Seventh Iowa Infantry
During the heat of the summer of 1861, while the pulse of the nation beat with feverish intensity, while all hearts were aching with the dread of civil war, and the sound of men flocking to arms, in their country’s cause, resounded through all the hills and valleys, forests and prairies of this northland; then the spirit of Chickasaw County was stirred, and men came forward, with alacrity, at the call of the government, for its preservation. Company B, Seventh Regiment of Iowa Volunteers was raised, and composed almost entirely of the sons of Chickasaw, Captain Gideon Gardner , and all the officers being residents of the county.
The history of the company is nearly always the history of the regiment, especially so in infantry, therefore we give an abridged account of the movements of the regiment for which we are indebted to the official reports.
"The Seventh Iowa Infantry was organized at Burlington, Iowa, in 1861. The first companies were mustered into the United States service on the 24th of July, and the last, Company I, was mustered in on the 2d day of August. Colonel J. G. Lauman , was in command of the regiment.
On the 6th day of August they broke camp marched to Burlington under a burning hot sun and embarked on the steamer "Jennie Whipple" for St Louis. Arrived at St. Louis on the morning of the 8th and were marched to the arsenal, where they bivouacked for several days. Moved from thence to Jefferson Barracks, where they remained for several more days; were then ordered to St. Louis, where the regiment was armed, the flank companies with Springfield rifles, and the other eight companies with improved Springfield muskets. The same night they took the cars, and went to Pilot Knob, and after remaining there half a day, marched to Ironton, where the regiment went into camp and remained there, drilling and getting into discipline for two weeks, and were then ordered through southeast Missouri to Cape Girardeau. This commenced the first campaign of the regiment.
The Division consisted of six regiments, and was commanded by Brigadier General B. M. Prentiss , arriving at Jackson, Missouri, during the last days of August, the command remained one week, then moved to the cape, where they took transports, and went to Cairo, and were sent from thence to what was afterwards known as Fort Holt, Kentucky. The ground was covered with dense forest and under growth, but in a short time the camp was cleared up, and policed, and all hands were comfortable. The regiment remained at Holt about two weeks when it was moved down to Mayfield Creek, and established Camp Crittenden, distant from the Mississippi river about three miles, and from Columbus the rebel stronghold, about eight. Here Lt Colonel Wentz reported to the regiment for duty. Remaining but a short time at Camp Crittenden, the regiment was moved to Fort Jefferson, on the Mississippi, nearly opposite to Norfolk, Missouri.
During their stay at Fort Jefferson they still kept a strong picket guard at their old Camp Crittenden, at which place the regiment had its first skirmish, in which one man was slightly wounded.
On the 6th of November 1861, the regiment received orders to embark on transports, and about night steamed down the Mississippi a few miles rounded to, and lay all night at Lucas Bend. Early on the morning of the 7th, they got under way and landed on the Missouri shore about three miles above Belmont; disembarking there the troops formed line of battle, and proceeded to the attack of the latter place. The Seventh Iowa and the Twenty-Second Illinois were brigaded together and commanded by Colonel Dougherty , of the latter regiment.
The battle of Belmont was a bloody day for the Seventh; which went into the fight with but eight companies numbering in all 410 men; two companies, "K" and "G" being detailed as fleet guard were not in the engagement. The regiment lost, in killed, wounded and missing: 237 men. It was on this field that the gallant and lamented Lt Colonel Wentz , fell with many other brave officers, viz: 2nd Lt G. W. S. Dodge, Company B; 2nd Lt Benj Ream, Company C; 2nd Lt Chas. Gardner, Company I; Colonel Lauman, and Major Rice, were both severly wounded, as were also Captain Gardner, Company B; Captain Harper, Company D; Captain Parrott, Company E; and Captain Kitteridge, Company F.
It was in this fight that Iowa officers and soldiers proved to the world that they were made of the right kind of material, and added to the lustre of our young and gallant state.
On the evening of the 7th of November 1861, the shattered remnant of the Seventh Iowa arrived at Bird’s Point, where they remained a few days, and were then ordered to St. Louis, Missouri, to rest and recruit. This terminated the first battle for this brave and gallant host of heroes.
