History of the 9th Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry

Transcribed by Donald Cope and submitted to the IAGenWeb Project Archives,
a part of The USGenWeb Project. Copyright(c)1998 by Donald Cope.

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History of the 9th Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry

Roster and Record of 9th Iowa Vol. Infantry Regiment in the WAR of
the REBELLION Together with a Historical Sketch of the Organization.
(from the Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers, Vol II)

The ten companies of the Ninth Regiment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry,
were ordered by Governor Samuel Kirkwood to rendezvous at Dubuque, as
a part of the quota of the State under the proclamation of the
President dated July 23rd, 1861, and were mustered into the service
of the United States on dates ranging from Sept. 2d to Sept 24th,
1861 by Captain E.C. Washington, Unites States Army.

The Honorable William Vandever, then a member of Congress from Iowa,
was given authority by President Lincoln to organize this regiment
from the counties composing his district, and he was commissioned by
Governor Kirkwood as its first Colonel.

The last company was mustered in September 24, 1861 and 2 days later,
the regiment, with a strength of 977 officers and enlisted men, were
put on steam boats at Dubuque and transported to St. Louis. Upon
arrival, they were marched to Benton Barracks, where it received its
first supply of arms, clothing and camp equipment. The 9th remained
until October 11th, 1861, receiving such instruction in military
drill as could be given in so short a period of time. It was then
ordered to proceed to Franklin, Missouri, where regimental
headquarters were maintained, while companies were detached to
different points for the purpose of guarding the railroad from
Franklin toward Rolla, Missouri. During the 3 months in which the
regiment remained on this duty, it suffered greatly from exposure the
the inclement winter weather, and like all new regiments, was
subjected to much sickness on account of exposure. On December 31,
1861, the official returns showed a death loss of 17, and 7
discharged from duty because of disability, total of 24 men; but on
that same day, it gained 38 by additional enlistments, and 4 by
transfer, for a net gain of 18, grand total officers and men, 995.

However, many were on the sick list, and the hardships the regiment
had to endure during the active winter campaign which followed,
further reduced its strength by roughly 1/2. On Jan 21, 1862, the
detached companies of the regiment were consolidated. The regiment
was taken by rail to Rolla, Mo. and from there began its first real
campaign against the enemy. It marched from Rolla to Lebanon, Mo.,
where it joined the Army of the Southwest under the command of
General Curtis. Colonel Vandever was placed in command of the brigade
to which his regiment was attached. Lieut. Col. Frank J. Herron was
then in command of the 9th Iowa.

Confederate General Price evacuated Springfield in advance of the
approaching Union troops retreating toward the Ozark Mountains. The
Army of the Southwest pursuing left Springfield on Feb 14, 1862 and
in less than one month, marched over difficult road, in severe
weather of alternating snow and rain, a distance of 250 miles. When
they reached Cross Hollows, Arkansas, 300 men of the 9th Iowa Reg't
was sent on expedition to Huntsville, 40 miles away, to surprise and
capture a detachment of the enemy stationed there as a guard for
commissary stores:

but on reaching Huntsville, they found the place abandoned, and
learned the rebel army under General Van Dorn was marching to attack
General Curtis' army. Curtis had fallen back from Cross Hollows and
taken a new position at Pea Ridge. Not wanting to be cut off and
taken by a superior force, the detachment of Ninth Iowa at once
started to rejoin the command. After a continuous march of 16 hours
covering 42 miles, it reached the rest of the regiment at 8:00 pm,
March 6th. With only a few hours rest after this grueling march,
these men went into battle at Pea Ridge at 10 o'clock a.m. March 7th,
1862.

Pea Ridge Arkansas

The enemy opened by a fierce attack on the Union lines, and the 9th
Iowa was in the thickest of the fight. The 1st attack was repulsed by
the Union forces and it advanced on the Confederates. But it was
compelled to retire under a terrific fire of muskets, grape and
canister from cannon. The battle continued the whole day with
alternating advantage through out the day. There were occasional
intervals, during which the men of both sides replenished ammunitions
and removed the wounded to the rear. The fighting was most persistent
and desperate, and in no battle of the war was the valor of the
American soldier more splendidly exhibited, on both sides. This
was the first time the 9th Iowa met the enemy in battle. Its officers
and men showed the steadiness and bravery of veterans. If this had
been the only service rendered by this regiment, it would have been
entitled to the lasting gratitude of every patriotic citizen of the
Union, which the 9th Iowa Regiment was defending against those in
armed rebellion.

At night the survivors lay on their arms, ready to renew the conflict
at dawn. Then the Union artillery opened on the enemy and the fire
was promptly returned. In his official report Col. Vandever says,"At
this point, finding ourselves exposed to a raking fire from one of
the enemy's batteries on our right, we changed direction to the east.
About this time, the First Division coming into position on our left,
we joined in the general advance upon the enemy, the whole cavalry
force participating, and the artillery co-operating. The enemy here
broke into disorder, and the fortune of the day was decided in our
favor."

The entire rebel army was soon in full retreat, and the battle of Pea
Ridge ended in a brilliant victory for the Union army. At the close
of his official report Major General Curtis especially commended Col.
Vandever and the gallant troops of his brigade, and says, "To do
justice to all, I would spread before you the most of the rolls of
this army, for I can bear testimony to the almost universal good
conduct of officers and men, who shared with me the long march, the
any conflicts by the way, and the final struggle with the combined
forces of Price, McCulloch, McIntosh and Pike, under Major General
Van Dorn, at the battle of Pea Ridge."

The loss to the regiment was very heavy. Of the 560 who went into
battle, 4 commissioned officers and 34 enlisted men were killed, 5
commisioned officers and 171 enlisted men wounded, and 1 commisioned
officer and 3 enlisted men captured, making a total loss of nearly
40%. of the aggregate number engaged. (1)
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(1) The original compiler of this sketch finds this loss statement in
the return of casualties of the Army of the Southwest in the battle
of Pea Ridge, Ark., attached to the report of Major General Curtis,
found on p. 205, Series 1, Vol.8, Official Records. In the history of
the Ninth Iowa Infantry by Lt. Col. Alonzo Abernethy, on p. 174 of
the Adj. General's report of the State of Iowa, for the year 1866,
the aggregate loss in killed, wounded and captured is given as 240,
making nearly 44% of the total number. In either event the loss was
far above the average of battle of the War of the Rebellion.

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