Historical Sketch of the
FORTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY

The Forty-seventh Regiment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry was organized under the proclamation of Governor W. M. Stone, bearing date April 25, 1864. The ten companies of which it was composed assembled at the designated rendezvous, (Camp Kinsman, near Davenport, Iowa,) and there, on June 4, 1864, were mustered into the service of the United States, by Lieutenant A. A. Harbach, of the Regular Army. The muster rolls contain the names of eight hundred eighty-four men-rank and file.

Immediately after its muster into the service the regiment received orders to proceed to Helena, Ark., and was conveyed to that place, where it was assigned to garrison duty. It was attached to the Seventh Army Corps, Department of Arkansas. It remained on duty at Helena and in the Military District of Eastern Arkansas during its entire term of service. The climate was unhealthful and the regiment suffered greatly from sickness.

In this respect it had the same experience that had been encounterd by many other Iowa regiments in that same field of operations. The death list of Iowa soldiers at Helena and at other places among the lowlands of Arkansas grew to frightful proportions. It was fortunate for the Forty-seventh Iowa that its term of service was short, and that it was not kept longer in that malarious region. Short as was the time, however, nearly seven per cent of the regiment were fatally stricken, while an equal or larger number returned to heir homes with health greatly impaired, some of whom subsequently died of the ailments with which they were afflicted, and many more were never fully restored to health. Disease was the most insidious foe with which the soldiers had to contend.

On September 1, 1864, the regiment received orders to return to Davenport, Iowa, at which place it was mustered out of the service of the United States, September 28, 1864. The record of the regiment is altogether a creditable one. It faithfully performed the service to which it was assigned, and relieved other and more experienced troops, who were, thereby, enabled to proceed to the threatre of actual warfare, and assist General Sherman in dealing the last crushing blows to the rebellion. Its history comports favorably with that of the other one hundred day organizations from Iowa. It accomplished all that was expected of it, and takes its rightful place in this record of the achievements of Iowa soldiers.

SUMMARY OF CASUALTIES

Total Enrollment.....................................................945
Killed.........................................................................2
Wounded.................................................................---
Died of wounds........................................................---
Died of disease.........................................................57
Discharged for wounds, disease or other causes..........2
Buried in National Cemeteries...................................43
Captured.................................................................---
Transferred................................................................1

From: ROSTER AND RECORD OF IOWA SOLDIERS IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. (Iowa- Adjutant General's Office. Vol. 5.)

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