HEADQUARTERS
CO. A, 49TH REGIMENT
IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY

Identity Tags and Honors’ Cords for of the 49th Iowa

From its earliest inception, the 49th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment has been different. The idea behind this unit began to grow in the mind of our Department Commander, Court Stahr, years and years ago. Court envisioned a well-trained and highly motivated marching unit that would act as the Color Guard for the Department of Iowa. Today, the brand-new unit exists and is unquestionably the most active SVR Unit in the state of Iowa, probably within the 4th Military District of the SVR, and possibly within the nation.

When prospective "enlistees" first make enquiry about joining the unit we ask them to carefully read what the Rules and Regulations of the unit will be and commit to abiding by those rules before ever taking the oath to join the Regiment. We take membership very seriously, and suggest that if they do not, that they refrain from joining our ranks. We expect much from our members; and they receive much from their participation...just ask one of us.

When you join The Iowa Rifles you are committing to spend considerable time, effort, energy, and no small financial investment in uniforms and equipment to carry out our mission of providing a historically accurate Regimental Honor Guard of the United States Army (Regulations-1863). We take the wearing of the uniform of this nation very seriously, and expect all guardsmen to turn out looking like they just stepped off of a recruiting poster for the Union Army each and every time that they turn out for an event.

We also take our mission seriously. That being to provide a historically accurate representation of our ancestors and their sacrifices in the name of Union and Freedom while participating in programs, events, and functions of all sorts. We are also completely dedicated to raising funds to be used to repair, restore, and/or replace the monuments to the sacrifices aforementioned that were built by our ancestors to commemorate their dedication to those same causes.

When an applicant enters the Iowa Rifles he is issued an identity tag, very much like those worn during the War of the Rebellion, and we ask that the guardsman wear it at each and every event in which he participates. These tags carry the guardsman's name and the Regiment's number and the initials "IA" on them. Most have put them on and never taken them off again as a constant reminder of who we are and what we stand for.



When a guardsman makes the extraordinary effort to participate in a set number of regimentally sanctioned events, he is awarded the right to wear the "Honors of the Regiment Cord" device on his left shoulder. He must then continue to attend a set number of events until his total participation reaches a level of twenty-five events. At that point, he has earned the right to wear the device ad infinitum (forever) so long as he remains on the rolls of the Regiment.



We are committed to what we do and who we are, and the esprit d' corps of this unit shows in everything that we do...

We are the 49th Iowa...and we will "Forward the Line"

Per Angusta ad Augusta
(Through Difficulties to Honors)

Respectfully Submitted, in Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty

1/SGT David M. Lamb
Commanding
Company "A" 49th Iowa
Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The Iowa Rifles

Photo: David Darby

Rifles Organizer & 1st Sgt David M. Lamb in Traditional Deportment

Photo by C. Stahr and edited by D. Lamb
Rebel Battle Flag Created by Miss Dana

Rifles in Attendance at Carson Event

Photo by: Brother Thomas Gaard

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