Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry

The Fortieth Regiment of Iowa Infantry was organized under the proclamation of President Lincoln, bearing date July 2, 1862. The ten companies of which the regiment was composed were ordered into quarters by Governor Kirkwood, on dates ranging from the 1st to the 23d day of September, 1862. Camp Pope, near Iowa City, was designated as the place of rendezvous, and there, on November 16, 1862, the regiment was mustered into the service of the United States, by Captain H. B. Hendershott, of the Regular Army.

At the completion of the muster, the regiment numbered nine hundred nine men, rank and file. Governor Kirkwood exercised his usual good judgment, in the selection of Lieutenant Colonel John A. Garrett, of the Twenty-second Iowa Infantry, as the Colonel of the Fortieth Iowa. This officer had served in the Fourth Indiana Infantry during the Mexican War. Upon the organization of the Tenth Iowa Infantry, in September, 1861, he was commissioned Captain of Company I, of that regiment, and rendered such excellent service as to win his promotion to the office of Lieutenant Colonel of the Twenty-second Iowa Infantry, upon the organization of that regiment. It was, therefore, the good fortune of the Fortieth Iowa to secure the services of an officer in every way well qualified to assume the duties of a regimental commander.

During the early part of its history the regiment had ample time and opportunity to become well drilled, and its officers and men were perhaps as thoroughly instructed in their duties as soldiers as were those of any of the Iowa regiments which had preceded them to the field. The regiment remained at Camp Pope until December 17, 1862, upon which date it started by rail for Cairo, Ill., where it arrived on the 18th, and embarked on steamer, by which it was conveyed to Columbus, Ky., where it disembarked and went into camp on the evening of December 19, 1862.

Columbus was an important military post, and was at that time threatened with attack by a considerable force of rebels, under command of General Forrest. That officer wisely withdrew his troops, however, upon learning that the Union garrison had been strongly reinforced and was well prepared to defend the post. The regiment remained at Columbus, engaged in the performance of camp and garrison duty, for the remainder of the winter. During this period the men and officers suffered much from sickness, from which many died, and many more were rendered unfit for further military service and were subsequently discharged. That winter's experience is remembered by the survivors of the regiment as the most gloomy and depressing period of their service.

On March 3. 1863, the regiment embarked on steamer and was conveyed to Paducah, Ky., where it again performed garrison duty, but under more favorable conditions, and the health of the men rapidly improved. On May 31st Colonel Garrett received orders to move his regiment down the river and join the army of General Grant, then engaged in his great Vicksburg campaign. The steamer which conveyed the regiment proceeded to the mouth of the Yazoo and up that river to the town of Satartia, at which place the troops disembarked and marched five miles to Mechanicsville. The march was hastened by the sounds of musketry and artillery firing at the front, where a lively engagement was going on, but, much to the disappointment of the officers and men of the Fortieth Iowa, the enemy was in full retreat upon their arrival, and they were too late to participate in the fighting. They had then been in the service nearly six months without having come into conflict with the enemy, and they were anxious for an opportunity to show their comrades of the other Iowa regiments that they, too, could maintain the high honors which Iowa had won upon so many battlefields. The regiment had entered the service with the expectation of soon being led against the enemy. It was ready and anxious for that kind of service. So far it had been engaged in the duty of guarding posts, a service important enough in itself, but void of that stimulating excitement which comes from engaging with the enemy in battle. The ordinary duties of the soldier in time of peace become exceedingly monotonous, but in time of war, when fighting is going on and honors are being won, brave men always feel that they are being deprived of that which is their right and privilege if they are kept upon duty which gives them no opportunity to display their courage and valor. The Fortieth Iowa-as will be seen-was compelled to wait a long time and to pass through many experiences of hardship and suffering. in camp and on the march, before its time finally came to demonstrate its courage and fortitude under the fire of the enemy.

