"Samuel Day the the 22nd Iowa"
by

Chapter 1

Muster In

Samuel Day was born on December 1, 1833, in Athens County, Ohio(6). Sometime before the Civil War, Samuel’s family moved from Ohio to Agency Township, located in southern Iowa just southeast of Ottumwa(7). I found little written pre-1860 information on the family. However, on June 22, 1860, a census taker visited the Day’s farm in Agency Township and recorded a wealth of information about the family(8). Samuel lived on his family’s farm with his 58 year old father Elias and his 51 year old mother Jane. He also had two brothers and two sisters, 21 year old Elias, 18 year old Henry, Eliza, age 14 and 12 year old sister Mary. Both Samuel and his father Elias were listed as farmers while the younger Elias was listed as a laborer. The 1860 census listed the value of the family farm at $2,000 and placed the value of the family’s personal property at $400. The census also recorded the state of birth of all members of the household: Samuel’s father was born in New Jersey, his mother in Maine, while Samuel and all his brothers and sisters were from Ohio.

Searching through the Wapello County census records and using other records from the National Archives, I pieced together more family history. Samuel’s future wife, Isabel was not listed among the families living in Agency City and Township. However, her family was located in Washington Township(9), which is next to Agency Township in the southeast corner of Wapello County. Isabel Packwood, born May 29, 1835, lived with her father and family on the Packwood farm in Washington Township. In 1860, the census taker listed the members of Isabel’s family: father, William Packwood, brothers John (23) and William (16), and a 20 year old sister, Nancy S(10). A non-family member, a seven year old male named George W. True was also listed as living with the Packwoods. The census listed both William and John as farmers(11) . The Family’s farm was recorded as worth $2,000, and the personal property was valued at $300. Everyone in the family was from Indiana except Isabel’s father who was from Virginia, and George True who was from Iowa.

Another Packwood family lived next door to William Packwood. Samuel Packwood, age 32, lived with Nancy Ann, Clara and John Packwood. Samuel and Nancy were from Indiana and Samuel could have been William’s son and Isabel’s brother. Packwood appears to be a prominent name in this region of Iowa¾ if you look at a present day map of this area, a town named Packwood is located in Jefferson County, about 40 miles from Agency City.

How or where Samuel and Isabel met is unknown, but the census records suggest one possibility. The records were recorded in the sequence of the families visited, with one census taker probably doing most of the county(12). Since the census taker probably traveled by horse or wagon, families were visited sequentially. Several Packwood families lived in Wapello County, most were from Indiana and were probably related in some way. Two houses prior to visiting the Day farm, the census taker visited the farm of Larkin Packwood, age 52. Larkin lived with his wife Nancy, six sons and one daughter. Considering the similarity of their ages, Larkin may have been the younger brother of Isabel’s father William. If this is true, the two families undoubtedly visited on occasion. During one of these visits, perhaps Samuel Day and Isabel Packwood met and fell in love.

On April 14, 1861, the same day that Fort Sumter surrendered to the Confederates, Isabel and Samuel were married in Agency City, Iowa. Their marriage license is on file at the County Clerk’s Office in Ottumwa, Iowa(13). It appears that Isabel and Samuel lived with one of the families early in their marriage. Just over nine months after Samuel and Isabel’s wedding, their first child was born. Arthur Henry Day was born on January 17, 1862, in Agency Township, Iowa.

By the summer of 1862, the war was in full swing. In July, President Lincoln issued a call to state governors for 300,000 additional troops to suppress the rebellion. Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood of Iowa responded by forming twenty new regiments of volunteer infantry(14). As often happened, whole communities of men enlisted together in the same company or regiment. The men of Johnson County, Iowa, banded together to form one of these new regiments, the 22^nd Iowa Infantry. Nearly every family in the county was represented in this new regiment, providing seven companies of men (Companies A, B, F, G, H, I, and K)(15). But recruiters fell short of their quota of 10 companies and had to go outside of Johnson County to complete the regiment. When recruiters came to nearby Wapello County looking for volunteers, Samuel Day answered the call to arms(16). On August 18, 1862, Samuel Day, along with other men of Wapello County, joined Company E of the 22^nd Iowa Infantry. The 22^nd Iowa’s remaining two companies came from Jasper (Company C) and Monroe (Company D) counties(17).

Sam Day and the other recruits of Company E were ordered into quarters by the Governor to Camp Pope, near Iowa City. "Camp Pope is situated southeast of Iowa City, at the edge of town, and on a beautiful green. Barracks are being hurried to completion for a Regiment. The barracks and accompanying buildings are well arranged for the comfort and convenience of the men(18)." For the first several days in camp, the new recruits drilled everyday in civilian clothes and with wooden guns and swords they fashioned themselves.

