Casualties of the 30th Iowa Infantry

This amazing original sheet from a civil war period journal includes a list of casualties from among the members of Company F of the Thirtieth Iowa Infantry. (You can click on the images for larger versions.) The front side lists soldiers who died in the service (spelled "deceast" rather than "deceased"). The reverse lists the smaller number of soldiers who were discharged during the same period. Reflecting the universal experience of both the Union and Confederate armies, more men succumbed to disease and accident than to the effects of combat. What follows is a list of the entries, followed by information about each individual, taken from the official regimental roster.

This journal page was purchased at auction in combination with a post-war photograph of Azariah Elwood who served as an Assistant Surgeon in the Union army. Stroud's Civil War Emporium is pleased to also post this veteran's image and biography. The peculiar thing is that Doctor Elwood did not serve in the Thirtieth Iowa Infantry, but rather in the Fortieth Iowa Infantry! Still, the inclusive dates of the entries on this sheet reflect his own military service; he was appointed a surgeon in September of 1862 and discharged due to disability in October of 1863. This seems too great a coincidence, and further research may indicate that at least this one company of Thirtieth soldiers may indeed have been served by medical specialist from their sister regiment.

Bengamen W Shear - 8th Corp - Oct 1st 62 - Died
Benjamin W. Shearer
Age 22. Residence West Grove, nativity Ohio
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862 as Eighth Corporal. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Died of disease Oct. 1, 1862, Keokuk, Iowa

David Carter - Private - Oct 14th 62 - Died
David Carter
Age 33. Residence Savannah, nativity Illinois
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Died of disease Oct. 15, 1862, Keokuk, Iowa

George Berton - Private - Nov 21st 62 - Died
George Burton
Age 32. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Kentucky
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Died of disease Nov. 21, 1862, Keokuk, Iowa
Buried in Oakland Cemetery, Keokuk, Iowa

Daniel Small - Private - Feb 2d 63 - Died
Daniel Small
Age 32. Residence Savannah, nativity Indiana
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, as Fifer. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Died of disease Feb. 2, 1863, Young's Point, Louisiana

Thomas J. Toner - 1st Corp - Feb 9th 63- Died
Thomas J. Toner
Age 24. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, as First Corporal. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Died of disease Feb. 9, 1863, Young's Point, Louisiana

John W. Holbert - Private - Nov 63 - Died
John H. Halbirt
Age 33. Residence Davis County, nativity Virginia
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Died Nov. 15, 1862, near Bloomfield, Iowa

John B. Wray - 3d Corp - Feb 20th 63 - Died
John B. Wray
Age 21. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Iowa
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, as Third Corporal. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Died of disease Feb. 20, 1863, Young's Point, Louisiana

R.W. Conaway - Private - Feb 21st 63 - from wound
Richard W. Conaway
Age 18. Residence Van Buren County, nativity Missouri
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Wounded leg amputated Jan. 11, 1863, Arkansas Post, Arkansas
Died of wounds Feb. 21, 1863, St. Louis, Missouri

Moses Chester - Private - March 30th 63 - Died
Chester Moses
Age 19. Residence Burlington, nativity Ohio
Enlisted Aug. 28, 1862. Mustered Aug. 28, 1862
Died of disease March 30, 1863, Memphis, Tennessee

R.E. Drake - Private - Feb 26th 63 - Died
Robert E. Drake
Age 23. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Illinois
Enlisted Sept. 1, 1862. Mustered Sept. 6, 1862
Died of disease Feb. 26, 1863, Young's Point, Louisiana

John McClasky - Private - March 18th 63 - Died
John McClaskey
Age 19. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26. 1862
Died of disease March 18, 1863, Vicksburg, Mississippi

Jsah Philips - Private - March 1st 63 - Died
Joshua Philips
Age 21. Residence Davis County, nativity Indiana
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Died of disease March 1, 1863, Vicksburg, Mississippi

Jacin Daniels - Private - March 24th 63 - Died
Jason Daniels
Age 18. Residence Davis County, nativity Ohio
Enlisted Aug. 14, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Died of disease March 24, 1863, Memphis, Tennessee

James Hendrikson - Private - April 11th 63 - Died
James Hendrickson
Age 18. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, as Drummer. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Died of disease April 11, 1863, on Steamer "D.C. January"

Wm A. Martin - Private - April 2d 63 - Died
William A. Martin
Age 18. Residence Davis County, nativity Illinois
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Died of disease April 2, 1863, Memphis, Tennessee

