USA > Missouri > Recollections of the 26th Missouri Infantry, in the war for the union > Part 13
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" For the satisfaction of such comrades as remember me, I will tell them that at the present time I am postmaster at
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Chilhowee, Mo., and that I still love the flag, " Old Glory," with patriotic devotion.
With " cheers for the living and tears for the dead," I send greetings to all surviving comrades.
D. N. SIMONS, late Serg't. Co. G 26th Mo. Inf'y.
WILLIAM H. ROOT.
WILLIAM H. ROOT was born in Vernon, Ind., Novem- ber 24th, 1841 .. Moved with his father to Montgomery county, Ill., in the spring of 1856, being then fifteen years of age. Was enrolled on the 21st day of August, 1862. in Co. A. 26th Missouri Volunteer Infantry. Joined the regi- ment at Jacinto, Miss., about September 5th. Comrade Root was in the battle of Iuka, September 19th, and Cor- inth, October 3d and 4th, 1862; on the Yazoo Pass expedi- tion in spring of 1863: in battle of Raymond, May 12th : Jackson, May 14th; Champion Hills, May 16th; Siege of Vicksburg, 1863; in battle of Missionary Ridge. Nov. 25th. 1863; battle of Allatoona, Ga., Oct. 5, 1864; on Sherman's campaign through Georgia. and seige of Savannah to the sea. Was through the South and North Carolina campaign during which campaign he participated in the following en- gagements : Tallahatchie River, Columbia. Feb. 17th ; skirmish on Lynch's Creek, Feb. 25th; raid to Florence, March 5th, and battle of Bentonsville, North Carolina, March 20th and 21st, 1865. He went through with the army and participated in the Grand Review and was dis- charged May 30th, 1865, at Washington D. C.
WILLIAM H. MOSS.
WILLIAM H. Moss, was born on September 17th. 1841, in Montgomery county, Illinois. In the fall of 1861 he went to St. Louis and enlisted in an independent company, and his first service was to go with Gen. J. C. Fremont to Spring- field, Mo., and then back to St. Louis, where he joined the 26th Missouri Infantry, and served in the ranks until reach- ing Savannah, Ga., and was one of those who re-enlisted as a veteran. While in camp at the Etawah river, Ga., Com- rade Moss, on the recommendation of Dr. C. F. Barnett, received a warrant as Hospital Steward from Col. B. D. Dean. On arrival at Savannah, the regiment was mustered out, and the veterans organized in one company, (Co. I). He was detached from the battalion and sent to the Post Hospital as Steward. Dr. J. S. Prout and Dr. C. F. Barnett recommending him for the position. The battalion went on with the army to Washington, then to Arkansas. and St. Louis, and there mustered out.
Comrade Moss performed his duty at Savannah until the close of the war, when he was ordered to report to the bat- talion to be mustered out, but owing to the railroads being in bad condition through Georgia, and crowded with the re- newal of business, it took him ten days to get to St. Louis, and he found the battalion mustered out and dispersed.
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He received his honorable discharge and a muster roll a yard long with his name inscribed upon it. At Corinth and Iuka. Thomas Merry was Moss's left-hand man. until he was shot and killed, and at Champion Hills, Comrade Moss had the honor of carrying the flag after Sergeant Rowen was shot and killed. Afterward James McCain was de- tailed as color bearer. Sergeant Page secured the flag from Rowen's dead body and bravely assisted in rallying the boys.
In May 1866, W. H. Moss married Miss C. J. Wheeler and moved to Litchfield, Ill., and embarked in the grocery business, afterward engaging in the grain trade. In the fall of 1871, he removed to Sedalia, Mo .. and engaged in car- penter work, which he had learned in early life. He was a contractor for several years and is now working in the Se- dalia planing mill.
Harry Oscar Moss, born in Litchfield, Ill., Comrade Moss's son, is a draughtsman in an architect's office, and a member of Co. D, 2d Regiment Missouri National Guard. holds a warrant as Quartermaster's Sergeant, and has taken his turn in wearing the medal as the best drilled man in his company.
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WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL.
WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL was born in Mason county, Kentucky, on February 9th, 1842, and in November, 1852, his father moved to Franklin county, Mo., where he died in 1858, leaving his son to care for himself.
