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Roster and Record of Iowa Troops In the Rebellion, Vol. 5
By Guy E. Logan
HISTORICAL SKETCH
THIRTY-SECOND REGIMENT IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
On the 9th day of July, 1862, Samuel J. Kirkwood. Governor of Iowa issued the following
proclamation:
I have this day received from the Secretary of War a telegram, requesting me to raise as soon
as practicable, for the United States service, for three years or during the war, five regiments of
Volunteer Infantry. being a part of the quota of this State, under the late call of the President for
300,000 men. The preservation Of the Union, the perpetuity of our Government, the honor of our
State, demand that this requisition stall be promptly met. Our harvest is upon us, and we have
feared a lack of force to secure it. But we must imitate our brave Iowa boys in the field, meet
new emergencies with new exertions. Our old men and our boys unfit for war, if need be, our
women, must help to gather harvests, while those able to bear arms go forth to aid their brave
brethren in the field. The necessity is urgent. Our national existence is at stake. The more
promptly the President is furnished the needed troops, the more speedily will this unholy
rebellion be crushed, and the blessings of peace again visit our land. Until then we must expect
the hardships and privations of war. The time has come when men must make—as many have
already made—sacrifices of ease, comfort and business, for the cause of the country. The enemy,
by a sweeping conscription, have forced into their ranks all men capable of bearing arms. Our
Government has, as yet, relied upon the voluntary action of our citizens. But, if need be, the
same energies must be exerted to preserve our government that traitors are using to destroy it. To
simplify and systematize the raising of these regiments, I have assigned one to each of the First,
Second, Third and Fourth Congressional Districts, and one to the Fifth and Sixth together. This
will prevent interference in recruiting, and enable those from the same section to go to the field
together. Which District. will have its regiment first in the field? Places of rendezvous for the
different regiments will be designated when I receive notice of their destination. I will
necessarily be absent for some weeks at Washington. Meantime all information in regard to the
new regiments can be obtained from Adjutant General Baker, at Clinton.
1 Report of Adjutant General of Iowa, 1863, Vol. 2, pages 110-11.
Iowa City, JULY 9, 1862.
The patriotic sons of Iowa promptly responded to this earnest appeal Of the Governor. The
Thirty-second Infantry was one of the five regiments that were organized and sent to the field in
compliance with this call 0f the President. Recruiting began as soon as the Governor's
proclamation was published. CampFranklin, near Dubuque, Iowa, was designated by the
Governor as the rendezvous Of the regiment. The ten companies were ordered into quarters as
fast as their organizations Were completed. It would appear, from the wide discrepancy in dates
upon which the orders were given, that some of the companies had been partially, if not wholly,
organized in anticipation of the call, as the dates of the orders ranged from July 3 to September 8,
1862. Upon the latter date the companies had all assembled at CampFranklin, and, on the 6th
day of October, 1862, they were there mustered into the service of the United States, by Captain
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George S. Pierce, of the Regular Army, and the organization of the regiment was completed by
the muster in of the field and staff officers on the same date.
Colonel John Scott had resigned the office of Lieutenant Colonel of the Third Iowa Infantry,
upon being tendered the appointment—by Governor Kirkwood—of the office of Colonel of the
Thirty-second Infantry. Upon the recommendation of Colonel Scott, the Governor appointed
Edward H. Mix, Lieutenant Colonel, and Gustavus A. Eberhart, Major, of the regiment. These
officers had all had the benefit of experience as soldiers in one of the first regiments that the
State had sent into the field (the Third Iowa Infantry), and had fully demonstrated their fitness
and capacity to properly discharge the duties of their respective offices. The staff officers were
all men of high character and ability, and the regiment was fortunate in their selection. The same
may be said of the company officers. An examination of the roster of the Thirty-second Iowa
will show that the average age of both officers and men was greater than that of the earlier
regiments, and there was a proportionately larger number of married men among them. The
records show that there was an aggregate number of 925 men and officers in the regiment, at the
date of its muster into the service. 3 During its stay at CampFranklin, the time was utilized to the
best advantage, and, when the regiment left the State, it had probably acquired a better general
knowledge of the duties it would be called upon to perform than most of the regiments which
preceded it had been able to obtain prior to leaving their rendezvous.
