Tag Archives: Civil War

Chapter 3: Montgomery

  “Hold up there!” called someone from behind. Startled out of the monotony of the trail, Reuben looked back. A rider was approaching. He looked like a rough, crude frontiersman; shaggy beard and all. Reuben brought the wagon to a halt and waited.             “Hello friend,” said the man as he approached Reuben’s perch onContinue reading “Chapter 3: Montgomery”

Damn Yankee

   “Git offa mah property you damn Yankee som beech!” commanded the little man with the tobacco-stained teeth. “And stay away from mah Niggah, you heah?”             Reuben’s first encounter with the residents of Linn County had rapidly gone south. He could tell the little man meant business because his hand had moved to theContinue reading “Damn Yankee”

Galvanized Rebel

After a few days of recuperating at home, Reuben rode into Centerville. He had some letters to mail and was anxious to get fresh news from the front. The post office was in the back of the Square Deal General Store. As he strode up the steps a man leaving the store hunched over asContinue reading “Galvanized Rebel”

Resolution

            A fictionalized account of Reuben DeLay’s time in Confederate prisons             Reuben gently pushed the blanket he shared with Dawes over the form of his softly snoring bedmate. The air was cold and his joints ached from sleeping on the hard ground. He needed to stretch and get his blood circulating. He crawled outContinue reading “Resolution”

Andersonville

Marble markers in a row, With Old Glory hanging low. In final rest, these heroes lie, Underneath the Georgia sky. Where they suffer never more, Victims of the Gods of War. Living in the Georgia dirt, Blackened face, ragged shirt. Life no better than the hogs, Hunted down by Wirz’s dogs. To drink the waterContinue reading “Andersonville”

Company I History

Third Iowa Cavalry                During the summer of 1861, a com­pany of cavalry was organized at Centerville by Capt. T. J. Taylor. Our company was first called “Mounted Riflemen” and was in the state service for the protection of the border coun­ties. A duty which was afterwards assumed by Capt. D. A. Spooner and hisContinue reading “Company I History”

Lines for My Mother

PVT. Frederick Buckmaster Poem written to his mother, Mary Ann,  on May 9, 1864                                         Clifton, Tenn. It is a calm still night Mother, the winds are lulled and still… The moon’s soft light is beaming bright on yonder sleeping hill… But this soft dreamy hour, Mother, no magic may impart… To check theContinue reading “Lines for My Mother”

Reuben DeLay’s Civil War Records

This page is under construction. Check back later as I add more information from Reuben DeLay’s records Reuben DeLay, my Grandmother’s Grandfather served in the 3rd Iowa Calvary during the Civil War. Here is some information gleaned from His January 1, 1864 reenlistment papers: Reuben joined the Union Army along with his brother and twoContinue reading “Reuben DeLay’s Civil War Records”