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Commendation and Condolence
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Yesterday was Veterans Day or as it was traditionally named, Armistice Day when Veterans of all Wars, living and deceased are honored, recognized and remembered throughout the United States. Therefore, this column is dedicated to all veterans who have served, are currently serving and will serve in the Armed Forces defending the freedom we as a nation enjoy.
Letter of commendation
During any war, when all of the officers or non-commissioned officers of a unit are killed, replacements are awarded a Battlefield Commission on the spot to maintain the Continuity of Command. However, promotions as a result of a Letter of Commendation were often lost when the letter disappeared forever in the administrative fog of war. The following Letter of Commendation and recommendation for promotion was submitted as the result of the leadership and bravery in combat of Col. John E. Phelps of the 2nd Union Arkansas Cavalry against enemy forces in the 1864 Confederate Campaign in Missouri and Kansas. It is located on pages 544 and 545 of Volume 41 Part IV of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion and is as follows:
Headquarters District of South-west Missouri, Springfield, Nov. 12, 1864.
| Major-General Pleasonton, Commanding Cavalry, in the field: |
| General; I have the honor to submit the following special report under the the provisions of paragraph 743, Revised Army Regulations, relative to the conduct of 1st Lieut. John E. Phelps, 3rd Regular Cavalry and colonel 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Volunteers, during the last campaign against the rebel army commanded by General Price in Missouri. This officer deserves special mention for the following acts of gallantry and good conduct, viz: |
On the morning of October 8, while the enemy appeared to be in full force in front of Jefferson City, he moved out with a portion of his own regiment, charged the enemy's line and broke it and drove his rear guard in confusion some 2 miles, killing and capturing a number of the enemy and settling the question as to whether the enemy was about to attack or was retreating.
At Boonville on the 11th day of October with a portion of his own regiment and the 6th Provisional Enrolled Mo. Militia he attacked the enemy in position by my order, drove in his entire skirmish line upon the army in position, where he fought them till night, killing and wounding more than 100 of the enemy and losing but two men killed and tow wounded.
At Dover, having moved from Cook's Store at midnight on the 19th of October for the purpose, with his own regiment and the 6th Mo. State Militia Cav., he attacked more than three times his number and put them to rout capturing seven commissioned officers and six men and leaving a number of the enemy dead and wounded on the field and obtained the first positive information that the enemy was at that time moving rapidly west.
At Independence he moved with his regiment (dismounted) directly upon the enemy's line and through the town without halting with so much impetuosity that he captured a staff officer of General Cabell's and the general's sword and by the movement contributed largely to the capture of the enemy's artillery taken there.
At Big Blue, on the 23rd, he made a most gallant charge at the head of his regiment upon the enemy's artillery and was prevented from taking it only by an intervening stonewall.
At Marais des Cygnes he charged in a most gallant manner across the river with his regiment and drove the enemy from the timber, where he was felling trees across the road and immediately attacked him in the open prairie, whereby the enemy was compelled to form for battle and whereby our army was enabled to achieve the brilliant result which immediately followed at the Battle of the Osage (Mine Creek).
For these most faithful and gallant services I respectfully recommend that Col. John E. Phelps, 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Volunteers and 1st Lieut. 3rd Cavalry Regular Army be promoted one grade in the Regular Army and be brevetted Brigadier General of Volunteers.
I have the honor to be very respectfully, your obedient servant,
John B. Sanborn
Brigadier- General Commanding.
| (Note: this commendation was not lost in the fog of war because on March 13, 1865, less than four months after his bravery in combat, Col. Phelps was promoted to Captain in the Regular U.S. Army and to Brigadier General of Volunteers.) |
Letter of condolence
| During World War II, one of the most feared pieces of correspondence a family could receive was a telegram that began "We regret to inform you." This was official notification that a loved one had been killed or was missing in action (combat.) It is not known exactly when the Defense Department started using telegrams, however, the words in the following Civil War letter are timeless and are similar to what a family would receive today from a Company Commander or Senior Non-Commissioned Officer: |
Camp 3rd Iowa Cavalry
Dec. 22nd, 1864
| Dear Sir: |
Your note of the 6th was received this evening and I at once reply as I know how anxious you will feel to hear of the matter spoken in the same.
I regret to inform you that the detachment which took part in the Battle of the Osage (Mine Creek) in Missouri (Kansas) which resulted in the defeat of Price and in which your son John was killed has not yet joined the company and consequently, I am unable to give you full particulars. He was in the line of battle and our regiment was charging, when he was struck in the head by a ball and instantly killed. We all regret his loss, as he was a good soldier, brave and true and will long be remembered by his comrades.
His effects will be sent (to) you as early as possible.
Very Respectfully,
Geo. W. Johnson, Capt.
Co. M 3rd Iowa Cav.
(The original letter was donated to the Iowa State Historical Society by and a copy provided to Mine Creek Battlefield SHS through the generosity of Mrs. Joyce Nigbor from Madison, Wisconsin who is a Great, Great Niece of Pvt. John Asbach.)
THANK YOU VETERANS, ONE and ALL!