The regiment marched from Mechanicsville to Haynes' Bluff, on the 6th and 7th of June, and was stationed at that place and at Snyder's Bluff, on the Yazoo River, until after the surrender of Vicksburg. Although within hearing of the cannonading during the greater part of the siege, the Fortieth Iowa-with a large number of other troops-was engaged in the important duty of guarding the rear of the army which was prosecuting the siege, against the possible attack of the rebel forces under General Johnston. The cavalry was constantly engaged in scouting, skirmishing and watching the movements of Johnston's troops, but the main body of the infantry, with which the Fortieth Iowa was associated, did not at any time come into close contact with the enemy. The duties those troops performed, however, constituted an important factor in the surrender of the rebel stronghold. They kept the enemy under General Johnston from attacking the besieging forces, and thus contributed their full share to the success of the campaign against Vicksburg. The regiment suffered greatly from sickness during this period of its service, caused by the malaria inhaled from the Yazoo River, the swamps in the vicinity of its encampment, and the impure water the men were compelled to drink. It was therefore as greatly reduced in effective strength as some of the other Iowa regiments which had been engaged in the assaults upon the enemy's works at Vicksburg.

On July 23, 1863, the Fortieth Iowa embarked on transport and was conveyed to Helena, Ark., arriving at that place on July 26th. In his history of the operations of his regiment, from the date of its taking the field to the time of its arrival at Satartia, Miss., Adjutant L. A. Duncan gives the material from which the compiler of this historical sketch has thus far been able to give a condensed account of its movements. Under date of June 10, 1863, Adjutant Duncan says: "We are now brigaded with the Third Minnesota and Twenty-fifth and Twenty-seventh Wisconsin, colonel Montgomery, of the Twenty-fifth Wisconsin, commanding, and are attached to Brigadier General Nathan Kimball's provisional division."

From the date of the arrival of the regiment at Helena, Ark., to the 15th of November, 1863, it seems to have been associated with the same brigade and division organizations. The following extract from Adjutant Duncan's report describes the movements and operations of the regiment during this period of its service:

As a part of the Arkansas expedition, under Major General Steele, we left Helena on the 13th of August, marching across the country, halting a few days at several different points, and, on the 10th of September, arrived at the capital of Arkansas. On the day of the capture of Little Rock, the Fortieth Iowa was assigned the honor of leading the advance in crossing the river at a point where the enemy was supposed to be masked in the timber opposite, in force. Having been posted for several hours in position to support our batteries during the building of the pontoon bridge, we were a part of the time exposed to the fire of the enemy's batteries, but no damage was done, either here or at the crossing. We constitute a part of the Sixteenth Army Corps, but, since May last, the regiment, with Kimball's provisional division, has been on detached service, and, although the regiment has not felt the shock of battle, the thinning of our ranks by exposure and excessive fatigue, in a debilitating climate, is mournful. of the nine hundred enlisted men in the regiment, at its organization one year ago, only six hundred eighty remain, the other two hundred twenty having given up their lives in their country's service or been discharged on account of diseases contracted in the line of duty. At one time on the march from Helena to Little Rock, we had only two hundred nineteen men able for duty in a regiment then numbering seven hundred fifty. . . . It will thus be seen that the regiment had sustained heavy loss during its first year of service, notwithstanding the fact that it had not yet met the enemy in conflict. It had gone where it was ordered to go, had implicitly obeyed orders, and had conducted itself in such a manner as to meet the cordial approval of its brigade and division commanders. While the field of operations to which the regiment was confined did not include any of the greatest battles of the war, its subsequent history will show that its officers and men saw enough hard fighting to gratify their ambition in that direction, and to enable them to emulate the example of those other regiments from Iowa, which fought upon so many of the most notable battle fields. The compiler of this brief historical sketch avails himself-in so far as limitation of space will permit-of the official reports of Colonel John A. Garrett, which show-with particularity of detail-the leading events which marked the remainder of the service of his regiment. The following extracts are made from his continuation of the history of the regiment, sent by him to the Adjutant General of Iowa.

From Okolona, our brigade and a brigade of cavalry marched back to Spoonville, eighteen miles, to meet or communicate with- if possible-Brigadier General Thayer, who was on the way, and expected with a force from Fort Smith. Stopping over for a day, and failing to get news of General Thayer, we retraced our march, overtaking our forces at the Little Missouri River. On the 10th of April at Prairie d' Ane, our brigade was at the front, and the Fortieth Iowa shared in the deeds and perils of the day with the other regiments and batteries of the command. The skirmishers of the regiments were commanded by Major S. G. Smith.

