Iowa History Daily: On two September 30s during the early 1860s eastern Iowans mustered to participate in the American Civil War. On September 30, 1862 the 26th Iowa Infantry mustered at Clinton. The following fall the 8th Iowa Cavalry mustered at Davenport.
The 26th served valiantly initially in the Mississippi Theater, while the 8th later met them at Kennesaw Mountain in Tennessee. As men from throughout Clinton County signed-up in the early fall of 1862 the war raged. Engagements over the year at Pea Ridge, Shiloh, Bull Run, and Antietam left the United States looking to refill the Union ranks.
Under the leadership of Colonel Milo Smith, those who joined up with the 26th Iowa Infantry served as a part of the 3rd brigade, 1st division, XV Corps at battles including Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and Atlanta among others. The men closed their enlistments as a part of Sherman’s March to the Sea. Over the course of the war 76 officers and enlisted men died in battle, and an additional 213 died of disease.
The 8th Iowa Cavalry came together at Davenport before heading east to participate in battles at Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, Franklin, and Nashville. Serving under Colonel Joseph B. Dorr and Colonel Horatio G. Barner, 1,442 men served in the 8th Iowa. 18 battlefield casualties awaited the unit, and another 176 men died of disease. Over 76,000 Iowans fought for the United States in the American Civil War, with 3,000 giving the ultimate sacrifice. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryCalendar #IowaHistoryDaily
