When looking for information about your Civil War ancestor, do not overlook Pension Records. Not only can they often provide vital information such as marriage records, names of children and their birth dates, death records, &c., but if you’re lucky, they might even include letters that were written by the soldier himself or by members of his company who wrote of his death. But why would a grieving mother or spouse part with original letters (in the days before copying machines)? Sometimes they were necessary to prove a marriage to the Pension Bureau, or that the death occurred while in the performance of official duties in the service, or that the family relied upon the soldiers wages.

Little was known about the death of Sergeant Joseph Edward Parker of Co. D, 10th Missouri (Union) Calvary when his descendant, Tim Parker, went searching in the Pension Records of his ancestor. But what he found more than answered his questions.

Born about 1830 in White County, Tennessee, Joseph was the son of Thomas Parker and Lucinda Satterfield. He came with his parents to what is now Reynolds County, Missouri, by 1832 and the family settled near present day Bunker. He was married to Susan Reese on 8 March 1849 and by the time of the Civil War, the couple had several children.

Joseph served throughout the war and reenlisted as veteran in January 1864, serving most of his time in Tennessee and Mississippi. He was known to have been killed by a rebel guerrilla on 4 August 1864 by the Wolf River near Memphis, Tennessee, but the particulars of his death were not revealed until the pension records were searched and the following two letters were found—one written by Sgt. Dennis Beale, and the other by his tent mate Sgt. Jacob Shofler. 

Dennis Beale (1838-1928) was a native of Pennsylvania. He enlisted originally at Chicago to serve in Bowen’s Battalion of Cavalry and was attached to the 13th Illinois Infantry. He later transferred to the 10th Missouri Cavalry and mustered out on 11 October 1864 at St. Louis.

Jacob Shofler (1839-1917)—(or “Jake”) was a native of Ohio who served as a sergeant in Co. D, 10th Missouri Cavalry.

Letter 1

Camp of 10th Missouri Cavalry
August 6th 1864

Mrs. Joseph Parker,

Madam, it grieves me to inform you of your husband’s death. Day before yesterday morning, he with several more of the company went to the river to water horses and while watering, a Rebel who had evidently been in ambush shot him in the right side, killing him almost instantly. It surly is a sad occurrence and the company mourns his loss. He was a good and brave soldier, ever ready and willing, and in him [we] lose one of the best soldiers. His final Statement will be forwarded to Washington D. C. as soon as the captain returns from the scout. His effects here also will be sent to you upon his return to camp. You will have to apply to the 2nd Auditor at Washington D. C. to obtain his arrears. Any information you may want in the future in regard to his effects, etc., will be cheerfully given at anytime.

Respectfully your obedient servant, — Dennis Beale, Sergt. Commanding Detachment Co. D, 10th Missouri Cavalry

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Letter 2

Memphis, Tennessee
August 30, 1864

Mrs Susan Parker,

I seat myself to answer your request of me as a friend. Your request was to know all about your husband’s death. I will inform you all I can.

Mr. Parker and I staid in the same tent and in the morning, I and Mr. Parker went to wash saddle blankets at Wolf River. And after he was done washing blankets, he went to wash his horse and I went to wash my handkerchief. [I was] sitting on a log by the side of him and a Rebel came on the opposite side of the creek and the first word he spoke, he said lead that horse out, and Mr. Parker said, “For God sake, Jacob, there is a Rebel,” and I cast my eyes up and I saw him with his gun up to his face. And [when] Mr. Parker started to run and the Rebel shot, I said, “Don’t run, the Rebel is gone,” and the only words he spoke was, “I am dead.” After running some 30 steps after being shot, I went to him as soon as I could and I told him to raise his head, and I saw he was very weak. I said to him. “I will go to camp and get the boys,” [so we could] carry him to camp and he was so weak that he could not speak. And then I started to camp and I met two of the boys coming to water. I sent them to camp and I staid with him till the company came and took him to camp. The creek was so deep that the Rebel could not cross it. We had him well taken care of and nicely buried. Mr. Parker was liked by all of the boys in [the] company. That is all I can tell you of his death.

No more. — J. Shofler

to Mrs. Susan Parker