THIRTIETH REGIMENT IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
The companies composing the Thirtieth Regiment of Iowa Infantry
were ordered into quarters at Camp Lincoln, near Keokuk, Iowa, between
the dates August 15 and September 2, 1862. The regiment was mustered
into the service of the United States on September 23, 1862, by
Lieutenant Charles J. Ball, of the Regular Army. At the date of muster in
it had an aggregate strength of 967, which was increased by early
additional enlistments of 11 men, making the total number 978, at the
time the regiment left the State. The compiler of this historical sketch
can not attempt to go into particularity of detail in describing the
operations of the Thirtieth Iowa, which embraced such a wide extent of
territory and included so many important events during its period pf
nearly three years of active service. It will be his endeavor, however, to
condense within the limits of this sketch a brief description of its most
important operations and, in so far as limitation of space will permit,
render as full and fair an account of its service as has been devoted to any
of the Iowa regiments whose histories are recorded in the pages of the
series of volumes which constitute this work. In the subjoined roster the
record of each member of the regiment is given, in so far as it could be
obtained from the official archives. Diligent effort has been made to
make the revised roster as nearly accurate as possible, and it is believed
that errors and omissions have been reduced to the minimum, as stated in
the introductory article to this volume.
On October 25, 1862, the Thirtieth Iowa left its rendezvous at
Keokuk and was conveyed by steamer to St. Louuis, where arms,
ammunition and the other requisite equipments for active service were
issued to the regiment. After a brief stay in St. Louis, the regiment again
embarked on one of the transports, (used by the government for the
exclusive transportation of troops and army supplies,) and was conveyed
to Helena, Ark. Great discomfort was experienced by the troops upon
these transports, which were usually crowded to their utmost capacity,
and the men were always glad when such voyages were ended. Upon its
arrival at Helena, the regiment was assigned to the brigade commanded
by General John M. Thayer. A detachment of the regiment participated
in an expedition up the White River, and upon its return, another
detachment was sent.—with the troops commanded by General Hovey—
upon an expedition to the mouth of the Cold Water, on the Tallahatchie
River. There is no record of any conflict with the enemy by either if
these detachments, but they endured great hardship from exposure to the
inclemency of the weather, from which much sickness resulted. These
initial operations were succeeded by one of great importance, when the
first movement against Vicksburg was undertaken by a large Union
force, under the command of General Sherman, which was conveyed by
a fleet of transports down the Mississippi River, and which was to co-
operate with the army under General Grant, then marching south along
the line of the Mississippi Central Railroad. The destruction of General
Grant's depot of supplies at Holly Springs, Miss., compelled him to
abandon his expedition and retire to Memphis, leaving General Sherman
to make the attempt to capture the rebel stronghold at Vicksburg, with
such forces as were immediately available for that purpose.
On December 21. 1862, the Thirtieth Iowa, with the other troops
composing its brigade and division, embarked on transports at Helena
and proceeded to join the army under General Sherman. Disembarking at
a point on the Yazoo River about twelve miles above its mouth, these
troops began the preliminary operations which culminated in the defeat
of General Sherman at Chickasaw Bayou, and compelled the temporary
abandonment of the movement against Vicksburg. The brigade
commanded by General John M. Thayer was composed as follows: the
Fourth, Ninth, Twenty-sixth, Thirtieth and Thirty-fourth Regiments of
Iowa Infantry. The entire brigade tool part in the preliminary fighting,
but—as will be seen from the official reports—the Fourth Iowa Infantry
was (by a misapprehension of orders) separated from the other regiments
of its brigade, advanced with the other troops which assaulted the
impregnable position of the enemy, and suffered very heavy loss. Had
the entire brigade joined in the assault, the result would have no doubt
been the same. The mistake made by General Steele, in his order to
Colonel Abbott of the Thirtieth Iowa, was, therefore, one of those
fortunate errors which sometimes occurred in battle, resulting in the
prevention of a useless sacrifice of life. The heroic Colonel Williamson,
of the Fourth Iowa, promptly obeyed the order which led to such
disastrous results to his regiment. The equally heroic Colonel Abbott, of
the Thirtieth Iowa, as promptly obeyed the order which checked the
advance of his regiment, and saved it from the useless slaughter to which
the Fourth Iowa was subjected. Such is the fortune of war. There could
be no criticism upon any one of the regimental commanders of the
brigade, or upon its commander, General Thayer, who, riding in advance
of the Fourth Iowa Infantry, personally participated in the assault. The
entire official report of colonel Abbott, and the extracts from other
official reports which follow, will explain the great discrepancy between
the losses of the regiments engaged in the battle of Chickasaw Bayou:
HEADQUARTERS THIRTIETH IOWA
INFANTRY,
THIRD BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION, FIFTEENTH
ARMY CORPS,
Arkansas Post, Ark.,
Jan. 12, 1863.
