The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-09-29
Survivors of the Famous Old Regiment
Gather at Mount Pleasant and
Recall the Stirring
Times.
ORGANIZATION HISTORY
Veterans From All over the Country
Are Present to Attend the
Meeting Held Where Reg
iment Was Recruited.

The Fourth Iowa Cavalry is in re-
union at Mt. Pleasant this week, the
following from the News of that place
telling of the meeting and giving a
brief history of the regiment:
Mt. Pleasant is host today to that
grand old man, the SCARED veteran of
the war of the rebellion, and to that
great old regiment whose record is
such bright one, the 4th Iowa Cal
airy.
G. A. R. men from all the surround
Ing cities and states are in the city.
This morning and this afternoon at
the Y. NJ. C. A. registration of all
the old members of the regiment is
taking place. While large number
are already here, more are arriving on
every train, so that by tomorrow there
will be possibly as many of the mem
bers of the old regiment together as
have been for years.
The reunion of these old men is
most interesting to the younger gen.
Grafton, and 1t is impossible to regard
them with anything but admiration
and ave. The greetings of the old
comrades are just about the heartiest
ever, yet in many cases are little
AFFECTING as the name of another is
mentioned who has answered the
heavenly bugle call since the last re-
union.
A Short History Of the Regiment.
Oct IL, 1861, due to the strong rep
resentation of the United States Sen
ator James Harlan, the secretary of
war gave Governor Kirkwood author
ity to raise Fourth Cavalry to be
rendezvouzed at Mt. Pleasant. AS
neucleus to the new regiment Cover
nor Kirkwood ordered to Mt Pleasant
two companies Of volunteers. which
had expected to be enrolled into the
Second Iowa Cavalry, being organized
at Davenport. When these two COM
panies arrived at Davenport they
found that the regiment was full. as
was also the Third, in camp at keo-
kuk. These accompanies thereupon
came down the river from Davenport
to Burlington and by train to Mt
Pleasant, arriving during the night of
Oct. IL, and went Immediately to
Camp Harlan, west of town, on the
Swan farm, now owned by Senator
Seeley. Co. A was from Fremont
county, and Co. B was from Delaware
county.
Other companies came rapidly into
camp and the regiment was soon en-.
listed to its full strength CO. C was
raised almost entirely from Mt. Pleas
ant and Henry county. Co. D was also
made up from Henry county. Co. E
was made UP from men of Grinnell.
Co. F was made up in Ottumwa but
many Henry county men enlisted in
IT. Co. was made UP from Lee
county men. Co H was made up from
Mitchell and Chicasaw counties. Co
u was made up at Winterset. Co. K
was another Henry county company
Co. L was from Burlington, and Co. M
was made up mostly from men from
Jefferson county.
Nov. 20, 1861. mastering officers OF
the regular army appeared and within
a week had regularly mustered into
the service the Fourth Iowa Cavalry
The regiment remained in camp un
til February, 1862, when under orders
1T proceeded to st. Louis to ente,
active service, Nine men were lef,
behind stricken by disease. TIL first
death In the regiment was Private
Benz. Ullery, of Co. A, who died ii
the local hospital November 9, ant
eight more followed him and are bur
led in the cemeteries Of the city.