It is really exciting to see my hometown adopting the
"can do" attitude in organizing the recognition of Civil War Veteran John
Byrne of the 21st Regt. Missouri Infantry. Many of our northeast
Missouri ancestors fought in the Battle of Athens in Clark County, Mo.,
and other Civil War battles.
On mother’s side, my great great grandfather Jeremiah
O’Day served with Corp. John Byrne’s unit. He volunteered June
17, 1861 in Clark County, Mo. in Captain Wooley’s Company Regt. Northeast
Missouri Infantry at the age of 35.
This unit later formed the 21st Regt. Missouri Infantry
commanded by Colonel David Moore. Jeremiah fought in the Battle of
Athens, Mo., and received a gunshot wound by a musket ball through the
right thigh, splintering the bone. Jeremiah recovered at an Army
Hospital in Keokuk, Iowa. He died in 1898 and was buried in the vault
at the Kahoka, Mo. cemetery.
My great great uncle Thomas Harsch volunteered with
Company C, 30th Illinois Infantry. Near Kingston, North Carolina,
he was captured and stayed in the Libby prison, an old tobacco house.
He was able to return to St. Louis in a prisoner exchange, and he mustered
out in 1865. He died in Clark County, Mo., at the age of 98, as the
last Civil War veteran in Clark County.
On dad’s side, my great great grandfather Robert (Bobby)
Colvin served in the 29th Regt. Missouri Militia and was stationed in Memphis,
Mo. While on military duty, bushwhackers took the prized horses,
colts, and livestock. Great grandmother Jane Colvin Lancaster remembered
all her six brothers and sisters clinging to her mother and all crying.
She remembered the bushwhackers forcing their horses to jump the bars used
for a gate. Robert Colvin died in 1898 and is buried in Pleasant
Hill Cemetery in Scotland County, Mo.
Civil War history has been a lifelong interest of
mine. I have enjoyed the hobby of re-enacting the past eight years with
Elliott’s Scouts. This unit accurately demonstrates Major Ben Elliott’s
battalion of scouts assigned to General Jo Shelby’s brigade of Missouri’s
Confederate Cavalry. Their motto was, "The Advance Never Retreats."
Elliott’s Scouts military and laundress unit participate
in about 10 battles and skirmishes annually. This year’s Missouri
battles and skirmishes include Centralia, Fortesque, Kansas City, Liberty,
Lone Jack, Nevada, and St. Charles. Our company accurately demonstrates
the Confederate dismounted Cavalry, guerillas and Missouri State Guard
and Union, fighting as skirmishers and flankers. When the camps are
open to the public we are in living history mode and conduct camp like
soldiers in the field.
Elliott’s officers will participate in the events
in Memphis, Missouri. I look forward to joining the ancestors of the 21st
Missouri Infantry during the special ceremonies on May 27 and 28.
My unit will camp at the Johnson Memorial Park.
Sources for this article: Great Aunt Lulu Lancaster
Moore. Submitted by Kris Lancaster. kriskcmo@yahoo.com
NOTE: Kris along with other Civil War re-enactors
and descendants will be presenting 1st person impressions of their ancestors
and other notable citizens of the community. This will be at
7:30 p.m., Friday May 27, 2005 scheduled entertainment at the east court
house steps.
For more up to date and ongoing information please
check the web site www.duvcw.org For those who do not have internet
connections, you can visit the Scotland County Library to use the public
computers there for viewing.
Return to:
http://www.duvcw.org/lastveteran