GENERAL: Agreeably to your order of the 9th inst., I have the
honor to submit my report of the part my regiment took in the action of
the 28th and 29th of December, 1862, at Haynes' Bluff, near Vicksburg,
Miss. On the morning of the 28th ultimo, by your order, I moved my
regiment forward toward the point of attack, and took position
immediately in the rear of the Fourth Iowa Infantry, supporting the
battery on our front, where we remained until about 4 o'clock P. M.,
when we were, by your order, remanded to the river, with orders to
embark on transport "Stephen Decatur" and drop down to Johnson's
Plantation. On the morning of the 19th ultimo, we were ordered to
disembark, and, by you, placed in position in rear of the Fourth Iowa
Infantry, with orders to keep close up and follow them. When we had
advanced to within range of the enemy's guns, and they, having
discovered our position, commenced shelling us, we were ordered by
your Aide, Captain Richardson, to lie down and make ourselves as secure
as possible under the levee, the Fourth Iowa Infantry, being in a like
position in our front on the opposite side of the levee, in which position
we remained until ordered by your Aide-de-Camp to fix bayonets and
advance, following the Fourth Iowa Infantry, which had got ten or twelve
rods in advance. I immediately put my regiment under a double-quick,
and had advanced but a few rods, when I was met by Brigadier General
Steele, who checked us and ordered me to leave my horse, cross the next
bhayou in any way we could get across, and take my regiment to the right
into the woods, and deploy as skirmishers. I put my regiment again
under a double-quick and advanced to the extreme right of the Fourth
Division. I then advanced my regiment in line of battle to within a few
rods of the fallen timeber, in which was heavy firing of musketry. I then
ordered them to lie down; ordered the right and left flanking companies
forward as skirmishers into the fallen timber. They went in and soon
reported that the Thirteenth United States Infantry already occupied the
ground and were engaged with the enemy, who were posted in rifle pits.
I then ordered those companies back to their position in the regiment.
The first Wisconsin Battery, immediately on our right, was supported by
a part of the Thirteenth United States Infantry, while skirmishers of the
Thirteenth Infantry on our front were unsupported. I sent my orderly to
General Steele for further orders, who returned with orders to remain
where we were. While my orderly was absent to see General Steele, a
Captain, representing himself as the Aide-de-Camp of General Smith,
came to us and inquired what regiment we were, and told me the position
of my regiment was all right, lying upon the ground in front of the
enemy. We had three men severely and one slightly wounded. We
remained under fire from about noon until 4 o'clock P.M., when we were
order to return. I accordingly marched my regiment near the position
occupied by General Steele, and reported to him and then to you, who
came up soon after. I was ordered by you into camp to the rear. With
sentiments of high regard, I remain, General, your most obedient servant.
CHARLES H. ABBOTT,
Colonel, Thirtieth Iowa Infantry
BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN M. THAYER, Third Brigade,
Fourth Division, Thirteenth Army Corps.
The following brief extracts from the official report of General
John M. Thayer, who commanded the brigade, will serve to show that he
approved the conduct of Colonel Abbott, in obeying the order of his
division commander, as that officer had the authority to countermand the
orders he had previously given. General Thayer says:
We were still advancing in front of the enemy's rifle pits and
batteries and crossed over a high rail fence. On seeing the ground, I at
once formed my plan to move up the hill, when, looking back for my
other regiments, to my amazement none were to be seen, and non
coming, for I could then see back to the point from which I had started. I
could not account for it. I had supposed that five regiments were
following me. I found myself within the enemy's works with but one
regiment.
I observed our forces, which had entered the works away to my
left, retiring, which of course added to our extreme peril. The Fourth
Iowa was then drawing the concentrated fire of all the enemy's batteries
and rifle pits. I directed Colonel Williamson to hold the position, if
possible, till I could get up reinforcements, but, if he could not, to retire.
Colonel Williamson was compelled to bring off his regiment, which he
did in good order. It was nothing but slaughter for it to remain. During
the half hour it was there 7 men were killed and 104 wounded. On
inquiring of Colonel Abbott, of the thirtieth Iowa, which was next in line
to the Fourth Iowa, why he did not follow the Fourth, I found that, after I
had started, he had been ordered by General Steele, in person, to turn off
to the right to take another position. I had directed the commander of
each regiment to follow the preceding one. The second regiment of my
column being turned aside, it broke my line, cutting off four regiments,
without my knowledge, leaving the Fourth Iowa going ahead alone. The
conduct of Colonel Williamson, his officers and men, through this trying
ordeal, is worthy of the highest praise.
The following statement is made in the official report of General
Steele, and shows conclusively that Colonel Abbott was acting strictly in
accordance with his orders:
General Morgan finally told me that he was going to storm the
heights without waiting for the bridge to be completed. He requested me
to support the storming party with what force I had. On being informed
that Thayer's brigade was at hand, and that Hoveys's would soon be up,
he gave some orders to Thayer in regard to the route which his brigade
should take, and sent a guide to lead him. After Thayer had passed with
the fourth Iowa Infantry—Colonel Williamson—General Morgan asked
me how many troops I had. I told him Thayer's brigade; one of his
regiments, however, the Twenty-sixth Iowa, was detached to cut a road,
but that I did not know whether any of Hovey's had arrived or not. He
then asked me to turn part of the troops a little farther to the right. I,
therefore, directed Colonel Charles H. Abbott, of the thirtieth Iowa
Infantry, a little to the right, supposing the object of this was to facilitate
the crossing of the troops over the bayou, by preventing them from all
huddling into the same place. At the time I did not know that there was
any dry crossing and I presume General Morgan was not aware of the
fact. The troops that I directed to the right it seems did not get across the
bayou, but General Thayer went gallantly on with the Fourth Iowa, and,
instead of being a support to the storming party, was soon in the advance,
and entered the enemy's second line of rifle-pits nearly as soon as any. I
gave no orders on the field that day except at the suggestion of General
Morgan.
