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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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