19th Iowa Infantry Regiment
| 19th Iowa Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
 19th Iowa Battle Flag | |
| Active | August 25, 1862, to July 10, 1865 |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | Union |
| Branch | Infantry |
| Engagements | |
| Iowa U.S. Volunteer Infantry Regiments 1861-1865 | ||||
|
The 19th Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.[1][2]
Service
[edit]The 19th Iowa Infantry was organized at Keokuk, Iowa and mustered in for three years of Federal service on August 25, 1862.[3] It was the second Iowa regiment to fully muster for active service.[4]
The 19th Iowa was assigned to Orme's Brigade, Heron's Division, Army of the Frontier. After completing a rigorous 35 mile march on December 6, 1862, the regiment prepared for battle. By this time, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel McFarland had taken command of the regiment. The next day was the Battle of Prairie Grove. Herron's Division deployed on the left side of the Union line, on a slight ridge facing south. In front of them was positioned a Confederate battery. General Herron ordered the 20th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and the 19th Iowa Infantry forward to capture the guns. The two regiments gallantly charged, and captured the confederate battery. However, General Herron had vastly underestimated the amount of Confederates in the area. The two regiments, numbering some 500 men each, fought back numerous countercharges from half a dozen Confederate regiments. Eventually, overpowered and running low on supplies, the two regiments withdrew back to Union lines.[5] The rebels then rallied and mounted their own assault, however they were beaten back savagely by the skilled gunnery of the 1st Missouri Battery E and the 1st Missouri Battery L. The regiment lost a total of 45 Killed, 143 Wounded, and 2 Captured, for a total of 200 Casualties, nearly a 40% casualty rate.[6] Among the dead was Lt Colonel Samuel McFarland, killed leading the assault on the confederate battery.
The 19th Iowa went on to fight in the Siege of Vicksburg, where it suffered only one man wounded during the siege.[7] The regiment was deployed to the far right of Heron's Division, and its position is marked today by a monument in the Vicksburg National Military Park.[8]
Much of the regiment was captured at the Battle of Sterling's Plantation. At Sterling's Plantation, the Regiment had been cut off from surrounding friendly units, but held their position on a levee overlooking the oncoming rebels. The 19th Iowa, now being commanded by Major John Bruce, and the 26th Indiana Infantry Regiment were tasked with holding the line. These two regiments numbered less than 500, and were trying to hold their ground against rebels that outnumbered them 3:1. Colonel John Leake, commanding the Union forces at Sterling's Plantation, was seriously wounded in the fighting. Leaderless, flanked, tired, and outnumbered 3:1, the Union forces surrendered piecemeal.[9] Though some companies escaped, most of the regiment was captured. Much of the regiment was paroled in early 1864.
The remaining members took part in Banks' Army of the Gulf's South Texas Expedition where they fought at the Battle of Brownsville in Duye's 2nd Brigade in the 2nd Division of Dana's XIII Corps.[note 1]
The regiment closed out the war with the Battle of Spanish Fort and the Battle of Fort Blakeley, where it was noted for its gallant actions.[10]
The regiment was mustered out on July 10, 1865.
Total strength and casualties
[edit]The 19th Iowa mustered 1132 men at one time or another during its existence.[11] It suffered 6 officers and 86 enlisted men who were killed in action or who died of their wounds and 2 officers and 98 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 192 fatalities.[12]
Commanders
[edit]- Colonel Benjamin Crabb[13]
- Lieutenant Colonel Samuel McFarland (Killed in Action)[13]
- Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Kent[13]
- Lieutenant Colonel John Bruce[14]
- Regimental Chaplain John Sands[15]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Footnotes
[edit]- ^ Dana commanded both XIII Corps and its 2nd Division.
Citations
[edit]- ^ CWA, 19th Iowa Infantry Regiment (2016).
- ^ NPS 19th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (2007).
- ^ Dyer (1908), p. 1173; Federal Publishing Company (1908), p. 156.
- ^ Dungan (1865), p. 9.
- ^ Dungan (1865), p. 54.
- ^ Dungan (1865), p. 62.
- ^ Dungan (1865), p. 76.
- ^ NPS 19th Iowa Infantry at Vicksburg (2007).
- ^ Dungan (1865), p. 100.
- ^ Dungan (1865), p. 155.
- ^ Thrift (1910), p. 234.
- ^ Dyer (1908), p. 1173.
- ^ a b c Thrift (1910), p. 235.
- ^ Thrift (1910), p. 237.
- ^ Thrift (1910), p. 236.
Sources
[edit]- Dungan, J. Irvine (1865). History of the Nineteenth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry (pdf). Davenport, IA: Luse & Griggs. p. 198. hdl:2027/uc1.31822038214011. OCLC 765755192. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. - Dyer, Frederick Henry (1908). A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion (PDF). Des Moines, IA: Dyer Pub. Co. pp. 1172–73. ASIN B01BUFJ76Q. hdl:2027/mdp.39015026937642. LCCN 09005239. OCLC 8697590. Retrieved October 20, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- Federal Publishing Company (1908). Military Affairs and Regimental Histories of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, California, Oregon, The Territories and District of Columbia (PDF). The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States, 1861–65 – Records of the Regiments in the Union army – Cyclopedia of battles – Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. Vol. IV. Madison, WI: Federal Publishing Company. pp. 156–157. hdl:2027/wu.89059483164. OCLC 1086145633. Retrieved July 11, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- Thrift, William H. (1910). 17th-31st Regiments, Infantry (pdf). Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion. Vol. III. Des Moines, IA: Iowa Adjutant General's Office. pp. 223–338. hdl:2027/miun.aby1249.0003.001. LCCN 08028844. OCLC 2222361. Retrieved 8 December 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- "19th Iowa Infantry Regiment". The Civil War Archive. 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
- "Battle Unit Details, 19th Regiment, Iowa Infantry". nps.gov. U.S. National Park Service. January 19, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- "19th Iowa Infantry at Vicksburg". nps.gov. U.S. National Park Service. January 19, 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
