Loose Trains and Bolts in the Gut Part VII

The Compiled Service for Henry C. Markham of the 37th Iowa did not make any mention of the train incident referred to in the Civil War Pension of William Kile who also served in that unit. Documentation and correspondence his file relate to his appearance on muster rolls, application for a leave due to illness, and some reassignments of his position.

Readers may remember that Kile and others in his unit indicated that Markham refused to give the men an order to move which reportedly resulted in the death of at least one soldier and injuries to several others. None of the correspondence in his file appears to have been the result of the train incident.

The question at this point is: "How interested am I in this incident?"

Like many discoveries we make, one has to balance the interest in the discovery with the likelihood that researching the discovery will result in new information about the people of interest. At this juncture, I'm not certain that knowing more about the incident will result in more knowledge about William Kile.

And there's the question of the cost of obtaining copies of unmicrofilmed copies of records from the National Archives. Will it be worth the expense?

There's parallels in this dilemma when one considers obtaining any record or document. One has to contemplate the perceived benefits with the costs.

Of course, blog readers may be interested to see if more can be discovered and learning in general about records in the National Archives is a good thing. So...I may go ahead and take the plunge and obtain the copies of the records.

And hope that readers are interested in what additional information may potentially be obtained.

Stay tuned.

Loose Trains and Bolts in the Gut Part VI

In an attempt to get a little more information on Henry Markham of the Iowa Graybeard Regiment, I decided to search the "Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Iowa" (M541) from the National Archives and Records Administration which is available online on Fold3.

There were two Henry Markhams from Iowa with "General Index Cards." There was a Henry E., who was a captain in the 8th Iowa Infantry and Henry C. who was in the 37th Iowa.

The card for Henry E. was the first one that came up on my search results and had I been hasty I could have requested information on the wrong person.

Of course a careful reading of the card would have indicated the unit was wrong, but sometime careless researchers conclude that something is "close enough" and that maybe the Henry of interest simply mustered into that unit before he was transferred to another one. Had that been the case, the "see also" would likely have contained a reference to service in another unit. Fortunately in this case, "scrolling" to the next index card located the entry for the Henry from the Graybeard Regiment (the 37th Iowa).

If the Henry of interest had not been located, searching for variant spellings may have been in order.

One never wants to assume that there's only one man with a first and last name combination. It's always possible that there is more than one.

As of this writing, Fold3 only has the index card for the compiled service records for the state of Iowa, so I can't get those from that site.

We'll have to see if the compiled service record for Markham makes any reference to the little train incident in Memphis in the summer of 1864.

Loose Trains and Bolts in the Gut Part V

The testimony of William Kile and his comrades painted a fairly consistent picture of the accident at the train warehouse in Memphis that injured his abdomen.

The testimony of Henry Markham was also consistent with Kile's comrades--except that he did not mention his refusing to allow the men to move. He just confirmed the injury to Kile, but was somewhat evasive about his role in the incident. The date of the incident was also not precisely stated in any of the depositions--just July of 1864.

I've decided to try and learn more about the incident. My first attempt will be to obtain the compiled service record for Markham from the National Archives--and then go from there.

This series is ongoing as the research progresses.

What this means is that I don't know the answer and that sometimes we'll have wait for updates.

Loose Trains and Bolts in the Gut Part IV

As expected, the testimony of Lieutenant Henry Markham differs slightly from that of William Kile as his peers. Markham made out a statement in Ringgold County, Iowa, on 6 November 1886.

He does not mention ordering the soldiers to stay put, but instead indicated that there simply was no time to move the men from their position alongside the warehouse because the men were so "alarmed."

Markham is also somewhat evasive about who was injured, but that does not seem unusual. There were quite a few men involved, Kile was not under his immediate command, and twenty years had elapsed between the incident and Markham's deposition.

It important to remember that what's material in this pension case is Kile's injury--after all, it's Kile's pension claim and not an inquiry into Markham's actions. Whether Markham should have ordered or allowed the men to move is a separate issue. It is possible that there are records contemporary to the incident that more specifically address Markham's behavior.