The names of the killed and wounded, in all the engagements in which the regiment participated together with all casualties from disease, or whatever cause, will be found noted in the subjoined roster, which also contains the personal record of every member of the regiment. The foregoing extract is made from Colonel Garrett's connected history of his regiment, commencing November 18, 1863, and referring to the history of the regiment previously written by Adjutant L. A. Duncan, embracing a description of its operations to the date last mentioned. As Colonel Garrett gives but a brief description, in the history referred to, of the part taken by his regiment in the battle of Prairie d' Ane, the compiler of this sketch deemed it proper and an act of justice-both to the Colonel and his regiment-to quote here his entire official report. which gives in detail the movements and operations of the regiment on that hotly contested field. The report reads as follows:

Headquarters Fortieth Iowa Infantry Volunteers,
Camden, Ark., April, 18, 1864.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM E. FAY, A. A. A. General,
Third Brigade; Third Division, Seventh Army Corps,
Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Fortieth Iowa, in the engagement of Prairie d' Ane, on Sunday the 10th instant. About 3 o'clock P. M., the Third Brigade, Colonel Engelmann commanding, came in full view of the enemy's skirmishers, deployed in the undergrowth, and among the scattering trees on the edge of the prairie. By direction of Colonel Engelmann, I immediately formed line on the right of Captain Vaughn's Third Illinois Battery, and threw out Companies A and F to the front and right as skirmishers, under command of First Lieutenants Anderson of A, and Kennedy of F. Company A was deployed. They, at once passed through and beyond, relieving a line of dismounted cavalry which had been previously deployed, and were soon engaged with the enemy. I now received an order from Colonel Engelmann to advance my line, a part deployed. By my direction, Major Smith moved forward the left wing as skirmishers, each company having its own reserve, Captain Campbell, commanding Company B; Captain Sennett, Company E; First Lieutenant Amos, Company H; First Lieutenant Christie, Company K; and First Sergeant Baird. Company G. The Major was directed to connect with Companies A and F, if practicable. He moved at once, effected the junction and continued to advance, joining the skirmishers of the Forty-third Illinois on the left. I moved forward the other companies in line, to act as a reserve or to be thrown forward, as the case might demand. Having advanced a short distance I received an order to push forward and take the high ground which the enemy's skirmishers now held. I now moved rapidly down a gentle slope through the timber, pushing up the company reserves of the advance, closely followed by the companies in line, and, having crossed a little branch, came to more open and ascending ground. At this time Major Smith ordered the skirmishers forward on the double quick, and up they went with a rush and a shout, and took the enemy's position. The firing was so warm and so close that the enemy gave way, and fled to their line of battle, about three-quarters of a mile in rear of their skirmish line, which my regiment now occupied in one line, having advanced about half a mile. The high ground gained, a halt was made, and, in a few moments, the enemy opened a sharp fire of shot and shell, with a fine range on my regiment and directed on our flag. Captain Vaughn's Battery moved up through my line, and opened fire on the enemy. The firing on both sides was now lively, the enemy's battery bearing directly on my regiment. After a few shots the range was changed, and after an hour's fighting the enemy fell back. A second advance was now ordered. I directed Major Smith to throw forward Companies A, H and D, as skirmishers - D under Lieutenant Edmonson - which he did at once, connecting with a company of the Twenty-seventh Wisconsin on the left. On the right of the Twenty-seventh, I advanced my regiment in line over the prairie, down a gentle slope, crossed a little stream skirted with timber, and again struck rising ground, when the enemy again opened fire, which our skirmishers returned, continuing to advance. At dusk, the brigade, having gained the crest of the rise on which the enemy was in line during the artillery fight, was halted for the night. My skirmishers were withdrawn, pickets thrown out, and Company I sent out on the right to connect with the cavalry force. We lay on our arms, the enemy keeping up the fire with musketry, shot and shell, at intervals. At one time, near midnight, they pressed us so closely that a part of my pickets were driven in, when a few shots from my regiment and the Twenty-seventh Wisconsin, and a volley from Captain Vaughn's Battery, sent them off for the night. The casualties in the line of skirmishers, first advance (all wounded) were as follows: …The wounds were nearly all severe. Corporal John J. Wade, of Company I, died from the effects of his wound. The names of all will be found in the subjoined roster. In addition to this list, Second Lieutenant James W. Ward, Company I, and Private John Klinker, Company B, were struck by spent balls and bruised, though not seriously injured… The officers and men of the regiment behaved well, I might say, splendidly. Here follows a list of names of those captured by the enemy while engaged to the duty of guarding forage trains. The names will be found in subjoined roster.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
John A. Garrett, Colonel Commanding

