Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-01-30
AN UNMARKED GRAVE.
Correspondence Between an Ex-Fed-
eral and Governor Hogg.
The following correspondence explains it
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
LITTLE ROCK, ARK, Dec. 10, 1891

BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
LITTLE ROCK, ARK, Dec. 10, 1891.
Governor J. s. Hogg, Austin, Tex:
SIR-On the 4th day of October, 1862, 1
was a private soldier in the Fifteenth Iowa
volunteer infantry - Crocker'S Iowa bri-
gade-whch organization supported bat
Terry Phillips on said day at the battle of
Corinth. When Col. Rogers of the Second
Texas, rode to his death in the charge on
battery Robinett l was in position to wit
ness his gallant effort, though not particl-
pant in the struggle over the battery. 1
saw Col. Rogers go down, and afterwards
saw him buried where he fell. Recently
went over the field and visited Col. Rogers
grave, which is inClOsed by picket fence,
and is overgrown with brush and vines, but
which is in no way marked that coming
generations may know the story of his
glorious death.
''soldiered" four years, from Shiloh via
Vicksburg to Atlanta, where I lost a leg,
and saw much of the war in the West, and
naturally have been an interested reader of
war history ever since, and now, in the
calm of after years, I cannot recall Drawer
act in peace or war than Col. Rogers per-
formed on that memorable 4th of October,
1862, when, with flag in hand, he rode at
the head of his men DER the path of glory
which led but to the grave. There at the
grave I repeated Gray's 'Elegy." How
true, how true!
Governor this preface is longer than the
letter l intended, but you know how hard
it is for old soldiers to "cut it of Z" when
once they get to talking war. My object in
writing you is to call your attention and
through you the attention OF your historical
society, if you have one, to the fact that
some lasting mark should be placed at the
grave of this man to commemorate not only
his sacrifice to duty as q soldier, but that
the coming generations may have their at
tention called to the valor of American
soldiepF in the early and formative days of
our.aovernment.
&feel sure that should YOU appoint COM.
fmittee to receive subscriptions and super
intend the erection Of a suitable monument,
the boys who wore the blue would join
with those who wore the gray in doing
honor to this brave man. Let the S tone be
erected TO Commemorate the Valor of
American Soldiery,n and let it tell the
story of Col Rogers ride to death. l am,
governor, very respectfully,
It is indorsed as follows by Governor
Eagle:
LITTLE ROCK, ARK, Dec. 16, 1891.
1 most heartily indorse the spirit and
words of this letter. Too much could not
be said of the gallanCry of Col Rogers.
However, thousands of others as brave as
he fell in the same cause. The South has
not remembered her Confederate dead as
she should have done. It would be a befit-
ting thing for ex-Confederates to mark the
resting place of Col. Rogers in an appro-
pirate way.
Mr.. Davis is connected with the pension
bureau. Respectfully,
JAMES p EAGLE.
AUSTIN, TEX, Jan. 6, 1899.
A, c. Davis, Esq, Little Rock, Ark.
DEAR SrR-Absence from the city on an
official visit to the state penal and chart
table institutions is the reason l have to
offer for this delayed answer to your very
touching. courteous favor of the 10Th of
Desember, advocating the erection of
ssnssEnment to Col. Rogers of the Second
Texas, who rode to death in a charge on
battery Robinett at the battle of Corinth
the 4th of October, 1862
Coming, as the suggestion does, from one
who wore the blue" and carries battle
scars of the war, it conveys sentiment
sublime and touching to contemplate.
Though 1 am AN offspring of peace, and
for that reason had nothing to do with the
war, yet my father, a acknowledgements
died also at Corinth on the Confederate
side. Ny childhood memories of him,
therefore, are revived by your generous re-
marks on Col. Rogers.
If we had more of the old soldiers who
faced the missiles of death in the last war
to speak out in expression of their admira-
ton of the valor of both sides, and had less
from those who were ''camp followers and
''home guards during the struggle, who
only fight battles in time of peace, there
would be less bitterness in our memories
and more Justice TO the valiant dead than
seems possible under existing conditions.
1 shall call the attention of some of our
xConfederates to your splendid, welcome
letter, in full confidence that the chivalrous
men Of the lost cause viii not permit the
magnanimous suggestion of brave Union.
soldier to go further in commemoration u
the heroic deed OF Col Rogers than their
sSshfrosity in erecting monument to his
memory.
Should you ever visit Texas l hope you
will honor me with personal visit, when I
shall be proud 10 present you to our people
as man who can rise above the bitterness
of the past and do justice to the prowess
and memory of fallen foe. Your obedient
servant, ]. S. HoGe.