Clark County Courier
September 24, 1920
REUNION OF THE TWENTY-FIRST MISSOURI
(By Jasper Blines)
Generously Donated to the website by Josi Wilsey-White.
The few survivors of the 21st Missouri regiment enjoyed Thursday and Friday in their gathering of the thirty-third period of the organization, held in Kahoka. Members were in attendance from different parts of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and elsewhere. Captain Washburn presided as chairman and Ottawa, Kansas, was selected as the place of their annual meeting in 1921. Thirty-seven members of the regiment were present. Speeches were delivered by Comrades Lipper, Shaffer, Haines, Bell, Maltbeck, Cashman and others. Invocation by Rev. Newton and musical entertainment by Mrs. Angie Hume.
The thirty-third reunion of the Twenty-first Missouri regiment volunteer infantry, brought together some forty members of the noted regiment of civil war honor and fame. The two days were times of recalling the years and the experiences of their services in the south, and with all the joy and good will which prevailed among the fraternal hosts, there was a sad reflection and a degree of sorrow felt as one recalled the large number of brave men who went forth and offered their services for the perpetuation of the American union of states. Time is reducing their numbers regularly, and the poet has portrayed the subject in a way all too true: Every year they're walking slower, Every year they're bending lower.
Of all this large military district, which included Knox, Scotland, Lewis and Clark counties with additions from the adjoining counties of Lee and Hancock, the Twenty-first Missouri was one of the chief regiments of all who defended their commonwealth in the early periods of the war, and when their homes were free from further danger, marched to the crimson fields southward.
A study of the military events and leadership of this district including especially the years of 1861 and 1862, shows how fortunate we were in having a leader of trained qualifications and of genuinely loyalty. The demands of the trying hours were well provided for. David Moore came of heroic stock. He served in the country's war with Mexico, and when the southern uprising came some sixteen years later, David Moore was ready and in training for the most severe of all trials. He was an Arnold Winkelreid or a Sir William Wallace. He was an attainment of patriotism and valor which pointed to successful achievements. The elements of his sterling military composition were forcibly shown at the historic battle of Athens, Clark county on August 5, 1861, when the forces of disunion came down the incline of the little town on the Des Moines river in such a multitude as to overwhelm the few hundred of the union legions. Prisoners of the attacking army confessed after the conflict that their numbers were approximately eighteen hundred with two canon. Opposed to this avalanche were some few hundreds, perhaps one-third when compared to Mart Green's army. To open at once in a general engagement would have proven rash and weak, and when the attack came, Colonel Moore ordered his men to lie down and withhold their fire until the opportune moment. Moore's logic was to break their center. He said that was the real military logic of the crisis, and the only way to win.
Here General Jackson's tactics at New Orleans were re-enacted and at short range Colonel Moore, in a voice of great vigor, gave the order to charge bayonets. This is an emergency appeal which inspires the attacked with amazement and horror, and the young and untrained of Green's companies were seized with fear and were panic stricken. And Athens and all northeast Missouri was saved as the insurgents fled to their homes or to the encampments of their friends farther south.
The history of the Twenty-first Missouri regiment and its officers is a large record of brave leaders and great attainments during their long service from early 1861 on up to April 1866, for many of the troops were held in southern cities and districts a year after the cessation of hostilities. The companies were composed of volunteers from the counties of Knox, Scotland, Lewis and Clark, with a few recruits from Lee and Hancock districts. They went forth in a spirit of true patriotism and devotion to their beloved land. They offered their undying services and their lives. [Unclear] decomponse, pensions, rewards and glory were not thought of by those true Americans.
The meeting in Kahoka was honored by the presence of Thomas P. Moore, the youngest son of Colonel David Moore.
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RESOLUTION
Kahoka, Mo., Sept. 17, 1920. Whereas , on the 16th and 17th day of Sept., 1920, the 21st Mo. Vet. Vol. Infantry held its 33rd annual reunion in this city. The reunion was opened at 9 a. m., the 16th, by singing America. Invocation by the Rev. Dr. Kerr. His Hon. the Mayor Dr. C. E. Newton delivered a spelndid patriotic address of welcome and responded to by Comrade Joseph Morris, and whereas, we were favored by an inspiring address by Jas. H. Talbott, Mr. Thomas Moore and others, and Miss Minnie Owen and Mrs. Roy Hume who so kindly furnished the music.
Resolved, that this association feels grateful and hereby extend our sincere thanks to all who so kindly assisted in making our reunion a success, and we especially desire to thank the Modern Woodmen for the use of their hall.
