Polk County IA Archives Obituaries.....GREENE, WILLIAM BRADLEY October 4, 1862
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 "AMERICAN PATRIOTISM" OR, MEMOIRS OF 'COMMON MEN.'" by LEONARD BROWN, 1869
SERGEANT WILLIAM BRADLEY GREENE.
	WILLIAM BRADLEY GREENE Was well known to the citizens of Des Moines. He was a
native of Michigan. He had a good education, and was of irreproachable moral
character. After his father's death he was the chief stay of his mother's
family. He was the eldest son. It was only the prompting of what he felt to be
imperative duty that led him to enlist. He went and did his duty manfully.     
                                                                               
          DENT'S STATION, Mo.,                                                 
                          Camp of Company D, Aug. 26,1861.
. . . . .. I got into the stage-coach at Mills & CO.'s bookstore on the Friday
of my departure from home, to link my destiny with that of Company D, Second
Iowa. Arriving at Keokuk, was told the regiment had been ordered to Washington;
went aboard the steamer Hannibal City and proceeded to the city of Hannibal.
Learned there that the regiment had been ordered to St. Louis. I went into a
railroad car and slept sweetly till morning. About eight o'clock A. M., the
"Bloody Second" - as the Missourians are pleased to call them - came in bag and
baggage, and proceeded aboard steamer D. H. January. At noon the next day we
landed at the Arsenal at St. Louis. After remaining here four or five days,
proceeded to Bird's point, and pitched tents in a corn-field owned by the
aforesaid Bird. We lived while here on the fat of the land. After leaving Bird's
Point, regiment proceeded by boat to Sulphur Springs Landing; took cars on the
Iron Mountain Railroad to Pilot Knob. Arriving at Pilot Knob, we shouldered our
guns and knapsacks and marched about two and a half miles, passing through the
town of Ironton, and camped on one of the most lovely spots on the face of the
earth - a large meadow, surrounded with orchards of fine fruit and springs of
good water. On last Saturday morning our company had orders to pack up and
prepare for a march of ten days. We are now at Dent's Station, and live in the
best kind of style -having plums, peaches, apples, green corn, squirrels,
rabbits, quails, etc."
Bradley served in Company D until December 19, 1861, when he was discharged at
St. Louis for disease of the heart. As soon as he had regained his health, he
re-enlisted; entered Company I, 18th Iowa Infantry, July 14, 1862 ; was with the
company until the 4th day of October, when he was mortally wounded. Lieutenant
William Ragan writes to Mrs. Greene from Newtonia, Mo., October 5,1862:- 	
“Yesterday morning, while on the march to attack the rebels at this place, our
regiment, and especially our company, was fired upon from behind trees and
bushes by a party of 'bushwhackers,' and your son Bradley was seriously wounded.
The ball entered the small of the back near the spine. We took him to the rear
immediately and dressed his wound. I had little hopes of him at first, but
towards evening be began to recover. Last night we had him placed in a house in
town, and we left a nurse with him. He is in good hands. I visited him about
noon to-day, and found him in good spirits."
Again: 	October 8th.
"I have the painful duty to perform of informing you of the death of your son
Bradley. He died about twelve o'clock to-day. Up to last night we had hopes of
his recovery.  At midnight he became delirious, and continued so until he died.
Your son died a true soldier.
“Everything was done for him that could be done to make him comfortable. He was
cheerful and in good spirits . . . . . I am told by his attendant that while
delirious he called frequently for his mother and sister. We wrapped him in his
blanket and laid him in the rude box. We buried him about eight o'clock, P. M.
The night was very dark and rainy. His grave is on the hill, I think, which
Blunt occupied when he shelled Newtonia.''


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.

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