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18th Iowa
Infantry
in the American Civil War
| Regimental History |
| Eighteenth Iowa Infantry.— Cols., John Edwards, Hugh J.
Campbell; Lieut. -Cols., Thomas F. Cook, Hugh J. Campbell; Majs., Hugh
J. Campbell, Joseph K. Morey. This regiment was mustered in Aug. 5, 6
and 7, 1862. Soon after it moved to Springfield via St. Louis and
Sedalia, joined the Army of the Southwest under Schofield, and marched
through Missouri into Arkansas. Returning to Springfield, it formed a
part of the garrison there during the winter. On Jan. 8, 1863,
Marmaduke's forces, numbering over 5,000 men, attacked the garrison,
which consisted of not to exceed 1,500 men, the 18th being the only
regular organization there, with detachments of several Missouri
regiments, citizens and quite a number of convalescents in the
hospitals. The fight commenced about noon and continued with varying
success until almost night, the enemy gaining ground at times only to
lose it by some daring charge, the tide being turned just before dark by
the coming up of five companies of the l8th, which had been stationed at
an outpost. They entered into the fight with such energy that the enemy
was driven into a stockade at the outskirts of town and declined to give
battle the following day, having lost more than 200 in killed and
wounded. The loss of the regiment was 56 in killed and wounded and the
loss of the entire Union force was about 200. The regiment remained at
Springfield about a year, being denied the privilege of participating in
the stirring scenes that were bringing glory to its sister regiments,
but performing well the duties so necessary in guarding the border at
that time. Col. Edwards assumed command of the post in April, and in the
fall was in temporary command of the district of southwestern Missouri,
and later in command of his regiment, which formed part of the force
that made Shelby throw aside his artillery and much of his baggage to
escape his pursuers. Reaching Fort Smith, Ark., on Oct. 30, the regiment
was assigned to garrison duty and spent the winter there. Col. Edwards
being placed in command of the post. In March, 1864, the regiment moved
with Steele's forces to Arkadelphia, Col. Edwards being in command of
the brigade to which the 18th was assigned. The command joined Thayer's
forces at Elkin's ferry, the intention being to effect a junction with
Banks. When the retreat of Banks was learned the entire command moved to
Camden. It was engaged at Prairie d'Ane and at Moscow, where Edwards'
brigade stood the brunt of the attack and on being reinforced drove the
enemy for several miles. After some ten days at Camden the regiment
engaged in a severe battle. With one section of the 2nd Ind. battery, it
was sent to reinforce Col. Williams of the 1st Kan. Colored regiment,
guarding a forage train. The force was attacked by several thousand
troopers, the Kansas regiment receiving the first shock, and giving way,
crowded through the lines of the 18th and left it to take up the fight
alone. Seven fierce charges were repelled, more than its own numbers
were put out of action, but it was finally surrounded, when, with fixed
bayonets, it cut its way out and reached Camden, having sustained a loss
of 77 in killed, wounded and missing. The wretched three weeks' retreat
to Little Rock followed. Col. Edwards holding the reserve and guarding
the ordnance train at the battle of Jenkins' ferry. Resuming its duty as
garrison at Fort Smith, the regiment moved on numerous minor expeditions
and was often compelled to forage to keep from actual starvation, the
river below being blockaded. Col. Edwards was promoted to
brigadier-general and was succeeded as colonel by Lieut. -Col. Campbell.
The regiment marched to Fort Gibson in November to meet a supply train
from Fort Scott, but finding it had not arrived, set out on the evening
of the 27th with two ears of corn each and one tablespoonful of coffee
for each mess of four, as rations, and found the train over 100 miles
distant four days later. The regiment passed the winter and spring in
alternate starvation and plenty, remaining on garrison duty at Fort
Smith until the latter part of the summer of 1865, when it was mustered
out. Its original strength was 866; gain by recruits, 9; total, 875. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 4
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