On the 13th of January 1862, the Seventh were embarked at St. Louis, on the steamer "Continental", and although the weather was intensely cold, which detained the boat, finally got under way and proceeded down the river about twenty miles; but when that distance was reached the floating ice, with which the river was filled, blocked the boat with its freight of brave boys in blue and was frozen in. Here they staid for two days, until the cold had so congealed the ice that it was solid enough, when the regiment with its baggage was removed to the shore, and took the railroad, and returned to St. Louis. The weather was intensely cold, but the good citizens of that city tendered Colonel Lauman, the use of the chamber of commerce to shelter his men in, and the boys found comfort in the hot coffee, warm rooms, etc., so generously provided by their friends.
Next morning, the regiment started for Cairo, marching through Illinois and after reaching that place moved forward again. After a fatiguing march, interspersed with some delays for rest, the regiment was ordered to go up the Tennessee, with balance of the troops to attack Fort Henry.
Landing on the morning of the 6th, of February, they took up the line of march to invest the fort, but learned that Commodore Foote had already taken it before their arrival. After remaining a week at the Fort, on the 12th of February 1862, the march was resumed with Fort Donelson as the objective point, which point was reached next day. About 5 p.m., the Seventh was ordered to the front to support Battery H., First Missouri Light Artillery; and spent the night without shelter or blankets. The next day the regiment was ordered to take its place with the brigade as that was going into action. But after reaching headquarters it was not considered advisable to make the charge so the brigade remained all day in the line of battle until the shades of night gave the necessary cover for their removal.
The weather became quite boisterous. A heavy shower of rain falling at midnight, but before morning had dawned it had changed to snow, and the face of the earth was covered with a wintry mantle, and the temperature remaining cold, the men suffered much, owing to their exposed positions and general want of blankets.
On the morning of the 15th the skirmishers were deployed, and at 2 p.m. the brigade was ordered to charge the rebel works. The Second Iowa never having been in a fight, having only joined the brigade on Friday the 14th, was given the post of honor in leading the charge, supported by the balance of the brigade. The Seventh Iowa moved up to the works in fine style, entered the sally-port, and gained, with the Second Iowa, a position inside the rebel works. Then were ordered to fall back and take shelter on the outside of the fortification, where they bivouacked all night without fires, and suffered much from the inclemency of the weather. Next morning, Sunday, February 16th, when the day dawned, the white flag from the grim summit of Fort Donelson, told quite plainly that the strife for its mastery was ended, and in a short time our boys were marching in and taking possession. So fell this noted rebel stronghold, and the gallant Seventh Iowa claims its meed of praise.
Here the regiment remained for three weeks and were then ordered to proceed up the Tennessee River on transports to Pittsburg Landing. They were nearly a week making the voyage, being unable to land, owing to the tempestuous weather. The regiment remained in camp until the memorable 6th of April 1862, when Beauregard with his host of rebels attacked our whole line.
The 7th Iowa was on parade for inspection when the battle commenced, but in a few minutes it was moved to the front, where it was engaged the balance of the day. About four o’clock p.m. the whole brigade was ordered to fall back, in which retrograde movement General W. H. L. Wallace , commanding the division, fell, and the 7th lost one officer, color-sergeant, and seven men killed, and a number wounded. The regiment was rallied in the edge of the timber, and helped stop the advance of the rebels, and a short time afterwards fell back to the main road, where the weary troops bivouacked for the night, the rain falling in torrents.
The next morning the whole line advanced on the rebels, and before noon they were in full rout. At night the regiment returned to the old camp and got a warm supper, the first they had had in two days, but were compelled to lie without shelter, the tents being occupied by the wounded of both armies. They remained in camp here until the 27th of April, when the whole army moved to the memorable siege of Corinth. On this march the regiment used the shovel for the first time in throwing up works and rifle pits, and about the first of June, when contiguous to Corinth, it was ascertained that the enemy had evacuated it, and Corinth the seventh, with the division, was ordered in pursuit of the enemy. After an arduous tramp without coming up with them, it returned and went into camp near Corinth and remained quiet for the balance of the summer, doing picket and guard duty.
