Civil War Id’d Combination Trunk and Field Desk – Captain Frederick Mott 39^th Iowa Infantry and US Volunteers Adjutant General’s Department – This desk with a large compartment to store personal items and documents, has clearly stenciled, in large, off-white-colored letters, the following:

“CAPT. F. MOTT A.A.G. USV”

Stenciled on the front of the desk is:

“US

     1862”

Frederick Mott entered the service, at the rank of 1^st Lt. in September, 1862; he was commissioned officially, in November, 1862 into the Field & Staff of the 39^th Iowa Infantry. With the date on this desk / trunk, he must have had this with him when he was promoted to the rank of Captain, in February of 1865, serving as an Assistant Adjutant General, in the United States Vols; he resigned in July, 1865. Since the front of the desk is dated 1862, we presume that Mott had this with him at the onset of his service, later adding his AAG and USV designation later. Mott and his comrades in the 39^th Iowa would be participants in numerous frays in the western theater of the war, with many members of the regiment being captured by Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest’s men, in 1863. This desk / trunk appears to have been constructed of white pine; it remains in excellent condition, retaining virtually all of its original, dark blue-green to black paint; the hinges for the operation of the desk top are rather ornately designed, cast brass; the sides of the desk are bound in leather, attached to the wooden surfaces via small, brass brads. Two strap holders with japanned, roller buckles remain on the front of the box, as do leather carrying straps, firmly affixed to each side of the box. The interior remains in good condition, with virtually all of its original, light blue paint remaining. The bottom of the box is constructed of a light sheet of tin or iron. This is one of the more unique, Id’d officer’s personal items we have had.

Measurements: Width – 26.25” (across the front or top); Depth – 16.5”; Height – 10” (front), 12.5” (back)

Frederick Mott

Residence Winterset, IA; 34 years old.
Enlisted on 9/15/1862 as a 1st Lieut.

On 11/24/1862, he was commissioned into Field & Staff Iowa 39th Infantry.
He was discharged for promotion on 2/3/1865

On 2/3/1865, he was commissioned into US Volunteers Adjutant Genl Dept.
He resigned on 7/8/1865

Promotions:

• 1st Lieut 11/24/1862 (1st Lieut & Quartermaster)
• Capt 2/3/1865 (Captain & Asst Adjutant General)

39th IA Infantry

Organized: Des Moines & Davenport on 11/24/1862

Mustered out: 8/2/1865

39th IA Infantry

Organized: Des Moines & Davenport on 11/24/1862

Mustered out: 8/2/1865

Thirty-ninth Infantry IOWA (3 years) Thirty-ninth Infantry Cols., Henry J. B. Cummings, Joseph M. Griffiths, James Redfield; Lieut.-Cols., James Redfield, Joseph M. Griffiths, George N. Elliott; Majs., Joseph M. Griffiths, George N. Elli- ott, Isaac D. Marsh. Most of the companies of this regiment rendezvoused at Des Moines, but were ordered to Davenport, where they were joined by the remainder, and the regiment was mustered into, service Nov. 24, 1862. On Dec. 12 it started for Cairo to report to Brig.-Gen. Tuttle and arrived on the 14th. It was soon afterward ordered South, and on the 26th it arrived at Trenton, Miss., suffering from exposure to. rain and lack of sleep. The first march of the 38th was entered upon at dark on Dec. 27, each man with five days’ rations and 100 rounds of ammunition. Upon the morning of the second day over 100 men, too worn out and footsore to proceed, were left by the way. Attempting to make their way back, they were surrounded at Shady Grove by a regiment of Forrest’s cavalry and 101 made prisoners. It was October of 1863 before they were released from captivity and rejoined their regiment. On Dec. 31, 1862, the 2nd brigade, which included the 38th Ia. and numbered 1,545 men, moved out alone toward Lexington, came in contact with Forrest’s command, numbering from 6,000 to 7,000, and there resulted the battle of Parker’s Cross-Roads, where the regiment, by its bravery in battle, proved itself worthy of the trust of its loyal state and its brave comrades in the field. On April 15, 1863, Gen. Dodge’s division, to which the regiment belonged, moved out to cover the raid of Col. Streight into Georgia. At Bear Creek the enemy disputed the passage, but a pontoon was thrown over and the division moved to Tuscumbia, skirmishing constantly until arriving at Town creek, Ala. The enemy under Roddey was there reinforced by Forrest and contested the crossing, but after an artillery duel, three bridges were built under fire and the enemy retired. On May 6 Co. H. while guarding a corral, was surrounded by 800 Confederate cavalry and mostly taken prisoners. The regiment was then on guard duty until March, 1864, when it took up a line of march for Athens, Ala., and April 30 moved for Chattanooga, where its division set out for Sherman’s Atlanta campaign. In Dodge’s command it was the first through Snake Creek gap. On May 9, with five companies of 9th IL mounted infantry, it engaged in a skirmish with Confederate cavalry. It led the army in crossing the Oostanaula at Lay’s Ferry, where it had a severe engagement with the enemy and suffered considerable loss in killed and wounded. This movement resulted in the enemy’s evacuating Resaca. On Oct. 4 it was ordered to Allatoona, where it arrived at 1 a. m. on the 5th. That day, under Corse, in the battle of Allatoona, it made its name glorious in history, by its heroism and sacrifices, but lost three-fifths of its number. On Oct. 13 it crossed to the south side of the Etowah River, skirmishing with Confederate cavalry and driving them from the neighborhood. On Nov. 16, in Corse’s division, the regiment joined in the brilliant march to the sea. It engaged in the skirmishing with the enemy on nearing Savannah, and entered that city with the army. It joined in the march of Sherman’s army northward through the Carolinas, its labors, its adventures and its fighting. The march concluded at Washington, it participated in the grand review, and remained there in camp until June 5, when it was mustered out and went home to Iowa, its loyal mission in the war fulfilled. Its losses during its service were: deaths from battle, 62; deaths from disease, 122; wounded, 113; discharged, 123.