O.W. Inskeep - Private - April 19th 63 - Died
Oliver W. Inskeep
Age 22. Residence Savannah, nativity Iowa
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Died of disease April 18, 1863, Memphis, Tennessee

Wm Taylor
William Taylor
Age 32. Residence Davis County, nativity Virginia
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Died of disease March 13, 1863, Memphis, Tennessee

Ambrose Brumly - Private - May 22d 63 - Killed
Ambrose Brumley
Age 21. Residence Milton, nativity Ohio
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Killed in action May 22, 1863, Vicksburg, Mississippi

R.F. Vanbuskirk - Private - May 31st 63 - from wound
Richard F. Van Boskirk
Age 18. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Iowa
Enlisted Oct. 25, 1862. Mustered Nov. 10, 1862
Wounded fatally May 22, 1863, Vicksburg, Mississippi
Died of wounds May 31, 1863, Memphis, Tennessee
Buried in Mississippi River National Cemetery,
Memphis, Tennessee Section 1, grave 123.

Charles Baughn - Private - April 18th 63 - Died
Charles Baughn
Age 22. Residence Savannah, nativity Ohio
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Died April 18, 1863, on Steamer "Nashville"
Buried in National Cemetery, Vicksburg, Mississippi
Section A, grave 70.

John W. Barnes - Private - August 15th 63 - Died
John W. Barnes
Age 18. Residence Monterey, nativity Missouri
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Died of disease Aug. 16, 1863
Regimental Hospital, Black River Bridge, Mississippi

Wm D. Masters - Private - Nov 29th
William D. Masters
Age 18. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Iowa
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 30, 1862
Discharged for disability Nov. 26, 1862
Re-entered service Dec. 28, 1863. Mustered Dec. 28, 1863
Transferred to Company C, Sixth Infantry, May 31, 1865

C.H. Hill - Private - February 18th
Charles H. Hill
Age 26. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Wounded severely Jan. 11, 1863, Arkansas Post, Arkansas
Discharged for disability Feb. 18, 1863, St. Louis, Missouri

P.H. Inskeep - Private - February 21st
Philander H. Inskeep
Age 25. Residence Savannah, nativity Ohio
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Discharged for disability Feb. 21, 1863, Helena, Arkansas

Thomas Phelps - 6th Corp - February 3d
Thomas J. Phelps
Age 22. Residence Troy, nativity Indiana
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, as Sixth Corporal. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Discharged for disability Feb. 3, 1863, St. Louis, Missouri

John A. Ruleman - Fifer - March 18th
John A. Rullman
Age 18. Residence Troy, nativity Iowa
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Promoted Fifer Nov. 1, 1862
Discharged for disability March 18, 1863, Keokuk, Iowa
See Company E. Third Cavalry.

Third Iowa Volunteer Cavalry
John A. Rullman
Age 18. Residence Keosauqua, nativity Iowa
Enlisted Nov. 7, 1863. Mustered Dec. 2, 1863
Mustered out Aug. 9, 1865, Atlanta, Georgia

Alexander Fox - Private - April 6th
Alexander Fox
Age 18. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Indiana
Enlisted Aug. 14, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Wounded severely Jan. 11, 1863, Arkansas Post, Arkansas
Discharged for disability April 6, 1863

Enos Swan - 2d Corp - April 29
Enos Swan
Age 23. Residence Bloomfield, nativity Ohio
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, as Second Corporal. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Discharged for disability April 29, 1863

George W. Carter - Private - April 29th
George W. Carter
Age 25. Residence Savannah, nativity Iowa
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Discharged for disability April 29, 1863

George W. Jarvis
George W. Jarvis
Age 22. Residence Savannah, nativity Indiana
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Discharged for disability May 19, 1863

David Richner - 1st Sargeant - August 10th
David Richner
Age 28. Residence Drakesville, nativity Pennsylvania
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, as First Sergeant. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862.
Discharged for disability Aug. 8, 1863

Wm Sidwell - Private - August
William Sidwell
Age 37. Residence Savannah, nativity Kentucky
Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered Aug. 26, 1862
Mustered out June 5, 1865, Washington, D.C.

Quite interestingly, this final entry, Private Sidwell, was not actually discharged in August of 1863, as the entry suggests. Indeed, the fact that the month was entered on the sheet, but the day was not included, hints at the fact that a discharge (perhaps due to disability) was being contemplated when the entries in this intriguing journal ceased.