The part taken by the Fortieth Iowa, in the sanguinary battle which ensued, is described by Colonel Garrett, both as a consecutive part of the history of his regiment and in his official report. The compiler finds a still stronger reason for quoting the report verbatim than in the case of the battle of Prairie d'Ane, because of the fact that the battle of Jenkins' Ferry was the one of greatest magnitude in which the regiment participated. Its casualties in that battle outnumbered the aggregate of all its previous and subsequent losses in conflict with the enemy. When the conditions under which the battle was fought are taken into consideration, the almost famished condition of the men, their exposure to the downpour of rain, the greatly superior farce of the enemy, and the generally discouraging features of the situation which confronted the Union troops, it will be readily seen that, to win a victory under such circumstances, required not only the highest degree of courage and valor on the part of the men in the ranks, but the superior skill which was displayed by the officers in command, from General down to Second Lieutenant. One cannot read his official report without being thrilled with admiration for the gallant and skillful manner in which Colonel Garrett handled his regiment, and the prompt obedience and bravery with which his officers and men executed his orders. The report reads as follows:

HEADQUARTERS FORTIETH IOWA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS,
LITTLE ROCK, ARK., MAY 6, 1864.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM E. FAY, A. A, A. G.,
Third Brigade, Third Division, Seventh Army Corps,
Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by my regiment in the battle of Jenkins' Ferry, on Saturday, the 30th of April, 1864. On the march, on the 29th, my regiment was in the rear, and was exposed to the fire of the enemy for miles before reaching camp, after which time. besides the usual picket detail, four of my companies were deployed as skirmishers, and were engaged at intervals with the enemy until dark, and during the entire night the most vigilant watch was kept by every officer and man of these companies. At daylight we were relieved by the Thirty-third Iowa, Colonel Mackey's, when I moved my regiment forward a mile and halted in the edge of an open field, facing our late rear, my right resting on the road. About 7 o'clock firing commenced, and steadily grew warmer, and came closer, until it became evident the enemy was advancing in force, determined to give battle. At 7 o'clock, by direction of Colonel Engelmann, commanding brigade, I threw out Companies B and F, under Captain Campbell, to the left and front, as skirmishers. They moved into the woods some distance, to watch and, if necessary, to engage the enemy. By direction, I now moved my regiment forward to within a short distance of the advanced line, now engaged with the enemy, my right resting on the road. In a few minutes, as directed, Major Smith, with the four right companies, crossed the road, leaving Companies A and D under Lieutenant Anderson, to support a section of Vaughn's Battery, occupying the road. The Major moved Companies C and I across a narrow, deep stream, passed over an open field, and deployed them in the woods to observe and, If opportunity offered, to engage the left flank of the enemy. Colonel Engelmann now directed me to move to the left and front, with my four companies. H, E, K and G, and form on the left of our forces now engaged, as they were hard pressed. As it was the most expeditious, I moved by the left flank. At this time, so great a number from our engaged line were retreating in disorder and haste, it looked almost like a panic. On nearing the left of the line, a force as large or larger than my own was retreating in line. Arriving near where the left of this retiring force had rested, I filed to the left, then moved to the front. until, a little in advance of the line on the right, I halted and opened fire. While getting in position, the fire of the enemy was pouring on my little command, and now we were not only on the extreme left, but some distance from the left of the line on the right. In a short time I moved my companies forward and to the right, joining some companies of the Twenty-seventh Wisconsin, which had also advanced, and the officers and men of which were doing their whole duty. The line now advanced, making short halts, then moving forward. After advancing a short distance, we began to pass over the enemy's dead, and my men moved right on with a shout, pouring in a well-directed fire on the retreating enemy.

The line having advanced half a mile or more, the fire of the enemy ceased, and a halt was called. About this time the Twelfth Kansas came up on my left. My men, who were out of cartridges, now supplied themselves from boxes brought on horseback, opening the boxes with their bayonets. The Colonel of the Twelfth Kansas, having been wounded, the Captain left in command, fearing a flank movement on his left fell back some two hundred yards.

After half an hour's lull, the enemy, with heavy reinforcements, moved up within close range and opened fire again. Our whole line now became engaged, and firing on both sides was heavy and terrific. My little command was under a cross-fire, receiving, I think, the concentrated fire of two regiments, which, having moved by the flanks, met and formed directly in my front. My men were falling fast, but held their ground, not yielding an inch. I sent for the Twelfth Kansas to come up on my left it moved, but halted fifty yards short of the line and opened fire. I went back and moved it into line, when it poured a splendid volley right into the ranks of the enemy, and thus relieved, in part, my command from the terrible fire which was wasting it so fast. This last engagement lasted about an hour-until half past twelve o'clock-when the enemy fell back and then withdrew, leaving our little army in possession of the field. I lost-out of less than one hundred men-six killed, thirty-four wounded, (many severely and some mortally,) four captured, and one missing; a full list of whom accompanies this report.

