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THE 5th IOWA INFANTRY
The ten companies which were assigned to the 5th Iowa Infantry were ordered into quarters by Governor KIRKWOOD between
June 24 to July 3, 1861, with the rendezuous designation at Burlington, Iowa. Lieutenant Alexander CHAMBERS of the U.S.
Army mustered the troops into service between July 15th and July 17th of 1861. Soon after the men were mustered into
service, the men were ordered to proceed to Keokuk, Iowa, and be in a state of readiness to repel a threat of invasion
into the State of Iowa by Confederate forces. The 5th were armed at Keokuk and marched into the State of Missouri to
meet the enemy. Unsuccessful in their endeavors, they were ordered back to Keokuk. On August 11, 1861, the 5th moved
to St. Louis, Missouri by steamboat. The 5th's principal service was spent in Missouri, disbanding and driving out
bands of rebels who were constantly forming and posing a threat to the Union hold within the state.
ENGAGEMENTS:
Siege of Cornith, also known as the 1st Battle of Cornith, was fought in Cornith, Mississippi, from April 29 to
June 10, 1862. The result was a Union victory.
Battle of Luka was fought at Luka, Mississippi on September 19, 1862, which was the opening of the Luka-Cornith
Campaign. It was a Union victory which stopped Confederate Major General Sterling PRICE and his advancing troops.
Battle of Port Gibson was fought on May 1, 1863 near Port Gibson, Mississippi during the Vicksburg Campaign.
The battle was won by Union troops.
Battle of Champion's Hill, also known as the Battle of Bakers Creek, was a pivotal battle in the Vicksburg
Campaign, fought on May 16, 1864. Confederate Lieutenant General John C. PEMBERTON was defeated here, twenty miles east
of Vicksburg which inevitably led to the Siege of Vicksburg.
Siege of Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi, was the final military action in the Vicksburg Campaign. Afer two
major assaults on May 19th and May 22nd, the seige began on May 25th of 1863. With no re-enforcement and supplies
nearly exhausted, the garrison ultimately surrendered after a 40-day siege on July 4th. This, along with the capture of
Port Hudson on July 9th, gave Union forces command of the Mississippi River, which was held throughout the remainder of
the Civil War. As a result of this action, the city of Vicksburg refused to celebrate the 4th of July for the next
80 years.
Battle of Chattanooga which was the cumulation of the Chattanooga Campaign, a series of maneuvers and battles
fought in October and November of 1863. At the end of the battle, a chaplain asked if the dead should be sorted and
buried by state alliegance. General THOMAS replied, "Mix 'em up. I'm tired of States' rights." As a result of the
Battle of Chattanooga, Union forces gained an undisputed control of the State of Tennessee and Chattanooga, the
"Gateway to the Lower South." Chattanooga became the supply and logistics bas for General SHERMAN during his 1864
Atlanta Campaign and for the Army of the Cumberland.
Battle of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, a part of the Chattanooga Campaign, was fought on November 24, 1863. A Union victory,
the action was important in assuring Union control of the Tennessee River and the railroad to Chattanooga.
Battle of Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, a part of the Chattanooga Campaign, was fought on November 25, 1863. The Union
Army suceeded in routing General BRAGG's forces into a retreat to Dalton, Georgia, thus ending the Chattanooga Campaign.
Battle of Atlanta, Georgia, also known at the Battle of Decatur, was fought on July 22, 1864, which was in the
middle of the Atlanta Campaign. Atlanta did not fall until six weeks later. The fall of Atlanta had far-reaching political
and military effects during the remainder course of the Civil War.
The 5th Iowa Infantry suffered the loss of 9 officers and 108 enlisted men who were either killed in action or
died of their wounds. 2 officers and 131 enlisted men died of disease, making a total of 250 fatalities.
ROSTER of the 5th IOWA INFANTRY
COMPANY B - RINGGOLD COUNTY SOLDIERS
CHAPMAN, Samuel H., Captain. Age 41 from Newton, Iowa; nativity - Ohio. Appointed Captain on July 15,
1861; mustered into service on July 15, 1861. Resigned from service on December 2, 1861.
MATEER, Alexander L., 1st Lieutenant. Age 25 from Monroe County, Iowa; nativity - Ireland. Appointed 1st
Lieutenant on July 15, 1861; mustered into service on July 15, 1861. Wounded in the Battle of Iuka, Mississippi on
September 19, 1862; died of his wounds on October 14, 1862 at Iuka, Mississippi. Buried in Union National Cemetery at
Corinth, Mississippi, Section D, grave 172.
TAIT, John H., 2nd Lieutenant. Age 26 from Story County; nativity - Pennsylvania. Appointed 2nd
Lieutenant on July 15, 1861; mustered into service on July 15, 1861. Promoted to Captain on December 2, 1861. Resigned
from service on June 20, 1863.
COOPER, Silas, Ringgold County, Iowa. Enlisted at the age of 23 as a Private on June 24, 1861; mustered into
service on July 15, 1861. Promoted to Full 6th Corporal on December 9, 1862; promoted to 2nd Corporal on October 21,
1863. Captured at Missionary Ridge, Tennessee on November 25, 1863. While incarcerated, promoted to 1st Corporal
on December 1, 1863. Died as a P.O.W. at Andersonville prison, Andersonville, Georgia on July 9, 1864.Interred at
National Cemetery, Andersonville, Georgia, grave 5,101.
SOURCES:
American Civil War Soldiers Database, ancestry.com
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_Iowa_Volunteer_Infantry_Regiment
../../../civilwar//books/logan/mil307.htm
Compiled and transcribed by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2009
Iowa in the Civil War
An Iowa GenWeb Special Project, this site promotes the people, events, and genealogy of Iowa Regiments in the Civil War. This project includes a searchable database. To access the home page of Iowa in the Civil War Project, go to: iagenweb.org/civilwar/
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