John H. McMurray, Surgeon, CSA was born to John and Jane C. McMurray in Kentucky in the later half of 1829. He got his first taste of war and medicine at an early age enrolling and mustering into Capt Waldo’s Company A of Col. A. W. Doniphan’s 1st Regt. Missouri Mounted Volunteers on June 6 1846 at Leavenworth Kansas. This Company was organized near his home in Independence Missouri and marched June 4th to Fort Leavenworth, arriving June 6th. Though his enrollment card states he was 20 years old at the time it appears from numerous other sources he would likely have only been 17 or so. Subsequent investigation indicates he was appointed hospital steward, an appropriate non-combatant roll for his age in September, 1846 and honorably discharged June 22, 1847 at New Orleans, La. (1)
His medical career was enhanced and formalized being a student of Dr. Joseph Boggs of Kentucky, brother to Missouri Governor Lillian Boggs. Dr. Boggs located in Independence in 1847 and the young McMurray returning from the Mexican war took up his studies. The now Dr. McMurray was recognized as a quite capable physician in the community and is listed as a physician in the 1850 census in dwelling 6 Blue Township, Jackson Co.(2) (3)
A note should be made about his family at this stage because it is apparent where the McMurray sentiments lay in regards the coming conflict. Dr. McMurray’s parents were quite wealthy landowner / farmers of the area and owned a number of slaves. It appears Dr. McMurray himself may have owned as many as 4 slaves between 1850 and 1860. His younger brother Fletcher F. McMurray was a printer by trade and apparently had a thriving business in Independence by 1850. (4)
In 1860 on the cusp of the Civil War he is found still to be practicing medicine in Independence, still living with his family. Though Fletcher has married by this time to a young lady named Caroline, there is no indication that Dr. McMurray ever married. He has accumulated a bit of wealth being listed in dwelling 255, city of Independence, Jackson co, Missouri in the 1860 Federal Census.(5)
His first military experience as a surgeon is found with his enrollment with the Missouri State Guard. He was appointed Capt. (Surgeon) of the 1st Missouri Cavalry Volunteers on Dec 13, 1861. His term expired or he resigned on Feb. 24, 1862, being paid a handsome sum of $309.37 for 2 months 11 days of service. (6). Presumably, he was in Northwest Arkansas at about this time, perhaps plying his trade in the aftermath of Elkhorn Tavern. The next official recognition of his service comes on March 20, 1863 when he obtains a wall tent and a pair of boots, being charged $40.00 for the boots from the Quartermaster at Little Rock, Arkansas when he signs a receipt listing himself as Surgeon, Brook’s Regt. (7) Brooks Regt otherwise known as the 34th Arkansas Infantry had initially formed as result of Gov. Rector’s call for militia volunteers for state defense in the aftermath of Gen. Van Dorn being called to move his army east of the Mississippi in May of 1862. Brook’s Regt. was initially organized as the 2nd Regiment, Northwest Division, District of Arkansas and entered CSA service August 1862. (8)
Dr. McMurray was examined and found fit to be a surgeon on February 1 1864 by the CSA Trans-Mississippi medical board meeting at Washington Arkansas, chaired by Dr. P. O. Hooper. He was listed then as being with “engineer troops” at the time and gave his home as Independence Missouri. (9)
Further, under Special order 35 dated Camden, Arkansas Feb 4, 1864, Lt. Gen. Holmes ordered him to report without delay to Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke for assignment to duty in Kitchen’s Regiment, Greene’s Brigade Cavalry, in place of Dr. J. L. Davis who declined examination. (10) The May 1864 return for medical officers Marmadukes Division lists his post as being at Lake Village, Arkansas. He is also listed as having been left at Longview (Arkansas?) with sick. (12)
Back on the home front, on July 26, 1864 his brother Fletcher McMurray was arrested and sent to Gratiot St. Prison. He pled his innocence and reports being exempt from service in the enrolled militia due to health reasons. He apparently had 2 letters from his brother in the Rebel army which was enough to get him held. His wife Caroline (Carrie) successfully petitioned that he should be paroled on bond due to his advanced pulmonary consumption (Tuberculosis). Apparently she succeeded as Fletcher was released on bond of $1,000 on September 8th, 1864. (11)