In common with my officers and men, I regret that all my companies could not have gone into the engagement together. I may here state that my men had drawn no bread for five days; that they had only coffee for supper on the night of the 29th, the same for breakfast-some getting a little meat-on the morning of the battle. It rained almost a flood during the night of the 29th and the morning of the 30th. The battle was fought on the Saline bottom-the low ground near the Saline River-which was covered by a heavy forest; mud, mire and sheets of water everywhere. My men fired from sixty to one hundred rounds each. N. R. Cornell, my Surgeon, did all in his power to care for the wounded. Lieutenant Baird was wounded while fearlessly doing his duty In the hottest of the fight. My color-bearer, Mortimer W. Nelson, as brave a man as ever bore a flag, was shot in the shoulder and fell. Out of four, two color-guards-Corporals Davis and Bare-fell, severely wounded, and, I regret to say, Davis was left on the field.

Lieutenant Amos commanded Company H; Captain Sennet, Company E; Lieutenant Christie, company K, and Captain Jordon, Company G. Officers and men fought with the cool determination of veterans and with the desperate valor of men appreciating that all was at stake on the result. One noble Sergeant, Robert J. Simmons of Company H, was shot in the breast and mortally wounded. When his Lieutenant told him the enemy was beaten, he waved his hand and died with a smile upon his face.

very respectfully, your obedient servant,
John A. GARRETT, Colonel Commanding.

It will thus be seen that the Fortieth Iowa fought on separate parts of the field at Jenkins' Ferry; that, under orders from the brigade commander, four companies were at the front under command of Major Smith and gallantly performed their duty, two companies were supporting the battery, and four companies were moved to the extreme left and there fought with the utmost gallantry. The regiment is, therefore, fully entitled to as high honor and credit as could be given to any of the regiments which took part in that desperate conflict. Colonel Garrett states that the strength of his command was much reduced by a detail of two commissioned officers and seventy-five men, Who were sent as guards on steamboats Up the Arkansas River, also by heavy details to guard the ammunition train of the army. It therefore appears (as stated by the brigade commander) that the Fortieth Iowa sustained the heaviest loss-in proportion to its number engaged-of any regiment engaged in the battle.

Continuing his history of the regiment, Colonel Garrett says: "It is believed by many, most competent to judge, that Kirby Smith's withdrawal of his forces from Red River to attack Steele's column, proved the salvation of Banks' army and secured the safety of his fleet. After the battle the army crossed the Saline River, destroyed the pontoons and, reaching more elevated ground a mile from the river, encamped for the night. The horses and mules were exhausted for want of forage, and, the roads being almost Impassable for some miles ahead, the march the first day was slow and most arduous, the men having to help draw the wagons and guns out of the mire. Reaching high ground and Rood roads, for two days we moved on finely. We lived almost entirely on coffee until dark on May 2d, when nine miles from Little Rock, where we received a supply of hardtack, which was joyously welcomed. The next day the army entered Little Rock. The early part of this campaign, with regard to weather, water, roads, easy stages and; good camps, was all that a soldier could wish, and, on the whole, one of the easiest and best conducted marches I ever knew; but the latter part was arduous and comfortless, moving over swamps and river bottoms, sometimes on the road during the entire night pulling mules, guns and wagons out of the mire, deprived of rest, exposed to drenching rains and with little or nothing to eat. Adjutant L.A. Duncan, whose name does not appear in my reports, was, just before starting, detailed as Aid to Brigadier General Rice, and was with the General in all his engagements, sharing the privations, dangers and glories of the campaign. In one of the battles his horse was killed under him, and his record is such as I am proud to have an officer of the Fortieth Iowa make, alike honorable to himself, the regiment and our noble State. Lieutenant Colonel S. F. Cooper, being too sick to undergo the hardships of the field, was left, much to his regret, at Little Rock. And right here it occurs to me- as due a deserving officer-to state, as a part of last year's history, that Colonel Cooper commanded the regiment from Paducah, Ky., to Haynes' Bluff. Miss., Including the expedition to Satartia. I joined the regiment on the 14th of June, from duty at Columbus, KY.. and while I was at home, sick, Colonel Cooper was In command from Helena to Little Rock, leading the regiment, which was the first to cross over the river in the face of the enemy, and, though sick and almost delirious with fever, was not willing to quit his post of danger until the day was won."

