HISTORICAL NOTES:
The ten companies that formed the 5th Iowa were ordered into quarters by Governor of Iowa Samuel Kirkwood at different dates between June 24 and July 3, 1861. The companies rendezvoused at Burlington, Iowa, where they mustered into Federal service between July 15 and July 17.
Before dawn on November 24, 1863, the regiment crossed the Tennessee River south of South Chickamauga Creek by pontoon boat along with its brigade. The 5th Iowa served with Matthies' Brigade at the Battle of Missionary Ridge on November 25. Advancing at the foot of the ridge, it was ordered by Matthies to occupy the Glass house and its surroundings to the west of Tunnel Hill on the northern end of the ridge. When the brigade advanced up the hill, the regiment deployed in a skirmish line on the right flank of the brigade. Struck from the left and rear by the countercharge of Granbury's Texas Brigade that routed the brigade, the regiment collapsed and precipitately retreated from the slopes of the hill under heavy fire. Stragglers from the 5th Iowa fled towards the Glass house, preventing the remnants of the 73rd Pennsylvania there from changing front against the Texans. At Missionary Ridge, the regiment suffered 106 casualties, including 82 captured, out of 248 officers and men present at the beginning of the battle. Among those captured was the entire color company, and with them, the regimental colors.
A soldier from the Fifth Iowa Infantry is highlighted near the end of Chapter III of MacKinlay Kantor's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "Andersonville" (1955). The soldier's story is more thoroughly described in Chapter IX of the same book.
The Regiment lost during service 9 Officers and 108 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 131 Enlisted men by disease. Total 250.
OFFICERS:
Colonel William H. Worthington
Colonel Charles L. Matthies[7]
Lieutenant Colonel Ezekiel S. Sampson
ASSIGNMENTS:
Attached to Fremont's Army of the West and Dept. of Missouri, to March, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Army Mississippi, to April, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Army Mississippi, April, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Army Mississippi, to November, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 7th Division, Left Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. Tennessee, to December, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 7th Division, 16th Army Corps, to January, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 7th Division, 17th Army Corps, to September, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 17th Army Corps, to December, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 15th Army Corps, to August, 1864.
SERVICE:
Expedition to Northeastern Missouri August, 1861. Detachment moved to St. Louis, Mo., August 11, thence to Jefferson City, Mo., August 14. Expedition toward Columbia September 2. Moved to Booneville September 14, thence to Glasgow September 25. Return to Booneville October 2. Fremont's Campaign against Springfield, Mo., October 4-November 8. Guard railroad and duty at Booneville and Syracuse till February, 1862. Moved to Cairo, Ill., February 6, thence to Benton, Mo. Operations against New Madrid, Mo., February 28-March 15, and against Island No. 10, March 15-April 8. Expedition to Fort Pillow April 13-17. Moved to Hamburg Landing, Tenn., April 18-22. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Pursuit to Booneville May 31-June 6. At Clear Creek till August 5. Expedition to Holly Springs June 27-July 10. Moved to Jacinto August 5. March to Iuka September 18-19. Battle of Iuka September 19. Moved to Corinth October 1. Battle of Corinth October 3-4. Pursuit to Ripley October 5-12. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign November, 1862, to January, 1863. Reconnoissance from LaGrange November 8-9, 1862. Duty at Memphis, Tenn., January to March, 1863. Expedition up Yazoo and operations about Fort Pemberton and Greenwood March 13-April 5. Fort Pemberton March 25. Moved to Milliken's Bend, La., April 13. Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 25-30. Battle of Port Gibson May 1. South Fork Bayou Pierrie May 2. Battles of Raymond May 12. Near Raymond May 13. Jackson May 14. Champion's Hill May 16. Siege of Vicksburg May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. Surrender of Vicksburg July 4. Duty at Vicksburg till September 13. Moved to Memphis, thence march to Chattanooga, Tenn., September 13-November 20. Operations on Memphis & Charleston railroad in Alabama October 20-29. Battles of Chattanooga November 23-25. Tunnel Hill November 24-25. Mission Ridge, November 25. Pursuit to Graysville November 26-27. March to relief of Knoxville November 28-December 17. Duty at Bridgeport and Huntsville, Ala., till April, 1864. Veterans on furlough April-May. Non-Veterans guard railroad till June 15. Mustered out July 30. Moved to Huntsville, thence to Kingston, Ga., June 23. Guard duty there and at Etowah River till July 30. Consolidated with 5th Iowa Cavalry August 8, 1864.
ROSTERS:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 1514 men.
HISTORICAL NOTES: