I6th Iowa Vol. Inf.

[Gregory Robison]

Hello, I am just joining this forum, and there may already be a thread on this topic, but I just wanted to sign-post my particular interest in the Iowa Brigade ("Crocker's Iowa Brigade") in general, the 16th Regiment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry in particular, and Company "F" in specific.

 

[CMWinkler]

Welcome.

 

[msimmons]

Welcome from Oklahoma.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Hello, I am just joining this forum, and there may already be a thread on this topic, but I just wanted to sign-post my particular interest in the Iowa Brigade ("Crocker's Iowa Brigade") in general, the 16th Regiment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry in particular, and Company "F" in specific.

Welcome from east Tennessee !

Sixteenth Infantry IOWA
(3 years)

Sixteenth Infantry. Col., Alexander Chambers; Lieut.-Cols.,
Addison H. Sanders, John H. Smith, Josiah T. Herbert, Majs.,
William Purcell, Peter Miller.

This regiment was organized at Davenport and was mustered in
at intervals between Dec. 10, 1861, and March 24, 1862, seven
companies at Davenport, one at Keokok and the last at Benton
barracks, St. Louis. The incomplete regiment left the state
the first week in March for Benton barracks, from which point
it moved on the completion of its organization to Pittsburg
landing and was one of those regiments which were sent into
the most exposed position at Shiloh without having had any
experience in warfare and assigned a place without a brigade
formation. Its loss was heavy but its action was excellent,
despite some confusion.

After the battle it was made a part of the "Iowa" brigade;
took part in the move upon Corinth and at the close went into
camp. Near the close of July it accompanied the army to
Bolivar, Tenn., where it remained until the middle of
September, engaging in scouting, foraging and short
expeditions having a few skirmishes. It participated at the
battle of Iuka and received Gen. Rosecrans' highest praise for
its performances. Again returning to Corinth, it was engaged
in the battle there two weeks later, where Lieut.-Col. Sanders
was severely wounded and Maj. Purcell took command. It joined
in the pursuit but returned 10 days later and remained until
Nov. 1, when it moved to Grand Junction to take part in the
movement against Vicksburg, which failed through the loss of
Holly Springs with its supplies.

The regiment moved to Holly Springs, thence to Lafayette and
Memphis, which place was reached on Jan. 3, 1863. A week
later it embarked for Young's point, thence to Lake Providence
where it remained with its brigade until ordered to Vicksburg.
While there Maj. William E. Strong, inspector-general of the
17th army corps, said of its brigade: "Iowa may well be proud
of the 3rd brigade. Since I have been a soldier it has
happened that I have seen many brigades of many different army
corps, both in eastern and western armies, but never have I
seen a brigade that could compete with this Iowa brigade."
Moving to Vicksburg the regiment was constantly under fire
during the siege, then went into camp until called to take
part in the expedition to Monroe, from which it returned, worn
out by the most fatiguing movement ever made without purpose
or result. It took part in the Meridian raid in Feb. 1864,
and returned to Vicksburg, where it reenlisted as a veteran
regiment.

It was given a furlough home in April, returned in June, and
accompanied Sherman's army through Georgia, was engaged at
Acworth, Kennesaw mountain, Nickajack creek, before Atlanta,
losing more than 50 in killed and wounded in less than 30
minutes July 21, and the next day it fought with great
bravery; charged the batteries and lost 65 men, then held its
position until completely surrounded and being entirely
without ammunition, was compelled to surrender, after killing
or wounding a number of the enemy equal to its own numbers.
Two companies of the 13th sent to reinforce it were also
captured.

The prisoners were sent to Andersonville, with the exception
of the officers, who were sent to Macon, thence to Charleston
and later to Columbia. The men were exchanged on Sept. 22,
but the officers remained in prison much longer. A few
escaped, among them Capt. J. H. Smith, who was afterwards
appointed lieutenant-colonel in place of Lieut.-Col. Sanders,
resigned. About 100 men and officers answered roll-call on
July 23, but their numbers were increased by the return of the
sick and wounded, the total force soon after numbering nearly
200.

