Edwin H. Dixon

Eighteenth Iowa Infantry

The Stroud Civil War News Emporium possesses an 1884 "Certificate of Honorable Service" for Edwin H. Dixon of the Eighteenth Iowa Infantry. (A larger image of the papers is available by clicking on the image.) These certificates were commonly issued to replace lost discharge papers and confirm that a man truly deserved the respect due to a veteran of the War Between the States.

Born in Ohio, at some point Dixon had migrated to the fertile plains of Iowa. Hailing from North English, Iowa, Dixon enlisted on July 20, 1862. On August 6, 1862, he mustered into Company D of the Eighteenth He was thirty-two at the time. He served with his regiment for the duration of its existence, being mustered out at Little Rock, Arkansas on July 20, 1865.

Of particular interest during Dixon's career was the fact that he rose through the ranks and served the majority of his enlistment as an NCO. However, for some reason unknown today, on January 31, 1865 he requested to be "returned to the ranks." Thus he ended the war as he began it, a private. Prior to that he had been promoted to Third Corporal on August 15, 1862 and to Fourth Sergeant on November 20, 1862.

A brief history of the regiment... outlining the course of Dixon's journey through the tragic conflict which rent the nation, follows.

Organized at Clinton and mustered in August 6, 1862. Moved to Sedalia, Missouri, August 11. Attached to District of Southwest Missouri, Department of Missouri, to October, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of the Frontier, Department of Missouri, to June, 1863. District of Southwest Missouri, Department of Missouri, to October, 1863. District of the Frontier, Department of Missouri, to December, 1863. 2nd Brigade, District of the Frontier, Department of Missouri, to January, 1864. 2nd Brigade, District of the Frontier, 7th Army Corps, Department of Arkansas, to March, 1864. 1st Brigade, District of the Frontier, 7th Corps, to January, 1865. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 7th Corps, to July, 1865.

Regimental Service: Moved to Springfield, Missouri, arriving September 13, 1862. Operations in Southwest Missouri September to November, 1862. Duty at Springfield, Missouri, November 14, 1862, to September 22, 1863. Defense of Springfield January 7-8, 1863. Affair at Quincy September 4, 1863 (Detachment). Expedition from Springfield into Arkansas and Indian Territory September 7-19. Near Enterprise September 15. Operations against Shelby September 22-October 31. Arriving at Fort Smith October 31. Action at Cross Timbers October 15-16 (companies D and F). Garrison duty at Fort Smith, Arkansas, until March, 1864. Steele's Campaign against Camden March 22-May 15. Prairie D'Ann April 9-12. Moscow April 13. Poison Springs April 18. Jenkins Ferry, Saline River, April 30. Garrison duty at Fort Smith until July, 1865. (Four companies at Van Buren February 26 to July 6, 1865.) Ordered to Little Rock and mustered out July 20, 1865.

Regiment lost during service two Officers and thirty-three Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and one Officer and 131 Enlisted men by disease. Total 167.