Iowans In Naval forces

[Iowanabolitionist]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OZQw4RI4XxqslBt_1nFH09LEaqKeWpKsy_gtx1RRUKc/edit?usp=sharing

Hi everyone!

Over the past few weeks I've been compiling records of any Iowans who saw service in the Navy or Navy related branches. Most of my information is from the Iowa adjutant general report but it has had limited information other than "transferred to..." I've located a few Iowans directly on a few Muster Rolls but I want to share my findings so far with the group and see if anyone has better ideas for sources to study!

Thank you all for your help you can check out the above link to see what I have so far and leave any comments you'd like!

Iowan Abolitionist

 

[Louisiana Jayhawker]

There was a small Iowan formation in Battle of Milliken Bend, Louisiana that was badly depleted but performed very well until flanked out of position.

 

[Louisiana Jayhawker]

I assume they were Navy related as I understood they arrived off a gunboat. They were picked up at Milliken by gunboat during the fight. Were they Infantry protection for the gunboats on the Mississippi River.

 

[gary]

I assume they were Navy related as I understood they arrived off a gunboat. They were picked up at Milliken by gunboat during the fight. Were they Infantry protection for the gunboats on the Mississippi River.

Army playing marines for the gunboats? The member of The Company of Military Historians who did the research on soldier-marines but never published it knew. I asked him to self-publish via print-on-demand if need be but he crossed the Styx, the girlfriend got the manuscript, tried to sell it and vanished somewhere in Mexico. If she's alive and still has it, she could still do print-on-demand.

 

[Old Soldier]

Military records are often very ... economical on facts - like individual service records. You get a lot of information on dates, strengths and illnesses, but little else for ordinary enlisted men. Often, there seems to be no individual records, just regimental or, if you are lucky, company records, for active strength, muster books, and pay lists. For recent wars (20th Century) I have found unit/ship 'war diaries' useful. Is there any equivalent for the civil war - particularly regimental histories written soon afterwards? They may be available locally in county or state records or libraries.

Please note - I am not referring what records SHOULD have been kept officially, as noted in regulations, but the ones that actually WERE kept. This was the job of the Quartermaster mainly for rationing, personal issue and pay.

 

[Grim Sentinels Research]

Cool project; I think the Muster Rolls would be your best bet. Pace yourself and go with a process, identify most likely vessels, then work outward. Another great source of information is the "Army Navy Journal" available on Hathi Trust. Publishing started in August 1863 and ran through at least 1866. A good thorough "search" of key words might get you some leads if anything particularly of note is referenced. Newspapers.com would be another source to do the same. Search long after the War as when Veteran's were attaining benefits they would often be mentioned in large lists with their service branch.

Another way would be to isolate each Regiment and attempt to track attrition or at least where soldiers could have easily transferred to Naval service as opposed to something else in the Army. Best of luck on your project!