Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-15
w. G. ToMPkINs, OF CLEAR LAKE,
SOLE SURVIVOR OF FAMOUS
COMPANY.
ONLY LIVING VETERAN
WHO ENLISTED THERE
Tompkins Tells Of Squad Of Twelve
Men Who Went to the Front To-
sether-Went by Team to Cedar
Falls to Eniist-Took Part in Many
Battles.

years ago last March a little squad OF
twelve men left Clear Lake for Dubu-
que to enlist in the service OF the gov
eminent, 10 offer their lives for the
preservation of the union. They were
Winslow Cassidy Tolnpkins, Caleb
Tcmpkins, Jerome cnilson, Alonzo
Chilson, James Shrine, David Shrine,
Hugh MCGOWAN, James SaNby, Edwin
Stearns, Thomas Staley, Dan Goodwin
and George Haynes. These young men
arteries of their rugged physiques were
the conduits OF the reddest of red blood,
the red blood that finds its Web springs
in the God given purity of the simple
life OF the wind swept prairies OF the
vast west. They wanted 10 die for their
country. What death is half so slori-
Gus as the death of patriot in mis-
struggle tor his country's honor!
The Sole Survivor.
OF this little band OF patriots but
one remains-Wins Cassidy Tomp-
k;2S, one of the most prominent and
wealthy citizens of Clear Lake. James
and David Shrine and Hugh MCGOWAN
We're Killed II battle, Staley and Good
win We're rejected at Dubuque and not
mustered into the service. Haynes de-
serted at Fort Hamilton, and the Chill
son brothers, the Totnpkins brothers,
SaNby and Ssearn, returned to Clear
Lake after the war, having served three
years.
Mr.. Tompkins is the only surviving
member of that little squad. and altno
ne mas rounded out a tull life of years
he IS today the picture of health and
bids tair 10 add another score Of his
honorable record as citizen, neigh
siEe republtcanism
His Enlistment.
Speaking of his enlistment. Mir.
Tonlpkins said Our squad of twelve
left Cleak Lake, May IS, 1862, and
went to Cedar Falls by team and then
ny rail- to Dubuque, where we remain
ed Tor about three weeks until our
company was organized. Staley and
GOODWIN We're rejected by the physi
Clans. The company was ordered at
once to the headquarters of the regi-
ment at Fort Hamilton New York
maroon. Arriving at Fort Hamilton
our company was ordered to Fort
Lafayette, a small fort out in the har-
Dor about 300 yards from Fort Ham
ilton. We were sent there to guard
duty over lot Of government prison-
ers. among whom was the notorious
Dennis a. Mdhoney, the copperhead
newspaper man of Dubuque. When
the company was ordered to the front
my brother and l We're among twen
ty-flve OF the detail selected to con-
unue guard duty at Fort Lafayette
we were finally detailed as part of
the crew of a dispatch boat carrying
mail and dispatches about the harbor.
Shortly after We had been assigned to
this duty I was promoted to the posi-
ton of coxswain. which held for
just one year, when we were ordered
10 join our regiment in New York
City to suppress the riots that were
caused by the draft. We We're inn
mediately ordered aboard a transport
when the riots had subsidized and ship
ped to Alexandria, Va. and from there
we went to Culpepper, Va, then the
firing line of the union forces, and IT
was there that I had my baptism Of
fire in real warfare"
Was in Many Battles.
Altho it was late in SO before Mr.
Ionpkins was under fire yet he had
his share Immediately following his in
itiation for he was in the following bat
ties: Rappahanock Station, Va, Mine
Run. Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spottsyl-
vania Court House, North Ann River,
Be1hesday Church, Cold Harbor, Pc
tersburg and Wildon Railroad. He was
captured at the last named battle, in
fact nearly the entire brigade was
taken. including the general stan. Mr..
Tompkins was at Libby, Bible Island,
Salisbury, y. c., then sent to Rich
rond for parole, placed in the Penn
berton prison. and finally exchanged
at Big Bend, on the James river, March
9, 1865, after having been a prisoner
seven months.
After being exchanged Mr.. Tomp
kins was sent to regimental head
quarters at Fort Hamilton, y. Y,
where he was taken sick with typhoid
fever, remaining there six weeks. bat
ting with the germ that is as deadly
as any missile of war. Immediately
on hi recovery he was discharged and
returned to his home in Clear Lake,
arriving in May, 1865, and has ever
since been an honored and respected
citizen of Cerro Gordo county.