Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-04-15

JAxEs Nc0u1na, ESQ.-Dsor - :-Bo.
ing acqnalnted With Maj. J. @. Wilcox Of
.ne 9TH Iowa Cavalry, under whom yonT son
Patrick N. Mcclure served long and failh.
FULLY, and who it = supposed died in the
Rebel Hospital at Charleston, 8. O., on or
about the irst Of Nov. last, and knowing
>eur esttems anxiety for the fate Of your
son, gathered rom Maj. Wilcox such items
Of his life and character while sAoldicr, ~
: fond parent should love TO hear, and
country, in whose defence he 10 nobly
fought and died, should ever be proud Of.
! do this sir, not only ss duty owe to
yoe in common with all afflicted iathers in
our land, but to Scott County, and to Iowa,
mat the memory Of such soldiers may not
oe lost in the closing scenes Of this cruel
and unnatural war.
AS yoa are aware, Sergeant p N. Nc
CURE, enlisted at Omahs, Nebraska. % pri-
vate. and soon after Joined his regiment then
ordered to the Army fthc Cumberland un.
der Gen. Grant, and Was afterwards under
Rosecrans, passing through the many and
severe trials and marches Of those generals.
lie was soon found to be brave, faithful,
and trusty, was often sent on secret mis-
sions by his commander, carrying despatch
es through the enemies country At the peril
OF his life, meeting generally with success
IN all these expeditions.
He was made Corporal at an early day,
and promoted to Sergeantcy, in which ca
pacity he was transferred for duty to the
Qnartermaster's Department, which position
he filled when he was taken prisoner the last
time. -
He served il the battle Of Paris, Tenn, in
March 1862, and was taken prisoner while
trying to carry wounded comrade from
the field. He made his escape the follow ing
July, regAined his regiment, and was in the
battle OF the Cumberland Iron Works in
August Of that year, and also Mt Ridgen's
Hill and Ganetsburg in November following,
and at the battle Of Shelbyyille that took
place in November, 1862.
Again at the battle Of Sugar Creek, Ala
bama, the following October, he WAS placed
At the head Of . skirrnishing party, and was
the first to open the battle, which he done
with much military tactic and bravery, for
WHICH he was highly complimented by his
commander.
In December, 1863, he was sent with i'm
portant dispatches through the lines and
over tho encmy's country, to the headquar-
;crs Of his division, taking with him only
two men, brothers. by the name Of Ireland
They were surprised by party of rebels in
ambush, Is in number, and taken to the top
Of Brot Mountain, near Paint Rock, Ala.--
Here an cncampmcnt was formed. At an
unguarded moment, when his captors were
III A,.< tmksnD ne hass
horses Aome two hundred yards away, Nc
CURE sprang upon one Of the sentineIs,
wrcsted from him his gun, when the two
other boys 0verpowered the balance Of the
guard and held them at bay. A compro
mise cnsued, and it was agreed that they
should be allowed to depart without an
alarm or being reported, but no sooner had
Mcclure and his party gained . few steps
from the camp, than the rebels drew some
concealed weapons and fired upon them,
but without effect, when MCGUIRE killed two
OF them; the others ran, and securing y,
dispatches, the party made good ,.neir ca
cape, and delivered them s..,cly to the plac,
Of their destination.
In the McIook raid in Georgia, in July
1864, on the rear o. the rebel army, Nc
Guirc, with 16 others, were the las. III get
ting their horses across the river by SWIM
ming, when a party Of rebels came up0r
them, and all were captured. They wcr'
taken to Charleston. 5. c., and throw; int,
prison among thousands Of others, to suite
the horrors and barbarities that were heapet
upon so many ofour brave men.
Some time in August, 1868, while th
regiment. was cncampcd near McMinncville
Tenn, Sergeant Mct;uire was sent with ;
squad Of men to capture band Of guerrilla
who had become troublesome in the neigh
borhood. Upon the approach Of McGuir
and his party the gucrriI!as fled in every di
recuon, and McGuire, with two others. tool
after the captain, whose horse was soon sho
from under him, and he sought refuge il
the woods among the rocks, closely pursue'
by McGulre, who came up with him, and +
his dismay found both his pistols empty
Nothing daunted. he drew his sabre, am
with the pistol Of his foe presented to hi
breast, was about to rush upon him and Gu
him in pieces with his sword, when bal
from one OF his comrades passed through
the captains head.
Mcclure took from him brace Of revolv
ers and returned them to the Provost Mar
shal. who presented Mcclure with one o
them for his gallantry and daring act. Th
pistol was entrusted to Mnj. Wilcox for tn
time being, there not being eny ammunition
to fit it.
Mai. Wilcox never saw Sergeant McGuir
again, and still having the pistol in his pos
session handed it to me, that might pres
|ent it to you, rs one among the many. tro
phies, won in battles fought by your brav
boy. II is her, with transmitted.
Some time in the year 1864 commission
for Second Lieutenant was made out 70
Sergeant McGuire, which probably he nev
er received.
His last capture was at Newman, in Ga
from there he was taken to Charleston,
c., and being sick was sent 70 the Hospita
there without bearing any record Of his re
moval, and probably died there without m,
notice, with thousands Of others. His cum
rsde and some Of the officers went to N
Hospital. and used every means to ascrs
tain something concerning his death, bu
without effect.
Il. p. NJ. Mcclure, was highly esteem
cd by his superior officers for his devoted
ness to the cause In which he was engaged
his faithfulness in the discharge Of his ever]
duty, lis bold and fearless daring, and abov'
III 70 his stern unflinching integrity 70 hi
country.
Il Il the universal testimony ofboth ON
Gers and men that he Was amply qualified
"a All stations in military life, fer above hi
position, and to which in Ill probability b
would hsve been called, had his life beei
spared.
thus sir, have given some few incidents
among the many Of the acts, the devotes
principles, stern and fixsd purposes Of you
son.
/ an informed that be seldom II ever tast
"a liorOf q any kind. or was never. foun'
AMONG the low and menial in their night,
raids Tor plumber. Z.
Generous to fault, he often gave mp bi
ovn hsrse TO weary comrade, q his r
f;cns % hungry companion, and ono
came ru,, near losing his life and vas capture,
/ IN irving to bear Brother soldier, wound
- snd dviag 70 place Of safety.
I xKhsssh yoe noorn his loss, cut Of :
1. -. II ths begining Of manhood, vo'
hs,s - the alor;eas satisfaction 70 know, tha
~ at Of his military life is left TO tsrnisl
n. ~ ~ood name, and that he died in the I'll
c"cystetion ~ that the cause IN which he va
-