6th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Historical Sketch "Roster and Record, Iowa Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion, Together with Historical Sketches of Volunteer Organizations, 1861-1866" Published by the Authority of the General Assembly, under the direction of Brig. Gen. Guy E. Logan, Adjutant General; 1911. Transcribed by Linda Suarez and submitted to the USGenWeb Archives on November 9, 1998. Copyright(c)1998 by Linda Suarez. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with the USGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 6th Iowa Infantry Historical Sketch The ten companies of which this regiment was composed were ordered to rendezvous at Burlington, Iowa, where they were mustered into the service of the United States on the 17th and 18th days of July, 1861, by Lieut. Alexander Chambers, United States Army. The subjoined roster contains the names of its first Field and Staff and Company Officers and shows the subsequent changes which occurred. The regiment remained but a short time in rendezvous, and, like those which had preceded it, was destined to learn the theory as well as the practice of war, in the field. On the 6th of August, 1861, Colonel McDowell received orders to proceed to Keokuk, where he received arms for six companies of his regiment, and at once marched across the border into the State of Missouri, to assist the Fifth Iowa Infantry in preventing a threatened invasion of Iowa by rebel troops. This prompt movement caused the rebels to retreat in haste, and the object of the expedition was accomplished without loss. The regiment returned to Keokuk, and on the 9th of August proceeded by boat to St. Louis. It was stationed for a time at Jefferson Barracks, then at the United States Arsenal and, later, at Lafayette Park and Benton Barracks. On the 19th of September, 1861, the regiment left Benton Barracks, and was transported by rail to Jefferson City, and from that place started upon an active campaign in the State of Missouri, in which it learned its first severe lesson in marching, and the endurance of hardships. Under the limitation of space prescribed for the historical sketches of thedifferent Iowa organizations, the compiler cannot go into the details of the service rendered by the regiment during these first months of its career, and can only give the outlines of its heroic record during its long period of service covering over four years, and ending with the close of the great War of the Rebellion. The subjoined roster, showing the personal record of each officer and enlisted man, together with summary of casualties, furnishes the best evidence of the loyalty and devotion with which they served their country in her hour of greatest need. Suffice it to say that, during the remainder of 1861, and the winter of 1862, the regiment passed through an experience in the State of Missouri which may well be called the hard training school which fitted it for the great work which lay before it. During this period it marched long distances over rough roads, the men were overloaded with heavy knapsacks, which contained many things then considered indispensable for their comfort, but which were afterwards discarded as useless. The camp equipage was cumbersome, and the transportation for a single regiment exceeded that which was later found sufficient for a brigade of four regiments. The men had not learned how to properly take care of themselves, and the result was the breaking down of many of them from disease. Many died, and many more were permanently disabled and discharged and their places filled by new recruits who had to pass through the same experience. This seasoning process was indeed severe, but the men who survived it were prepared to go through the seemingly incredible hardships which they afterwards encountered. During this first campaign they had seen but little fighting, as no large bodies of the enemy were encountered, but they had a foretaste of nearly all the hardships to which they were subsequently subjected in the ordinary routine of camp life and marching. The supreme test of courage and fortitude upon the battlefield and -- for some of them -- that severest experience of all, confinement as prisoners of war, was yet to come. Yet, it must not be forgotten that the service rendered by the regiment in that summer, fall and winter in Missouri was very important in its results. The presence of the Union forces not only saved that State from being dominated by the rebels, but it also saved the State of Iowa from being invaded by them. On the 7th day of March, 1862, the regiment was ordered to join the Army of Tennessee; and at once proceeded to St. Louis, where it embarked and was conveyed down the Mississippi to Cairo, and thence up the Ohio and Tennessee rivers to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn. While en route it was provided with new and improved arms and ammunition, and was thus better prepared to meet the enemy in actual conflict. On the 16th day of March, 1862, the regiment disembarked at Pittsburg Landing, and was assigned to the First Brigade of the Fifth Division. The division was commanded by the General W. T. Sherman, and Col. John A. McDowell of the Sixth Iowa was the senior Colonel in command of the brigade. The position of the regiment was on the extreme right of the army, while two of its companies were detached to defend the bridge crossing Owl Creek, some distance in advance of the regiment. When the rebel attack began on Sunday morning, April 6th, these two companies were in a greatly exposed position, and found much difficulty in