The regiment moved in the march to Savannah, accompanied the
army through the Carolinas, and was in a number of engagements
connected with that campaign, the last being at Cheraw on
March 2, 1865. It then marched to Washington, was in the
grand review, and was mustered out at Louisville in July 1865.
Its Original strength was 910; gain by recruits, 9; total,
919.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 4

**************************************************************************

Alexander Chambers

Residence Owatonna MN; 29 years old.

Enlisted on 12/11/1861 as a Captain.

On 5/14/1861 he was commissioned into US Army 18th Infantry
He was discharged for promotion on 3/12/1862

On 3/12/1862 he was commissioned into Field & Staff IA 16th Infantry
He was discharged for promotion on 8/11/1863

On 8/11/1863 he was commissioned into
US Volunteers General Staff
He was discharged on 4/6/1864


He was listed as:
* Wounded 4/6/1862 Shiloh, TN (Slightly wounded)
* Wounded 9/19/1862 Iuka, MS (Severely wounded)


Promotions:
* Colonel 3/12/1862 (As of 16th IA Inf)
* Brig-General 8/11/1863




Other Information:
born 8/23/1832 in Great Valley, NY
died 1/2/1888 in San Antonio, TX

Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:

- Roster & Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of Rebellion
- Dyer: A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue
- Sixteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteers: Roster
- Society of the Army of the Tennessee, Reunion 1884-87
- Heitman: Register of United States Army 1789-1903
(c) Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com


ALEXANDER CHAMBERS

Chambers, Alexander, brigadier-general, was born in New York in
1832, was graduated at West Point in 1853, served on garrison
and other duty until 1855, and then took part in the Florida
war against the Seminoles, and was promoted first lieutenant in
1859. He became captain in the 18th infantry, May 14, 1861,
colonel of the 16th Iowa volunteers, March 24, 1862, and on
Aug. 11, 1863 was commissioned brigadier-general of volun-
teers, his commission expiring April 6, 1864. He was brevetted
brigadier-general of volunteers, March 13, 1865, for gallant
services in the battle of Champion's hill, Feb. 4, 1864, and
Meridian, Miss., Feb. 14, 1864. Gen. Chambers engaged in the
Tennessee campaign, March 12, 1862 was twice wounded in the
battle of Shiloh, April 6 1862, and once at the battle of Iuka,
Sept. 19, 1862, and for gallant conduct on these occasions was
brevetted major and lieutenant-colonel. He then served in the
Vicksburg campaign, winning the brevet rank of colonel for gal-
lantry, July 4, 1863. He was afterwards, until Feb. 1, 1864,
in garrison at Vicksburg and then served in Sherman's raid to
Meridian, and commanded a battalion at Lookout mountain. After
the war, Gen. Chambers was judge-advocate of the district of
Nebraska in the early part of 1866, and of the Department of
the Platte until July 31, 1867, was then promoted major and
lieutenant-colonel U. S. A. and served on garrison and frontier
duty, and from July, 1877, to Sept., 1878, was military attache
at Constantinople, Turkey. Subsequently he was stationed at
Fort Townsend, Wash. He died in San Antonio, Tex., Jan. 2,
1888.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 8
......................................................................................................................................

