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15th Iowa
Infantry
in the American Civil War
| Regimental History |
| Fifteenth Iowa Infantry.— Cols., Hugh F. Reid. William
W. Belknap; Lieut. -Cols., William Dewey, William W. Belknap, John M.
Hendrick, George Pomutz; Majs., William W. Belknap, William Cunningham,
John M. Hendrick, George Pomutz, James S. Porter. This regiment was
organized at Keokuk and was mustered in by companies at different dates
between Nov., 1861, and the last of the following February. On March 19,
1862, it proceeded to Benton barracks, St. Louis, and reached Pittsburg
landing shortly after the battle of Shiloh had commenced. It moved
quickly to the front and took part in the fight; but having been
assigned to a poor position it was ordered to fall back, which it did in
some confusion. It did not fight as an organization again that day,
though portions of it were rallied and took part in the battle. The men
fought bravely and well, losing 188 in killed, wounded and missing, Col.
Reid being severely wounded. It became a part of the "Iowa" brigade upon
the reorganization of the army and took part in the movement upon
Corinth. At the close of that campaign it engaged in the performance of
picket and guard duties along the railways west of Corinth and as
provost guard during the month of July. About the first of August it
moved to Bolivar and remained there until the middle of September. While
at Bolivar Col. Reid was placed in command of the brigade and Lieut. -
Col. Belknap assumed command of the regiment. It was in the battle of
Chewalla, joined in the pursuit of the enemy at the close of the
engagement, and returned to Corinth on Oct. 13. After taking part in
various operations in Mississippi and Tennessee during the winter it
joined the army for the Vicksburg campaign; was engaged in sharp
skirmishes at Mechanicsburg and Messenger's ferry, and identified with
all the movements of its brigade; remained in camp near the city after
the surrender until Aug. 21, when it joined the expedition to Monroe,
the most wearisome, ill- starred affair of its kind known in the annals
of the war. In September it returned and rested at Vicksburg until Feb.,
1864; then reenlisted as a veteran organization; accompanied the
Meridian expedition, and on its return proceeded to Iowa on furlough.
The non-veterans of the brigade were organized into "The Iowa battalion
of the 17th army corps," Maj. Pomutz commanding, and moved to Cairo,
Ill., about the first of April, in charge of a large quantity of arms,
being ordered from there to garrison Mound City. In the latter part of
April the battalion proceeded to Huntsville, where the men were returned
to their regiments. The 15th returned to Cairo, moved thence to Bird's
Point, Paducah and Huntsville, which was reached May 20. Here the
brigade was officially designated as the 3d of the 4th division. The
15th took part in nearly every engagement from Kennesaw mountain to the
battle before Atlanta, losing in that time nearly 100 in killed, wounded
and missing. At the great battle of July 22 its brigade fought like
demons against the savage assaults of the enemy and repelled seven
charges during the day. The 15th captured 93 prisoners and lost 10
killed, 40 wounded and 82 captured, Lieut. -Col. Hendrick being severely
wounded. The regiment fought at Ezra Church. Col. Belknap was made
brigadier-general and Lieut. -Col. Hendrick was commissioned to succeed
to the command, but being unable to take active charge, the duties fell
upon Lieut. -Col. Pomutz, who was advanced to that position. Col.
Hendrick was brevetted brigadier-general, and sent many recruits to the
regiment, although his injuries never permitted him to take to the field
again. The regiment was in the battles of Jonesboro and Lovejoy's
Station, then went into camp at East Point, until the pursuit of Hood in
October, returning in time to proceed to Savannah, from which city it
marched in Jan., 1865, through the Carolinas, and was engaged at
Columbia and Bentonville. It moved to Goldsboro, Raleigh, Washington,
and Louisville where it was mustered out July 24 with 712 on the rolls. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 4
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