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Grand Army of the Republic
William D. Price Post 392

Information on GAR Post 284, Sac City, Commander J. E. Armstrong (offsite).

HISTORY

Wm. D. Price Post No. 392, G. A. R., was organized in June, 1885.  In the spring of that year Messrs. Montgomery, Edson, Searle and Mill made a canvas among the old soldiers of Schaller and vicinity preliminary to the organization of a post.  Early in June a meeting of the "old vets" was held in Hudson's hall, at which time sixteen ex-soldiers signed a petition to the Department Commander asking for a charter to organize a post at Schaller, and also requested that a mustering officer be sent here for that purpose.

The charter members were:
A.  P. Searle
A. H. Montgomery
_____ Gardner
John O'Leary
Michael O'Leary
P. L. Edson
J. M. Sears
W. H. Reese
Martin Sheley
Sam'l Monroe, G. W. Pippinger, W. E. Mill, C. W. Sipes, J. H. McCleary, B. A. Williams, Geol. W. Hagler.


The first officers elected were as follows:
Commander, A. H. Montgomery
S. V. C., J. M. Sears; J. V. C., M. O'Leary; Q. M., J. H. Walker; Surgeon, C. W. Sipes; Chaplain, G. W. Pippinger; O. D., W. E. Mill; O. G., W. H. Reese; Adjutant, P. L. Edson; Q. M. S, Martin Sheley; Ser. Maj., B. A. Williams.


The installation was conducted by Commander P. H. Hankins, of Sac Post, who was detailed as mustering officer, assisted by Comrades Schaller, Jones and Day, of Sac Post No. 284.

The commanders since the organization of the post are:  A. H. Montgomery 1885-86-87; A. P. Searle 1888; Wm. Patterson 1889; J. M. Sears 1890; W. E. Mill 1891-92; A. H. Montgomery 1893; C. A. Low 1894-95; G. W. Johnson 1896.  Mr. Johnson was re-elected as commander for 1897.

MEMBERS OF THE POST

The roster of the post shows an enrollment of forty members since its organization, some of whom have removed to other localities.   Below we give the names of the members of the post and a brief sketch of their war record:

Arthur H. Montgomery, A 142 N. Y. Vol., enlisted at Ogdenburg, N. Y., July 8, 1862, at 18 years of age.  Took part in the battles of Suffolk, Va., Ft. Wagoner, S. C., Petersburg, Chapin's Farm, Drury's Bluffs, Va., Ft. Fisher, N. C., and John's Island, S. C.   Wounded May 16, '64 (three wounds); commissioned 1st Lieutenant Feb. 17, 1865, after serving 2 years and 6 months.

A. P. Searle, F S Ill. Cav., enlisted at Evanston, Ill., at the age of 19.  In the battles of Williamsburg, Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, 2d Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Barber's Cross Roads, Gettysburg, and some 18 or 20 others.

Geo. W. Johnson, enlisted in Co., K., 23 Wis. Vol. Inf., as sargent [sic], at Prairie du Sack, Wis., Sept. 1862, at the age of 26; was in 16 battles, wounded and taken prisoner at Sabine Cross Roads, April 8, 1864; was in the sieges of Vicksburg and Mobile.

L. A. Cobb, enlisted in C 14 Ill. Cav., at Rock Island, June 29 [may be 26], 1862, at the age of 14-1/2 years, was in 22 engagements among which were Peach Tree Creek, Knoxville, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta and Sunshine Church.  Also enjoyed (?) the hospitalities of Andersonville for four months and 14 days.

John Gulliford, enlisted in C 20 Wis. at Boscobel, at the age of 25; was at Prairie Grove, Vicksburg, Ft. Morgan, Spanish Fort, and through Texas, during which time he received a sunstroke from which he has never recovered.  Was in the service three years.

W. M. Mill, enlisted in K 17 Ill. Vol. Inf. at Rockford, Jan. 2, 1864, at the age of 26.  Spent most of the time hunting bushwhackers.

C. A. Low, enlisted in A 142 N. Y., at De Kalb, Aug. 9, 1862, at the age of 21.  Was in the hospital corps, acting as steward.

C. B. Harback, K 21 Iowa Inf., enlisted at Hopkinton, Aug. 14, 1862, at the age of 32.  Was in the fight at Hartville, MO.  Afterwards transferred to K 20 V. R. C.  Discharged at Wheeling, W. Va.

W. H. Reese, bugler, H 7 Iowa Cav., enlisted at Dubuque, June 10, 1863 at the age of 16.  Was assigned to courier duty carrying dispatches among Indians.

J. W. McConkey, G 107 Ill., enlisted at De Witt, Aug. 6, 1862, at the age of 16; was at battles of Franklin, Nashville, Atlanta, Lookout Mountain and Kenesaw Mountain.

Martin Sheley, C 28 Iowa, enlisted at Poweshiek county, at the age of 20 [may be 26]; was at Sabine Cross Roads, Kane River, Winchester, Fisher Hill, and Cedar Creek, where he was wounded.

Jas. H. McCleary, bugler in A 21 Penn. Cav., enlisting at Harrisburg, Feb. 8, 1864, at age of 17.  Took active part in fifteen battles.

Henry Bushman, F 115 Ohio Vol. Inf., enlisted in Stark county, in July 1862, at age of 24; was at Nashville, Murfreesboro, Franklin and several other battles.

J. M. Cree, F 1st Penn. Cav., enlisted in Greene county in Aug. 1861, at the age of 23.  Took part in the battles of Fredericksburg, 2nd Bull Run, Slaughter Mountain, and several more.

J. M. Sears, F. 15 Ill. Inf., enlisted at Freeport, May 24, 1861 at age of 23; was at battle of Shiloh and siege of Corinth.   Discharged Oct. 1862.  Reenlisted in August 1864, {?} Co. L. 1st Wis. Heavy Artillery, stationed at Ft. Willard, and mustered out July 4, 18{?}.

Wm. Patterson, K 28 Iowa, Inf., enlisted at Newton, Jasper county in 1862, at the age of 19 years; was at Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Vicksburg, Jackson, Carrion Crow Bayou, Mansfield, Kane River, Berryville and Winchester VA., at which place he was wounded.  Discharged, on account of wounds, the 27th of June, 1865.

J. H. Madison, I. 152 Ill. Vol., enlisted at Corlinville, Feb. 8, 186{?}, at the age of 21.

John O'Leary, A 53 Ill. Inf., enlisted Oct. 19, 18{?}, and served three years.

J. H. Kelly, A. 9 Iowa, enlisted Aug. 9, 1861, and served to close of the war.

Henry Clearwater, G. 107 Ill., enlisted Aug. 1, 1862.

Arthur W. Bostwick, D.105 Ill., Vol. Inf., enlisted at Warrenville, in July 1862, at the age of 21, and was discharged in July 1865.  Was in all the engagements between Chattanooga and the sea, at Savannah, and was in a number between there and Richmond. Was in the last battle of the rebellion, and at the surrender of Johnston to Gen. Sherman.  Of the 96 men who went out, but 26 came back.

A hurried review of the post records show that much good has been accomplished by the order. At nearly every meeting relief in some substantial form has been given comrades. Public interest has been kept up by public campfires and memorial exercises, at which lessons of patriotism have been imbibed by young and old. The fraternal spirit has been fostered by attending reunions, and by the custom of holding post sessions in connection with social gatherings at homes of members.

Since its organization Wm. D. Price post has lost but one member by death. On August 24, 1894, Comrade E. A. Bennett was promoted to the "army beyond the Jordan."



Source: Schaller Herald

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