Shiloh after battle report:

Report of Col. Alexander Chambers, Sixteenth Iowa
Infantry (of the Second Brigade)

HDQRS. SIXTEENTH IOWA VOLS., THIRD BRIGADE,
SIXTH DIVISION, ARMY OF WEST TENNESSEE,
Near Pittsburg Landing, April 24, 1862
SIR: I have the honor to report that on Sunday morning, April 6, while
my regiment was preparing to join Gen. Prentiss' division, as was
previously ordered, an aide of Gen. Grant ordered my regiment in
line on the right of the Fifteenth Iowa Volunteers, to act as a reserve
and prevent stragglers from reaching the river. The line had been
formed but a short time when I was ordered to march it, following the
Fifteenth Iowa, to Gen. McClernand's division, whose right was
giving way. At this time large numbers of men in squads were
returning. Cavalry, infantry, and several batteries of artillery were met
on the road without being disabled or having lost their horses or
expended their ammunition. From 9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. the time occupied
in reaching the battle-field, we met more men returning, of all arms,
than belonged to the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Regt.'s, but I must say,
for the credit of the State of Iowa, not one of her quota did I meet.
On crossing an open field, beyond which was the position of the rebels,
two of my command were wounded. My regiment was formed on the
right of this field in rear of a fence. An aide ordered the regiment to be
formed across this open field, which was raked by heavy fire of
musketry and a part of a battery of artillery. I marched the men there,
and ordered them to lie down, when the greater part of the enemy's fire
passed harmlessly over us. I had, however, several wounded here. From
this position the regiment was ordered forward to the edge of timber,
within close range of the enemy, as many of my men were wounded at
the same time by both ball and buck-shot. The right of the regiment was
of very little service, as they were not in a position, from the lay of the
ground, to fire with much effect;but the left of the regiment became
hotly engaged with the enemy, and did great execution.

For nearly or quite an hour the regiment held its ground against a much
larger force of the enemy, supported by artillery, when they were
compelled to give way to their destructive fire and advance or be
captured. Word came down the line that a retreat had been ordered, but
no such order came through me. At this our whole line gave way and
became mixed up with other regiments. My regiment was rallied by
Lieut. Col. A. H. Sanders to the number of about 300 and was
posted in rear of a battery during the remainder of that day and night,
during which time those who had become mixed with other regiments
returned and reformed with those under the lieutenant-colonel, I having
been wounded and struck by a spent ball in the hip-joint, which was
very painful, and rendered me quite lame.

The next day the regiment held the same position in rear of this battery
during the fight. I am thus particular in giving an exact account of the
part taken in Sunday's and Monday's fight, as some correspondents have
been trying to throw the disgrace of their own regiments' actions on a
new regiment that had never gone through the motions of loading a gun
even, but notwithstanding this behaved with as much gallantry as any
regiment on the field, as its list of killed and wounded will show, for the
time they were engaged.

With a few exceptions all the officers and men behaved with judgment
and gallantry. The field officers were particularly cool under a
destructive fire and rendered great assistance. The horses of all the field
and staff officers were killed or wounded, evidently showing an
intention on the part of the enemy to pick off the most prominent
officers. Capt.'s Ruehl and Zettler, both gallant men, were killed or
mortally wounded, and First Lieut. F. N. Doyle, a brave and
efficient officer, was also killed.

The loss during Sunday's fight was 2 officers and 16 non-commissioned
officers and privates killed, and 9 officers and 94 non-commissioned
officers and privates wounded, and 15 non-commissioned officers and
privates missing.*

I inclose a list of the killed, wounded, and missing.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

ALEX. CHAMBERS,
Col. Sixteenth Iowa Volunteers.
The ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GEN.
Gen. McClernand's Division, Army of West Tennessee.

Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 10. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 10

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Hello, I am just joining this forum, and there may already be a thread on this topic, but I just wanted to sign-post my particular interest in the Iowa Brigade ("Crocker's Iowa Brigade") in general, the 16th Regiment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry in particular, and Company "F" in specific.