[begin transcription]

State of Iowa-Ringgold County

In the matter of clame No 525005 of William Kile late private of Co B. 37 Iowa Inft" I Henry C. Markham-resident of Mt Ayr Iowa state on oath that I was a First Left"[sic] of Capt. Joab Stovers Co of 27 Iowa Volunteer Inft" And was detaled With a squad of private soldiers from the 37 Iowa Inft and took command of said squad to guard a transport train from Memphis Tenn" to Hamelton or Hollow Springs (as it acors to my memory now) I do not now remember the name of the R. Road

marched said Detail from the Quarters of the 37 Iowa then on duty at Memphes Tenn" And to my best recolection and memory now William Kile was a member of said detail and was injured at the Memphis Dept" in the latter part of July 1864 while in the line of duty--under the folowing curcumstances as I now recolect them. After arriving at dept I halted the command preparetry[?] to getting aboard of transportation train on a side track of said R R and close to a ware Roome and in a few minutes after halting (having just arrived) there was send down said track a  lot of switching cars with oute notice to clear the track from any signell or Ringing of Bell

with sutch force that it was impossible for the soldiers to get away or giving me time to move my men and regardless of the consequences they continued that Speede and the men seeing the danger they was in and taken by surprise the result was the men be came so alarmed it was imposable for me to command or move them oute of danger and resulted I think now that one was Kiled and several was crushed and injured by the cars cruching them between the ware Roome Spoken of and the Space was as I now

recolect Sume 18 or 25 inches between the [rwy?] of moving cars and waeroome and to my best recolection now William Kile was one of those that was caught between the cars and war roome But say now where that injury was on the extent of it I am unable to say or do not remember but if injured it was as I have stated above.

These are the facts as I now recollect them not having any thing to refresh my memory as to names of the soldiers in my command except those detail from my own company and by a faint recolection of mine now I believe myself and his commanding officer of Co B and me had some talk about Kile but not a posative recollection as to any one oute side of my own Co--The above are the facts as I recollect them...Henry C. Markham

[end transcription]

The 1864 train incident involving William Kile was an unexpected discovery in his pension file. Our next research approach will be to locate Markham's service record and see if there is any mention of the incident.

That research is ongoing.

Stay tuned.


Source:6 November 1886 affidavit of Henry C. Markham, stamped as received in the Pension Office 12 February 1888, Civil War Pension File of William Kile, Company B, 37th Iowa Infantry Invalid’s Application #525005, Invalid’s Certificate #321230, NARA Record Group 15.

Loose Trains and Bolts in the Gut Part III

Our continuing series of "Loose Trains and Bolts to the Gut" continues with part of a deposition from William Kile himself. Kile adds a few new details that are not contained in other statements extracted to this point.

[begin transcription--extracted]

“At the time affiant received the injury complained of the detail which was composed of fifty men all from his regiment command of Lieut Markham of Co “G” The Regimental Camp was about two miles from the Depot. The detail was marched from the Camp to Memphis Depot to take a trail for Holly Springs as heretofore stated.

The detail upon arriving at the Depot was halted along the side of a large brick warehouse close to which and on the same side there was a side track for freight cars to be loaded from said warehouse. The detail was halted and the men were standing against said warehouse. The orderly Sergt” seeing the freight cars coming down on said side track ne

xt to the men stepped toward the Lieut in Command and spoke to him about the danger. The Leiut paid no attention to the Sergt” but by a motion of his sword ordered the Sergt back.

It was said at the time that the Lieut was intoxicated whether that was true or whether the Lieut believed the cars would be stopped before reaching the men affiant does not know. but no order or command was given to the men and in a moment the cars which were coming on the siding on a down grade were upon the men. At the point where affiant received his injury there was just twelve and a half inches of space between the car by which he was injured and the wall of said warehouse. A bolt or a nut on the end of a bolt struck him on the right side of the lower abdomen and turned him about half around tearing a hole in his lower abdomen causing the hernia complained of. Affiant was immediately taken back to the camp in an Ambulance where his injury was dressed and attended to by the Surgeon of the Regt who died soon after the Muster out of the Regt. Said Lieut Markham was immediately after said accident placed under arrest but what further proceedings were had in relation to the matter affiant does not know.”

[end transcription--extracted]

Kile's statement parallels the other two that have already been used in this series. He does add two significant pieces of information:

• Markham was drunk
• Markham was arrested

It is important to remember that those pieces of information are only as accurate as Kile's memory. Neither one may have happened, one may have happened, or both may have happened. Pension affidavits made by claimants are usually made to enhance the chance of their claim being approved. 

Kile also provides more detail about the incident itself, including how close the train was to the warehouse. 

Kile's statement makes the point that it's important to read all such statements in records of this type as one may contain statements not contained in other documents. 

