Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/273

 TWELFTH IOWA INFANTRY

The companies composing this regiment were made up largely of men enlisted in the following counties: Dubuque, Jackson, Delaware, Black Hawk, Hardin, Fayette, Winneshiek, Allamakee and Linn. They went into camp at Dubuque during the months of October and November, 1861. When mustered into service in November the regiment numbered nine hundred and twenty-six men. The first field and staff officers were: J. J. Woods, colonel; J. P. Coulter, lieutenant-colonel; S. D. Brodtbeck, major; N. E. Duncan, adjutant; J. B. Dorr, quartermaster; C. C. Parker, surgeon; and A. G. Eberhart, chaplain. The regiment was sent to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, soon after its organization, and during two months’ stay suffered severely from sickness—measles and pneumonia prostrating nearly half the members, seventy-five of them dying while there. Among the dead was Captain Charles Tupper, of Company G, an officer of great promise. In February the regiment joined the army of General Grant, then starting on the campaign up the Tennessee River, and witnessed the capture of Fort Henry on the 6th, and on the 12th of February moved with the army against Fort Donelson. The regiment was in Colonel Cook’s Brigade of Smith’s Division, and did excellent service in the severe engagements that resulted in the brilliant victory. This was their first battle, and the officers and men sustained the high reputation already won by Iowa soldiers. Soon after the battle the Twelfth was sent by steamer, with the army, to Pittsburg Landing. While lying here Major Brodtbeck resigned on account of ill health, and Captain Edgington, of Company A, was promoted to the place. In the great battle of Shiloh, which opened early on the morning of April 6th, the Twelfth was in General W. L. Wallace’s Division and in the brigade commanded by Colonel Tuttle. This brigade consisted of the Second, Seventh, Twelfth and Fourteenth Iowa