4th Iowa Infantry History - Page 15

On the 5th, the Army of the Tennessee started thitherward, and shortly afterwards encamped at East Point, where it remained during the rest of the month. Here the regiment, which had been reduced during the campaign to less than two hundred men, underwent several changes as to its officers. Major Nichols was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy, and Captain Anderson appointed to the vacancy. Several line officers, whose term of service had expired, resigned.

In the pursuit of Hood's army which began October 5th, the Fourth Iowa took part. During a period from September 29th to November 3rd the regiment took part in operations in Northern Georgia and Northern Alabama against Hood and Forrest. During this time the Fourth took part in the skirmish at Snake Creek Gap, Georgia, on October 15th. On October 25th the regiment made a reconnaissance from Gaylesville to Turkeytown, Alabama.

November 15th to December 10th saw the regiment take part in the Savannah, Georgia Campaign which consisted of General Sherman’s March to the Sea. Beginning on the 10th and ending on the 21st of December the men were involved with the siege of Savannah, Georgia.

From January to April the Fourth took a very active part in the Carolina Campaign. On January 25th the regiment made a reconnaissance to the Salkehatchie River, South Carolina. February 15th saw the regiment engaged in a sharp skirmish at Congaree Creek, South Carolina. The regiment spent the following days, February 16th and 17th, in numerous sharp skirmishes around Columbia, South Carolina. Then enactivity settled in, until March 19th, when the Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina, began. The Fourth lost three enlisted men killed and three enlisted men wounded in the four days of battle. On March 24th the regiment occupied the city of Goldsboro, North Carolina. April 10th to April 13th was a time of slow advance upon the city of Raleigh, North Carolina. Finally all the marching ended with the occupation of Raleigh.

Shrotly after this the war ended, and the regiment moved to Washington for "The Grand Review". After remaining for some time in camp near Washington, the regiment proceeded to Louisville, Kentucky, where it was mustered out of the service July 24, 1865, having served nearly four years. A correspondent of the New York Tribune says of Williamson's Iowa Brigade, in the battle of the 22nd: "It was one of the bravest, truest, most tenacious fighting brigades that has marched to the rescue of our Nation's liberties." The Fourth had fought bravely at Resaca, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain and at Jonesboro, until losses had reduced its numbers below two hundred. Major Nichols was severely wounded, Captain Anderson was wounded at Jonesboro; Lieutenants Baker and Cramer were killed at Ringgold. In response to the request of the Adjutant General of Iowa, near the close of the war, Colonel J.A. Williamson wrote a condensed report of the operations of the regiment, which extended over a very wide field, in many southern states, but could not give a list of "posts" occupied. He says:

"I can hardly realize the meaning of the term as connected with this regiment. We have stopped from time to time to rest, after an active campaign, but never had charge of any post, or fixed camp, from the time the regiment was really equipped for the field at Rolla, Missouri, in the fall of 1861."

Only those who have had the same experience can realize the feeling, which old soldiers had in common, that it was useless to make definite calculation upon remaining even a single day in one locality. While troops did remain in the same camp, sometimes for weeks, or months, they never knew how quickly a change would be made, and therefore, in time of war, the soldier's life is very much the same as that of the Nomads, ready to break camp and to move upon the shortest notice. Such was, in a most pronounced degree, the experience of the Fourth Iowa Infantry during its long period of service from 1861 to 1865.

Inseparably connected with the history of this regiment is that of the man who first commanded it, and under whom it won its first glorious victory. Subsequently he won high honor as a General and enjoyed the personal friendship and confidence of President Lincoln and General Grant. Since the close of the war, he has achieved fame and distinction in civil life. Through all his career he has cherished the memory of the men of his old regiment, and has -- from time to time -- given evidence of his abiding friendship for them. This is therefore an appropriate place to record the official military history of Iowa's most distinguished soldier. The record is compiled from the files of the War Department in Washington and of the Adjutant General's office of the State of Iowa, and is therefore officially correct.

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