The National tribune., 1907-02-07
WHAT BECAME OF JOHNNY?
He Ended His Career as an EmbaIming
Fluid Exhibit.

| WHAT BECAME OF JOHNNY?
He Ended His Career rs an Embaimiug
Fluid Exhibit.
| Editor National Tribune: The veal
| 1864 found number of 10O-days' reg
| iments from Iowa down the Mississippi
River doing guard duty along the from
tiers while Sherman was gathering his
forces for his march to the sea. The
46th Iowa was in command of Col. D.
B. Henderson, of Dubuque. who few
months before had lost foot at Shiloh
as Sergeant of Co. A, 18th Iowa. The
regimental headquarters was at Col
lierville, Tenn. 25 miles east of Mem
phis, on the Charleston Railroad, while
the different companies were scattered
up and down the line. This regiment,
like many others, was composed OF
mere boys, of men too old for regular
service, and of those who had seen SER
vice in other regiments and for one cause
or another had been discharged. The
old vets always led in all army tricks;
having been thru the mill they knew
the ropes and how to pull them. In
July, 1864, a number of boys had been
out fOraging and sightseeing one day,
and among other things brot back into
camp was colored boy about IL years
old. He was very bright little chap,
not so very black, well-featured, and
appeared to be above the average col
ored boys seen every day. He said his
name was John Allen, Sir" He was
at once adopted as a member of Co.
G, and found a firm friend in Second
Lieut.. Jos. w. Cummins. He was will
ing, ready and anxious to do anything
for Co. G boys, and as he knew the
country WELL having been around there
some months, when there was any for
aging to be done after he came Johnny
was taken along as a guide. On one
such occasion the men stopped at a
farm house, when great cry was
heard from some of the women folks
at home. It seems the darky, who
loved chickens like q fox, had been
peering around and spied a big, fat
rooster, which he was trying to cap
ture when the women spied him and
mixed in the race. The women were
armed with brooms, and there was a
procession going round and round the
big. red rooster. eager darky in the rear
and the women after him screaming at
the top of their lungs, and when they
were not screaming, cussing the mig
ger" The chase ended with the cap
ture of the bird by Johnny, who kept
well out of the way of the women.
They appealed to the Captain of the
squad to have the chicken returned,
toned. "it was dis away, Capn," said
Johnny sLieut. Cummins tOle me dis
a-mornin he was plum sick of hardtack
and sowbelIy and axed me cou'd'n I
git him chick'n. / don look under de
house a vile ago and it was all dark.
but dis rooster he say 'Yo Niger can't
get me, get me. get me- When I h'ar
his voice i started under dar, an dis
rooster jes up an crow and say 'Hurra
for Jeff Davis and yo's know dat is
treason, and so jes cotch him." Did
he say that, Johnny" '"Deed he did.
Capn, and it mad me so mad" "Then
you were quite right. Johnny. He|
should be conffscated and executed.
Take him to camp and report to Col.
Henderson, said the Captain. The
women could not help smiling at the
plea of the darky, but they vowed ven
geance all the same.
When the regiment returned home,
Johnny was one of us. He was known
as "Cummins' boy" all thru Guthrie,
Dallas, Madison and Adair Counties.
Iowa. When the Rock Island Railroad
was built and the new towns of Stuart,
Dexter, and Menlo were started, Johnny
was there, and one of the boys. Be
sides being a master hand to pat juba
sing, and dance for the amusement of
his white companions, he was an adept
at boxing and wrestling. When he was
21 he went to Des Moines, learned the
trade of whitewashing, and made
money He often spoke of his mother,
who lived near Corinth, Miss, and said
his father was her master. After he
had made enough money he went
down to see her and his old associates,
making much. in true darky style. of
his prosperity. Johnnys white blood
kept him from mixing with the lower
class of colored people in Iowa, and in
Il II. col
They were q very happy cou-
ple and two children were born to
them, to whom Johnny became most
devoted father. Finally, however, John
ny took sick and died Nov. IL, 1896.
Some years later I was astonished TO see
in a Chicago paper the following no.
lice: |
"SimpIeton's Park street Museum.
"The body of John Allen, who died |
at Des Moines, Iowa, about two years
ago. Mr.. Allen was never buried. His
body was embalmed by l.. Hanback,, of
hat city, who used new fluid discov-
cry, perfectly preserving the body for
al time. The day will come when there
will be no more burials."
And there in this museum was shown
he last remains of the strong, manly
BOY of war days. He had died of heart
1sease and for some reason his body
1ad been kept for scientific reasons. 1t
ooked exactly like an Egyptian num-
ny, and was afterwards exhibited over
he country. The museums announce
nent was the first intimation his chill
lren had of the true state of things
Their white mother had also died. They
employed an attorney, and tried to re-
,over the remains of their father, but
ny impression is they never did so.
rhe body was hidden and could not be
= &c. r.tt Ill fnl
his is what became of Johnny.-Har-
non Cook, Co. C, 46th Iowa, Pasadena.