Posted: 16 Nov 2011 08:00 AM PST
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The Eighteenth Iowa Infantry
This regiment was made up of companies raised
largely in the counties of Lucas, Clarke, Monroe, Keokuk, Iowa, Mahaska,
Muscatine, Louisa, Linn, Wapello, Appanoose, Marion, Warren, Polk, Fayette,
Benton, Clinton and Washington. It was mustered into the service early in
August, 1862, with John Edwards, colonel; Thos. F. Cook, lieutenant-colonel,
and Hugh J. Campbell, major, and numbered 875 men. It was sent to southwest
Missouri and joined General Schofield's army at Springfield. Here it did
garrison duty for a long time, and in January, 1863, took part in the defense
of that city against the Confederate army, under General Marmaduke. This
general, with an army of over 4,000 men, well supplied with artillery, moved
against Springfield which was then held by General Brown with Missouri militia,
some invalid soldiers in hospital and the Eighteenth Iowa Volunteers, in all,
about 1,500 men. There were some unfinished forts about the city, but not in
condition to aid much in the defense. When the battle opened on the morning of
January 8th, five companies of the Eighteenth regiment were absent on outpost
duty. The Missouri militia did excellent service, charging on the right and
center of the advancing army. Captain Landis' battery supported by three
companies of the Eighteenth Iowa, advanced on the enemy, but a charge in
overwhelming numbers captured his guns, and the rebel army continued to
advance. General Brown was severely wounded and the command devolved on Colonel
Crabb. When the militia were driven back by superior numbers at about 4
o'clock, the five companies of the Eighteenth came in from their outpost and,
under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Cook, charged on the rebel center,
compelling it to give way. When night came on we still held the city and in the
morning of the 9th our troops were ready to renew the battle, but the enemy had
retreated with a loss of more than 200 men. Our loss was about the same. The
Eighteenth remained at Springfield a long time after this battle, holding
southwest Missouri from General Shelby's rebel army and driving it out of the
state. In October the Eighteenth was stationed at Fort Smith. In March, 1864,
it joined General Thayer and marched to unite with General Steele's army moving
towards Shreveport, La., to co-operate with General Banks. But when that
general was defeated at Mansfield Steele marched towards Camden, and at Moscow
was attacked by a rebel army. Colonel Edwards commanded a brigade and had quite
a lively fight in which the Eighteenth lost a few men. In guarding a forage
train near Poison Springs, the Eighteenth and First Kansas had a severe battle
in which the Iowa regiment fought bravely and lost seventy-seven men. The
regiment was mustered out late in the summer of 1865.
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SOURCE, Benjamin F. Gue, Biographies And Portraits Of The Progressive Men Of Iowa, Volume 1,
p. 103
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