|
|
|
Pindall's
Battalion |
“The
Paris Mercury of a week or so ago contained an article
suggested by the meeting of twenty survivors of Pindall’s
battalion at Moberly and Alex Kelley and Richard Palmer
exchanged some interesting reminiscences over the matter in
the herald office last Saturday. The battalion was composed
of Monroe and Marion county boys and did some hard fighting
during the war. Mr. Palmer and Benj. M. McPike were the only
Marion county members we recall.
When peace was declared the battalion laid down their arms
at Shreveport on the Red river. They were given their
paroles and were placed on a transport steamer, Kentucky,
and started north in charge of a Federal officer. Before
going far the boat struck a snag and knocked a hole in her
side. The pilot wanted to head for the bank, but the officer
ordered her to run on if she went to h-ll. The pilot jumped
overboard and swam ashore and the officer ordered a Negro to
go into the pilothouse and steer. Shortly after the boat
began to sink. She was headed for the bank, but in the
excitement a large number jumped overboard and many were
drowned. Mr. Palmer says Pindall was a skeptic in religion,
but when that boat began to sink he fell on his knees and
offered up the most fervent prayer he ever listened to and
from that day on was a devoutly religious man.
Among the member’s of Pindall’s company was Thomas
Faghel, a brother of Fred Faghel and Mrs. Christian Kohler,
of this city. He and Dick Palmer were boon companions. When
the boat began to sink Faghel and several others jumped out
and swam to shore. When he got there he found that his
friend Dick had not followed and he immediately turned round
and swam back to the boat to help him off. Mr. Palmer was
standing on the boat watching his friend swim towards him,
when just as Faghel drew near the boat a drowning man caught
hold of him and the two sank beneath the water to rise no
more.
The foolhardy officer who refused to allow the boat to land
in time to allow the boat to land in time to avert the
catastrophe escaped with his life and concealed himself in
the woods to keep indignant survivors from lynching him,
only showing up after a troop of Union soldiers had appeared
on the scene. Many an act of heroism in the late war is yet
unchronicled and now for the first time is told in print the
story of how Daniel Faghel came to his death.”
Source: From the files of Neil Block, Commander, William T.
Anderson Camp #1743 SCV; transcribed by Lisa Perry.
Newspaper article from the Marion County Herald of November
10, 1897. |
| | |