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7th Iowa
Infantry
in the American Civil War
| Regimental History |
| Seventh Iowa Infantry. — Cols., Jacob G. Lauman, Elliott W. Rice; Lieut.
-Cols., Augustus Wentz, James C. Parrott; Majs. Elliott W. Rice, James W. McMullin, Samuel
Mahon. This regiment was organized in June and July, 1861. Most of the companies were
mustered in July 23, the remainder on Aug. 2. On Aug. 6 the regiment moved to St. Louis
and went into Jefferson barracks. Being armed in a few days it proceeded to Pilot Knob,
thence to Ironton to take part in the movement against the forces in Missouri. From this
point it moved via Jackson to Cape Girardeau, where it embarked for Cairo, Ill. After
remaining at Fort Holt a short time it moved to Mayfield creek, near Columbus, Ky., where
it was joined by Lieut. -Col. Wentz. It next proceeded to Fort Jefferson, near Norfolk,
Mo., thence to Bird's Point and to Norfolk. It accompanied the troops to Belmont, where it
took part in an engagement with the enemy occupying that place, the conduct of the 7th
being admirable and winning the praise of Gen. Grant in the work of cutting a way through
the enemy's lines after the command was shut off from the river, and losing in the affair
227 in killed, wounded and missing, Col. Lauman being severely wounded, Lieut. -Col. Wentz
killed, and Maj. Rice receiving a bullet in the leg. The regiment passed two months at
Benton barracks, Capt. Parrott of Co. E being promoted to lieutenant-colonel. From St.
Louis the regiment started for the south on Jan. 13, 1862. Twenty miles down the steamer
was frozen up in the middle of the river, and after waiting two days for ice to break the
regiment went ashore and moved back to St. Louis. Moving by rail to Cairo, it proceeded to
Smithland, Ky., thence to Fort Henry, joined the movement on Fort Donelson, took part in
the siege and assault of that place and remained until March, when it proceeded to
Pittsburg landing and was in the battle of Shiloh. It fought gallantly in the "Iowa
Brigade" commanded by Col. J. M. Tuttle, which repulsed four charges and held its
position for 6 hours, but was compelled to fall back under a murderous fire. On the second
day it charged and captured a battery. Col. Lauman was promoted to the command of a
brigade and Maj. Rice was made colonel, being succeeded by Capt. James W. McMullin of Co.
C as major. On April 27 the regiment joined in the movement on Corinth and on its
evacuation took part in the pursuit as far as Booneville. It then went into camp at
Corinth until the last of September, having been in reserve at the battle of Iuka. At
Corinth it was actively engaged in October, losing nearly one third of its numbers
engaged. After a short period at Rienzi and Kossuth, it went into camp at Bone Yard, where
it remained for a month, when it returned to Corinth for the winter. The summer of 1863
was passed in the work of scouting, foraging and train guard service at Bethel, Tenn., and
Corinth, and most of the summer and fall at Moscow and Lagrange. The regiment went into
winter quarters at Pulaski in November. Three-fourths of the men reenlisted in December
and were given furlough on Jan. 20, 1864. Leaving Keokuk on Feb. 27, with 200 recruits,
the regiment returned to Pulaski, but almost immediately moved to Prospect, Ala., and
joined the army in the Atlanta campaign April 27. It was heavily engaged at the Oostanaula
river where it was sent forward with an Indiana regiment to discover the enemy's left
flank. The two regiments found the enemy in position and charged his flank so fiercely
that he was driven from the field in confusion, the 7th losing 7 killed and 50 wounded,
while the enemy lost 36 killed and about 250 wounded. The 7th took part in nearly every
engagement in the march upon Atlanta, after which it went into camp at Rome until the
forward movement for Savannah was begun. From Savannah the regiment made the wearisome
march through the Carolinas, reaching Goldsboro March 24, 1865. From Raleigh it marched
thence to Richmond and Washington, participated in the grand review, then went to
Louisville, where it was mustered out soon afterward. Its original strength was 902; gain
by recruits, 236, total 1,138. Col. Rice was made a brigadier-general, and James C.
Parrott, who had been made lieutenant-colonel, commanded the regiment during the latter
part of the war. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 4
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