A few days after the consolidation of the Thirty-fourth into a battalion, it was ordered to Morganza, LA along with the Thirty-eighth, with the intention of consolidation. The Thirty-eighth was delayed for some time. When it arrived, the regiments were consolidated, taking effect on January 1, 1865. It numbered nine hundred and fifty men, nearly all were present and for duty and were said to be in fine health and spirits.
Soon after the consolidation, it was sent by steamer to New Orleans, and made camp about eight miles from that city on the Jackson Railroad. On the 26th of January, 1865 it was made part of the third Brigade, Second Division, Thirteenth Army Corps under command of General Andrews.
From New Orleans, it went to Barrancas, FL, where it was located in plain view of Forts Pickins, Barrancas and McRae. The regiment remained there for more than a month, awaiting completion of preparations for the movement agains Mobile. On March 12, 1865 the command moved to Pensacola, FL, by order of General Canby. Lieutenant Colonel Dungan was detailed as Acting Inspector General of the Second Division, Thirteenth Army Corps of the Staff of General Andrews, which position he held until the end of the war.
On March 20, 1865, the regiment marched in the direction of Mobile, AL. The march was a difficult one, the troops only being able to average about eight miles a day. They had to construct corduroy roads, as the route was through swamps. The men were compelled to live on one-third rations, and there was much suffering from hunger. The march ended on April 2, 1865, at which time the troops had invested the rebel stronghold of Fort Blakely. The regiment took part in the siege operations from April 2, 1865, until the fort was taken on Sunday evening, April 9, 1865. The regiment sustained a loss of fifteen men, killed and wounded. The total loss of Union men from all troops involved in the taking of the fort was: one hundred twenty-seven killed and five hundred twenty-seven wounded. Forty cannon, nearly four thousand prisoners, and many battle flags were the trophies of the Union victory.
April 19, 1865 the regiment moved to Mobile, AL, and from there to Selma, AL where General Clark had command until May 12, 1865. On this date, the regiment returned to Mobile, and was conveyed to Galveston, TX, where it marched to Houston, TX, where it went into camp and remained until August 15, 1865 at which time it was mustered out of the service of the United States. Nearly three hundred recruits had been assigned to the regiment and were mustered out with it. When it reached Davenport, IA on August 29, 1865, and was finally disbanded, there were eleven hundred thirty-one men. It's losses in battle had not been nearly as great as that of many other Iowa regiments, it's losses from sickness made the aggregate number of casualties about the same as the general average of Iowa troops. It's record was without stain and it takes it's honored place in the military history of the State and Nation.
Colonel G. W. Clark was promoted to the brevet rank of Brigadier General his commission being dated April 9, 1865, the day Fort Blakely surrendered.
