Polk County IA Archives Obituaries.....Brady , Casper S. April 30, 1862 ************************************************ 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, 12:37 pm "AMERICAN PATRIOTISM" OR, MEMOIRS OF 'COMMON MEN.'" by LEONARD BROWN, 1869 CASPER S. BRADY. I KNEW Casper from a little boy; he could not have been over twelve years old when I first became acquainted with him; was sixteen when he enlisted; one of the most handsome boys I have ever seen - as fair as a fair maiden and his innocent soul was as beautiful as his person. He says in a letter to his mother, written from Benton Barracks, Dec. 22d, 1861 :- "Tell grandma that I am going to take her advice about being a good boy. I read my Bible while the other boys are playing cards and dancing." The comeliness of his person, and the purity of his innocent heart, lead me, now that he is dead, to associate him in my mind with the heavenly. He was so young his soul knew no love but that of father and mother, home and country. In the battle of Donelson he was wounded in the knee. He did not repine. He was hopeful; but anxious to come home. Casper was no rough soldier. He was just a child, in his heart. “I wish I was there to see grandmother, and all of you," he says in a letter. And I will here give further extracts from his letters : "Fort Donelson, Tenn. DEAR PARENTS, - You will be surprised on receiving a letter from me at this place. I have been down here about ten days. We have had pretty hard times since we came down. I suppose you have heard of the great battle. It came off about one week ago. It was an awful battle. It lasted about four days; but the main part was fought the last day. There were forty-six killed and one hundred and sixty wounded in our regiment, which charged the breastworks and forced the rebels to surrender. I was wounded slightly in the right knee; but it is getting well very fast. I think I will be able to travel in a week or two; then I am coming home. I have got the ball I was wounded with. It was a spent canister ball. I will show it to you when I get home." ST. Louis, March 10, 1862. MY DEAR BROTHER, - I try to keep my spirits up as well as I can; but I begin to feel a little tired of lying so long. I think that I shall be up in about two or three weeks, and when I am able to move about and get fresh air and exercise, I think that I shall get strength and feel better. I have every reason to be satisfied with the care and attention that I get. The lady that writes this is very accommodating to me. The man who lies by my side is very good company for me, He says he is going to take as much interest in me as a brother. We are having beautiful weather now. The sun shines so cheerfully into my room. Tell grandmother I hope to get home and see her before she leaves. It will be too bad if I miss seeing her." "ST. Louis, March 14th, 1862. My DEAR SISTER, - I think my wound is improving slowly. I know it is. The erysipelas has made its appearance in my leg, caused by my wound - not at all dangerous. I will have a great deal to tell you all about the battle when I get home ... . . . .” When Casper enlisted, his father (J. Al. Brady, Esq.) resided at Saylor Grove, Polk County, Iowa. He now lives in Osceola, Clark County, Iowa. He gave me in a letter the following account of Casper's enlistment and death; " Oceola, Sept. 16, 1866. After the war broke out, and there were calls for volunteers, Casper would often say he thought he ought to volunteer and fight for his country. His mother and I would tell him he was too young; but he would still insist on going. His whole mind seemed to be taken up with the thoughts of the war, and he could talk of nothing else. Finally, in the fall of 1861, when Captain Mills was back at Des Moines recruiting for the Second Iowa, he volunteered. At St. Louis he was rejected on account of being too young; but was taken as a drummer boy, because he insisted on going. He was wounded at Donelson, and lay in the hospital at St. Louis under medical treatment for about six weeks. I went down to see him, and was with him about two weeks before he died. On our way home I was much distressed, fearing that I could not get him home alive, and he would often say, ‘Father, why do you look so cast down ?' And he would tell me not to grieve for him, for he was well, and was going home to his heavenly Father. While he was dying a beautiful smile played around his lips and his bright eyes were cast, apparently, to heaven." On the last page of the same sheet is written in a mother's tremulous band, what to the author of these memoirs is most gratifying (and the reader will allow me to insert it here). May our heavenly Father console her for the loss of her son; who, as she believes, and as we all believe, is now in heaven. “DEAR FRIEND, - I would like to say a few words of thanks to you for the interest you have taken and are still taking in the noble soldier boys that left their homes and friends and all that was dear to them for their country's cause. May the God of Heaven bless you for your labors. ANGELINE BRADY” Casper S. Brady was born in Iowa. He enlisted Nov. 21, 1861, and died April 30, 1862. He was buried in the grave-yard near Saylor Grove, and handsome marble stones were placed at the head and foot of his grave by his parents. 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/brady195gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 6.1 Kb