It will thus be seen that the statement of both Generals confirms
Colonel Abbott's report, and shows that the thirtieth Iowa was only
prevented from joining the Fourth Iowa in that desperate charge by the
personal order of General Steele, which its commander was in duty
bound to obey. An analysis of the return of casualties in the Union forces
commanded by Major General William T. Sherman, in the engagement at
Chichasaw Bayou, December 28 and 29, 1862, reveals the remarkable
fact that, of the thirty-eight organizations which were engaged, there
were only eight which sustained a loss of over one hundred each in
killed, wounded and missing. The aggregate loss of those eight
regiments was 1,393, while the aggregate loss of the other thirty
organizations was but 383, and, of those, there were nineteen which
sustained a loss of less than ten each. In his official report, General
Sherman fully describes the positions of the opposing forces, given his
reasons for attempting to dislodge the enemy from his strong position and
the causes which contributed to the disatrous repulse of his troops. He
attributes his failure to the strength of the enemy's position, both natural
and artificial, and not to his superior fighting although he does not
attempt to discredit the bravery and fortitude shown by the rebel troops.
In summing up the results, he says: "When the night of the 29th closed in
we stood upon our original ground and had suffered a repulse. The effort
was necessary to a successful accomplishment of my orders, and the
combinations were the best possible under the circumstances. I assume
all the responsibility and attach fault to no one." In its first experience in
battle, the Thirtieth Iowa had acquitted itself with honor, and had shown
its conformity to discipline in obeying orders which prevented it from
doing what it officers and men would have preferred—participating with
the Fourth Iowa and the other troops who joined in the assault upon the
enemy's works.
Having failed in his attempt to capture Vicksburg, General
Sherman withdrew his troops and embarking them upon transports,
moved down the Yazoo River, and at once began the movement against
Arkansas Post. The Thirtieth Iowa, with the other regiments of its
brigade, bore a prominent part in the operations which culminated in the
capture of that stronghold of the enemy. Colonel Abbott being seriously
ill, the command of the regiment devolved upon Lieutenant Colonel
Torrence, whose official report is here given in full"
HEADQUARTERS, THIRTIETH
IOWA INFANTRY,
Post Arkansas, Ark., January 13,
1862.
COLONEL: Agreeably to order, I have the honor to report to you the
part the regiment took, while acting under my command, in the late battle
of January 11, 1862. After disengaging my troops of everything in the
way of luggage which might be disposed of, by order of General Thayer,
I gave direction to follow close up by the right flank the First Battalion,
third Brigade, Fifteenth Army Corps; to form line of battle in its rear, and
advance as it advanced, and halt as it halted, and in every move to act in
conjunction with it. But, after striking the double-quick, I very soon
allowed the first battalion to file by. This being done, I instantly formed
line of battle and moved forward through the timer, over logs and brush,
as best I could, until within 150 or 175 yards of the enemy's breastworks,
forming his extreme left, when I came to an open space of ground. Here
I halted, giving instructions to fire, lie down and load, and fire lying
down, which they did for the space of about three hours, during which
time they did but little more than silence and keep silent some small
artillery in the hand of the enemy in the rifle pits. During said time no
change of position was made save one, when by a flank movement I
shifted farther to the right. This secured me a more strong hold of the
enemy's left. Here we remained until the order was given all along the
lines to cease firing, as the enemy had hoisted a white flag. After firing
ceased on the right, the enemy rose up in great numbers from their rifle-
pits, in full view. I was about moving my command forward, when to m
y great astonishment and mortification, two of my best line officers were
wounded by the enemy, viz.: Captain Uley Burk, Company I, in hand,
and Lieutenant Alexander fo same company, in left arm, (neigher of
which is considered dangerous,) and was thus engaged, when General
Thayer in person directed my color-guard to advance and plant ur colors
upon the enemy's works, which was promptly done. At the same time
General Thayer gave orders for the regiment to come inside the
breastworks and prevent straggling parties retreating by their left rear.
Soon after, the entire regiment was detailed to conduct the prisoners up to
and inside of the fortifications, where General Sherman had them taken
up to his headquarters. This latter duty proved more arduous than it
should have been but for the tardiness of the regiments detailed, by order
of the General commanding, to be placed under Colonel Grier, of the
Seventy-seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteers, who had orders to take
charge of the prisoners for the night. It was after midnight before the
regiment was relieved. There is nothing further which I deem it my duty
to mention, save that, both officers and men generally acted well for new
troops. I might mention with great propriety a few striking instances of
cool and commendable courage displayed by some of my men, they
having fallen under my immediate notice during the action, but I forebear
mentioning any save one, and that is the case of James M. Smith, private
of Company C, a single young man, not yet arrived at his majority, who
has been doing the duties of Adjutant for some time past, owing to the
indisposition of the Adjutant. I have been familiary conversant with him
for the last two months and find him to be a young man of irreproachable
moral character and one altogether deserving of public confidence. His
conduct on the battlefield in the late engagement was such as to secure
implicit confidence in his courage and ability, and to justify the belief
that he is entirely capable of filling a more important position than he
now does. Hoping this will meet with your approval, I remain, Colonel,
your obedient servant,
W. M. G.
TORRENCE,
Lieutenant Colonel,
Thirtieth Iowa Volunteers.