At the beginning of the war Comrade Campbell was working in Missouri for a farmer who was a thorough rebel. in fact was drilling a company of rebels at the time. In the early part of June, 1861, while setting out tobacco plants, the farmer and his sons commenced discussing the war and everything in favor of rebeldom. Campbell took no part in the conversation, and the farmer took occasion to say that there was " only one black Republican in the crowd, and that was Bill." and that they ought to hang him and have some sport. Comrade Campbell dropped the tobacco plant he was in the act of setting out and demanded his wages which he received after some talk, and left the place. He secured work on the farm of another rebel, and was not treated so harshly.
The first opportunity to enlist occurred on the Septem- ber 19th, 1861. when Campbell enlisted iu Co. F, 26th Mis- souri Infantry, and assisted to elect B. D. Dean. Captain ; B. C. Anderson, Ist Lieut. : William L. Wheeler. 2d Lieut. The date of his enlistment was October 2d, 1861, and the
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muster-in, was on December 17, 1861. Company F was proud of Captain Dean, and when he became Colonel of the Regiment. the boys were prouder than ever before. Com- rade Campbell was with the 26th Missouri until the expira- ation of its term of service, when he re-enlisted, served un- der Major R. C. Crowell, and was mustered out in August, 1865. Returning to Missouri, Campbell remained until 1872, when he went to Moline, Elk county, Kansas, and on December 24th 1876. married Miss Hattie Lamb, and still resides in the vicinity of the above named town.
ROBERT L. PRICE.
ROBERT L. PRICE was born June 29th, 1840, and mar- ried April 16th. 1860. He enlisted on September 6th, 1861. under Gen. John C. Fremont, in Co. A, Sharp's rifles, as Fremont's escort to Springfield, Mo.
Comrade Price was a member of Co. A, 26th Missouri Infantry, and served three years. He is a Deputy City Marshal of St. Louis, and has one daughter, Ida Price, now Mrs. Ida Cook.
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WAR EXPERIENCES.
BY SERGEANT WILSON M. JONES, OF CO. F.
In November, 1861, while Co's. F. I, and E were at Pacific, Mo., we were located in what the boys termed "Dev- il's Gulch," or ".Hell's Half Acre," a very appropriate title for the gulch running down from the west side of the great white sand hill on the north side of the little town just at the back of the Merrimac bottom, just the spot for ma- laria to get its grip and it did at one time. Many were taken with chills and fever while I was in the crowded hospital with the same complaint. Almost every man in camp was sick, and Ist Corporal Joel Jones, was the only really well man in camp. He had many duties to perform for about two weeks, and with the help of a few half sick men, had the care of the camp, performed guard duty, and acted as nurse. No pen can describe the affliction of that camp, it was worse than the battle field. I do not remember the death of but one in Co. F, that of David Lehr, a brave, patriotic boy, who was missed by all who knew him.
The Corporal Jones who took care of so many, gave way after two weeks' service. He was prostrated with pneu- monia and battled with death for six weeks or more, much
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of the time insensible, but with the help of a strong constitu- tion and iron will he recovered. Co's. I and E lost many of their best men in that camp. who were rendered unfit for military duty, and died after they were discharged. No soldier who understood sanitary laws would stay in such a camp if he could get to a battle field. Our officers were good and kind in all those three companies, or the last man would have died, but the captains were as green as the pri- vates about soldier life.
The First General Engagement of the 26th Missouri Infantry.
In April, 1862, while encamped at Bird's Point, Mo., opposite Cairo, Ill .. General Pope learned that Jeff Thomp- . son, an old Rebel Guerrilla with several thousand Bush- whackers, was near Charleston, Mo., about twenty-five miles from our camp, and selected the 26th Missouri Infantry to whip Jeff Thompson. Every man who could stand up and hold a gun wanted to go. So we marched out on the Cairo and Fulton Railroad to Charleston, where we arrived at about 2 p. m., and were sent out some eight miles south where the rebels had fired on some Illinois cavalry and wounded one man. About six o'clock in the evening, Col. Boomer halted the regiment in a lane near a farm house and ordered us to stack arms. In three minutes after we broke ranks, one of the boys was attacked by a huge secesh gander, and about the same time one of the largest roosters yelled, "Hurrah for Jeff Davis," when Billy Campbell, a brave boy went for them and the attack became general and bloody, and con- tinued for one hour. Blood flowed on all sides until at least five hundred rebel hens and roosters lay dead on the ground and the 26th was victorious without the loss of a single man.
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About nine o'clock p. m. we were ordered to march back eight miles to Charleston. I look back to that field of car- nage with regret that we could not take all the dead along, but had to leave many fat pullets to the mercies of old Jeff Thompson's band.
