Bravest of the brave

Today, June 6, 2014, is the 70th anniversary of one of the most famous D-Days of World War II, when thousands of the bravest of the brave allied soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, that were named Silver, Gold, Juno, Utah and Omaha. As the years have passed, the remembrance of this and the other D-Days of World War II receive less and less attention as the surviving participants become fewer and fewer. Soon these events will be a distant memory confined to the pages of history and headstones that mark their graves. This is true of every conflict in our history as the years extend beyond the war itself.

However, these veterans and all of our veterans should not be forgotten and the following column describes one of our Fort Scott Civil War veterans who was and is one of our bravest of the brave.

During the Civil War four Union soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery in combat in eastern Kansas. Private George Pond of Company C, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry, received his Medal of Honor for bravery in combat during a skirmish near Drywood Kan., and Missouri on May 15, 1864. After the war, Pvt. Pond lived in Fort Scott for the balance of his life. The following is Pvt. Pond's Medal of Honor Citation and the after action report that describes the skirmish which resulted in his nomination for and receiving his Medal of Honor.

Official citation:

"For extraordinary heroism on May 15, 1864, while serving with Company C, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry, in action at Drywood, Kansas. With two companions, Private Pond attacked a greatly superior force of guerrillas, routed them and rescued several prisoners."

The official correspondence and after action report describing this combat is published on Pages 936 and 937 in Series I, Vol. 34, Part I, Reports on the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion.

"Fort Scott, Kansas, May 16, 1864.

[To] Brig. Gen. T. J. McKean,

Paola, Kansas;

At 3 o'clock this morning 60 Bushwhackers were 12 miles southeast of here, robbing and plundering the inhabitants. I got the news at a quarter before 5 and by 5 o'clock had troops out in all directions to try to cut them off. As we got a good start I hope to have some account of them by tomorrow.

Charles W. Blair

Colonel Commanding First Brigade"

Captain: I have the honor to inform you for the information of the commanding general, that last night a raid was made upon Drywood, south and southeast of this, by about 60 guerrillas, under one Capt. Henry Taylor, formerly Sheriff of Vernon County, Mo., of which I have already notified the general by telegraph. The outpost of Morris' Mill, held by Company C, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry, is reduced to less than 20 men, by the absence of the major portion of same on furlough as veteran volunteers, so that they cannot have the same facilities for acquiring early information of the enemies movements which they had formerly. Notwithstanding this, they learned of the raid soon after the first house was plundered and supposing it to be a small party, but 5 men were sent out in pursuit. It was easy enough to follow the track by the plundered houses, all of which they had despoiled of everything, in all cases taking the men prisoners and carrying them along with the party. By the time they reached the house of Mr. Ury, 12 miles southeast of Fort Scott, they had 8 prisoners. Young Ury was formerly a Scout in my employ and they had a particular spite against him. At this place they got 3 more prisoners, the two Urys and a young man named Williams and about $600 in money. They had discussed the propriety of killing the prisoners on the spot, but finally determined to take them off some distance to be sure they were safe.

Of the 5 men of Company C who had started in pursuit, 2 had gone back to camp to notify the others of the extent of the force and the other 3 came up just as the bushwhackers were coming out of Mr. Urys' gate with their prisoners; without pausing a moment these 3 men dashed gallantly forward until within 20 paces of the whole company, firing as rapidly as possible and causing such an excitement among the enemy that the diversion allowed all the prisoners to escape, Ury, the scout, knocking down one of the rebels who stood next to him with a stick of wood he had hastily gathered from a pile near his feet. At the first alarm the bushwhackers had fired at the prisoners, but the tumult was so great that none were hurt except the elder Ury, who was shot through the thigh and is in a fair way to recover. The younger Ury pushed straight for the camp of Company C, got 5 fresh men and is now on their trail. I have thought this gallant act of these 3 men of Company C deserves special mention as their conduct undoubtedly saved the lives of all of the prisoners and I therefore respectfully call your attention to it. Their names are Sergts. O. H. Crpenter and Elwin Webber and Private "George F. Pond," Co. C, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry. I have about 200 men in pursuit in different parties who will give a good account of the enemy if they catch them and who will catch them if it can be done.

Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant,

Charles W. Blair

Colonel Commanding, Fort Scott"

[To] "Brig. Gen. T. J. McKean,

Headquarters, First Brigade, District of Southern Kansas,

Fort Scott, Kansas, May 17, 1864.

My troops followed the Bushwhackers 50 miles, by which time they had all scattered each in his own direction and further pursuit was useless. We killed 5 and wounded quite a number, having but 2 of our men wounded. They were pushed so hard that I don't think the same party will make a similar attempt soon. Great Credit is due my Adjutant, Lieut. W. H. Hewett, who accompanied the pursuing party and Captains Hurd and Norton, for the promptness, vigor and efficiency of the pursuit. The troops were on the march within in 15 minutes after I received the news. They are now on their return.

Charles W. Blair

Colonel, Commanding First Brigade"

Now then, Pvt. George Pond was honorably discharged from the Union Army in 1865 and he and his brother, Homer, who also served in the 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry, lived in Fort Scott for the rest of their lives. Both brothers were active members of the local Grand Army of the Republic Post, were successful businessmen and are buried in Evergreen Cemetery.

In every conflict, we have combat veterans who were the bravest of the brave, and especially today we should remember and be thankful for every one of them who stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944.