BRINGING Lt. JAMES L. HORTON HOME
8TH IOWA CAVALRY
KILLED JULY 29, 1864
by John H. Brockway
In early years my mother Mary Horton Brockway and sister Aunt Bertha C. Horton told myself and my brother Charles E. Brockway many times that soon after the Civil War their father Col. Charles C. Horton and brother. Pvt. Edwin W. Horton (Iowa 44th Infantry) drove a horse and wagon from Muscatine, Iowa to Lovejoy Station Georgia to bring home the body of their brother Lt. James L. Horton who as killed on July 29, 1864.
It had to be quite a trip at that time and searching for newspaper stories and libraries and can find no information about the trip. I did find that the funeral for great uncle Jim Horton was held at 11 AM on Feb. 3, 1866 at the Presbyterian Church in Muscatine, Iowa. Sounds like the trip was during the winter.
Now I have to give what might have happened.
The boy’s father Dr. James S. Horton and mother Isabella Ogilive Horton told their sons Col Charles C Horton and Pvt Edwin Horton that if they would go to Lovejoy Station Georgia to bring James body home they would pay for the cost of the trip. Charles & Edwin agreed to go.
Now one has to think of the planning. I would guess they had to receive the okay form some war department to bring the body home. Plans had to be made with a funeral home to receive James body and place it in a casket and be paid in advance. Next it took a lot of planning to decide the route and which roads they would take to Lovejoy Station.
A good horse and strong light wagon need to be purchased or built with a cover. Buying food supplies, cooking equipment and tools for breakdowns.
Being it was soon after the war they were likely in good health and condition and were use to such conditions. One wonders how long the trip took and their expenses. Two ex-unions soldiers going into confederate territory so soon after the war. What expenses they had when arriving at Lovejoy Station and the sorrow and joy they experienced finding there brothers body.
What kind of visits did they have with people at Lovejoy Station along the way, both ways? One wonders what it was like when they returned home.
Lt. James L. Horton was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Muscatine, Iowa. He is buried next to his father, mother and Sister Sarah Horton. A new headstone has replaced the old headstones for bothers James and Edwin.
On the Iowa State Capital grounds in Des Moines is the Iowa Civil War monument. One hundred and forty-three foot high. On the bottom corners of the monument are life size civil war solders and sailors representing the Cavalry, infantry, navy and artillery units. Lt. James L. Horton represents the Iowa Cavalry men. High up are four generals on horses. Near the top are 32 faces of outstanding people who are veterans of the Iowa Military. A large bronze plaque near the bottom show additional Iowans.
The monument was restored to fine conditions several years ago from the suggestion of a grade school in Des Moines. Restoration has been completed.
John H. Brockway
Member of Iowa General Grandville Dodge Camp 75
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
April 10, 2005
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