USA > Iowa > Statistical roster of the Fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry > Part 1
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M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01757 0729
STATISTICAL
ROSTER
OF THE
5th
Fifth lowa Volunteer
Infantry.
THE FIFTH REGIMENT OF IOWA VOLUNTEERS WAS DISBANDED IN AUGUST. 1864. ON THE EXPIRATION OF ITS TERM OF SERVICE. THE VETERANS AND RECRUITS WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE FIFTH IOWA CAVALRY, CONSTITUTING COMPANIES 'G' AND 'T' OF THAT ORGANIZATION."
GEORGE T. DITTO, SECRETARY, Blairstown. lowa.
SIGOURNEY, IOWA: SMITH'S IOWA TIMES PRINT. : 1897.
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ROSTER
- OF THE-
Fifth lowa Infantry
Veteran Association.
GEORGE T. DITTO, SECRETARY, Blairstown. lown.
SIGOURNEY, IOWA: SMITH'S IOWA TIMES PRINT.
67
F 8349 .3036
FIFTH IOWA INFANTRY VETERAN ASSOCIATION Statistical roster of the Fifth Iowa volu :.. teer infantry ... George T.Ditto, secretary ... Sigourney, Iowa, Smith's Iowa times print. , 1897. 173p.
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Th 4.
COLONEL C. L. MATHIAS. (PROMOTED TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL.)
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BRIGADIER-GENERAL CHARLES L. MATHIAS was born at or near Bran- berg, Prov Pasen, Germany, May 31st. 1824. 1 first became acquainted with him at Burlington, Iowa, in 1-57. He was then engaged as a mer- chant and was a leading spirit among his countrymen. About this time he organized or helped to organize a German military company called the "Black Rifles" and became its captain. This company existed until the breaking out of the civil war. He then organized what subsequently be- came Co. D of the Ist Iowa Infantry, and offered his services to the gov- ernment. He was the first (it is claimed) in the state to offer his services, and that of Co. D, in response to the first call for volunteers. and ac- cepted in May, being commissioned as captain May 9th. He was com- missioned lieutenant-colonel of the 5th Iowa Infantry July 5th 1861, and after the death of Colonel Worthington was made colonel, May 25th. 1862,. After the battles of Iuka and Corinth, having proved himself a man of courage and an officer that could secure from his men the best that they were capable of, he was commissioned brigadier-general, November 29. 1862. He took part in the engagements at New Madrid, Iuka. Cor- inth (siege and battles), Jackson. Vicksburg, and Mission Ridge. In the last of which, he received a wound which rendered it necessary for him to leave the service.
After the war he came back to Burlington and resumed his business. He also served one or two terms in the General Assembly, represent- ing Des Moines county. He was beloved by all who knew him for his kindness of heart. consideration of others, especially the old comrades, and tor his extreme generosity, the latter so much so that he died com- paratively poor. His death took place in Burlington, Iowa. October 16, 1543. He now sleeps in our Aspen Grove cemetery, immediately north of the vault containing the remains of the late Major-General J. M. Corse. A beautiful monument erected by his friends, marks his last resting place.
F. I. DISQUE, Adjutant C. L. Mathias Post No. 3. Burlington, Iowa.
SECRETARY GEORGE T. DITTO. PRIVATE CO. I.
9-CK
Secretary's Report.
THOSE of the Fifth Iowa Infantry that attended the regimental re- ur
ion at Des Moines, in September, 1995. will remember that the secre- Ary was instructed to prepare a new roster. The information it would contain was the cause of much thought and study, also the manner in which it should be presented. As there was a desire on the part of many comrades for more of a history of the Fifth, he concluded to give. as far as he could secure them. the statistics of the regiment, doing so in as few words as would express the members' records.
This booklet is the result of his labors. If it is not satisfactory to all, and some feel that they have been slighted, be kind enough to be- lieve that he has done the best he could. He had nothing to follow as a precedent. Had there been such he feels that the task would have been, comparatively speaking. an easy one.
The Secretary regrets that ill health has preventod its completion before this, but it was unavoidable.
Never since the Association was organized has he been more anxious to have all the men "accounted for." or worked harder to accomplish this result. His correspondence has been extensive. He has been in communication with all, both in and out of the regiment that could or would give hiw the desired information.
The list of those unaccounted for, has been greatly reduced, some by present postoffice being secured. others by death being reported. The list is yet too long.