COLONEL CHARLES H. ABBOTT.
The casualties of the Thirtieth Iowa in this battle were: Killed, 5;
wounded, 38; total, 43. The lost of killed and wounded appended to the
report of Colonel Abbott, subsequently published in the report of the
Adjutant General of Iowa, shows a total of 45 killed and wounded in the
Thirtieth Iowa. There were five Iowa regiments belonging to the brigade,
and also the First Iowa Battery, all of which took part in the engagement.
The Thirtieth Iowa stands second in the lost in the number of casualties,
the Twenty-sixth Iowa having sustained the greatest loss. The brigade
lost 180 men and officers, killed and wounded. The loss in the Thirtieth
Iowa was, therefore, considerably above the average of the brigade. The
regiment had again fully sustained the honor of its State, in conflict on
the field of battle. Its conduct was highly commended in the official
report of the brigade and division commander. Lack of space will only
permit the insertion of the following brief extract from the report of
General Thayer, the brigade commander: "The Thirtieth Iowa, Lieutenant
Colonel Torrence, (Colonel Abbott being sick,) also occupied an
advanced position, and was warmly engaged, supported by the Thirty-
fourth Iowa, Colonel Clark." General Thayer also states that his horse
was killed early in the engagement, and that he had valuable assistance
from General Vandever, of Iowa, who came upon the field and took
temporary command of his old regiment, the Ninth Iowa Infantry.
The Thirtieth Iowa now returned with Sherman's army to the
vicinity of Vicksburg, and went into encampment near Young's Point. It
was engaged with the other troops in the arduous work of attempting to
change the course of the Mississippi River, by means of a canal, during
most of the remainder of the winter, and its officers and men suffered
greatly from exposure and the inevitable sickness which ensued. Early in
April the regiment started with its brigade and division on the expedition
to Greenville, Miss., which extended about fifty miles into the interior,
and inflicted much damage upon the enemy, by the capture of large
quantities of supplies, intended for the use of the rebel army. It returned
from that expedition to Milliken's Bend, from which point it soon after
started to join the main army under the command of General Grant, in the
prosecution of the memorable campaign, which led up to the siege and
surrender of Vicksburg and, later, to the defeat of the rebel army under
General Johnston, and the beginning of the end of the great war of the
rebellion.
On May 2, 1863, the regiment with its brigade proceeded in the
direction of Jackson, Miss, where it arrived on the 14th, and participated
in the engagement which resulted in the capture of that place. It assisted
in the destruction of the railroad near Jackson, and then marched in the
direction of Vicksburg. It reached the outer line of the enemy's works at
Walnut Hills, on May 18th, and was assigned to a position as part of the
investing force, in the Third Brigade of the First Division of the Fifteenth
Army Corps. General Thayer was in command of the brigade, General
Steele of the division, and General Sherman of the corps. Colonel Abbott
had sufficiently recovered to enable him to resume command of his
regiment. The rebel army, under the command of General Pemberton,
had fought bravely and stubbornly in the series of battles preceding its
being driven within the defenses of Vicksburg. Its numbers had been
underestimated. In the official report of Captains Frederick E. Prime and
Cyrus B. Comstock, General Grant's Chief Engineers, the strength of the
enemy's position was shown to be so formidable that an attempt to carry
it by direct assault could not be successful. The reason given for making
the attempt was, that our own troops, buoyant with success, were eager
for an assault, and would not be satisfied if the shlow process of a siege
were undertaken, before it had been shown to be impossible to storm and
capture the works. General Grant's judgment seems to have been at first
opposed to making a general assault, as shown by his official report. He
clearly sets forth his reasons for finally giving the order. Among the
officers who were most insistent upon making the attempt was Major
General John A. McClernand, then in command of the Thirteenth Army
Corps, who was very confident that he could capture the enemy's works
in his front by a bold and determined assault of his own corps, and
without assistance from other troops. That he was greatly mistaken is
evidenced by the fact that, soon after the assault began, he called for
reinforcements.