Born: 02/06/1830 in Franklin, IN
Died: 08/26/1865 in Washington, DC

Crocker, Marcellus M., brigadier-general, was born in
Franklin, Ind., Feb. 6, 1830, entered the United States mili-
tary academy at West Point in 1847, but left at the end of his
second year and studied law, practicing later in Des Moines,
Ia. In May, I86I, he joined the national army as major in the
2nd Iowa volunteers. He was promoted colonel on Dec. 30,
fought with distinction in the battle of Shiloh, April 6 and 7,
1862, was promoted brigadier-general of volunteers on Nov. 29,
1862, and engaged in the siege of Vicksburg, conducting a raid
in Mississippi. In 1864, upon the reenlistment of his brigade,
he joined Sherman's army, and was present at the siege of At-
lanta and on the march to the sea, commanding a division part
of the time. He was suffering from consumption all during his
service, and was ordered to Mexico at his personal solicita-
tion, in hopes of bettering his health. He returned afterwards
to Washington, D. C., and died there, Aug. 26, 1865.


Source: The Union Army, vol. 8

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Welcome from South Mississippi.

 

[Union_Buff]

Hello there and welcome to CWT from New Zealand.

 

[major bill]

Welcome to the forum. Seeing I no almost nothing about the 16th Regiment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry anything you tells us about them would be new information for me.

 

[chellers]

Welcome from East Texas.

 

[ErnieMac]

Welcome from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

 

[Ole Miss]

I thought I might add this presentation to this thread as a sort of closure for the brave men of this regiment.
Regards
David

Iowa Monument Dedication
Exercises at Sixteenth Iowa Regimental Monument,
November 22, 1906
9:00 A. M.
Music Fifty-fifth Iowa Regimental Band
"Nearer, My God, To Thee"
Invocation Rev. Dr. A. L. Frisbie of Des Moines, Iowa
"We give unto thee, O God, our thanks that we are permitted to gather in the beautiful sunshine of today, to dedicate to good men and brave men and true men and patriotic men, these monuments. In the name of the Lord God of Hosts,
Iowa here dedicates them to the memory of these men. May it be that from this day and from these exercises and from all that shall be carried back to our state from the influence and the ceremonies of these days, there may be awakened a deeper
spirit of patriotism, a deeper consecration to the great ends for which governments are established among men. We rejoice that the efforts of these men, who here surrendered their lives, were not in vain. We rejoice that if they know now anything
of the result of their sacrifices, they are permitted to rejoice that they did not die in vain. "We pray that thy blessing may be upon our state, upon her families, her youth, her soldiers, and may we so learn the duties of citizens and be so inspired by the spirit of patriotism, so appreciative of the higher virtues of citizenship, that
we shall be truly a greater people than we have yet been, learning lessons of the past, and made rich in the wisdom which is from above. "Lord, accept our thanks and our petitions, and give us the help that we need, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen."

Address Lieutenant John Hayes
Sixteenth Iowa Regiment
Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Upon a Sabbath morning in the long ago, a body of newly made soldiers disembarked at Pittsburg Landing, marched by companies to the brow of the hill, for the first time received ammunition, were told how to load the new Springfield muskets which had been given them at St. Louis but a few days before,
and then formed as a regiment under the banner of the Sixteenth Iowa Volunteers.
This, the last Iowa regiment enrolled under the call of '61, had been a long time "filling up," as the phrase was. Fall anwinter had passed since the first companies went into camp and the regimental organization had been completed only thirteen
days before this eventful morning, so that a common prophecy "the war will end before the men reach the field," which had been derisively hurled at the "Sixteenth" for months, seemed in a fair way to be fulfilled.

But all such delusions were now swept away by the warlike surroundings, the roar of artillery and the order to march which quickly followed—for the battle of Shiloh had begun. About ten o'clock the regiment emerged from the timber at the northeastern part of this open field—now known as Jones' Field. It moved westerly about half across the field, then took a southerly course, descended into the draw, and after briefly halting there again moved forward. Preceded by the Fifteenth regiment, it was marching by the flank, or, as known in present tactics, in column, and the band was playing, "The Girl I Left Behind Me." The officers supposed that they were being conducted to join McClernand's division, but soon after passing the draw, the regiment was opened upon by the enemy's artillery and musketry from the timber toward which it was marching. It advanced further, then formed line of battle, and after some confusion of orders took a position here.

