the 41st iowa infantry was organized as companies a, b, and c of the 14th iowa volunteer infantry regiment at davenport, iowa and mustered in for three years of federal service on november 6, 1861. these three companies were immediately detached and sent to fort randall, dakota territory, arriving there on december 5, 1861. the companies were permanently detached from the 14th iowa on september 18, 1862, where they remained until may 1863. at one time, the state of iowa intended to use these companies as the nucleus of a 41st iowa regiment, but this plan was abandoned.