Born in Maine in 1820, Abial Richmond Pierce was living in Iowa when the Civil War began. Pierce mustered in as captain, Company M, 4th Iowa Cavalry. Pierce was promoted to major, commanding the 3d Battalion. Pierce was recommended for promotion to lieutenant colonel as “one of the most cool and gallant officers in the service, frequently displaying unusual courage and judgment.”

During Price’s 1864 invasion of Missouri, Pierce was in command of the 4th Iowa Cavalry, which played a key role in the Battle of Mine Creek. Pierce describes coming upon the enemy in line of battle just north of Mine Creek.

The enemy … formed his lines upon the prairie … Our lines were formed in front of the enemy, and not far from them. I formed my regiment on the left of the second line, one half extending past the left flank of the first line, and my extreme left about even with the right flank of the enemy's lines. Just as the regiment came into line, the charge was sounded. Our lines moved forward to within 300 yards of the enemy's lines, when a terrific fire was poured into us from cannon and small arms. The front line halted; the right of the second line halted, trembling under the heavy fire from the enemy. The Fourth did not halt, but swept on, every horse at full speed, and every man yelling like a demon … We struck the enemy's lines on the extreme right, scattering them as we came up. My regiment was the first to break the enemy's lines, and we had crushed in quite a distance of his right before our other regiments, in front of the enemy's left, advanced. The second battalion, under Captain Dana, was the first to drive the enemy from his cannon, but the honor of the capture was afterward claimed by other regiments. The Fourth did not stop to gather up the captured property on the field, but pursued the retreating enemy more than one mile, and were yet pursuing when General [Alfred] Pleasonton came up and ordered us shelled by our own guns, thinking we were a part of the flying enemy. The Fourth captured 235 prisoners, and two stands of colors; killing and wounding many, and losing but two killed and four wounded.

After the war, Pierce returned to Iowa and was elected as a senator representing Jefferson County in the General Assembly, serving two terms from 1866-1870.