Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-04-19
How Mcpherson Died

In an article published IN the HERALD
of March 20 containing selections from
the correspondence Of Gen. ". q.
Gresham and Dr.. Geo. w. Eastman,
surgeon on Gen. McPhcrson's staff,
reference was made to the death of
Mcpherson on the 9th of July, 1864.
The following statement concerning
his death, made to the staff surgeon and
now in his possession, is undoubtedly
reliable. 1t has never before been pub
lished:
Statement Of Geo. I. Reynolds, CT. D
10Th IOt0G Infantry, mho s0as Nth
Gen. James b. Mcpherson Uhen he
died July %, 1864.
When the battle began was one of
the brigade-provost-guard and was
posted about fifty yards in the rear of
the regiment. A few minutes after the
commencement of the fight another reg
iment came in and took position between
me and my regiment The line being
hard pressed it retreated off to my left
but the first l knew of the change of
our lines was when | saw the rebel line
advancing from the direction where our
lines had been. AT this moment l was
wounded through the left elbow and
Immediately afterwards my gun was
snatched from my left hand by a rebel
soldier who ordered me to the rear. |
went to the rebel rear and got out of fire
as best | could-the rebel line still advanc-
ing | staid there about five minutes,
when, seeing no guard near,I concluded
to try to make my way to our lines.
| had gone about Il quarter of mile
when | came to ravine heavily tim
bered. | took my way up it and when
| had gone about two hundred and fifty
yards, being then at the head of the
ravine, l came suddenly upon union
officer lying upon his right elbow and
evidently dying. / went nearer and
saw it was Gen. Mcpherson. / asked
him if could do anything for him. He
I tried to talk but could only mutter
something which could not understand.
He was shot through the left brest, the
ball | think ranging towards the small
of the back. He was in great agony
and rolled about on the ground and
groaned dreadfully and when he died
/ his head was in the opposite direction
| from that in which / fonnd him. After
| had been with the General about
twenty minutes, George Forlon. 9th
Illinois Infantry came up and presently
/ three other Hnion soldiers whose names
and regiments | did not learn. Almost
the same moment five rebel soldiers
came up and took the three union
soldiers prisoners who came up last,
leaving me and Forlon with the General,
we being wounded and unable to
march. One of the rebels took the
Generals watch and dispatches and
left Immediately, seeming to be in
great hurry. The general raised him.
self upon his left elbow while the rebels
took his watch and papers and then
fell back and expired. Forlon proposed
that we should take the Generals val
uables and give them to one of his staff
We got his pocket-book, compass, two
pocket knives, some keys, gold medal
and two gold chains. just after we had
taken the things union soldier came
up who belonged to some pioneer corps
I believe he said the 3rd Division 18th
army-corps.) Forlon proposed to count
the money and take each others
names so there would be no difficulty
about it. The pioneer who had just
come up proposed that we should
divide the money. Forlon and l both
said we would not do such thing for
the world But the pioneer had taken
the pocket-book into his hand and was
counting the money when he made the
proposition to divide and when he saw
we would not do it he grabbed the
money and ran away and was out of
sight in an instant leaving the pocket
book and few small bills, the gold
chains and the medal, which | gave to
one of the Generals staff. | believe it
was Major Willard After the man ran
away we left the General and came
down the road towards our line and
met one of the Generals staff to whom
l gave the information of the Generals
death. They got an ambulance inn
medately and Forlon and l went back
and showed them the Generals body.
/ GEORGE |. REYNOLDS.
Co d. 10Th Reg't Iowa Vol. Unfit.