The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02


Lieutenant, from which 1 was mustere1
out on July %. 1868. for promotion to
Major of the. list West. Tenn. Infantry
of African Descent" in which rank ]
was mustered in at Memphis. Ny service
in the battery was for just Is months
to the day, and IN the latter regiment.
later officially called the seth L. S. Col.
Inf. Vol, two and onc-half years, plus
two days, making continuous service
of 1906 days in three commands. In the
latter regiment was soon raised to the
rank OF Lieutenant Colonel. Cur final
muster-out was on JAM 81. 1866. If a
fun history of service was to be written
many things should be said that are
omitted.
Early in May, 1866, 1 was elected. in
my absence. to supsrintend the small
United Brethren Sunday School in the
vicinity of my country home. Had ]
been present / would have declined the
honor on the spot. On the 18th of the
following December uS66l was elect
cd president of the Sunday School As
ISOLATION OF my Township. and the next
May GS6O was chosen Secretary of
my County (Crawford) in the Ohio Sun
day School Association. Since Dec. l6
1866, named above, 1 have held posi-
ton continuously in the Ohio Sunday
School Association. having been general
secretary Of the State Association from
and Vice President or q member of
the Executive Committee every other
year since. I was also Superintendent
of the Misunderstanding Department -
years and was Il member of the Execu-
tive Committee of the International
Sunday School Association Is years.
1850. i am at present the oldest in
continuous service in the organized Sun
day School work in the wide world eX-
cepting only Brother William Smith. of
Kingston. y. y. who. While j WAS in the
army and at the front. was beginning
his Sunday School career. Since May.
1877. / have been General Secretary of
the Sunday School Board of my denom-
nation with countrywide and even
near 100000 miles in Sunday School
work, and-crossed the ocean twice. once
to the Holy Land, and yet have never
seen a wreck on land or a storm at sea:
so near has my Lord always been to me
to keep me.
But what of all this? 1 am not old.
Scventy-fivc years is not a long time
first century. j am still having great
joy in service. Your comrade Robert
Cowden, Dayton, Ohio.
This brief sketch does not more than
hint at the unusual services to his coun-
try rendered by Comrade Cowden. His
long service under the banner of the
Prince of Peace has obscured or rem
dered forgotten services of the highest
courage, fidelity and ability at a time
when the call Of duty meant war and
battle. When Comrade Cowden accept
ed a commission in 4 negro regiment ii
was done in the same missionary spirit
that has dominated him ever since. In
addition to fighting for his country he
wanted to be an instrument in helping
raise the slaves TO the plane of freed
men. and service in the army was the
best method of infusing into them true
manhood. The 59th U. S. c. IT. was
regiment OF exceptionally good record
and at the disas. rc.is fight and retreat
on the Guntown expedition it covered
itself with glory by the mistaken cour-
age with which it brot up the rear. re-
polling every attack of the savage pur-
suers under Forrest. Comrade Cowden
then commanded his regiment with the
rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and there
are frequent mentions of him in the
official reports for his gallantry and
steadfastress. He carried into the bat
tie 81 officers and 577 men. OF these
three officers and 143 men were killed.
wounded, and missing. He formed line
of battle five times during the retreat
to check the enemy, and at the last was
severely wounded in the hip and COM
PEELED TO be left behind when the regi-
ment fell back. AT that time it was
certain death for an officer of colored
troops to be captured, and he sue
ceeded in getting horse, upon which
he escaped. Col. Cowden finds time
amid his pressingwork in his special
field to keep in close touch with his
comrades and especially with the gal
liant members of the regiment to which
he belonged.