The folder sent out early in the past year was the means of finding between forty and fifty. His correspondence with the adjutants of A. R. posts in Iowa and other states has found others. In all, nearly : 000 letters and postal cards have been sent out, a large percentage of rich. he is sorry to say, are still unanswered. With those that are Hold in their habitation there is no trouble. Others seem to be uneasy fait constantly "on the go" and to find them requires much writing and postage, for when writing to outsiders, return postage must go with the letter if you expect an answer. To illustrate. I will relate one case taken from many similar ones.
In making up the roster of 1891. I received a letter from a member in Illinois. My correspondence with him last season was returned to ine. A comrade wrote that he had moved to Oregon, giving his post- office. A letter sent to the place mentioned fell into the hands of his brother who wrote me that he was not in Oregon, that his friends be- lieved him dead as they had not heard of him for years, with the request that if I found him to let them know. In the meantime I learned that the postoffice in Illinois had been discontinued. I wrote to the county- seat to find out where mail for that point was now sent, telling the ad- jutant of the post whom I wanted and why. The reply was. that office
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had been reopened and that the comrade wanted still lived there. A let .. ir ter to him brought me the information required.
The Secretary has followed a comrade from Iowa to state after state: in some cases to Florida. in others to California, and may be. found him in a county joining the one he started from. Is it any wonder that his postage bills soon run up to a goodly sum. and that roster making at this time is a matter of work and patience ?
Many from time to time suggest the pension office at Washington as a good place from which to secure information. I have tried that sever- al times, stating the object in view, and my letters have always been "respectfully returned. " Comrades living there are not allowed to ex- amine the records. and have no better success. No person is assigned for it. I have had to depend upon my own efforts with such help as com- rades have been able to render.
In some instances my correspondence with friends of deceased com- rades. concerning their death, has been the first intimation to them that their relatives were dead and my statement was doubted, although I afterwards proved it to be correct.
When the comrades realize the years that passed after disbandment and before the Association was organized. the large number of states from which members of the Fifth came (see nativity list), and the youth of many of them. they will see one reason why to-day they are so hard to find. Many when they enlisted had been in Iowa only a short time Others were here as prospectors. With no thought that the war would become the terrible reality that it did. they enlisted. After three years of honorable service, the remnant of the Fifth returned to Iowa, wreckel in mind. body, and estate. After discharge they quickly scattered t far away homes, where loved ones awaited them. Since then they have built up homes in localities distant from their native state.
I find them in nearly every state from Washington in the northwes to Florida in the southeast: from New Mexico to Massachusetts. With some, time has not dealt kindly. Others have been successful in trade Some in the learned professions have received from their fellow citizens plaudits of victory for work well done. Some have creditably filled seats in the legislative halls, both national and state. Wherever they are, they have never forgotten the friendships formed during their army life, or those with whom they spent those years of trial, and are proud of the fact that they belonged to the Fifth Iowa Infantry. Without exf ception one and all send hearty greetings of comradeship to all sun vivors.
The postoffice address of more comrades is here given than have been known at any time since the Fifth was disbanded, and I am vers sorry to report the list of the dead largely increased since my last rf port.
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The records at Des Moines have been searched for all the informa- they are able to give. I have not attempted to account for the men opt in present address of those living and the date and place of death 'hosp having died). beyond their service in the Fifth Infantry. A number that were discharged for sickness. with restored health joined other regiments.
The column beaded "Captured. " is to be read to the left to the col- umn headed "Where;" else the column of "Remarks" would have been too much crowded. The usual reference points in the "Remarks" refer to the footnotes and the places of burial in National cemeteries and other places. All deaths concerning which positive information could not be secured have been marked as "Reported." All those not accounted dur- ing the life of the Fifth. are supposed to have been discharged when it was disbanded.
There is another point to which the secretary desires to call the at- tention of the comrades. He hopes it may refresh the memory of some one that can give the information desired.
Those killed at luka were buried in three trenches, that were shaped like the diagram.
No. 3.
1 I K
No. 1.
No. 2.
1
11 |2 |3 14
IABC DE FG H
In trench No. 1. grave No. 1. is that of Lieut. Shawl. Co. A. No. 2 that of Lieut. Smith. of Co. K. Nos. 3 and 4 are those of Lieuts. Fish- i and Holcomb of F. The other is unknown. Five men in all.
In trench No. 2, grave No. 1, is that of James Edgar of Co. A. The rest are unknown. Twenty-five men in all.
In trench No. 3. grave No. 1. is that of Samuel Hughes of Co. I. The rest are unknown. Seven men in all.
