CIVIL WAR ROSTER
FOR
FIRST IOWA CAVALRY FROM BLACK HAWK COUNTY, IOWA
The following information taken principally from the Adjutant General's Reports.
(Many errors in dates, i.e. discharged before e. are as listed in reports)
FIRST CAVALRY
The First Cavalry was recruited during the summer of 1861. Its services began during the following winter. Its first action was at Silver Creek, MO. where the rebel camp was attacked and routed. In February, 1862 a detachment from the First helped surprise and capture General Price at Warsaw. Another detachment had a brush with guerrillas near Montevallo in the following April.
During the next few months, the regiment had skirmishes with rebels near Clinton, Big Creek, Clear Creek and Newtonia. December 7th, the first and third battalions participated in the battle at Prairie Grove. That month the command assisted in the capture of Van Buren, where a number of steamboats, several hundred prisoners and a large amount of stores fell into the hands of our forces. April 26, 1863, most of the regiment was concerned in a night attack upon a portion of Marmaduke's forces, breaking up the camp and inflicting heavy loss.
August 26, and 27th, the regiment did gallant service at White River. From September 10th until the following January, the First was stationed at Little Rock. April 24,1864 the command repulsed a charge of the enemy at Mono River, and had a share in the battle at Jenkin's Ferry on the 30th. The regiment continued doing scout service until January, 1865, when they were sent to Dardanelle and had a brush with Col. Cooper, driving him off the field.
They went thence to Pine Bluff, and to Memphis. From this place they made two incursions into Mississippi. After the war closed, much to the disappointment of the men, the regiment was ordered to Texas under General George Custer. On the route, two or three of the regiment committed some depredations on the inhabitants, contrary to specific orders from General Custer, who was in command. A few of the men were detected and ordered to be flogged. This order created much bitterness of feeling toward General Custer, which had hardly disappeared when he met tragic death on the plains.
Company B:
Carney, Geo. R. e. July,18/1861
Chase, John M. e. 8/16/1862.
Company C:
Sgt. Horace Barron, e. 6/13/1861 discharged 6/1862, disabled
Sgt. A. A. Alline, e. 6/13/1861
Sgt. Samuel M. Hoff, e. 7/13/1861
Corp. J. Q. Hanna e. 6/13/1861
Corp. S. M. Hoff, e. 7/13/1861
Corp. V. Gilbert, e. 6/13/1861, died at Little Rock Ark.
Ayres, James, e. 12/14/1863
Boston, James C. e. 6/13/1861, discharged 2/14/1863 disabled
Labarre, Theo, e. 6/13/1861 died 1/26/1863, Forsyth MO.
Simmons, C. M. e. 9/21/1861, veteran 1/5/1864
Cobb, D. K. e. 8/10/1861, veteran 1/5/1864, died at ST. Joseph MO.
