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Post by markland on Mar 28, 2006 12:16:22 GMT -6
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Post by Diane Merkel on Mar 28, 2006 19:53:30 GMT -6
Here's an article I found about Stowers a couple of years ago. I wrote to the author about some of her misstatements, but still it remains in its inaccurate condition. I guess the myths are more fun than the truth. www.josephinesjournal.com/stowers.htmRemember this one, Scout?
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Post by Scout on Apr 1, 2006 6:34:42 GMT -6
Yes I do Diane. I have talked with the writer several times lately, in fact, just the other day. She said she really caught hell for the article when she was merely reporting what was told to her. She's a journalist for a local paper in east Tenn. I for one, am glad she printed the story as she heard it. There are several other whoppers that Stowers told. In one version he survived by hiding under a large iron cooking pot. This seems to me to be the most logical way to survive the battle! Another version says Stowers was sent with Reno as punishment for stopping and adjusting something on his saddle. The old guy had an active imagination and it's almost hard to believe he was an actual battle participant. His tales don't hold an inch of reality or thought.
She plans a follow up story on Stowers and will include some of the other sole survivor stories I sent her. There a lot of things about Stowers records that go against everything the family said. Anyway, great stuff.
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Post by tmw3401 on Nov 30, 2008 11:33:09 GMT -6
I am really interested in more info on thomas stowers,does anyone know where I can get it?
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Post by biggordie on Nov 30, 2008 19:22:43 GMT -6
Depends upon what information you are looking for; but you might PM Scout, who specializes in survivor stories and will probably still have the article in question, which has gone from the links posted.
The basic information about Stowers is as follows:
Stowers, Thomas J[ames] was a private in B Company, having been enlisted under the name Thomas James in Chicago by Lieutenant John Babcock on 1 December 1874. Stated age was 26 and previous occupation was given as "farmer." This was actually a re-enlistment, as Stowers had enl;isted on 5 September 1864 at Norristown, Pennsylvania as a private in the 119th Pennsylvania Infantry [Company D].
His birth date was ostensibly 3 December 1848, and he was born in either Bucks County,Pennsylvania or Nashville, Tennessee. He served in campaigns during that winter, and was discharged 28 June 1865.
After his re-enlistment, he was assigned to B Company, Seventh Cavalry and joined at St. Louis Barracks, Missouri. Was at the Little Big Horn, probably with his company, which served as the rear guard on the march down Ash Creek on 25 June, and was in the Hilltop Fight. Promoted Corporal 7 March 1879 and discharged 30 November 1879 at Fort Yates DT, as a corporal of excellent character [which is about the highest rating one could get].
He had blue or maybe hazel eyes, light brown or sandy-colored hair, a fair complexion, and was between 5"5" and 5'7"
His original pension was for 12 bucks a month, but he was granted a disan=bility pension for deafness and general disability of 24 bucks [Special Act, Pr. No. 271 28 Mar 1902]. The pension was increased in 1918 and 1920, to 30 and 32 bucks, respectively.
He moved into the National Military Home in Dayton, Ohio 5 December 1918 under the Stowers name. He also resided in Nashville at various addresses [Claiborne St., 11th St. and Michigan Ave.] and died at Baxter, Tennessee 25 July 1933, aged 84 years. He was buried at Baxter the same day.
You can probably find more personal information on him in the NARA, Pension Records, and possibly under the 119th Pennsylvania Infantry heading, if they have information posted on the web.
Gordie
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