CHAPTER XI
FIFTH IOWA INFANTRY
THE companies composing the regiment were raised and organized in their respective neighborhoods soon after the fall of Fort Sumter, when the spirit of patriotism was sending the best men of the country into the volunteer service. But there was no room for them under the first call of the President and they waited for the next summons. The companies were enlisted in the counties of Cedar, Jasper, Louisa, Keokuk, Buchanan, Marshall, Benton, Jackson, Allamakee and Van Buren.
The first officers of the Fifth Regiment were: W. H. Worthington, colonel; C. L. Matthies, lieutenant-colonel; W. S. Robertson, major; John S. Foley, adjutant; Dr. C. H. Rawson, surgeon; R. F. Patterson, quartermaster, and A. B. Mederia, chaplain. The regiment numbered nine hundred and eighteen men when it went into camp at Burlington, on the 15th of July, 1861. After two weeks, it was moved to Keokuk and, while there, a detachment under Lieutenant-Colonel Matthies was sent in pursuit of the Rebel force under Green, who had recently marched to Athens on the Iowa border, where he had been driven off by Colonel Moore. The detachment did rapid marching, but was unable to overtake Green, who fled south. On the 12th of August, the regiment was sent to St. Louis by steamer, where arms were received. Soon after it was sent to Jefferson City, where the men were clothed in United states uniform and received other equipments for the field. The regiment was employed in various parts of Missouri until the 14th of October, when it was attached to General Pope’s Division of Fremont’s army, on the march to