Adopted,
JOSEPH MORRIS
M. CUSHMAN
ALFRED CAMERON
GEO. P. WASHBURN
WM. P. LEEDOM
Committee.
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One by one our comrades are passing away, regardless of medical skill, loving hearts, willing hands can do or say. Whether at home or whether abroad we all must pass to this our last reward. When they were young, whether great or small they responded quickly to their country's call and they did their duty and they did it well, as this united and properous country today doth tell, and as have passed away never more to return. The sympathy of each comrade goes out to those who were called on to mourn, and when the last soldier has been laid to rest, this would be their last request to a grateful country they sacrificed so much to save: On the 30th of each May they would strew flowers on their silent and lonely graves.
JOSEPH MORRIS
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REGISTER
J. P. Morris, Co. G
John Morris, Co. G
Dick Cashman, Co. C. Quincy
Mrs. Cashman
Geo. P. Washburn, Co. H. Ottawa, Kas.
Mrs. Cashman
Edwin Smith, Co. C, Athens
Henry Collark, Co. C, (colored cook) Chandler, Okla.
C. F. Lipper, 30 Iowa, Wy.
Loring Starr, Co. F, Croton, Ia.
Marion Ball, Co. F, Denver, Colo.
Mrs. Marion Ball
Sam Wells, Co. H, Kahoka
Wm. A. Haines, Co. H, Wyaconda
F. W. Mauck, Co. D, Whitewater, Kas.
J. K. P. Wilson, Co. G, Kahoka
Fred Menke, Co. K, Kahoka
G. F. Rex. 2nd U. S. U. Kahoka
Fred Wolter, Co. K, Knox City
J. G. Matlick, Co. B, W. Va. Cav.
Jas. Golliher, 8 Mo. Inf., Kahoka
Sam Davalt, Co. G, Kahoka
Alfred Cameron, Co. H, Wayland
Frank Stutenberg, Co. B, Soldiers Home, Quincy
J. N. Matlick, 15th Va., Wyaconda
Wm. H. Solter, Co. K, LaGrange
J. K. Burner, Co. H, Quincy
Wm. Smith, Co. K, LaGrange
Eli Kenover, Co. D, Keokuk
Albert Corson, Co. F, Hunter, Mo.
S. H. Brown, Co. K, Kahoka
N. C. Wilson, Co. M, 9th Iowa Cav.
J. H. Talbott
Geo. Wagner, Co. F, Franklin, Ia., Shiloh
Thos. Harsh, Co. C, 30 Ill., St. Francisville, Mo.
W. P. Leedom, Co. F, Lancaster
Jonathan Pierce, Co. C, Downing
Daniel Duan, Co. I, Keokuk
J. B. Ford, Co. F.
John Hume, Co. C, 3rd Iowa Cav.
Mrs. Jonathan Johnson, Baring, Mo.
H. B. Pate, 146 2nd Co. G, Kahoka
Thos. P. Moore, Kahoka (son of Col. Moore)
J. T. Golliher, Co. I, Memphis
August Klusmeier, Co. I, LaGrange, Mo.
W. M. Pullins, Co. F, Wayland
Emlek Johnson, Baring
Mrs. Emlik Johnson
N. E. Lane, Co. I, Baring
Lewis Scarlet, Co. F, Revere
Jas. A. Scarlet, Co. F, Centerville
Mortimor Hinson, Co. C, 25 Iowa, Revere
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The next reunion will be held in Ottawa, Kansas.
Mrs. Mary Bullard, of Gage, Okla., who carried messages for the 21st Mo., is
still living. She is 92 years old.
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MASCOT OF THE TWENTY-FIRST MISSOURI
Among those who spoke at the reunion of the 21st Missouri was Henry
Collark, colored, of Chandler, Okla., who had the distinction of being the
mascot of the old regiment, and went with them through the war.
Collark was born in New Jersey, but when a small boy he was kidnapped and
taken south by a slaveholder. However, being too young to work he was left
mainly to his own devices. In his rambles he happened to enter the camp of
the 21st. the men of which took a fancy to him and never permitted him to
return to his home. He became the faithful servant of Col. Joseph R. Best,
brother-in-law of Thos. P. Moore, and kept with the regiment until the close
of the war.
Collark's association with the soldiers awakened a desire for an
education. He worked for some Iowa farmers through the summer and in the
winter attended school, and then entered the profession of teaching. Later
he completed the course at a colored institution of learning. He is now 62
years of age and is teaching at Chandler, Okla. He is also a man of
considerable means, owning 500 acres of land.
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