CHAPTER XVI
FIFTEENTH IOWA INFANTRY
THE companies making up this regiment were recruited in many counties, principally Clinton, Linn, Polk, Mahaska, Wapello, Van Buren, Fremont, Mills, Marion, Warren, Harrison and Pottawattamie. The companies began to assemble at Keokuk as early as September, 1861, but the regiment was not organized until February, 1862. The field and staff officers were: H. T. Reid, colonel; William Dewey, lieutenant-colonel; W. W. Belknap, major; George Pomutz, adjutant; J. M. Hedrick, quartermaster; S. B. Davis, surgeon; and W. W. Eastbrook, chaplain.
On the 19th of March the regiment embarked for the seat of war and landed at St. Louis, where arms and equipments were received. On the 1st of April it started to join General Grant’s army at Pittsburg Landing, and reached that place amid the roar of cannon, the fierce crashes of musketry and the bursting of shells of the first day’s battle. It was a trying ordeal as the regiment landed from the steamer and witnessed the panic stricken hundreds who were fleeing from the field. Colonel Reid was ordered to the front, taking a position on McClernand’s line. Here the Fifteenth made a good stand for a new regiment until the order came to retreat, when it fell back in confusion. A portion of the men were rallied and took part in the battle later in the day and on Monday. Colonel Reid had been severely wounded, and Major Bel-
