History of Regiments Engaged in the War of the Rebellion
CHAPTER IX
FIRST IOWA INFANTRY
FOR two weeks the First Iowa Infantry remained in camp at Keokuk, drilling and preparing for war.* On the 13th of June, 1861, on order of General Lyon, the men embarked on the steamer for Hannibal, Missouri, and many of them looked for the last time on the Iowa shores. They were transported by rail to General Lyon’s army at Booneville, where the day before that gallant and energetic officer had defeated and dispersed Governor Jackson’s Rebel army in the first battle fought in Missouri. Here the regiment remained in camp until the 3d of July, an during this time Hiram Price, Paymaster-General from Iowa, made the first payment for services. General Lyon, who now had an army of a little more than 3,000 infantry and one battery of artillery, determined to pursue Governor Jackson’s Rebel army of nearly 7,000 which was retreating toward the southwest. On the morning of July 3d, the pursuit began. The Fourth was intensely hot and as the soldiers marched along the dusty roads, shut in by woods in places, many were overcome with heat and compelled to fall out of the ranks. They had not as yet become inured to long marches beneath the broiling sun. At Grand River Lyon’s army was reinforced by General Sturgis, with tow Kansas regiments, a detachment of regulars and a battery of artillery, 2,800 in all. The army was now marching twenty-five miles a day and becoming more accustomed to soldier’s life. The members of the First Iowa who died on this march, were
* Field Officers, p. 53.