Three or four were buried in other places.
All of them are now buried among the unknown in the National Cemetery at Corinth. Miss .. but are together. Can any one supply the Missing list. or part of it, in order that all may be individualized ? The Secretary hopes that the portraits that have been introduced will meet " approval of the comrades. The number of them has been largely in- o sed since it was first proposed. Many more were worthy of being used but the number had to be limited. The narratives have mostly
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been written by relatives. The likenesses of the escaped prison: were sent me by Mrs. Marshall. of Chattanooga. The history of ti. escape and journey to " God's Country" was written and furnished Lieut. Hoffinan. of Co. D .. I know that it is long. but to eat it down would spoil the excellent style in which it is written and destroy the connection between the different parts.
All who have in any way assisted the Secretary in getting the ros- ter ready for publication have his most hearty thanks. He knows that when so many have lent aid that to mention nsmes is unjust. Still in an especial manner he wishes to extend his thanks to Comrade Sergeant Smock. of Co. F. for his advice and financial aid, without which the work would have been a failure.
I believe that no one realizes the accelerating rapidity with which the old soldiers are passing away, more than the secretary of a regiment- al organization. No one member knows more of the infirmities of those remaining among us.
Many send word that they are not strong enough to travel so far. even if they had the money to enable them to attend the reunions. Some are so nearly blind that others must do their writing. Some feel the effects of disease, others that of wounds. To all such my warmest sym- pathies are extended.
Will all that receive a copy of this roster be kind enough to notify the Secretary, George T. Ditto, Blairstown, Benton Co., Iowa ?
.My work is now concluded. Allow me once more to thank all for courtesies extended in the years that are passed, as well as those of the present time. And. "May the Lord watch between me and thee when absent one from the other."
Very Truly Your Comrade. George T. Ditto, Secretary. Blairstown. Iowa.
July Ist, 1897. fi.
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AN EPITOMIZED History of the Fifth lowa Infantry Volunteers.
. BY LIEUT. J. Q. A CAMPBELL.
The Fifth lowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment was sworn into the United States service, at Burlington, Iowa. July 11, 1861, and left the State for the front. August 11. 1SC1. The companies, some of which were organized in April under the first call of President Lincoln for State troops, were sworn into the State service in June. The regiment was accepted under the call of the President. for additional troops. issued in May.
The Regiment was mustered into the United States service July 15, 1861, and mustered out July 30. 1864, except the veterans, who were transferred as Companies G and I to the Fifth lowa Cavalry, with which they served to the close of the war.
The Regiment entered the field with 967 men, and received S9 re- cruits. during its service.
Its line of march began at Burlington, extended to St. Louis: thence up the Missouri to Booneville; from Boonville to Springfield. from Springfield to Boonville. Booneville through North Missouri to St. Louis; thence to Cairo, to New Madrid. to Fort Pillow. to Cairo. to Hamburg Landing. to Corinth. to Rienzi. to Ripley. to Rienzi. to Corinth. to Jacinto. to Iuka. to Jacinto. to Corinth. to Kossuth, to the Hatchie, to Rienzi. to Corinth. to Grand Junction. to Holly Springs, to Lagrange. to Moscow, to Holly Springs. to Oxford. to Yocona. to Oxford. to Memphis. to Lafay- ette. to Germantown. to Memphis, to the Arkansas and Louisiana line. to Helena, through Yazoo Pass. Coldwater and the Tallahatchie to Green - wood. back to Helena, to Milliken's Bend, to Richmond, to Hard Times Landing. to Bruinsburg. to Port Gibson. to Black River. to Utica, to Raymond, to Clinton. to Jackson. to Champion's Hill. to Vicksburg. to Big Black, to Jackson, to Clinton. to Vicksburg. to Helena. to Memphis, to Chickasaw. to Florence, to Fayetteville. to Winchester. to Decherd. to Battle Creek, to Bridgeport. to Chattanooga. to Graysville, to Bridge- port. to Larkinsville. to Huntsville, to Davenport, to Decatur, Alabama. to Chattanooga. to Kingston, Georgia; and included many minor move- ments.
It served-
In the State- of Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Illinois, Indi- und. Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia-
In the Departments commanded by Fremont; Pope, Halleck, Grant,
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and Sherman --
In the Armies of the Mississippi and the Tennessee -- In the Corps of McPherson and Logan-
In the Divisions of Schuyler Hamilton, C. S. Hamilton. Quin Crocker, and John E. Smith-
In the Brigades of Buford. Sanborn. Mathias. and Boomer.
