HOME! Welcome to Iowa, Part III

IOWA AND THE CIVIL WAR

During the Civil War, a disproportionate number of Iowans served the Union cause.  A draft was not needed in Iowa; Iowa had 12,000 more men than their quota. Although there was a strong anti-war "Copperhead" movement with settlers of southern origins and among Southern Catholics who stayed with the Democratic party, Iowa supported the Union, voting heavily for Lincoln and the Republicans.  Even though there were no battles in Iowa, the state sent large quantities of supplies and food to the armies and to eastern cities. More than 75,000 Iowa men served, primarily in units of the western armies. 13,000 died of wounds or disease. 8,500 Iowa men were wounded. 

Iowa, a new state, had no militia and the treasury was nearly bare when the Civil War started. Two days after the attack on Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861, President Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 volunteers.  Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, telegraphed Governor Kirkwood, "Call made on you by tonight's mail for one regiment of militia for immediate service."

The governor was at his farm near Iowa City and there were no telegraph lines in Iowa beyond Davenport.  The message was carried to the governor by Davenport's Congressman Vandever.  As he read the message, while doing his farm chores, the governor said, "Why, the President wants a whole regiment of men.  Do you suppose I can raise so many as that, Mr. Vandever?"

On April 17, the governor issued a proclamation calling for volunteers and asked that they be ready no later than May 20.  Within a few days, 10 regiments of men had signed up. The first regiment was formed and ready 2 weeks before the designated time.  At camp in Keokuk, 10 companies of 78 men each made up this first regiment.  Burlington, Muscatine, and Dubuque each sent 2 companies. Linn, Johnson, Henry, and Scott Counties, each furnished a company.

It was August, 1861, before any Iowa troops took part in an actual battle. Prior to this, Union troops had been in service in Missouri.  A state divided north-south, Missouri was a battleground from the start. The troops from Iowa spent most of their time running down small bands of rebels and Missouri "bushwackers."  

A Union army of 5,400 men, under General Lyon, met 12,000 southern soldiers at Wilson's Creek near Springfield.  The battle was fought on August 10, 1861. The First Iowa Regiment was in the center of a battle that lasted all day and suffered heavy losses. The Southern commander said:  "Probably no two forces ever fought with greater desperation."  President Lincoln ordered a special proclamation of thanks for the heroism of the men at Wilson's Creek.

The men of the First Iowa Regiment had enlisted for 3 months. Soon after the battle at Wilson's Creek their time was up and they marched home.  Many of them enlisted again in new companies.

With a population of just over 600,000, Iowa had provided 48 infantry regiments, 8 cavalry regiments, 4 artillery regiments, and one unassigned volunteer regiment before the war came to an end. After the war they returned to farm and turned Iowa into an agricultural giant.