William M. WICKHAM ²

  General Notes:

1860 IA CENSUS, Cedar Co, Linn Twp, Cedar Bluffs P.O.: William "Wickam", 29, farm laborer, b. OH was listed as living with the Andrew Millslagle family. Isaac "Wickam" was also living there.

U.S. CIVIL WAR DRAFT REGISTRATION RECORDS, 1863-1865 - Pioneer Twp, Cedar Co. (July 1963):
"Biirmal" Wickham, 31, farmer, sinlge, b. OH, 13th IA Inf. Co. A
James Wickham, 29, farmer, single, b. OH
Robert Wickham, 23, farmer, single, b. OH
William Wickham, 35, farmer, single, b. OH, 24th IA Inf. Co C

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS:
Name: William Wickham ,
Residence: Cedar Bluff, Iowa
Enlistment Date: 8 Aug 1862
Side Served: Union
State Served: Iowa
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 8 August 1862 at the age of 25.
Enlisted in Company C, 24th Infantry Regiment Iowa on 29 Aug 1862.
Mustered Out Company C, 24th Infantry Regiment Iowa on 17 Jul 1865 at Savannah, GA.

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR REGIMENTS:
REGIMENT: 24th Infantry Regiment Iowa
Date of Organization: 18 Sep 1862
Muster Date: 17 Jul 1865
Regiment State: Iowa
Regiment Type: Infantry
Regiment Number: 24th
Enlisted Died of Disease or Accident: 9
Officers Died of Disease or Accident: 3
Enlisted Killed or Mortally Wounded: 119
Enlisted Died of Disease or Accident: 212
Regimental Soldiers and History: List of Soldiers

Regimental History
Twenty-fourth Infantry IOWA (3 years)

Twenty-fourth Infantry. Col., Eber C. Byam; Lieut.-Cols., John Q. Wilds, Edward Wright; Majs., Edward Wright, Leander Clark.

This regiment was organized at Camp Strong, near Muscatine, in the summer of 1862, under a call for an "Iowa Temperance Regiment," which brought a quick response from the temperance people of the state, more men being offered than could be accepted. It was mustered in Sept. 18 and left the state Oct. 20 for St. Louis.

It passed the winter at Helena, Ark., engaging in short expeditions at intervals, and in Jan. 1863, moved in the White River expedition as far as Devall's Bluff. At St. Charles part of the troops were ordered to disembark, and no sooner had they unloaded the baggage than they were ordered on board again, the results of the movement being the capture of 2 abandoned siege guns, a squad of prisoners, and the destruction of an unfinished depot. Many of the men died from exposure during the trip and many more died subsequently from the effects.

The expedition returned to Helena, to find the tents gone and the men dropped into the mud, too exhausted to care what the result might be. Rude quarters were constructed in which a dreary existence was dragged out until Feb. 14, when the regiment was ordered to Yazoo pass to assist in removing the obstructions from the river. On April 11 the regiment proceeded to Milliken's Bend, thence to Perkins' landing and Hard Times, where it landed in time to take part in the battle of Port Gibson.

It was engaged in constant skirmishing from that time to the battle of Champion's hill, where it proved the equal of any regiment engaged. At one time it advanced unsupported charged a battery of 5 guns that was creating havoc, fairly ran over the men at the guns, and drove the supporting infantry in wild confusion, but was compelled by overwhelming numbers to fall back. Forty-three were killed, 40 mortally wounded and nearly 30 maimed for life, the total loss in killed, wounded and captured being 195 out of 417 engaged.

At Vicksburg it engaged in the active operations and after the surrender left to engage in the siege of Jackson. At the conclusion the regiment was transferred to the Department of the Gulf, and put in much of the fall and early winter in marches in various directions, without apparent aim or result.

The opening of 1864 found the regiment encamped in the mud at Algiers. It moved in early March to join the Red River expedition and reached a point near Pleasant Hill on April 7. Five companies took part in the battle of Sabine Cross-Roads, keeping their position until ordered to retire, and losing 34 in killed, wounded and captured. In the retreat from Grand Ecore the regiment was in several skirmishes, and after reaching Morganza joined in a reconnaissance, in which it lost a number in wounded and Capt. Paul slain.

In June it visited Greenville, Kennerville and Thibodeaux, and returned to Algiers, from which place it sailed for Alexandria, Va. It joined Sheridan's army at Harper's Ferry, was in the battle of Winchester, where it fought with courage, but in the general repulse was borne back in confusion, but the lines were reformed and again faced the enemy. The splendid work of the 24th received warm praise from all, its staff and line officers fighting with the regiment and leading at all times. The loss was 71 killed and wounded and 3 captured.