On November 16, 1862, the regiment embarked on transports and was conveyed to St. Louis,
Mo., and went into quarters at Benton Barracks. On November 25th, by order of Major General
Curtis, commanding Department of Missouri Companies B, G. E, H, I and K, with the
regimental headquarters, left St. Louis and were conveyed to New Madrid, Mo., and, on the next
day, Companies A, D, F and G, under command of Major Eberhart, were conveyed to Cape
Garardeau, Mo. From this time until March 4, 1864, the operations of the detachment of the four
companies under Major Eberhart and the six companies under Colonel Scott were distinct,
separate and independent of each other. The compiler is, therefore, confronted with the necessity
of writing a condensed history of the movements and operations of each portion of the regiment;
prior to the time it was reunited, and then taking up tile history of the regiment as a whole,
during the remainder of its term of service. To do this, under the limitation of space to which he
is subjected, becomes a difficult task. With the wealth of material at his command, it would be a
comparatively easy undertaking to compile a more extended history, but it will be his endeavor
to include in this condensed sketch the most important events in which the regiment, either as a
whole or in part, participated.
The compiler of this Historical Sketch can speak from personal knowledge with regard to the
eminent fitness of these appointments. All three of these officers had been his comrades in the
old Third Iowa Infantry. He had seen their bravery and efficiency thoroughly tested on the field
of battle, and, while he regretted to see them sever their relations with the old "Third," he was
gratified when these well-deserved promotions came to them. Every survivor of the Third and
Thirty-second Regiments of Iowa Infantry can bear cheerful testimony as to the high character of
these officers and their splendid achievements in their country's service.
Report of Adjutant General of Iowa, 1863, Vol. 1, page ix, and 1863, Vol. 2, pages 35 to 67.
Original Roster of the Regiment.
Upon arriving at New Madrid with the six companies of his regiment, Colonel Scott, in
accordance with his instructions, assumed command of the post. It did not take him long to
discover that, prior to his arrival, disloyal men had been favored and protected; that large
amounts of merchandise of all descriptions had been distributed from New Madrid and had gone
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beyond the Union lines, into the possession of those who were engaged in armed rebellion.
Negroes, who had escaped and sought protection of the Union soldiers, had been returned to
slavery. Colonel Scott did not believe in tile policy of conciliating those who were in full
sympathy with the rebellion and who were. active in their efforts to furnish aid and comfort to
the enemy. The most active of those rebel sympathizers was a man who was not a naturalized
citizen of the United States, and who claimed the protection of the British Government. The
General in command of the Department listened to the protests of those who wanted to have
Colonel Scott removed from the . command of the post and—strange as it may appear—seemed
inclined to.
On the 17th of December, a detachment from Colonel Scott's command, command of
Companies C and I, under command of Captain Peebles, made a reconnaissance into the country
west of New Madrid. The detachment was absent five days, marched about one hundred miles,
and captured eight prisoners and a quantity of arms and stock. It discovered no considerable
force of the enemy, and showed that the report that a large rebel force was moving with a
detachment from his command, embarked on the steamer "Davenport" and proceeded on a tour
of examination of the points along the river at which illicit trade (or smuggling goods into the
enemy's lines) was being carried on, with the view to prevent same, as far as it was possible to do
so with the resources at his command. On his return from this trip, Colonel Scott reported to
General Thomas A. Davies, at Columbus, Ky., who had command of the Military District of
Columbus, and who claimed that the post of New Madrid was included in his district, and was
supported in that statement by General Fisk, who was present and who had just returned from the
headquarters of General Curtis in St. Louis. Up to that time Colonel Scott had receive his orders
direct from General Curtis. General Davies stated that it was necessary that Colonel Scott should
at once abandon the post at New Madrid, and proceed with his command to FortPillow, which
was in danger of being captured by the enemy. Feeling that General Davies was his superior
officer, Colonel Scott took the precaution to request a written order, which was given, as follows:
Columbus, December 27, 1862.
Colonel Scott, Commanding Thirty-second Iowa, New Madrid:
Will you immediately proceed to New Madrid, burn the gun carriages and wooden platforms,
and spike the guns and destroy the ammunition totally. Take the same boat and proceed to Fort
Pillow, under convoy of gunboat, and report to Colonel Wolfe, commanding at that place.
Thomas A. Davies, Brigadier General.
Colonel Scott, having made personal protest against the necessity for this order, proceeded to
obey it, and carried out his instructions to the letter. He proceeded with his command to Fort
Pillow and reported to the commander.
4 Report of Adjutant General of Iowa, 1866, pages 297, 298 and 299. Statement of Colonel
Scott, showing the conflict of orders of general officers, the demoralized condition of affairs
which prevailed in that portion of the Military Department of Missouri, and the difficulties with
which he had to contend.
Colonel Wolfe, for duty. General Curtis censured Colonel Scott for obeying the order of
General Davies, and a Military Commission was appointed to investigate the matter and report
its findings to General Curtis. After a full and complete investigation, the Commission found that
Colonel Scott did right in obeying the order, that he simply performed his duty, and was
honorably acquitted of all blame. 6 The report was signed by Brigadier General William K.
