The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-10-17
HONOR THE BRAVE.


Major j. NJ. bowler and His War
Record.
To the Editor:
Permit me to say few words of intro
duction in favor and honor of your candi-
date for congress, Maj. J. NJ. Bowler,
resident and farmer of Bird Island, in
Renvile county.
The major was not a bandbox soldier
which is the case with too many of our
political titled patriots, who waited for
commission to stimulate their patriotism
to sticking point, before they could realize
that the country needed their services.
In connection with this, will state that
the Sd Minnesota infantry was captured at
Murfresboro, Tenn, and was taking part
in the Indian campaign in 1862, voluntarily,
as ''paroled prisoners of war" Mr.. Bowler
enlisted as a private soldier in September,
1861, in the Sd Minnesota infantry for i'm
mediate service at the front, and, upon
organization of his company, e." APP
polnth 4th corporal, and for faithful SER
vice was soon after promoted to a SER
geant, and in that capacity commanded his
company in the battle of Wood Lake,
fought on Sept %, 1862, against the hostile
savages under Little Grow, resulting in the
release of several hundred unfortunate cap
tves from worse fate than death itself.
To give you an idea of the material the
major is composed of, will quote from the
graphic account of the battle of Wood
Lake written in 1886 by Hon. E. T. Cham
plain and read at regimental reunion.
Mr.. Champlain, after relating how the Sd
boys were nearly surrounded by the saw
ages closing in upon them in a semi-crcle,
says:
"The reserve about faced, and the skir-
mishers on the right came running in on
the reserve. Sergts. Mcdonald and Bowler
on the left kept the line of skirmishers
steady, fighting their way back to
the reserve. The battle from this point
about one mile from camp, back over the
line we had just moved over, was disor-
dered and Independent, each man doing his
best to keep the overwhelming savages
from closing in upon u.s. Little Crow
Selling the advantage our retreat gave him,
endeavored to cut US off from support, but
our fire was too hot for them. Our line
of retreat was down a descent to creek
we had crossed with rolling hills on either
side, and here was pandemonium itself.
With Indians to the right of us, Indians
to the left of us, Indians behind u.s.
charging and yelling. Crossing the stream
a stand was made on the plateau between
it and camp, and here, joined by the COM
pany Of Renville Rangers, the tight was
kept up for an hour longer. = During
our retreat every man seemed possessed
with the idea that he was a commander
Brave Maj. Welsh (who was severely
wounded), did all that a man could do at
such a time. to hold the men in line
Above the din of musketry and war
whoops Of the Indians l remember the
hoarse, strong voice of Sergt. j. NJ Bowler
roaring like mailman: Remember Muir
freesboro! fight, boys fight! remember Muir
freesboro! Sergt. Bowler received merited
promotion to the captaincy of his COM
pany and in 1865 to the rank of major
The major has lots of the courage and pa
triotism of 1861 left in him yet, and II
elected will defend the people the same as
he did on our Western prairie in 1862, and
in the South throughout the war, and
every old soldier in your district should
deem it privilege to have an opportunity
to vote for deserving soldier comrade.
Yours very truly, OLD SOLDIER.
Mankato, Oct. 8.