On May 19th, 20th and 21st, the Thirtieth Iowa was engaged in
skirmishing with the enemy, who kept up an almost constant fire from
behind his rifle pits in front of the regiment and, on May 22dm when the
order was received to move forward to the assault, the regiment promptly
took its place in line with the charging column. It was in the very
thickest of the fight, and its officers and men displayed the greatest
gallantry. It was a brief but bloody conflict. The valor of the Union
troops could not avail against the impregnable position and determined
resistance of the enemy. In that brief quarter of an hour—which to the
men engaged seemed a much longer period—the Thirtieth Iowa sustained
a loss of sixtyfour,
killed and wounded. It was a sad but glorious day in the history of the
regiment. It had done all that was possible to achieve victory, had
bravely held its place in line until ordered to retire, and came out of the
fight with as high honor as if it had succeeded in its heroic attempt. The
assault had failed at all points on the line, and it became evident that
Vicksburg could only be taken after a series of siege operations
extending over a considerable length of time. The regular siege was
therefore undertaken and prosecuted with great vigor until July 4, 1863,
on which date the rebel commander, after negotiating with General grant
for the best terms obtainable, surrendered his army and the stronghold he
had so long and valiantly defended. During the protracted siege, the
Thirtieth Iowa had borne its full share of danger and the exposure and
hardships incident to the conduct of such operations, and had received the
cordial commendations of its brigade and division commanders for the
faithful manner in which it complied with their orders.
On the morning after the surrender—without having the
opportunity to view the inside of the works and the city it had fought so
hard to capture—the regiment again took up the line of march with the
army under General Sherman, and participated in the operations which
ended with the defeat of the rebel, General Johnston's army and the
capture of Jackson. It then returned to Black River Bridge and went into
camp, where it remained until near the close of September, 1863. It had
richly earned this brief season of comparative rest and repose. Lieutenant
colonel Torrence had succeeded the lamented Colonel Abbott as Colonel
of the regiment. Captain Aurelius Roberts, of Company C, had been
promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain Robert D. Creamer, of
Company G, was promoted to Major. The date of the commissions of all
three of these officers was June 27, 1863. On September 27, 1863, the
regiment moved with the army commanded by General Sherman, by way
of Memphis and Corinth, to the relief of the army at Chattanooga, then in
a state of siege by a greatly superior rebel force. The situation of the
Union army at Chattanooga was growing desperate, from lack of supplies
and the constantly increasing strength of the rebel army in that vicinity.
It therefore became a matter of the utmost importance that Sherman's
army should move with the greatest celerity, and, under the leadership of
that able and energetic General, the endurance and fortitude of the
officers and men was put to the severest test. Corinth, Miss., was
reached on October 8th, Iuka on the 10th, and Cherokee Station, Ala., on
the 21st. At the latter place the enemy was encountered and the Thirtieth
Iowa sustained a loss of twenty-seven killed and wounded. Among the
killed was the able and much beloved Colonel Torrence. While the
regiment lay in camp at Iuka, the following letter—probably the last
official communication that Colonel Torrence ever wrote—was sent to
the adjutant General of Iowa.
HEADQUARTERS THIRTIETH REGIMENT
IOWA VOLUNTEERS,
IUKA, MISS., October 13, 1863.
N. B. BAKER, Adjutant General of Iowa: Accompanying this you
will receive two flags, worn out in the service. They were carried by the
Thirtieth Iowa during their marches, a distance of 5,700 miles, between
October 27, 1862 and October 10, 1863. They were carried to the
following named battles, to-wit: Chickasaw, Bayou, December 28 and
29, 1862; Arkansas Post, January 10 and 11, 1863; Jackson, Miss., May
14, 1863; Siege of Vicksburg from May 18 to July 4, 1963; Clinton,
Miss, July 11, 1863; Jackson, Miss., July 12, 13, 14 and 15, 1863;
Brandon, Miss., July 18, 1863. It is the wish of the regiment that you
forward them to the State Historical Society, there to be retained, subject
to the order of the commanding officer of the regiment.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. M. G. TORRENCE, Colonel
Commanding.
Colonel Torrence had performed faithful service for his country in
the war with Mexico, and had also served as Major in the First Iowa
Cavalry with honor and distinction, tendering his resignation of that
office when he received the appointment of Lietuenant Colonel of the
Thirtieth Iowa Infantry. He was killed while gallantly leading his
regiment. Among the other casualties sustained by the regiment in the
engagement at Cherokee Station was the death of Captain William H.
Randall, who was mortally wounded and died the same day. Captain
Matthew Clark was also severely wounded, and subsequently died from
the effects of the wound. Captains H. C. Hall and Joseph Smith and
Adjutant James H. Clendening were all severely wounded. The official
report of General Osterhaus, the division commander, states that only the
Second Brigade of his division became engaged. This was the brigade to
which the Thirtieth Iowa was attached, and was commanded by Colonel
Williamson of the Ninth Iowa Infantry. The enemy was defeated with
heavy loss.
On the morning of November 3, the regiment with its brigade and
division again took up the line of march, which was continued for twenty
days, with the exception of a brief halt at Bridgeport, Ala., and, on
November 23, reached the base of Lookout Mountain. General
Osterhaus' division was temporily assigned to General Hooker's
command and, with it, fought in the famous battle above the clouds, on
Lookout Mountain, November 24th; Missionary Ridge, on the 25th, and at
Ringgold on the 26th. In these three engagements the thirtieth Iowa bore
its full part, sustaining a loss of three killed and twenty-five wounded.
From Ringgold, the regiment marched by way of Chattanooga and
Bridgeport, to Woodville, Ala., where it arrived December 27, 1863, and
where it remained for the greater part of the time until the 2d of May,
1864. This was the longest period of inactivity in its history, broken only
when, for a short time, it was engaged in guarding an important ferry
southwest of Huntsville, Ala.