At Fisher's hill it moved from its position to the left in perfect order amid a storm of shot and shell, and at the signal to charge dashed forward with resistless energy, having but 5 men wounded. After the pursuit it went into camp at Harrisonburg, then returned to Cedar Creek, where it took part in the battle of Oct. 19, when the army's position was turned by Early's forces and a complete rout avoided only by Sheridan's personal appearance on the scene after his wild ride from Winchester. The regiment bore a prominent part in this battle, losing nearly 100 in killed and wounded, Lieut.-Col. Wilds being mortally and Maj. Wright slightly wounded.

After a period of escort duty it went into camp on the Opequan in the latter part of November, but soon moved to Winchester for post duty. On Jan. 6, 1865, the regiment moved to Baltimore, thence to Savannah, GA, and two months later to Morehead City, N. C. After Johnston's surrender it went back to Savannah and thence to Augusta for garrison duty. It was mustered out at Savannah in July, 1865.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 4

Battles Fought by 24th IA Infantry:
Fought on 15 Oct 1862.
Fought on 1 Jan 1863 at Helena, AR.
Fought on 1 May 1863 at Port Gibson, MS.
Fought on 16 May 1863 at Champion's Hill, MS.
Fought on 16 May 1863 at Champion Hills, MS.
Fought on 27 May 1863 at Vicksburg, MS.
Fought on 1 Jun 1863 at Vicksburg, MS.
Fought on 9 Jun 1863 at Vicksburg, MS.
Fought on 10 Jun 1863 at Vicksburg, MS.
Fought on 12 Jun 1863 at Vicksburg, MS.
Fought on 14 Jul 1863 at Jackson, MS.
Fought on 2 Nov 1863 at Carrion Crow Bayou, LA.
Fought on 1 Dec 1863 at Louisiana.
Fought on 2 Apr 1864 at Natchitoches, LA.
Fought on 6 Apr 1864 at Mansfield, LA.
Fought on 8 Apr 1864 at Sabine Cross Roads, LA.
Fought on 8 Apr 1864 at Mansfield, LA.
Fought on 9 Apr 1864 at Pleasant Hill, LA.
Fought on 20 Apr 1864 at Red River, LA.
Fought on 20 May 1864.
Fought on 30 May 1864 at Rosedale Bayou, LA.
Fought on 28 Aug 1864 at Halltown, VA.
Fought on 19 Sep 1864 at Winchester, VA.
Fought on 22 Sep 1864 at Fisher's Hill, VA.
Fought on 24 Sep 1864 at New Market, VA.
Fought on 19 Oct 1864 at Cedar Creek, VA.

PERSONS SUBJECT TO MILITARY DUTY (men eligible for service but not actively enlisted at the time the rolls were compiled): William Wickham is listed as a resident of Cedar Bluffs, Linn Twp, Cedar Co, for the years 1862, 1865, 1866 (age 22), 1868, 1870 (age 35) and 1873. He served in the 24th Infantry Regiment, Co. C.

INFO FROM GERALD WICKHAM: According to William's military papers, he was b. 19 June 1832 and d. 16 May 1881 at Belle Plaine, IA. He was discharged 17 July 1865 due to disease of the lungs. He was only able to do light work and died of consumption.

TAMA CO, IA MARRIAGE RECORD, Book A, p. 92: William Wickham married Mary E. Hittle Feb. 20, 1868 in Tama Co, IA by W. H. Graham.

1880 IA CENSUS, Benton Co, Guinnville town: William Wickham, 40, laborer, b. OH, father b. NY, mother b. ME; Mary, 25, b. OH, father b. PA, mother b. OH; Sarah, 8; Ida, 5; James, 4; Rachel, 7/12. All children were b. IA and parents b. OH. (Guinnville is now a ghost town.)

1880 REUNION OF BENTON COUNTY VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR - Held at Vinton, Iowa, September 14-15, 1880 - Roll of Soldiers Reported to the Secretary:
W. Wickham, Co. C., 24th IA Infantry

TOMBSTONE RECORDS POWESHIEK CO, IA: Winslow Cem: Wickham, William (no dates) Co 24th IA Inf. Civil War Soldier Marker

BENTON CO., IA PROBATE INDEX: Book 5, p. 309 - #035 - Wickham, Jas. Louis & Rachel Annie - Guard.- Nov. 16, 1893

LETTER FROM MRS. C. BERTHA WICKHAM, Ackley, IA, Mar. 10, 1941: "They were all in the Civil War and William was killed there."

William married Mary Elizabeth HITTLE on 20 Feb 1868 in Tama Co, IA.¹ (Mary Elizabeth HITTLE was born on 9 May 1851 in Greenville, Darke Co, OH,⁵ died on 15 Mar 1938 in Benton Co, IA ⁶ and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Belle Plaine, Benton Co, IA ⁶.)