Seventeen days after joining the volunteers, Samuel Day officially enlisted into the Army of the United States on September 4, 1862, and was sworn in by Second Lieutenant Matthew A. Robb(19). The 22^nd Iowa was officially mustered into the service of the United States at Camp Pope on the 7^th, 9^th, and 10^th of September 1862, by Captain H. B. Hendershott of the Regular Army. Samuel Day enlisted for three years "or during the war" and was paid a bounty of $25 plus a premium of $2(20). At the time of his enlistment, 28 year-old Samuel was described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, with black eyes, dark hair and a dark complexion(21).

The initial strength of the regiment was reported as 952 enlisted men and officers, but early additional enlistments brought the total strength of the 22^nd Iowa to 1,008(22). The Governor selected Major William Milo Stone of the 3^rd Iowa Infantry Regiment to command the 22^nd Iowa. William Stone was commissioned as colonel of the newly formed regiment and tasked to organize the troops. Colonel Stone had served gallantly with the 3^rd Iowa since the beginning of the war, was wounded in its first engagement, and commanded the regiment in the Battle of Shiloh where he was captured. "The regiment was fortunate in securing the services of this able and experienced soldier as its first commander(23)."

In early September, the men of the 22^nd Iowa were issued uniforms and arms and began to prepare for active service.

 

We received our arms and accouterments, with all the paraphernalia of war, leather collars, epaulets, etc. Generally we were a motley looking crowd. Our uniforms were mostly ridiculous misfits, some had to give their pants two or three rolls at the heels, others had shirts much too large which were, therefore, baggy, while others had to place paper in their hats so they would not slip down over their ears. The epaulets and leather collars were never worn(24).

 

Outfitted in regulation army uniforms, the regiment held daily parades on Camp Pope’s parade grounds in front of Governor Kirkwood’s home. S.C. Switzer recalled,

 

The parades of the Twenty-second drew out thousands of visitors every fine day to witness the glitter and pomp of military maneuvers. Those were days of preparation for more serious work, and I must express my belief that, while it seemed to me that we were only playing soldier, they were days well spent and fully occupied in gaining a knowledge of things and conditions that conduced to make the Twenty-second one of the most efficient regiments in the Union Army(25).

 

At midnight on September 14, 1862, the regiment was loaded in "boxcars, cattle cars and open coal cars" for a trip to Davenport, Iowa(26). At Davenport, the regiment was loaded on the steamer Metropolitan and sailed to Montrose, a town situated just above the rapids of the Mississippi River. At Montrose, they were again loaded on coal cars for a trip around the rapids to Keokuk, Iowa, where the navigable Mississippi resumes. There, they were quartered for the night in an old foundry with a damaged roof and during a severe rainstorm, the men fled to town in search of dry accommodations. The following day, the regiment was loaded on the boat Sucker State for a trip to St. Louis, Missouri, arriving on 18 September. After disembarking, the regiment marched four or five miles to Benton Barracks where they remained for about two weeks.

On September 22, 1862, the 22^nd Iowa was ordered to Rolla, Missouri, arriving by train on 23 September and afterward went into camp about two miles from town. There, the men were provided with wedge tents and plenty of good water. Once settled into camp, they began the daily ritual of company, regimental, and brigade drill. During this time at Rolla, the men were transformed from raw recruits into soldiers. For the next month, the regiment performed garrison duty, guarded commissary stores and the railroad, and escorted supply trains to the Army of Southeast Missouri. Jones reported "there is some sickness among the men, measles, mumps, and one case of smallpox.(27)" On October 22, 1862, the 22^nd Iowa relocated its camp (still near Rolla) and moved into more permanent winter quarters. Shelter consisted of Sibley tents, complete with stoves to keep warm. "The stove is cone shaped and sits in the middle of the tent, and we lay in a circle with our feet to the stove, except a place opposite the entrance that is left vacant, for passing in and out(28)."

J.C. Switzer recalled an interesting incident that occurred at Rolla, one that he was sure did not make it into the official written history of the 22^nd Iowa:

 

The Colonel, somehow obtained an almanac, discovered that there was to be an eclipse of the moon at a late hour at night and feeling sure that none of the boys were aware of the fact, planned a surprise for them. When the eclipse was at its height, he had the long roll sounded, as though the camp was about to be attacked by the enemy, hustled the boys out in line of battle facing the moon, and then showed them the eclipse. After fully enjoying the surprise of the boys and the joke, he dismissed the regiment and let them return to quarters(29).