On the 2d of May, 1864, the regiment again took up the line
of march and moved, by way of Stevenson, Bridgeport, Chattanooga,
Gordon's Mills, Villanow and Snake Creek Gap, to Resaca, Ga. At the
latter place it again encountered the enemy. It participated in the series
of engagements which occurred in the vicinity of Resaca, on the 13th, 14th
and 15th of May, in which its loss was five killed and twenty-eight
wounded. Pushing on, with its brigade and division, the regiment
reached Dallas, Ga., on May 25th, where it assisted in the construction of
a strong defensive line of works, from behind which it successfully
resisted a determined assault of the enemy, losing one man killed and one
wounded. The advance was resumed on June 2d, and then began a series
of skirmishes with the enemy which continued all the way to Kenesaw
Mountain, where the enemy was found intrenched in a seemingly
impregnable position. From June 10th to July 3d there was almost
continuous fighting around Kenesaw Mountain, in which the Thirtieth
Iowa had its full share. The infantry, on both sides, fought mainly from
behind breastworks and rifle pits. The artillery was also very active, both
the Union and rebel batteries keeping up their fire, and often changing
positions to avoid getting too directly in range of the sharpshooters, who
were constantly on the alert to pick off the gunners. Thus the combat
raged around the countain, the rebels always fighting from their
comparatively secure positions behind their strong intrenchments, and the
Union troops from time to time leaving their works and making desperate
attempts to carry the mountain by direct assault, but always being driven
back with heavy loss. Finally, General Sherman succeeded in reaching a
position, with a part of his army, to the right and rear of the rebel position
on Kenesaw Mountain, thus threatening to cut off the enemy's line of
retreat, and compelliong the abandonment of the strong position which
had been on long and so gallantly defended. The rebel army then retired
to his line of defense on the Chattahoochee River, with Sherman's Army
following closely in pursuit.
The next movement in which the Thirtieth Iowa and the
other regiments of its brigade were active participants was by way of
Marietta, Roswell and Decatur, and on toward Atlanta, during which the
great battles of July 22d and 28th were fought. During the month of
August, which ended with the repulse of the rebel attack upon the Union
lines at Jonesboro, the regiment had been engaged with the other troops
in building earthworks and skirmishing with the enemy. On the night of
August 31st, the rebel army withdrew from Atlanta and began its retreat.
The Thirtieth Iowa had lost during the Atlanta campaign—from May 2d
to September 6th—sixteen killed and sixty-five wounded. During the
greater part of September the regiment lay in camp at East Point. On the
4th of October it joined in the pursuit of the rebel army under General
Hood. The pursuit was continued through Marietta, Resaca and
Gaylesville to Gadsen. There is no record of the regiment having come
into contact with the enemy on this march. The cavalry, having the
advance, did most of the fighting. General Hood succeeded in escaping
with his army, but, in the following month, met with an overwhelming
defeat by the Union forces. Commanded by Major General George H.
Thomas, at the battle of Nashville. The rebels were meeting with
reverses wherever they were encountered, but they still contained to fight
with desperate courage worthy of a better cause. The so-called
government of the Confederate States of America was tottering to its fall.
The Thirtieth Iowa arrived at Atlanta on November 4, 1863, just
one month from the time it had joined the other troops in that long and
toilsome march in the pursuit of Hood. General Sherman was now
making his preparations for that wonderful campaign through the very
heart of the enemy's country—the great march "from Atlanta to the sea."
The Thirtieth Iowa performed its full share of service, with its brigade
and division, upon that long and arduous march which began at Atlanta
on November 15th and ended with the occupation of Savannah on
December 21, 1864. The regiment performed the duty of provost guards
in the city of Savannah until January 10, 1865, upon which date it
embarked on an ocean steamer for Beaufort, S. C., where it landed and
moved to Pocotaligo, on the line of the Charleston Railroad, and went
into camp, On February 1, 1865, the Thirtieth Iowa, with its brigade,
again took up the line of march. The campaign through the Carolinas had
begun. The regiment participated in the capture of Columbia, S. C., on
February 17th, and then continued the march over difficult roads and
through almost impassable swamps, At Bentonville, N. C., the regiment
had its last encounter with the enemy, in which it sustained a loss of one
man killed and seven wounded. The march was continued and, on April
14, 1865, the rebel General Johnsotn asked for a cessation of hostilities,
with a view of negotiating with General Sherman for the terms upon
which he could surrender his army. The preliminaries having been
arranged, the two Generals met at the point designated, between their
respective armies, and arranged the terms of surrender,, which was
formally made on April 27, 1865, and which virtually ended the great
War of the Rebellion.
Upon the surrender of the rebel army, the Thirtierth Iowa,
and the troops with which it was associated, resumed the triumphal
march, passing through Petersburg, Richmond and Fredericksburg, and
reaching Alexandria, near the National Capital, on May 10th. On May
24th, the regiment took part in that splkendid military pageant, the Grand
Review of Sherman's Army. By the President and General Grant. It then
returned to its camp., whee it remained until June 5, 1865, on which date
it was mustered out of the service of the United States. Transportation by
rail was provided, and the regiment was soon on its way to Iowa. A sad
accident occurred near Sumner Hill, Pa., in which Sergeant P. C.
