Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1905-10-12
Last of Nine Heroic Brothers Dead

Last of Nine Heroic Brothers Dead.
The last of nine brothers, eight OF
whom gave their lives to their coun-
try on the battlefelds of the civil
war, Nathaniel w. Failing, was bur
led yesterday, his death being indi-
rectly caused by terrible wounds he
received while fighting by the side OF
his brothers at bloody Chickamauga'
says the Chicago Record-Herald.
1t is probable there was no other
Union or confederate soldier who had
a record like that of Nathaniel Fail
ing. Born at Little Washington, Pa,
in 1886, he, with eight brothers, en-
listed in the Union army on the same
day in April, 1861, at fredericksburg,
Ohio, where Nathaniel was employed
at the cooper trade. The ages of the
brothers ranged from 10 to 40 years
William, the eldest, was the father
of thirteen children.
The brothers gave up their lives in
the following battles: John, at Fort
Donelson, Tenn, in February, 1862;
James, at Pea Ridge, Ark, March,
1862; Daniel, at Shiloh, April, 1862;
Louis, at Corinth. Miss, October,
1862; Henry, at Gettysburg, July,
1868; Morris, Joel and William, at
Chickamauga, September, 1868.
A few days before his death Mr..
Failing in an interview told the story
of his life He suffered great bodily
pain, but his mind was as clear as to
dates of battles as if the occurrences
he related happened but a week ago.
There was no other family that
sent nine brothers to the war OF the
rebellion" he said. SAT least | never
heard of any. have talked with hun
dreds of old comrades whom | met at
Grand Army encampments and none
of them ever heard of so
many brothers being killed in
the war. At the battle of Chicka.
manga, where Thomas, Joel and Will
lam were killed, was at their side
when they fell. was terribly wound
ed there, both legs being pierced by
bullets, also both hips, the right shoul.
der and right hand. / lay on the field
for a day and night praying that !
might die and be relieved of my suf
fering.
"On March 10, 1864, was ordered
to leave the hospital at Nashville, and
| was sent to the hospital at Column
bus, Ohio, where | stayed until | was
mustered out in June. 1865.
Il went back to the old home in
fredericksburg, from where the boys
enlisted, only to find that my father
had moved to a little mining town
near McKeesport, Pa, on the Monon-
gahela river. He was living with one
of his daughters, Mrs. William Hart.
lily mother had died, was told, be-
fore father moved away.
II was still walking on crutches
when l reached my sisters home.
Father was sitting in a rocker when
| hobbled in, wreck of my former
self. | was so changed that he did
not know me. My sister was out.
Giving me his own easy chair, father
at once asked me what regiment
was with. When / told him of the
battle of Chickamauga he sprang to
his feet and wanted to know if | had
met his four sons-Morris, Joel, Will
liam and myself. He had mourned us
all as dead, having read the list of
killed, in which our names were in
cluded. When | made myself known
to him he wept for JOY.
Returning to fredericksburg, was
married in March, 1866, and lived
there three years, working at the
coopers trade. | then moved to Elm
Grove, Dewitt county, Ill. From there
| went to Clinton, H., and then moved
to Springfield in 1881. lived in
Springfield until about two years ago.
| worked for the Illinois Central Rail-
road company for twenty-five years"
Besides the battle of Chickamauga,
Mr.. Failing took part in the battles OF
Bull Run, the five days siege at Muir.
freesboro and at Carnifax Ferry.
He enlisted in the Second Ohio In
fantry and after three months service
was transferred to Company C, Thir
teenth Ohio.
Saw the Monitor at Work.