This regiment was composed of companies raised in the counties of Marion, Poweshiek, Mahaska, Jasper, Keokuk and Benton. It was called by some the "copperhead regiment," because a large number of anti-war democrats were among it, men and officers, but the truth is, a majority of its members were republicans. It went into camp at Iowa City, in September, October and November, 1862, being a long time filling up the ranks. Its field officers were John A. Garrett, colonel; Samuel F. Cooper, lieutenant-colonel and Sherman G. Smith, major, and it numbered about 900 men. In December the regiment was sent to Columbus, Ky., where it remained during the winter, and in March it moved to Paducah, where it stayed three months. For several months it was on the Yazoo and at Helena, and in July was with General Steele in his expedition against Little Rock. In March, 1864, General Steele's army moved from Little Rock towards Camden, and on its retreat the battle of Jenkins' Ferry was fought on the 30th of March. The Fortieth did good service in this battle and lost forty-five men. The retreat after the battle was through mud and storms, and without food. Men and horses sunk down in the swamps exhausted by fatigue and hunger, and a more woebegone army has seldom been seen. In February, 1865, the regiment was under General Bussey in the Fort Smith district, and later was at Fort Gibson, where Colonel Garrett was in command of the district of Kansas and Indian Territory. On the 2d of August it was mustered out of the service and returned home.
Of all the captains who went into the service when the regiment was organized, but one remained in command to the end—Capt. E W. Ridden, of Company F, all the others having resigned or been discharged.
SOURCE: Benjamin F. Gue, Biographies And Portraits Of The Progressive Men Of Iowa, Volume 1, p. 118-9
No comments:
Post a Comment