Bradshaw, of Company H, was killed, and nine other members of the
regiment was injured. It seemed doubly sad that death and suffering
should come to these men who had safely passed through the dangers and
hardships of war and were looking forward to the glad greeting which
awaited them at their homes.
Upon arriving at Davenport, Iowa, the regiment was
disbanded and the survivors returned to their homes, there to resume and
discharge their duties as citizens with the same fidelity and honor which
had distinguished their record as soldiers. From the time it entered the
service to the day it was mustered out, the regiment had maintained an
unblemished record, It participated in twenty-one battles and numerous
skirmishes, in all of which its officers and men exhibited the utmost
bravery and fortitude. After the death of colonels Abbott and Torrence,
the regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Roberts. But few
Iowa regiments sustained a heavier percentage of loss in battle or
endured greater hardships in the service. The survivors of the Thirtieth
Iowa may well entertain a feeling of pride in having helped to make its
glorious record. The General Assembly of the State has perfomed a
sacred duty in making provision for the permanent preservation of that
record, together with that of all the brave men of Iowa who went forth in
the vigor of their young manhood to do battle for their country.
SUMMARY OF CASUALTIES.
Total Enrollment 1,132
Killed 47
Wounded 222
Died of wounds 29
Died of disease 235
Discharged for wounds, disease or other causes 172
Buried in National Cemeteries 125
Captured 19
Transferred 47
COMPANY "F"
Drake, Robert E. Age 23, Residence Bloomfield, nativity Illinois.
Enlisted Sept. 1, 1862. Mustered Sept. 6, 1862. Died of disease Feb. 26,
1863, Young's Point, La.
COMPANY "B"
Frady, James E. Age 34. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana.
Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862. Mustered Aug. 24, 1862. Died of disease March
5, 1863, Memphis, Tenn.
COMPANY "F"
Ford, John E. Age 41. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana.
Appointed Second Lieytenant Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Sept. 23, 1862.
Promoted Captain March 12, 1863. Died of disease April 2, 1864,
Winterset, Iowa.
Fox, Alexander. Age 18. Resudence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana.
Enlisted Aug. 14, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862. Wounded severely
Jan. 11, 1863, Arkansas Post, Ark. Discharged for disability April 6,
1863.
COMPANY "B"
Galloway, James J. Age 26. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana.
Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862. Mustered Aug. 24, 1862. Mustered out May 9,
1865, Davenport, Iowa.
COMPANY "F"
Gandy, George W. Age 34. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Virginia.
Enlisted Feb. 15, 1864. Mustered Feb. 15, 1864. Transferred to
Company K, Sixth Infantry, May 31, 1865.
COMPANY "B"
Harris, Joseph H. Age 23. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana.
Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862. Mustered Aug. 24, 1862. Killed in action May 22,
1863m Vicksburg, Miss.
Company "F"
Hendrickson, James Age 18. Bloomfield, nativity Indiana. Enlisted
Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862. Died of disease April 11, 1863,
on Steamer "D. A. January."
Hill, Charles H. Age 26. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana.
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862. Wounded severely
Jan. 11, 1862, Arkansas Post, Ark. Discharged for disability Feb. 18,
1863, St. Louis, Mo.
Hotchkiss, Lucien L. Age 21. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Ohio.
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862. Transferred to Invalid
Corps April 30, 1864. No further record.
COMPANY "B"
Knapp, Elijah. Age 31. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Illinois. Enlisted
Aug. 9, 1862. Mustered Aug. 24, 1862. Died Oct, 18, 1863, Memphis,
Tenn. Buried in Mississippi River National Cemetery, Memphis, Tenn.
Section 1, grave 180.
COMPANY "F"
McBride, William. Age 18. Residence Bloomfieldm, nativity Ohio.
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862. Mustered out June 5,
1865, Washington, D. C.
McClaskey, John. Age 19. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana.
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862. Died of disease March
18, 1862, Vicksburg, Miss.
McDonald, Henry. Age 24. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Ohio.
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862. Wounded
slightly Dec. 30, 1962, Yazoo City, Miss. Mustered out June 5, 1865,
Washington, D. C.
McMaines, Samuel H. Age 21. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indian.
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862. Transferred to Invalid
Corps Dec. 15, 1863. Discharged July ---, 1865, Jefferson Barracks, (St
Louis,) Mo.
COMPANY "B'
Morris, Francis M. Age 24. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana.
Enlisted Aug. 9. 1862. Mustered Aug. 24, 1862. Wounded May 22,
1863, Vicksburg, Miss. Discharged Jan. 9, 1865, Savannah, Ga.
Morrow, James W. Age 24. Residence Bloomfield, nativity
Pennsylvania. Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862. Mustered Aug. 24, 1862.
Discharged for disability Feb. 25, 1862, Helena, Ark.
COMPANY "F"
Macy, Reuben W. Age 21. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Iowa.