At times lying down and at times standing, the men fought as best they were able, some seeking the protection of a fence which then bordered the field. No support at right of them, no support at left of them, other than the Fifteenth regiment, while a Confederate battery and infantry in the timber at their front dealt destruction to the
command. In an hour or more a retreat was ordered, and the regiment retired with a loss of 131 men.

Of these, some found here a soldier's sepulcher; some stricken unto death were removed from this locality and in hospital passed away; some incapable of further service sought their homes, there to nurse their wounds till life's sad end, while others, restored, rejoined their command and with it moved onward through death-dealing camps to further conflicts, to wearisome marches and long campaigns.

To Corinth, to Iuka, to Vicksburg, to Kenesaw, to Nickajack, to Atlanta—names that in memory stand for agonies endured, for battles, sieges, prison pens which typified the hell of war. Then onward in the historic march to Savannah, to Columbia, to Bentonville, to Raleigh, and with the conquering hosts to share in the Grand Review at the National Capital.

Only a fraction of the Union army, its organization 926, its subsequent enlistments 521, in all 1,447 men, followed the Sixteenth flag. Among them, during the years of their service, there were 859 casualties classified as "killed, wounded, died of wounds, died of disease, and discharged for disability," and there were 257 captures, making total casualties 1,116. What sorrows at home and in the field these numbers speak. They tell of days of pain and nights of anguish, of broken hearts and grief which knew no end. And death and suffering like this, a thousand times multiplied, befell the great Union army,—360,000 dead at the close of the war, of which Iowa gave 13,000 young lives.

"Spreading the board, but tasting not its cheer,
Sowing, but never reaping;
Building, but never sitting in the shade
Of the strong mansion they have made."

A grateful commonwealth has erected this monument thus to honor her sons, who, for love of country, fought and suffered here. So long as it endures, it will stand a witness to the patriotic fervor which inspired the high resolve to maintain
the American Union; a witness to lofty purpose faithfully executed; to sacrifices unto death. For all the kindness a dear state has shown to those who fol-
lowed the colors of her Sixteenth regiment, and for this testimonial to their fidelity, they who remain of that command, for themselves, and for voiceless comrades, extend a loving acknowledgment.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89077173532;view=1up;seq=254

 

[Ole Miss]

16th Iowa Infantry Monument at Shiloh
Regards
David

(front of monument)
IOWA
TO HER
16th INFANTRY,
MILLER'S (2d) BRIGADE,
PRENTISS' (6th) DIVISION,
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE.
(back of monument)
16th REGIMENT INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS,
Commanded by Col. ALEXANDER CHAMBERS, (Wounded),
Lieut. Col. ADD. H. SANDERS.

This regiment early in the morning of April 6, 1862, formed on the bluff at Pittsburg Landing and for the first time received ammunition. It remained in this position an hour, when by orders of General Grant it marched with the 15th Iowa to the support of McClernand's (1st) Division. It entered the field near Oglesby's headquarters and while passing over it was fired upon by artillery and musketry. Its Colonel commanding officially reported that the regiment formed line of battle here about 10.30 in the forenoon, and advancing to the edge of timber held that position for an hour or more, and then retired under orders. Later in the day under command of Lieutenant Colonel Sanders it supported Schwartz's battery. On Monday it was on the reserve line. Present for duty 785. Its loss was 2 officers and 15 men killed; 11 officers and 90 men wounded; 13 men captured or missing; total, 131. [NOTE* The Shiloh National Military Park Commission disagreed with the Iowa Shiloh Battlefield Commission con- cerning the time of day this regiment was in action here. Park Historian D. W. Reed records that this regiment joined McClernand on his fifth line. That line was not formed until after 12:00 noon. Reed states that the regiment's severest action occurred between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The farthest advance of the 16th Iowa was possibly 2/10's mile southwest of ì this monument to a point near or in the camp of the 20th Illinois Infantry, before retiring to this place by 2:00 p.m.]​