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Strong, President, and Colonel Albert G. Brackett, Recorder, of the Commission, and the
findings were approved by General Curtis, and thus Colonel Scott was completely vindicated
from the unjust censure, not only by the Commission, but by General Curtis himself. It is the first
duty of the soldier to obey orders, otherwise it would be impossible to maintain discipline. There
were many instances in which subordinate officers yielded prompt obedience to orders which, as
subsequent events proved, were unwise and should not have been given, but the officer in
authority had the right to demand obedience, and those under his command were bound to obey,
no matter what their opinion might be as to the wisdom or unwisdom of the order. It will,
therefore, be seen that Colonel Scott simply acted the part of a true soldier, and gave a good
example to the officers and men of 0a own regiment, who, like himself, could not see the
necessity for abandoning the post.
The headquarters of the regiment remained at FortPillow until June 18, 1863. During a part
of this time Company B, with Captain A. B. Miller in command, occupied the poet at Fulton,
Tenn., three miles below FortPillow. Detachments were sent on scouts in the vicinity of the fort,
from time to time, acting in conjunction with the Second Illinois Cavalry, and occasionally these
scouting parties came into contact with the enemy, but the fighting which took place mainly
devolved upon the cavalry which proceeded in advance, the infantry following as a support in
case the enemy were found in considerable force, which was seldom the case. Garrison duty and
daily drill was the principal duty of the troops at FortPillow. On the 17th and 18th Or June,
1863, the six companies of the Thirty-second Iowa embarked on transports and were conveyed to
Columbus, Ky., at which place they went into camp and remained until January 21,1864.
On July 10, 1863, Union City was captured by a force of rebels; This place was twenty-six
miles south of Columbus, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. Colonel Scott received orders to
proceed with 0a command by rail to Union City, which order was promptly obeyed, but the
enemy abandoned the place and retreated rapidly before Colonel Scott's command arrived and, in
obedience to orders from General Asboth, the Colonel returned with his troops to Columbus. On
July 11,1863, Colonel Scott succeeded to the command of the post of Columbus. .At this time
Company C, Captain Peebles commanding, was mounted and attached to the Fourth Missouri
Cavalry, for scouting duty. Company E:, under Captain Jones, was sent to FortQuimby, near
Columbus, and Companies H and K, under Captain Benson, were sent to Island Number Ten.
This left only Companies B and I on duty at regimental headquarters, with Captain A. B. Miller
in command, Lieutenant Colonel Mix being absent at that time, as President of a Court-martial at
Cairo, Ill. The service performed by Company C, with the Fourth Missouri Cavalry, was arduous
and important regiment was constantly in pursuit of roving bands of the enemy, engaged in
securing and forwarding conscripts to the rebel army, and in committing depredations upon the
property of loyal citizens in the surrounding regions. of Kentucky and Tennessee. These
expeditions extended over hundreds of miles and involved much hardship to the troops engaged
in them.
5 Report of Adjutant General of Iowa, 1866, page 298.
The two companies at Island Number Ten also made frequent expeditions upon both sides of
the river, in one of which John D. Baker, of Company H, was filled.
On January 20,1864, Colonel Scott received orders to assemble the six companies of his
regiment at Columbus, where they shortly afterwards embarked and were conveyed to
Vicksburg, Miss., where they disembarked and went into camp. General Sherman was just then
"completing his preparations for that remarkable expedition which penetrated into the heart of
the State of Mississippi and inflicted a telling blow to the rebellion, in that portion of the South,
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from which it never fully recovered. Colonel Scott's detachment of the Thirty-second Iowa was
assigned to the Second Brigade of' the Third Division of the Sixteenth Army Corps; Colonel
William T. Shaw of the Fourteenth Iowa Infantry was in command of' the brigade; Brigadier
General A. J. Smith commanded the division, and Major General S. A. Hurlbut was in command
of the corps. The army left Vicksburg on the 3rd day of February, and returned to that place on
March 4, 1864, having marched 328 miles. The troops had been supplied with but ten days
rations when the march began, and, after that supply was exhausted, lived upon such food as
could be obtained in the country through which they passed. This involved the necessity of
sending out forage trains every day, with large details to guard them; as the enemy's cavalry in
large force hovered in front and upon either flank of General Sherman's army, which was
composed of' the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Corps and one division of cavalry. There wee more
or leas fighting every day, mainly done by the cavalry which led the advance and by the infantry
which constituted the guard to forage trains. The troops had no tents while on this expedition and