In his report of the Battle of Newtonia, September 30, 1862, General D. H. Cooper praises Capt. F. W. Miner for his service in bearing orders during that action.
There is one incident to this battle that is both intriguing and suspicious. In his report the Battle of Newtonia, Col. T. C. Hawpe, of the 31st Texas, states that during the early morning hours while the regiment was facing 9th Wisconsin Infantry (A German organization) from along the north stone wall of the Mathew H. Ritchey barnyard, an officer claiming to be from Coopers staff, cursed the men of the 31st, those on the left flank of the regiment, to cross over the wall and charge the 9th Wisconsin. This they did and were routed, causing several companies to be rendered combat in-effective. Hawpe didn't comprehend what was happening and had kept half his regiment with him, which did not charge. Hawpe went on to say that the officer was from Coffee's command. This was not possible, as during the day of September 30th, 1862, Coffees 'Southwest Missouri Regiment' was in a valley five miles south of Newtonia, organizing and electing its officers. All officers are accounted for. So who was the officer exhorting the men of the 31st Texas to Charge? A diary of an officer, a Capt in the 9th Wisconsin, who was present for the action, wrote that he heard the officer yell out over the den of battle using German slang. The diary is in high German and difficult to transcribe, but it would seem from the discription it may well have been Miner (if he was German). So who was F. W. Miner?