This regiment entered the United States Service at Muscatine, September 18, 1862. Company A was, for the most part, from Jackson County, as was all of Company I. The command departed for St. Louis October 20, 1862, and was, during the remainder of 1862 and the year 1863, stationed in various parts of Arkansas, Louisiana and  Mississippi, engaging in the battle of Champion Hills on May 16.

During the spring of 1864, the regiment was engaged in a campaign through Louisiana, taking part in the battle of Sabine Cross Roads. Only about 146 men of the Twenty-fourth Iowa were actively engaged in this battle, the companies from" Jackson County with some others having been left in the rear, guarding a train. July, 1864, found the regiment stationed in Louisiana, and, on the 21st of this month, orders were received to embark on the steamer Star of the South on an unknown voyage. The 30th of July found the regiment at Washington City, and from there it proceeded to Virginia. Here, in the battle of Winchester, after a heroic record made in the field, the regiment found its ranks thinned by the loss of 74 men in killed, wounded and prisoners. The battle of Fisher's Hill, on September 22, resulted in but slight loss to the Twenty-fourth, though it was for a time in
the hottest of the fight. In the battle of Cedar Creek, the regiment had quite a severe experience, with a total list of casualties, 93. This was the last fight in which the veterans were engaged.

December 4, 1864, it was ordered that the following names of battles be inscribed upon the regimental colors of the Twenty-fourth : Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Vicksburg, Jackson, Sabine Cross Roads, Opequan, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. Early in 1865, the regiment was ordered South, and, until the close of the war, was stationed in North and South Carolina and Georgia. It was mustered out at Savannah July 17, 1865.
Of the regiment, 129 men were killed in battle, 197 died of disease, and 232 were discharged for disability.

To this regiment Jackson County contributed a large part of Company A, all of Company B, and squads in various other companies.

The organization of the regiment was completed at Clinton, September 30, 1862, and it was soon ordered to St. Louis. Though present at the battle of Chickasaw Bayou, the command was not engaged. The Twenty-sixth was at the front, and the principal regiment engaged in the battle of Arkansas Post January 11, 1863, and lost 119 men, or over 25 per cent in killed and wounded of the number engaged.