The 2nd Iowa Cavalry Regiment was a

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

that served in the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

Service

The 2nd Iowa Cavalry was recruited in the following counties and organized at

Davenport, Iowa Davenport is a city in and the county seat of Scott County, Iowa, United States. Located along the Mississippi River on the eastern border of the state, it is the largest of the Quad Cities, a metropolitan area with a population of 384,324 and a ...

they mustered in at Camp Joe Holt for three years of Federal service between August 30 and September 28, 1861.
*Company A - Muscatine County *Company B - Marshall County *Company C - Scott County *Company D - Polk County *Company E - Scott County *Company F - Hamilton County and Franklin County with Scott County *Company G - Muscatine County with Scott County *Company H - Johnson County with some Scott County *Company I - Cerro Gordo, Delaware and other counties with Scott County *Company K - Des Moines County with Scott County *Company L - Jackson County with Scott County *Company M - Jackson County with Scott County

The men numbered 1,050 and Captain Washington L. Elliott was appointed colonel. On the 7th of December the Second Cavalry left Davenport for

Benton Barracks Benton Barracks (or Camp Benton) was a Union Army military encampment, established during the American Civil War, in St. Louis, Missouri, at the present site of the St. Louis Fairground Park. Before the Civil War, the site was owned and used by th ...

near Saint Louis. While here the men were crowded into closed quarters where a great amount of sickness prevailed resulting in sixty deaths. Among other engagements, the Regiment took part in Grierson's Raid through Mississippi in April 1863, being detached from the main column (6th and 7th Illinois Cavalry) after a few days to decoy the Confederate pursuit. They engaged the 2nd/22nd Tennessee Cavalry (Barteau's) at

Palo Alto, Mississippi Palo Alto (also Savannah) is a ghost town in Clay County, Mississippi, United States. Established c. 1846, it is located at (33.6806738, -88.8000525) at an elevation of 279 feet (85 m). History Palo Alto was named in honor of the Batt ...

on April 21 and 22, 1863 and reported six missing after the skirmish. The regiment was mustered out of Federal service on September 19, 1865 in Selma, Alabama.

Total strength and casualties

A total of 2053 men served in the 2nd Iowa at one time or another during its existence. It suffered a total of 269 (275?) fatalities: 1 officer and 59 enlisted men who were killed in action or who died of their wounds; 8 officers and 207 enlisted men who died of disease.

Commanders

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

Washington L. Elliott *Colonel

Edward Hatch Edward Hatch (December 22, 1832 – April 11, 1889) was a career American soldier who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. After the war, he became the first commander of the 9th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, a buffalo so ...

*Colonel Datus E. CoonIowa Genweb Iowa in the Civil War Project after Logan, Guy E., Roster and Record of Iowa Troops In the Rebellion, Vol. 1

Notes

References

The Civil War ArchiveIowa State Historical Society
Units and formations of the Union Army from Iowa 1861 establishments in Iowa Military units and formations established in 1861 Military units and formations disestablished in 1865 {{AmericanCivilWar-unit-stub

Service

Total strength and casualties

Commanders

See also

Notes

References