The discussion started with a simple question about photographs but like most topics posted here, it took on a life of its own and grew.
On May 27, 2008 Mr. Terry Wilson stated that he had located 5 names and an unknown soldier. I just assume Mr. Wilson was meaning he had located the gravesites at the St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery just north of Beaufort.
If Mr. Terry Wilson is still on board I would greatly appreciate the names of those he had identified.
Kirby Ross identified the men murdered with Major Wilson as being;
Wm. Scaggs, of Perry County, Mo.; Wm. C. Gratz, of Pike County, Ill.; Wm. W. Goley, of Pike County, Mo.; and John W. Shew, of Pike County, Mo.
Kirby also stated that the bodies of these men were all buried near Washington, Mo., by members of the Enrolled Militia, by order of Gen. Pike, and this seems to fit Mr. Wilson’s assertion that they are buried at the St. John’s Cemetery (which is between Beaufort and Washington).
Of course it is the confirmed names and burial place that I am, and have been, interested in for some time now. This is the list of names I have taken from the monument erected here in Louisiana as a memorial to the men involved in this incident. The names are as listed two on the east, two on the north and two on the west, the south (front) being reserved for information regarding who erected the monument.
On the east side:
John W. Shew, Company I, 3rd MSM
William C. Grotts, Company I, 3rd MSM
On the north side:
Walker W. Gourley, Company I, 3rd MSM
William F. Evans, Company I, 3rd MSM
On the west side:
William W Skaggs, Company K, 3rd MSM,
Hollow Oley, Company K, 3rd MSM.
This monument was erected in 1884 by the Major James Wilson Post #20 G.A.R. Department of Missouri.
Kirby, I would never question anything you say concerning the war in Missouri, I just want to run this by you because of a long held belief of many here in Louisiana that the men killed with Major Wilson are buried within the circle where the monument stands because they were “home town boys”. This belief may be held because their names are displayed on the base of the monument.
My big question is this: Does it seem reasonable to transport the bodies from almost the Arkansas line approximately 130 (straight line) miles to Beaufort rather than just finishing the journey and bringing them on home for burial?
Kirby you have assisted me in the past with Captain George Herring, if you recall he was killed near St. James and his body was brought back home for burial and I just assumed these boys received the same treatment.