| If this website has been useful to you, please consider
making a Donation.
Your support will help keep this website free for everyone, and will allow us to do
more research. Thank you for your support! |
13th Iowa
Infantry
in the American Civil War
| Regimental History |
| Thirteenth Iowa Infantry. — Cols., Marcellus M.
Crocker, John Shane, James C. Wilson; Lieut. -Cols., Milton M. Price,
John Shane, James C. Wilson, Justin C. Kennedy; Majs., John Shane,
George M. Van Hosen, James C. Wilson, William A. Walker, Thomas P.
Marshall, A. J. Pope. This regiment was organized in the summer and fall
of 1861 and was mustered in between Oct. 18 and Nov. 2, by companies.
About Nov. 17 the regiment left for Benton barracks, where it remained
until Dec. 20, then went to Jefferson City, Mo., where it spent the
winter. On March 8 it left for Pittsburg landing, where it was assigned
to the 1st brigade, 1st division, Gen. McClernand commanding. At the
battle of Shiloh it was under fire for 10 hours the first day, losing 24
killed, 139 wounded and 9 missing. After the battle it was placed in the
1st ("Iowa") brigade, Col. Crocker commanding, of the 6th division.
Lieut. -Col. Price resigning Maj. Shane was promoted to that position,
Capt. Van Hosen succeeding as major. It was in the siege of Corinth and
became part of the garrison when the place was evacuated. At the end of
July it marched to Bolivar in search of the enemy, but failed to come up
with him and returned to Corinth, where it took part in the battle in
October. The principal losses there were sustained by Cos. A and G,
which were deployed as skirmishers in the first day's engagement. It
returned to Memphis, Tenn., on the surrender of Holly Springs, the base
of supplies for the contemplated move on Vicksburg. About this time Maj.
Van Hosen resigned and was succeeded by Adjt. Wilson. The regiment
assisted in digging Lake Providence canal. On the reorganization of the
army Col. Crocker was made brigadier-general, being succeeded by
Lieut.-Col. Shane as colonel, Maj. Wilson was promoted to the latter
position and Capt. Walker was appointed major. The regiment repaired the
roads for the use of the army about Vicksburg, proceeded to Grand Gulf,
thence to Haynes' bluff, but soon returned and took place on the left of
the line of investment. In the latter part of May it was part of a force
to make a reconnoissance toward Mechanicsburg, its brigade earning the
sobriquet of "Crocker's Greyhounds." On June 24 it moved out to take
part in the work of holding Johnston's forces from attacking the army's
rear, and was engaged in a skirmish on the day of the surrender of
Vicksburg. It escorted a supply train to Clinton, but returned on July
28 and assisted in clearing Yazoo river of the torpedoes and wrecked
gun-boats. It participated in the expedition to Monroe, La., after which
it went into quarters at Vicksburg until Feb. 4, 1864, when it joined
the movement towards Meridian. The veterans were given a furlough in
March and reached Cairo on April 16, with many recruits. It proceeded
via Clifton and Pulaski, Tenn., to Huntsville, Ala., and on May 20,
joined Sherman's army at Acworth, Ga. It was engaged at Kennesaw
mountain, was in a skirmish at Nickajack creek, and at Atlanta its
brigade made a charge to within 50 paces of the fort, being compelled to
lie down and fire. It retired in good order having lost 113 in killed
and wounded in less than 30 minutes. On July 22 most of Co. A, part of
G, and all of D and K, were captured while reinforcing the 11th and 16th
Ia. The regiment's loss in this battle was 149, Maj. Walker commanding,
being killed. In the battle of the 28th the regiment fought with great
bravery and joined with the remnant of the 3d Ia., in reinforcing a part
of the line which was being hard pressed. The 13th was engaged at
Jonesboro and Lovejoy's Station and joined in the pursuit of Hood in
October, going as far as Gaylesville, Ala. Its losses from the first day
at Kennesaw until the close of the Atlanta campaign were 331 in killed,
wounded and captured. At Marietta, on the return to Atlanta, Col. Shane
and several line officers were mustered out, their time expiring. It was
in the march to and siege of Savannah; took up the line of march through
the Carolinas; was engaged at Pocotaligo; at Columbia a portion of the
regiment crossed the river opposite the city ahead of the army, and
without orders hoisted the stars and stripes on the capitol while the
remainder of the command engaged in laying pontoon bridges some 3 miles
below the town. Previous to this the regiment on the skirmish line had
crossed a burning bridge at the North Edisto river and driven the enemy
out of Orangeburg. The regiment closed its fighting career at
Bentonville. At Goldsboro it was joined by a large number of recruits
and here Capt. Pope was made major in place of Maj. Marshall resigned.
The regiment proceeded to Washington after Johnston's surrender, took
part in the grand review, went into camp at Rock creek and later moved
to Louisville, Ky., where it was mustered out in July, 1865. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 4
|
Whats New
Bibliography
About Us
Share this page with your friends!
|