1915 Memories of Fort Worth Confederate Veteran, Major J. E. Gaskell, of Union Parish Louisiana Submitted by: Shawn Martin Date of Submission: 12/2008 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================== ================================================================================== 1915 Memories of Fort Worth Confederate Veteran, Major J. E. Gaskell, of Union Parish Louisiana From the Fort Worth, Texas "Star-Telegram", issue of 19 May 1915 NOTE: Photos were included with article. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== The forthcoming Confederate reunion in Richmond is focusing attention again on the Confederate veterans and recalling the stirring days of fifty-four years ago when these now old men, but then eager youngsters trooped away to war. The Star-Telegram will publish a series of the Fort Worth veterans, showing how these men looked fifty-four years ago and how they look today. The first is Major J. E. Gaskell. Others are invited to send in their photographs at once—Editor’s Note. When the War Between the States broke out in 1861, J. E. Gaskell, now of Fort Worth, was a lad of not quite 17 years. He was born in Syllacoggie, Ala., October 12, 1844. Young Gaskell’s paternal grandfather was somewhat of mechanical genius and made a drum for the boy. Young Gaskell’s father was something of a fifer and drummer, so he showed the lad how to handle the drumsticks. The boy was able almost to make his drum “talk” when the announcement came of Fort Sumter’s fall. The Gaskells then were living in Union Parish, Louisiana. There was a great hurrying to and fro among men folks bent on going to war. Gaskell and his father came into instant demand in the organization and drilling of companies and during the first year they were of great value to recruits. Finally the preliminary work was completed and Gaskell joined the Seventeenth Louisiana infantry at Vicksburg, as a drummer boy. He was through the campaign against Sherman in the fall and winter of 1862 and then against Grant in 1863. But in all of the engagements Gaskell laid aside his drum and fought in the ranks. He surrendered to Grant July 4 at Vicksburg, was paroled July 12 and reached his home July 18. When exchanged for a Federal prisoner, Gaskell was sent to the trans-Mississippi department, where he remained until the war was over. He came to Fort Worth in 1895. On Nov. 15, 1906, Gaskell was made director of the musical and literary department of R. E. Lee camp No. 158, U.C.V. In 1910 he was given the same office in the Texas division U.C.V. with the rank of major. ############################################################# File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/union/newspapers/articles/1915gaskill.txt