15th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment

HISTORICAL NOTES:
This regiment was organized at Keokuk and was mustered in by companies at different dates between Nov., 1861, and the last of the following February. On March 19, 1862, it proceeded to Benton barracks, St. Louis, and reached Pittsburg landing shortly after the battle of Shiloh had commenced. It moved quickly to the front and took part in the fight; but having been assigned to a poor position it was ordered to fall back, which it did in some confusion. It did not fight as an organization again that day, though portions of it were rallied and took part in the battle. The men fought bravely and well, losing 188 in killed, wounded and missing, Col. Reid being severely wounded. It became a part of the "Iowa" brigade upon the reorganization of the army and took part in the movement upon Corinth. At the close of that campaign it engaged in the performance of picket and guard duties along the railways west of Corinth and as provost guard during the month of July. About the first of August it moved to Bolivar and remained there until the middle of September. While at Bolivar Col. Reid was placed in command of the brigade and Lieut. - Col. Belknap assumed command of the regiment. It was in the battle of Chewalla, joined in the pursuit of the enemy at the close of the engagement, and returned to Corinth on Oct. 13. After taking part in various operations in Mississippi and Tennessee during the winter it joined the army for the Vicksburg campaign; was engaged in sharp skirmishes at Mechanicsburg and Messenger's ferry, and identified with all the movements of its brigade; remained in camp near the city after the surrender until Aug. 21, when it joined the expedition to Monroe, the most wearisome, ill- starred affair of its kind known in the annals of the war. In September it returned and rested at Vicksburg until Feb., 1864; then reenlisted as a veteran organization; accompanied the Meridian expedition, and on its return proceeded to Iowa on furlough. The non-veterans of the brigade were organized into "The Iowa battalion of the 17th army corps," Maj. Pomutz commanding, and moved to Cairo, Ill., about the first of April, in charge of a large quantity of arms, being ordered from there to garrison Mound City. In the latter part of April the battalion proceeded to Huntsville, where the men were returned to their regiments. The 15th returned to Cairo, moved thence to Bird's Point, Paducah and Huntsville, which was reached May 20. Here the brigade was officially designated as the 3d of the 4th division. The 15th took part in nearly every engagement from Kennesaw mountain to the battle before Atlanta, losing in that time nearly 100 in killed, wounded and missing. At the great battle of July 22 its brigade fought like demons against the savage assaults of the enemy and repelled seven charges during the day. The 15th captured 93 prisoners and lost 10 killed, 40 wounded and 82 captured, Lieut. -Col. Hendrick being severely wounded. The regiment fought at Ezra Church. Col. Belknap was made brigadier-general and Lieut. -Col. Hendrick was commissioned to succeed to the command, but being unable to take active charge, the duties fell upon Lieut. -Col. Pomutz, who was advanced to that position. Col. Hendrick was brevetted brigadier-general, and sent many recruits to the regiment, although his injuries never permitted him to take to the field again. The regiment was in the battles of Jonesboro and Lovejoy's Station, then went into camp at East Point, until the pursuit of Hood in October, returning in time to proceed to Savannah, from which city it marched in Jan., 1865, through the Carolinas, and was engaged at Columbia and Bentonville. It moved to Goldsboro, Raleigh, Washington, and Louisville where it was mustered out July 24 with 712 on the rolls. OFFICERS:
Cols., Hugh F. Reid. William W. Belknap; Lieut. -Cols., William Dewey, William W. Belknap, John M. Hendrick, George Pomutz; Majs., William W. Belknap, William Cunningham, John M. Hendrick, George Pomutz, James S. Porter.
ROSTERS:

Company A - enrolled in Clinton County

Company B - enrolled in Polk County

Company C - enrolled in Mahaska County

Company D - enrolled in Wapello County.

Company E - enrolled in Lee County

Company F - enrolled in Mills County and Fremont County

Company G - enrolled in Marion County and Warren County

Company H - enrolled in Pottawattamie County, Harrison County,

Company I - enrolled in Lee County, Clarke County

Company K - enrolled in Marion County, Wapello County and Van Buren County

BIBLIOGRAPHY:


REFERENCES:

REF: Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
"The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 4