During its service it marched and traveled on boats and cars. 6. - 47 miles -- more than five times the distance from St. Louis to the Gulf. and an average of more than six miles for every day of the three years it was in the service. Sundays included.
It assisted in the capture of nearly 50.000 prisoners.
It helped to open the Mississippi from Cairo to Bruinsburg, and took part in the several campaigns that drove the rebels from Missouri. Kentucky, Tennessee. Mississippi. Northern Alabama. and Northern Georgia.
It assisted in the capture of Island No. 10, New Madrid. Fort Pillow. Corinth, Vicksburg, and many other places.
It took part in the sieges of of New Madrid, Corinth. and Vicksburg. and the Yazoo Pass expedition.
It took part in the campaign against Price in Missouri, against Island Ten and New Madrid. against Corinth into Central Mississippi. against Vicksburg, against Bragg, and against Atlanta.
It took part in the battles of Iuka. Corinth. Jackson, Champion's Hill, Vicksburg, and Mission Ridge, and was in support at the battles of Port Gibson, Raymond. and Black River, and under fire at New Madrid. and the siege of Corinth.
During its service it was under fire fifty days.
It fought rebel troops from the States of Missouri, Arkansas. Louisi- ana. Texas. Tennessee. Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri, Florida, Georgia. and South Carolina.
Its casualties were : 65 killed. 39 mortally wounded. 95 died of dis. ease. 237 discharged for disability. 260 wounded. 102 captured.
Ouly two, out of the fifty-seven regiments from Iowa. had as many officers killed and mortally wounded in action as the Fifth: while we lost only one officer from disease.
Only four regiments from lowa lost more enlisted men killed in bat- tle than the Fifth-only eight lost more in killed and wounded-while no regiment but the 19th. till after the 40th, lost as few in the service by disease; while tor its time of service. the number discharged from the Regiment was not above the average.
From the time we reached Keokuk, the Regiment was at the front during its whole term of service. and at the immediate front except dar- ing the Atlanta campaign, when it was on duty guarding the rafiroad and the Etowah river, near Kingston, Georgia.
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It soldiered on the Mississippi. the Missouri. the Osage. the Ohio. the Tennessee, the Coldwater, the Tallahatchie, the Hatchie, the Big Black, the Pearl, the Tuscumbia. and Etowah rivers.
It had the good fortune never to be in a campaign or battle in which the Union Army was defeated.
In every Department that it served. success crowned the Union arms. First it was with Fremont, when he drove Price out of Missouri; with Pope when he opened the Mississippi to Fort Pillow, with Halleck when he captured Corinth. with Grant when he captured Vicksburg and defeated Bragg at Mission Ridge, and under Sherman when he drove the rebels from Chattanooga to Atlanta.
The battle of Franklin, Tennessee, is considered one of the bloodiest conflicts of the war. Yet there was no Union regiment in that battle whose losses would compare with that of the Fifth Iowa. at Iuka. The 44th Missouri's losses at Franklin were greater than those of any other Union regiment. Yet its losses compare with the losses of the Fifth Iowa, as follows :
Killed. Wounded.
Missing. Total.
Fifth Iowa at Iuka
40
175
2 217
Forty-fourth Missouri at Franklin 3.1
37
92 163
Taking all these things into consideration-its service at the front, the great distance it marched and traveled. the number of states in which it served. its heavy losses in battle. its light losses from disease, the number of prisoners it assisted in capturing, and its good fortune in being a part of armies that were in every case victorious .- and there was perhaps no regiment from Iowa that has a better record than the Fifth Infantry.
MAJOR W. S. ROBERTSON.
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WILLIAM STEPHENSON ROBERT-ON, late professor of theory and prac- tice of medicine and of clinical medicine in Iowa State University. was born at Georgetown. Lancaster Co., Penn .. June 5th. 1831. He was the son of Dr. James Moore Robertson and Maria nee Armstrong. the for- mer of Scotch and the latter of English ancestry. He was a student at Knox College. Illinois; and graduated in medicine from Jefferson Medi- cal College. Philadelphia. in March, 1856. In the same year he located in Columbus City, Iowa, his old home, where he began the practice of his chosen profession. He remained in Columbus City for twelve years. He spent the winters of 1863-69 in the hospitals of New York City under the direction of Professor Frank H. Hamilton. M. D. In the spring of 1869 he moved to Muscatine, Iowa. At the organization of the Medical Department of the Iowa State University, he was offered the chair of theory and practice of medicine and clinical medicine, which he accepted and occupied until his death.
