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DAYS OF SADNESS.During the past week several parties who once had relatives and friends in the 2nd Iowa Cavalry, expressed a surprise that in our article of last week on “Days of Battle” no mention was made of those who enlisted from here in that famous regiment. Had we been writing a history ol' the part Old Kossuth took in the great civil war no names which are sacred would have been omitted. We made no sucli attempt, first, because if we had desired to do so, wc were not fully in possession of the facts and data by which such an article could have been written; second, because the scenes which we recalled were those most vividly fixed in the writer’s mind, on account of still having in his possession many letters written to him from his brother in the camp and in the hospital during those long years of sadness and agony, which have continued to keep alive the scenes connected wit.li the enlistment and service of the thirteen who left Irvington where we were then living, in the fall of 18G2.It is but just, to say, Unit the two regiments which stand the nearest to the hearts of our older citizens and t.1 le i r d esee nda 11 ts, a re the 32n d Infantry and the 2nd Iowa Cavalry. A public mention of cither never fails to bring sorrow and sadness to many families still living- in this community. Thcy will ever remain ardent rivals for sacred tenderness in the hearts of our pioneer citizens. Each one demands an equal devot ion from the rising generation scattered around us. They vie with each other for thrilling deeds and painful memories. And they will ‘continue to be remembered as the ones which composed the rank and tile where Kossuth’s loyal soldiers trod and shed their precious blood.It will be remembered that early in July .18(51, congress assembled and a call w'as made for $400,000,000 and 400,-000 men to put down the insurrection.j Then began that mighty uprising which made the nation vibrate with the tread of soldiers marching to the front. A few' days later the first great battle of the rebellion was fought and the Union army defeated. Bull Bun was a llcbel victory. On the 2nd of August came the most famous call that, ever fell from the lips of father Abraham: #500,000,000 and 500,000 men. It. was at. this time that, excitement was at fever heat all over the nation. At both AI gun a and Irvington, many war meetings were held to contoder the condition of the conntry and \o pave the way for enlistments. Algona took the lead when seven of her n(Ablest young men enrolled their names iwltli the recruiting officer. War wls on. War had come. Our citizens*n private life were becoming soldiers In earnest . They were soon member* of Company F, of the 2nd Iowa CaValry under Cup. Berkley. Soon we learned of their being at Davenport. fulliof hope and high expectations. [Letters came and all were well. Then Cjiey go forward. Benton bar-, racks ait St Louis is their home and to : many(- the i r g ra ve. 1 Use a se like a :vulture sweeps down upon I hem and rfiV'ars away its victims without mercy. ”\vle first soldier of Kossuth to give qos life for his country was John Jirib-sinoff who died Jan. 3. 18(52. How well we remember him, and how shocked were our citizens when the sad intelligence came. John lib higher. withwlioin the writer worked several weeks in the hay field—a young Berman who had lately come over from the old country and made his home with August Zahlten, was next to follow, two days later. The deadly measles were reaping a harvest of death on all sides. A young soldier, James Taylor, just budding into manhood, a favorite in Algona and a brother of Mrs. J. E. Stacy, went down with the terrible scourge bn the 22nd of January. The next shock oame when the Win. R. Carey home learned that Levi was no more. He had died on the 3nd of February. Four of those patriotic young soldiers who had followed the Mag into Missouri were dead. The three remaining ones, J. C. IJeckart, EH as uml Charles Kellogg, after fully three years of service returned to their homes at the dose of the war.David llolcoinbe, a brother of Rev. Berleigh’s wife, and well known in Algona—enlisted in the same company a year later and died; but, we are unable to learn when or where.The 2nd Cavalry did not receive any more recruits from this place till the fall of 18U4. During the month of August after an exciting rally two loads of soldiers were seen passingsouthward to Fort Dodge. Oho Of the teams was driven by 'ffiomas Hendef-sop, still a resident of Algona. Irv^ ington was well represented, for there' were Henry Patterson* who had seen service in the Border Brigade, and John K. Fill, % P* Crockett and Thus. J. Clark, school mates of the writer, all of whom returned home after the smoke of battle bad cleared away, and are now living in various places. Algona claimed Horace Schenek—who died at'home several years