How the Iowa regiments helped win the Civil War
STORY BY DONALD A . PROMNITZ
It was a quiet April morning as the men of the 8th Iowa Infantry Regiment breakfasted in the woods of Hardin County , Tennessee . But within a few hours , their deeds would be etched into the annals of American history — a distinction that would come at the cost of many of their lives
Led by Col . James Geddes , the 8th Iowa was attached to the 3rd Brigade , 2nd Division of Maj . Gen . Ulysses S . Grant ’ s Army of the Tennessee . Their regiment mustered out of Davenport and consisted primarily of volunteers from eastern Iowa , with many of them coming from Marion , Mahaska and Keokuk Counties .
The morning of April 6 , 1862 saw the 8th Iowa — and the Army of the Tennessee itself — in high spirits after a string of victories marching south . But the peaceful morning was shattered by the screams of Confederate soldiers and the cracking of muskets .
The Union Army was nearly routed in the ambush , but the Second Division , commanded by Brig . Gen . William H . L . Wallace took up defensive positions behind the oak and hickory trees beside an old wagon track , and began returning fire . Soldiers would remember it as the “ Hornet ’ s Nest .” And the 8th found itself in the center-left spot on the line .
“ That sunken road or the Hornet ’ s Nest — a number of Iowa regiments were asked to hold the line and buy time for Grant ’ s army to reorganize defensive positions near Pittsburgh Landing itself , on a ridgeline high ground ,” said Mike Barloon , senior lecturer of history at Central College . “ But that was the last fallback position the federal forces had on April 6 .”
The men held off their enemy with relentless rifle fire for several hours , and dealt a fatal wound to Confederate Gen . Albert Sydney Johnston in the process .
“ That was like the battle within the battle that blunted the Confederate attack ,” said Kenneth Lyftogt , professor emeritus of history at the University of Northern Iowa . “ Add to that the left of the Hornet ’ s Nest is the Peach Orchard …
Col . James Madison Tuttle of Farmington led Union defenses at the Battle of Shiloh after the Hornet ’ s Nest was taken , falling back to the bluffs and finally blunting the Confederate advance for good . Tuttle survived the war , finishing his service as a brigadier general .
“ That was like the battle within the battle that blunted the Confederate attack .
” KENNETH LYFTOGT
Professor emeritus of history at the University of Northern Iowa
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