On the 17th the regiment reached Luka, having left camp two days before, and from General Grant’s Order No. 1, the division to which it was attached, deserves as much credit and praise as the troops which were actually engaged.
Leaving Luka the same night, the regiment tramped back to their old quarter at Camp Montgomery, where they remained until the 3d of October 1862, when they were ordered to the front to meet the forces of Van Dorn and Price. The Seventh was on hand, and a more gallant fight the men never made. On the 3d of October, in the afternoon, General Dains , who commanded the division when our weak line was driven back to Fort Robinette, placed the Seventh Iowa in a position of honor in support of a battery, which was stationed at the above fort.
At 8 a.m. the next day they were thrown out to support skirmishers, the enemy being in strong force. The skirmish line fell back, and upon the fact being reported to General Dains , he ordered the Seventh to take position on their old ground, and but a few minutes elapsed before the enemy appeared in their front in vast numbers; but thanks to the nerve of Iowa’s sons, the Second and Seventh Iowa held the ridge, when there was no support from the balance of the division. General Sweeney, who was in command of the brigade, gave the order for them to retire a short distance, and in his official report made special mention of the two regiment in question.
The Seventh Iowa retired about fifty yards, when they were rallied and made a charge on the enemy, which put him to flight, and the victory was won. Returned next day to Corinth, where they remained until the 6th, when they moved to Rienzi, from thence to Kossuth, then to Boneyard, where they staid a month, then returned to Corinth, where under tents they spent the winter.
In March 1863, the regiment went to Bethel, Tennessee, where it remained until June 1st, when it was returned to Corinth. After much such marching and countermarching all summer, they arrived 11November 1863, at Pulaski, Tennessee, where they went into camp doing escort duty for various trains of supplies.
About the 20th of December 1863, orders were received allowing men who had been in the service two years to veteranize, and in a few days three-fourths of the men present for duty re-enlisted. The regiment started home on the 7th of January 1864, and were furloughed for thirty days from the 20th of January. On the 20th of February the boys commenced to rendezvous at Keokuk with some two hundred recruits, which were mustered into the regiment. Left Keokuk February 27th, and proceeded to Prospect, Tennessee, which point they garrisoned until the 27th of April, when they started on the ever-memorable Atlanta campaign.
This march was one of continual skirmishing and fighting. The Seventh, upon crossing the Ootanaula River, at Lay’s Ferry, May 15th, was thrown to the front to feel the enemy, who were in strong force, and but a few minutes sufficed to bring on the deadly conflict, which lasted but a few moments, and terminated in the complete rout of the rebels, consisting of an entire division commanded by General Walker. The Seventh Iowa did not number four hundred muskets, and yet out of this small number it lost sixty-five men, killed and wounded, inside of ten minutes. No regiment in the United States service ever behaved with more gallantry, and it was with difficulty that the men could be drawn off from a force five times their number.
This was the first severe fighting of the campaign, but it continued from that time until the first of September, including Rome Cross-roads, Dallas, New Hope Church, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Nick-a-Jack Creek, and in close proximity to Atlanta, in all of which the Seventh bore an honorable part. On the 22d of July, during the engagement in which General McPherson fell, the regiment was an active participant, and added new laurels to her former bright wreath.
The regiment moved from the front of Atlanta, and struck the West Point railroad, near Palmetto, and from thence to Jonesboro, supporting Kilpatrick’s calvary in driving the enemy, and was with the command under General Sherman, which compelled Hood to evacuate Atlanta. The regiment went by rail from East Point to Rome, Georgia, where it arrived September 20th. It was then ordered to Allatoona on the 4th of October, but did not reach there in time to take part in the bloody fray of the 5th. By orders received the regiment returned to Rome on the 7th of October, and remained until November 11th, when they took up the line of march with the dauntless band of heroes, who marched with Sherman from Atlanta through the heart of Georgia, and withthat matchless captain entered the city of Savannah December 21, 1864.
Source:
History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties IOWA
By W.E. Alexander
Western Publishing Company, Decorah, Iowa
Date: 1883
Chapter XIII, pages 301 - 307
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