3rd Iowa Cavalry.

[Robert Gray]

The 3rd Iowa Cavalry photographed at its camp in Helena, Arkansas, ca. 1863.

The regiment was organized at Keokuk, Iowa between August 30th and September 14, 1861 and was mustered out of Federal service on August 9, 1865.

Detachments of the regiment served at Pea Ridge, Vicksburg, Brice's Crossroads, Mine Creek, Egypt Station, Mississippi and Columbus, Georgia.

The regiment lost during service 5 officers and 79 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 officers and 230 enlisted men by disease for a total of 318. A total of 2,165 men served in the 3rd Iowa at one time or another during its existence.

Images: State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines.

 

[DixieRifles]

Detachments of the regiment served at Pea Ridge, Vicksburg, Brice's Crossroads, Mine Creek, Egypt Station, Mississippi and Columbus, Georgia.

I have always wanted to find more information on the Battle of Egypt Station--now known as Egypt. This is part of Grierson's Raid in 1864.
This is a quote from Wikipedia article that describes the Union cavalry operations AFTER the 28th December battle. This does mention the 3rd Iowa Cavalry involved in these raids. I've highlighted the towns they passed thru ---which are familiar to me.

After their victory{at Egypt Station}, Grierson's cavalry headed southwest to Vicksburg which it reached on January 5, 1865. The raiders destroyed a large amount of Confederate supplies and also damaged the Mississippi Central Railroad. . . .

From Houston, Grierson ordered feints north toward Pontotoc and southeast toward West Point. However, the main Union column marched southwest through Bellefontaine to Winona on the Mississippi Central Railroad. At Winona, the depot, two locomotives, and Confederate supplies were destroyed. From Winona, a detachment from the 4th Iowa Cavalry Regiment moved to Bankston where it destroyed the cloth and shoe factories making equipment for Confederate soldiers. A detachment of 300 horsemen from Winslow's brigade under Colonel John W. Noble of the 3rd Iowa Cavalry Regiment went north from Winona toward Grenada, wrecking the railroad and Confederate facilities. Noble's force rejoined the main column at Benton. Grierson sent Osband's brigade to the south with the mission of tearing up additional railroad track. The remainder of Grierson's column moved southwest to Lexington and then Benton.

On January 1, 1865, Osband's brigade marched south through Vaiden and West Station, destroying an estimated 2.5 mi of track, plus bridges, culverts, stations, and water tanks. The following day, a Confederate force was reported assembling at Goodman so Osburn moved his brigade southwest toward Ebenezer. Near Franklin, the 3rd U.S. Colored Cavalry ran into a Confederate force led by Brigadier General William Wirt Adams. The 11th Illinois took position on the right flank while the 4th Illinois supported the 3rd U.S. Colored. After a struggle lasting one hour and a half, both sides disengaged. Osband lost one officer killed and one wounded, and three enlisted men killed, seven wounded, and two missing. Two enlisted men were too severely wounded to be moved and were left at Franklin*. Osband's brigade moved through Ebenezer and joined Grierson's main column at Benton at night on January 2. Adams reported 22 casualties: two officers and five enlisted men killed, and three officers and 12 men wounded.

* Franklin is an unincorporated community approximately 7 miles south of Lexington, the county seat of Holmes County. Google Map appears to show a water tower there and two churches.

 

[Lubliner]

I once did some research on the 2nd Iowa and found they were mustered in and assigned to guarding the St Joseph and Hannibal Railroad in Missouri after the Platte River derailment on September 3, 1861. In December they were moved to Memphis and suffered a lot of sickness during that time. It is possible the 3rd Iowa was under the same dates and orders along with the 2nd. This would be leading up to the Battle of Pea Ridge in March of 1862.

 

[DixieRifles]

I once did some research on the 2nd Iowa and found they were mustered in and assigned to guarding the St Joseph and Hannibal Railroad in Missouri after the Platte River derailment on September 3, 1861. In December they were moved to Memphis and suffered a lot of sickness during that time. It is possible the 3rd Iowa was under the same dates and orders along with the 2nd. This would be leading up to the Battle of Pea Ridge in March of 1862.

I thought I had downloaded an Adjutant General's Report on the Iowa cavalry units with a history and/or a roster. I'm still looking for it.
I do have a copy of a History of the 2nd Iowa Cavalry published in 1865.

The 2nd Iowa Cavalry (we side-tracked from the 3rd Iowa Cav) was under the command of Lieut-Col Edward Hatch. Their first real battle was a battle of Boonesville, MS on May 30, 1862. They were used in the battle of Iuka and were part of Grant's advance into Mississippi and reacting to Van Dorn's Raid on Holly Springs. On 3 Nov 1863, they arrived on the scene at the 2nd Battle of Collierville, TN, and repulsed the attack by a brigade lead by CS Colonel Richardson, capturing Colonel James Z. George, 5th Mississippi Cavalry. They were in the Battle of Moscow, TN, and the Sooy Smith raid and battle of Okolona.

{Edited}
Link to History of 2nd Iowa Cavalry: Google Books

 

[damYankee]

My g grandfather was in the 4th Iowa Cav. it would be wonderful to find photos of the 4th.

 

[Lubliner]

@DixieRifles my apology for confusing the infantry with the cavalry. The 2nd Iowa I refer to was infantry.
Lubliner.