39th Regiment, Iowa Infantry

Overview:

Organized at Des Moines and Davenport and mustered in November 24, 1862. Moved to Cairo, Ill., December 12-14; thence to Columbus, Ky., December 16. Attached to 3rd Brigade, District of Corinth, 17th Army Corps, Dept. of Tennessee, to January, 1863. 3rd Brigade, District of Corinth, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 16th Army Corps, to September, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, 15th Army Corps, to August, 1865.
Service:

Defence of Jackson, Tenn., and pursuit of Forest December 18, 1862, to January 3, 1863. Parker’s Cross Roads December 30-31, 1862. Moved to Corinth, Miss., January 6, 1863, and duty there till November, 1863. Dodge’s Expedition into Northern Alabama April 15-May 8. Great Bear Creek and Cherokee Station April 17. Tuscumbia April 22-23. Town Creek April 28. March to Pulaski, Tenn., November 2-12. Guard duty at Reynolds Station and along railroad till January 21, 1864, and at Pulaski till March 12. Moved to Athens, Ala., March 12, and to Chattanooga, Tenn., April 30. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1 to September 8. Demonstration on Resaca May 8-13. Snake Creek Gap and Sugar Valley May 9-10. Battle of Resaca May 13-14. Ley’s Ferry, Oostenaula River, May 14-15. Rome Cross Roads May 16. Kingston May 19. Moved to Rome May 22 and duty there till August 15. Expedition after Wheeler August 15-September 16. Moved to Allatoona October 4. Battle of Allatoona October 5. Moved to Rome October 9. Reconnoissance and skirmishes on Cave Springs Road October 12-13. Etowah River October 13. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Ogeechee Canal December 9. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Salkehatchie Swamps, S. C., February 3-5. South Edisto River February 9. North Edisto River February 12-13. Columbia February 15-17. Lynch’s Creek February 25-26. Battle of Bentonville, N. C., March 20-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 9-13. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett’s House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D. C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 30. Grand Review May 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., June. Mustered out August 2, 1865.

The 39th Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Service

The 39th Iowa Infantry was organized at Des Moines and Davenport, Iowa and mustered in for three years of Federal service on November 24, 1862.

Attached to 3rd Brigade, District of Corinth, 17th Army Corps, Dept. of Tennessee, to January, 1863. 3rd Brigade, District of Corinth, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 16th Army Corps, to September, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, 15th Army Corps, to August, 1865.

Moved to Cairo, Ill., December 12–14, 1862; thence to Columbus, Ky., December 16. Defense of Jackson, Tenn., and pursuit of Forrest December 18, 1862, to January 3, 1863. Parker’s Cross Roads December 30–31, 1862.

Moved to Corinth, Miss., January 6, 1863, and duty there until November, 1863. Dodge’s Expedition into Northern Alabama April 15-May 8. Great Bear Creek and Cherokee Station April 17. Tuscumbia April 22–23. Town Creek April 28.

March to Pulaski, Tenn., November 2–12, 1963. Guard duty at Reynolds Station and along railroad until January 21, 1864, and at Pulaski until March 12.

