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19th Iowa
Infantry
in the American Civil War
| Regimental History |
| Nineteenth Iowa Infantry. — Col., Benjamin Crabb;
Lieut. -Cols., Samuel McFarland, Daniel Kent, John Bruce; Majs., Daniel
Kent, John Bruce, Harry Jordan. This regiment was organized at Keokuk
and was mustered in between Aug. 17 and 28, 1862. In the early part of
September it proceeded to Benton barracks, St. Louis,, which it left a
week later for Rolla with a brigade commanded by Gen. Herron. From there
it moved to Springfield and three weeks later to Cassville. The command
formed a junction with Gen. Blunt's forces at Sugar creek on Oct. 18,
and two days later proceeded to Bloomington, thence to Cross Hollow,
where it remained ten days, when it retraced its steps without having
met the enemy, and went into camp at Twin springs. It fought at the
battle of Prairie Grove, where Lieut. -Col. McFarland was killed and the
regiment lost 198 in killed, wounded and missing out of 500 engaged.
Cos. A, B and C were detached as skirmishers in the early part of the
day and were engaged in as sharp fighting as any part of the command.
Maj. Kent was appointed lieutenant-colonel, and Capt. John Bruce was
commissioned major. The regiment accompanied the army to Van Buren, that
city being captured, together with a large quantity of supplies, after
which it returned to camp at Prairie Grove, but moved thence to
Fayetteville and Huntsville. Soon after the command moved to Carrollton,
thence to a point on the White river opposite Forsyth, Mo., finally
crossing and going into camp at that place. The regiment was left with a
squadron of the 1st Ia. cavalry as garrison and the remainder of the
force moved on. Some of Marmaduke's forces threatened Forsyth and many
buildings were torn down and used in construction of fortifications. In
April the regiment marched to Ozark, thence to Hartville, and reached
Salem on May 2, where it was temporarily assigned to the 1st division,
Gen. Thomas Ewing, Jr., commanding. On June 11 it embarked for Young's
point and on the 14th entered upon the siege of Vicksburg, remaining
until its surrender. It took part in the Yazoo expedition soon after,
then moved to Port Hudson, and finally to Carrollton. In September it
went into camp at Morganza where it was almost constantly engaged in
skirmishing. At the Stirling farm, 7 miles from Morganza, the regiment
with other detachments was attacked by largely superior numbers and
nearly surrounded, but the defense was so determined that the enemy was
compelled to fall back. He rallied and returned to the fight and finally
overpowered the little band, the 19th losing 241 in killed, wounded, and
missing or captured. The prisoners were taken to Texas and kept there
for nearly a year. At this time nearly two-thirds of the regiment were
absent on sick leave, consequently the organization of the regiment
remained intact. It proceeded with the division to New Orleans in
October; embarked with the expedition to Texas, and was part of the
force to land on the island of Brazos Santiago. It remained at
Brownsville on garrison duty until the latter part of July, 1864, when
it sailed for New Orleans and was met there by 180 of those who had been
captured at Stirling's farm the year previous. The regiment proceeded to
Pensacola, Fla., and went into camp at Barrancas, where it was joined by
three companies that had been left at Brazos Santiago. On Dec. 6 it
sailed for Fort Gaines, Ala., proceeded thence in the direction of East
Pascagoula, Miss., from where it made a foray toward Mobile, destroying
much property. Its last work was before Mobile where it distinguished
itself in the assault on Spanish Fort. It remained at Mobile until July,
when it was mustered out and returned to Iowa. Its original strength was
932; gain, by recruits, 3; total, 985. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 4
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