The 23rd Missouri Volunteer Infantry
The 23rd Missouri Volunteer Infantry Regiment (US) never had a unit history published. Many veterans of this distinguished Federal command wrote letters and memoirs but they have never been collected for public view. One veteran, Private John Peter Bagley of Company "I", can even be called the poet laureate of the 23rd for he wrote at least two poems: THE NOBLE TWENTY THIRD and THE DYING SOLDIER. While there are many references to the 23rd Missouri Infantry in the history books no one has ever put everything together to tell the regiments story from muster to discharge. I have been compiling data since 1991 to accomplish this monumental task. My data includes information found in Frederick Dryer’s: A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion; War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies; The History of Linn County Missouri; The History of Sullivan County Missouri; A History of Northwest Missouri; Shiloh: Bloody April by Wiley Sword; and the veteran's memoirs and officer's reports found in the National Archives . This website is dedicated to the memory of the gallant men of the 23rd Missouri.
As you navigate this website you will find links to assist you in obtaining more information about the service history of the 23rd Missouri with veteran testimonies, photographs and links to county historical societies, battlefield sites and other civil war historical information services. Many people have submited photos to me. I am in particular need of photos for the following; Colonel Jacob T. Tindall, Lt. Col Jacob Smith, Lt Col Quinn Morton, and Major Jacob Trumbo. If anyone has a photo or can direct me to a sourch, I would be most appreciative!
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The veterans of the 23rd Missouri deserve to have their story told. They were participants in some of the most significant events during the Civil War. In this photograph is PVT William H.C. Gooch, his brother Pvt Thomas Gooch and their friend Pvt Richard Ogle. They were in Company "F". This CDV was taken in the summer of 1862 while they were on parole after their capture at Shiloh and while awaiting exchange at Benton Barracks in Saint Louis Missouri. Pvt Thomas Gooch wrote over 50 letters home describing every day life in the regiment. My family donated those letters to the State Historical Society of Missouri, and they are kept in the Western Historical Manuscript Collection (file #108) at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Most people looking at this page may not have much information to provide but every little bit helps develop a story line for the book. For example: The 23rds first commander, Colonel Jacob Tindall was killed at the Battle of Shiloh. Most of the regiment was captured, sent to Confederate POW Camp Oglethorpe at Macon Georgia and later parolled to Benton Barracks, St Louis Missouri to await exchange. While there, a mutiny occurred by parolled Iowa troops when the 23rd's acting commander, Lt Col Quinn Morton, was provost over paroled troops and tried to put them to work in violation of their parole. Colonel William Robinson was appointed the 23rds commander when the regiment was exchanged. He was tasked to provide security for the railroad bridges heading to the southwest of St Louis. During this assignment he received a court martial for refusal to ensure the execution of an arrest warrant for a run away slave in Franklin County Missouri. |
The 23rd Missouri would not have existed had it not been for Jacob T. Tindall. Jacob Tindall was a 36 year old attorney from Grundy County Missouri. He served in the War with Mexico in 1847 as a Sergeaant Major and as an elected member of the Missouri House of Representatives. When the Civil War broke out, the State of Missouri was torn; with the current Governor and many elected officers declaring allegience to the Confederacy. The only way the State of Missouri could succeed from the Union was by changing the Missouri Constitution. This required a "Constitutional Convention". Jacob T. Tindall was a member of the Convention and chairman of the military affairs committee.
The Missouri Constitutional Convention (1861-63) was a constitutional convention in the American Civil War that decided that Missouri stay in the Union and also evicted the elected governor to create a provisional government during the war. The exiled state legislature gathered in Neosho in October of 1861 to pass an ordinance of secession. On the basis of this ordinance the Confederate Congress admitted Missouri as the 12th state of the Confederate States of America.
As a result, Jacob T. Tindall went about the task of organizing a regiment of 1,000 men from northwest Missouri to answer the call. Thus was formed the 23rd Missouri with Jacob Tindall as its Colonel. The 23rd's first engagement was at the Battle of Shiloh where Colonel Tindall was killed on April 6, 1862. Upon learning the news of the death of their convention brother, members of the fourth session of the Missouri Constitutional Convention met and approved a RESOLUTION in honor of Col Tindall. Below you will find he entire background on the convention, the Resolution adopted into the Official Journal and several testimonies on the character, esteme and honor of Jacob T. Tindall.
RESOLUTION OF THE MISSOURI CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION - DEATH OF COLONEL JACOB T. TINDALL 1862
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Colonel William P. Robinson |
William P. Robinson of Bethany Missouri was mustered and elected Captain of Company "D" September 22, 1861. Upon the death of Colonel Tindall at Shiloh, Lt Colonel Quinn Morton assumed command of the 23rd Missouri until June 7, 1862 when William Robinson was appointed Colonel and Commander of the 23rd. He served as Commander to September 22, 1864 when the majority of the regiment was sent home after the Battle of Atlanta due to the completion of three year enlistments. His prior military service included the summer of 1847 when he enlisted for the Mexican War. He was in Company E, Third Regiment, Kentucky Volunteer Infantry and was elected orderly sergeant. He fought in General Winfield Scott's Mexico City campaign and was discharged in August, 1848. Colonel Robinson was a member of the GAR, and was the first Commander of the Lieutenant T. D. Neal Post No. 124, at Bethany Missouri. He was a Master Mason, member of the IOOF and a Knight's Templar being a charter member of Bethany Commandery No. 42. |
The 23rd Missouri movements and engagements during the Civil War
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1864
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I only work on this book part time and appreciate any help provided. I am compiling data on each company and I thank the many people who have contributed. If you had an ancestor who served in the 23rd MOV and have any information about him, his service, letters, a memoir or photographs, please contact me with the information.