Moved to Athens, Ala., March 12, and to Chattanooga, Tenn., April 30, 1864.

Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1 to September 8, 1864. Demonstration on Resaca May 8–13. Snake Creek Gap and Sugar Valley May 9–10. Battle of Resaca May 13–14. Ley’s Ferry, Oostenaula River, May 14–15. Rome Cross Roads May 16. Kingston May 19. Moved to Rome May 22 and duty there until August 15. Expeditions after Wheeler August 15-September 16. Moved to Allatoona October 4. Battle of Allatoona October 5.

Moved to Rome October 9, 1864. Reconnaissance and skirmishes on Gave Springs Road October 12–13. Etowah River October 13.

March to the Sea November 15-December 10, 1864. Ogeechee Canal December 9. Siege of Savannah December 10–21.

Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Salkehatchie Swamps, S.C. February 3–5. South Edisto River February 9. North Edisto River February 12–13. Columbia February 15–17. Lynch’s Creek February 25–26. Battle of Bentonville N. C., March 20–21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24 Advance on Raleigh April 9–13. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett’s House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army.

March to Washington, D.C. via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 30, 1865. Grand Review May 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., June.

The regiment was mustered out on August 2, 1865.

Total strength and casualties

A total of 1064 men served in the 39th Iowa at one time or another during its existence.^[1] It suffered 6 officers and 58 enlisted men who were killed in action or who died of their wounds and 2 officers and 134 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 200 fatalities.^[2]

Commanders

• ColonelHenry J. B. Cummings^[3]

The Adjutant General’s Department was established in 1813 to provide administrative and support services to the War Department. The Adjutant General’s Office (AGO) was created in 1821 to head the department.

Napier’s Assault on the 39th Iowa

Fresh Recruits Join Forrest
A few days before the battle, Lieut. Colonel Alonzo Napier’s 430-man battalion joined General Nathan B. Forrest’s command. Captured after the Battle of Fort Donelson in February 1862, Napier escaped while being transported to a prison camp in the north. He returned to West Tennessee, where he recruited cavalry for the Confederacy.

Napier joined Forrest as the West Tennessee raid was drawing to a conclusion. The addition of his battalion, which had two 12-pounder mountain howitzers, gave Forrest more artillery and fresh soldiers to send against Colonel Cyrus Dunham.

On the Union Left
Napier’s battalion occupied a rise just south of the crossroads, with cannon placed in front of their position. His troops and artillery formed the western segment of the Confederate arc around the Union line. Facing Napier’s dismounted troopers was the inexperienced 39th Iowa Infantry. The regiment had been rushed to the front shortly after being mustered in on November 24. They arrived in Jackson just in time to help repel Forrest’s attack on the city.

Cannon Fire Rakes the Union Line
Colonel Henry J.B. Cummings’ 450 Iowans faced equal numbers, but Napier was supported by artillery. The “murderous fire” unleashed on the Union left punished Cummings’ men. They were not alone. Confederate artillery fired across the entire Union line, inflicting heavy casualties from one end to the other.

The Iowans Hold
The Confederate attack squeezed both ends of the Union line, folding it in. Forrest planned to send his men around both ends of the line, flank the Federals, and force them to retreat. On the west end of the Union line, Napier’s battalion pushed the 39th Iowans, but they fought for every inch of ground. Though forced to fall back, they kept fighting.

(captions)
Napier’s battalion was armed with two 12-pounder mountain howitzers like the one above, which is shown hooked to a limber carrying an ammunition chest.
The inexperienced 39th Iowa fought desperately to hold their ground but were forced to fall back under punishing fire from Col. Alonzo Napier’s artillery.
Col. Henry J.B. Cummings, 39th Iowa Infantry

Napier’s Assault on the 39th Iowa Marker

23.283′ W. Marker is in Parkers Crossroads, Tennessee, in Henderson County. It can be reached from Wildersville Road, 0.2 miles Tennessee Route 22, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located along the North Battlefield Trail Extension, south of Wildersville Road. The North Battlefield Trail begins at the Parker’s Crossroads City Park: Auto Tour Stop No. 1 of the Parker’s Crossroads Battlefield Auto Tour. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wildersville TN 38388, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Dunham Takes the Offensive (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Forrest’s Artillery Leads the Attack (about 700 feet away); Dunham’s Artillery is Forced to Withdraw (about 700 feet away); A Panicked Stampede (about 700 feet away); Dibrell’s Position (about 700 feet away); Battle of Parker’s Crossroads (about 800 feet away); 122nd Illinois Infantry Regiment (about 800 feet away); Three Desperate Charges (about 800 feet away).