Dr. McMurray meanwhile now attached to the 7th Missouri Cavalry was promoted to Major. Clearly called to a duty higher than himself he remained with wounded Confederate soldiers eventually finding his way to his old stomping grounds at the General Hospital Kansas City Missouri where he was “captured” on Nov 22, 1864 after or during the confusion of the Battle of Big Blue / Independence Missouri. He was subsequently placed in charge of a number of wounded prisoners and transported to St. Louis on Dec. 8, 1864. (12) He eventually gets transferred to Camp Chase, the Federal POW camp near Columbus, Ohio where he gives his written Parole of Honor to remain in camp on December 22, 1864. He then gets transferred to Fort Delaware on December 24, 1864. He is moved to Fortress Monroe, Virginia with the stipulation “to be sent south” on December 29, 1864. he was then forwarded to the Military Prison at Camp Hamilton, Va. where he was exchanged and turned over to Lt. Col. Mulford on January 6 1865. (13)
Post war little is found other than an assessment for taxes associated with an address at 37 North 6th St., Saint Louis, Mo. as of Sept 21, 1865. He owed $6.67 and is listed as a physician. (14) He appears to have died prior to the 1870 census. A memorial stone is found in Woodlawn Cemetery, Independence, Mo. (15)
References:
1) Missouri State Archives: Soldiers Records 1812- World War 1; published on line Digital Heritage; Missouri Secretary of State. Record of Service Card, Mexican War, 1846-1847 Box 57; Reel s00910 http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/soldiers/details.asp?id=S362496&conflict=Mexican%20War&txtName=McMurr&selConflict=Mexican%20War&txtUnit=&rbBranch=
2) Kansas City Missouri: its history and people 1808-1908; Carrie Westlake Whitney; SJ Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago; pg 473
3) 1850 United States Federal Census; NARA roll M432_402 page 266a; image 84
4) Ibid.
5) 1860 United States Federal Census; NARA roll M653_625 page 270; image 290
6) Missouri State Archives: Soldiers Records 1812- World War 1; published on line Digital Heritage; Missouri Secretary of State. Office of Adjutant General, Index of service records, Confederate, 1861-1865 box 107 reel s00735 http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/soldiers/details.asp?id=S403605&conflict=Civil%20War&txtName=mcmur&selConflict=Civil%20War&txtUnit=&rbBranch=
7) Papers of and Relating to Military and Civilian Personnel, compiled 1874 - 1899, documenting the period 1861 – 1865; NARA pub M347; roll 0268; McMurry J H
8) Wikipedia contributors, "34th Arkansas Infantry Regiment," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=34th_Arkansas_Infantry_Regiment&oldid=461715781 (accessed November 26, 2011).
9) Confederate Military History; a library of confederate states history; Clement Anselm Evans; volume 10; page 384 Online www.ebooksread.com (accessed Nov 24, 2011) http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/clement-anselm-evans/confederate-military-history-a-library-of-confederate-states-history-volume-10-hci/page-57-confederate-military-history-a-library-of-confederate-states-history-volume-10-hci.shtml
10) Confederate States Army Trans-Mississippi Order Book 1862-1864 Part II, Transcribed Carolyn M Bartels; Two Trails Publishing, Independence MO; pg. 365
11) Papers of and Relating to Military and Civilian Personnel, compiled 1874 - 1899, documenting the period 1861 – 1865; NARA pub M347; roll 0268; McMurry, Fletcher F.
12) Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Confederate Organizations , compiled 1903 - 1927, documenting the period 1861 – 1865; NARA pub M322; roll 0139; McMurray, John H.
13) Ibid.
14) U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918; NARA M776; Roll 9; Image 169
15) Find A Grave Memorial # 25338027
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=McMurray&GSiman=1&GScid=32371&GRid=25338027& (accessed November 26, 2011)
FWIW and maybe I'm a little nuts and protective of my fellow physicians >:)
John R