| 19th Iowa Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
 19th Iowa Battle Flag | |
| Active | August 25, 1862, to July 10, 1865 |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | Union |
| Branch | Infantry |
| Engagements | Battle of Prairie Grove Siege of Vicksburg Battle of Sterling's Plantation Battle of Spanish Fort Battle of Fort Blakeley |
The 19th Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 19th Iowa Infantry was organized at Keokuk, Iowa and mustered in for three years of Federal service on August 25, 1862. It was the second Iowa regiment to fully muster for active service. [1]
The 19th Iowa was assigned to Orme's Brigade, Heron's Division, Army of the Frontier. After completing a rigorous 35 mile march on December 6, 1862, the regiment prepared for battle. By this time, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel McFarland had taken command of the regiment. The next day was the Battle of Prairie Grove. Herron's Division deployed on the left side of the Union line, on a slight ridge facing south. In front of them was positioned a Confederate battery. General Herron ordered the 20th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and the 19th Iowa Infantry forward to capture the guns. The two regiments gallantly charged, and captured the confederate battery. However, General Herron had vastly underestimated the amount of Confederates in the area. The two regiments, numbering some 500 men each, fought back numerous countercharges from half a dozen Confederate regiments. Eventually, overpowered and running low on supplies, the two regiments withdrew back to Union lines. [2] The rebels then rallied and mounted their own assault, however they were beaten back savagely by the skilled gunnery of the 1st Missouri Battery E and the 1st Missouri Battery L. The regiment lost a total of 45 Killed, 143 Wounded, and 2 Captured, for a total of 200 Casualties, nearly a 40% casualty rate. [3] Among the dead was Lt Colonel Samuel McFarland, killed leading the assault on the confederate battery.
The 19th Iowa went on to fight in the Siege of Vicksburg, where it suffered only one man wounded during the siege. [4] The regiment was deployed to the far right of Heron's Division, and its position is marked today by a monument in the Vicksburg National Military Park. [5]
Much of the regiment was captured at the Battle of Sterling's Plantation. At Sterling's Plantation, the Regiment had been cut off from surrounding friendly units, but held their position on a levee overlooking the oncoming rebels. The 19th Iowa, now being commanded by Major John Bruce, and the 26th Indiana Infantry Regiment were tasked with holding the line. These two regiments numbered less than 500, and were trying to hold their ground against rebels that outnumbered them 3:1. Colonel John Leake, commanding the Union forces at Sterling's Plantation, was seriously wounded in the fighting. Leaderless, flanked, tired, and outnumbered 3:1, the Union forces surrendered piecemeal. [6] Though some companies escaped, most of the regiment was captured. Much of the regiment was paroled in early 1864.
The regiment closed out the war with the Battle of Spanish Fort and the Battle of Fort Blakeley, where it was noted for its gallant actions. [7]
The regiment was mustered out on July 10, 1865.
The 19th Iowa mustered 1132 men at one time or another during its existence. [8] It suffered 6 officers and 86 enlisted men who were killed in action or who died of their wounds and 2 officers and 98 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 192 fatalities. [9]
The 4th Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 5th Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 8th Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served mostly in the Western Theater with the Army of the Tennessee.
The 11th Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 12th Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 15th Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 16th Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 17th Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 13th Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 20th Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 21st Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 22nd Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 31st Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 32nd Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 33rd Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 38th Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 1st Iowa Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The Battle of Stirling's Plantation was an American Civil War battle took place on September 29, 1863 in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana.
Battery B, 1st Missouri Light Artillery Regiment, also known as Welfley's Independent Missouri Battery, was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized in September 1861, Welfley's Independent Battery fought at Pea Ridge and in the White River campaign. After its name changed to Battery B, 1st Missouri in December 1862, it fought at Cape Girardeau, Chalk Bluff, Vicksburg, Sterling's Plantation, and Brownsville. In September 1864, the unit ceased to exist when it was consolidated with three other Missouri batteries while stationed at New Orleans.
Battery E, 1st Missouri Light Artillery Regiment was an artillery battery unit from Missouri that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The 1st Missouri Light Artillery Regiment formed on 1 September 1861. The battery participated in Frémont's expedition to Springfield in October 1861. This was followed by actions at Prairie Grove and Van Buren in December 1862. The following year, the battery fought at Cape Girardeau, Chalk Bluff, Vicksburg, the Expedition to Morganza, Brownsville, and Fort Esperanza. After performing garrison duty at Brownsville, Texas, the unit was mustered out in June 1864. For a few months at the end of 1864, a Pennsylvania battery took the name of this unit.