In the Field at Iuka, Miss., September 19th, 1862.
Much has been written about the Eastern soldiers, and I am glad to say they merited more praise than has been be- stowed. Great battles are pictured in glowing colors and the credit given mostly to the commanding officer, who was away back out of danger, and the active operations directed by volunteer officers who were privates a few days previous, and knowing the valor of their men, they stood their ground, often allowing them to advance at will when they saw the enemy falter. They trusted to the courage of the line and the men did the work.
Thus was the battle of luka fought and won. I will write particulars of the 26th Missouri, but I know the entire brigade performed its duty well, for they fought as bravely as soldiers ever have done.
The 26th Missouri was ordered " in file right" to sup- port the 5th Iowa. We laid down within sixty yards of their line and in full view. There were some twenty-five minutes of suspense, and the balls fell like hail in our ranks. Col. G. B. Boomer sat on his horse as cool as a load of ice, while Capt. B. D. Dean and Lieut. W. L. Wheeler sat on a log as if waiting for some of the boys to bring some more honey from the hives they had captured near the battlefield, and 2d Lieut. J. W. Maupin, young and brave but
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more excitable, laughingly said. "Wilson, I can beat you shaking," and I then noticed that I was shaking too, and re- plied. " If you do, you will shake your boots off." Most of the boys were cool, while others shook like jelly, but it was not through fear. it was excitement. Many I heard say : "O, I wish they would let us go in! See the 5th Iowa boys are being cut to pieces!" Then the order came from brave Col. Boomer: " Attention, 26th !" Then Capt. Dean. as cool as on parade, with that soft, mild voice, called: " Co. F! Attention ! Forward !"' I looked along the line, and every officer was in his place-the men were all attention and all eager. I saw at a glance that every officer and man of the 26th had offered his life to his country and would not flinch.
Now came a trying scene. The brave 5th Iowa was ordered back all bleeding, through our ranks, and we saw the dead and wounded carried back. "See," some one would say, "See. we must pay them for that !" "Steady boys,"' commanded Capt. Dean. Col. Boomer shouted : " Dress on colors " " Fire and load at will !" " Lay down ! Fire at will!" was about the last order from Boomer, for he was wounded. As we halted in line, Lieut. Wheeler and I compared watches. It was 2.15 p.m. Captain Dean said : "Sergeant Jones, you are in charge of the left platoon-see well to your men !"
At this point everything was business. William Camp- bell and Charles Neison yelled : "Fix bayonets and let's charge the devils!" I had hard work to keep them down, for there was no flinching in those boys. The first line of "rebs'' gave way, and were replaced by two lines of fresh troops, and they poured in a deadly volley. Marcus Wilt was killed by a shot in the face-a brave. orphan, German
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boy, who gave his life for "Old Glory." Lieut. Shænen was shot, and no field officer left. Corporal Henry Meyer, was killed in the act of shooting : Lon Bliss, orderly, killed ; William Rowen, sergeant, killed; 2d Lieut. J. W. Maupin, wounded. The boys were killed or wounded so fast that no one had time to count. The "rebs" were relieved again and we fought the third lot of men, ten to one all the time. We heard no field command, but from all along the line the captains shouted : " Steady, men!" " Be calm !" " Make every shot count!" "Be careful. boys!" Take good aim !" "Shoot low !"
A continuous roar of musketry was heard all the time. My gun was so hot it burned my hand. Several men said to me: " I am out of ammunition." Just at that time a man passed with lightning speed on horseback, shouting for all the companies to fall back but Co. F. Capt. Dean stood on two small stumps with two buckshot in one leg and one in the other; and was too busy to hear. Lieut. Wheeler stood erect, shooting with his revolver, and was also absorbed in the fight. Some one told Capt. Dean that the rest of the regiment had fallen back, then he inquired of Wheeler and of myself, but no one could tell who gave the order. Then Capt. Dean said: " Boys if you have any ammunition we will stay while we can. I do not like to leave until ordered to leave." I had picked up several bunches of cartridges, marked London. Eng., which the rebels had dropped, and had been supplying the boys but had some left. Capt. Dean said: "Get where you can see, boys, and make every shot count." We collected in an open spot, eleven strong against two thousand . Johnnies," to hold them until reinforce- ments came. Do you call that bravery and the enemy not forty yards away? No. it was duty.
