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Iowa 23rd Volunteer Infantry (Union)

9/19/62

Organized - Iowa 23rd Volunteer Infantry - Iowa

5/1/63

Battle - Port Gibson - Claiborne County, Mississippi

Port Gibson
Port Gibson

On April 30, 1863, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's army crossed the Mississippi River at Bruinsburg, 30 miles south of his objective of Vicksburg. Grant hoped to move east toward the capital at Jackson to block the Confederate army there under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston from reinforcing Vicksburg. Port Gibson, ten miles east of Bruinsburg on the Bayou Pierre River, commanded the best approach routes and was the first Federal objective. A Confederate force there was commanded by Maj. Gen. John S. Bowen. Grant's A…READ MORE

5/16/63

Battle - Champion Hill - Hinds County, Mississippi

Champion Hill
Champion Hill

The Battle of Champion Hill was the largest and bloodiest action of Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Vicksburg Campaign.READ MORE

5/17/63

Battle - Big Black River Bridge - Hinds County, Mississippi

Big Black River Bridge
Big Black River Bridge

Reeling from their defeat at Champion Hill and heading west toward Vicksburg, the Confederates reached Big Black River Bridge, the night of May 16-17th. Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton ordered Brig. Gen. John S. Bowen, with three brigades, to man the fortifications on the east bank of the river and impede any Union pursuit. Three divisions of Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand's Thirteenth Corps moved out from Edwards Station on the morning of the 17th. They encountered the Confederates behind breastworks and took co…READ MORE

5/18/63

Battle - Vicksburg - Vicksburg, Mississippi

Vicksburg
Vicksburg

In mid-May, 1863, after six months of unsuccessful attempts, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Army of the Tennessee finally converged on Vicksburg, defended by a Confederate army under Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton. Capture of the Mississippi River town was critical to Union control of the strategic river. Vicksburg was located on a high river bluff defended with artillery, and Pemberton's men had constructed a series of fortifications in an 8-mile arc surrounding the city on the landward side. After crossing the…READ MORE

6/7/63

Battle - Milliken's Bend - Madison Parish, Louisiana

Milliken's Bend
Milliken's Bend

On June 6, 1863, Col. Hermann Lieb with the African Brigade and two companies of the 10th Illinois Cavalry made a reconnaissance toward Richmond, Louisiana just west of the Mississippi River opposite Vicksburg. Lieb encountered enemy troops at the Tallulah railroad depot and drove them back but then retired, fearing that many more Rebels might be near. Lieb formed his men into a battle line at Milliken's Bend on the river and prepared to meet the pursuing enemy. The 23rd Iowa Infantry and two gunboats came…READ MORE

3/27/65

Battle - Spanish Fort - Baldwin, Alabama

7/26/65

Mustered Out - Iowa 23rd Volunteer Infantry - Iowa

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