Polk County IA Archives Obituaries.....BACHELDER, GEORGE F. July 17, 1864 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Kathryn !Gaskill katielouscrafts@mchsi.com January 6, 2006, 8:02 pm "AMERICAN PATRIOTISM" OR, MEMOIRS OF 'COMMON MEN.'" by LEONARD BROWN, 1869 GEORGE F. BACHELDER THE following interesting account of Bachelder was given me by Colonel Godfrey: "George F. Bachelder, a native of Maine, twenty-six years of age, was one of the first from Polk County to enroll his name as private in Company D, of the gallant old 2d Infantry. Having but few acquaintances in the company when he left Des Moines, he at first attracted but little attention; but during the campaign in Missouri in 1861, by his promptness as a soldier, and his genial disposition - ever kind to his comrades, and always ready to lead a helping hand- he won the respect of his officers and the good will of all his comrades. After the battles of Donelson and Pittsburg Landing, in which he participated and displayed the courage of a true soldier, he was detailed as mounted orderly at regimental head-quarters. At the battle of Corinth, in October, 1863, he had two horses shot under him, and was near the lamented Baker and Mills when they fell, and helped carry them from the field. No soldier ever displayed more bravery than did he upon that day. He served with the 2d Iowa until June, 1864, when, at the earnest solicitations of myself [Colonel of the First Alabama Cavalry, and formerly Adjutant of the 2d Infantry, Iowa Volunteers], he was detached for special duty, and ordered to report to me. He was then assigned to duty as orderly at regimental head-quarters. He served faithfully with that regiment during the Atlanta campaign, was in all its marches, and counter-marches, and night-scouting, and reconnoitering the enemy's lines, for which that regiment was so favorably noted. Whilst the regiment was stationed for a short time at Rome, Ga., on Sunday morning, the 17th day of July, 1864, he left camp in company with one of his comrades to go a short distance into the country; when about one mile from camp, and near our lines, whilst passing through a thicket in a narrow country road, he was fired upon by bushwhackers, and received a wound through his body, which caused his death in about twenty minutes. His comrade escaped, and carried the news to camp in time for the Colonel and a few friends to reach the unfortunate soldier, and raise him in their arms, as he breathed his last. He is buried on the hill-side south of Rome, where many other brave soldiers sleep. A plain white board, with his name and regiment, marks the spot where he lies. There was no braver or more trustworthy soldier in the Western Army - and where shall we look for braver soldiers than in the Army of the West? We might add further that his death was not without its lesson to the rebels; for before the sun went down that Sabbath evening, every citizen in that neighborhood, and for miles around, was compelled to leave, and the habitations which had sheltered and secreted bushwhackers, and guerillas, and spies, that night lighted the pathway of the 1st Alabama Cavalry as they wended their way back to camp from their missionary duty." Additional Comments: This is taken from "AMERICAN PATRIOTISM" OR, MEMOIRS OF 'COMMON MEN.'" by LEONARD BROWN, published by Redhead & Wellslager, 41 Court Ave.Des Moines,IA. 1869. This book contains remembrances of fallen soldiers from Polk County during the Civil War. This includes some genealogical material as well. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/polk/obits/b/bachelde205gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 3.9 Kb