It may be worth our time to research Markham's military career and see if there was any consequences to his actions at that warehouse in Memphis in August of 1863.

Stay tuned!

Source:18 July 1884 affidavit of William Kile, stamped as received in the Pension Office 23 October 1884, Civil War Pension File of William Kile, Company B, 37th Iowa Infantry Invalid’s Application #525005, Invalid’s Certificate #321230, NARA Record Group 15.

Loose Trains and Bolts in the Gut Part II

We continue our exploration of the abdominal injury to William Kile at a depot in Memphis, Tennessee, with a letter written by an eyewitness to the incident. John Cunningham wrote to the Commissioner of Pensions in response to an inquiry for more information and a more detailed statement. Cunningham's letter is reproduced here first.

It's a little unnerving to imagine these soldiers standing by the warehouse seeing the freight cars headed their way and being unable to move.

[begin transcription]

To the Hon Mr. John C Black

Commissioner of Pensions

Washington D C

Dear Sir

Regarding My Information on the Claim of William [-] Kile one of the [---] that Sent out to guard the Supply Train from Memphis to holly Springs Miss under Charge of Lietenant Markem I was and Eye witness to the Accident at the Charleston Depot in Memphis he marched to the East Side of the Depot there A Railroad Track for Loading freight bordered one file of the Men Between the Track and the Brick wall one of the men Remarked that the men would

 all killed the place was [to?] other and Markim Refused to Some Loose freight under charge of A Brakeman Came Down the Track and squashed Down Every man of that file Some two or three were killed and Several others Badly Hurt Some thing Belonging to the Cars Struck William Kile in the Abdomen on the Right Side and Tore open the Lower Part of the Abdomen Which the Rupture as near as Can get at the Date it was in the month of August 1863 All Blame was to Lieutenant Markim I was on the Detail and Seen the whole of the Accident

                                                                                                Pleas Excuse my Pore Writing

Mr. John C. Black Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

Yours Most Respectfully

John Cunningham

[end transcription]

Cunningham's letter was written response to this request (not transcribed here):

Stay tuned...we have two other statements from comrades of William Kile.

Markham himself also submitted a statement. And, as one can expect, his story was a little different.


Source: undated letter of John Cunningham, stamped as received in the Pension Office 22 May 1885, Civil War Pension File of William Kile, Company B, 37th Iowa Infantry Invalid’s Application #525005, Invalid’s Certificate #321230, NARA Record Group 15.

Loose Trains and Bolts in the Gut Part I

Civil War pension applications can contain a wide variety of information about the soldier and his family. The pension application of William Kile from the 37th Iowa Volunteers is no different.

One of Kile's comrades details his account of how Kile was injured in the Civil War. It wasn't a bullet that injured Kile. It was a bolt attached to a runaway freight car.

The Statement of Samuel R. Chase

[begin transcription]

I S. R. Chase residing at Moscow, Muscatine Co. Iowa do hereby testify that I am 75 years of age and was late a Private in said Co. B 37^th Iowa Vols and that I was well acquainted with the said Wm Kile. I was one of the detail and an eye witness of the accident by which Mr. Kile was ruptured and was myself wounded by the same accident. There was some three of four Killed and quite a number wounded at that same time. The facts regarding the accident were briefly as follows. The sqaad on detail under command of Lieut Markham marched from camp to the Memphis depot and halted by the side of a large brick warehouse close to which there was a side track for loading freight cars from said warehouse some loose or detached freight cars in charge of breakman were being run down on said side track the Orderly seeing the danger of the mess spoke to Lieut. Markham who refused to give any order to change the position of the men but ordered them to stand as they were in a moment the cars were upon them said Kile was squeezed in between a freight car and the brick of said ware house and a boult or something projecting from the side of said car caught Mr. Kile in his right side and tore open the lower part of his abdomen causing the rupture of which he has ever since then been afflicted. I have no interest whatsoever in the claim of said Wm. Kile My Post Office is Moscow Muscatine Co. Iowa

                                                [signed] Samuel R. Chase

[end transcription]

Stay tuned. Apparently Markham didn't think the men needed to move from their position and Chase was not the only veteran who made such a statement.

Source: Statement of Samuel R. Chase, dated 23 October 1884, Civil War Pension File of William Kile, Company B, 37th Iowa Infantry Invalid’s Application #525005, Invalid’s Certificate #321230, NARA Record Group 15.