A Light Punishment

Oelewin (Iowa) Register, December 12,1910

Page 2

“Maj. J.C. Hendricks recently related a little story connected with his army experience. He served as Drum-Major of the Fortieth Indiana, and while they were camped at Murfreesboro, Tenn., Col. Benjamin Harrison being in command, Maj. Hendricks was informed that the Thirty-third Regiment Indiana Volunteers, his former regiment, was camped about a mile from them. Naturally, Hendricks was anxious to see some of the old boys. This was on Sunday afternoon and no passes being issued, Maj. Hendricks concluded to go without a pass. After arriving at the Thirty-third Indiana’s camp he met a great number of old friends, and among them was Lieut.- Col. Henderson, who prevailed upon him to remain till after dress parade. When Col. Harrison saw the drum corps marching without their leader, he began to inquire for the drum-major; he was informed that he had gone to visit his old comrades of the Thirty-third. Col. Harrison directed the boys to inform Hendricks to report at headquarters as soon as he returned, which after being informed, he failed to do. The following morning as Hendricks was going from headquarters, he met Col. Harrison. The Colonel stopped him and asked, “where were you yesterday, sir, during dress parade?” Hendricks replied that he was visiting the boys of his old regiment. The Colonel then asked him whether his pass was not out before his return. Hendricks replied in the affirmative, upon which the Colonel ordered him to report at headquarters after breakfast, saying ” I will attend to you, sir.” Hendricks appeared before the Colonel and made a full explanation of his action, after which the Colonel insisted that he would have to punish him for disobeying orders. Hendricks replied that he was ready for the punishment and asked what it would be, when Col. Harrison ordered him to go and drill his drum corps for an hour and a half, which was his regular duty, and Maj. Hendricks to this day congratulates himself upon only having been punished but one time for disobeying orders during his entire time of enlistment and that was not very severe.”

Thanks to Paul Calloway for this submission!

Thomas Moody’s Letter Home

“A Letter from “Poney” Moody”

“Waveland Independent, May 31, 1929″

“In reading the following letter wtitten by the late T.N. Moody, you should remember that he had little, if any schooling, and learned to write after he went into the army. In those days even educated people were rather vague in their ideas about punctuation and capital letters.” (W.I.)

Nashville, Tenn.

July the 27, 1864

“Dear Mother it is with mutch pleasure that I seat my self to pen you A few lines to let you know that I am well and hope that when these few lines come to hand They ma find you well and doing well Mother mi wound is getting A long fine it dont pain me anymore worth A cent James E. Sennett he has his ferlow started up good but dont I wish I was A going to get to come home I have a good doctor and he knows what is best for me I will have to as he said let it bea good or bad bad or good but I hope it will bea for the good but I think there will be A chance Starch up mi fine shert hav one or 2 ready for me to ware to the fair if I have good luck I ma be their we dont know what may hapen yet but dont forget to write I like to hear from home while I am hear let it be long or short I just wrote to you on the 12 and Kate Sympson on the 13 I have got the answer to hers and answered it Agane and yet no letter from home but I hope it will bea good for one this evening I dont know how that is but I think it is due time well I have to bea gin to close for this time So no more but remain.

As ever your son un till death

Thomas Moody TO A M Moody Goodbye”

(W.I.) ” Don’t that just sound like “Poney”? In a strange city, wounded, no older that his grandson, Heck Gilliand and yet cheerful and looking forward to a good time at the fair. The wound troubled him all his life and contributed to his death, but he never complained and always had a cherry word.”

Thomas N. Moody enlisted in the 40th Indiana Infantry, Company C, On September 13, 1862, and mustered out on June 14, 1865. His grave is at  Maple Ridge Cemetery, Waveland, Indiana.