ago—Simon Helpman, Wm. B. Carey, Charles Moll, and John Henderson, a brother of the driver.It is remarkable that none of the nine were killed in battle—although at Nashville—and only the latter two, to die of disease. There seems to be a dispute as to whore Moll died. But the facts relating to the death of John .Henderson are too sadly remembered to be easily forgotten. It is sorrowful when we think that after enlisting in August 18(54, and being sick for several weeks in the hospital at Mobile, Ala., and after being transported to Cairo, 111., lie should die at that place on the 24th day of .November of the same year. He was so well known and his relatives bad so many friends, that the news of his death seemed to overwhelm all. James Henderson —the father—went after the remains and on New Year’s day 18(55 the funeral services were conducted by Rev. 0. Taylor in the old town hall with impressive ceremonies. Wm. B. Carey had been in the hospital with him and when he returned home he brought with him for the mourning relatives, John’s locket and other relics as a touching memento of his death.We thought best to defer till near the close of this imperfect article, any mention of the funeral of James Taylor whose body was transported home from St. Louis. The funeral was held also in the old town hall in January, 18(J, Rev, Osborne of Webster City officiating. The audience was large and tenderly sympathetic. As before mentioned, James had been a popular favorite with all classes. He was so young and so promising. It was then that Algona wept. The very trees grieved “if aught, inanimate grieves.” As no one can describe the heartbroken feelings of a father who loses a son in the service of his country better than he, wc will let a fond parent tell in his words the anguish of his heart in those eventful days of sorrow.Rev. C. Taylor—the father—always kept a neat, and detailed account of every day’s transaction in which he was concerned. Before liis death-about twenty-five ago—in the columns of the Upper Des Moines, he published a full account, of his life. In that portion covering the period of the war he says: “In August 18(51, my son James first: prepared to go to war. 1 had 1 loped that lie might be spared and assist in providing a home for me in my old age, if I should live until I was not able to labor. But when he thought that his country called I could not refuse to let him go: the rebellion must be put down and somebody’s son s m u st sutler and die, w 1 iy not mine? The last time that I saw him was August 20, on my return home from the meeting of the association at Webster CMty. I met him in company with several others a few miles this side of Fort Dodge. He never went in the actual service but died of disease in the hospital at St. Louis, January 22nd, 18(52. Several here have occasion to remember that some of his companions died about the same time: John Eeibhoff, Jan. 3; John Ehingher, one or two days later and Levi Carey Feb. 7. After we heard of the death of John Jleibhotl: an appointment was ! made for Rev. McComb to preach his j funeral sermon at the Schenek School ! house Feb. 7. Before the time arriv-: ed we had learned of t he death of. James and of John Ehingher,and that Levi was probably dead, and when some one inquired at the funeral if the mourners should sit together, the question was asked “who are not mourners.” The Jasl letter we received from James was that, giving an account of John Keibhotf’s death ami . he was very much incensed at the1 treatment lie recei ved and said lie' would much rather be shot down in battle. He was not left to his choice. It was not his death so much that tilled my soul with anguish, as the thought that he must die amongst strangers. No one to sympathize with him or send a dying message to his friends. “No wonder” said Elias Kellogg “that the poor boy felt bad when they carried him to Lhe iiospital with little or no hope that he could leave it alive.” l believe that, James intended to do his duty as a soldier. 1 charged him before he went, to always obey orders, no matter how unreasonable they might appear to him. Captain Berkley in giving an account of his death says: “It may console you some in your sad bereavement to know to at your son was a good, dutiful soldier during his entire service; truthful, steady and attentive and alway, at post.”Evelyn and Julia Mitz ar, Wi..j iiatu to be favorite o ever} bo iy vvnen t^ey lived here ten year ago, are down from Estnerviiierenev in , ixienathlps. The girls have grovn su lhat they hardly seem like tut same o.. wno used to play in the Pettibjiie jaid.
Newspaper Details
Algona Advance
Algona, Iowa, US
Fri, Aug 16, 1901
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Robert P.
USA 20 May 2025
Other Publications Near Algona, Iowa
Daily Upper Des Moines
Algona Courier
Algona Republican
Atlas of Kossuth County Iowa
Algona Upper Des Moines
