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With John A. McClernand letter 1/26/63
Head Quarters Army of the Miss
Near Vicksburgh Jany 26th 1863
To His Excellency Richard Yates Governor of Ills.
It being highly important that I should become thoroughly acquainted with the topography of the country for many miles around this camp and the positions occupied by the enemy on the same side of the river before all the troops in my command had disembarked, Col Warren Stewart volunteered to reconnoitre accordingly and bring in the desired information.
He started on the 22nd inst with a small Cavalry Command and on the following day we recd the news that he had fallen in a skirmish with a detachment of the enemy strongly entrenched by a levee surrounded by a fence near New Carthage on the West bank of the Miss river and some (30) thirty miles below Vicksburgh. His force consisting only of cavalry and not more than two hundred men finding it impracticable to dislodge the enemy superior in numbers and compelled to retire from that spot. Being the last to leave the advanced position his command had gained he was shot through the body. He kept his saddle for some minutes before he fell
Surviving two hours he only articulated these imperfect sentences "Tell Genl McClernand" "Genl McClernand" and to the inquiry what he wanted? answered "Bury me decently" None other of his Command fell. So died a hero & a patriot a man cool and wise in counsel and devoid of all consciousness of personal danger in battle
Col Stewart was one of the first men in the North West to respond to the call for volunteers raising a cavalry Company under authority from Gen Fremont. He was in all the skirmishes in South western Missouri previous to the battle of Fredericktown and bore a conspicuous part in gaining that battle. He was with me during my ground reconnaissance of the evemy's position and works at Columbus Ky one year ago this month which was the first land approach made to that stronghold of the enemy.
Leading the Cavalry in that reconnaissance with his brave comrade in arms Lieut Col McCulloh of the same State of the same state he advanced upon the enemy's lines and captured several pickets. He lead the advance guard in the assault upon Fort Henry and was the first man to enter the enemy's works. He was engaged in the battle of Fort Donelson and was a prominent actor in many of the scenes that transpired during the four days of its continuance. He was also with me on the battle field of Shiloh where he challenged the wondering and enthusiastic admiration
of my division by his ceaseless activity and fearless daring. It was there that away in advance of my line he received a severe wound in the head which together with the consequent fall from horse seriously endangered his life. Before he had entirely recovered from that wound so as to ride with perfect safety he rejoined me in the advance upon Corinth. He was the first man to discover the enemy's works and immediately afterwards he reported that he believed that the enemy had evacuated the place and that the works were unoccupied. He accompanied the advance of my corps from Corinth to Bethel to Jackson Bolivar Grand Junction and Le Grange and performed very valuable services in extending our arms over all the country North of the Memphis & Charleston RR and between the [illegible] & Miss rivers.
During the months of October & November 1862 he efficiently assisted in forwarding for the Vicksburgh expedition and other purposes nearly fifty thousand troops from the states of Indiana Iowa & Illinois. He descended the Miss river with me until we found the Vicksburgh expedition returning and then he accompanied me up the Ark river to Post of Arkansas where the night before the battle he pushed a reconnaissance up to the enemys barracks within half a mile of the Fort and captured some eighty prisoners. Next day his wisdom and activity proved eminently useful as usual. Returning to this point his en ----terprise & zeal which together with his quick sagacity & good judgment were his great military virtues at last brought him at an unhappy moment to a soldiers death.
Than Wallace & Hogg & McCulloh & Stewart the State of Illinois has lost no nobler or braver sons. They are fit to ranked among her jewels. Their names will be fondly cherished by her as honored and beloved memorials of of her blood-bought glory.
Without wife or children, living only for his State and Country and having heroically fallen in their service I have deemed it proper to send the remains of Col Stewart with this communication to you with the request that his body be buried with military honors in Oakwood Cemetery north of Springfield. It is fitting that the remains of such a personage should find interment near the Capital of the State he loved so well.
Your Obt Servt
John A McClernand
Maj Genl Comd