raised, organized and put into the field, forty regiments of infantry, nine regiments of cavalry and four batteries of artillery.
The names of these two able, faithful and devoted public officials will be forever intimately associated with the most critical period of our National history. Governor Kirkwood was calm and deliberate, endowed with excellent judgment and possessed a vast amount of practical common sense. He was solid rather than brilliant and made few mistakes in solving the difficult problems thrust upon his administration by the war. Not the least difficult of these was the selection of field officers for the forty-nine regiments of volunteers organized during his term. Hundreds of prominent politicians sought these places, very few of whom had any knowledge of military affairs. It was impossible to fill these most important positions with officers educated for the profession of arms, for they were not in the country. Selections had to be made largely from men engaged in civil pursuits, who must acquire a knowledge of military affairs in camp, on the march, or amid the carnage of the battle-field. Under these circumstances, it was inevitable that mistakes should be made. But in a large majority of cases the excellent judgment of the Governor and Adjutant-General enabled them to make wise selections. The incompetent were usually soon weeded out by resignation, and the places filled by promotion of those who had shown their fitness on the field of battle.
Governor Kirkwood was untiring in his efforts to meet every requirement of the National Administration, and at the same time was constant in his attention to the wants of the sick and wounded Iowa soldiers in camp and hospital. He retired from office with the respect and esteem of all loyal citizens of the State, and his fame as one of the most eminent “War Governors” of that momentous period will endure for all time.
On the 14th of January, 1864, William M. Stone was inaugurated Governor, and Enoch W. Eastman was sworn