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A. J. Jones stood by my left side and killed a big rebel with blue jeans pants, and the man on the right in gray fell at the same time. I do not believe that any of that band of eleven missed a shot. But all the fire of the enemy was cen- tered on us now. A. J. Jones was at this time shot in the breast; John Fletcher, wounded; Dan Robinson, wounded. They were three as brave boys as ever fired a musket. When I saw this, I turned to Capt. Dean and said: "Cap- tain, we had better leave, we are not doing any good here. See. they know our number and are pouring in a cross-fire on us." Capt. Dean replied: "Well, boys. I suppose we had better go. yet I do not like to go, and no one here to hold the enemy." He said these words in as calm a tone as if he were talking to children at play. If he had ordered us to fix bayonets and charge, in one-half minute those boys would have made a rush at the enemy or have fallen in the attempt.
I will here give the names of all that little band. for I wish to hand them down to posterity: A. J. Robinson, Samuel Campbell, William Campbell, William Williams. J. H. C. Jones, David C. Jones, Henry Helling, Charles Neison.
When we started back I noticed Capt. Dean using his sabre as a cane. I requested John Jones to assist the Cap- tain, but the latter declined, saying: "There are many more needing help worse than I. Take care of yourselves." Some of the boys walked lively. I walked away with Lieut. Wheeler, loading my gun as I went, thoughtless of all but the dear. brave boys who had fallen. I had gone but a few rods when I heard the " Johnnies" shout: "Halt there !" I turned my head and saw a full line just at the point where
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we had left. One rebel, with blue eyes and sandy mus- tache, dressed in butternut, raised his gun, and I knew it was for me. I was just capping my gun, so I sent the con- tents to him. He staid there all night, but I flew. The whole line must have fired at me for the air was full of sing- ing balls, and one of them struck on the shoulder strap of my cartridge box, square in the back, which knocked it high in the air. At that time Samuel Campbell and Billy Williams, of Co. F, had gained the shelter of two trees and were loading their guns. They saw the situation, and one said to the other, "if your gun is loaded shoot that ".reb," he will kill Wilson;" but seeing my assailant drop, Sam shot a rebel who was in the act of sticking his bayonet in a wounded man, while Billy made a lead mine of another but- ternut. Those two men fired the two last shots that were fired by the 26th in the battle of Iuka, and then the rebels skipped that night. We talked the matter over and they told me where their men lay, and in the morning I found them as reported.
On the morning of the 20th, there were sixteen of Co. F to answer roll call, and five of them with slight wounds. while every man but two had his clothes cut, some by a half-dozen balls. Davy Jones and Will Campbell had not a scratch, although they had been in the hottest of the con- test, two hours and fifteen minutes. The battle began at 2 : 15, when we went in, and when we came out on the spot where we left the field, Lieut. Wheeler and I compared time. "Four-thirty, four-thirty," said Wheeler. "Why we have been in two hours and fifteen minutes, it did not seem thirty minutes."
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On the morning of the 26th, Thomas Crowe and my- self were the first to go back to the battlefield. That was the saddest time of my life. There were many wounded and dead. Several of the wounded said: " If I die, thank God I did my duty:" and others said: "I am not afraid to die." We gave them water and made them as comfort- able as we could.
We then went up the hill to where the rebel lines had been, which was well marked by blood and dead. I went to where the big rebel was lying that I had seen Jackson Jones kill, and took a good look at him. He was about forty years of age, black hair and beard and weighed about one hundred and seventy-five or eighty pounds.
I felt that I never would miss a chance to get revenge for the brave boys in blue that were killed, but God saw fit to impair my health soon after. I am thankful that he has spared others of the 26th Missouri who stood the test and never flinched. They never knew defeat, and I know that at any time. in any engagement, had all the officers of Co. F been killed, that some of the privates would have taken com- mand and led the boys as long as there was any shadow of hope, and I think the same of all the other companies. May the blessings of God, who gave to my comrades such valor, and led them to such unexpected and wonderful victories, ever protect and enable them to be steadfast to this, the best and grandest government on earth, is the prayer of their comrade,
WILSON. M. JONES, Ex. 2d Serg't. Co F, 26th Mo. Vol. Inf'y.
