History with all her volumes vast, hath but one page. -- George Gordon Byron
History with all her volumes vast, hath but one page. -- George Gordon Byron
When I was asked to write an article about the 2015 Grand Marshal of the Freedom Festival parade, I instantly thought of another Grand Marshal and the similarities of the two men.
In addition to being honored in the parade, both were war veterans, both were wounded in battle, both were extremely patriotic and both were exceptionally proud of having been a part of the country's history.
The huge difference is that the one I was thinking about rode in the Fourth of July parade in 1926, the oldest living Civil War veteran in Greene County at that time.
That person was my great-grandfather, John J. Mitchell. The family called him "Pap."
I'm not sure if his participation was referred to as Grand Marshal, but I'm sure he drew attention as he sat in an open car wearing a black suit, a black top hat and sporting a long, white beard.
I've often wondered if that was the style or if he was just eccentric. However, I have been told he liked clothes and was a snazzy dresser.
I never had the privilege of meeting Pap as he died before I was born, but I have heard many stories about him, especially about the years during the Civil War.
Shortly after the war began, Mitchell joined the Union Army in December of 1861 and was placed in Company K of the 51st Regiment.
After serving his first term, he still hadn't seen enough of war. He joined the army again for bounty in November of 1864.
Pap was paid $100 to go to war for another person. A third of the money was paid up front with the other two thirds to be paid when he was discharged.
During his second term of duty, Pap was in Company C of the 26th Regiment that was organized under the Army of the West. The regiment saw action in Missouri, Arkansas and participated in the siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Mitchell's luck ran out April 5, 1865, shortly before the end of the war, when he was wounded at a skirmish in Alabama. I don't know the extent of his injuries, but he recuperated at a hospital in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
While Pap was away during the war, his wife Sophie, her sister and their children lived in a log house near the Clayton Cemetery in Linton.
I was told that twice a week Sophie or her sister would ride a horse into town and go to the railroad station and listen to names read of soldiers who had been killed or wounded. At times, the horse would have to plow through mud up to its knees.
Often, the sisters would become frightened after hearing rumors that enemy soldiers were nearby, so they would board windows and secure doors as best as they could. It must have been so scary for them home alone with little children.
I often wonder what she thought of him enlisting in the army for a second term.
After he fought and served his second term, Mitchell's bounty money was stolen while on the train coming home.
When Pap returned from the war, he opened a grocery store near Spencer. We still have one of his ledgers where he recorded items bought by customers on credit. He owned and operated grocery stores most of his life.
In later years when Pap was receiving a military pension, he would go by train and visit his four children once a month. During each visit, he would ask if they needed money.
Playing his game, they always accepted a small loan. You see, Pap made extra money by charging them interest. Once a business man, always a businessman.
As I said, I don't remember him, but I do remember and was intrigued by his long, dark blue army coat hanging in my grandmother's closet.
When I wanted to get away from my grandmother, I would hide inside that scratchy, wool coat thinking she would never find me.
Pap lived only a few months after he was honored in the 1926 Linton Fourth of July parade at 89 years of age. I'm so glad he had that privilege. It was even extra special for him as he was born on July 4th.
Jo is a staff writer for the Greene County Daily World. She can be reached by email at tojo631@sbcglobal.net.
- -- Posted by sld6353 on Tue, Jul 14, 2015, at 11:13 AM
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