23rd Iowa Infantry

My great-great-grandfather Alexander Perkins was a member of this regiment. He enlisted at the age of twenty-seven in 1862, at which time he had dark red hair. When he returned to his home farm near Corydon, IA, he was white-headed. His own children did not recognize him.

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Died on May 1, 1863. He us buried at Section 0, Site 3404 at Vicksburg National Military Park.

George C. Baker musterd into the 23rd along with his brother-n-law, Henry Crabtree, who is my 3great grandfather. Baker started his service to the 23rd as a corporal and by early 1863 was promoted to Hospital Steward. He was with the 23rd throughout its entire service and later in life became rather famous as an inventor of barbed wire 'Baker's Wire' which is still found on many old fencerows throughout the west. He sold the company in 1892 and used the proceeds to invent and build working submarines. He had a working model and was leading contender for the U.S, Navy's first submarine contract when he died of an appendicitis while lobbying Congress in Washington D.C. in 1895. He was given a hero's burial in Des Moines, Iowa.

Henry Crabtee was my 3great grandfather. He fought with the 23rd through the Vicksburg campaign and took a roundball to his left breast during the battle of Milliken's Bend, LA on June 7, 1863. The ball was removed through his back on a hospital steamboat on the Mississippi River afterwards and recovered at army hospitals in Memphis Tenn. and Cairo, Ill. He returned to the 23rd during the Texas campaign, however he became very sick during the Red River campaign and spent the rest of the war in the above named hospitals. He suffered from his injuries throught his life and died in 1912 in Indianola, Nebraska.

Thor Nelson, A Norwegian immigrant born 1831 Hoen Bamble, Telemark, Norway. Died 1912 Webster County, Iowa. Enlisted and served in the 23rd Regiment CO B volunteer Iowa Infantry. He was listed as a carpenter on the company muster roll. He was mustered in August 21, 1862. Mustered out July 26, 1865 Harrisburg, Texas. Honorably discharged. An additional pension was given for blindness by the Department of Interior.

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My direct ancestor, a Mexican War veteran, mortally wounded at the Battle of Port Gibson. Died two weeks later in Port Hudson hospital. Left a widow and five children back on the farm in Iowa.

John first enlisted in the 6th Iowa Infantry was wounded and left on the Shiloh battlefield for dead. He was found by some people and nursed back to health. Unable to find the 6th he made his way back to Iowa and joined the 23rd Iowa and was wounded again at Vicksburg, he recovered and returned to finish out the war. He was listed as a deserter in the 6th and after he fell from a tree and died his widow had to hire an attorney to get his pension. All turned out well and she got the pension and deserter was stricken from his record.

Buried: Southlawn Cemetary; Seymour, Iowa. Family tradition of having a Hiram 'K' was initiated in memory of Colonel Kinsman of 23rd Iowa who lead the regiment and fell at the Battle of Black River in the Vicksburg Campaign.

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Died of disease 23 Jul 1863 in Memphus, Tennessee at age 19.

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Bishop, Henry. Age 20. Residence Lewis, nativity England. Enlisted Aug. 5, 1862, as Eighth Corporal. Mustered Aug. 28, 1862. Discharged for disability Nov. 17, 1862, Patterson, Mo.

The Iowa State Archives show that WILLIAM W. PIKE, late a Corporal in Company I of the 23rd Regiment of Iowa Infantry Volunteers was enlisted for a 3-year term of service on the 6th day of August, 1862, by Lieutenant Newton W. Whitted at Lewis, Iowa, was mustered into the military service of the United States on the 28th day of August, 1862, by Lieutenant Charles J. Ball at Des Moines, Iowa. The records show that Corporal William W. Pike was a native of New Lisbon, Ohio and was residing at Clarinda, Page County, Iowa at the time of enlistment. Corporal William W. Pike entered the service as a Private but was promoted Sixth Corporal November 1, 1864; Fifth Corporal May 15, 1865. The 23rd Infantry was at the Battles of Vicksburg, Black River Bridge, Milliken's Bend, Spanish Fort and Port Gibson. Corporal William W. Pike was mustered out of the service July 26, 1865 at Harrisburg, Texas. The records further show that said soldier when enlisted was 24 years of age had hazel eyes, auburn hair, fair complexion, was 5 feet 5 inches in height, and by occupation a farmer.

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Corporal William W Pike enlisted for 3 years.

Was injured in left leg. Later married Maria S. Mercer. Made the Oklahoma Land Run of 1889. Is now burried in the Whisler Cemetary near DeerCreek, Oklahoma.

Allen, Michael and John Prier (Prior) joined in Henry Co. Iowa. John died at Arkansas Post, Allen was captured and released at Vicksburg and Michael fought on. Allen and Michael returned to New London, Iowa after the war.

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