 

Switzer remembered another incident that occurred at Rolla. The boys were getting bored with routine duties of camp life and drill. Colonel Stone noticed their restlessness and decided to do something about it. Since the Confederates would not attack them, he split the boys into two equal groups and let them attack each other. Luckily, they had just received a heavy snow, so he formed them in two lines of battle, placed the regimental banner between them and directed the men to fight with snowballs and capture the banner. Switzer could not recall who had won the contest but he did remember, "The banner suffered more in the contest than any of the contestants(30)." This accounted for part of the battle scarred appearance of the banner carried into battle by the Iowians

Records describe most of this period at Rolla as pleasant for the boys of the 22^nd Iowa. However, one early incident reminded the men that they were subject to Army rules and regulations. S.C. Jones wrote,

On the 17^th (October), Company F had a little trouble in regard to the mode of punishing refractory soldiers. One of the men was tied up by the thumbs to the limb of a tree. It was demonstrated at once that the harsher treatment practiced by the regular army did not meet with approval by the Western volunteers. Milder forms of punishment were therefore adopted(31).

Just before Christmas, Companies A, H, and I of the 22^nd Iowa were detailed to escort a train to Houston, Missouri, about 50 miles from St. Louis. After arrival, General Fitz Henry Warren refused to let these companies rejoin their regiment, in the hopes that he could get the 22^nd Iowa assigned to his command. This did not happen, but Warren kept the three companies in Houston for the rest of the winter. These three companies saw some action protecting Union supply trains from Confederate bushwhackers.

On January 27, 1863, the 22^nd Iowa was ordered to join the army under General John Wynn Davidson, a veteran of Gaine’s Mill, Golding’s Farm, Lee’s Mill, Mechanicsville, Savage’s Station, and Glendale of the Virginia Peninsular Campaign. After five days’ march in cold and overcast weather, the regiment arrived at West Plains, Missouri, near the Arkansas line, and was assigned to the Second Brigade, Second Division, Army of Southeast Missouri. The Second Brigade consisted of the 21^st, 22^nd, and 23^rd Regiments of Iowa Infantry, under the command of Colonel Stone of the 22^nd Iowa. Near the end of January, Companies A, H, and I rejoined their comrades at West Plains.

The first movement of the newly formed brigade was a march to Iron Mountain, Missouri, which began on 9 February and ended February 26, 1863. The following is an itinery of the two week march:(32)

 

February 8¾ Departed West Plains and moved down the Thomasville Road. Despite the muddy condition of the road, the regiment marched ten miles before bivouacking for the evening.

February 9¾ The wagons and artillery left camp early, followed later by the infantry. The muddy roads were by this time nearly impassable and many wagons were abandoned along the way. The regiment arrived in Thomasville about 3 P.M. while the wagons and artillery did not arrive until ten that evening. Set up camp on the banks of the Eleven Point’s River.

February 10¾ Regiment drew 93 pounds of unground cornmeal per company and spent the day milling it near camp.

February 12¾ Left Thomasville at 6 A.M. and marched 15 miles through a forest of tall pines. Did not stop for supper until 11 P.M.

February 13¾ Resumed the march at 7 A.M. and after marching all day, camped in a field on Jack’s Fork on the Current River.

February 14¾ Switzer recalled, "Crossing a branch of the Currant [sic. Current] River, shallow but very swift, was another experience of soldier life. The river was filled with wagons placed in the water, end to end, and the soldiers climbed into the wagon beds and by constant climbing from wagon to wagon crossed the stream(33)." The regiment covered 15 miles before camping for the night.

February 15¾ Passed through the town of Eminence where Switzer recalled the regiment saw its first dead Rebel. As the men were marching along the road, the "troops came upon a tall-red-haired ‘bushwhacker’ dressed in butternut clothing, lying dead in the middle of the road, with his wife and children crying over his remains. As the troops came up, the column opened and the front and rear ranks marched one on each side of the party and took a look at their first dead Rebel(34)." Switzer said that everyone who witnessed this incident was deeply touched by the sadness of the family.

February 16¾ Remained in camp near Eminence. The boys took time to explore a large cave in the area.

February 17¾ Left camp early at 4 A.M. and crossed the Current River above Eminence. Followed Sink Creek (some called it Crooked Creek), crossing the stream 14 times in 12 miles.

February 21¾ Reached Camp Kaolin, about 20 miles from Pilot Knob, after two days’ march.

February 22¾ Remained in Camp Kaolin due to severe wind and snow. Later that day, the brigade moved on about 6 miles.

February 23¾ Marched another 6 miles or so. The melting snow made the roads nearly impassable. Made camp about 6 miles from Pilot Knob.

February 24¾ Remained in camp near Pilot Knob, too muddy to travel.

February 25¾ Reached Iron Mountain after a long day’s march in a drizzling rain, making the bad roads even worse. Set up camp on top of Iron Mountain.

 

The official history of the 22^nd Iowa reports, "This long march through a mountainous region, at an inclement season of the year, with insufficient rations, was a severe test of the fortitude of the men, but they endured the hardships and privations to which they were subjected without complaint, and demonstrated their capacity to withstand such exposure and suffering to the fullest extent(35)." The brigade remained at their Iron Mountain camp until March 9, 1863.

