Joseph Stickels, Medal of Honor Recipient

STICKELS

Posted By: Donna Sloan Rempp (email)
Date: 6/13/2016 at 20:13:46

Silent City’s Honored Secret
Monroe’s Medal of Honor Recipient by Dennis H. Black
In early April 1865, President Abraham Lincoln let it be known to the commanders of the Union Army that it was time to “press” the Confederacy, and force Robert E. Lee and other commanders of gray armies to their knees. To match the progress of events in Virginia, an accelerated initiative was directed in South and Central Alabama.
Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley remained as the outer defense for Mobile, Alabama, and should they fall, the City of Mobile would fall as well. With a four-to-one advantage, Union soldiers under Major General of Volunteers Edward Richard Sprigg Canby, prepared for the assault.
Joseph Stickels, a member of Company “A”, 83rd Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, was no neophyte to the action that was soon to take place. He had been seasoned in numerous battles, and along with comrades, anticipated the great Civil War that divided the nation was soon to end. The challenge of Company “A” was to aid in the fall of Mobile, and Fort Blakeley stood in the way.
Joseph Stickels was born in Butler County, Ohio, on November 15, 1843. Nothing is known of his life during his youth, and only meager accounts of his experiences in the Civil War are contained in Official War Department records.
On August 13, 1862, at the age of 19, Stickels met the call-to-arms by enlisting with Company “H”, 83rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The Regiment was organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, in August of 1862. The Regiment would perform an integral role in fourteen major battles in Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Alabama, including both the Siege of Vicksburg on May 18, 1863, and the second assault of Vicksburg two days later.
On November 3, 1863, Joseph Stickels was among a number from the 83rd Regiment captured by the Confederate Rebels at Carion Crow Bayou in the Battle of Grand Coteau, Louisiana. According to War Department records, as a prisoner of the Confederates, Stickels was incarcerated at new Orleans, La. In an exchange of prisoners between the North and South, he received his freedom on Christmas Day, 1863, after having served 53 days as a Prisoner of War.
On January 1, 1864, Joseph Stickels transferred to Company “A”, 83rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteers. Little is documented for the year, other than military action of his Regiment at Sabine Cross Roads, La., on April 8; Cane River, La., April 23, and Governor Moore’s Plantation, La., May 2. However, it can logically be assumed that Stickels contribution to the campaigns against the Confederacy in fourteen major battles was substantial, as he quickly advanced, gaining the rank of sergeant on September 1, 1864. The honor and inherent responsibility was short-lived as he was “reduced” back to Private on October 11.
Joseph Stickels was soon to see action that would place him in the annals of military history’s chosen few. The stage was set with President Lincoln’s order to “press” the Confederacy. Major General of volunteers Edward Canby proceeded with the assault on Fort Blakeley on April 2, 1865. The battle for Fort Blakeley continued for a week, with significant casualties on both sides. The military operation culminated on April 12, with the surrender of Mobile. Major General Canby and his Volunteers received personal acknowledgement from President Lincoln for their success in the capture of the two Forts, the City of Mobile, and the resultant dominion over Mobile Bay.
A turning point in the battle for Fort Blakeley occurred on April 9, when Joseph Stickels succeeded in capturing the Confederate flag and colors from the Fort itself. A detailed description of the specific act is unfortunately absent from War Department documents. However, historically the Rebels had always intensely protected their flags and colors, and to confront them with the intent of claiming their identity would be met with fierce resistance.
For this act of heroism during combat, on June 8, 1965, Joseph Stickels was awarded our nation’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor. Subsequent to his recognition, Stickels was mustered out of the Union Army at Galveston, Texas, on July 24, 1865. Records identify the fact that his rank as sergeant had been reinstated by the time of official discharge.