The National Park Service, which manages the civil war battlefields, now maintains a database and search engine for all veterans of the civil war, including 2,119 members of the 23rd Missouri Volunteer Infantry. This database only includes the name, company, rank at enlistment, rank at discharge and dates of service for each veteran. I will no longer maintain that list on this webpage however, I will maintain a database for additional information not found on the National Park Service website such as; lists of command and company staff; killed or died in service; POW lists and any other unique information about a particular soldier which may come to light. The National Park Service home page also includes instructions on how to request and obtain veteran records from the National Archives.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS SEARCH ENGINE
If you are looking for service information on a veteran contact the U.S. National Archives and request NATF Form 85 for Pension Records and NATF 86 for Military Records. The forms can be obtained at:
NATIONAL ARCHIVES MILITARY AND PENSION FORM REQUEST
Complete both forms even if you do not believe the veteran you are searching received a pension, he may have applied and been denied. The application often contains more personal information than the military records. There will be a fee if they find records.
In addition, the Missouri Secretary of State maintains an online database. This is an excellent place to begin your search . There are 1,888 names in the database for the 23rd Missouri. The database only contains a photocopy viewable on line of the muster/discharge card with dates but provides little else. If you find your veteran, use this card as a basis to begin a search with the National Archives. The search engine is found at the following website:
MISSOURI SECRETARY OF STATE SOLDIERS ARCHIVE DATABASE
Below you will find the link to the database for information not found on the National Park Service webpage. I update this information as I receive it and I need any information you can provide, personal stories, diaries, letters, photos or additional written information found in history books. There has been allot of success in locating veteran's descendants. If you provide copies of letters, diaries, photos, etc., you will be credited in the book. E-mail me and let me know what you have. Keep in mind this book is far from publication.
STAFF, PRISONER OF WAR AND DEATH LIST
Note: I receive allot of e-mail asking for generic information, most common is "My ancestor, Pvt John Doe, was in the civil war from Missouri can you tell me what unit he was in?" I only do research on the 23rd Missouri Volunteer Infantry. If you need information on a veteran not in the 23rd MOV, please contact the National Archives and Records Administration at the above link. Good luck !!
For those of you who do not know much about the 23rd Missouri Volunteer Infantry, please take a look at some of the links below. You will find the complete 23rd MOV Service History from Shiloh to the March to the Sea and the Grand Victory Parade in Washington DC! I continue to update copies of official field reports, photos and memoirs I discover. Please check often for updates!
Information on the 23rd Missouri
REGIMENTAL SERVICE HISTORY FROM THE OFFICIAL RECORDS
BENTON BARRACKS, ST. LOUIS MISSOURI
REGIMENTAL COLORS AT THE MISSOURI STATE CAPITAL
FUNERAL OF PRIVATE GEORGE LESLIE, Trenton Times May12, 2000
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Pictured here is General Benjamin Prentiss, commander of the 6th Division that manned the Union line along the "Hornets Nest" at Shiloh. This enscribed sword was presented to him "By the Officer's of the 23rd Missouri Volunteer Infantry" and is on display in the Battlefield Museum at Shiloh National Military Park . GEN PRENTISS : SHILOH BATTLE REPORT GEN PRENTISS MONUMENT AT SHILOH 6th DIVISION MONUMENT AT SHILOH THE 23RD MISSOURI AT SHILOH - Harrison County Missouri Webpage |
There are several historical organizations for descendants of civil war veterans. If your ancestor was a member of the 23rd Missouri, you may be interested in joining the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and if your veteran was a commissioned officer, you may be eligible to join the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. If your ancestor's fought for the Confederacy you may be interested in joining the Sons of Confederate Veterans of the Civil War and, if your ancestor was a commissioned officer for the Confederacy, you may be eligible to join the Military Order of the Stars and Bars .
Coming soon to St. Louis on the parade ground of Historic Jefferson Barracks: The Missouri Civil War Museum! This museum is a nonprofit educational institution dedicated to the memory of all of the men, women, and children who suffered and endured the pain of the American Civil War. The purpose of The Missouri Civil War Museum is to educate the public of the true aspects and history of the American Civil War and its relevance to the State of Missouri. The history of the 23rd Missouri Volunteer Infantry will be one of many stories told. The museum will be housed in the 15,000 sq ft Barracks Post Exchange Building which was constructed in 1905. The building faces the 1826 parade ground. Jefferson Barracks is second only to West Point for the number of historical US military leaders to have been stationed there. This beautiful building is on the National List of Historic Places. During the restoration of this building to convert it into a museum, donors will be able to purchase commemorative bricks with the name, rank and unit of a Missouri civil war veteran. We hope to see many 23rd MOV veteran names on the walkway. If you wish more information on the museum, its progress or how to memorialize a veteran, click on their webpage link below.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Major Rex A. Gooch, USAF (Retired)
E-Mail: Rex Allen Gooch
February 27, 2008
All rights reserved, Copyright © 1997 - 2008 Rex Allen Gooch
