Samuel J. Kirkwood: He Mobilized Iowa For The Civil War

When Samuel J. Kirkwood became governor of Iowa in 1860, the country was already sliding toward civil war. He acted fast, calling for volunteers, forming new regiments, and getting those men ready to serve the Union.

On April 16, 1861, Washington ordered Iowa to send a regiment for immediate service. Kirkwood didn’t have time to ease into the war; he began organizing at once.

The United States didn’t have a large army. That meant the states had to do much of the work. Iowa had willing men, but supplies were scarce. Guns and ammunition were the biggest problem. Even when volunteers poured in, the state couldn’t outfit them properly.

Kirkwood’s job became a constant scramble for equipment. At first, he wasn’t sure he could raise a full regiment. When volunteers flooded in by the thousands, the number of men ready to serve was larger than the state could quickly arm and outfit.

That created a fresh crisis. Kirkwood and other leading Iowans took unusual steps to get the state moving. They pledged personal property to borrow money for supplies, because waiting meant wasting time the Union didn’t have.

When Iowa still couldn’t get enough weapons, Kirkwood sent urgent messages begging for arms. In one request, he said, “For God’s sake, send us arms.”

His goal was to turn volunteers into trained, supplied soldiers.

Iowa troops served mostly in the Western Theater, fighting across Missouri and Arkansas. They marched through Tennessee, Mississippi, and Georgia, and took part in some of the war’s largest and most deadly campaigns—Shiloh, Vicksburg, and Atlanta.

Kirkwood kept in contact with military leaders, listened when officers reported shortages, and tried to fix supply problems. He pushed to ensure Iowa units were treated fairly and properly supported.

He also dealt with pressure at home. Families wanted to know where their sons were. Towns wanted protection. Officers wanted more equipment. Kirkwood’s office handled endless paperwork and letters—covering enlistments, pay, supplies, and the daily needs of men in the field.

Even with all that pressure, he kept pushing Iowa forward. In July 1862, he wrote  President Lincoln, making Iowa’s position clear. He promised the state would continue to do its duty, even though it was stretched thin. There were barely enough men at home to bring the crops in. If it came to it, “our women can help.”

The war changed home life as well. Thousands of men left farms and towns to serve. That meant fewer workers and fewer hands to help with the harvest. Casualty lists hit communities hard. Many families lost sons, husbands, and fathers.

Kirkwood supported efforts to help soldiers’ families. If families felt abandoned, support for the war could weaken. Iowa needed public backing to keep sending men and resources.

As the war continued, the Union’s goals expanded. By 1863, ending slavery became central to the war. Kirkwood stayed committed to the Union cause throughout his time as governor. He served through the hardest early years of the war, then left office in January 1864, before the fighting ended.