2nd Iowa Infantry Regiment

2nd Iowa Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was mustered into service on May 27, 1861, at Keokuk, Iowa, with Samuel R. Curtis as its first colonel, and was composed of men from Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri. The regiment saw action in several key battles and campaigns, including the Battle of Fort Donelson, Battle of Shiloh, and Vicksburg Campaign, alongside other notable units such as the 15th Iowa Infantry Regiment, 16th Iowa Infantry Regiment, and 20th Iowa Infantry Regiment. The regiment was part of the Army of the Tennessee, led by Ulysses S. Grant, and later the Army of the Gulf, under the command of Nathaniel P. Banks.

Organization and early service

The 2nd Iowa Infantry Regiment was organized at Keokuk, Iowa, with companies from Des Moines, Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, Davenport, Iowa, and other towns in Iowa. The regiment was mustered into service on May 27, 1861, with Samuel R. Curtis as its first colonel, and was sent to St. Louis, Missouri, to join the Department of the West, under the command of John C. Frémont. The regiment then moved to Cairo, Illinois, where it became part of the Army of the Tennessee, led by Ulysses S. Grant, and participated in the Battle of Fort Donelson, alongside the 11th Illinois Infantry Regiment, 12th Illinois Infantry Regiment, and 13th Illinois Infantry Regiment. The regiment also saw action at the Battle of Shiloh, where it fought alongside the 6th Iowa Infantry Regiment, 7th Iowa Infantry Regiment, and 8th Iowa Infantry Regiment.

Engagements and campaigns

The 2nd Iowa Infantry Regiment participated in several key battles and campaigns, including the Battle of Fort Donelson, Battle of Shiloh, Battle of Corinth, Vicksburg Campaign, and Red River Campaign. The regiment was part of the Army of the Tennessee, led by Ulysses S. Grant, and later the Army of the Gulf, under the command of Nathaniel P. Banks. The regiment saw action at the Battle of Champion Hill, where it fought alongside the 17th Iowa Infantry Regiment, 18th Iowa Infantry Regiment, and 19th Iowa Infantry Regiment, and at the Battle of Big Black River Bridge, where it fought alongside the 21st Iowa Infantry Regiment, 22nd Iowa Infantry Regiment, and 23rd Iowa Infantry Regiment. The regiment also participated in the Siege of Vicksburg, where it was part of the XV Corps, led by William Tecumseh Sherman, and the Siege of Port Hudson, where it was part of the XIX Corps, led by Nathaniel P. Banks.

Commanders and notable members

The 2nd Iowa Infantry Regiment had several notable commanders, including Samuel R. Curtis, James M. Tuttle, and Marsena R. Patrick. The regiment also had several notable members, including William P. Hepburn, who later became a United States Representative from Iowa, and James Wilson Grimes, who later became a United States Senator from Iowa. The regiment was also home to several Medal of Honor recipients, including William H. Harrison, who received the medal for his actions at the Battle of Vicksburg, and John H. Patterson, who received the medal for his actions at the Battle of Red River.

Casualties and strength

The 2nd Iowa Infantry Regiment suffered significant casualties during the war, with over 200 men killed in action and over 500 men dying from disease. The regiment's strength varied throughout the war, with a peak strength of over 1,000 men in 1862. The regiment was mustered out of service on July 12, 1865, at Davenport, Iowa, with only a few hundred men remaining. The regiment's casualties were similar to those of other Iowa regiments, such as the 1st Iowa Infantry Regiment, 3rd Iowa Infantry Regiment, and 4th Iowa Infantry Regiment, which also saw significant action during the war.

Legacy and memorials

The 2nd Iowa Infantry Regiment is remembered as one of the most distinguished regiments from Iowa during the American Civil War. The regiment's legacy is commemorated by several memorials, including a monument at the Vicksburg National Military Park, which honors the regiment's role in the Vicksburg Campaign, and a monument at the Shiloh National Military Park, which honors the regiment's role in the Battle of Shiloh. The regiment is also remembered through several United States Army units, including the 133rd Infantry Regiment (United States), which is descended from the 2nd Iowa Infantry Regiment, and the 168th Infantry Regiment (United States), which is also descended from the regiment. The regiment's history is also preserved through several institutions, including the State Historical Society of Iowa, the Iowa Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, and the National Park Service. Category:American Civil War regiments