The Civil War News & Views Open Discussion Forum

The fate of Joseph W. Waton

The 1860 United States census listed Joseph W. Watson, born about 1829 in Kentucky and noted his occupation as a farmer with a personal value of $200.00 and noted he could not read nor write and listed as the head of the household and living with his wife Fannie A. Watson, born about 1830 in Kentucky. Other family household members were: Francis M. (A male) Watson, born about 1853 in Kentucky and Eleanor Watson, born about 1854 in Kentucky and Lewis B. Watson, born about 1856 in Kentucky and Henry E. Watson, born about 1858 in Kentucky and John W. H. Watson, born about 1860 and noted as five months old. The family household was living in Grant County, Kentucky and the nearest Post Office was reported as Gouge and the census was enumerated on June 19, 1860.

A Company muster-in roll dated February 8, 1862 listed Private Watson age 36 enlisting in Captain (Spelled as) Egelston’s Company of the 18th Kentucky Infantry which subsequently became Company G of the 18th United States Kentucky Infantry and Private Joseph Watson had enlisted in Williamstown, Kentucky on October 25, 1861 and mustered into service on February 8, 1862. (Note other pages listed him mustered into service on February 28, 1862)
From the miscellaneous files it stated J. Watson of the 18th Kentucky Infantry in June of 1862 had extra or daily duty guarding bridges on the Covington and Lexington railroad.

A regimental descriptive book also from the miscellaneous files of fold 3 stated Private Joseph Watson of the 18th Kentucky Infantry (United States) age thirty-six and 5 feet 11 inches in height with black eyes and brown hair and by occupation a farmer and had been born in Lexington, Kentucky and enlisted on October 25, 1861 at Williamstown, Kentucky (Located in Grant County) and was assassinated in the streets of Lexington, Kentucky on April 27, 1862.
The compiler notes Grant County, Kentucky was not named after General Grant but it is ironic that a Grant County resident was killed on General Grant’s birthday on April 27th.

A casualty sheet noted Private Joseph Watson of Company G of the 18th Kentucky Infantry died of wounds on April 27, 1862 in Kentucky.

The following came from the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune newspaper:

“Soldier assassinated”

“Camp Finnell near Lexington, Kentucky May 1, 1862”

“On Sunday night last, between the hours of nine and ten o’clock, Joseph W. Watson, a soldier in Company G, Captain H. W. (Spelled as) Eggleston, belonging to the eighteen regiment of Kentucky volunteers, stationed at this city, was assassinated by the secessionists on High Street, near the corner of Broadway. The manner in which this murder, most foul, was perpetrated, is as follows: The deceased, in company with two soldiers belonging to the 33rd Indiana regiment, were quietly wending their way towards Camp (Spelled as) Finnell, the headquarters of the 18th when as they were passing along High Street, two rebels made their appearance and immediately commenced a fire from pistols on all three of the soldiers, at the same time cursing them as (Spelled as) Lincolnites and using other epithets. The Indianans not being armed _____ (Cannot translate word) themselves behind some barrels on the side walk, when Watson, it is supposed was either struck to the ground by a stone thrown by his assassins or stumbled and fell upon his face upon the sidewalk, and before he could recover the cowardly scoundrels ran up to him and placing a pistol at the back of his head fired, the ball coming out just below the left eye. He lingered until Monday morning, when he died in great pain. The news soon reached the camp, and the excitement that followed among the soldiers was intense. And threats of terrible vengeance was uttered on all sides against murderers of their comrade by the soldiers and the officers, had to use every exertion to keep the men from breaking the camp guard and taking vengeance on the secesh of the city generally.

It will be well for the secesh of Lexington that such an affair does not occur again during the stay of this regiment, for should that be the case the soldiers swear that at least a dozen secesh shall pay the forfeit with their lives.

The deceased was about forty years of age and a native of Grant County, in this State, where his family still resides. He leaves a wife and six small children to mourn the loss of a kind and indulgent husband and father. The deceased was much loved by his fellow soldiers and Captain Eggleston, who sent an escort to his home with his body, where they buried him with military honors.

Captain Eggleston and his soldiers will spare no pains to find his murderers and should they succeed you can depend on having to record in your columns a hanging at Camp Finnell.”