At the outbreak of the rebellion he raised the first company of volun- teers that was recruited in the state and tendered them to the govern- ment, but for some reason that has never been made public they were not accepted. On the 13th of June, 1861. he was mustered into the Army as major of the Fifth Jowa Infantry Volunteers, being present and parti- cipating in every march, siege, skirmish and battle of that gallant regi- ment till the 23rd of July, 1862.
He was one of the original stockholders and a member of the first board of directors of the Muscatine Waterworks Co. In 1873 while act- ing as city and county physician of Muscatine Co .. his attention was specially attracted by the sad condition of the feeble minded children then in the county poor house, and for the first time realized the fact that the State had no provision for the care of this unfortunate class. Deeply impressed with the need of some munificent arrangement for this class he brought the subject before the State Medical Society, but receiving no active assistance he again presented it to them and Dr. Robertson was appointed a special committee of one to present the subject to the legis- lature. He accordingly drafted a bill to guide in the formation of a law. and prepared a "Plea for the Feeble-minded Children of Iowa" which he had printed at his own expense and given to each member of the legisla- ture. To this action is due the fact that Iowa has now a magnificent in- stitution in successful operation located at Glenwood, Mills Co .. for the maintenance and education of this class of unfortunates.
He was a devoted member of the Presbyterian church.
On the 10th of June, 1856, he married Miss Anna Elizabeth Charlton, a lady of high culture and refinement born in Cattaraugus Co., New York, but of English parentage. Of five children born to them but two are living. .
Major Robertson died at his home, January 20th, 1897. As a physi- cian he was prompt to respond to the call of duty, and was faithful "even unto death."
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MAJOR WILLIAM STANHOPE MARSHALL was born in Richland Co., Ohio, March 17th, 1832, and died at Chattanooga, Tennessee. on the 27th of January, 1891.
Our comrade came of good old Revolutionary stock, his paternal grandfather being an officer in the Pennsylvania line; and a treasure highly prized by the Major was a sword presented to the grandfather by General Washington for meritorious service.
Major Marshall graduated from Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in the class of 1856. He taught school for a few months in Louisiana. He then went to Independence, Iowa, there studied law and was admitted to the bar. Upon the breaking out of the Rebellion he promptly enlisted July 15th. 1861, and was mustered into the service as second lieutenant of Co. E. 5th Iowa Infantry, serving with his regiment in Southwest Missouri in the fall of the same year. He served under General Pope at New Madrid and Island No. 10 in the spring of 1862, being the Q. M. of the Fifth. He served under General Halleck at the siege of Corinth; under General Rosecrans at Iuka and battle of Corinth in the fall of 1862, and was appointed adjutant of the Fifth regiment November 3rd of the same year. He took part in the Yazoo expedition in the early spring of 1863, and was promoted to be major of the Fifth, April 25th. 1863. He served under General Grant in the battles around Vicksburg and in the siege' and assault of that stronghold. With his regiment he went with the Fifteenth Corps (to which the Fifth was now attached, having been transferred from the Seventeenth Corps) when it was ordered to Chat- anooga after the battle of Chickamauga, and with about one half of the Fifth was captured near the tunnel at the battle of Mission Ridge. Nov- ember 25th, 1863.
This terminated his service in the field, for he was not exchanged. While a prisoner of war he was confined at Libby, Va., Macon, Ga., Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina. For two months. in 1864, he with other officers was at Charleston under the fire of our own guns. At one time he made his escape from a railroad train, but was shortly re- captured.
On the 28th of November, 1864. he with other officers of the Fifth (see article "A Break for Liberty") made his escape from Columbia. South Carolina. After a most eventful journey through the mountains of South and North Carolina and Tennessee, he reached the Union lines at Sweetwater, Tennessee, on the Ist of January, 1865.
The experiences of our comrade during his long prison life, were most interesting, and the history of his escape forms one of the most thrilling episodes of the great Rebellion. It was seldom. however, that he could be induced to talk of this period of his life, and few, save his intimate friends knew anything of this remarkable chapter in his history.
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Of all the gallant men led by General Sherman in the long march from the Mississippi at Vicksburg by way of Memphis to the Tennessee river at Chattanooga. there were none in the long array that had a braver or nobler record than the Major of the Fifth Iowa Infantry.
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