The Exira Centennial history book, 100 Years in Exira 1857 - 1957, states that thirty-one Audubon County men volunteered in the county or were drafted and did active duty in the Union Army. Additional Audubon County men went to Des Moines, Council Bluffs or other localities to join the army.

"The population of Audubon County was less than 500 at the outbreak of the Civil War. Her quota of men called for by the government was 22."

"The following list is the names of men actually engaged in warfare in the Union Army. There were many others who served their country in the militia but were not actively engaged."

William Bintner does not appear in the above list, but 100 Years in Exira 1857 - 1957 describes his service in the 12th Iowa Infantry. "He fought in the battle of Shiloh, in the engagement called the "Hornet's Nest." The following was taken from an old Journal: "Mr. Bintner was one of the color guards and out of a company of nine, he alone escaped death although his clothes were pierced by four bullets, but he stood by the old flag bravely while the boys around him were mowed down to death. He was captured and thrown in the Andersonville Prison where he suffered a thousand deaths in the six months he was there. Mr. Bintner was 17 when he entered the service and put in four years fighting for the old flag."