History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/Jacob G. Lauman
JACOB G. LAUMAN was born in Tarrytown, Maryland, on the 20th of January, 1813. He came to Iowa in 1844, locating at Burlington where he engaged in mercantile business. At the beginning of the Rebellion he was active in raising military companies and on July 7, 1861, was commissioned colonel of the Seventh Regiment of Volunteer Infantry. His first battle was at Belmont where the Seventh Regiment was greatly distinguished for gallant conduct and suffered greater loss than any other regiment taking part in the engagement, amounting to more than four hundred in killed, wounded and missing. Colonel Lauman was among the wounded. At the Battle of Fort Donelson he was placed in command of a brigade and again greatly distinguished himself, receiving promotion to the rank of Brigadier-General. He commanded a brigade at Shiloh and at the Hatchie. At the Battle of Jackson he commanded a division and through a misunderstanding of orders it met with very heavy loss. At the close of the engagement General Lauman was relieved of his command and this closed his military career.