Iowa Monument at Shiloh - 2
by David Bearden
Title
Iowa Monument at Shiloh - 2
Artist
David Bearden
Medium
Photograph
Description
When the Civil War erupted in 1861, Iowa was a relatively new state, having been admitted to the Union just fifteen years before in 1846. In 1861, Iowa's population was growing rapidly and had reached about 600,000. The river valleys had been largely settled. Only the northwestern area of Iowa was still sparsely populated.
When President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers immediately after Fort Sumter, Iowa was requested to raise one infantry regiment. The 1st Iowa Infantry was the state's only 90-day regiment because it was widely believed that the outcome of the war would be decided quickly. The 1st Iowa Infantry fought one engagement at Wilson's Creek in southern Missouri.
Other infantry and cavalry regiments as well as several batteries of artillery were formed later in 1861, and even more after Lincoln's second call for volunteers in 1862. In addition to these, many Iowans served in volunteer units from other Union states and in the regular U.S. Army and Navy. Still others served in local militias that formed home guards for their local communities right here in Iowa. Altogether, about 70% of all adult white males served in some military capacity during the Civil War. African-Americans from Iowa also served the Union cause by forming the 1st Iowa African Infantry which was later reorganized by the U.S. Army as the 60th Regiment U.S. Colored Troops. Considering that Iowa's total black population in 1861 was no more than 1,000, this was a significant contribution to the Union war effort.
Uploaded
January 11th, 2012
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