The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-08-15
For the Citizen.l
"reminiscences Of the Late Dr.. Jas.
A. Bowers.
BY RUFUS E. TRAVIS.

DR.. James A. Bowers, son of Capt
George and Mrs. Nancy Bowers, was
born in Giles county, in the yeal
1880. He began the study of medi
cine early in life, being favored with
more than ordinary educational IA
cilities, and possessing an astutC
mind. At a convenient time he en-
tered Jefferson Medical College
Philadelphia, Pa, and here gradua
ted in March, 1854. He returned
home at the close of that collegiate
year, and, in the interim of anoth.
er course, entered upon useful and
remunerative practice among the
people with whom he was reared
He had already attained the ambi-
tion of the average student of mate
ria medica, but these few years OF
practice and assiduOus application
had enlarged his ideas Of d physi-
clans sphere, and added to the ra-
ther Incidental training already had
he was therefore eager for a thor
ough and scientific course of in
struction in ophthalmics and sur
gerry. This laudable ambition was
gratifed. He entered the Ophthal-
mic hospital, New York, attending
about the same time Bellevue Hos
pital College, and graduated in the
collegiate year 1850. Pos
sessing the first order of mind, hav-
ing such superior qualifications, and
being q humane phyoician, the read
er Is well prepared 60 appreciate
his successful and brilliant career as
a surgeon in the Confederate army
from 1862 till the war was conclu-
ded.
HIS CAREER DURING THE WAR.
DIR. Bowers enlisted and entered
the army in the month of May, 1861,
going from Elkton, Tenn, as Lieu
tenant inCo., b, of the 3rd Tenn, Reg
ment. He went with his command
first to Camp Cheatham, and then
to Camp Trousdale, Sumner county,
Tenn. After this, troops were or
dered to Bowling Green, Ky, where
the Doctor was made surgeon of the
regiment he had successfully served
as lieutenant, it being part of Gen.
Buckner's Brigade. This Brigade
was soon ordered to Fort Donald
son, on the Cumbel land river below
Nashville, where many OF our south
ern heroes, with empty haversacks
and frozen garments, fought, bled,
and died; the dying finding only an
ice bed to sleep the sleep that
knows not waking, while others of
the living, whether with shattered
limb or unhurt by the showers of
lead and shell, were carried to dis
NAL dens up north, or places which
their tactics have the temerity to
call prisons.
The Confederate troops had sur
rendered Fort Donaldson. 1t was
here the Doctor shared the dangers
of the command and performed
much laborious service. Sometime
after the surrender, the DR.. went to
Gen. Grant, commanding the Fed
eral forces,a and asked for pass to 90
up the river to Dover that he might
see a Confederate Colonel, who was
there lying in a critical condition.
And taking the pass back he asked
for the names of two other surgeons
TO be added, to wit: Drs. West
moreland and Patterson, ostensibly
for help to amputate one of the
surgeons limbs, who was suffering
from a dangerous wound. The re
quest was granted and the names
added, and DR.. Bowers in due time
with his companions was aboard a
vessel which was under strict or
ders from Grant, the pass positively
forbidding their going beyond Do
yer, yet on he went till the vessel
arrived at Charlotte, from which
landing, with his companions, he
cautiously and successfully beat q
hasty retreat to the woods and
made good his escape. After he
had related the story of his escape,
SAID l, doctor, what impress
sion did Gen. Grant make upon you
during the interview about the
pass?" He replied facetiously by
saving, 'Grant treated me with due
respect, and he must have been 4
gentleman then, though they have
cot things a little mixed now"
Having escaped the clutches of the
enemy and the loathsome task of a
prisoner of war, he went to Gen. A.
Sidney johnson 5 army and pro
ceeded with that command to Cor
inth. Miss. When the army had
arrived at Corinth, he was immedi-
ately assigned 10 duty by Gen.
Johnson IN a hospital at Memphis,
and at the fall of Memphis, was as
signed TO duty in Gen. Miiler's Bri-
gade of tloridians. This Brigade
was at this period under the COM
mand OF Gen Jno. c. Brown, Mill
er having been promoted but as YET
without his commission. 1t was IN