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35th Iowa Infantry
EMMETT ADDISS BROCKWAY
 EMMETT ADDISS BROCKWAY was
born Brockwayville, Jefferson Co., PA May 11, 1836. Emmett died September 7, 1912 Louisa Co., IA, at 76 years of age.
He married JANE DAVISSON December 29, 1869. Jane was born Illinois April 10, 1850. Jane died September 18, 1923 Denver, CO, at 73 years of age. Her body was interred September, 1923 Conesville, IA, Brockway Cemetery.
Emmett served in the military Aug. 13, 1862 - July 16, 1865.
Emmett enlisted in Company B of the 35th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry: "Mustered in Sept. 18, 1862, at Camp Strong, Muscatine, the regiment's average age was higher than in earlier regiments. The later regiments were also more properly equipped, and, as with the Thirty Fifth, often had officers with previous military experience. Sylvester G. Hill, a native of R.I., who followed the gold rush west from Ohio to California, was named colonel.
This photo of the battlefield at Big Black River, Miss was
taken May 17, 1863. The next day, Emmett Brockway's
unit arrived with Sherman's troops.
Hill's command first reported to Cairo, IL, moving from there to Columbus. In April, 1863, under General Tuttle, the regiment marched with Sherman, reaching Vicksburg, May 18. The regiment was assigned to picket duty and did not share the heavy losses of other Iowa regiments. It did hold an advanced position at Big Black River against General Johnston.
After the surrender, the Thirty Fifth was at Jackson, and busied itself destroying railroads. In late October, under McPherson, it marched to Brownsville.
In March, 1864, the regiment, under Col. Hill as brigade commander, took part in the Red River expedition, fighting at Pleasant Hill where the seven companies engaged lost 60 men and four officers. In the retreat at Bayou d' Glaize, the Colonel's young son, acting as his orderly, was killed at his side, and the Colonel himself was wounded. In June, the regiment joined the pursuit of General Marmaduke and at the battle of Point Chicot (Old Lake River), Major Johns was killed.
In September, pursuing General Price, the regiment marched into Missouri, and then to Nashville where it's losses, including the gallant Col. Hill, were heavy. For his bravery, Hill was posthumously breveted brigadier general.
 The Thirty Fifth's final action was in the Mobile campaign. It was mustered out at Davenport, August 10, 1865." ("The Undying Procession: Iowa in the Civil War").
Albina Brockway Letts, about her brother, wrote: "The history of the regiment is his record, as he was never in the hospital or had a furlough for the three years. Col. Keeler, in giving an account of the hardships of the disastrous trip up Red River, once said there were only five men in the 35th Regiment that stacked arms every night, and on that list was the name E. A. Brockway."
Contributed by descendant
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Iowa In the Civil War