Company documents show that Samuel Day went back to Iowa on furlough during March 1863, leaving from Cairo, Illinois. He rejoined his comrades on 10 April, probably at Milliken’s Bend, Louisiana.

The brigade then received orders to join General Grant’s forces in the great Vicksburg campaign. On 9 March, the brigade left Iron Mountain and took the Plank Road to Farmington, camping one and a half miles from town. The following day the regiment

continued toward St. Genevieve, stopping within 16 miles of the city. On 11 March, the brigade completed the last leg of their march, arriving at St. Genevieve, Missouri, at 3 P.M., bivouacking on a ridge north of town. Jones said, "The ridge is covered with jack oak and altogether it is a very pleasant camp ground(36)." The brigade waited for transportation until 22 March when seven companies of the regiment boarded the transport Black Hawk and proceeded down the Mississippi River to Milliken’s Bend, a five days’ journey. At Milliken’s Bend, the 22^nd Iowa joined other troops assembling for the Vicksburg campaign. The other three companies left St. Genevieve, Missouri, on 26 March and joined their comrades on 28 March at Memphis, Tennessee. On 29 April, the 22^nd Iowa proceeded to Helena by boat, arriving there after a five hour ride. The following day, the men were transferred to the boat John Grosbeck, and moved to Millikin’s Bend, about 20 miles by boat from Vicksburg. Millikin’s Bend had been destroyed by Union gunboats to prevent guerrillas from using it as a base. There, they joined other troops assembling for Grant’s Vicksburg campaign. On April 1, 1863, the Army of Southeast Missouri was reorganized, transferring the 22^nd Iowa, along with the 21^st and 23^rd Iowa, and the 11^th Wisconsin to the Army of Tennessee’s Second Brigade, Fourteenth Division, Thirteenth Army Corps. Colonel C. L. Harris, of the 11^th Wisconsin, being the senior officer, was assigned as brigade commander. Brigadier General Eugene A. Carr was given command of the Division, and the 13^th Corps was placed under the command of Major General John A. M^cClernand. To understand what happened to the 22^nd Iowa in the months that followed, we need to look at the political situation in early 1863.

 

 

6. Edna Day. Letters, papers, and photos of the Day family.

7. Unincorporated sections of counties were divided into townships, Agency Township surrounded Agency City.

8. Census (1860) of Wapello County, Iowa. Washington D.C. National Archives and Records Service. Hereafter, this work will be cited as 1860 Census of Wapello County.

9. Edna Day. Letters, papers, and photos of the Day family.

10. Ibid.

11. This name appears as "Trice" in the records but should read "True" based on family historical accounts. The census was written in old-style cursive and was extremely difficult to read.

12. This was obvious because the handwriting of the census was the same throughout the county record.

13. Pension Records of Samuel Day. Washington D.C., National Archives and Record Service. Hereafter, this work will be cited as Samuel Day Pension Records.

14. Dyer, Frederick Henry. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Dayton, Ohio: Morningside Bookshop Press, 1978. pp. 1172-1180. Between July and November of 1862, Iowa formed the 18^th through 28^th, 30^th through 36^th, 39^th and 40^th Infantry regiments

15. Each company consisted of approximately 100 men.

16. See roster at the end of this book for a complete list of Wapello County volunteers.

17. Regiments did not have a company J. Legend explains the reason for this is that the letter J looked awfully close to the letter I in 19th century handwriting. Boatner, Mark M. III. Army Lore. Japan: Kyoya Co., Ltd., 1954. p. 23.

18. Jones, 22^nd Iowa, p. 7.

19. Military Service Records of Samuel Day. Washington D.C., National Archives and Record Service. Hereafter, this work will be cited as Samuel Day Military Records. Lieutenant Robb was later killed in action with the regiment.

20. Ibid.

21. Ibid.

22. Other sources place the regiment’s strength at 1,067.

23. Thrift, Iowa in the Rebellion, p. 559.

24. Jones, 22^nd Iowa, p. 8.

25. Switzer, Jacob C. "Reminiscences of Jacob C. Switzer of the 22^nd Iowa." Iowa Journal of History, 1957. p. 322. Hereafter, this work will be cited as Switzer, History I.

26. Switzer, History I, p. 322.

27. Jones, 22^nd Iowa, p. 10.

28. Ibid., p. 11.

29. Switzer, History I. p. 324.

30. Ibid., p. 324.

31. Jones, 22^nd Iowa, p. 11.

32. Summarized from Jones’ and Switzer’s accounts of the march.

33. Switzer, History I, p. 326.

34. Ibid, p. 326. Some Confederate soldiers dyed their uniforms butternut brown, using either walnut shells or copperas solution.

35. Thrift, Iowa in the Rebellion, p. 560.

36. Jones, 22^nd Iowa, p. 23.

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