ENLISTED as a private in Company F, 16th Iowa, January 27, 1862, and was promoted to Quartermaster-Sergeant of the regiment. The following was written by the late Lieutenant Madison R. Laird, of the same company : —
"John W. Dewey was in the battle of Shiloh, on the 6th and 7th of April, 1862; in the siege of Corinth, during April and May, 1862; in the battle of Iuka, September 19, 1862; in all of the marches and skirmishes of the regiment until the 8th of February, 1863, when he was promoted to quartermaster-sergeant. He served during the campaign that reduced Vicksburg, and after this he reenlisted as a veteran volunteer, and with his regiment joined Sherman's army at Big Shanty, Ga. He was engaged with it in all of the skirmishes and battles in front of Kenesaw Mountain, where he was killed July 7th, 1864, by the explosion of a shell from the rebel batteries in front of Nickojack works."
The following particulars of the manner of his death are given by Lieutenant Hope, Quartermaster 16th Iowa, in a letter written to Colonel Dewey of Des Moines : —
"He was on duty at the time — evening July 7th, at 7 o'clock. The Rebels commenced shelling our works — the heaviest shelling I ever experienced. A shell bursted near us, one piece hitting John in the left side, and another small piece in the head, killing him instantly. Either wound would have caused death. He was not mangled except in the side, and when laid out he had more the appearance of being asleep than dead. John was a great favorite in the whole regiment. Many were the tears shed by the group of friends gathered round, when at midnight the coffin was consigned to the grave. Colonel Sanders, though accustomed to look on death, on seeing John's remains, wept like a child."
He was very companionable, and made many friends. I am not aware that he had any enemies except the enemies of his country. General Crocker always spoke of him in the most complimentary terms. It was through the influence of General Crocker that he was promoted. Had Dewey lived, still higher promotion awaited him.
Born in Westfield, Mass., his early life was mainly spent in Lebanon, N. H., his home for many years. He received a very good academical education. Came to Iowa in 1850, at twenty years of age; thought of entering into the practice of law with his uncle, J. N. Dewey, of Des Moines, but the gold excitement took him to the mountains in 1860. He returned to Des Moines in the fall of the same year; taught a term of school during the winter; returned to Colorado in the spring of 1861; came to Des Moines again in the fall, and began recruiting a company for the 16th Iowa, himself enlisting as a private.
After the battle of Shiloh, he spent a few weeks in Des Moines on sick leave, and resumed his place again in the ranks; returned again to Des Moines on a few weeks' furlough after the capture of Vicksburg.
He was hopeful and cheerful; bore misfortune with the composure of a philosopher; he made the best of everything; a man of strict morals.
SOURCE: Leonard Brown, American Patriotism: Or, Memoirs Of "Commen Men", p.230
