; wounded, 64; missing 12.
We have captured, and turned over to the provost marshal, 145 prisoners of war. In taking
Columbis, S. C., we captured 42 pieces of artillery, about 5,000 stand of arms, immense
quantities of ammunition and ordinance stores, and released 40 officers confined there. We
have marched 485 miles, built 15,037 yards of corduroy roads, and destroyed 3 miles of
railroad. The brigade is in excellent health and spirits, but very ragged. My thanks are due
to all my staff officer, Captain John N. Bell, Twenty-fifth Iowa, A. A. Q. General:
Lieutenant Samuel W. Snow, Twenty-fifth Iowa, A. A. A. General: Captain A. Bowman,
Ninth Iowa; Lieutenant Baron H. Crane, Twenty-fifth Iowa; Lieutenant D. Rorick, Thirty-
first Iowa—now in the hands of the enemy—and J. W. Gilman, Thirty-first Iowa, A. A. Q.
M., for the zeal and earnestness with which they have discharged their whole duty in the
campaign just ended.
As will be seen from Colonel Stone's report, his regiment and brigade took a most
conspicuous part in the battle of Bentonville, which was the last general engagement of the
closing campaign of the war. The Iowa regiments composing his brigade had been assigned
to the duty of holding a position of vital importance in that battle, and, under the immediate
orders and direction of town of the most distinguished officers of the Union Army, they
nobly performed their duty and upheld the honor and credit of their State, whose soldiers had
won distinction in all the hardest fought battles of the war.
From Goldsboro, the Twenty-fifth Iowa moved, with its brigade and division, to
Raleigh, and thence, after the surrender of the rebel General Johnston and his army, to
Washington, D. C. On the 24th of May, 1865, the regiment, with its brigade, under
command of its gallant leader, Brevet Brigadier General George A. Stone, participated in
that greatest military pageant of modern times.—the grand review at Washington. It then
went into camp near Washington, and was there mustered out of the service of the United
States on the 6th day of June, 1865. Soon after being mustered out, the regiment was
provided with transportation to Davenport, Iowa, where it as formally disbanded, and the
officers and men departed for their homes, there to resume an discharge their duty as
citizens, with the same fidelity they had shown while serving their country as soldiers.
Among all the splendid regiments from Iowa, which had marched and fought under the folds
of the dear old flag, none reflected greater honor upon the State than its Twenty-fifth
Infantry. None rendered more important or effective service.
The compiler extends an old soldier's cordial greeting to the surviving members of the
Twenty-fifth Iowa Infantry. He has endeavored to perpetuate the memory of the men who
composed the regiment and were its history makers. Their personal record of service will be
found in the roster which follows this sketch. It is made up from the official reports and
returns contained in the military archives of the State and of the War Department in
Washington, and is only a transcript of what is found there recorded. It does not and cannot
be made in show the details of the service they performed or what they endured and
suffered. Many of those who served during the entire term of the regiment, and who may
have been engaged in every battle in which it participated, but who were so fortunate as to
have been saved from death, or serious injury from wounds or disease, have only the record
of continuous service. They were mustered in with the regiment and mustered out with it,
and were, therefore, completely identified with its history. But few of the officers or men
received special mention for acts of gallantry, but all are frequently commended in the
official reports for having bravely performed their duty. Some errors and omissions may
appear in these personal records; some names may not have been correctly spelled, and, in
some cases, injustice may have been done in the making up of the original records and
perpetuated in the transcript. While such errors, if found, are greatly to be regretted, they
were unavoidable, and it is hoped and believed that, in the main, the records will be found
correct.
SUMMARY OF CASUALTIES.
Total Enrollment 1136
Killed 39
Wounded 187
Died of wounds 24
Died of disease 201
Discharged for wounds, disease or other causes 184
Buried in National Cemeteries 104
Captured 18
Transferred 73
TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Term of service three years
Mustered into service of the United States at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Sept. 27, 1862, by
Captain George S. Pierce, United States Army.
Mustered out of service June 6,1865, Washington, D. C.
FIELD AND STAFF.
Calvin Taylor. Age 40. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana. Appointed Major Aug.
10, 1862. Mustered Sept. 27, 1862. Discharged May 8, 1863.
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