rejoining the regiment, which they finally succeeded in doing, under the leadership of Captain Walden, in time to participate in the severest contest in which the regiment was engaged during the battle. There were but few regiments, on either side, in any battle of the war, whose loss in killed -- in proportion to the number engaged -- equaled that of the Sixth Iowa Infantry at Shiloh. While Colonel McDowell was in command of the brigade in which his regiment fought on the first day of the battle, it was much of the time under his immediate observation, and at a most critical period, early in the engagement, he relieved Lieutenant Colonel Cummins from the command of the regiment, because that office had shown himself incapable of properly directing its movements, and placed Capt. Daniel Iseminger in command. This gallant officer was killed while nobly discharging his duty, and the command devolved upon Capt. John Williams, who was severely wounded just before the regiment took its last position on Sunday evening when Captain Walden assumed command. While the Sixth Iowa Infantry fought gallantly in many subsequent battles, it is the opinion of the compiler of this sketch that it distinguished itself most greatly at Shiloh. He therefore feels justified in quoting the entire official report of its first and greatest battle: Headquarters Sixth Iowa Infantry Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., April 10, 1862 Colonel: Having assumed command of the regiment by your order, I have the honor to make the following official report of the Sixth Iowa Infantry during the recent engagement. On Sunday morning, when the attack was made on General Grant's center, the regiment was immediately brought into line of battle, and was then moved about fifty yards to the front, along the edge of the woods. Company I was thrown out as skirmishers, and companies E and G were moved to the left and front of our line to support a battery just placed there. We were in this position for more than two hours, when we were ordered to fall back to the rear of our camp on the Purdy road. The battle at this time was raging fiercely in the center, and extending gradually to the right. The line was slowly yielding to a vastly superior force, and it now became evident that we must change our position, or be entirely cut off from the rest of the army. The regiment then marched by the left flank about six hundred yards, crossed an open field about one hundred and fifty yards wide, took a position in the edge of the woods, and formed a new line of battle, which was again succeeded by another line, nearly perpendicular to the former, the right resting close to the Purdy road. It was here Lieutenants Halliday and Grimes were wounded and carried from the field, thus preventing them from distinguishing themselves, as they undoubtedly would have done, had they been spared to take part in the desperate and severe struggle that soon ensued. It was here that companies D and K, on picket duty at Owl Creek, joined the regiment by a circuitous route, the enemy having already got between them and the regiment. The regiment did not remain here long, however, but moved by the left flank, in an easterly direction, about half a mile over a broken and open field, and again entered the woods. A new line was formed, and the regiment moved forward to meet the advancing foe. The line of battle -- at this time diagonal to the enemy's -- was immediately changed to front them, and it was here that the regiment withstood a shower of leaden ball and bullets, which was now pouring upon it with deadly effect. Notwithstanding a vastly superior force, and with no support, the regiment gallantly maintained this position for more than two hours, and when it became apparent that no succor was coming to it, and after the enemy had turned our right flank, and began pouring a galling cross-fire upon it, the regiment was ordered to retire. It fell back in good order, and was assigned to the support of batteries near the river. At this stage of the battle, I was wounded and carried from the field. From authentic sources I learn, however, that the regiment, under Captain Walden, remained at the batteries all night. The next day the regiment was not formed as a regiment, but a detachment under Lieutenants Minton and Allison was connected to an Illinois regiment, and the major portion, under Captain Walden, voluntarily joined Colonel Garfield's command, and participated in the engagement throughout the day, until the enemy fled in great confusion. In regard to the bravery, coolness and intrepidity of both officers and men, too much cannot be said. Where all did so well to particularize, would seem invidious; suffice it to say, the officers, with one or two exceptions, are deserving of the highest praise. The men were at all times cool, and as free from fear or confusion as if they were on dress parade. The list of casualties, which I append below, fully attests the severity of the contest. The following is the number killed, wounded and missing in the two days' engagement: Killed 64 Wounded 100 Missing 47 ----- Total 211 Total number engaged less than 650. I have the honor to be, yours respectfully, John Williams, Captain, Commanding Regiment. Col. John A. McDowell, Commanding First Brigade Prominent among the killed were Capt. Daniel Iseminger of Company B and Capt. Richard E. White of company K, Sergeants David J. Hayes of Company C and Lorenzo D. Prather of Company G, and among the wounded, Capt. Fabrian Brydolf and Lieut. John H. Orman. The subjoined roster gives the names of all the killed and wounded, not only in this great