Period Photos of 23rd Mo
Vol Infantry Veterans
Colonel William P. Robinson
Of Bethany Missouri, 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.
Major John McCollough
Died at Rolla Oct 7, 1863 - From the book "Martyrdom in Missouri", Vol 2 by Rev. W.M. Leftwich, D.D. "The Blood of the Martyrs is the Seed of the Church", Chapter 6 the list of martyrs states: " In December, 1861, Major John McCullough, of the 23rd Mo. Reg., U.S. Vols., with two companies of his regiment, came into Milan, and remained a week foraging and subsisting on the citizens. He made a general arrest of all citizens suspected of disloyal sentiments, and required them to take an oath prescribed by himself as a condition of release. Amongst the number was Elder Caleb M. Colyear, a minister of the regular Baptist Church, who apparently fifty years old, and whose only offense was that he had a son over twenty-one years of age in the Missouri State Guard."
Pvt Otto Becker, Company F
Shown here in 1901 as a Captain, US Army Paymaster. Otto Becker enlisted in the 23rd on October 10, 1861 and was mustered on November 22, 1861. He was discharged on May 31, 1862 "to accept promotion" per S.O. #258, Headquarters, Department of Mississippi, dated June 24, 1862. He served in the Pay Department as, Additional Clerk, Regular Clerk and Chief Clerk to the pay master until he was commissioned on May 28, 1898. He became a Major and served as Additional Paymaster, U.S.V. From August 28, 1899 until August 31, 1901. He was the Chief Paymaster, Department of Matanzas, and Santa Clara in Cuba until the department was discontinued. His service was perhaps the longest of any member of the 23rd MOV having continuous service from 1861 to 1901 !!
Captain Watson E. Crandall, Company G
Watson Crandall is seen here wearing an officers frock coat, cape, M-1850 Foot Officers Sword and unusual beaver skin hat and gauntlets. Crandall was 38 years old when he enlisted as a private September 26, 1861 at Chilicothe Missouri. He was appointed Captain November 30, 1861. He was taken prisoner at Shiloh on April 6, 1862, confined at Richmond Va and parolled at Aikens Landing Va on October 12, 1862. He returned to his command on December 30, 1862. He resigned due to chronic health problems suffered as a POW on August 27, 1864. Special Order No. 115 issued by Major General Thomas "the Rock of Chickamauga" noted the cause; "Disability arising from confinement in rebel prison".Captain Crandall returned to Missouri a distinguished veteran, Master mason and pillar of his community.
1st Lt Spotwood Thomas, Company E
Enlisted in Harrison County in 1861, promoted to First Sergeant; Dec 22, 1862 and later to 1st Lieutenant, resigned July 31, 1863.
Sgt John Carter, Company F
Pvt Edward Cooper, Company C
Pvt John J. Simmons, Company F
November 1861 to October 1862, mustered out due to illness.
This photo of the Gooch brothers was taken in the 1880's. They farmed in Linn and Sullivan county Missouri. Upper left, Pvt. Thomas Gooch, Co F; Upper right, Pvt. Charles Gooch - Co F ; Lower left, Pvt. William H.C. Gooch (1839 - 1937) Co F; Lower right, Captain John Thomas Gooch (1835 - 1919) Co C, 62nd Inf, Mo Militia.
Pvt. John B. Hooker (1837 - 1917), Co F
POW at Shiloh. After the war he farmed near Mercer Missouri and received a disability pension for injuries received as a prisoner of war until his death.
Pvt. Jeremiah Hooker, (1810 - 1893)
Father of John B Hooker. Mustered out of the 23rd due to illness in Dec 1861. His son, Sgt William Hooker (1834 - 1862) Co F, 23rd MOV, was killed in action at Shiloh.
Pvt. Andrew Jackson Stinson, Sr., Co D
Pvt. John Henry Benner, Co C
Pvt. Griffith "Griffy" Vandike Company H
Born Sep 12, 1842 in Tazewell County Virginia, son of John Vandike (below), moved to Harrison County Missouri in 1844. Enrolled in Company H of the 23rd Reg't Missouri August 25, 1861. Captured at Shiloh, paroled and sent to benton Barracks, St Louis Missouri until exchange. Served as a teamster from September 1863 and was discharged at Atlanta, Georgia on Sept 22, 1864. He homesteaded after the war in Nebraska and died Oct 25, 1920 at Huntly, Harlan County Nebraska.
Pvt John Vandike, Company H
Born about 1810 in Tazewell County Virginia. At the onset of the Civil War he first joined the Grundy County Six Month Militia on Oct 8, 1861. He served until Feb 2, 1862 and was discharged at Chillicothe Mo. He was 51 years old at the time ! He then enlisted in Company H of the 23rd Reg't Missouri Infantry on July 26, 1862 at Ternton Missouri. He lied about his age and said he was 44 years old. He became sick in August of 1863 and was taken to the Marine Hospital in St. Louis. He died there on September 1, 1863 of typhoid fever. He is buried in the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis Missouri.
Pvt Joshua Lovett, Co. C
Born May 5, 1833 and died January 21, 1917. Enrolled Feb 1, 1862 for three years and kept a journal from June 14, 1864 to Dec 19, 1864.
1st Corporal Richard Goucher, Company E
Born May 12, 1827 - died Jan 13, 1911. Enlisted Aug 23, 1861 at Bethany Missouri. Taken prisoner at Shiloh for three months, served out three years service and was discharged September 22, 1864 at Atlanta He was a charter member of T.D. Neal G.A.R. Post #124.
Pvt George Leslie (1820-1895), Company B
Grundy County Missouri, taken prisoner at the battle of Shiloh, parolled and served until he was mustered out September 24, 1864 after the battle of Atlanta. He received a military funeral on May 7, 2000, 105 years after his death, when a new Civil War headstone was dedicated in the Dillon Cemetery, Grundy County Missouri .
Corporal Levi Hunsaker, Company G
Enlisted August 17, 1861, mustered September 22, 1861 and assigned to Company A as a Private. He was transferred to Company G November 1, 1861 and appointed Corporal on January 1, 1862. He was taken prisoner on April 6, 1862 at Shiloh, and parolled at macon Georgia on May 24, 1862. He returned to duty May 29, 11862 and was discharged December 30, 1864. He returned to Unionville Missouri and lived there until 1890 when he moved to Kincaid Kansas. He was struck by a train on November 29, 1899 and killed. He is burried in the Kincaid Cemetery.
Pvt. Andrew Jackson McLaughlin, Company C
Pvt. Charles Francis Mclaughlin, Company C
Copyright © 1997 - 2008 Rex Allen Gooch
