# History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/2/27

THE GRAY-BEARD REGIMENT.
THERE were in Iowa large numbers of men past the age for military service who were anxious to serve the country during the War of Rebellion. They succeeded in obtaining authority through our State officials to organize a regiment of men over the age fixed by military regulations, for the performance of garrison and post service, which would relieve younger soldiers and thus add to the active army in the field. No purer patriotism was ever exhibited than that which prompted these men exempt by law, to thus serve their country in this great extremity. In the month of August, 1862, Secretary Stanton at the head of the War Department authorized the organization of such a regiment. The companies were soon raised, made up of men from forty-five to sixty-four years of age. It was officially known as the Thirty-seventh regiment but was universally called the “Gray-Beard Regiment.”
Iowa alone of all the States in the Union raised a regiment of “gray beards.” Every Congressional District in the State was represented in the regiment. Stephen B. Shellady, who was sixty-one years of age, and had been Speaker of the House of Representatives, was a volunteer in its ranks. The field and staff officers were: George W. Kincaid, colonel; George R. West, lieutenant-colonel; Lyman Allen, major; David H. Goodno, adjutant; Prentice Ransom, quartermaster; John W. Finley, surgeon, and James H. White, chaplain. They went into camp at Muscatine but the regiment was not mustered into service until the middle of December. Early in January, 1863, it was ​sent to St. Louis, and as it marched through the streets General Curtis pronounced it one of the finest looking regiments he had seen in the service. The regiment remained in the city until the latter part of May guarding military prisons, when it moved out on the Pacific Railroad. In January, 1864, it was sent to Rock Island to guard prisoners at that place. In June the regiment was sent south to Memphis, Tennessee, where it was employed in guard and picket duty. On the 5th of July a detail of fifty men from the regiment, sent out to guard a supply train on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, was attacked by guerillas and Corporal Charles Young and Samuel Coburn were killed and two others wounded. From Memphis the regiment was sent to Indianapolis, Indiana, whence five companies were moved to Cincinnati under Colonel Kincaid, three under Lieutenant-Colonel West being stationed at Columbus, and the other two at Gallipolis, Ohio, where they remained until the middle of May, 1865, when the regiment was united at Cincinnati. On the 20th the regiment started for Davenport, where it was mustered out of the service on the 24th. During the two and a half years of service the regiment had lost from death by disease one hundred thirty-four members; two were killed in battle and three wounded. The patriotic services were appreciated by the commander, as will be seen by the following letter from General Willich, the last officer under whom they served:
Head-Quarters, Cincinnati, Ohio, May 13, 1865.
Brigadier-General L. Thomas, Adjutant-General U. S. Army.
General:—I have the honor to submit the following for your consideration: The Thirty-seventh Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, called the Gray-Beards, now on duty at this post, consists exclusively of old men—none under forty-five years of age and many over sixty. After the men of this regiment had devoted their sons and grandsons, numbering 1,300 men, to the service of their country their patriotism induced them to enlist themselves for garrison duty, thus enabling the Government to send the young men to the front. Officers and men would cheerfully remain in the service as long as they are wanted, though they are very badly needed ​at home to save the next harvest, most of them being farmers. I most respectfully submit to you whether there is any necessity now to hold these old men under such heavy sacrifices. They have received the commendation of their former post commanders. At this post they have very heavy duties, which to perform would even have been difficult for an equal number of young men. The high patriotism displayed by these men in devoting a few years of their old age to their country’s service is unparalleled in history, and commands the respect of every true republican.
I therefore most respectfully recommend that the Thirty-seventh Iowa Volunteers may be mustered out of the service immediately, with the honors and acknowledgments of their services due to the noble spirit with which they gave so glorious an example to the youths of their country.
Very respectfully, etc.,
General Willich’s request was granted and the regiment was mustered out. The command was disbanded; the patriotic survivors returned to their homes. Many members of this noble regiment had broken down under the hardships of the field and camp and survived but a short time. Their superb patriotism can never be forgotten in the annals of Iowa. To the latest generation the story of the services and sacrifices of the “Gray-Beards” in the War of the Rebellion will be an inspiration to the young.