Joseph Stickels returned to his native homeland in Butler County, Ohio. On October 31, 1867, he married Theresa Jane Meredith in Bethany, Ohio. She was 18 years of age; Joseph was 24. With some credibility, it can be stated that Theresa J. Meredith had Iowa “roots”, as Mary A. Meredith a Jasper County resident, attended the wedding. Her relationship to Theresa is unknown.
Shortly after their wedding, Joseph and his bride moved to Iowa, and settled in Monroe. Joseph was of ill health, and in official documents attributed his condition to the “ravages of war”. Although he had identified his occupation as “farmer” prior to the war, after discharge his notation on documents list his occupation as “light labor”. As time passed in Monroe his health worsened, and after seven years in Iowa, in 1874, he and Theresa left Monroe, moving to Quincy, Adams County, Illinois.
While in Quincy, Joseph was employed as an Express Messenger. On November 24, 1875, Theresa gave birth to their only child, Harry Elmore Stickels.
With continued deteriorating health, on November 29, 1876, Joseph appeared before the Adams County Clerk of Court in Quincy and petitioned for declaration of status as a war “invalid”. According to record, he “became entirely disabled from obtaining his subsistence by manual labor by reason of his injuries.” Joseph claimed total disability from “chronic diarrhea, and disease of the throat and lungs, resulting from exposure and hardships incident to his duty while serving (the Union) at Morganza Bend, Louisiana.”
Joseph Stickels died one week after his declaration of total disability, on December 6, 1876. His wife, Theresa was now a widow at age 27. Their son, Harry, was one year and thirteen days old.
Joseph Stickels was laid to rest at Silent City Cemetery, Monroe, Iowa. His white, sandstone grave marker is in the shadow of a giant spruce tree, row three, approximately 50 feet inside the main (north) entrance. The stone is emblazoned with the inscription, “Gone But Not Forgotten”. Proper recognition of his accomplishment as a recipient of our nation’s Medal of Honor and his personal sacrifices in the line of duty to maintain the Union will ensure that objective is met. In addition, his headstone carries a loving, touching message from a bereaved wife and infant son: Farewell dear Husband, Father In they bright home be free Thou canst not come gain to us But we may come to thee.
Theresa and her son, Harry Stickels, remained in Monroe following Joseph’s death.
According to a Jasper County Certificate of Marriage, dated November 25, 1880, Theresa remarried to Reece Townsend. She died May 21, 1918, at her home in Jefferson, Greene County, Iowa.
The Medal of Honor, often incorrectly referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor, is our nation’s highest award to military servicemen for combat action “above and beyond the call of duty” during wartime. Since adopted by an act of Congress during the Civil War on July 12, 1862, the Medal of Honor has been awarded 3, 420 times. There are 194 men presently living who are recipients.
Joseph Stickels is one of 89 Iowans known to have received the Medal of Honor. Forty-one are known to be buried in Iowa, with two of these placed in final resting in Jasper County. Edward James Bebb, Medal Honor recipient, is buried two miles south of Lynnville in New Salem Cemetery.
The complete life of Joseph Stickels is known only to the Creator. The fragments of fact available from thorough research of public documents is only enough to develop this brief sketch of his being. Therefore, anyone with information of Joseph Stickels, such as diaries, letters, documents, photographs, or knowledge of this man or his descendants, should kindly step forward to assist in further entrenching his deserved place in our nation’s military history.
The Veteran’s Administration has available a special grave marker for Medal of Honor recipients. If relatives or descendants cannot be located, then a local initiative should be considered to appropriately mark and dedicate the grave.
Please contact Dennis H. Black, Box 1271, Newton, 50208, or call (515) 527-3172 (Lynnville), or (515) 792-9780 (Newton), with any information.
About the Author: Dennis H. Black is Director of the Jasper County Conservation Board, and a member of the Iowa House of Representatives, District 58. He has authored many historical papers on Jasper County’s pioneers and heritage. Information for this report was obtained from documents in the libraries of the State Historical Buildings in Des Moines and Iowa City. In addition, William (Bill) Ponder, Jasper County Genealogical Society, provided War Department Pension Records which proved to be an invaluable aid.
Source: Monroe Legacy; Thursday, 21 July 1994, page 1