The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-07-18
When the Bones Of Major
Montgomery Were Moved in 1889

The day previous to the dismissal
suggestion was made and readily as
sented to by'all Of the soldiers, to visit
the battle ground OF the Horseshoe
Bend, on Tallapoosa River, about
twelve miles distant from the encamp-
ment. 1t was also proposed to dis
inter the remains of Major Montgomery
OF Tennessee. who fell In the engage
ment. and was the only person buried
on the field. A committee Of gentle
men was despatched to discover the
grave, accompanied by q soldier who
had fought In the battle, and a negro.
who acted as drummer at the funeral
Of the unfortunate officer. The COM
mittee, after untiring search for nearly
a day, succeeded In finding the spot
which formed the sepulchre of one
whose youth had promised q rich har-
vest of after honors. About two feet
from the surface the bones were found
in state of considerable decay. The
smaller ones were missing. The .iiidi-
cation of a bullet hole through the
skull proved them beyond question to
be the remains OF Montgomery. After
depositing them In a box and replacing
them the committee returned to the
camp and made their report which was
received by the soldiers and officers
with as much eager Joy as II the de-
ceased had fought and fell In battle
by their sides.
on Thursday morning the general
and field officers, with two military
companies Of cavalry and q large con-
course of citizens, started. In regular
military order, from the town of Dud-
leyville, and about IL o'clock was
reached the field OF the Horseshoe
Bend. We spent some time In exam
lining Its situation (Which, l presume,
Is well known to all of your readers).
and in listening to the remarks of the
general officers, one Of whom gave II
as his opinion that had the Indians
fortified the bluff to the south OF the
bend. their position would have been
impregnable to General Jackson's
force, and from the appearance OF II
/ have but little doubt of the truth
Of the remark.
About Q o'clock the men were form
ed in hollow square around Mont
gomery's grave, Major Likens of Ben
ton gave us a neat and pathetic ad-
dress. and the bones were finally re-
moved from the mound which had
covered them for nearly twenty-five
years. We were then formed In pro-
cession to return General Talbot bear
ing the remains before him on horse
baek) and arrived at Dudleyville as the
declining sun illumined the horizon
with variegated rays; and as II SYM
pathizing with the duty we had under
taken and the feelings It inspired.
whilst 1t tinged the western skies with
a halo like to that glory which pictures
the last moments OF the brave Mont
gomery. It spread forth In gloomy and
melancholy shades the figures of the
surrounding objects. A neat conn
had been made during our absence. and
grave dug within few feet of the
main street. The general and other
field officers acted as pallbearers, the
band playing the dead march. The
coffin was deposited In the grave. sew
eral pathetic addresses were spoken,
a salute was fired and the scene closed.
/ have thus given you merely a
sketch of the proceedings which took
place. If possessed descriptive pow
ers I might make the relation of It In
teresting and Impressive. but in lieu
of beauty and poetry, you must take
plalness and truth.
Yours, ETC.,
Dadeville, Ala.