The rebel General Shelby having just made a raid and captured the troops at several posts, tearing up the track and committing other depredations, our brigade- on the 24th of August-moved on the cars to Brownsville Station, to aid in reopening the road and in repelling any further attacks. On the 27th, guarding a supply train for Brigadier General West, commanding forces in pursuit of the rebel raiders, the fortieth Iowa marched seventeen miles north to Austin, and, remaining two days, returned to the Station four companies, however, under Captain Ridlen, in charge of a second train, proceeded to Sercy, twenty-five miles, overtaking our forces at that place. Their return trip was somewhat hazardous, but all reached the station safely on the 2d of September. On September 4th the brigade returned to Little Rock. On the 29th of November, thirty men of the regiment, under Second Lieutenant John T. S. Fry, of Company C, on the steamer "Alamo," on the Arkansas River, near Dardanelle were attacked by a rebel cavalry force, from the bank of the river and a sharp fight was kept up for an hour and a half, the rebels following along the river bank. Our men fired from behind sacks of oats; which-receiving the balls of the enemy-protected them. Lieutenant Fry, on going ashore next day learned from citizens that two rebels were killed and one wounded.

Colonel Garrett's sketch brings the history of his regiment down to December 31, 1864. Upon that date it was still stationed at Little Rock, Ark., had an excellent encampment, and the health of the officers and men was good. Colonel Garrett was now assigned to the command of the brigade to which his regiment was attached, and Lieutenant Colonel Cooper succeeded for a time to the command of the regiment. About the middle of January, 1865, Lieutenant Colonel Cooper was ordered to embark his regiment on transport and proceed to Dardanelle, Ark. for the purpose of dispersing a force of rebels engaged in blockading the river at that place. Upon the approach of the transport and before the regiment could be disembarked, the rebel forces began a rapid retreat, and the Fortieth Iowa, going in pursuit, did not succeed in overtaking them. It successfully accomplished the object of the expedition, however, and returned to Little Rock by land. The regiment was soon afterward ordered to proceed to Fort Smith, Ark., and report for duty to General Cyrus Bussey. Arriving at Fort Smith, Colonel Garrett was again placed in command of a brigade, Adjutant Duncan was assigned to duty at General Bussey's headquarters, and Captain E. W. Ridlen, as senior officer present for duty, assumed command of the regiment.

Lieutenant Colonel Cooper, having been detailed for special duty at General Reynolds' headquarters, did not rejoin the regiment prior to its muster out of the service. While the regiment did not again come into conflict with the enemy, it performed very important service during the remainder of its term. Evidence of this fact is contained in the farewell order of General Bussey, in which he expressed his appreciation of the conduct of the officers and men of the regiment while under his command. The order is here quoted, as follows:

HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, SEVENTH ARMY CORPS,
FORT SMITH, ARK., JULY 28, 1865. Special Orders No. 124-Extract:
IV. In view of the early departure of the Fortieth Iowa Infantry for their homes, the General commanding cannot refrain from expressing to the officers and men of that regiment his high appreciation of their faithful performance of every duty, and their superior discipline, while connected with his division, and his gratitude for the cordial support they have given him, In his endeavors to carry out the policy of the government. The officers and men of the Fortieth Iowa have honored the position they occupy, and have earned the highest meed of praise that can be bestowed upon the brave men of our army. for three years you have served your country, and have enjoyed the proud satisfaction of witnessing the triumph of our arms, and the vindication of the principles of free government. You will soon return to your homes, and have merited and will receive the gratitude of the Nation. That you may be as good citizens as you have proved to be soldiers is the earnest wish of your last commander.

By command of Brigadier General Cyrus Bussey,
H. D. B. CUTLER, A. A. General.
TO JOHN A. GARRETT, Colonel Fortieth Iowa Infantry

SUMMARY OF CASUALTIES
Total Enrollment -- 1136
Killed -- 11
Wounded -- 46
Died of wounds -- 12
Died of disease -- 184
discharged for wounds, disease or other causes -- 150
Buried in National Cemeteries -- 105
Captured -- 5
Transferred -- 26

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