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CÁPT. J. T. CROWE. Of Co. I, 26th Missouri Infantry.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
JOHN T. CROWE was born in Franklin county, Mo., December 28, 1841. He was educated in the public schools and served in his father's office as Deputy County Clerk. He enlisted in the Union army under the first call of President Lincoln for troops, among the three months' men. In Sep- tember, 1861, enlisted for three years in the 26th Missouri Infantry and was advanced from the ranks to the office of 2d Lieut., then Ist Lieut., then Captain of Co. I, of said regiment, a position he filled until the expiration of his term. Capt. Crowe returned home in the winter of 1865. and was
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commissioned by the Governor of the state as Adjutant for the 2d Military District of State Troops. He further as- sisted his father in the county clerk's office until 1870. In 1872 he was elected sheriff of Franklin county; re-elected in 1874; elected Judge of Probate in 1876; appointed Dep- uty United States Revenue Collector in 1881, and was admit- to the bar of Franklin county in 1868, and elected to repre- sent Franklin county in the 36th General Assembly in 1890.
Capt. Crowe's family is among the oldest of the state. His great-grandfather was a native born German, and set- tled in St. Charles county in 1796. Capt. Crowe's father M. S. G. Crowe was born in Franklin county in 1818. Capt. Crowe is now engaged in farming.
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LIEUT. C. P. CARMAN.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
CHARLES P. CARMAN was born at Louisville, Ky., April 9th, 1834, and is a descendant of the Carmans and Pickerings of Revolutionary fame. His mother and father died when he was three months old. He was the only child and lived with an aunt until he was old enough to make his own way in the world. He left Kentucky in 1854 and came to St. Louis. Lieut. Carman never received much school- ing, but while in the army occupied his leisure moments in studying the rudiments of an education. At the conclu- sion of his army service he worked in foundries until I875.
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since which time he has been guager and inspector of oils for the Waters-Pierce Oil Co., of St. Louis.
Lieut. Carman was married to Miss Rachel Barratt, of St. Louis, Mo., August 27th, 1863. His daughter, Jessie Benton Carman was born June 20th, 1864, and married S. E. Morrison, of St. Louis, Mo., April 9th. 1890. They have two children. Rae V. Morrison, born January 28th. 1891, and Harold Morrison, born October 31st, 1892.
LIEUT. C. P. CARMAN'S WAR RECOLLECTIONS.
In the spring of 1861, some citizens of St. Louis pos- sessed of southern sympathies organized a regiment of "Minute Men," with headquarters on the corner of Fifth and Pine streets. I thought they were all right and talked in their favor. I worked with a man who was a member of the "Knights of the Golden Circle." We were both southerners and friends, and one day he informed me that the . Minute Men" had hoisted the " southern" flag, and if I would go with him he would show it to me. I saw the flag and it made me one of the strongest Union men in St. Louis. A patriotic friend who boarded at the same place I did, saw I had changed my views from one extreme to the other, and asked me to go and see a company which was drilling in secret, so as to be ready for service at any moment.
The result of my visit was that I enrolled my name in the organization, which afterwards was known as Co. I. Fourth Regiment, U. S. R. Corps; W. C. Jones, Captain; John Stevens, Ist. Lieut; J. H. Holman, 2d. Lieut. The
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company drilled in a hall on the corner of Third and O'Fal- lon streets, and on May Sth, IS61, we went to the arsenal and were sworn into the United States service for three months, by General Lyon. We took up our quarters at Bechner's Garden, on Broadway. between Franklin Ave- nue and Morgan street, and when Col. Totten was called out with his famous battery to quell the riot at the Planters' House, the organization to which I belonged marched down Broadway to support the battery, but was ordered back, the trouble having subsided.
During the troublous times in St. Louis. Co. I had many exciting experiences, and was at one time ordered to Wents- ville, on the north Missouri, to protect a trestle over a small stream. When we arrived there we heard that a rebel flag had been flying on a high pole in front of the post office. Lieut. Holman started out to find the flag, and it was secured after a search between the ceiling and rafters of the post office building, and when Holman exhibited it to the company the boys made a rush and tore it into shreds, every man secur- ing a piece as a souvenir.
We received orders to march to Springfield on the Ist of July, 1861. The 3d Regiment, U. S. Reserve Corps started first and we followed after, and both regiments were as good examples of " Buttermilk Rangers" as ever travelled through Missouri. The road over the Ozark mountains was very rough travelling, and we arrived at Sand Springs, ex- periencing several amusing incidents on the way.
On the 4th of July we remained in camp to celebrate the day. The Lieutenant got out a keg of wine which had been confiscated while the company was on guard in St. Louis, and each mess was given a share. One captain
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