The Twenty-First Iowa Infantry.

This regiment was organized in August, 1862, and numbered 976 men. The companies were recruited chiefly in the counties of Dubuque, Black Hawk, Worth, Clayton and Delaware. Its field officers were Samuel Merrill, colonel; C. W. Dunlap, lieutenant-colonel; and S. G. Van Anda, major. The regiment was mustered into service at Clinton, and in September was sent to Rolla, Mo., and in October was placed in a brigade with the Thirty-third Missouri and the Ninety-ninth Illinois, with some cavalry and artillery, under command of Gen. Fitz Henry Warren, of Iowa. In January, 1863, a force of 1,000 men with artillery was sent to reinforce the garrison at Springfield, under command of Colonel Merrill. On the morning of the 11th it encountered General Marmaduke's army near Hartsville, retreating from Springfield. A sharp engagement took place, lasting several hours, when Merrill retreated, having exhausted his ammunition, with a loss of but seventy-eight men. The enemy had not less than 2,500 men in this battle and gained no advantage, and lost several good officers. The Twenty-first regiment was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Dunlap and fought bravely, losing twenty-one men. Among the wounded was Colonel Dunlap. In February the regiment made a very hard march from Houston to Iron Mountain, in which it suffered greatly from cold, hunger and insufficient clothing, many of the men being without shoes. In Maroh the regiment was sent down the river to Milliken's Bend, and soon after joined McClernand's corps for the Vicksburg campaign. At the battle of Port Gibson, April 30, 1863, the Twenty- first Iowa was in the advance, four companies supporting the First Iowa battery, Captain Griffith, and had a lively fight with the enemy on that day. In the severe battle which came on the next day the Twenty-first fought well in Colonel Stone's brigade with the Twenty-second and Twenty-third and lost quite a number of men, Lieutenant-Colonel Dunlap being again wounded. At the battle of Black River Bridge on the 17th, the Twenty-first made a fine charge and fought with great courage. Colonel Merrill in command, was severely wounded. Its loss was about eighty in killed and wounded. In the assault on Vicksburg, May 22d, the Twenty-first was prominently engaged and Lieutenant-Colonel Dunlap was among the slain and Major Van Anda was wounded; the total loss of the regiment was 113. After the surrender of Vicksburg it was sent with the army that pursued Johnston and lost fifteen men at Jackson. In August the regiment was sent to Texas, now under command of Captain Crooke, who had been promoted to major. After many changes of place the regiment was finally sent to join the expedition against Mobile and took an active part in the campaign, after which it was mustered out of the service.

SOURCE, Benjamin F. Gue, Biographies And Portraits Of The Progressive Men Of Iowa, Volume 1, p. 104 & 106