THE THIRTY-EIGHT IOWA INFANTRY
This regiment was raised in the old Third Congressional District; four companies in Fayette County, two in Winneshiek, two in Bremer, and the remainder in Chickasaw and Howard. They went into camp at Dubuque in August, 1862, numbering eight hundred thirty-two men. The regiment was not fully organized until early in November. The field officers were Colonel David H. Hughes; Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph O. Hodnutt; Major Charles Chadwick, and Adjutant H. W. Pettit. Having remained in camp some time for drill the regiment was first sent to St. Louis, where its equipment was received. On the 2d of January the regiment was sent to New Madrid with orders ​to rebuild the barracks and put the town in condition for defense. Her it remained undisturbed until June. On the 7th of that month it departed for Vicksburg, joining General Herron’s Division. On the 15th the command took a position on the left of the investing army and from that time until the surrender was engaged in the duties of the siege. The position of the regiment was on the borders of a cypress swamp, which proved to be a very unhealthy place, producing a great among of sickness, resulting in many deaths. On the 12th of July the regiment embarked with General Herron’s forces on the Yazoo City expedition was later sent to Port Hudson, where it was in camp about three weeks during which time almost the entire regiment was prostrated by sickness. At one time only eight officers and twenty men were fit for duty. The encampment was for a long time merely a hospital filled with the sick and dying. Among those who died were Colonel Hughes, Captain Henry A. Tinkham and Lieutenant George H. Stephens, all gallant officers whose untimely deaths were a great loss to the regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Hodnutt being absent on sick leave the command was assumed by Major Chadwick. The remnant of the regiment was moved from Port Huron about the middle of August and went into convalescent camp at Carrollton, Louisiana, remaining about two months, regaining health and strength. When General Banks began his Texas expedition the Thirty-eighth joined Herron’s command and one the 23d of October embarked for Brazos Santiago. From there the army marched to Brownsville and there remained on garrison duty until the latter part of July when the town was evacuated by the Union Army. The regiment returned by transport to New Orleans and was from there sent to the army operating against Mobile. Here the command remained, taking part in the siege, until some time after the surrender of Fort Morgan. The regiment then returned to New Orleans and Lieutenant-Colonel Hodnutt was ordered to Donaldsonville, Louisiana. On the 12th of ​December, 1864, General Canby issued an order for the consolidation of the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-eighth Iowa regiments into the Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteers and the Thirty-eighth Iowa ceased to exist as a separate organization. Lieutenant-Colonel Hodnutt was honorably discharged. The history of the Thirty-eighth Iowa is a sad and pathetic one, beyond that of any other that went from our State. Before it had been in existence two years more than three hundred members had died of disease in the unhealthy camps where it had been stationed or on the march, and more than one hundred had been discharge on account of illness. There were many long dreary weeks when disease and death brooded over the camp and there were not enough well to care for the sick and to bury the dead. Finally, with decimated ranks the regiment itself yielded to a hard fate, passed out of existence and sadly saw its survivors transferred to another. The Thirty-eighth was made up of as brave men as ever marched from Iowa, but fate decreed that it should achieve no heroic deeds on the field of battle, where amid shot and shell noble sacrifices are made and undying glory won; but in dreary camps devoted men were stricken with disease which carried them to a soldier’s lonely grave.
While other more fortunate regiments have emblazoned upon their banners the names of historic fields where fame was won in fierce, deadly strife, the martyr regiment, deprived of these emblems, will not be forgotten by a grateful posterity.
THE THIRTY-NINTH IOWA INFANTRY
GENERAL JOHN M. CORSE
BRILLIANT DEFENSE OF ALLATOONA
General Hood in command of the Confederate army was now moving northward and sent a force of cavalry to cut Sherman’s communication near Marietta, while with the main army he crossed the Chattahoochee and marched on Dallas. A large force of the enemy, after destroying the railroad at Big Shanty, moved against Allatoona Pass, where there were immense stores of rations for Sherman’s army guarded by the Ninety-third Illinois under Lieutenant-Colonel Tourtelotte. General John M. Corse was at Rome with his division. General Sherman signaled him to reënforce Allatoona Pass and hold it at all hazards. Early on the morning of October 5th Corse was there with 2,000 men, including the Thirty-ninth Iowa under Lieutenant-Colonel Redfield. Soon after daylight General French had the works completely invested and sent Corse a summons to surrender, which was promptly declined. An assault was then ordered and the Confederate army rushed upon the outer works with the utmost fury. A deadly fire was opened upon them by the garrison making ​great gaps in their lines which were promptly filled, and one of the most deadly combats of the war ensued. The enemy charged by regiments and brigades and the struggle over the rifle pits and outer works was of the most desperate character. After three hours of hard fighting Sherman became anxious as to the result and signaled from mountain top to mountain top “Hold the fort, I will help you.” Corse signaled back his grim reply and the battle increased in fury. Having failed to break our lines by repeated charges of brigades the Confederates now came on in mass. Wrought up to the highest pitch of desperation on both sides the combat became of the most deadly nature. Men bayonetted each other over the rifle pits and officers thrust their swords into the bodies of their foes. Corse received a severe wound in his face and became insensible, when Colonel Rowell of the Seventh Illinois assumed command and directed the battle with skill and courage until he, too, fell severely wounded. Corse having revived, now resumed command and the garrison was driven into two forts. At two o’clock the crisis of the hard-fought battle came. The garrison was weakened by long hours of the most desperate fighting and the loss of many brave men, but there was no thought of surrender. The Confederates now formed in compact masses for another assault. Our gunners double-shotted their field pieces and waited until the enemy was within a few paces, then opened upon the crowded ranks with grape and canister. Nothing could stand against the deadly missiles; staggered and confused they halted, then broke and finally turned and fled. The great victory was won but at a fearful cost. More than seven hundred of the brave defenders fell in the heroic struggle.
LT-COL. JAS. REDFIELD
It was in the grand review at Washington at the close of the war and was mustered out of the service in that city on the 5th of June, 1865.