Enlisted Aig. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862. Killed in action May
14, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862. Killed in action May 14, 1864,
Resaca, Ga. Buried in National Cemetery, Chattanooga, Tenn. Section
K, grave 7.
Masters, William D. Age 18. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Iowa.
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 30, 1862. Discharged for
disability Nov. 26., 1862. Re-entered service Dec. 28, 1863. Mustered
Dec. 28, 1863. Transferred to Company C, Sixth Infantry, May 31, 1865.
Miller, George A. Age 22. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana.
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, as Second Sergeant. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862.
Promoted Second Lieutenant March 29, 1863; First Lieutenant Sept. 18,
1864. Commission declined. Mustered out June 5, 1865, Washington,
D. C.
Mingee, Henry. Age 30. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Mississippi.
Appointed Captain Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Sept. 23, 1862. Resigned
Dec. 29, 1862, Arkansas.
Moore, William H. Age 23. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana.
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, as Fourth corporal. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862.
Promoted fifth Sergeant Dec. 25, 1864; Fourth Sergeant April 1, 1865.
Mustered out June 5, 1865, Washington, D. C.
COMPANY "F"
Ober, Oliver F. Age 31. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Pennsylvania.
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Sept. 28, 1862. Mustered out June 5,
1865, Washington, D. C.
COMPANY "B"
Penny, James M. Age 20. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana.
Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862, as Second Corporal. Mustered Aug. 24, 1862.
Promoted Third Sergeant Dec. 1, 1863; Sergeant Major July 11, 1864;
First Lieutenant Aug. 15, 1864. Mustered out June 5, 1865, Washington,
D. C.
COMPANY "F"
Price, Nathan L. Age 44. Residence Bloomfield, nativity New Jersey.
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862. Promoted Hospital
Steward Oct. 1, 1862. See Field and Staff.
COMPANY "B"
Rector, John N. Age 24. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana.
Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862. Mustered Aug. 24, 1862. Promoted Second
Corporal Dec. 1, 1863. Wounded slightly May 13, 1864, Resaca, Ga.
Promoted Fourth Sergeant Aug. 1, 1864; Third Sergeant Nov. 1, 1864.
Mustered out June 5, 1865, Washington, D. C.
Roberts, Thomas. Age 19. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Ohio.
Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862. Mustered Aug. 24, 1862. Discharged for
disability Feb. 15, 1862, Keokuk, Iowa.
COMPANY "F"
Russell, James H. Age 24. Residence Bloomfield, nativity
Pennsylvania. Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, as Fourth Sergeant. Mustered
Aug. 26, 1862. Reduced to fifth Sergeant Nov. 1, 1863. Killed in action
May 14, 1864, Resaca, Ga. Buried in National Cemetery, Chattanooga,
Tenn. Section K, grave 34.
COMPANY "B"
Sleath, Simeon. Age 22. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana.
Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862. Mustered Aug. 24, 1862. Mustered out June 5,
1865, Washington, D. C.
COMPANY "F"
Sample, James B. Age 44. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Ohio.
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862. Discharged for
disability Nov,. 8, 1864, Vinings Station, Ga.
Swan, Enos. Age 23. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Ohio. Enlisted
Aug. 13, 1862, as Second Corporal. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862.
Discharged for disability April 29, 1863.
COMPANY "F"
Toner, Thomas J. Age 24. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana.
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, as First Corporal. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862.
Died of disease Feb. 9, 1863, Young's Point, La.
COMPANY "F"
Van Boskirk, Richard F. Age 18. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Iowa.
Enlisted Oct. 25, 1862. Mustered Nov. 10, 1862. Wounded fatally May
22, 1863, Vicksburg, Miss. Died of wounds May 31, 1863, Memphis,
Tenn. Buried in Mississippi River National Cemetery, Memphis, Tenn.
Section 1, grave 123.
COMPANY "B"
Williamson, James W. Age 19. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Virginia.
Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862. Mustered Aug. 9, 1862. Mustered Aug. 24, 1862.
Died of disease March 27, 1863, Young's Point, La.
Wilson, William. Age 28. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Maryland.
Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862. Mustered Aug. 24, 1862. Mustered out June 5,
1865, Washington, D. C.
COMPANY "F"
Walker, Joseph. Age 32. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Maryland.
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862. Died of disease Nov.
1, 1863, Memphis, Tenn. Buried in Mississippi river National Cemetery,
Memphis, Tenn. Section 1, grave 228.
Watson, James. Age 18. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Ireland.
Enlisted Jan. 18, 1864. Mustered Jan. 18, 1864. Wounded slightly Aug.
9, 1864, Atlanta, Ga. Transferred to Company C, Sixth Infantry, May 31,
1865.
Wayland, Wilkinson B. Age 18. Residence Bloomfield, nativity
Indiana. Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26. 1972. Wounded
severely Jan. 11, 1863, Arkansas Post, Ark. Wounded severely Oct. 21,
1863, Cherokee Station, Ala. Mustered out July 8, 1865, Davenport,
Iowa.
Wray, John B. Age 21. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Iowa. Enlisted
Aug. 13, 1862, as Third Corporal. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862. died of
disease Feb. 29, 1863, Young's Point, La,
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