The Thirty Eighth Iowa Infantry

This regiment was made up of companies raised in the counties of Howard, Chickasaw, Bremer, Winneshiek and Fayette. It went into camp near Dubuque in August, 1862, and numbered about 900 when it was mustered into the service on the 4th of November. The field officers were David H. Hughes, colonel; Joseph O. Hodnutt, lieutenant-colonel, and Charles Chadwick, major. In December it embarked for St. Louis, and soon after was sent to hold New Madrid, where it stayed until June, 1863. From there it was sent to General Grant's army before Vicksburg, and took part in the siege. Later it was sent to Port Hudson, where it suffered fearfully from disease; at one time there were but eight officers and twenty privates fit for duty. Among those who died here from disease were Colonel Hughes, Captain Tinkham and Lieutenant Stevens, all excellent officers. The regiment was at this time almost a wreck, and went into convalescent camp at Carrollton, La.

In October, the regiment was sent into Texas, and in July, 1864, returned to New Orleans, and from there joined the expedition against Mobile. After the capture of that city, it returned to New Orleans, and in January, 1865, the Thirty-eighth was consolidated with the Thirty-fourth, and Lieutenant-Colonel Hodnutt was honorably discharged. The regiment, as a distinct organization, now ceased to exist, a large number of its survivors forming a portion of the Thirty fourth. Its history was a sad one, as its colonel and 300 of its officers and men had in two years perished from disease, and 100 more were discharged as invalids. There were many long, weary weeks when it had not enough well members to care for the sick or bury the dead. It was composed of as good and brave men as any that Iowa sent into the service, but the deadly malaria of southern swamps nearly destroyed it, and the fortunes of war kept it from participating in the great campaigns and victories of the war, while its sacrifices were not surpassed by any.

SOURCE: Benjamin F. Gue, Biographies And Portraits Of The Progressive Men Of Iowa, Volume 1, p. 116 & 118