The Sixth Iowa Infantry

This regiment was organized in June and July, 1861, and was made up of companies raised chiefly in the counties of Linn, Lucas, Wayne, Clarke, Monroe, Hardin, Franklin, Appanoose, Johnson, Lee and Henry. It consisted of about 900 men, and its first field officers were John A. McDowell, colonel; Markoe Cummins, lieutenant-colonel; John M. Corse, major. It entered the service in August, and was sent to reinforce General Fremont's army. In 1862, it was sent to Pittsburg Landing, and saw its first battle on the bloody field of Shiloh. The regiment held a position on the extreme right of the army, and fought with great bravery, holding its position until all of its supports were driven back, when it retired in good order. Colonel McDowell was in command of a brigade, and the regiment was led by Capt. John Williams until he was wounded, when Capt. M. M. Walden took command. Lieutenant-Colonel Cummins was under arrest, and Major Corse was on Pope's staff. The loss of the regiment was heavy. In 1863, Colonel McDowell resigned and J. M. Corse was promoted to colonel of the regiment. At the siege of Jackson, the Sixth Iowa did good service, and received the special commendation of General Smith. Colonel Corse was promoted to brigadier-general and placed in command of the Fourth brigade, in which the Sixth Iowa was now placed. The Sixth was in the battle of Missionary Ridge, and lost sixty-nine men; it was now commanded by Lieut. Col. J. A. Miller. In May, 1864, this regiment joined Sherman's army in its march to the sea. It fought bravely at the battles of Resaca, Dallas, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta and Jonesboro. Colonel Miller was wounded at Dallas, and the command devolved on Major Ennis, who was mortally wounded before Atlanta. Capt. W. H. Chine now took command of the regiment and led it through the desperate battle. Its losses in the campaign were 159, and its numbers were now reduced to 120 men fit for duty. It fought bravely to the end of the campaign, and at the close marched to Richmond, and was at Washington in the grand review, where but 284 out of the 900 who entered the service responded to the roll call.  Its losses in battles amounted in the aggregate to 115 killed, 375 wounded and sixty-seven captured.

SOURCE, Benjamin F. Gue, Biographies And Portraits Of The Progressive Men Of Iowa, Volume 1, p. 94